Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Opportunities begin
Players like WR Carroo, CB Calhoun have their chance to earn jobs
DAVIE — Dolphins cornerback Taveze Calhoun and wide receiver Leonte Carroo are in similar situations on opposite sides of the coin.
Both will continue stating their cases for making Miami’s 53-man regular-season roster at 7 p.m. Thursday against Tampa Bay in the Dolphins’ preseason opener at Hard Rock Stadium.
Carroo, the 2016 third-round pick out of Rutgers, has fallen to the back of the pack while competing at a crowded position. Considering his draft position, that’s a bit surprising and disappointing.
“I would say it’s a humbling experience,” Carroo said of his young NFL career, “going from being a starter in high school, Pop Warner and college, to coming here.”
Calhoun, undrafted out of Mississippi State in 2016, has sparkled with his playmaking ability. He has two interceptions and a 60-yard fumble return for a touchdown in the past few practices. But he’s also fighting for a roster spot at a crowded position.
“I know it’s a big opportunity, I know how the preseason works,” said Calhoun, who has played for Chicago (2016) and New Orleans (2017). “It’s not my first rodeo; it’s my third year going through it.”
Miami’s starters aren’t expected to play much against Tampa Bay. That means players such as quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who appears fully recovered from the training camp knee injury that caused him to miss last season, might only play one series.
“I know it’s a big opportunity, I know how the preseason works.” Taveze Calhoun, Dolphins defensive back
“We’ll sit down and kind of talk through stuff,” coach Adam Gase said. “I know what he’s going to say already. He wants to get out there and get going because in his mind, these are important. Really, that’s the mindset.”
Realistically, however, this game belongs to the reserves.
What remains unclear is how much younger players such as middle linebacker Raekwon McMillan, the 2017 second-round pick who missed last season with a knee injury, safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, the 2018 firstround pick from Alabama, and tight end Mike Gesicki, this year’s second-round pick from Penn State, might play.
As for the backup quarterback battle between Brock Osweiler and David Fales, Gase said ideally he’d like to give each player equal snaps with the second team.
“I don’t know if that’s realistic because every game goes so different,” Gase said. “But our goal is to be like, ‘You have this series.’ And maybe it’s two series in a row, then the next guy comes in for one series. I think it’s really going to come down to how many plays per series that we’re talking about.”
For Carroo, Thursday’s game is among the best chances he’ll get to turns heads on the coaching staff. Even if Miami keeps six wide receivers, Carroo is clearly behind five — Kenny Stills, DeVante Parker, Danny Amendola, Albert Wilson, Jakeem Grant— and optimistically locked in a tight battle with Isaiah Ford and Rashawn Scott.
Gase said because practice is so scripted — sometimes they’ll devote a segment strictly to the running game — the chances for wide receivers are limited.
But the snap count increases in games.
“It almost feels like it triples, especially in the beginning of the preseason,” Gase said. “Guys get a lot of opportunities between preseason [games] one, two and four.
“That’s where you can get great evaluations on the wide receivers.”
For Calhoun, signed by Miami in December, Thursday is a chance to introduce himself to Dolphins fans.
The first thing they should know is that his first name is pronounced Tuhvez.
“Most people call me Calhoun,” he said with resignation. “When I try to tell somebody my first name I’ve heard it all, everything but Taveze. I’m kind of used to it.”
Calhoun could get a chance to play with the second team Thursday because fellow cornerback Tony Lippett sustained a right ankle injury in Tuesday’s practice.
Calhoun is behind fellow cornerbacks Bobby McCain, Xavien Howard, Cordrea Tankersley, Torry McTyer, and Lippett when it comes to making the roster. But he could be right there along with Jalen Davis, Cornell Armstrong and Johnathan Alston when it comes to securing one of those final roster spots.
Experience has taught Calhoun to avoid watching the depth chart.
“I know if I put my best foot forward I’ll give myself a good opportunity to be here,” he said. “And if it doesn’t work and I put my best foot forward that’s all I can do. And I’ll be OK with that.”