Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
A great practice one day, team DJ the next
MIAMI GARDENS — The first Miami Dolphins practice of organized team activities open to media on Tuesday revealed a new motivational tool coach Mike McDaniel is using in offseason drills.
If a player is named the team’s practice player of the day, at the next day’s practice he gets to be the team DJ, deciding what songs will be played at practice. That player is noticeably highlighted, wearing an orange jersey. The offense wears white, defense wears teal and quarterbacks or others who are participating while nursing injuries wear red, non-contact jerseys.
“It’s definitely a motivational thing. It just brings that fun to practice, into the building,” said linebacker Jerome Baker, a leader on the defense heading into his fifth season.
On Tuesday, second-year outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips was the man in orange, and Phillips treated the team to a Kanye Westheavy playlist through the hour-plus of drills.
“Terrible,” Baker joked in criticism of Phillips’ track selection. “Nah, I think what happened was they kept skipping some parts, so we didn’t really see his whole playlist. The parts I heard, they were decent. But they were just decent. The first guy to have it, he’s supposed to come out with some fire. I’m going to work on it.”
Baker’s looking forward to his chance.
“When I get on there, we’re going to hear a lot of Drake,” he said. “Honestly, probably the whole playlist is going to be Drake, and hopefully I get a chance to do it.”
Phillips being the DJ at the team’s second practice of OTAs is an encouraging sign.
Phillips had a Dolphins rookie record 8 ½ sacks last season as he transitioned to the NFL from a breakthrough 2020 college season with the Miami Hurricanes that earned him a first-round draft selection. This offseason, he’s trying to become a more well-rounded outside linebacker that can contribute in all ways — not just the pass rush — and said he trimmed himself down five pounds.
OTA attendance
OTAs are voluntary for veterans, and McDaniel noted, in his press conference prior to Tuesday’s session, that the team will rest a number of key players.
“The veterans that have earned the right over their career — and the science backs up that, right now, it’s not best served for them to be out there — we’re not going to put them out there,” he said. “From any given day, that can vary, but we try to be very intentional and deliberate in everything we do. There’s no absolute with anything. The best thing for the Dolphins is each and every player is ready for Week 1.”
With that said, veterans who did not participate in Tuesday’s OTA session were left tackle Terron Armstead, cornerbacks Xavien Howard and Byron Jones, defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah, running back Chase Edmonds, tight end Adam Shaheen and defensive tackle John Jenkins.
Armstead was spotted on the practice field and even offered second-year linemen Liam Eichenberg and Robert Jones post-practice instructions.
Wide receivers Cedrick Wilson Jr. and Lynn Bowden, running back Raheem Mostert and fullback Alec Ingold were spotted wearing their jerseys, but they did not participate in teams workouts.
Mostert and Bowden are recovering from season-ending injuries last fall. Jones had a lower-leg surgery performed earlier in the offseason.
First impressions
Baker, as part of a defense that has remained largely intact, has gotten his first glimpses of the Dolphins’ new-look offense this season with speedy wide receiver Tyreek Hill highlighting the acquisitions.
“I mean, the guy is fast. He’s a good player. He’s a great guy,” Baker said. “I knew him a little bit before he got here, so I kind of knew what to expect. He’s definitely bringing that winning culture, just going hard every play of every practice. It’s definitely working out for us.”
Speed was also the first thing that came to mind for him when asked about the new backfield that added Chase Edmonds and Mostert, plus the more-recent pick-up of Sony Michel to run between the tackles.
“They’re fast. Just on offense in general, they’re fast,” said Baker. “They’re explosive. It’s definitely going to get us right during training camp and OTAs. It’s going to be exciting for us.”