Holes remain for Miami
TE, RG and nickelback are question marks
MIAMI GARDENS — Dolphins tight end Kyle Miller has the right idea.
Miller, the second- year player from Mount Union, will likely be the only tight end the Dolphins cut when the roster is reduced to 53 players from its current 75 at 6 p. m. Saturday.
But Miller, who has also been with Indianapolis and Jacksonville, knows he wasn’t just playing for the Dolphins in Thursday’s 24- 21 preseason finale win over New Orleans at Sun Life Stadium.
“The one thing I have realized is you’re really playing for all 32 teams out there so whether it’s the Dolphins or not, every team has access to these films,” he said. “So if I play great and there’s no room for me here hopefully there will be someplace else.”
In accordance with that philosophy, the Dolphins are almost certain to scour the waiver wire for tight ends, and perhaps they’ll conduct a search for a right guard or defensive back after the finals cuts are made.
The Dolphins enter their Sept. 8 regular- season opener at Cleveland with a major question at tight end. On Thursday starting tight end Charles Clay didn’t play, leaving the work to Dion Sims and Michael Egnew.
Sims, a decent blocker whois trying to improve his receiving, did OK. He had four receptions for36yards, including an eight- yard touchdown, in the first half. Sims, the fourth- roundpick from Michigan State, could have had another touchdown but Pat Devlin threw behind him in the end zone early in the second quarter.
But as Sims emerged a bit Egnew seemed to fall farther into oblivion. The 2012 second- round pick from Missouri was almost invisible, totaling one reception for five yards through the third quarter.
For the time being it appears the Dolphins will have to get along with the tight end trio of Clay, Sims and Egnew. Miller tries not to think of such things.
“This ismy thirdtraining camp,” he said, “so I’ve learned to just worry about whatI can control, not even worry about what they’re saying what kind of [ playing time] I’m getting.”
As for right guard John Jerry, the starter, played the entire first quarter Thursday and part of the second quarter. He missed much of preseason with a left knee injury.
At nickelbackNolan Carroll appears tobethe starter but hewon’t say it publicly.
“You don’t ever want to be comfortable,” he said. “You just want to continue to come out every day in practice andwork hard and just execute. Don’t think about those types of things, just think about the gameplan, think about practice, think about the fundamentals of getting better.”
Asfor the Dolphins’ draft class it’s on relatively shaky groundentering the regular season.
Defensive end Dion Jordan, the first- round pick, didn’t play Thursday as he continues to recover from off- season shoulder surgery. Cornerback Will Davis, the third- round pick fromUtah State, didn’t play due to a left foot injury.
Cornerback Jamar Taylor, the second- round pick from Boise State, is second team. Right tackle Dallas Thomas, the team’s first third- round pick, is also second team. Linebacker Jelani Jenkins, the fourth- round pick from Florida, is third team but plays on all special teams. Running back Mike Gillislee, the fifth- round pick fromFlorida, is also third team.
Kicker Caleb Sturgis, the fifth- round pick fromFlorida, is the star of the class right now. Hewas 3 for 3 on field goals ( hitting from 33, 40 and 43 yards) and 1 for 1 on extra points on Thursday.
Although the draft class probably won’t make a large impact on opening day most of them should stick around. The only draftee in danger of not making the team is safety Don Jones, the seventhround pick from Arkansas State.
The Dolphins seem confident, but none are making bold predictions about the season.
“At this point we’re just taking it one day at a time, trying to get better,” Jerry said.