Experience is making difference
Veteran Fitzpatrick has leg up in QB battle with Rosen
DAVIE — Tuesday may have been the second day of Miami Dolphins’ organized team activities, and the Dolphins have more than two months until training camp begins, roughly three months before any preseason games and four months until their season opener to begin the 2019 season.
But there was one clear distinction in the brewing quarterback competition between 14-year veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick, who primarily worked with the first team, and second-year newcomer Josh Rosen, who worked with the backups:
Time and experience really does make a difference.
Fitzpatrick is playing with his eighth different team, using his Harvard education to procure a slew of offensive playbooks during his 14 years in the NFL. It has helped him quickly process the new Dolphins offense he will run under new coach Brian Flores and new offensive coordinator Chad O’Shea in short order.
“It’s been baby steps so far, but I’ve enjoyed the early stages of it. And I think I’m well-suited for this type of offense,” said Fitzpatrick, who signed with Miami as a free agent when the starting job was vacant and devoid of competition before
Rosen’s arrival.
Rosen is in the process of again learning a new offense, with O’Shea being his seventh offensive coordinator in the past five years after three in college at UCLA and two as a rookie with the Arizona Cardinals last year alone.
Coupled with Rosen’s inexperience is still the fact it has been less than three weeks since he moved cross-country following the Dolphins’ draft-day trade for him on April 26.
Along with learning the playbook from new coaches with new teammates, he even had some troubles finding his way around the Dolphins headquarters in his first few weeks.
“I’m walking in the receiver room, thinking it’s the bathroom,” Rosen said with a laugh.
During the entire portion of OTAs on Tuesday, Rosen had the typical ups and downs one could expect from a quarterback.
Rosen dropped several snaps in QB/center exchanges with undrafted rookie Ryan Anderson, which resulted in both of them running as discipline to the Dolphins’ new wall as a reminder it “takes no talent” to not make mistakes.
Rosen had an impressive pass down the middle to undrafted rookie receiver Preston Williams during 7-on-7 drills. If he was a live quarterback, Rosen likely would have been sacked by linebacker Jerome Baker on an outside pressure he didn’t see.
Rosen also had a beautiful long pass down the sideline, which was dropped by receiver DeVante Parker. They later connected on a pass that was at least 40-yards long.
“My head is spinning,” Rosen said admitting his grasp of the Dolphins offense needs to improve so he can simply be himself and just play football instead of overthinking.
“It’s getting a little easier day by day, but I hesitate to use the word easy,” Rosen added. “It’s getting a little more palatable day by day.”
Fitzpatrick, on the other hand, displayed the moxie of an old-timey veteran with his presence to escape pressure in the pocket and ability to beam throws between defenders downfield.
Fitzpatrick found Parker on the short side of the field several times, second-year tight end Mike Gesicki over an impressive connection over the middle, and second-year receiver Isaiah Ford between several Dolphins defenders.
Again, it was only the second day of OTAs.
But Fitzpatrick made the most of his time with the first-team offense.
“I’ve always had to earn every opportunity that I’ve received,” Fitzpatrick said. “I love it. I love the competition and I love being out here.”
As they compete for the Dolphins starting job, Rosen and Fitzpatrick are also gradually getting to know each other as teammates.
Their working relationship may be in its infancy.
If they have a budding friendship, it’s likely in the same stage, too.
Fitzpatrick is from Gilbert, Arizona — an area located southeast of Phoenix, where Rosen began his career last season with the Cardinals.
Both players also sit next to each other in adjacent lockers when not in the quarterback meeting room with fourth-year quarterback Jake Rudock, position coach Jim Caldwell and assistant quarterbacks coach Jerry Schuplinski.
Rosen could learn plenty from Fitzpatrick while he navigates his NFL career in Miami.
Fitzpatrick, on the other hand, knows he can serve some type of mentorship role to Rosen. But he really hopes to steer him off long enough to get some playing time under his belt next season.
“He’s been in this league for a really long time,” Rosen said of Fitzpatrick. “If I can take a couple lessons from him, I think they could do me very well in the long run.”
Added Fitzpatrick: “I’m here because this was an opportunity that I would have an opportunity to play and compete. It was a job that was open. I know nothing is going to be handed to me.”