Rosen strives to show potential

QB growing more comfortable leading the Dolphins offense

TAMPA — It’s the second week of the NFL preseason, less than a month until the regular-season opener, and quarterback Josh Rosen continues to grow more comfortable as a Miami Dolphins player.

Rosen took first-team snaps with Miami’s offense ahead of veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick on Tuesday as the Dolphins held their first of two joint practices with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the AdventHealth Training Center.

Both teams will practice again Wednesday before playing a preseason game Friday night at Raymond James Stadium, where new coach Brian Flores expects Fitzpatrick to start while Rosen could again see the lion share of the snaps.

As Rosen climbs his way up the depth chart, gaining ground in the Dolphins quarterback battle, he is also quite thankful for Fitzpatrick’s role as a teammate despite their competition.

“He’s been unbelievably helpful. He’s probably one of the best mentors I’ve had in the sport,” Rosen said when asked about

Fitzpatrick, who returned to Tampa with Miami after spending his past two seasons with the Buccaneers.

“He’s been an unbelievable teammate and very selfless in helping me so much,” Rosen continued.

“I’m indebted to Fitz in how selfless he’s being. Fitz, while he’s being selfless and what not, he’s competing his ass off. He’s balling. When/ if/and/whatever this, whatever [quarterback competition], shakes out this year, he’s absolutely going to fight his balls off.”

Maybe, Rosen was a little too comfortable on Tuesday. But it should be embraced by the Dolphins and their fans during their significant rebuild this season.

Rosen, as well as prospering undrafted rookie receiver Preston Williams, worked with members of the Dolphins first-team offense when the first 11-on-11 portion of practice begin with the Buccaneers Tuesday. Their first play together featured Kalen Ballage scoring a 70-yard touchdown run from scrimmage, with DeVante Parker providing another highlight play with an over-the-shoulder catch from Rosen down the left sideline.

It was Rosen’s first action with the first-team offense, outside of a quick series in red-zone/goal-line work during the team’s pseudo scrimmage 10 days ago.

It also came after the first preseason game where Rosen played most of the snaps, and coach Brian Flores was clamored with questions from local media, regarding when Rosen would be evaluated while working with first-team players.

Flores was direct when he assessed Rosen’s performance following the opportunity, saying Rosen was “okay” while specifically pointing out Rosen needs to improve his body language while playing the quarterback position.

It’s an issue Rosen has acknowledged he’s struggled with throughout his career, at UCLA and with the Arizona Cardinals last season.

“I think especially when you get into competitive environments I tend to be very critical of myself and I’m very competitive. So I have always worked that throughout my entire athletic career, since I’ve been a young kid,” Rosen said of his negative body language when plays fail to go his way.

“I think as a quarterback, in addition to sort of the execution part of it, a lot of it is about leading and about sort of trying to keep a steady ship and keep that forward momentum, regardless of what’s going on around [you] because a lot of people are looking to you to kind of be that rock so I think that’s what coach Flores is referring to.

“He wants me to be steadier and just sort of execute and be a positive for us.”

Maybe, Rosen can turn to Fitzpatrick for another tidbit of advice.

It’s a role that Fitzpatrick has thrived in for much of the past three seasons, trying to impart wisdom and football knowledge on Rosen this summer and Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston the previous two seasons.

After practice Tuesday, Fitzpatrick introduced his newest child, Jake, to Winston, who recently welcomed his son Antonor Malachi in the past year.

“Now a lot of conversation [is] about kids and how things are going with him,” Fitzpatrick said of catching up with Winston. “There are a lot of guys on this team I have special relationships with. He is certainly one of them.”

The Dolphins hope to benefit from the relationship between Fitzpatrick and Rosen.

Whether it’s answering questions or pointing something out on film, Fitzpatrick continues to be a consummate professional and teammate as he nears toward the start of his 15th NFL season with his eighth NFL team.

“I just think in playing this game for as long as I have, there are so many good things that happen and leave scars and mistakes that you’ve made, that you don’t want other people to make,” Fitzpatrick said. “So I just try to share all those experiences with them. And they’ve been real good too as far as being receptive and asking questions.

“I’m an open book. I’m here to compete. And play football. And have fun. And you know go from there.”

Rosen has said on multiple occasions, including Tuesday, he aspires to master the Dolphins offense like Fitzpatrick, whose experience working in many offenses during his career has allowed him to resourcefully lean on a bank of knowledge.

To get there, Rosen knows he needs to bog down in the film room and in offensive coordinator Chad O’Shea’s playbook. More consistent opportunities with the first-team offense would help too, but he’ll have to earn those.

When Rosen does reach that level of comfort and expertise of the Dolphins offense, he will truly be in his own skin with his new team in Miami.

“It’s pretty impressive how [Fitzpatrick] can walk up to the line and see it, know what coverage, everything they’re trying to do, and I’m just trying to get to that level,” Rosen said.

“I think I have a special skill-set that when I put those two together, it could be special. But it’s going to be a long road.”