*** DOLPHINS NEWS ***
Apr 24, 1999: -- MiniCamp 1 - Day 1 --
The Dolphins held their first minicamp of the 1999 season
yesterday and although there was no contact, there was plenty of
excitement as fans and the team got a close look at the rookies and new
free agents for this year.
The practice was conducted in shorts, jerseys and helmets and
most of the players were on the field. The only player absent was
Richmond Webb, who has permission from the staff to miss the first
mini-camp. He is expected to be around for the quarterback camp next
week.
OJ Mcduffie (ankle), LB Mike Crawford (?), OL Mark Dixon (neck),
FB Roosevelt Potts, S Brian Walker (knee) and S Shawn Wooden (knee) were
on the field but did not participate in the full practice although Potts
and Dixon did do some drills.
The drills including ball-stripping, pass coverage and
receiving drills and some low level scrimmaging. With no pads on,
there was no hitting.
Yatil Green, Larry Shannon and Derrick Steagall were all back
and practiced at full speed. Green was watched closely by the press and
the fans and apparently had a pretty good day. Almost all the reports
on Green were positive, but he is apparently still favoring his knee
and one report said that his cuts weren't crisp or sharp.
Still, the only person whose opinion counts had this to say -
"Yatil did a nice job," Johnson said. "We didn't hold him back on
anything. He made plays."
Other players who impressed included newly acquired TE Hunter
Goodwin, WR Oronde Gadsden, WR Tony Martin, WR Nate Jacquet and RB Cecil
Collins. Especially Cecil Collins, who had a very impressive run from
scrimmage.
Overall, the results of the first practice of 1999 were pretty
good with no major disappointments reported.
EYEWITNESS REPORT:
Last summer, Don Dillard went to a number of training camp
practices and sent me eyewitness accounts, which I posted for your
enjoyment. Here is Don's first eyewitness account of 1999:
After reporting on a majority of the summer practices last year, this
practice today was the most enjoyable of any I've seen. This is because
of seeing the new draftees, new free agents, and players returning from
injury. My binoculars were all over the place today.
Attire was shorts, jersey and helmet.
First, the injured: As far as I can tell, almost everyone was there, but
there were the guys that didn't have helmets and only participated in
the stretching drills: Dixon, Crawford, McDuffie?, Brian Walker?, and
Wooden.
Back, in a BIG way, were Yatil, Steagall, and Shannon. Shannon and
Yatil were bullying DBs and running at full speed.
I arrived at 2:00 PM and tailgated lunch on the 4th floor of the parking
garage overlooking the playing field. Saw the field get set up. Two
F18s cruised by?????
2:15: Visited the stadium store and resisted buying a Zack Thomas
playing jersey marked down from $175 to $105. The store was filled with
very good looking sales clerks (Cheerleaders?). I didn't buy a shirt I
liked for $75.
2:30: Bock and Perry were long snapping to each other.
2:45: Players started emerging. Punters first. I followed Grey
Ruegamer. I saw him introduced to Damon Huard and then Dan. Coaches
then started a drill practicing snaps. Grey was with Dan. I can imagine
Grey was a little pumped up after meeting Dan Marino and then a minute
later he was doing a snapping drills with him. First snap was a
fumble..... That's why you go to practice. Grey is a lot bigger than
Ruddy.
2:59: stands had almost 1000 people and grew to close to 2000.
3:00-3:15: Horn and team huddle.
Team stretching in pairs. Saw Cecil and James J. paired. They look
alike.
3:15: Teams separates in two groups.
Offense runs quick plays. Defense runs the stripping drill. Two
Defenders on one offensive player. Offensive player has to go forty
yards. GREAT DRILL.
At this point I was admiring Gadsden for how big he was and then Shannon
comes into view. We have some big receivers this year.
Marino seems to be a lot slimmer this year.
Yatil and Shannon are full speed.
3:30
Crowd favorite: DB one-on-one with receivers.
I'm not reporting each one. There are in my notes, but it too much fun
to just watch and tell you the crowd reaction. Gadsden was by far the
crowd pleaser. He caught anything near him. Y. Green was breaking long
and getting good separation. Nate Jacquet had a great day and really
got clobbered once by to DBs. Shannon had one good catch and three
non-catches.
Yatil Green or Gadsden had the play of the day.
3:30
Scrimmage: No lineman.
Willie Green was dissapointing. Not breaking away or making the
catches.
Cecil had a great run. No pads, but I got a glimpses of what Cecil is
all about. I saw an unbelievable cut and acceleration after the cut.
Untouched to the endzone. The play was exciting enough to make me want
to go back to the practices this weekend(I won't though).
The GOLDEN STAR player of the day is Hunter Goodwin. I saw 4 receptions
he made which surprised me because he had only 3 receptions in last
year's season. After the third reception, during an offense vs defense
drill with no lineman, Jimmy called him over, put his arm around him,
and they had a good laugh together. After the fourth reception, the
same thing happened again!!!! Jimmy likes Hunter, and from what I saw,
he is worth the price we paid for him.
One other note before I chase my kids off to bed. Konrad realized his
reputation by dropping a ball in the offense vs defense drill while
running the ball. A coach ran over and hollered at him. Konrad
listened and started back to the huddle. The coach yelled at him again,
and Konrad changed direction and headed back to the sidelines to watch
the rest of the practice.
Another note. Ruegamer was the only center during the drills. Ruddy
was having a good time watching on the sidelines. Rue's jersey was
soaked while the rest of the players were dry. There were fumbles on
the snap too.
Did I say Jacquet had a good day?
Afterwards, I went down to where the players were signing autographs.
Some lineman, Zach, and Tony Martin. Tony Martin looks the All-American
type. It's hard to believe he's a felon.
I was standing by the fence by myself when Yatil walked up. Got his
autograph, which I didn't really want, and a couple of stupid questions
in (He feels fine). Then everyone notice I was standing there alone
with him and the thundering herd moved in.... I moved out of the way to
a deserted Zach but he took the opportunity to leave.
My Comments:
Overall, it sounds like the first practice was a good one. Of
course, there's not much you can tell without the pads on, but at least
Yatil Green and Larry Shannon are back and playing and it looks like
Cecil Collins has the talent that others have seen in him.
And maybe Hunter Goodwin will turn out to be a lot better then
we thought.
As I noted, the news on Yatil Green is mixed, but I think its
about as good as can be expected at this point. He's going to have
some good days and some not-so-good days, but as long as he's healthy,
he's got a chance to contribute.
It's a long time until January, but it looks like the Dolphins
are off to a good start.
Related Info:
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Curt Fennell,
curt@phins.com, DOLFAN in New Rochelle (almost)
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