Aug. 15, 2005

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Dolphins got back to business after losing a practice to lightning and extreme weather last night. The Dolphin offense showed signs of improvement after the morning session on Sunday and provided some big plays during team sessions. The following are some highlights and quotes from Day 8:

Inside Sessions (O-Line vs. D-Line - running plays; WR vs. DB - 1-on-1): Sophomores Christopher Horton and Anthony Salgado worked with the running plays...the Dolphin offense broke through on two plays and suffered through two offside penalties...senior fullback Steven Battle spun off a tackle and ran up the left sideline...senior defensive end Peyton Keeling had a stop in the backfield...the Dolphin defense looked active and continues to swarm around the football...redshirt freshman running back Tyrone Bolden broke clean through the middle for the second score...redshirt freshman Cory Johns and freshman Chance Wilms led the one-on-one session...Johns was effective, completing 9-of-15 passes, and connective on long touchdowns to seniors Julio Santiago, Eldin Ferguson and Matthew Kampfe...Santiago looked very sharp during the session, losing defenders with his quick, precise routes...Wilms connected on 7-of-14 attempts with touchdown passes to freshmen Andino Delve and Delvis Fernandez...freshmen Chad Obre and Geavon Tribble and Santiago each led the session with two catches.

Senior defensive end Peyton Keeling:

On the defense's play today: "I thought we did good overall as a collective unit. The heat took its toll on us, but its good conditioning for the season. Every hard practice helps us in the long run."

On what the defense needs to work on before the season: "We have a lot of talent across the board with eight returning starters. The biggest question for us is just getting everyone in sync, and on the same page, at the exact same time."

7-on-7 Skeleton Sessions (Offense vs. Defense): The Dolphin air attack kept rolling in 7-on-7's as the quarterbacks completed 12-of-19 passes...the defense recorded one coverage sack and senior corner Sterling Randolph knocked down a pass...sophomore corner Weidner Maxime played with the starting unit...Delve and redshirt freshman Dan Petillo each led the unit with two catches...Petillo continues to turn heads with his concentration on tipped balls and great hands.

Offensive Coordinator/O-Line Andy McLeod:

On the progress of the offense:

"Like Anthony Campanella said yesterday, it takes all 11 guys to make things work, and right now we're trying to play to our strengths. I think our starting unit is doing a good job and they are also making sure that the young guys are coming along. The quarterbacks showed a lot of maturity by dumping the ball to our underneath routes instead of trying to force things. Overall, I'm pleased with our progress because we're incorporating more of the playbook due to the retention of our old guys."

On the team's philosophy with young players: "Our mentality with the new guys is to throw the kids in the deep end of the pool and see who floats. The guys who rise above the water level, and catch on, will play for us. The guys who are wadding, and treading water, will redshirt for us."

Team Coming Out (Offense vs. Defense - At One-Yard Line): The Dolphin defense took control with the offense's backs against the wall, but the offense still proved it can strike if you make a mistake...on the first play, junior Ryan Young recovered a fumble in the end zone...the offense answered when Cory Johns hit Eldin Ferguson on a deep play action pass for a 99-yard touchdown...Johns continued the momentum with a 25-yard connection with Matthew Kampfe on the sideline...the defense stuffed the next three running plays, including a stop at the line by senior linebacker Justin Sturdivant...Christopher Horton connected with a diving Andino Delve on a rollout for 15 yards...Anthony Salgado connected with freshman tight end John Martinson for 12 yards across the middle...Bryan Gamble rattled off 10 yards to the left side...senior corner Leighton Henderson broke up a Salgado pass intended for Julio Santiago...sophomore running back Raphael George ran for a 10-yard clip...Steven Battle rambled for 10 yards...Salgado completed the session with a 22-yard strike across the middle to a diving Andino Delve.

Junior All-American guard Pat Rich:

On the offense's performance today: "As a group, we did a better job of picking up reads in the passing drills than we did yesterday. A lot of the younger guys are getting looks, the regulars are getting their reps, and we're starting to look a lot crisper."

On the offense's big-play ability: "We have the talent to score on any play because we're a core group of guys, who've been together for three years, and know what we're doing. If we can make a big play on our defense, then we can do it against anybody during the season. Our defense has the two best defensive ends in the conference (Jason Bense & Peyton Keeling), and the interior line is solid, so I think we're going to be alright."

The Dolphins will return to the practice field for two-a-days at 8:30 a.m. The evening session will begin at 7 p.m.

Key Dates:

August 18 - Media/Picture Day: 2 p.m. at Milne Field

August 19 - First scrimmage, 2:30 p.m.

August 23 - First day of classes

September 1 - First game at Southeastern Louisiana at 7:30 p.m.