Stills Back In Motion At Monday’s Practice
Posted Aug 17, 2015
Alain Poupart
Lead Writer
Dolphins.com
Head Coach Joe Philbin admitted it might not have been a coincidence that Kenny Stills’ college highlights video was playing in the weight room before practice Monday.
When the Dolphins hit the field at the Doctors Hospital Training Facility at Nova Southeastern University, Stills was back with his teammates for the first time since the early days of training camp.
Stills, who had been out with a calf injury, didn’t see the video but deadpanned: “I heard that it’s a long highlight reel.”
Returning to practice obviously put Stills in a good mood, and he marked the occasion with a few catches.
One that stood out was a long completion from quarterback Ryan Tannehill in a seven-on-seven drill.
“It’s great to have him back,” Tannehill said. “We saw a flash of what he’s known for — catching the ball downfield and not only that but we made an adjustment to a cover zero right there in the two-minute drive, and he was able to see the adjustment and make the catch for a big play for us.
“He’s definitely a big-play receiver. I think that obviously his speed is tremendous, his route-running ability, the smoothness he has coming in and out of breaks is probably the smoothest that I’ve seen. So when you add that to what we have from the other guys, it really opens up another connection for us.”
Philbin said it was too early to determine whether Stills will play in the preseason game against the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Saturday.
Philbin indicated it would depend in part on how Stills’ body responds to practicing Monday. But this was a positive step regardless.
“I thought he looked good,” Philbin said. “Obviously he’s been working hard doing what he’s capable of doing. But it’s good to get him out here and work on the route concepts and the timing with the other receivers and the quarterbacks obviously. So it was good to have him.”
Stills, obtained from the New Orleans Saints in an offseason trade, had last practiced Aug. 2. Since then, he had been doing conditioning work on the side.
“It’s great to be back out there obviously,” Stills said. “I’ve been itching, been working my tail off to get back out there and be with the guys. It’s just exciting to get some reps and get back in there.
“I’ve done a really good job with the film study and paying attention in practice and keeping notes. I’m behind in a few things, but I feel I’ve got experience, I’ve played before, so I just hop back in there and try to make some plays.”
Posted Aug 17, 2015
Alain Poupart
Lead Writer
Dolphins.com
Head Coach Joe Philbin admitted it might not have been a coincidence that Kenny Stills’ college highlights video was playing in the weight room before practice Monday.
When the Dolphins hit the field at the Doctors Hospital Training Facility at Nova Southeastern University, Stills was back with his teammates for the first time since the early days of training camp.
Stills, who had been out with a calf injury, didn’t see the video but deadpanned: “I heard that it’s a long highlight reel.”
Returning to practice obviously put Stills in a good mood, and he marked the occasion with a few catches.
One that stood out was a long completion from quarterback Ryan Tannehill in a seven-on-seven drill.
“It’s great to have him back,” Tannehill said. “We saw a flash of what he’s known for — catching the ball downfield and not only that but we made an adjustment to a cover zero right there in the two-minute drive, and he was able to see the adjustment and make the catch for a big play for us.
“He’s definitely a big-play receiver. I think that obviously his speed is tremendous, his route-running ability, the smoothness he has coming in and out of breaks is probably the smoothest that I’ve seen. So when you add that to what we have from the other guys, it really opens up another connection for us.”
Philbin said it was too early to determine whether Stills will play in the preseason game against the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Saturday.
Philbin indicated it would depend in part on how Stills’ body responds to practicing Monday. But this was a positive step regardless.
“I thought he looked good,” Philbin said. “Obviously he’s been working hard doing what he’s capable of doing. But it’s good to get him out here and work on the route concepts and the timing with the other receivers and the quarterbacks obviously. So it was good to have him.”
Stills, obtained from the New Orleans Saints in an offseason trade, had last practiced Aug. 2. Since then, he had been doing conditioning work on the side.
“It’s great to be back out there obviously,” Stills said. “I’ve been itching, been working my tail off to get back out there and be with the guys. It’s just exciting to get some reps and get back in there.
“I’ve done a really good job with the film study and paying attention in practice and keeping notes. I’m behind in a few things, but I feel I’ve got experience, I’ve played before, so I just hop back in there and try to make some plays.”
