Probably the last ones before the first preseason games:
-- Another [Bills] player who will presumably see starting minutes with the injury news is rookie Eric Striker. It was Striker who had one of the nights biggest defensive plays. After Cardale Jones took a drop, Striker gained penetration but was denied a sack by the officials, much to the chagrin of the defensive sideline. On the very next play, Striker burst into the backfield from the outside and was rewarded with a sack for a five yard loss.
- [Dolphins WR DeVonte] Parker, who had a strong finish to a rookie season that began with him dealing with a foot injury, is expected to be a key part of the passing game along with fellow wide receivers Jarvis Landry and Kenny Stills.
- Among the few [Dolphins scrimmage] highlights for the offense were a couple of runs by Damien Williams, who was credited with gains of 9 and 11 yards on different series.
- Williams has had an impressive showing since joining practice Tuesday after beginning training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list.
“He’s been doing a great job since he got back,” Gase said. “He’s been the one guy when he’s been back, he brings that juice you want. When he gets a rep, he makes every one count. That was something when he was on PUP and when he got back, (special teams coordinator Darren) Rizzi told me, “I promise you this, if you give him two reps, you’ll get everything he has.’ He’s proven Riz right 100 percent.”
- Phillips Making The Most Of His Opportunity
Posted Aug 9, 2016
Alain Poupart, Lead Writer
Dolphins.com
Phillips lined up with the first-team defense Saturday when the Dolphins scrimmaged inside the practice bubble and also the past two days.
Second-year defensive tackle Jordan Phillips made no secret in the spring that his goal this season was beating out veteran Earl Mitchell for the starting job next to Ndamukong Suh.
With Mitchell currently sidelined with a calf injury, Phillips is getting a great opportunity these days to line up with the first-team defense in the hope of showing his coaches what he can do.
“Stuff happens and you’ve got to take advantage of it when it happens,” Phillips said after practice Tuesday. “So that’s all I’m trying to do. Just doing the same thing I was doing, just trying to work hard and whatever happens, happens.”
Phillips lined up with the first-team defense Saturday when the Dolphins scrimmaged inside the practice bubble and also the past two days. Head Coach Adam Gase said Phillips has done a good job so far of making the most of his opportunity.
“I know the other night, for a guy that size, just seeing him finish and running down the field and being disruptive and penetration, he did a great job in the scrimmage,” Gase said. “And then yesterday, he did a good job again. He’s shown two days in a row. I’ll be interested to see what it looks like today on film. That’s the biggest thing for some of these guys, especially the young guys is understanding that you want to constantly just keep putting good tape out there every day. It can’t be like, great, great, I didn’t really show up today. That’s when you get nervous as a coach because that means on Sunday, like, who are you getting?”
That level of consistency, along with the study habits and work ethic required in the NFL, is what held Phillips back a bit during his rookie season of 2015 after he joined the Dolphins as a second-round pick out of the University of Oklahoma.
Phillips said he learned valuable lessons.
“Just how much I actually didn’t know about football,” he said. “Technically, studying film and stuff like that. (Now) I know what to expect. I know how to work a little bit harder. That’s it.”
Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said the determination was made heading into training camp that Mitchell and Phillips’ first-team reps at defensive tackle would be determined by whoever practiced best.
Joseph said that while Mitchell got the nod until he was sidelined that shouldn’t necessarily be viewed as a reflection on Phillips.
“I’ll tell you this, Earl and Jordan have both worked hard,” Joseph said. “Obviously we’re going to need at least four inside guys to play. Whoever starts — in my mind — does not matter. I want those four inside guys we keep on the roster to be all dominant players. I’m not down on Jordan, but I want Jordan to grow and become the player we think he can be. That’s why he has been pushing the way he has been pushed.
“You get a player with that size and ability, we got to make him do it. That’s why you pay coaches. I’m not down on Jordan. We’re going to keep working with Jordan, and we’re going to make Jordan the player he should be.”
“[Browns rookies] Scooby [Wright III] and Dominique Alexander are great pickups for us,” Holland said. “Those two are very hard workers for one, and they are learning our defense and are athletic guys, physical guys that can run. Scooby is a guy that’s very instinctive. He had a lot of production in college, and it’s showing up on the practice field now. He has a natural knack to get to the ball. Dominque, he’s a guy that has speed and quickness and can run and change direction and a smart guy. They’re going to be great additions to what we’re trying to do here.”
- SEVEN SHOTS: This one was all offense, with the only stop occurring when RB Le’Veon Bell was tripped by S Shamarko Thomas, who broke hard on the play, and [Steelers QB Landry] Jones’ pass fell incomplete.
Jones hit WR Antonio Brown on a beautiful fade to the back corner over Cockrell and got the ball to Brown again in the middle of the end zone after deciding against trying to find FB Roosevelt Nix in the flat.
Jones’ last rep was a roll right that connected with Bell, who managed to stay in bounds, make the catch and successfully navigate the pylon.
- As for what happens when [Jags CB] Aaron Colvin returns from suspension, that’s trickier. I thought entering camp Colvin likely would be the nickel defensive back. With Amukamara and Ramsey playing so well – and with Ramsey so gifted in the slot – it may be tough to take Ramsey/Amukamara out of their roles when Colvin returns.
- [Broncos] RT Donald Stephenson returned to team repetitions after sitting out Monday's team-period work because of a calf injury.
- [Broncos QB Mark] Sanchez threw one of his best deep passes of training camp Tuesday, hitting Demaryius Thomas up the left sideline. Lynch also had one of his best deep balls, hitting Durron Neal up the right sideline behind the defense on a play-action rollout to the right.
- [Broncos LBs] Zaire Anderson and Corey Nelson are the No. 2 inside linebackers behind Brandon Marshall and Todd Davis. This reflects their use throughout the offseason and training camp.
- [Giants] WR STERLING SHEPARD
The rookie second-round draft pick continues to show his ability to make all the tough catches, racking up a handful today during 1-on-1, 7-on-7 and full team periods. He helped Manning to a perfect 5-for-5 start before catching a touchdown from Nassib in the red zone. Now he’ll try to translate the success to games, beginning on Friday night.
“It is my first time being able to put on the Giants uniform,” Shepard said. “Every time I step on to the field, I want to give my max effort and I don’t want to put any sloppy film out there.”
- [Cowboys TE] Geoff Swaim – The second-year tight end continues to put together a solid camp. Most importantly, he continues to prove himself as a reliable option for both Dak Prescott and Jameill Showers. Swaim featured heavily during practice, hauling in multiple catches across the field. With Gavin Escobar and James Hanna both sitting out of the day’s activities, Swaim had all the opportunities he could possibly want.
- [Eagles QB] Sam Bradford is fully healthy and the coaches seem very happy with him. He is bigger and stronger than ever. He has limited turnovers in practice. He is throwing the ball well. Bradford has had the best camp of the group and you can see why Doug Pederson wanted him back for this year. Bradford gives the team a talented veteran quarterback, and that gives the Eagles a chance to compete.
- DeFilippo: Bradford's Set The Bar High
Quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo joined Dave Spadaro inside the studio on Sunday's Inside Training Camp presented by Xfinity. Spadaro asked about the performance of Sam Bradford to this point in Training Camp and Coach Flip had this amazing statistic - Bradford has thrown just one interception in nine padded practice. DeFilippo said "that's almost 200 throws."
"I think everyone would agree that Sam's playing at a very high level," DeFilippo added. "He's set the bar high for the rest of the quarterback room."
DeFilippo noted that Bradford is bigger, physically, than he's been at any point in his career. Even though he wasn't with the Eagles in 2015, DeFilippo can see watching the tape how much better Bradford's mechanics are now as compared to a year ago when the quarterback was coming off of knee rehab.
"He's getting his feet down a lot quicker," DeFilippo said. "He's more comfortable planting off of both legs. He's bigger from a physicality standpoint."
- The [Redskins] have also not made a decision on left tackle Trent Williams, who was held out of practice last Thursday and Friday with knee soreness. Williams returned to practice on Sunday but has been limited, mostly participating in individual drills.
- Adrian Peterson is still Adrian Peterson
Age is only a number, and Father Time doesn’t have Adrian Peterson’s yet. Yes, Father Time is undefeated, but it seems like it has a long way to go in the battle against Peterson. The Vikings all-time leading rusher displayed no signs of slowing down at his 10th training camp, even after a season in which he led the NFL in rushing and had the third-most attempts of his career. Peterson looked fresh, moved fast, cut sharply and was a bear to thud. He looks primed for another big-time season in 2016.
- [Panthers] Cornerbacks continue to learn: In some early one-on-one drills, the Panthers' rookie corners got some object lessons. When wide receiver Kevin Norwood beat Daryl Worley deep, secondary coach Steve Wilks talked to Worley about how not being physical enough at the line of scrimmage turned it into a “track meet” situation. On the next snap, Wilks was able to talk to Zack Sanchez about not being sucked into fakes by receivers on a Damiere Byrd catch.
- Sanchez breaks it up: Rookie cornerback Zack Sanchez is looking more and more comfortable at nickel. His nose for the ball was on display Tuesday, reading a pass headed to wide receiver Stephen Hill and diving to get a hand on it.
- Sanchez digesting new position
Max Henson, Staff Writer
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Rookie cornerback Zack Sanchez has always had a voracious appetite.
Prior to games in college, the former Oklahoma Sooner said he would sneak chicken fingers into the locker room to satisfy his pre-game hunger.
"I felt like the more I ate, the better," Sanchez said.
He’s got plenty on his plate entering his first NFL season.
Sanchez, an outside cornerback throughout his college career, has been learning the nickel position and all of its intricacies for Carolina’s defense.
"It’s been good. It’s difficult at times," Sanchez said. "Obviously, coming from college, my sole job on the outside was, whoever their (top) guy is, that’s who you cover the whole game. Being able to set the front, dealing with motions, so many different drops – it’s something I’ve never done.
"You’re basically a linebacker that can cover."
And Sanchez doesn’t look anything like a linebacker. Scouts and draft analysts questioned whether the 5-11, 185 pounder could hold up physically in the NFL.
The Panthers believe he can, and Sanchez is eager to prove them right.
"Definitely, I think that was the biggest question mark," Sanchez said of his willingness to hit. "For me to be able to go out and show what I’m capable of, I think it will put the coaches at ease."
The coaching staff has had Sanchez work through some linebacker position drills to prepare him for the collisions he’ll encounter in the run game.
"I think the first day of practice I was in with the linebackers shedding blocks and different things like that," Sanchez said. "It’s physical in there and we need to be able, when we’re needed, to be in the run fit and (we’re) expected to make those tackles."
With all that’s been thrown at him, Sanchez can confidently say he has a newfound respect for cornerbacks who operate in the slot.
"I remember in college I used to give my nickels a hard time, like, ‘Y’all’s job is easy,’" Sanchez recalled. "But actually playing it, I see the difficulties they face day in and day out."
Coincidentally, Sanchez will see one of those former teammates in Baltimore.
"Julian Wilson, he actually plays for the Ravens so I’ll see him on Wednesday," Sanchez said. "He was our nickel (at Oklahoma). We’ve been talking these past couple weeks, especially since we’re about to play each other, on how difficult the nickel position is. He told me, ‘I tried to tell you.’"
Sanchez is now finding out on his own. His confidence hasn’t ever wavered, and he’s continued to progress throughout training camp.
"It’s difficult, but I accepted the challenge," he said of his new position. "I like it, and obviously, it will make me a better player."
- [Bucs] G Ali Marpet
Gerald McCoy has been so dominant during training camp that it’s surprising to see him contained … ever. Marpet has been the player tasked with blocking McCoy for the most part and during practice on Tuesday, he held his own. During one-on-one drills, Marpet won a few reps against McCoy. During team drills, he was able to keep McCoy under wraps, though he occasionally needed help. A strong run-blocker, Marpet’s pass protection has improved dramatically since he first arrived in Tampa Bay last spring.
- Hargreaves, and Spence, as well as Vitale and fellow [Bucs] sixth-round pick linebacker Devante Bond are all listed as second-teamers.
Bonus coverage: Garrett enjoys good day: Undrafted [Panthers] rookie receiver Keyarris Garrett [from Tulsa] made some noise in Monday's practice, and so did Panthers fans in kind. Garrett went over the top of Sanchez for arguably the best catch of the day and his best of camp, drawing a nice round of applause. He later made a catch on a nice route in team period. Receiver Avius Capers had a good day as well with a pair of nice plays in short order.
-- Another [Bills] player who will presumably see starting minutes with the injury news is rookie Eric Striker. It was Striker who had one of the nights biggest defensive plays. After Cardale Jones took a drop, Striker gained penetration but was denied a sack by the officials, much to the chagrin of the defensive sideline. On the very next play, Striker burst into the backfield from the outside and was rewarded with a sack for a five yard loss.
- [Dolphins WR DeVonte] Parker, who had a strong finish to a rookie season that began with him dealing with a foot injury, is expected to be a key part of the passing game along with fellow wide receivers Jarvis Landry and Kenny Stills.
- Among the few [Dolphins scrimmage] highlights for the offense were a couple of runs by Damien Williams, who was credited with gains of 9 and 11 yards on different series.
- Williams has had an impressive showing since joining practice Tuesday after beginning training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list.
“He’s been doing a great job since he got back,” Gase said. “He’s been the one guy when he’s been back, he brings that juice you want. When he gets a rep, he makes every one count. That was something when he was on PUP and when he got back, (special teams coordinator Darren) Rizzi told me, “I promise you this, if you give him two reps, you’ll get everything he has.’ He’s proven Riz right 100 percent.”
- Phillips Making The Most Of His Opportunity
Posted Aug 9, 2016
Alain Poupart, Lead Writer
Dolphins.com
Phillips lined up with the first-team defense Saturday when the Dolphins scrimmaged inside the practice bubble and also the past two days.
Second-year defensive tackle Jordan Phillips made no secret in the spring that his goal this season was beating out veteran Earl Mitchell for the starting job next to Ndamukong Suh.
With Mitchell currently sidelined with a calf injury, Phillips is getting a great opportunity these days to line up with the first-team defense in the hope of showing his coaches what he can do.
“Stuff happens and you’ve got to take advantage of it when it happens,” Phillips said after practice Tuesday. “So that’s all I’m trying to do. Just doing the same thing I was doing, just trying to work hard and whatever happens, happens.”
Phillips lined up with the first-team defense Saturday when the Dolphins scrimmaged inside the practice bubble and also the past two days. Head Coach Adam Gase said Phillips has done a good job so far of making the most of his opportunity.
“I know the other night, for a guy that size, just seeing him finish and running down the field and being disruptive and penetration, he did a great job in the scrimmage,” Gase said. “And then yesterday, he did a good job again. He’s shown two days in a row. I’ll be interested to see what it looks like today on film. That’s the biggest thing for some of these guys, especially the young guys is understanding that you want to constantly just keep putting good tape out there every day. It can’t be like, great, great, I didn’t really show up today. That’s when you get nervous as a coach because that means on Sunday, like, who are you getting?”
That level of consistency, along with the study habits and work ethic required in the NFL, is what held Phillips back a bit during his rookie season of 2015 after he joined the Dolphins as a second-round pick out of the University of Oklahoma.
Phillips said he learned valuable lessons.
“Just how much I actually didn’t know about football,” he said. “Technically, studying film and stuff like that. (Now) I know what to expect. I know how to work a little bit harder. That’s it.”
Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said the determination was made heading into training camp that Mitchell and Phillips’ first-team reps at defensive tackle would be determined by whoever practiced best.
Joseph said that while Mitchell got the nod until he was sidelined that shouldn’t necessarily be viewed as a reflection on Phillips.
“I’ll tell you this, Earl and Jordan have both worked hard,” Joseph said. “Obviously we’re going to need at least four inside guys to play. Whoever starts — in my mind — does not matter. I want those four inside guys we keep on the roster to be all dominant players. I’m not down on Jordan, but I want Jordan to grow and become the player we think he can be. That’s why he has been pushing the way he has been pushed.
“You get a player with that size and ability, we got to make him do it. That’s why you pay coaches. I’m not down on Jordan. We’re going to keep working with Jordan, and we’re going to make Jordan the player he should be.”
“[Browns rookies] Scooby [Wright III] and Dominique Alexander are great pickups for us,” Holland said. “Those two are very hard workers for one, and they are learning our defense and are athletic guys, physical guys that can run. Scooby is a guy that’s very instinctive. He had a lot of production in college, and it’s showing up on the practice field now. He has a natural knack to get to the ball. Dominque, he’s a guy that has speed and quickness and can run and change direction and a smart guy. They’re going to be great additions to what we’re trying to do here.”
- SEVEN SHOTS: This one was all offense, with the only stop occurring when RB Le’Veon Bell was tripped by S Shamarko Thomas, who broke hard on the play, and [Steelers QB Landry] Jones’ pass fell incomplete.
Jones hit WR Antonio Brown on a beautiful fade to the back corner over Cockrell and got the ball to Brown again in the middle of the end zone after deciding against trying to find FB Roosevelt Nix in the flat.
Jones’ last rep was a roll right that connected with Bell, who managed to stay in bounds, make the catch and successfully navigate the pylon.
- As for what happens when [Jags CB] Aaron Colvin returns from suspension, that’s trickier. I thought entering camp Colvin likely would be the nickel defensive back. With Amukamara and Ramsey playing so well – and with Ramsey so gifted in the slot – it may be tough to take Ramsey/Amukamara out of their roles when Colvin returns.
- [Broncos] RT Donald Stephenson returned to team repetitions after sitting out Monday's team-period work because of a calf injury.
- [Broncos QB Mark] Sanchez threw one of his best deep passes of training camp Tuesday, hitting Demaryius Thomas up the left sideline. Lynch also had one of his best deep balls, hitting Durron Neal up the right sideline behind the defense on a play-action rollout to the right.
- [Broncos LBs] Zaire Anderson and Corey Nelson are the No. 2 inside linebackers behind Brandon Marshall and Todd Davis. This reflects their use throughout the offseason and training camp.
- [Giants] WR STERLING SHEPARD
The rookie second-round draft pick continues to show his ability to make all the tough catches, racking up a handful today during 1-on-1, 7-on-7 and full team periods. He helped Manning to a perfect 5-for-5 start before catching a touchdown from Nassib in the red zone. Now he’ll try to translate the success to games, beginning on Friday night.
“It is my first time being able to put on the Giants uniform,” Shepard said. “Every time I step on to the field, I want to give my max effort and I don’t want to put any sloppy film out there.”
- [Cowboys TE] Geoff Swaim – The second-year tight end continues to put together a solid camp. Most importantly, he continues to prove himself as a reliable option for both Dak Prescott and Jameill Showers. Swaim featured heavily during practice, hauling in multiple catches across the field. With Gavin Escobar and James Hanna both sitting out of the day’s activities, Swaim had all the opportunities he could possibly want.
- [Eagles QB] Sam Bradford is fully healthy and the coaches seem very happy with him. He is bigger and stronger than ever. He has limited turnovers in practice. He is throwing the ball well. Bradford has had the best camp of the group and you can see why Doug Pederson wanted him back for this year. Bradford gives the team a talented veteran quarterback, and that gives the Eagles a chance to compete.
- DeFilippo: Bradford's Set The Bar High
Quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo joined Dave Spadaro inside the studio on Sunday's Inside Training Camp presented by Xfinity. Spadaro asked about the performance of Sam Bradford to this point in Training Camp and Coach Flip had this amazing statistic - Bradford has thrown just one interception in nine padded practice. DeFilippo said "that's almost 200 throws."
"I think everyone would agree that Sam's playing at a very high level," DeFilippo added. "He's set the bar high for the rest of the quarterback room."
DeFilippo noted that Bradford is bigger, physically, than he's been at any point in his career. Even though he wasn't with the Eagles in 2015, DeFilippo can see watching the tape how much better Bradford's mechanics are now as compared to a year ago when the quarterback was coming off of knee rehab.
"He's getting his feet down a lot quicker," DeFilippo said. "He's more comfortable planting off of both legs. He's bigger from a physicality standpoint."
- The [Redskins] have also not made a decision on left tackle Trent Williams, who was held out of practice last Thursday and Friday with knee soreness. Williams returned to practice on Sunday but has been limited, mostly participating in individual drills.
- Adrian Peterson is still Adrian Peterson
Age is only a number, and Father Time doesn’t have Adrian Peterson’s yet. Yes, Father Time is undefeated, but it seems like it has a long way to go in the battle against Peterson. The Vikings all-time leading rusher displayed no signs of slowing down at his 10th training camp, even after a season in which he led the NFL in rushing and had the third-most attempts of his career. Peterson looked fresh, moved fast, cut sharply and was a bear to thud. He looks primed for another big-time season in 2016.
- [Panthers] Cornerbacks continue to learn: In some early one-on-one drills, the Panthers' rookie corners got some object lessons. When wide receiver Kevin Norwood beat Daryl Worley deep, secondary coach Steve Wilks talked to Worley about how not being physical enough at the line of scrimmage turned it into a “track meet” situation. On the next snap, Wilks was able to talk to Zack Sanchez about not being sucked into fakes by receivers on a Damiere Byrd catch.
- Sanchez breaks it up: Rookie cornerback Zack Sanchez is looking more and more comfortable at nickel. His nose for the ball was on display Tuesday, reading a pass headed to wide receiver Stephen Hill and diving to get a hand on it.
- Sanchez digesting new position
Max Henson, Staff Writer
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Rookie cornerback Zack Sanchez has always had a voracious appetite.
Prior to games in college, the former Oklahoma Sooner said he would sneak chicken fingers into the locker room to satisfy his pre-game hunger.
"I felt like the more I ate, the better," Sanchez said.
He’s got plenty on his plate entering his first NFL season.
Sanchez, an outside cornerback throughout his college career, has been learning the nickel position and all of its intricacies for Carolina’s defense.
"It’s been good. It’s difficult at times," Sanchez said. "Obviously, coming from college, my sole job on the outside was, whoever their (top) guy is, that’s who you cover the whole game. Being able to set the front, dealing with motions, so many different drops – it’s something I’ve never done.
"You’re basically a linebacker that can cover."
And Sanchez doesn’t look anything like a linebacker. Scouts and draft analysts questioned whether the 5-11, 185 pounder could hold up physically in the NFL.
The Panthers believe he can, and Sanchez is eager to prove them right.
"Definitely, I think that was the biggest question mark," Sanchez said of his willingness to hit. "For me to be able to go out and show what I’m capable of, I think it will put the coaches at ease."
The coaching staff has had Sanchez work through some linebacker position drills to prepare him for the collisions he’ll encounter in the run game.
"I think the first day of practice I was in with the linebackers shedding blocks and different things like that," Sanchez said. "It’s physical in there and we need to be able, when we’re needed, to be in the run fit and (we’re) expected to make those tackles."
With all that’s been thrown at him, Sanchez can confidently say he has a newfound respect for cornerbacks who operate in the slot.
"I remember in college I used to give my nickels a hard time, like, ‘Y’all’s job is easy,’" Sanchez recalled. "But actually playing it, I see the difficulties they face day in and day out."
Coincidentally, Sanchez will see one of those former teammates in Baltimore.
"Julian Wilson, he actually plays for the Ravens so I’ll see him on Wednesday," Sanchez said. "He was our nickel (at Oklahoma). We’ve been talking these past couple weeks, especially since we’re about to play each other, on how difficult the nickel position is. He told me, ‘I tried to tell you.’"
Sanchez is now finding out on his own. His confidence hasn’t ever wavered, and he’s continued to progress throughout training camp.
"It’s difficult, but I accepted the challenge," he said of his new position. "I like it, and obviously, it will make me a better player."
- [Bucs] G Ali Marpet
Gerald McCoy has been so dominant during training camp that it’s surprising to see him contained … ever. Marpet has been the player tasked with blocking McCoy for the most part and during practice on Tuesday, he held his own. During one-on-one drills, Marpet won a few reps against McCoy. During team drills, he was able to keep McCoy under wraps, though he occasionally needed help. A strong run-blocker, Marpet’s pass protection has improved dramatically since he first arrived in Tampa Bay last spring.
- Hargreaves, and Spence, as well as Vitale and fellow [Bucs] sixth-round pick linebacker Devante Bond are all listed as second-teamers.
Bonus coverage: Garrett enjoys good day: Undrafted [Panthers] rookie receiver Keyarris Garrett [from Tulsa] made some noise in Monday's practice, and so did Panthers fans in kind. Garrett went over the top of Sanchez for arguably the best catch of the day and his best of camp, drawing a nice round of applause. He later made a catch on a nice route in team period. Receiver Avius Capers had a good day as well with a pair of nice plays in short order.
