Defense Looking Good, Offense Struggling As Dolphins Camp Continues
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DAVIE (CBSMiami) – It's been a bit of a struggle for the Miami Dolphins offense so far during training camp.
Whether that's a knock on the offense or a tip of the cap to the defense, or a mix of both, has yet to be determined and probably won't be until we reach the regular season.
In recent years during training camp the Dolphins defense has looked very good but unfortunately that didn't translate to the regular season.
The bigger concern at the moment is that Miami's new offensive-guru head coach Adam Gase is being counted on to turn the stagnant group into at least a respectable unit.
Over a week into training camp and with the Dolphins first preseason game just days away, things have not been going particularly well on the field.
Gase seemed optimistic about things following Monday's practice though, noting that there is still a lot of practice time between now and Week 1.
"I loved the energy level that they brought today," Gase said. "They worked hard. We're trying to do a better job of executing. I thought that the entire team came out and was refocused. After a day off, they came out here and worked. Sometimes you don't always get that. I've been impressed with this group as far as either the day before a day off or the day after a day off, besides the little speed bump we had there with the offense the other night in the scrimmage."
That little speed bump he mentioned was a mistake-filled, lackluster performance in the group's first opportunity to shine.
The other side of that coin is that the defense has looked very solid.
"Defense – every day they've come out here (with) full energy, attitude (and) speed," Gase said on Monday. "Every day they've done it."
As for the players, they aren't making any excuses other than that it's still early in training camp.
"It's still week one, right? It's been one week of training camp," said starting left tackle Branden Albert. "The defense is going good. I don't think we are doing that bad. We are still trying to grasp everything. Things aren't going to be perfect. Everybody wants to get on the offensive line, but we will get it done."
Albert is entering his third season with the Dolphins and his eighth in the NFL.
He hasn't played a full 16 game season since 2011, the only one of his career.
Gase has made a point of keeping players who have been injured in recent years fresh and healthy during training camp and Albert is no exception.
"I feel like I'm off a little bit," Albert explained. "This is a schedule I'm getting used to. I'm used to hurting right now. I'm kind of feeling fresh, Coach [Gase] is looking out for me. I'm learning how to say I've got to do extra right now to keep my mind and body right, because I'm not beat up right now. I need to figure out ways to do extra to keep my mind and keep my body going, it's getting there."
Albert and the rest of the Dolphins offense will face their first true test on Friday when Miami plays the New York Giants in their first preseason game under Gase.
Kickoff from MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey is set for Friday night at 7 p.m. and can be seen on CBS4, your official Dolphins station.