Here are some news and notes from Dolphins training camp:
Tanehill works with starters: Rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill received reps with the first team on Thursday for the first time during training camp, according to The Miami Herald.
Coach Joe Philbin said Tannehill’s performance since missing the first two days because of a contract dispute warranted him playing with the starters. “I think it’s on an as-earned basis,” Philbin told the newspaper. “He’s throwing the ball well enough in the couple of days he’s been at practice. It’s been earned.”
Tannehill is competing with David Garrard and Matt Moore for the starting job, but he’s No. 3 on the depth chart in what appears to be a two-man race.
“I think I’ve gotten better every practice. I want to be the guy,” Tannehill told the newspaper. “It’s not a goal to be a backup. I want to play; I want to get in there.”
Fullback becoming more of an option: The Dolphins are using more two-back sets in an effort to get the fullback more involved, according to The Miami Herald.
Ryan Mahaffey, at 6-foot-2 and 250 pounds, is receiving the majority of the work on the first team, but he’s being pushed by rookie Jorvorskie Lane (5-foot-11, 275 pounds) and Jerome Messam, who is 6-foot-4, 250 pounds.
“We have made a conscious effort to get a little more of a two-back in there,” Philbin told the newspaper. “And it’s as much of an evaluation tool than anything else. The scheme’s negotiable, week-in, week-out.”
Davis focused on the future: Cornerback Vontae Davis, a former first-round pick, is making strides to make up for a disappointing year last season when he made 43 tackles in 12 games after amassing 54 in 16 games, according to The Miami Herald’s Adam Beasley.
Davis, who is entering his fourth season, can’t afford another bad season if he’s to remain in the team’s plans.
For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis on the Miami Dolphins from blogger Dave Carey, follow @CBSSportsNFLMIA.
