Rookie camp notes

[travis minor]

orlandosentinel.com/sports/football/sfl-dolphinscamp072707,0,2870042.story

Dolphins rookie QB Beck impresses as camp opens
By Kevin Clark

Sun-Sentinel.com

5:14 PM EDT, July 24, 2007

DAVIE
The afternoon session of the Miami Dolphins' rookie camp moved indoors as the players escaped the heat in the bubble. Trent Green's participation increased from the morning session, and again, all four quarterbacks -- Green, John Beck, Cleo Lemon and Gibran Hamdan -- participated in drills.


Beck showed off impressive arm strength, hitting receivers over the middle with a Brett Favre-like fastball, including Kerry Reed, who he found numerous times in the morning session.

Shirdonya Mitchell intercepted one of Beck's passes, a jump-ball intended for the 6-foot-6 David Sutton. The ball was deflected and fell into the hands of Mitchell, 7 inches shorter than Sutton.

Reed stole the show on two consecutive plays. On one play, Reed urged Sutton, who fell to the ground as he caught the ball, to get up and led him to the end zone. On the next play, Reed made a diving catch over the middle on a ball intended for another player.

In the one-on-one receiver/defensive back drills, Courtney Bryan and Christopher Vedder were both flagged for pass interference.

At morning session of the rookies' first practice, all the talk at camp was about Ted Ginn Jr.'s absence, as the Dolphins continue to negotiate a contract for their first-round pick.

Highlights from morning practice:

Lorenzo Booker returned all punts in drills, in the absence of Ginn, and Michigan State rookie punter Brandon Fields took a majority of the snaps.

Green did not participate in 7-on-7 plays, though he did throw in individual drills early in practice.

Beck threw the first and, so far, only interception during drills when a high pass was picked off by safety Courtney Bryan. Michael Malone was the intended target.

Reed caught several passes over the middle, all of them from Beck. Reed downplayed the chemistry saying, "He was just looking for the open target and found me a few times."

A converted defensive end, rookie outside linebacker Abraham Wright struggled in one-on-one pass-defense drills, drawing a flag on one attempt and being beaten by Ray Perkins on another.

Quotable

"Trent Green's been awesome. He's someone I can go to and get a veteran's opinion from right off the bat. Today there was a play when I thought one thing was going on in the secondary

[travis minor]

Camp is interesting but it never translates to real games.


Travis minor impressed in camp once upon a time...

[01Magic01]

I think Booker will end up being one of the best picks for the Fins from the draft. I really like his game and could see him surpassing Ronnie Brown if Brown doesn't start to step up his game.

[Lane1974]

I dont think Booker can be an everydown back, but I can see him in a poor man's Reggie Bush/NO Saints role

change of pace, passes in the flat to give him a mismatch, 3rd down back that kind of thing

8-10 touches a game

[spectrec130]

AHHH Training camp ALL-PROS. Of course some will look great in the off-season til it counts. Right now they r learning a new system and trying to get on the same page. Never get hi or lo on performances this time of year.

I'll wait n see throughout the year on how they progress and in gametime critical situations to annoint anyone anything!

Trent is doing well but thats not too surprising. It's when the 37 yr old China Doll gets hit by 300lbs DL thru out the year that is the major concern.

[01Magic01]

[quote="spectrec130"]AHHH Training camp ALL-PROS. Of course some will look great in the off-season til it counts. Right now they r learning a new system and trying to get on the same page. Never get hi or lo on performances this time of year.

I'll wait n see throughout the year on how they progress and in gametime critical situations to annoint anyone anything!

Trent is doing well but thats not too surprising. It's when the 37 yr old China Doll gets hit by 300lbs DL thru out the year that is the major concern.[/quote]

This is my biggest worry for the season since our backup is the scrub Cleo Lemon or unproven Beck.

I was really hoping the Fins would've kept Culpepper or even Harrington because no way in hell Green plays every game.

[heat4life]

Beck has displayed accuracy and smarts during camp so far. Same traits he had in college. If he keeps developing he might be #2 on the depth chart.