Pete Prisco
Senior NFL Columnist

Observations from Dolphins camp

DAVIE, Fla. -- Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill looks the part. He's big. He's strong. He's got a good arm. And he works at it. But there are a few things that concern me about him. One is his accuracy, but I think that will improve as he plays a second season. The more worrisome part of his game is his inability to get the ball out in a timely manner. The great quarterbacks anticipate receivers coming open and throw on time. Tannehill seems to wait for the player to come open and then make a throw. He also doesn't anticipate second-level throws. In the practices I watched, he seemed to miss some available receivers coming free on the second level, and instead took a check-down throw. That can't happen. He has to be more decisive with his reads and make quicker decisions. If he can get to another level in 2013, the Dolphins could be a playoff team. ...

-One thing's for certain watching the Dolphins practice: They will go deep a lot. By signing high-priced free agent Mike Wallace, the Dolphins added one of the fastest receivers in the league. And with Tannehill having a big arm, it makes sense to let it fly. Wallace and Tannehill have missed a few big-play chances during the early part of camp, but I expect them to grow as the Dolphins move to the season. ...

I am not sure Martin has to the foot speed to play the left side against all the big-time pass rushers and protect Tannehill's backside. ...

Keep an eye on second-year player Olivier Vernon. I think he will be the guy to emerge as this team's second pass rusher in 2013. -Charles Clay is both a fullback and a tight end, the kind of valuable reserves teams need. Clay flashed at times last season as a pass receiver, and he's one of those Swiss Army Knife-type of players. With veteran Dustin Keller in as a tight end, Clay will provide a nice compliment as a pass catcher. Deon Sims will likely be the blocker. Clay does need to be more consistent.

---Look for the Dolphins to blitz more with linebackers Dannell Ellerbe and Phillip Wheeler, ...

---The Dolphins will be an 8-8 team at best. I just don't see them beating the Patriots in the division. Do you? ...

---The Dolphins new logo looks soft. Are they?

---Dolphins safety Reshad Jones will be a top-50 player after this season.

Dude can't right for sh*t...


Can you WRITE? lol....

Dude can't right for sh*t...


Can you WRITE? lol....

---The Dolphins signed corner Brent Grimes to a one-year deal, and so far he's looked like a bargain. Grimes, the feisty, smallish corner from the Falcons, has earned rave reviews from his teammates. Grimes is coming off a lost season in which he sat out with a torn Achilles tendon. This was to be his big contract year, but missing the season cost him a chance at a big payday. If he plays well in 2013, he should get it next year. The big concern is the other side. Richard Marshall and Dimitri Patterson will be in the mix, but the team wants rookie second-round pick Jamar Taylor to win the job. One problem: He's been missing time after hernia surgery.

Pete Prisco

Keep an eye on second-year player Olivier Vernon. I think he will be the guy to emerge as this team's second pass rusher in 2013.

Sure am happy we traded up to # 3 to get that DE

You do realize that Cam Wake isn't going to be playing at such a high level for much longer? He is on the wrong side of 30.

Hey I cant knock the guy, he seems to have potential to be one of the best. And I think we will see plenty of him this year in various spots. It really seems to have lit a fire under Vernon, and 3 top notch DE's is not a bad thing. I really am not to worried about Wake's age either, he would have to show some signs of wear..

I just hope we can score points on offense. Seems to me that is an area of this team everyone has questions about...

He sure does have the potential to be a beast. But he's what 31 or 32 now? It's time to start grooming his replacement (Vernon and/or Jordan).

Dolphins first-round pick Dion Jordan is expected to open the season as a "third-down specialist."
Jordan's role could grow over the course of the year, but Olivier Vernon appears to have nailed down Miami's right end job, and the Fins have three quality tackles in Randy Starks, Paul Soliai, and Jared Odrick. Jordan will be used like Aldon Smith during his rookie year in San Francisco.

I think 8-8 would be a huge disappointment

I agree. We're a young team and there are a lot of question marks at QB, LT, RT, RG, TE, and CB for a lot of the non-Dolphins media to get too excited over. Also, the media has been burned many times by jumping aboard teams that spend a lot of money in free agency. I think this is a potential 10-6 team.

a deadly trio of pass rushers and a dominant run line.

Right now we have one deadly pass rusher and a lot of hope.

Swerve, I think Miami has a brutal start to their schedule having to travel to an improved Cleveland team, going to Indy, Atlanta home and on the road to New Orleans for a Monday game.

I certainly hope we are vastly improved or we could be in for a 1-3 start. If they go 2-2 during this beginning stretch that would be nice. 0-4 start would be demoralizing.