Everything (Else) You Need to Know: 1st Joint Practice

Bill Voth
2 years ago
Categories: August 19, News
Tags: Bank of America Stadium, Carolina Panthers, Charles Johnson, Derek Anderson, Devin Funchess, Dolphins, Fozzy Whittaker, Jerricho Cotchery, Josh Norman, Kelvin Benjamin, Marcus Lucas, Miami Dolphins, Michael Oher, Mike Remmers, Ron Rivera, Scott Simonson, Stephen Hill, Ted Ginn, Trai Turner, Training Camp

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Health Watch

• The day was dominated by what happened to WR Kelvin Benjamin. No contact, just bad luck.

• Then it ended with more bad news: A tweaked right hamstring for WR Devin Funchess. Coach Ron Rivera said Funchess will likely miss Thursday’s second joint practice, but the severity of the injury is unclear.

• As Rivera said Tuesday, DE Charles Johnson’s sore calf will keep him out at least through the week.

Top Plays

• On the second play of team drills, RB Fozzy Whittaker popped out of a hole on the right side of the line created by RG Trai Turner and RT Mike Remmers. It’s possible Whittaker would have been tackled near the line if tackling was allowed, but his sprint downfield gave the early rising crowd something to cheer about.

• During the final team period, Derek Anderson tossed a perfect pass to tight end Marcus Lucas, who beat linebacker Spencer Paysinger for a touchdown.

• This space has been reserved for the Panthers, but the visitors deserve a nod. Dolphins safety Louis Delmas delivered the hit of the day on tight end Scott Simonson:

After the deflected pass had been intercepted by linebacker Chris McCain, Delmas reached down to make sure Simonson was ok. About an hour later, Delmas tore his ACL for the second time in 10 months.

Other Observations

• While no one wants to see guys throwing haymakers and taking cheap shots like in some big brawls that have happened at other joint practices, full credit to Remmers. He quickly reacted when left tackle Michael Oher and Miami defensive end Olivier Vernon got into it. Carolina Huddle has the video.

• That was the day’s only notable scuffle, which is pretty good considering what’s happened elsewhere. Some reactions to the mostly peaceful practice:

Rivera

“We tried to stress to our guys that we’re here to work, not here to fight. We’re here to take advantage of the opportunity to get better. We both tried to make sure our players understand if coach Philbin said something our guys it was if I was talking and if I said anything to Dolphins guys it’s like he was talking. I really appreciated that approach, and it really helps. As long as the players understand we’re trying to work together, it’s as if you’re practicing with yourselves, and we can get quality work out of it.”

Panthers WR Ted Ginn

“I believe that today was a great day for everybody, the Miami Dolphins and the Carolina Panthers. We went out and practiced hard and played hard and you get a kind of different feel for different situations when you’re out there, and it’s a blessing in disguise. As long as you can minus the fights and the arguments. I believe our coaches and their coaches put a great practice together. It was nice and long and it was no confrontation.”

Dolphins coach Joe Philbin

“I said to the Carolina Panthers today, ‘We love the way you guys play football, you’ve got a tough, hard, physical defense. We like to play the game the same way, and we came down here to compete and get better as a team, not to have barroom brawls.”

• Benjamin and Delmas tore their ACLs on the same field where Panthers receiver Stephen Hill suffered the same injury earlier this month.

When asked if he felt something was wrong with the field conditions at Wofford, Philbin said: “No. I think it’s a great facility. I walked the whole thing and was on every field and I think it’s a great setup they have here.”

• While the folks at Wofford have put on another fantastic camp, the players are ready to head home.

CB Josh Norman

“We’ve been up here for a while now. Sinuses are getting the best of me. I have to sleep with a humidifier in those dorms, carry around a stick to ward off animals. It’s been a very, very wild and adventurous time in Spartanburg. Yes, we are ready to go home.”

WR Jerricho Cotchery

“I love training camp. I’m one of those guys that maybe I’m considered a nut for that, but I’m ready to go back to Bank of America Stadium. Spartanburg has treated us well, and Wofford has treated us well, the food has been great, but I think guys are ready to get back and sleep in their own beds, in their Sleep Numbers, and have a different type of atmosphere.”

Coming Up

The final practice of camp and another joint sessions with the Dolphins Thursday morning at 9:25.

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