(Sports Network) -
REPORT DATE: July 26th
SITE: Miami Dolphins Training Facility, Davie, FL
CAMP OBJECTIVES: The cameras will be rolling in South Florida this summer, and
the Dolphins figure to provide plenty of entertainment for HBO's "Hard Knocks"
series with the compelling position battles that will take place at camp. The
headline story will undoubtedly be at quarterback, where three players are in
the mix to run first-year head coach Joe Philbin's West Coast offense. Matt
Moore entered the offseason as the favorite after a solid 12-start stint under
the old staff last season, but will need to fend off rejuvenated veteran David
Garrard, who missed all of 2011 with a back injury but showed well in the
team's minicamp sessions. Miami also spent its first pick in April's draft on
athletic Texas A&M triggerman Ryan Tannehill, and the rookie should receive
plenty of preseason work to state his own case. The pecking order at wide
receiver is equally as cloudy, with holdovers Brian Hartline and Davone Bess
joined by the always-colorful Chad Johnson (formerly Ochocinco) and ex-Panther
Legedu Naanee for the right to be the new No. 1 target in the wake of Brandon
Marshall's offseason trade to Chicago. Competitions also exist on the right
side of the offensive line, with rookie second-round choice Jonathan Martin
contesting Lydon Murtha at tackle and free-agent pickup Artis Hicks vying with
disappointing 2009 third-rounder John Jerry at guard. The Dolphins didn't have
much turnover on defense, but the switch to a 4-3 look under new coordinator
Kevin Coyle will require some fine-tuning. Top pass rusher Cameron Wake will
now work at right end after previously excelling as a stand-up linebacker,
with former first-round pick Jared Odrick entering the starting lineup on the
opposite side.
PRESEASON SCHEDULE (All Times Eastern):
Aug. 10 - vs. Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 18 - at Carolina, 8 p.m.
Aug. 24 - vs. Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 29 - at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
The Sports Network