Rookies hook up on deep pass
DAVIE - The Miami Dolphins glimpsed their future Tuesday afternoon.
At least they hope they did.
During a 7-on-7 team drill that featured mostly rookies and new players, second-round pick John Beck threw a deep pass that was hauled in for a touchdown by first-round selection Ted Ginn Jr.
The speedy wide receiver blew past defensive backs Shirdonya Mitchell and rookie Tuff Harris and actually appeared to have to wait slightly on the pass from his rookie quarterback.
"In the defense's defense, we drew that one in the dirt," Dolphins coach Cam Cameron said. "We've been running a route that looks similar to that, and I think you need to show young guys that you don't always go in there and look at the tape and think that offenses aren't going to adjust.
"We've been running the route for three days the same, and we got in the huddle and said, 'Hey Ted, instead of doing that, do that,' and said to John, 'If he's open, throw it to him,' so they learned a lot in terms of how you can truly in a game come up with something that you think will work."
While the play worked to perfection and appeared to catch the defense off guard, Ted Ginn Jr. didn't seem to go with the whole drew-the-play-up-in-the-dirt scenario.
"I thought I ran the play," he said as he headed off to a meeting. "If it was something different, I'll find out in a minute."
Reflecting on Walsh
Cameron gave his thoughts on the passing of Hall of Fame San Francisco 49ers coach Bill Walsh, who died at 75 on Monday after a long bout with leukemia.
"He meant a tremendous deal to me," Cameron said. "Bo Schembechler introduced me to him in the early '80s, and how could you not be a fan of Bill Walsh and what he's done in this league. I want to let everyone know how I feel -- how we feel as an organization. We've lost a great man, a great man first and foremost, and just a giant in our profession, and he had a huge impact on me. I was not fortunate enough to work for him, but I felt like I did."
Cameron had declined to comment after news of Walsh's death broke. He said he was merely trying to respect quarterbacks coach Terry Shea, who was Walsh's offensive coordinator at Stanford, and former Dolphins coach Don Shula, who was a friend of Walsh.
Miami's first-year coach also said he has adopted many parts of Walsh's West Coast Offense into what the Dolphins will run this season.
Toledo still out
Guard Joe Toledo, still wearing a walking boot while recovering from surgery to repair a broken right foot, hopes to return to practice sometime during the preseason. He's just not sure when that will be.
"We have a plan in place and I'm following that," Toledo said. "They haven't given me a specific time when they think I'm going to be back. I'm just following the plan. Hopefully, it will be sooner rather than later."
Toledo said he was due to be re-evaluated "in the next week or so."
Shula praises coach
Shula was a guest on ESPNEWS on Tuesday and was asked for his opinion on the current state of the Dolphins franchise now that Nick Saban is gone and Cameron is in as the head coach.
"Nick who?" Shula deadpanned. "I like the coach they have there now. (Former San Diego Chargers coach) Marty Schottenheimer's a good friend of mine. We talk a lot. He thought Cam was one of the best assistant coaches he's ever had. A great offensive mind. That's what he's going to be with the Dolphins."
Shula went on to praise the Dolphins defense and called defensive end Jason Taylor and linebacker Zach Thomas Hall of Fame players.
Extra points
The Dolphins spent most of their 90-minute morning practice working on their special teams units, but came back wearing pads for an extended evening practice. . . . Toledo and cornerback Andre Goodman (shoulder) still are on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform List. . . . Beck looked relatively sharp in the morning session. It was the most work he has gotten in any previous training camp practice. . . . Wide receiver Derek Hagan made a nice catch in traffic, with cornerback Derrick Johnson trying to defend him. The team will hold only one practice today. It will begin at 3:15 p.m.
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