Dolphins 2015 Training Camp: Quick Facts & Things To Know
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DAVIE (CBSMiami/AP) – The Miami Dolphins are set to begin their 2015 Training Camp later this week, with all players reporting to the team's practice facility in Davie on Wednesday, July 29th.
The team will take the practice field for the first time the following day.
For all the information on attending Dolphins camp practices, check out CBS Miami's Training Camp Guide by clicking here.
The Dolphins head into the upcoming season with an extremely talented roster that many believe should get the team over the hump and back into the NFL playoffs.
Head coach Joe Philbin is on the hot seat entering his fourth season as the Dolphins skipper. He has a combined record of 23-25, never finishing better than 8-8.
Here are some things to know heading into the beginning of training camp.
MIAMI DOLPHINS (2014 season: 8-8)
OPEN CAMP: July 30, Davie, Florida.
LAST YEAR: The Dolphins finished at or near .500 for third consecutive year under coach Joe Philbin, extending their long playoff drought to six years without making it to the postseason and 14 years without a playoff victory. Miami's aging defense ranked 20th in points allowed, compared with seventh and 11th in first two seasons under Philbin; in their final four games Miami gave up 28, 41, 35 and 37 points. The most encouraging development was the improvement of third-year quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who set a franchise record for completions and became Miami's first 4,000-yard passer since Dan Marino.
IMPORTANT ADDITIONS: DTs Ndamukong Suh, Jordan Phillips and C.J. Mosley; WRs DeVante Parker, Greg Jennings and Kenny Stills; TE Jordan Cameron;, CB Zack Bowman; G-T Jeff Linkenbach; C J.D. Walton; Gs Jamil Douglas and G Jacques McClendon; DB Brice McCain; LB Spencer Paysinger.
IMPORTANT LOSSES: WRs Mike Wallace, Brandon Gibson and Brian Hartline; TE Charles Clay; DL Jared Odrick; DT Randy Starks; DE Dion Jordan (suspended for one year); LBs Dannell Ellerbe, Jason Trusnik and Philip Wheeler; RBs Knowshon Moreno and Daniel Thomas; Gs Shelley Smith and Daryn Colledge; C Samson Satele; CB Cortland Finnegan; S Jimmy Wilson.
CAMP NEEDS: Philbin must sort out Miami's revamped receiving corps, secondary and offensive line desperately in need of an upgrade. In his first three seasons, Tannehill has been sacked NFL-high 139 times. The team remains thin at guard, and it's unclear whether LT Braden Albert will return from knee injury in time for opener.
EXPECTATIONS: This is Dolphins' 50th season, and past few have been disappointing. Optimism is highest in four years under Philbin, whose job is on the line. New receivers are expected to be better match for Tannehill's skills, and with 1,000-yard rusher Lamar Miller returning, the offense could be formidable. Suh should make defense better, although there are issues with linebackers and secondary. Even if Dolphins start strong, they'll need to shake the habit of late-season collapses to reach the playoffs for first time since 2008, and perhaps even win a postseason game for first time since 2000.
(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)