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Fresh Fish: Dolphins try out five candidates at wide receiver
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By EDGAR THOMPSON
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Friday, November 07, 2008
DAVIE — In their continual efforts to upgrade the roster, the Dolphins today brought in a handful of candidates to fill a spot at wide receiver.
Two days after the team released Derek Hagan, five wideouts tried out at the team's facility this morning, an NFL source said.
The Dolphins signed offensive lineman Brandon Frye to fill Hagan's roster spot, but coach Tony Sparano said the team would like to add another wide receiver.
"We had a couple of guys in there to try out," he said. "Right now we're just kind of looking. Maybe there's a young guy out there. It's kind of a look-see."
The candidates weren't identified, but none appears to be from a large pool of established free-agent receivers, including Joe Horn, Reche Caldwell, Eddie Kennison and Terry Glenn.
Dolphins wideout Greg Camarillo said he didn't recognize any of the prospects who worked out. He said he wasn't surprised that the Bill Parcells regime continues to look for upgrades.
"They told us from Day 1 it's about competition," Camarillo said. "That's going to separate the performers form the people who lag behind. As much as you'd like it to stop during the season, it's not going to stop.
"It's just the mentality of this organization. You either roll with punches or you get punched."
After catching 11 passes at Denver on Sunday, Camarillo leads the Dolphins and is tied for seventh in the AFC with 43 receptions.
Buoyed by Camarillo's career day, the Dolphins receiver corps tied a season-high with 16 catches, a total also amassed against San Diego.
But Dolphins wideouts have just two touchdown catches this season.
Sparano also said today that he would like to upgrade the team's coverage units. Miami is last in the league on kick coverage and second to last on punts.
The Dolphins demand their wide receivers contribute on special teams, a big reason the team cut Hagan. It's also why free-agent acquisition Ernest Wilford has been inactive five of eight games this season despite signing a four-year contract with $6 million in guaranteed money.
"We're down a guy at the position," Sparano said. "If we can bring some legs in here that we think might have an arrow up, then we might take a chance."
Changing of the guards: Seeking better play at right guard, the coaches have been working back-up Andy Alleman with the first-team offense.
Alleman, a free-agent pickup in September, expects to get some snaps behind starter Ikechuku Ndukwe.
"As far as I know, I should have an opportunity to play this week," said Alleman, a third-round pick in 2007 out of Akron. "It's exciting. But I'm not going to get ahead of myself."
Ndukwe had shared snaps the past three games with Evan Mathis. But the team cut Mathis on Friday and signed Matt McChesney from the practice squad.
Sparano said he likes what Alleman brings to a line that has been inconsistent blocking in the run game.
"Andy is an intelligent guy that is a pretty physical player," Sparano said. "I just like what he's done right now in practice. He's been playing pretty tough out there."
Seahawks banged up: While the Dolphins end the week with no one on the injury report, the Seahawks have four players expected to miss Sunday's game.
Seneca Wallace will start his fourth consecutive game in place of quarterback Matt Hasselbeck (back). Also out are defensive tackle Red Bryant (ankle), linebacker David Hawthorne (calf) and defensive end Patrick Kerney (shoulder).
Three other players were limited in practice Friday - wide receiver Deion Branch (heel), tight end Will Heller (knee) and guard Floyd Womack (foot).
Listen to this article or download audio file.Click-2-Listen
By EDGAR THOMPSON
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Friday, November 07, 2008
DAVIE — In their continual efforts to upgrade the roster, the Dolphins today brought in a handful of candidates to fill a spot at wide receiver.
Two days after the team released Derek Hagan, five wideouts tried out at the team's facility this morning, an NFL source said.
The Dolphins signed offensive lineman Brandon Frye to fill Hagan's roster spot, but coach Tony Sparano said the team would like to add another wide receiver.
"We had a couple of guys in there to try out," he said. "Right now we're just kind of looking. Maybe there's a young guy out there. It's kind of a look-see."
The candidates weren't identified, but none appears to be from a large pool of established free-agent receivers, including Joe Horn, Reche Caldwell, Eddie Kennison and Terry Glenn.
Dolphins wideout Greg Camarillo said he didn't recognize any of the prospects who worked out. He said he wasn't surprised that the Bill Parcells regime continues to look for upgrades.
"They told us from Day 1 it's about competition," Camarillo said. "That's going to separate the performers form the people who lag behind. As much as you'd like it to stop during the season, it's not going to stop.
"It's just the mentality of this organization. You either roll with punches or you get punched."
After catching 11 passes at Denver on Sunday, Camarillo leads the Dolphins and is tied for seventh in the AFC with 43 receptions.
Buoyed by Camarillo's career day, the Dolphins receiver corps tied a season-high with 16 catches, a total also amassed against San Diego.
But Dolphins wideouts have just two touchdown catches this season.
Sparano also said today that he would like to upgrade the team's coverage units. Miami is last in the league on kick coverage and second to last on punts.
The Dolphins demand their wide receivers contribute on special teams, a big reason the team cut Hagan. It's also why free-agent acquisition Ernest Wilford has been inactive five of eight games this season despite signing a four-year contract with $6 million in guaranteed money.
"We're down a guy at the position," Sparano said. "If we can bring some legs in here that we think might have an arrow up, then we might take a chance."
Changing of the guards: Seeking better play at right guard, the coaches have been working back-up Andy Alleman with the first-team offense.
Alleman, a free-agent pickup in September, expects to get some snaps behind starter Ikechuku Ndukwe.
"As far as I know, I should have an opportunity to play this week," said Alleman, a third-round pick in 2007 out of Akron. "It's exciting. But I'm not going to get ahead of myself."
Ndukwe had shared snaps the past three games with Evan Mathis. But the team cut Mathis on Friday and signed Matt McChesney from the practice squad.
Sparano said he likes what Alleman brings to a line that has been inconsistent blocking in the run game.
"Andy is an intelligent guy that is a pretty physical player," Sparano said. "I just like what he's done right now in practice. He's been playing pretty tough out there."
Seahawks banged up: While the Dolphins end the week with no one on the injury report, the Seahawks have four players expected to miss Sunday's game.
Seneca Wallace will start his fourth consecutive game in place of quarterback Matt Hasselbeck (back). Also out are defensive tackle Red Bryant (ankle), linebacker David Hawthorne (calf) and defensive end Patrick Kerney (shoulder).
Three other players were limited in practice Friday - wide receiver Deion Branch (heel), tight end Will Heller (knee) and guard Floyd Womack (foot).
