Dolphins' McDaniel addresses several key personnel issues. And a Jonnu Smith development

Miami Herald

a day ago

When Mike McDaniel was asked if there were any excused absences from the team's three-day mandatory minicamp this week, he said: 'Jalen Ramsey's absence was excused.'
I've always found McDaniel to be supremely honest with reporters - as much as any coach I've covered. So I'll take McDaniel's response at face value.
With that said, ESPN's Adam Schefter characterized tight end Jonnu Smith's absence differently on 'NFL Live' on Tuesday, asserting that his absence is also excused as the team seeks a trade.
The Dolphins, according to Schefter, 'has given him permission and excused him from attending, so it can go ahead and look for a trade partner.'
Smith wants a new contract to replace the one that will expire after this season and pay him $4.8 million this season.
McDaniel and Schefter have portrayed Smith's situation someone differently, subtly so, over the past two weeks.
McDaniel has said the team wants to keep Smith and the sides have been in conversations. But Schefter has reported that the team has been looking to trade him instead of giving him a new contract.
Agent Drew Rosenhaus has said on his weekly WSVN-7 segment that the situation is 'fluid' and Smith prefers to remain with the Dolphins but has declined to discuss trade possibilities on his TV appearance.
McDaniel has declined to say if Smith is being fined for missing the team's mandatory minicamp this week.
The Dolphins and Pittsburgh have discussed a trade involving Smith. The free agent market is bereft of skilled receiving tight ends, so Miami would be in a very difficult spot at the position if it trades Smith. Jettisoning Smith would leave Miami with journeyman Pharoah Brown, Julian Hill, Tanner Conner and rookie Jalin Conyers at the position.
The Dolphins could opt to renegotiate Smith's contract to allow him to remain in Miami. Both sides need each other, and when McDaniel says publicly that Miami wants to keep a player, the team usually keeps him.
McDaniel addressed other issues on Wednesday:
▪ Guard James Daniels continues to work his way back from the Week 4 Achilles injury; his reps have said he will be back for the opener.
McDaniel said Daniels understands 'how much we're counting on him and has done an absolutely fantastic job of phase 1 and phase 2. He couldn't just go through the motions of going through offseason tape and meetings. He had a great day on the field [Tuesday] working on individual [drills] and I can see what he's done on the field the past month' during a period when coaches were only in contact with him during off-field meetings.
Daniels isn't yet participating in 11 on 11 drills.
McDaniel did not say whether Daniels will play left guard or right guard but said he wants to keep rookie Jonah Savaiinaea at one spot. Those two players are expected to be the Dolphins' new starting guards barring health issues.
Daniels 'is capable of doing either side, but when you have a rookie, you have to settle down rotation of movement to allow.. him to slow the game down,' McDaniel said.
▪ Receiver Tyreek Hill remains on track to be back for training camp after two wrist procedures. 'He's pushing the timetable of returning sooner and sooner,' McDaniel said. He isn't yet doing 11 on 11 work.
Hill has spoken of running a 100 meter race on Friday to prepare for another race against U.S. track star Noah Lyles.
Does McDaniel care if Hill does that? 'Whether he wins or loses, I won't care,' he said. 'We're locked into Dolphins football.'
▪ Linebacker Jaelan Phillips continues to work his way back from the Week 4 torn ACL and should be ready for the start of the season.
Phillips' conditioning is very good, which is no surprise to his coach: 'I expected Jaelan Phillips to be in great shape and condition and continue to be the pro he is,' McDaniel said.
▪ McDaniel said first-round defensive tackle Kenneth Grant 'came in with a veteran-like understanding of needing to be 100 percent on what he's asked to do and he works endlessly. There have been ebbs and flows, like with any rookie.
'What I've seen from him is early down production, where he wins with techniques and fundamentals. And I see late down wins, where.... he uses grit and finish [ability] to make plays as well. Super happy he's on our team and not somebody's else. I know a lot of players that share the locker room with him would agree with that.'
▪ McDaniel said new receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine 'has already found a really cool role within the team. He's a dawg competitor that brings it each and every day. He's a guy who the core of the room can depend on. Invaluable to the team.'
▪ Players have spoken this team about the improved culture. McDaniel, on what seems to be increased accountability and potentially more effective discipline: 'I had a team meeting with guys. You can't run away from things that need to be fixed.'
What were the non-negotiables rules McDaniel told the team?
'The football program has to focus on football. There are a lot of things that can't dominate peoples' time - being on time, being accountable to each other, [adhering] to rules.'
He said it's OK for players to 'call each other out... as long as you change your [expletive] behavior.'