Josh Rosen has long way to go to fulfill hope as Dolphins QB of future

DAVIE – If conclusions were to be drawn from the first day of Dolphins training camp, drafting a quarterback would remain high on GM Chris Grier’s to-do list next year.

As during OTAs in the spring, Josh Rosen didn’t look like anything special and perhaps less than adequate in terms of accuracy and execution Thursday. Quite frankly, all that distinguished him from presumed third-stringer Jake Rudock were the numbers on their jerseys.

To be fair, the starting job wasn’t being decided Thursday with the team working in shorts in front of a diehard crowd that packed the stands overlooking the practice field at the Dolphins training complex. As coach Brian Flores stressed, no one was expected to be in midseason form.

But the reason many of those fans were waiting patiently at the gate an hour before practice was to see for themselves any indication as to whether the Dolphins have found a quarterback to lead them into a more successful future in Rosen.

That was the objective of the offseason trade with Arizona for the 10th overall pick in the 2018 draft.

Dolphins fans hopeful

There were quite a few in the crowd sporting new No. 3 Rosen jerseys, but the first glimpse brought little return in the hope that went with those investments.

At his point, you don’t expect a finished product but you’d like to see signs, something that telegraphs standout talent in the 22-year-old from UCLA.

By Rosen’s own evaluation of Day 1, “Thought I had a slow start but finished pretty strong.”

​Rosen’s best moment did come near the end of the session in an 11-on-11 drill in the red zone when he lofted a perfect lob that tight end Nick O’Leary caught in stride in the back of the end zone.

Earlier, he was picked off by undrafted rookie safety Montre Hartage trying to force a pass into the middle of the opposite end zone.

Meanwhile, it is abundantly clear that journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick is the most polished, intuitive and self-assured quarterback on the team at this moment.

If you are a coach whose top priority is winning games, you put the ball in Fitzpatrick’s hands.

The bearded veteran entering his 15th season is taking snaps with the first team and is playing like he intends to keep doing so. His passes are on the mark with zip, and most important, he is in command of the offense.

Season is about the future

But everyone knows, this quarterback completion isn’t as much about now as it is about the future. At 36, Fitzpatrick isn’t going to be the future.

What must be determined, will Rosen be?

Everyone interested in the Dolphins wants to know the answer, and they want it fast. Realistically, it won’t come in a day. Probably not by the end of the preseason.

Rosen explained that his mindset is different from fans and media who are fixated on the question.

He’s living in the moment.

“I’ve just got a play call [that] I’m trying to execute – that one play, regardless of my situation on the team or at the position,” he said.

“Regardless of whatever battle or situation you’re in at any position, you’re just trying to get better. [I’m] just trying to watch as much film as I can, listen in meetings and get better every day.”

That’s the players’ mentality, and it doesn’t change with experience.

“Just trying to be the best version of me that I can be,” Fitzpatrick said.

Unless Rosen dazzles and closes the gap with eye-opening efficiency in the exhibitions, Fitzpatrick will likely begin the regular season as the starter.

It would be preferable if Rosen won the job outright. If not, that doesn’t close the book on him.

Answer on Rosen will come … eventually

Maybe Rosen is the QB to build a future around. Maybe he’s not. One way or another, the Dolphins will draw their own conclusions by the end of the season and shape their plans for the next draft accordingly.

Meanwhile, the Dolphins’ quarterback story is beginning yet again 20 years after Dan Marino’s final season. It’s going to be novel-length. Might as well sit back, pop open a beer and enjoy all the twists and turns and hope the ending leaves you with a smile.

There’s no other way to approach it.

“Regardless of what you guys say or write, I’m going to go about my approach that’s gotten me this far,” Rosen said.

“It’s about getting better day by day and just trying to improve. It’s not about taking a massive step forward, it’s just about continuing to grow and continuing to make positive progress.

“Any kind of setback is worse than any progress you could gain.”

Craig Davis has covered South Florida sports and teams, including the Dolphins, for four decades. Follow him on Twitter @CraigDavisRuns

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