¿Dónde jugará James Rodríguez en la segunda era Zidane en el Madrid?

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James Rodríguez se reincorporó al Real Madrid tras pasar dos años cedido en el Bayern de Munich, luego de un verano en el que se le vinculó con el Napoli de Italia y al Atlético de Madrid.

Parecía que no había cabida en la casa blanca para el diez colombiano, especialmente por la presencia de Zinedine Zidane y el fichaje del belga Eden Hazard y del serbio Luka Jovic para reforzar el ataque.

Sin embargo, tras la grave lesión del joven Asensio y el pobre rendimiento del equipo en la ICC, se le abrió la puerta de regreso a James, quien fue uno de los mejores, sino el mejor, durante la primera fase de la Copa América Brasil 2019.

La eliminación de Colombia en penales en cuartos de final ante Chile dejó a muchos con ganas de ver más del astro colombiano, quien definitivamente juega a otro nivel cuando viste la camiseta amarilla de su selección.

En Alemania, vimos destellos de la figura que puede ser James, y hace un par de temporadas estuvo a punto de eliminar al Real Madrid en las semifinales de la Champions League, en un partido en el que el Bayern tuvo contra las cuerdas al Madrid en gran parte del compromiso.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pf9XmYkckxM

Esa superioridad del equipo alemán en esa eliminatoria, a pesar de la eliminación, se debió en parte a la gran actuación de James Rodríguez, y desde ahí se comenzó a hablar de la posibilidad de que el colombiano regresara al Madrid.

¿Hay espacio para James Rodríguez en este Madrid?

James es un jugador de clase mundial, o por lo menos lo ha sido por momentos específicos en su carrera, sin embargo, ha tenido problemas en encontrar un lugar fijo en el Real Madrid desde su llegada hace unos años.

Zinedine Zidane parece casado con el 4-3-3, con Benzema de punta, Hazard por la izquierda y Vinícius cambiado de banda por la derecha.

Isco fue utilizado en el medio campo en la derrota 7-3 ante el Atlético de Madrid en la ICC, junto a Modric y Kroos, pero pareciera que una vez que regrese Casemiro, Zidane va a recurrir a la fórmula que le dio tres Champions League, a pesar de que la temporada pasada se vio que ese tridente ya no está en su mejor nivel.

Eso le deja pocas opciones para utilizar a James, o Gareth Bale en su defecto, y hasta al propio Isco, en algunas de las posiciones ofensivas del equipo.

El sacrificado para que entre James en ese 4-3-3 puede ser Vinícius Jr., quien no se ve tan incisivo jugando por la banda derecha.

Y aunque se ve muy difícil, Zidane podría atreverse a cambiar su esquema a un 4-3-1-2.

En caso de que lo haga, pareciera que lo lógico es que ese enganche sea Hazard, con Jovic y Benzema como delanteros, sin lugar para James o Vinícius en el once inicial.

En todos estos escenarios no aparece James Rodríguez como la opción principal, así que se ve complicado que el colombiano dispute la mayoría de sus partidos vestido de blanco como titular.

En el episodio 50 de Cinco Razones Podcast  conversamos sobre las incertidumbres del Real Madrid, y del FC Barcelona, en esta pretemporada. Sobre los blaugrana, escribiremos pronto también. Por ahora, a seguir disfrutando del fútbol alrededor del mundo. 

Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood Is Fun Winding Ride

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If you were to take all of Quentin Tarantino’s myriad references — the classic deep-cut rock tunes, the vintage TV shows, the Dirty Dozen-style movies, Spaghetti Westerns, grindhouse cinema, martial arts flicks, dark humor, and, of course, women’s feet — you get Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood. It’s Tarantino’s love letter to L.A. and 1960s Hollywood and all that makes him the artist that he is. And it’s a great, if not an oftentimes meandering, ride. 

But meandering is probably the wrong word. 

Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood is a movie that definitely takes you somewhere — it just takes its time getting there. This Tarantino film, more than most, is about the journey more than the destination. And, much like Jackie Brown — Tarantino’s third movie and a masterpiece in its own right — it leans heavy on an amalgam of interesting hapless low-rent characters you can’t help like and root for. And, like Jackie Brown, Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood is a film you’ll need to see again and again to truly grasp how good of a movie it really is. 

Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood thrives on the edge of old movie and TV references while giving you delicious morsels of great performances from its cast, humorous moments, slow ominous foreshadowing and, yes, women’s feet. The movie centers around three central characters: Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio), Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) and Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie) and their lives in and out of the film-making industry in 1969. A fourth character, haunting the movie with an ethereal creepiness, is the Manson family. One can say a fifth character is old Los Angeles itself — beautifully shot and reimagined in all its neon-polished 1960s glory.

Dalton is a down-on-his-luck actor who used to be the leading man on a hit Western TV show and starred in an Inglorious Basterds-like movie where he blow torches a bunch of Nazis (which is as fucking cool as is sounds). Now, as his career begins to wind down and with his show canceled, Dalton finds himself forced to take bit parts as the bad guy in other TV shows like FBI. Booth, meanwhile, is Dalton’s best friend, hype man, and stunt double who works mostly as his personal assistant and driver. He also has a shady past (turns out Booth may or may not have murdered his pain-in-the-ass wife). And Tate is, well, Tate — a gorgeous up-and-coming actress married to the hottest director in town, Roman Polanksi, starring in movies with Dean Martin and going to parties at the Playboy Mansion with Steve McQueen (portrayed by Billions’ Damian Lewis, who is a dead ringer for the acting legend), and other Hollywood luminaries. Tate also happens to be Dalton’s next door neighbor on Cielo Drive in Benedict Canyon in L.A. (Manson Murder aficionados will no doubt recognize that fateful street). The juxtaposition between Dalton and Tate is obvious — one is climbing the ladder of stardom, while the other is seeing his star fading hard and fast. Booth, an aging stunt man with incredible old man strength who lives in a trailer with his dog, meanwhile, is just happy to be here. And in the midst of it all is an unsettling Charles Manson and his band of young, mostly female, cult followers living on a former movie-set ranch and being super weird and creepy and murdery. 

But to be sure, this movie is not about that. The Manson Murders merely acts as a means to an end in a way. And that seems to have thrown off some moviegoers a bit — if not frustrated some outright. Which is quintessential Quentin, really. 

Like most people, when I first heard Tarantino was making a movie that dealt with the Manson Murders, my initial instinct was to cringe a little. Anyone familiar with the Tate/Bianca murders perpetrated by Charles Manson and his deranged followers in August of 1969, knows it was a gruesome, terrifying act of pure evil. And that subject matter in the hands of a director that loves to play in the ultraviolent world of people getting shot in the face, people being shot in the dick, people puking buckets of blood, people being anally raped by leather-clad gimps, and people having their ears severed off to the tune of Stealers Wheels’ Stuck In the Middle With You can be dicey, at best. Especially when you consider the utter heinousness of the Manson Murders. But then you remember that Tarantino’s greatest knack (aside from slipping in a shot of a woman’s feet without you seemingly noticing) is to tell stories in a way that the viewer doesn’t see coming, and that’s when you begin to see where this movie is taking you. It’s why we love Quentin Tarantino so much. It’s why Pulp Fiction was an instant classic. It’s why Inglorious Basterds is a goddamn masterpiece. 

Here’s all you need to know about how the Manson Murders plays into Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood: Quentin Tarantino loves the movies, he loves the sheer beauty of 1960s cinema and Hollywood and he — like the rest of us — is very pissed off that Charles Manson and his brood of murderous dirty hippie weirdos barged their way into that world and not only put an end to all that beauty, but left a permanent stain on the culture and the American psyche in the process. And the way he deals with this seminal moment in Hollywood history is pure Quentin Tarantino. 

But the highlight of Once Upon A Time…In Hollywood are its characters. DiCaprio is absolutely brilliant as Dalton, struggling with facing his new reality and trying desperately to keep a very slippery grip on a once shining career. DiCaprio has a blast playing this character and it comes through. Pitt, meanwhile, channels a little of The Dude from The Big Lebowski — a breezy Angelino who smokes acid-dipped cigarettes, pals around with his loyal pitbull and takes things as they come while reminiscing about the time he had a fight with Bruce Lee on the set of The Green Hornet. Robbie, meanwhile, is amazing as Tate. A lot has been made about her not getting enough lines in this movie, but once you see her performance you see that less is indeed more (the scene where she goes into an L.A. theater and watches one of her movies and takes in the audiences’ reaction to her scenes is just great film making). 

Following the immensely disappointing and self-indulgent The Hateful Eight, and the tragic death of Tarantino’s long-time editor Sally Menke, I was worried QT had begun to lose his touch. But with Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood, my faith has been restored. 

Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood is a fun winding ride. It hits most of the Tarantino sweet spots: It’s funny, it’s irreverent, it’s violent, it’s nostalgic, it’s stylized and it’s cool. And it’s going to be a movie that, in ten years or so, will be considered one of his best.

Chris Joseph (@ByChrisJoseph) is a host of Ballscast, and has written about sports and movies for Deadspin, Miami New Times, CBS Sports, and several other outlets.

Marlins have found their franchise player in Miguel Rojas

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Miguel Rojas grew up a fan of the Florida Marlins when he was a young boy growing up in Venezuela.

Teal was his favorite color and on the weekend where he finally got to wear the very uniform of the 1997 World Series champion Marlins, the shortstop slugged a leadoff home run in back-to-back games. Ironically, the Marlins were throwing back to a year in which their opponent, the Arizona Diamondbacks, didn’t exist.

Rojas became the first player to deliver consecutive leadoff homers since Hanley Ramirez on July 17-18, 2006, a year in which he won the National League Rookie of the Year Award.

“That’s a great way to start the games, not just for me, but for the whole team to have success,” Rojas said. “Finding our power stroke, it’s been really good to watch. All the credit goes to the pitching staff, keeping us in the game. I feel like we’re playing really good baseball lately.”

The Marlins started the season 10-31 feeling hopeless at the plate despite seeing potential palpitating on the mound. They turned the corner on May 17 and went 30-32 the rest of the way. Part of that turn around involved Rojas taking command of the shortstop position and the leadoff spot in the batting order. In 40 games batting leadoff, he slashed .298/.335/.416 with all three of his home runs hit in that position.

“Miggy has been really good, kind of all year long,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “He’s taken over short, defensively. He had a little stretch where it got off track offensively.

“In the leadoff spot, he’s stayed the same. Now, all of a sudden, we’ve seen a little more power recently, which he showed last year. Obviously, we don’t want him to force that, but that will happen for him. He just kind of keeps making good contact, and having solid at-bats.”

Those numbers from the leadoff spot are in line with his .290/.343/.718 slash line on the season. In his fifth year with the Marlins, the 30-year-old has emerged as the leader of the team. The initial process of the Marlins building project led to many household names being traded in order to stockpile talent and replenish the farm system. While some of the trades were motived by money, others were done by the request of the player himself. Had Christian Yellich and JT Realmuto not express their desire to leave Miami, they would most certainly be central figures of in the team’s project.

No established player wants to be a part of a rebuilding project after years of trying to contend with the same team, however, Rojas does. He sees improvement this young team is making and how the moves of the front office are starting to bare fruit, especially on the pitching side.

“I’m all in this project right now, and this organization,” Rojas said. “Whatever they preach, and whatever they’ve brought to the table. I’m all in, and I really wish I can stay here because I found here in Miami a home away from Venezuela. For me to be part of this organization, this franchise from now on, would be great.”

He’ll be eligible for free agency after the 2020 season, which makes him an understandable trade target by contending teams that need the extra push to reach the playoffs. Who wouldn’t want a veteran infielder who can play all four spots and bat leadoff proficiently? However it would it would be bigger for the franchise to keep Rojas for the long term and have him continue to lead the young core as they trend towards being a contender themselves.

“I think, when we’re ready to win, and we’re ready to be in the playoffs, that’s going to be huge for the organization,” Rojas said.

The Marlins celebrated a time where the franchise was on top of the baseball word this past weekend. It is now known for low attendances and trading household names. They can not afford to continue the trend of trading their better players for prospects just because they are close to their 30’s or are a year away from free agency. If this franchise is going to change its narrative, extending Rojas would go a long way.

It just makes too much sense for a franchise that is run by a legendary shortstop known at “The Captain” to have a team led by a shortstop that could eventually be its longest ever tenured player.

Josh Rosen has produced mixed results in his quest to be the Dolphins' starting quarterback.

Why I Want Josh Rosen to Succeed

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Miami still has a professional football team? 

That’s what a friend of mine asked me. This was typical of his assholery, knowing that I have been a die hard Dolphins fan since watching John Riggins run over the Miami defense in the aqua and orange’s penultimate Super Bowl.

That’s when I said to myself, “Man, I gotta root for that team!”

Anyway, the question really got my Irish up. And I’m not even remotely Irish nor could I even play one on television. 

As for my friend, he is a suddenly emboldened with the promise of Baker Mayfield and the acquisition of game changer Odell Beckham, Jr. Cleveland Browns fan. I guess never in his 40 years had the brown and orange looked so majestic to him. Wearing the colors outside of Cleveland elicits looks the way a steak house waiter glares at you when you ask for A1 steak sauce for your filet. Or so people tell me.

Anyway, this was a Browns fan! This is a team that has been the gold standard for failure apart from one season thanks to the troika of Derek Anderson, Braylon Edwards and the athlete formerly known as Kellen Winslow, Jr. This is a team whose coach is named Freddie Kitchens. Google him. Has there ever been a more appropriate name? He looks like the “after” picture of a single guy in an Olive Garden “Buy One Take One” ad.

As for my reply? I could only counter with a new coach plucked from the Belichick tree (because we all know how well previous coaches have fared) and the potential of the UCLA edition, not the Arizona Cardinals iteration, of Josh Rosen.

He was terrible last year, my friend would tell me. He would point to Rosen’s 26 QB rating after a quick perusal of Pro Football Reference on his phone.

I would counter that he had a poor team around him. The moment I said it I truly felt like I was bringing a whiffle bat to a gun fight. My friend waved me off dismissively.

I don’t care. I’m on the Josh Rosen bullet train. The Dolphins traded picks to acquire Rosen from the Cardinals, the particulars (a second in 2019 and a fifth in 2020) were the equivalent of swapping your carrot sticks and bottle of water for a bag of Doritos on the trading floor of the cafeteria. It’s a play in investment circles that will either yield a return like Amazon stock or fall precipitously like every crypto currency out there. Regardless, I make that trade and I make it 10 out of 10 times, assuming we don’t already have a quarterback in place. Minds far greater than mine have already made this case and done so with more authority and respectable analysis. I am just needlessly piling on.

What I, as a fan, want to say is that I am actually psyched. I’m psyched more than when we had Daunte Culpepper or even Ryan Tannehill. One came with a decorated resume from throwing to a generational talent and one came as a high, first round draft pick with his own offensive coordinator. I’m psyched because no QB post-Marino has come with so much promise and wonder. Remember Tannehill was a converted WR. Yeah I was WTF-ing at that pick.

By my elementary school math and superficial research, 19 quarterbacks have started for the Dolphins since Dan Marino retired in 1999, give or take a Cleo Lemon or a Tyler Thigpen. I’m not even counting any back-ups.

By contrast, 29 QBs have started for the Browns and this list includes Academy Award winners Johnny Manziel, both McCown Brothers and something called Brandon Weeden.

Setting football aside, from all that I’ve read and all the pods that I’ve listened to (almost exclusively anything Five Reasons) I have gathered that Rosen is not a bad guy, that he has some commendable arm talent, that people really liked him and that there is a belief that he could still be really great. My thirst for a QB to have skills at least in the orbit of Dan Marino is great enough to blind me from the abomination of a season Rosen experienced in 2018. Also, the story of Rosen getting a pretty raw deal in Arizona is what makes me want to root for the guy to succeed. And please note, I’m not a Kyler Murray Believer.

You see, I know what Ryan Fitzpatrick is. He’s FitzMAGIC until the season strikes eight games and he becomes FitzMUGGLE. Had we not traded for Rosen I would be fine with Fitzpatrick starting, knowing that on the horizon were the QBs of 2020: Tua, Fromm, Herbert and whoever 3 Yards Per Carry anoints as the new Easton Stick.

I am of the camp that says throw Rosen in there. And yes, I write this as I refresh my Twitter feed detailing how he’s off, struggling in the red zone and was just intercepted by a guy who likely won’t make the team. I don’t care. Rosen’s draft status and hype are still fresh that I want to see him play and see if this coaching staff can indeed make chicken salad out of chicken bleep, and will have to do so minus the unfortunate circumstances surrounding Jim Caldwell’s departure.

Just play Rosen. He’s had only one season! The regret of What If by not playing him is greater than the pain of What the hell wherein he plays and stinks up the joint. At least in the latter scenario we will know what we have and we will be that much closer to the class of 2020.

First and foremost, I want Josh Rosen to succeed because we need a QB. I want Josh Rosen to succeed because his success would validate this Dolphins management team and elevate them as having the brass pair to make this trade and then the chops to coach the talent out of him. I want Josh Rosen to succeed because the resulting national story would be that the Dolphins are exciting again and not the irrelevant mess of the last God knows for how long. I want Josh Rosen to succeed because I read of the cockiness and confidence and I want a successful QB who can drip with confidence and cockiness similar to a guy we drafted in 1983. I want Josh Rosen to succeed because of that euphoric feeling of discovering something hidden or discarded that turns out to be of tremendous value. Josh Rosen is our afikoman!

Ultimately, I want Josh Rosen to succeed because I fear that this management team will NOT pick one of the decorated 2020 QBs and will instead try to outsmart everyone (or at least show how they’re smarter than everyone) and pick a little known defensive tackle from some small school that I never heard of. In all likelihood, he becomes a Hall Of Famer, a pillar of the community and a Walter Payton Man of the Year recipient. We will likely put him in the ring of honor and retire his number. And despite all of that, the Dolphins will still be average still be irrelevant and will still be looking for a quarterback.

So yes, I want Josh Rosen to succeed.

 

You can find the author at @ByRamonLo. He also hosts an aviation related podcast. Photo by Tony Capobianco.

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Top 3 Dolphins training camp performers – Day 2

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Day two of training camp is in the books, and the Miami Dolphins are getting ready for things to get real. While the pads still haven’t come on, minimizing the amount of hitting that can be done, there are still takeaways to take under consideration.

The top three performers of day two, strangely enough, are going to look oddly similar to the top performers of day one. But when players stand out, they stand out.

Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB

The first player to stand out is the first player who stood out on day one. Redundant, perhaps, but unavoidable. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick was on point for the second straight day of camp. He was decisive, he was accurate, and he looked a lot more like “Fitzmagic” than the player he was known as before earning that nickname.

If this sort of performance continues, it’s hard to imagine young Josh Rosen will ever keep up. Fitzpatrick is gunning for the starting job, and he’s not slowing down to let Rosen get a chance to take it from him. This puts head coach Brian Flores in an interesting position. The common sense solution would be to let Rosen start in order to get full evaluation of his skills. But Flores keeps saying that the best player will play. Letting Rosen start when he’s not the best forces Flores to go back on his word. Players struggle to respect coaches who don’t keep their word.

It’s still early, there’s still time for Rosen this training camp. But with Fitzpatrick earning top honors two days in a row, it’s hard to imagine Rosen getting to start under those circumstances.

DeVante Parker, WR

More of the same from day one of training camp. In the battle between Brice Butler, Preston Williams, and of course Parker…Parker is the best player of the three. Shocking, considering Parker’s checkered past on the football field. Then again, it may not be so shocking.

Parker is well known for making big plays when hitting isn’t involved. He did so again on Friday, making plays and tough catches that Miami always wanted him to make but he never did when it counted. This is the source of the frustration with him. He looks great in practice. He matches up fairly well against Xavien Howard of all players, everything he’s done so far indicates he can take the next step.

And yet…this is not the first time that assumption has been made. If Parker can continue his dominance when the pads come on, then maybe it’s safe to get hopes up. However, we can still credit him for stringing along two excellent practices.

Preston Williams, WR

Time to give one of the dark horses a little bit of love. After a somewhat disappointing first day, Preston Williams showed improvement and was able to make some impressive catches. While Parker still has the upper hand on him, it’s encouraging to see that he’s not going down without a fight.

His real chance to show what he can do comes on Saturday, when the pads come on for the first time and players start hitting each other. Parker tends to shy away when that happens, as noted previously. If Williams doesn’t, that will be telling. That will give him something he can hold over Parker, and it might be the difference between making the team and landing on the practice squad (if someone else doesn’t swipe him first).

First look at the Miami Dolphins in Madden 20

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I remember playing my first Madden.

It was 1992 and I was four-years old.  I had a Sega video game console, and Madden was one of my favorite video games.  Flash forward to this day, and things are exactly the same.  And although nothing will ever beat the greatest football video game of all-time, NFL 2K5.  I have to settle with the only thi I love football, so I’m most likely going to buy the game.  As we told you, the Dolphins had several players snubbed, and are currently the worst team in this year’s game.  However, ratings change weekly during the regular season.

But as we wait anxiously for the official release date of August 2nd.  The fine folks at EA have given us other outlets to enjoy their monopolized product–through EA access.  Here’s how you can get EA access.

So with my ten free hours, of course I’m going to play with my favorite team the Miami Dolphins.  And if you’re reading this, that’s probably the only reason you would buy this game too.  Lets take a look at the Miami Dolphins in Madden 20.

 

Dolphins football is back BAY-BAY!

The Chosen One 

Kenny Stills makes a nice grab in traffic.   Stills is the Dolphins highest-rated player in Madden with an 84-overall.

71% percent of Earth’s surface is covered in water.  The other 29% is covered by Dolphins’ Swiss Army knife Minkah Fitzpatrick

Everyone loves rookie FB Chandler Cox.  He is rated a 64-overall in Madden 20.

Coach Flores is not happy with RT Jordan Mills.

Allen Hurns signed a one-year deal worth $3-million with the Dolphins today.  This is the first look of him in Madden 20.  He has a 76-overall rating.

Xavien Howard is one of the Dolphins best players with an 83-overall rating.  Here he is shutting down Bills’ WR Cole Beasley.

 

Are you excited for Madden 20?

 

This article was written by Madden Analyst, Josh Houtz (@houtz)

Coach Brian Flores began his first training camp with the Dolphins on Thursday. (Tony Capobianco for Five Reasons Sports)

Tough for Dolphins fans to know what to expect, wish for in 2019

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DAVIE – Welcome to the Dolphins season of low expectations.

As freshman coach Brian Flores opened his first training camp Thursday, it is OK to hope for pleasant surprises. But before climbing about this express to parts unknown, be aware that it could get butt ugly along the way.

That is not to say there aren’t some talented players and an accomplished coaching staff to guide them. There also is nothing that suggests the makings of a formidable pass rush, even with Flores’ moxie as a defensive strategist.

It is very difficult to counter competent NFL offenses without one.

When this team needs a stop on third down there is no Cameron Wake to count on to put the heat on the opposing quarterback – not even the aging Wake of last season.

More from Dolphin Maven: Josh Rosen has long climb to fulfill hope as QB of future

Without pressure up front, skilled DBs like Xavien Howard, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Reshad Jones can only be expected to maintain coverage for so long.

That is the most dangerous scenario I see derailing Sunday after Sunday in the early stages of this rebuilding project.

What should fans wish for?

There is always the possibility they may overachieve, particularly if key playmakers can dodge the rash of season-ending injuries that dragged down last season.

That could lead to a middling record, too good to achieve the Tank for Tua objective of those hoping the Dolphins will lose enough to have a chance to draft Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

This can be a more confusing season than most for genuine Dolfans who must be wary of what they root for.

Rest assured, the concept of tanking is anathema to Flores, his coaches and players. They will be doing everything they can to win every week.

The best approach for fans could be to watch with an eye to identifying players that will form the platform for winning, if not this season then hopefully soon.

Some players to watch

How good can versatile DB Minkah Fitzpatrick be in his second season?

Can Josh Rosen show enough to make Tua unnecessary?

Will tight end Mike Gesicki prove worthy of a second-round pick in his second season? He showed the athleticism Thursday with a leaping, one-handed snatch of a goal-line fade from Ryan Fitzpatrick over Bobby McCain.

Can rookie Christian Wilkins translate his championship pedigree at Clemson to become the anchor of a stalwart defensive line?

I am glad they didn’t bring back Frank Gore to afford the opportunity for the younger backfield tandem of Kenyan Drake and Kalen Ballage to show what they can do.

Even gladder they finally moved on from Ryan Tannehill.

It was good to see jitterbug receivers Jakeem Grant and Albert Wilson on the field Thursday, healthy after last year’s debilitating injuries.

Flores out of Belichick’s shadow

Meanwhile, eager to see what Flores and his coaching staff can accomplish after predecessor Adam Gase failed to measure up to the hype as an offensive prodigy.

Flores is coming off leading one of the greatest Super Bowl defensive performances in the Patriots shutting down the high-flying Rams in February.

Granted, Bill Belichick assistants don’t have a distinguished record of success after leaving New England, and Flores doesn’t have the Patriots defensive personnel in Miami.

But New England defenses often turn out to be greater than the sum of their parts. They play right and exploit opponents’ weaknesses.

So part of the intrigue of this season will be to see if Flores can fashion prime rib out of ground chuck with the defense.

Can he get the most out of young linebackers Jerome Baker and Raekwon McMillan while working in rookie Andrew Van Ginkel as a situational component.

“Obviously, we haven’t played in a real game yet, but he’s got the attention, command and respect of the team right now,” veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said Thursday.

Message to Dolfans

Flores is reluctant to be drawn into discussing expectations, repeating the mantra of focusing on getting better each day.

It’s not sexy, not what fans want to hear. Especially fans who may not be quite sure what they expect or want out of this season.

Prior to Thursday’s first workout of training camp, Flores was asked what he’d tell the fan base that feels conflicted about winning and looking ahead to the future and wanting a high draft pick?

Flores response: “I tell them, support the Dolphins. You’re going to have a tough, smart, disciplined team that works hard. That’s not going to beat themselves. And, we’re going to fight to win every week. That’s what I tell them. And they’ll support us if you do that.”

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

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Top 3 Dolphins training camp performers – Day 1

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The first day of training camp is in the books, and the Miami Dolphins are officially ready to begin evaluating. The pads aren’t on yet, so hitting isn’t permitted. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t things to take away from day one.

So here are the top three performers from the first day of training camp. Keep in mind, this list will be fluid as the days go on. A top performer today may be on here the next day. By the same token, players who did poorly one day could easily have a great day and land here as well. Without further ado, here we go.

Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB

Though I’m sure this comes with some level of frustration for fans, Ryan Fitzpatrick clearly outplayed Josh Rosen on the first day of training camp. This continues the offseason trend, as Rosen has been a step behind Fitzpatrick ever since he arrived. Fitzpatrick threw bullets to players in the middle of the field, hitting Mike Gesicki and DeVante Parker for would-be big plays, sidestepping pass rushers, and being decisive with throws.

This directly contrasts with Rosen’s first day. The second-year QB struggled to find open receivers, threw passes away due to tight coverage, and threw an interception to DB Montre Hartage. Rosen did eventually throw a nice touchdown to TE Nick O’Leary, but he paled in comparison to the 15-year veteran.

Granted, the pads have yet to come on, and there’s always time for players to get better (or worse). But as of day one, Ryan Fitzpatrick is the superior quarterback. This can still change, so don’t panic yet.

Jakeem Grant, WR

Flash and style, that’s Jakeem Grant’s game. Once again, Grant goes on the field and his speed and quickness wows the crowd. The highlight of the day came when Grant went one-on-one with cornerback Jomal Wiltz, and Grant’s feet moved so quickly that Wiltz nearly fell to the ground trying to keep up with him. He was quick in his releases, consistent with his catches, and it looks like he hasn’t lost a step since his injury.

As camp is just starting, there’s still plenty to keep an eye on, but it’s encouraging to see that Grant is starting strong. In years past, Grant struggled to keep his hands on the football. Dropping passes was a routine occurrence. Perhaps that’s finally changing. If it is, then he could very easily take the next step towards becoming a dangerous weapon in Miami’s offense.

DeVante Parker, WR

Same song, different year. DeVante Parker once again flashes while the pads are off and hits are at a minimum. Does anyone dare get their hopes up? Is this finally the year that Parker puts it all together and becomes the player he was drafted to be? It’s unwise to simply assume yes, but there are some things that are different.

For one, Parker is fully healthy. When was the last time anyone heard that? One of the main reasons Parker hasn’t reached his potential is nagging injuries. It’s only day one, but he’s still healthy. Another thing is that Parker looks like he’s actually filled out some, added extra bulk to his frame similarly to Mike Gesicki and his fellow wide receiver Isaiah Ford, who stated he’d done the same.

In practice, Parker made catches left and right. He fought for passes, came down with it in the endzone, dove and hauled in tough throws that he’s dropped in the past. That’s all encouraging. However, the pads still haven’t come on. That phrase is going to set the tone for reports for a while; when pads are off, evaluations must have a grain of salt.

Only when hitting begins can they truly be weighed accordingly. For now, take comfort in knowing that the focus on fundamentals seems to be having an initial effect. But keep your guard up, there’s still a long way to go.

Josh Rosen signs autographs for fans following the first workout of Dolphins training camp on Thursday. (Craig Davis)

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

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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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Marlins Park may dissuade local star from coming home as a free agent

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There’s no secret that the Miami Marlins need some more bats to truly become a competitive team and their home ballpark favors pitchers more than hitters with their long outfield dimensions.

That might actually keep some free agents away from signing with the Marlins. One in particular is Davie native Nicholas Castellanos, who is currently an outfielder for the Detroit Tigers.

Like the Marlins, the Tigers are a rebuilding team and don’t expect any of their players to want to resign when free agency comes around. Like Marlins Park, Comerica Park is also a pitchers park and Castellanos has a problem with the dimensions there, how would he find Miami to be any better?

“This park’s a joke,” Castellanos said to reporters after hitting a walk-off home run against the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday. “It’s to the point where, how are we going to be compared to the rest of the people in the league for power numbers, OPS, slugging and all this stuff when we got a yard out here that’s 420 feet straight across in center field?”

Castellanos’ main issue with Comerica Park is how many homers hit there turn into fly outs or mere extra base hits. His home run was hit 372 feet to left field.

It’s a similar complaint that both fans and players have alike when it comes to Marlins Park, Seattle’s T-Mobile Park and San Diego’s Petco Park. Seattle and San Diego moved the outfield fences in to increase the chance of home runs being hit there and it led to both struggling franchises signing major free agents in the recent decade.

Castellanos has 11 home runs but led the majors in triples in 2017 and leads MLB in doubles with 34 this season. That’s where his home ballpark plays a factor for the better but not the same as reaching power hitter status. His career high for home runs was 26 in 2017.

“We get on second base or third base, and they’re looking, like, ‘Man, how do you guys do this?’ We play 81 games here. I don’t want to hear about your two that you hit that are questionable,” said Castellanos. “Move in center field, right center, there is no reason that I hit a ball 434 off Anibal Sanchez and it goes in the first row, that shouldn’t happen.”

At 27 years of age, Castellanos would seem like an ideal fit for this young core reaching it’s prime, but his comments seem like recruiting him from one pitcher’s park to the other seem futile.