From Noah to third tackle to Gesicki’s blocking, Dolphins assistants dish on key issues

From the struggles of conerback Noah Igbinoghene, to the precarious situation at backup tackle, to where Mike Gesicki stands as a blocker, Dolphins assistants tackled tough questions this week.

Some feedback from four coaches in the maelstrom of key issues:

OFFENSIVE LINE COACH MATT APPLEBAUM

There’s no game-proven third tackle behind Terron Armstead (who has never played a full NFL season) and Austin Jackson, who’s playing right tackle for the first time as a pro.

Is 2021 seventh-rounder Larnel Coleman - who started the first two games in Armstead’s absence - playing NFL caliber left tackle where the team is comfortable with what he’s doing?

“I would say it depends on what snap you watch,” Applebaum said. “Larnell is a young player. I think he’s ascending overall. He basically redshirted last year [with a knee injury]. He has peaks and valleys. There are some players where you’re like, ‘That’s what it’s supposed to look like.’ And other plays not so much. Sometimes those plays are a difficult look and sometimes it’s a breakdown in his fundamentals and technique.

“We’re not talking about an 8, 9, 10 year vet who’s seen it all, done it all. We’ve seen a lot of good things out of Larnel. We’ve got to keep pushing him. He’s a dedicated guy. I’m optimistic he’s going to get to where we want him to get to.”

Did Greg Little - who appears to be the other contender at backup left tackle - show enough before an injury sidelined him the past week or so to make you want to see more?

“Yeah,” Applebaum said. “Greg has done some things that have really excited me. Greg is blessed with a great skill set. He’s a smart guy. He has shown in camp since the pads have come on that he has physicality to him. Unfortunately, he suffered a minor injury but I’m hopeful he will be back this week. I’m fired up to see what Greg can do when he gets healthy.”

Are the Dolphins going to give left guard Liam Eichenberg snaps at tackle in this camp to prepare him to play tackle (something he did last season) in case the team doesn’t carry a natural backup tackle?

“In terms of his ability to play tackle, I do think Liam can help us at tackle,” Applebaum said. “He has taken some tackle snaps in this camp, not a tremendous amount. That’s an option among many options. If he was asked to do that, he would give us his best and I think his best is a pretty good player.”

TIGHT ENDS COACH JON EMBREE

Has Gesicki’s blocking reached the point where it’s adequate in your offense or does he still need work? (He was uneven as a blocker on Saturday, and that hasn’t been a strength.)

“It’s always going to need work,” said Embree, who previously coached tight ends in San Francisco. “Not just him, [but 49ers Pro Bowler] George Kittle needed it. It’s something he’s definitely focused on and changed his mindset a little bit about how he’s approached blocking in the past. Now it’s about him improving throughout the whole season and see if we can get it to the point where people aren’t asking about it.”

But has there been growth with Gesicki’s blocking - something he is being asked to do more than ever before? Is it at an adequate level?

“Yeah, I’ve seen a lot of growth. He’s made good strides.”

Can he make the adjustment well enough from essentially being a receiver to a well-rounded tight end?

“I don’t see why he couldn’t,” Embree said.

RUNNING BACKS COACH ERIC STUDESVILLE

Is there a reason 2021 starter Myles Gaskin has entered each preseason game after Sony Michel and Salvon Ahmed the past two weeks? (And if so, why?)

“No [reason],” Studesville said. “Somebody has to go in the order. Myles has gotten reps out here with the first group. Sony has been with the second group. We’re trying to give opportunities to guys to showcase different things.”

So it doesn’t mean Ahmed is ahead of Gaskin? “No,” Studesville insisted.

DOLPHINS CORNERBACKS COACH SAM MADISON

Who has been the next best corner in camp behind Xavien Howard and Nik Needham?

Madison discussed something else initially, then said “You look at Keion [Crossen]. He’s been doing some good things. Noah [Igbinoghene] has been doing some good things. [Rookie Kader] Kohou has been doing some good things. They have to put it all together.”

What hasn’t yet happened for Igbinoghene, the former first-rounder who has struggled at times in camp and allowed all three targets against him to be caught for 36 yards on Saturday?

“Just understanding when you’re on that island, you have to have that confidence to be able to bounce back,” Madison said, noting that he, safeties coach Steve Gregory and defensive assistant Patrick Surtain will “continue to talk him through things. It just happens that switch hasn’t come on and stay on. You want your island locked down; that’s what I’m trying to get him to.”

Igbinoghene was beaten on two crossing routes Saturday. What should he have done differently?

“You want him to be closer; you want him to make those plays,” Madison said.

Madison said the issue began with “reading those formations…It’s really tough because of the route concepts they [the Raiders] run. It’s Cover 3 concepts. Always want to keep the ball inside and in front. If it’s man to man, you want to be closer and tighter.

“Going through film today and breaking it down for him, he was understanding. So hopefully when that play comes up against he’ll be ready to make those plays.”

What does Madison like about Kohou, the undrafted rookie from Texas A&M Commerce? What does he do at an NFL level?

“He’s a smart player. Coming from a small school, you don’t expect to get that much productivity from this guy. But he’s doing really good, being able to move inside, outside.

“[Defensive coordinator Josh] Boyer is continually trying to feed him different things. We’re very happy with him. He had a little hand setback, but it hasn’t affected him mentally one bit…Hopefully he’ll become a good player one day.”

How did veteran Mackensie Alexander look in his Dolphins debut Saturday?

“He’s versatile. He’s a guy who can play outside, inside. Trying to get him caught up to speed with everything we do. I know he had a setback. We’ll see what the doctors say.”

He left with a hand injury before returning to the game.