Miami Dolphins: Recapping the Latest Buzz Heading into Training Camp

Time is ticking down to the start of Miami Dolphins training camp, with only three weeks until the first open day of practice on July 30. 

The kickoff of camp begins a grueling five- to six-month season that will test the wills of every player and coach on the payroll, but the Dolphins don't have that long to figure everything out. They have just five weeks from the beginning of camp to the beginning of the regular season, and in that time, they have plenty of position battles to suss out and must also monitor some key injuries. 

Meanwhile, there's still a chance they could make another addition or two to their roster if certain players aren't performing or are failing to live up to expectations in practice.

Here's a look at everything on the Dolphins' docket headed into the heat of summer.

Ryan Tannehill Wants Miami Dolphins to Target Evan Mathis

Michael Perez/Associated Press

The Dolphins have made a lot of changes to their offensive line over the past couple of years, and if quarterback Ryan Tannehill has his way, they won't be done just yet. There's still a viable veteran free agent on the market: Evan Mathis. 

According to Fansided, Drew Rosenhaus (Mathis' agent) told SportsXtra that he heard Tannehill went to the Dolphins front office and asked the team's decision-makers to sign Mathis. Separately, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald has reported that the Dolphins have shown interest in Mathis, so there may be some fire underneath this proverbial smoke after all.

Mathis has been one of the best guards in football for a while. According to Pro Football Focus, he finished as one of the top two guards in the league in each of the past four years and gave up only five sacks in that span (56 games). The Dolphins have needed that kind of protection in the middle of their line for years.

Apparently, some folks within the organization aren't 100 percent comfortable with Dallas Thomas or Billy Turner starting at guard. Go figure. The two young projects and former offensive tackles have not proved they can be a stabilizing presence at guard, and neither one has the experience of someone like Mathis. 

Branden Albert and Ja'Wuan James are solid top options as the bookend offensive tackles, and the center spot is locked down by fourth-year veteran Mike Pouncey, but the guard spots are volatile at the moment. If it's not Turner and Thomas as the starting guards, rookie Jamil Douglas could be thrust into a starting role.

Jamil Douglas Could Start on Dolphins Offensive Line

Matt York/Associated Press

As mentioned in the previous slide, Billy Turner and Dallas Thomas could be the front-runners to start at guard, but that doesn't mean there's no room for a competition. 

According to James Walker of ESPN.com, Arizona State's Jamil Douglas could be the rookie who has the best chance to start for the Dolphins. Walker's analysis is based on the fact that neither Turner nor Thomas has done anything to separate himself as "the guy" to earn the starting spot. Likewise, Douglas earned more and more opportunities with the first team as spring practice progressed:

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Incumbents Dallas Thomas and Billy Turner began the offseason with the first team in organized team activities and minicamp. However, by the end of minicamp, several players such as Thomas, Turner, Douglas and Jeff Linkenbach were all sharing reps with the first team.

Douglas played most of his college career on the left side, which means he is competing directly with Thomas at left guard. Although it is difficult to evaluate offensive line play without pads, Douglas has shown solid strength and the ability to hold at the point of attack, which were weaknesses for the Dolphins' interior offensive line in the past.

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The Dolphins have been running a zone-blocking scheme with man-blocking linemen for years, particularly at guard. Douglas has the traits the Dolphins have been missing on the inside, with the athleticism and light feet that allow him to get out in front of a play as a lead blocker and also to tandem-block effectively by using angles to his advantage. 

If the Dolphins are holding a truly open competition, Douglas could be a threat for one of the starting spots. 

Conflicting Reports on DeVante Parker's Recovery from Foot Surgery

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

The news that DeVante Parker needed surgery to put a new screw into a previously fractured foot was met with consternation. When would the 14th overall selection be ready to go? The answer depends on who you ask. 

Post points to a timetable ranging from eight to 12 weeks for a full recovery. At 12 weeks from the timing of the report, Parker would still be ready to go Week 1. 

So no matter how you look at it, the news is positive. Either the Dolphins are hopeful that he will be ready in time for the regular season, or he will be ready.

Parker was considered one of the most NFL-ready wide receiver prospects in this year's class, so he could be ready to contribute right out of the gate even without a full summer to learn the offense. Why rush to get him back on the field? The Dolphins are stacked at wide receiver, and veteran Greg Jennings could easily step in if Parker is less than 100 percent at the beginning of the season. 

Jarvis Landry Could Be Ryan Tannehill's Go-to Target

Rick Osentoski/Associated Press

From DeVante Parker to Kenny Stills to Greg Jennings to Jordan Cameron, the Dolphins have added plenty of new weaponry to their offensive arsenal this offseason. That being said, one of last year's new weapons could be one of this year's key pieces of firepower.

In just his second year in the league, Jarvis Landry is already one of the most experienced receivers on the roster in terms of his understanding of the offense. He may not have the physical traits that make some scouts salivate, but he packs a lot of big-play potential in his small 5'11", 202-pound frame. 

Now, his knowledge of the Dolphins offense and his pre-existing chemistry with Ryan Tannehill could be his best tools for success in 2015. According to Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald, Landry "will probably be [quarterback Ryan Tannehill's] go-to-guy, particularly in the early part of the season."

Landry led the Dolphins in receptions with 84, by a wide margin over Mike Wallace, who finished with 67. He also had more receptions than Wallace on fewer targets, with 112 passes thrown toward Landry and 114 thrown toward Wallace. Parker's foot surgery could threaten the rookie's ability to contribute out of the gate, so there could be more pressure on Landry as a result. 

Rishard Matthews Wants a Bigger Role

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

It's always something with Rishard Matthews. In the past few years, there have been reports that he and head coach Joe Philbin didn't get along, and he has also reportedly requested a trade or a release as recently as a few months ago, according to Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald. No one should be surprised if Matthews is on his way out of Miami by the end of the preseason. 

At the same time, no one should be surprised to see Matthews diving for balls out of reach, fighting through traffic and doing everything he can to prove to the coaches he deserves a bigger workload than what he's been given over the past few seasons. 

According to Andrew Abramson of the Palm Beach Post, Matthews wants a bigger role despite the Dolphins having added so much depth at the wide receiver spot. 

In 2013, Matthews stepped in for an injured Brandon Gibson and finished with 41 catches for 448 yards and two touchdowns. He went right back to a menial role the next year, though, and finished with only 12 receptions for 135 yards and two touchdowns. At 6'0" and 215 pounds, he has a big enough frame that he could succeed on the outside, but he also has enough quickness and speed to get open off the line and chew up cushion underneath. 

It may be hard for Matthews to earn playing time in such a stacked group, but he has enough talent to warrant a shot at stating his case.