Ted Ginn Jr. shines on Day 1

It’s only June and it’s only Day 1 of mini-camp – with no pads, even – but Ted Ginn Jr. showed some signs he could become the playmaking wide receiver the Dolphins need. Quarterback Chad Pennington helped, taking a number of shot down field as the team worked on third-down offense and defense. On one of Pennington’s tosses, Ginn got behind Eric Green for a 50-yard TD, maintaining his concentration when safety Gibril Wilson arrived to help a step late. While Ginn shined, it was an equally rough day for Green, an off-season free-agent signing. Lining up as the starter opposite Will Allen, Green also gave up a long touchdown to Anthony Armstrong, who seems to catch more bombs than any wideout the Dolphins have. Green, a fifth-year pro, will need to pick up his play or he’ll experience deja vu, with another rookie taking his starting job. Last season, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie supplanted Green 3/4s of the way through the season. Second-round pick Sean Smith has starter written all over him, and did line up with the first-team defense some last week. Smith alertly scooped up a fumble early in the afternoon session and might have scored. As one colleague said, he attacks the ball like an offensive player, which he was when he signed with Utah out of high school. The 6-3, 214-pound Smith did get beaten, or basically outmuscled on the sideline, by 6-5 Patrick Turner, who continue to impress. But Smith, 21, is smooth and already looks like he belongs. Ginn, who has

just four TD catches in two seasons, is beginning to look like a veteran himself, showing a burst and soft hands on several receptions Friday. After a tough morning, the Dolphins offense overall bounced back Friday afternoon in the practice bubble. Pennington was the sharpest of the QBs, and really opened it up, showing better-than-advertised arm strength on another hook-up with Ginn, who was a couple of steps behind the defense. Chad Henne didn’t have a very good day … looked like he was in a funk. He missed a wide-open Brian Hartline in the seam on one play that would have been a TD. Pat White, who sailed passes all morning, looked a little better than he did in the morning, highlighted a nice intermediate hookup with rookie Brennan Marion. White seems to have the requisite arm strength, otherwise he wouldn’t have been drafted in the major league draft four times. But building his command and confidence are going to be a slowly evolving process. The Dolphins defense offered a glimpse of his plans in passing situations. Jason Taylor lined up on the left outside, opposite Joey Porter. Meanwhile, Randy Starks and Phillip Merling were the only two down linemen. Nickel back Nate Jones and safety Tyrone Culver complete the dime package. But changes eventually could be on the way there, given how talented Smith and first-round pick Vontae Davis are. The Dolphins’ passing offense looked like night and day against the veterans.

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Ted Ginn Jr. shines on Day 1

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