TAMPA, Fla. -- Here are five observations from the Miami Dolphins' training camp.

Camp Classic Moment

No one would ever dare to accuse Hall of Fame coach Don Shula of running an easy training camp. Such a contention about the winningest coach in NFL history, of course, would be sheer heresy. But when Jimmy Johnson replaced Shula in 1996, his arrival ushered in a period when the Miami camp annually was one of the toughest in the league. While other coaches fretted over injuries which might impact them on the field and with the salary cap, the redoubtable Johnson didn't believe much in the no-pads workouts that have become so popular in recent years. "He felt like camp was a time for sorting out the hitters and the 'hittees,' so to speak," recalled former Miami offensive tackle Richmond Webb, who played for both Shula and Johnson during his 11-year tenure with the Dolphins. "From the first day of camp, we were hitting each other. Don was tough but, when Jimmy came in, it was a different kind of camp, and that was obvious from the get-go." Johnson characteristically used his infamous "middle drill" to set the tone. The drill is little more than a full-speed scrimmage, with every play a run and every run between the tackles. It typically lasts 20 snaps or so and Johnson was always in the middle of the action, screaming at the defense for making a big stop or chastising a running back for missing a hole. The ultimate transgression during the "middle drill" was a fumble, and a lot of backs got drummed out of camp for putting the ball on the ground. The list included the star-crossed Lawrence Phillips, who was released one morning when I was visiting the Dolphins camp. It wasn't a fumble, though, that did in Phillips, but rather a missed team meeting the night before. While Phillips missed the meeting, nobody missed him once he was gone. Said Johnson an hour after cutting him: "He came. He went. What more is there to say?" — Len Pasquarelli

1. Unlike a year ago, when he had to battle Damon Huard for the starting quarterback job, Jay Fiedler is unchallenged in 2001. Which is not to say he won't be under scrutiny. The journeyman played steadily for much of the 2000 regular season and then made critical errors in the playoffs. He will have to improve his performance overall, but especially in the "red zone," if Miami is to advance deeper into postseason play. A new receiving corps will help some, but Fiedler has to make better reads against the "cover two" defenses he will see early in the season. He struggled at times over the weekend against the Tampa Bay "cover two" zone. In one seven-on-seven drill, he completed seven of nine passes, but also threw a pair of interceptions. Ray Lucas, acquired from the New York Jets as a restricted free agent, hasn't put much heat yet on Fiedler, but he could in time.

2. It might be sacrilegious to contend that the Miami defensive line could be even better than the Tampa Bay unit with which it shared the practice field over the weekend. But in terms of depth and overall quickness, at least, it's fair to suggest the Dolphins group has an edge. Even with the free agency departure of left end Trace Armstrong, who signed with the Oakland Raiders, the Dolphins have plenty of able, young bodies. Of the 14 linemen on the roster, only tackles Daryl Gardener and Tim Bowens have more than five seasons of NFL experience. The two tackles are mashers who can collapse the interior. Bowens may be too pricey for Miami in another year and Gardener's back woes, which limit him to one practice daily, are a concern but probably not for 2001. The replacement for Armstrong will be either a slimmed-down Kenny Mixon or Lorenzo Bromell. The latter is capable of eight to 10 sacks, while Mixon is a better run defender. The critics claim that right end Jason Taylor, who just got a new $42 million contract, is subpar against the run, but just a handful of ends in the NFL had more tackles versus the rush in 2000. Taylor was exploding off the ball in the pass rush drills over the weekend, dominated the Tampa Bay tackles and demonstrated no ill effects from the shoulder "stinger" he suffered in the Hall of Fame game last Monday. In general, the Miami defense is the quickest in the entire league and it all starts up front. One young lineman to watch: Second-year veteran Jermaine Haley, a 1999 draft choice who spent a year in the CFL before signing with the Dolphins in 2000. He could be a starter by next season.

3. The Dolphins improved their speed at wide receiver with the free agent acquisitions of James McKnight (from Dallas) and Dedric Ward (from the New York Jets), but the newcomer who might make the most difference at the position is Chris Chambers, a second-round draft choice from Wisconsin. Big and rangy with good speed and jumping ability, the rookie still suffers from mental inconsistency and might not be as physically tough as the Dolphins would like him to be. But there is explosive potential with Chambers, and his playing time could increase as the season progresses. The knock on Chambers in the draft, at least from the scouts with whom we spoke, was that he didn't like going over the middle. That didn't appear to be the case working against the Tampa Bay secondary, but Chambers was muscled off the ball a few times. There are concerns that Chambers will experience difficulty getting a clean release off the line of scrimmage. That was hard to discern over the weekend, since the Bucs never play "press" coverage techniques.

4. Journeyman blocker Marcus Spriggs is lining up at the staring left tackle spot, but no one expects that to last for long. Conventional wisdom is that left guard Mark Dixon, the team's best offensive lineman the last three years, will eventually move outside to tackle and replace Brent Smith in the lineup. Smith was to have filled the vacancy created by the free agency exit of 11-year veteran Richmond Webb, but he suffered a season-ending knee injury on the fourth snap of the first full-squad practice in camp. The Dolphins have toyed with the idea of moving Dixon, a former CFL player, to tackle the last couple of years, and it now seems inevitable. He's got good enough feet, has a balanced blocking base and uses his hands really well. The move would be a bit disruptive, of course, but you've got to have your best player at left tackle. So what would Miami do to fill Dixon's spot at left guard then? The team is once again eyeing Saints backup guard Tom Ackerman, a player in whom the Dolphins have indicated interest in the past. Ackerman recently refused to restructure his contract to provide the Saints with salary cap relief. The Dolphins could trade for Ackerman or wait and see if New Orleans releases him closer to the start of the regular season. The other option at left tackle is to move second-year pro Todd Wade over from the right side. That apparently hasn't merited much discussion.

5. Two young veterans who would win the "most improved in camp" award if the Miami coaches awarded such honors are third-year fullback Rob Konrad and second-year cornerback Ben Kelly. The latter is getting extended field time because of training camp injuries to starter Patrick Surtain and first-rounder Jamar Fletcher. If Fletcher doesn't get back onto the field soon, Kelly could win the No. 3 corner job behind Surtain and Sam Madison by default. Kelly knows all about injuries, since he was hurt much of his rookie season, and he got into coach Dave Wannstedt's doghouse this summer by being charged with a DUI. In the workouts against the Tampa Bay receivers, Kelly showed excellent "press" skills, getting up in the faces of the wideouts. The former Colorado star likely will play a role as well in the return game. Konrad has dropped a few pounds but, more importantly, improved his quickness and stamina by working hard in the offseason. Always a good receiver, the onetime Syracuse standout could become a force in the running game, particularly if the Dolphins enhance their use of a one-back alignment.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.