Last year it often seemed Miami Dolphins rookie defensive end Charles Harris didn't have a prayer to reach the quarterback Youth Joseph Noteboom Jersey , and now he does.

The first-round draft pick from Missouri turned to his faith to shake the funk he found himself in last season when he totaled two sacks, which tied for 156th in the NFL.

"As a rookie, I was in a dark place," he says. "Now I'm cool. I understand grace."

Harris says he's optimistic he'll fulfill his potential this season, and a week into training camp, so are the Dolphins.

"I actually think Charles Harris has probably had the best offseason of anybody on our team," four-time Pro Bowl defensive end Cameron Wake says. "He came back in tremendous shape. He has obviously been working on his strength; he has been working on his football. I think that's definitely going to pay off when it comes time to put in the live bullets and get after the quarterback."

Coach Adam Gase repeatedly defended Harris last season, saying the rookie was more disruptive than statistics would suggest. But the Dolphins were hoping for a bigger impact from the No. 22 overall pick in the draft.

Harris says off-the-field issues complicated his adjustment to the NFL. The Kansas City native says he struggled with the move to South Florida, and with the sudden wealth that accompanies a $6 million signing bonus.

"There was a lot of confusion," he says. "This offseason I just prayed a lot, prayed about my lifestyle, prayed about things off the field. Just like Revelation http://www.buffalobillsteamonline.com/lesean-mccoy-jersey , I asked God for Solomon-like wisdom, and he blessed me with it. ... I'm using my talents and not burying them. Last season I buried them."

Dolphins defensive end Andre Branch, a second-round draft pick in 2012, says he can see the 6-foot-3, 250-pound Harris beginning to blossom.

"He's a monster," Branch says. "He has always had talent, but it takes time. He was a rookie coming into a program where he's expected to do a lot. He's a high draft pick. I've been there. There are a lot of things on your shoulders, and you're young. You have no clue what to do and who to go to. But he's coming into his own."

Harris plays the deepest position on the roster. Along with Wake and Branch, two-time Pro Bowler Robert Quinn and veteran William Hayes are expected to be part of the rotation.

More pressure on the quarterback is mandatory if the Dolphins are to improve on last year's 6-10 record. They had 30 sacks last season, the team's lowest total in a decade, which is a big reason they gave up more points than all but three other teams.

Harris says he's spending camp perfecting two or three pass-rush moves, preferring to polish them rather than add more that he doesn't do as well.

Wake and Quinn make for great mentors Robert Golden Jersey Chiefs , he says, because their styles are so different.

"They're two different varieties," Harris says. "I've got a power rusher and a finesse rusher at the same time. I feel like I can combine both of them and be one of the greatest."

Gase is encouraged by what he has seen lately from Harris, but taps the brakes on any soaring expectations, noting limitations on contact make it difficult to evaluate defensive linemen during practice.

"For me it's hard sometimes, because we're asking these guys to stay away from the quarterback," Gase says. "Once we hit real games, then that's going to be easier for us to say, 'OK, here's where we're at with his development, and where do we need to go next?'"

The Boston Bruins missed a chance to edge even closer to a division title.

Andrei Vasilevskiy made 33 saves, Braydon Coburn and Ryan Callahan both had two assists during a three-goal second period Chiefs Cheap Jerseys , and the Tampa Bay Lightning beat Boston 4-0 Tuesday night to move into a tie for the Atlantic Division lead with the Bruins.

”They hadn’t beaten us this year, and they were determined to do that,” Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said. ”The first period, I thought we were clearly outplayed for the most part. I thought the second period we didn’t give up as many quality chances and three of them went in. That’s the way it goes some times.”

Brayden Point, Victor Hedman, Chris Kunitz and J.T. Miller scored for the Lightning, who had lost four of five.

”We want to finish in first place,” Hedman said. ”The first two periods were some of the best hockey we’ve played all year. I was very happy with the way we played.”

Tampa Bay played without star center Steven Stamkos, who left Sunday’s game against Nashville in the second period with a lower-body injury. It hasn’t been announced if Stamkos will play in either of the Lightning’s final two regular-season games.

Tuukka Rask stopped 32 shots for the Bruins, who had gone 5-0-4 over their previous nine games. Boston has three regular-season games left.

”They were definitely the better team,” Rask said.

Vasilevskiy stopped a breakaway shot by David Pastrnak in the second, a period that saw Point Denzel Ward Jersey Youth , Hedman and Kunitz all have goals as the Lightning took a 3-0 lead. Tampa Bay has outscored its opponents 109-72 during the second this season.

It was Vasilevskiy’s eighth shutout this season and first win (1-4-1) in six games against Boston. The eight shutouts set a franchise record.

”When he’s on his game, he’s really hard to beat,” Point said.

Miller scored during a 2-on-1 break early in the third.

”A complete effort by the whole team,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said.

Boston won three of four in the season series.

NOTES: Bruins D Brandon Carlo, hurt in Saturday’s game against Florida, will have surgery this week for a fractured left ankle. Recovery time is three to four months. … Boston D Charlie McAvoy returned after sitting out 15 games because of a strained left knee. … Bruins LW Rick Nash (upper-body injury) skated in Boston. … Boston C Tommy Wingels, slashed on the hand in Sunday’s game at Philadelphia, didn’t play. … Tampa Bay D Anton Stralman played in his 700th NHL game.

UP NEXT

Bruins: Complete their road season Thursday night at Florida. Boston closes the regular season at home Sunday with the Panthers.

Lightning: Wrap up the home schedule Friday night against Buffalo.

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