We didn’t learn much from last night’s 13-6 win over the Washington Commanders. We won’t learn much about this year’s version of the Miami Dolphins until after opening week against the Jacksonville Jaguars. We’ve only seen a smattering of starters thus far in the preseason and aren’t likely to see any of them in the final tune-up next week in Tampa.
So, I kind of find it hard for any followers or experts to opine on this team since they’ve only seen about 10% of it. Look, I get it. Injuries happen.
Minnesota lost its potential quarterback, JJ McCarthy, for the season with a knee injury. The best way to prepare for the season is to treat the pre-season like the season. Play the starters each week, even if only for a drive, to get into the routine of weekly games.
The Chiefs seem to do it this way. You can’t argue with their success, can you? I just don’t think you can flip a switch, and presto , you’re in mid-season form. Based on the current roster, the Dolphins are the league’s second-oldest team.
They need to shed some vets and keep some promising youngsters who, I think, are playing better and are cheaper than said vets. THE GOOD Tua Tagovailoa. We finally got to see him.
He was solid in his debut, completing all five passes for 65 yards, including a beautiful timing pattern to River Craecraft for a 13-yard touchdown. Erik Ezukanma. Arguably the star of the game, he caught five balls for 65 yards and had a reverse run for six yards.
He’s in a crowded wide receiver room. I hope he makes the team. Chris Brooks.
He broke off a 59-yard run, showing his power and speed. He has shown the ability to get a needed yard. I hope he makes the roster over vets Jeff Wilson, Jr.
and Salvon Ahmed. Malik Washington. The rookie has one thing that Braxton Berrios doesn’t.
Speed. He gives the Fins a return threat that they haven’t had in years. He’s a tough cover in the slot.
True, Berrios is the steadier of the two in terms of better hands and reliability, but I’d rather take a risk on the rookie who gives you another true weapon. Storm Duck. He needs to make the team for his name.
But seriously, he has shown the ability to cover and find the ball in coverage. Marcus Maye. He’s a steady safety who is good against the run and has decent cover skills.
He had five tackles in the first quarter alone. THE BAD Inconsistent kicking game. Jason Sanders hit two of three field goals, and Jake Bailey had punts ranging from 27 yards to a bounce-aided 66-yarder.
As with the backup quarterbacks, no competition was brought in for either position. I cannot understand this for the life of me, particularly on the punting side. Yoo-hoo, Dolphins brass, 45 yards a punt is no longer league-leading.
45 gets you 30 th in the league. 45 is now the net number to target, not the gross. Ten punters averaged 49 or better last year, and seven of those averaged 50.
I watched two first-year punters this week. The Patriots drafted Bryce Barringer out of Michigan State in the sixth round. He averaged over 50 with a long of 63 and changed field position.
The Chiefs’ Matt Araiza did the same. He opened with a 62 and a 61. He averaged 49, which included four punts inside the 20.
The Dolphins could have picked up this guy last year. How many times have I mentioned this, a thousand? I also wrote about the Jekyll and Hyde nature of Sanders, who can be great as well as terrible. Does that equate to reliability? The run defense allowed five runs of 10+ yards in the first half.
They allowed 92 yards on 12 carries (7.7 average) in the first half. Hopefully, the insertion of Calais Campbell can solve that issue.
THE UGLY Back-up quarterback play. I’ve demoted this group down to the bottom rung. I don’t have to tell you that Skylar Thompson and Mike White are NOT the answer if Tua goes down to injury.
Skylar Thompson was, still, and may forever be a project. He is now 16-34 (47%) for 156 yards with one touchdown and one interception for a rating of 58.0.
Sadly, I think we’ve seen his best.Mike White actually had a decent third quarter, going 7-10 for 102 yards, but only managed 4-10 for 14 yards in the fourth quarter. His preseason totals are 15-34 (44%) for 142 yards for a rating of 56.
3. White’s been in the league since 2018. If he was any good, he should have been carving up the third, fourth, and fifth stringers last night.
What we have at this position is mediocrity. The roster has too many good running backs to keep, too many good wide receivers to keep, and too many tight ends. It could have used another quarterback to improve a big hole at a key position.
Next week’s preseason finale will simply be a battle for roster spots as the starters rest. Good luck to the new faces hoping to make the squad..
