The Miami Dolphins had most of their starters play Saturday’s preseason recreation towards the Las Vegas Raiders, however towards a slew of backups, they delivered an underwhelming efficiency.
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who didn’t have large receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle or left sort out Terron Armstead with the first-team offense, went 6 of 8 for 58 yards in two drives over a quarter-plus at Onerous Rock Stadium. The 2 collection for Miami’s third-year signal-caller netted 3 factors.
The Dolphins’ first-team protection surrendered an opening-drive landing to a Raiders offense not taking part in quarterback Derek Carr, large receiver Davante Adams, tight finish Darren Waller or working again Josh Jacobs.
With third-teamers taking the lead within the fourth quarter, the Dolphins then gave it up earlier than a Jason Sanders area purpose try with beneath two minutes remaining missed off the upright. The Dolphins misplaced the exhibition to the Raiders, 15-13.
Tagovailoa accomplished all three of his passes on his second drive for 29 yards, together with a 16-yard chunk acquire on first all the way down to large receiver Trent Sherfield and a third-down conversion to working again Chase Edmonds the place Tagovailoa was affected person studying by means of his development earlier than the move to the flat.
The Dolphins have been going for a fourth-and-1, however a false begin from left sort out Larnel Coleman compelled them to accept a 46-yard area purpose from Sanders.
Tagovailoa prolonged the opening drive with a third-and-4 completion to Edmonds for 17 yards after shopping for time and rolling left. That drive stalled when Tagovailoa hit tight finish Mike Gesicki within the numbers between two defenders on third down, however Gesicki didn't get his head rotated to see the ball coming.
Gesicki was focused 4 occasions on the 2 drives and made two receptions for 11 yards. Curiously taking part in your complete first half, Gesicki completed with three receptions on six targets for 27 yards.
The opening collection defensively confirmed how very important cornerbacks Xavien Howard and Byron Jones are to the unit. With Jones nonetheless on the physically-unable-to-perform record and Howard getting the night time off, the Dolphins protection allowed largely Raiders backups to drive 75 yards in 12 performs.
The Raiders have been all the way down to third-and-18 round midfield after a sack from defensive lineman Zach Sieler, however consecutive passes of 14 and 15 yards to tight finish Jesper Horsted stored the drive going earlier than working again Zamir White finally scored a 2-yard landing run.
Miami’s cornerback depth could have taken one other couple of hits within the first half Saturday. Nik Needham, who's the staff’s high nickel cornerback, went to the locker room after trainers attended to his left hand, which he injured tackling White. He returned to the sideline however didn't return into the sport. Fellow cornerback Keion Crossen was additionally checked out by trainers on the sphere after an harm.
Backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater’s first move try with the Dolphins resulted in a security attributable to an intentional grounding penalty in the long run zone. Gesicki missed the preliminary block that flushed Bridgewater out of the pocket.
Sanders was good on a 57-yard area purpose try with 3:06 remaining within the first half. He began 6 for six on area objectives this preseason earlier than the miss on the finish.
Bridgewater went 10 of 20 for 119 yards. He hit undrafted rookie large receiver Braylon Sanders on a easy floating 28-yard move down the sideline for the Dolphins’ longest play of the half. Myles Gaskin, although, had a catch and fumble for a turnover earlier than halftime to finish that scoring risk. Officers initially blew the play lifeless as an incomplete move on the sphere, which saved Miami from what most likely would’ve been a protracted Raiders defensive landing.
Within the third, Bridgewater discovered rookie fourth-round draft decide Erik Ezukanma for a pickup of 26, however he additionally later missed him on the drive. Bridgewater almost had Sanders for a landing, however the Ole Miss goal couldn’t come down with it on third-and-7 from the 20-yard line. The Dolphins stored the offense on the sphere on fourth down, and Bridgewater took a sack.
Down 12-6 within the fourth quarter, rookie quarterback Skylar Thompson, who noticed all of the motion final week towards the Buccaneers, lofted up a handsome move to working again ZaQuandre White, who juked out a defender earlier than strolling into the top zone for the 19-yard landing.
Ezukanma hauled in a 34-yard move from Thompson on that drive after which caught back-to-back downfield throws from the previous Kansas State signal-caller. Thompson was 9 of 10 for 129 yards and the landing, and Ezukanma had six catches for 114 yards.
Along with the Sieler sack, edge defender Porter Gustin, who's combating for a roster spot and having a strong coaching camp, recorded a first-half sack. Defensive finish Ben Stille had a sack within the second half, and defensive finish Owen Carney had a third-down sack late that led to a Raiders area purpose.
This story will likely be up to date.
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