Speak about inexperienced persons luck.
The Miami Dolphins opened the Mike McDaniel period with a nail-biting 26-24 win over to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when a final-second 49-yard discipline aim try banked off the uprights, permitting the Dolphins to safe McDaniel’s first win as a head coach.
The sport wasn’t fairly, and didn’t characteristic a lot of both group’s key gamers. However it did present fairly a number of clues in regards to the journey forward for the Dolphins.
Listed below are 10 takeaways from Miami’s preseason opener:
Skylar Thompson shines in his debut
Thompson, the Kansas State standout the Dolphins chosen within the seventh spherical of the 2022 NFL draft, had put collectively a formidable two weeks of coaching camp coming into Saturday’s sport and people practices carried over. Whereas the quarterback’s efficiency throughout your complete sport wasn’t good, he put the Dolphins in place to win by finishing 20-of-28 passes for 218 yards and a landing. He additionally gained 25 yards on three carries.
Is Mike Gesicki in Miami’s long-term plans?
Whereas 20 established and key veterans sat out Saturday’s preseason opener, there was Mike Gesicki taking part in the primary collection. In equity to Miami’s coaches, the tight ends are studying the way to play in a brand new scheme, and Gesicki must work on his blocking. However this simply served as one other piece of proof that Gesicki, who the Dolphins used the franchise tag to retain this offseason, is on borrowed time. The Dolphins ought to think about buying and selling him and his $10.9 million wage to a group.
Trill Williams suffers knee harm
Williams, who had been having a superb camp, and shifting to the forefront of the cornerback unit, was taken off the sphere on a cart after struggling a left knee harm on one of many ultimate defensive performs of the fourth quarter. If Williams’ harm finally ends up being critical it’ll water down the depth of Miami’s cornerback unit, which was already troublesome — particularly with Byron Jones nonetheless sidelined by an offseason ankle process.
Noah Igbinoghene continues to get picked on
The Buccaneers scored the sport’s first landing on a slant the place Igbinoghene was out of place, and reacted slowly. That’s been the storyline of his coaching camps, follow after follow, season after season. The Dolphins must preserve working the 2020 first-round choose for 30 or extra performs throughout preseason to find out if he’s salvageable as a result of at this level there are solely two issues to label Igbinoghene — the primary can be a goal, and the second is a bust.
Cornerback depth is regarding
Despite the fact that McDaniel expects Jones to be wholesome sufficient to play within the season opener, the Dolphins need to be involved with the group’s depth at cornerback primarily based on what they’ve seen all camp, and within the preseason opener. One harm, just like the one Williams suffered, and Miami’s secondary may be pressured to maneuver Eric Rowe again to cornerback. That’s why common supervisor Chris Grier must discover signing a top quality veteran cornerback like Chris Harris, Xavier Rhodes, Joe Haden, AJ. Bouye or Janoris Jenkins.
Jason Sanders is in midseason kind
Sanders, who has had a formidable 4 seasons with the Dolphins, showcased how environment friendly he will be as an NFL kicker within the first preseason sport. Despite the fact that he has gotten few makes an attempt throughout practices up to now in coaching camp, he made 4 discipline objectives Saturday, two of which had been for greater than 50-yards, and the ultimate one was the game-winner.
Michael Deiter handles heart snaps
Deiter missed the primary two weeks of coaching camp due to a foot harm he suffered in camp’s first session, however began the Tampa Bay sport at heart as a result of Connor Williams was one of many two projected starters (Terron Armstead was the opposite) who sat out the primary preseason sport. Deiter allowed a few pressures, however his snapping was sound. It’ll be fascinating to see if he can shut floor on Williams, and push for the beginning job.
Inside linebacker stays a problem for Miami
Enjoying the Buccaneers with out Jerome Baker and Elandon Roberts supplied Miami a superb gauge of how missing group’s depth is at inside linebacker. Whereas Duke Riley has confirmed he’s valued, the remainder of the within linebacker crop hasn’t confirmed a factor. Sam Eguavoen has been inconsistent for 3 seasons, and Channing Tindall, the Dolphins’ 2022 third-round choose, has been taking part in a step sluggish. Miami must discover if there are alternate options.
Lynn Bowden showcased in preseason opener
Bowden scored a 22-yard landing within the second quarter after beating a Buccaneers defensive again with a double transfer. He completed the sport with three receptions for 55 yards and the landing. Bowden additionally dealt with the Dolphins kick returns, exhibiting that he has particular groups worth. He was way more productive within the sport than he has been all camp. However Bowden’s talent set ought to make him the chief for the fifth receiver spot on the 53-man regular-season roster.
Sam Eguavoen performs like a Corridor-of-Fame expertise in preseason, however has disappeared within the common season.
His first drive was stuffed with missed tackles and unhealthy reads, however Eguavoen scored when he picked up a fumble following a sack and ran it 32 yards into the top zone. Eguavoen has a knack for producing massive performs within the preseason, like his four-sack efficiency final 12 months. However relating to the common season, he’s struggled to seek out his footing. Miami wants him to indicate up this season and show he’s a professional NFL inside linebacker.
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