So you saw the headline and unless you know what happened, you're a little disappointed the Miami Dolphins were not representative in their first preseason game of the 2015 season.
Relax. The starters and, really, the second-team players did just fine. The Dolphins scored on their first offensive series and the starting defense did not give up a point. The reserves once we got past some of the second-team players?
Terrible as a group.
(More on all that in a second).
You should know that reserve linebacker and special teams contributor Jordan Tripp left the game in the first half with a right ankle injury. The injury doesn't look good in that Tripp left Soldier Field in a walking boot and with the assistance of crutches.
Fellow linebacker Chris McCain also left the game with an ankle injury but his doesn't seem serious. He walked off under his own power and did not require a boot or crutches. He was seen walking without significant discomfort on the sideline later in the evening.
So there's that. Tripp had an injury issue early last season, was having a good camp and may now have to deal with this setback.
It seems clear the Miami offense is in a much better place right now than it was a year ago at this time when the offensive coordinator was new, the players were not best suited to the system and multiple players wanted to get theirs.
Led by quarterback Ryan Tannehill, the Dolphins took the opening kickoff and marched 85 yards to a touchdown -- a 2-yard pass from Tannehill to Jarvis Landry. The Dolphins both ran and passed well against the Chicago starting defense.
Lamar Miller had a 27-yard run. Tannehill completed 6 of 7 passes for 56 yards with that TD and no interception. His quarterback rating for the evening was 139.6.
The only problem with that starting unit and the opening drive? Left tackle Jason Fox had a holding penalty. Right guard Billy Turner had a holding penalty in the red zone.
Turner, who played into the second quarter and even got some work in the third quarter, seemed to have a better night than he had a scrimmage last week or has had in practice against Ndamukong Suh. Yes, he still looked lost at times -- not blocking anyone at one point while both center Mike Pouncey and right tackle Ja'Wuan James handled their men one-on-one on one pass play.
But Turner didn't have any awful look-at-me-screw-up moments. He was otherwise anonymous, which is good for an offensive lineman.
Dallas Thomas had a similarly uneventful night. If somewhere Evan Mathis was rooting for a either Miami guard to implode, thus opening the door for him, it did not happen this night.
On defense, the starts fared well against Jay Cutler and company.
It became evident how much teams respect Suh when the Bears committed double teams to blocking him almost every play. That helped Cameron Wake get a one-on-one on one pass play and he turned it into a sack.
That sack, however, was nullified by offsetting penalties but the consequence Suh had on a play he was nowhere near was obvious.
The Dolphins had too many penalties as a team. They had 12 penalties for 80 yards.
Cornerback Bobby McCain had three of those penalties.
And defensive tackle Anthony Johnson was called for three neutral zone infractions.
Suh was called for one neutral zone infraction.
Unacceptable.
Johnson particularly seemed to have an off night. He was blocked on what turned into a 21-yard run right up the gut by the Bears.
It has been clear for a long time the Dolphins are going to go with two quarterback during the season, with probably a third quarterback on the practice squad.
The reason for this is Josh Freeman has simply not been good enough in practice to warrant a roster spot and has been running fourth-team behind McCleod Bethel-Thompson.
And when Bethel-Thompson took over for Moore this evening, the script seemed to be playing out as it had in practice. He's been slightly better than Freeman.
Bethel-Thompson had a QB rating above 100 early on. Then he imploded.
The threw two interceptions that sandwiched a Mike Gillislee fumble. He completed only five of 12 passes. It was a bad outing.
And then Freeman came in and, against third-team competition, fared not much better. He threw an interception while completing only 5 of 16 passes.
Both of Miami's lower tier quarterbacks had ratings of 21.9.
I would not be surprised if the Dolphins go shopping for another third-quarterback practice squad type because it was that bad.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/dolp...ami-dolphins-lose-to-chicago-bears-27-10.html
Relax. The starters and, really, the second-team players did just fine. The Dolphins scored on their first offensive series and the starting defense did not give up a point. The reserves once we got past some of the second-team players?
Terrible as a group.
(More on all that in a second).
You should know that reserve linebacker and special teams contributor Jordan Tripp left the game in the first half with a right ankle injury. The injury doesn't look good in that Tripp left Soldier Field in a walking boot and with the assistance of crutches.
Fellow linebacker Chris McCain also left the game with an ankle injury but his doesn't seem serious. He walked off under his own power and did not require a boot or crutches. He was seen walking without significant discomfort on the sideline later in the evening.
So there's that. Tripp had an injury issue early last season, was having a good camp and may now have to deal with this setback.
It seems clear the Miami offense is in a much better place right now than it was a year ago at this time when the offensive coordinator was new, the players were not best suited to the system and multiple players wanted to get theirs.
Led by quarterback Ryan Tannehill, the Dolphins took the opening kickoff and marched 85 yards to a touchdown -- a 2-yard pass from Tannehill to Jarvis Landry. The Dolphins both ran and passed well against the Chicago starting defense.
Lamar Miller had a 27-yard run. Tannehill completed 6 of 7 passes for 56 yards with that TD and no interception. His quarterback rating for the evening was 139.6.
The only problem with that starting unit and the opening drive? Left tackle Jason Fox had a holding penalty. Right guard Billy Turner had a holding penalty in the red zone.
Turner, who played into the second quarter and even got some work in the third quarter, seemed to have a better night than he had a scrimmage last week or has had in practice against Ndamukong Suh. Yes, he still looked lost at times -- not blocking anyone at one point while both center Mike Pouncey and right tackle Ja'Wuan James handled their men one-on-one on one pass play.
But Turner didn't have any awful look-at-me-screw-up moments. He was otherwise anonymous, which is good for an offensive lineman.
Dallas Thomas had a similarly uneventful night. If somewhere Evan Mathis was rooting for a either Miami guard to implode, thus opening the door for him, it did not happen this night.
On defense, the starts fared well against Jay Cutler and company.
It became evident how much teams respect Suh when the Bears committed double teams to blocking him almost every play. That helped Cameron Wake get a one-on-one on one pass play and he turned it into a sack.
That sack, however, was nullified by offsetting penalties but the consequence Suh had on a play he was nowhere near was obvious.
The Dolphins had too many penalties as a team. They had 12 penalties for 80 yards.
Cornerback Bobby McCain had three of those penalties.
And defensive tackle Anthony Johnson was called for three neutral zone infractions.
Suh was called for one neutral zone infraction.
Unacceptable.
Johnson particularly seemed to have an off night. He was blocked on what turned into a 21-yard run right up the gut by the Bears.
It has been clear for a long time the Dolphins are going to go with two quarterback during the season, with probably a third quarterback on the practice squad.
The reason for this is Josh Freeman has simply not been good enough in practice to warrant a roster spot and has been running fourth-team behind McCleod Bethel-Thompson.
And when Bethel-Thompson took over for Moore this evening, the script seemed to be playing out as it had in practice. He's been slightly better than Freeman.
Bethel-Thompson had a QB rating above 100 early on. Then he imploded.
The threw two interceptions that sandwiched a Mike Gillislee fumble. He completed only five of 12 passes. It was a bad outing.
And then Freeman came in and, against third-team competition, fared not much better. He threw an interception while completing only 5 of 16 passes.
Both of Miami's lower tier quarterbacks had ratings of 21.9.
I would not be surprised if the Dolphins go shopping for another third-quarterback practice squad type because it was that bad.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/dolp...ami-dolphins-lose-to-chicago-bears-27-10.html
