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PFF Gradings: Chris McCain steps up

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Pro Football Focus’ gradings of the Dolphins-Bucs game are out and not surprisingly right guard Dallas Thomas was the lowest graded player of the game. In fact, his -9.9 grading might be the worst I’ve ever seen.

To put in perspective, the next-lowest graded player on offense — right tackle Steven Baker — had a -2.7.

Thomas was by far the team’s worst pass blocker. Aside from Thomas, only reserve lineman Nate Garner had a rough game in pass protection. Thomas was the main culprit on the sack of quarterback Ryan Tannehill that resulted in a fumble and a Bucs score.

Thomas was also the worst run blocker but he wasn’t the only one who struggled there. Ja’Wuan James, Branden Albert, Daryn Colledge, Shelley Smith, Baker and Thomas were all “in the red” in the run game — that’s considered an especially rough performance.

Thomas was also the only player in the red for penalties.

While James struggled with run blocking, he was the team’s highest-rated player in pass protection which earned him the fourth-highest overall score on offense.
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McCain played the most snaps of any Dolphins linebacker and had the best grade on the team (+4.1). His pass rush and run defense were both tops on the team.

Second-year cornerback Will Davis, who played the most snaps of any defensive player, had the next-highest grade at +3.5. Davis’ pass coverage was by far the best on the team. For now he’s been elevated to slot cornerback with Jimmy Wilson moving to safety while Reshad Jones suffers a four-game regular season suspension. At the moment Davis has surpassed Jamar Taylor, another second-year cornerback who was drafted in the second round in 2013. Davis was a third round pick.

Anthony Johnson, another undrafted player, was the fourth-highest graded defensive player at +1.8. Johnson had the team’s third-highest pass rushing grade.
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http://dailydolphin.blog.palmbeachp...in-steps-up-dallas-thomas-off-the-charts-bad/
 
McCain balled his play tells me he should start. I don't have faith our coaches start him though.

Will Davis IMO has beat out Taylor for nickel snaps. I think he plays the boundary while Finnegan is slot corner in the nickel.

Thomas has to sit for Turner. At least we know Turner will be a way better run blocker and has the quicks to move to the 2nd level
 
Pretty sick that Wheeler, Ellerbe, Wallace and Jordan could all be relegated to depth and we probably wouldn't miss a beat. Picks and money.

 
PFF put up their comments:

Miami — Three Performances of Note

Second-Year Jump

The Dolphins are counting on all of their 2013 draft picks to make significant strides from Year 1 to 2, but two second-year players really jumped of the screen Saturday. Unfortunately, the one they’re relying on the most at the moment stuck out for all the wrong reasons. Dallas Thomas is slated to be the starting right guard for the Dolphins, but so far he’s done everything in his power this preseason to lose that title. Thomas got eaten alive by Gerald McCoy to the tune of three pressures, two penalties, and a -9.4(!) overall grade in 49 snaps. This comes one week after a -2.2 overall grade against the Falcons and a year after he finished with a -9.6 overall grade in his first preseason. Thomas flat out doesn’t look like an NFL player at the moment.

Will Davis, on the other hand, looks like an NFL starter this preseason. After injuries limited the third-round pick to just 65 snaps as a rookie, the cornerback has been the bright spot of the Dolphins’ defense so far. Davis allowed 4 yards on three targets and had a pass defensed along with another nice play that was questionably flagged for pass interference. He finished with a +3.5 overall grade and is currently the highest-graded cornerback in the league.

James Clean Again

A year after Tyson Clabo let defenders put Ryan Tannehill on his back 21 times (11 sacks and 10 hits), Ja’Wuan James appears to be just what the doctor ordered at right tackle. The 19th overall pick has yet to give up a single pressure in 49 pass blocking snaps this preseason. James shut out Adrian Clayborn Saturday en route to a +2.0 pass-blocking grade. The only concern is that, like the rest of the line, James has struggled in the running game. The most obvious example came with 5:09 left in the second quarter when James let backup end Ronald Talley knife inside him on a sweep for a tackle for loss. To make matters worse the rookie was also flagged for holding on the play.

UDFA Making His Case

After the preseason there are always a handful of undrafted free agents that make everyone wonder how no one could have picked them. Last year it was Khiry Robinson and Tony Jefferson. This year it could very well be Chris McCain. The former California outside linebacker was kicked off the team midway through his Junior season and had little draft buzz prior to his dismissal. As such, McCain wasn’t a highly sought after free agent and ended up signing with the Dolphins nine days after the draft.

The rookie has been going to work ever since. He weighed in at 224 at his pro day in March, but is now listed at 250 on the Dolphins’ roster. Against Tampa Bay he took 11 snaps at end and 14 at outside linebacker in a role similar to Dion Jordan’s. It’s been McCain, though, that’s played like he was drafted third overall. He generated two quick hurries late in the game Saturday with a speed rush and made two stops in the running game for an overall grade of +4.1.
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15 different players achieved a pressure for a Dolphins team that logged four sacks, eight hits, and 12 hurries.
Through two games, the Bucs have the highest team run defense grade in the NFL at +20.1, while the Dolphins have the second lowest run blocking grade at -23.9.
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https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2014/08/17/refo-dolphins-buccaneers-preseason-week-2/
 
McCain, Tripp and Turner should be starting in the next 2 pre-season games and playing until at least the 3rd quarter. What have we got to lose?
 
I'd say those ratings and comments pretty much match what we saw. Good stuff.
 
McCain could turn out to be a pretty huge pickup.

To find a guy who can rush the qb undrafted is kind if unheard of, especially from the linebacker position.

It's pretty crazy to think 4 UDFA players will probably make this roster. (Fede, Damien Williams, McCain, Anthony Johnson)

That's a major win for hickey and his scouting team.
 
Does PFF account for quality of opponent? Dallas thomas getting eaten alive by the best DT not named Suh wasn't unexpected but do the rankings account for how good the opponent?

Flipping the script; does the plus grades for McCain, Fede, etc account for the going against other borderline players?
 
xXwarXx said:
McCain could turn out to be a pretty huge pickup.

To find a guy who can rush the qb undrafted is kind if unheard of, especially from the linebacker position.

It's pretty crazy to think 4 UDFA players will probably make this roster. (Fede, Damien Williams, McCain, Anthony Johnson)

That's a major win for hickey and his scouting team.
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And I think Gator Hoskins could end up being the best of the bunch. Hell, he could turn out to be the best addition of the entire offseason if given the chance. That hammy might cost him a position on whats looking to be a pretty talented roster though.
 
xXwarXx said:
McCain could turn out to be a pretty huge pickup.

To find a guy who can rush the qb undrafted is kind if unheard of, especially from the linebacker position.

It's pretty crazy to think 4 UDFA players will probably make this roster. (Fede, Damien Williams, McCain, Anthony Johnson)

That's a major win for hickey and his scouting team.
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Fede was not a free agent. He was drafted in the 7th round.
 
xXwarXx said:
McCain could turn out to be a pretty huge pickup.

To find a guy who can rush the qb undrafted is kind if unheard of, especially from the linebacker position.

It's pretty crazy to think 4 UDFA players will probably make this roster. (Fede, Damien Williams, McCain, Anthony Johnson)


That's a major win for hickey and his scouting team.
Click to expand...


Fede was drafted in 7th round. He wasn't undrafted
 
NorFlaFin said:
Does PFF account for quality of opponent? Dallas thomas getting eaten alive by the best DT not named Suh wasn't unexpected but do the rankings account for how good the opponent?

Flipping the script; does the plus grades for McCain, Fede, etc account for the going against other borderline players?
Click to expand...

Doesn't account for level of competition, just level of effectiveness/efficiency of play. Against Atlanta, Thomas was -2.4 (very bad) run blocking, and .01 (average) pass pro...compared to against Tampa Bay he was -3.7 run blocking (horrible), -3.8 pass pro (horrible), and -1.9 (very bad) in penalties.
 
By the way, on the subject of Thomas, let me say this:

When the Bucs stunted McCoy onto Ju'wuan James, James handled himself credibly and actually blocked the man.

So yeah, it is possible to block McCoy. Dallas Thomas just isn't capable of doing it.
 
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