matthewcannata
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The Miami Dolphins played their final preseason game tonight against the St. Louis Rams and defeated them 14 - 13 to move to 3-1 on the preseason schedule. Tonight was the night for the young players and other veterans on the roster bubble to showcase what they can do and give the coaching staff and front office a few more things to think about before they make their final decision before Saturday at 4:00 PM EST.
This wasn't a fun game to watch as it was very sloppy football throughout the entire game. However, it gave us a glimpse as to why the Dolphins are doing a few things the way they are doing them, a few players who could make an impact this year and also a few players who we now know shouldn't make the roster. With all of that said, here are my ten thoughts from the Dolphins vs. Rams preseason game.
Jordan Tripp and Chris McCain are not ready to start
There has been a lot of hype regarding these two players over the course of training camp and preseason but I think tonight showed why they aren't yet in the starting lineup. They were exposed several times in coverage and had trouble with their endurance after playing pretty much every down for an extended period of time. I truly believe that both of these guys will be part of the starting linebacker corps within the next two years, if not sooner. I also believe that they will both see significant time on the field during the 2014 season. However, they still need some fine-tuning, conditioning and need to pack on more muscle in order to be a starter and on the field every down.
However, McCain is a pass rushing monster
Although I don't think McCain is ready to start, he's definitely a monster when it comes to rushing the passer. Whenever his number is called to do just that, he always finds a way to get close to the quarterback or hit them. You don't see him getting caught up in the blocks very much when he's coming full speed at the quarterback. McCain will likely be used in obvious pass rushing situations this year and should be let loose whenever possible. He can wreak havoc on a game and could easily fill Dion Jordan's role for the first four weeks of the season.
Will Davis is a boom or bust cornerback
Will Davis is a gifted athlete and I think he will do great things in a Miami Dolphins uniform. However, there were several times where he was just running way too fast with the receiver and wasn't staying fully in tune with them. Throughout the game, there were multiple times where the receiver he was covering would stop and come back while Davis kept on running. By the time he knew what was going on, he had already given up a first down.
While the comeback is one of the hardest routes to defend, he needs to find a way to adjust and figure it out. Otherwise, quarterbacks - both elite and average - will look his way and pick on him whenever he's on the field. On the other hand though, he makes some great plays from time to time. He just needs to find more consistency and then he can become a solid player.
The Dolphins will have a time tough deciding who to keep at DT
The Dolphins are going to have a tough time deciding who to keep at the defensive tackle position. Tonight, all of the defensive tackles made some impact plays and will make the Dolphins think long and hard. Whether it's Anthony Johnson, Isaako Aaitui, Kamal Johnson or Garrison Smith, the Dolphins are going to have a solid player or two they can develop into the future. Personally, I think Anthony Johnson and Aaitui make the team while Kamal Johnson and Smith head to the practice squad if they aren't picked up by another team.
Shelley Smith - not Dallas Thomas - needs to be the starting RG
It's not pass protection that Dallas Thomas struggles with - it's the run blocking. There was one point tonight towards the end of the first quarter where Thomas whiffed on a block, which resulted in a running play that suffered a loss of a few yards. He struggles to stay alert and find the right person to block on running plays. In terms of pass protection, he's nothing special but he gets the job done.
Shelley Smith is a much better run blocker and an average pass protector. Whenever Smith plays, the running game seems to come alive. He is the type of athletic lineman the Dolphins are looking for - one that can pull and get out to the second level to block. Smith does a great job of that and his combination of skills gives the Dolphins the best overall option at the right guard position and should be the starter on September 7 against the New England Patriots.
It should be time for Daniel Thomas to be done as a Miami Dolphin
When Jeff Ireland traded up in the second round to draft Daniel Thomas four years ago, he was supposed to be a big running back who can break the tough tackles and convert in short yardage situations. Unfortunatley, he hasn't done much of that as he now enters his fourth year on the team. During the game, he looked like a man who was just going through the motions and didn't show the passion of someone fighting for their roster spot. Thomas finished the evening with 38 yards on 13 carries, which is a 2.9 yards per carry average.
It appears that Damien Williams has one of the spots locked up so Thomas needs to pray and hope the Dolphins carry four running backs as he would then be up against Orleans Darkwa. It will be interesting to see what happens but I believe that Thomas has had enough time to prove himself and hasn't done a good job of doing so.
Marcus Thigpen didn't seem to have much fire either
Earlier this week, someone familiar with how releases happen in the NFL said that players usually know days before the cut deadline that they know what their fate is. That's because the position coaches usually start distancing themselves from these players and don't talk to them as much. I am suspecting that this is what happened to Thigpen. He looked disinterested and seemed to just be going through the motions on the field. Offensive Coordinator Bill Lazor liked Thigpen but Damien Williams or Orleans Darkwa can easily fill the role that Thigpen held on the team on the offensive side of the ball. As far as special teams, the Dolphins will likely use Jarvis Landry or Damian Williams.
Will Seth Lobato make it to the practice squad?
Seth Lobato looked really bad during the game. While he made a few impressive plays, he was under-throwing and over-throwing receivers throughout the game and had trouble making quick decisions. When the Dolphins signed him, they had hoped that he would be good enough to warrant putting him on the practice squad. However, I"m not so sure that Lobato has proven that he belongs with the Dolphins. The team will likely search the waiver wire on Friday and Saturday and see if they have any better options to place on the practice squad to help develop.
Dion Jordan seems to be going through the motions
Much has been said about Dion Jordan's lackluster preseason but I believe that he might just be going through the motions. There were several plays where he didn't look like he was playing very hard and was just doing what he had to get through the play. Whether or not this is true remains to be seen but it sure had the feeling of it. Jordan will miss the first four games of the season but then will return against the Green Bay Packers.
Now it's time for some real football!
When the Dolphins take the practice field again on Sunday, they will do so with 53 players and the final roster heading into the first week of the regular season. The preseason is just about officially over and the Dolphins and our site will turn our attention to the New England Patriots. It's been quite a while since we've had football that matters and I am extremely excited about the potential of this year's team. I believe that they will either do really well and make the playoffs or do really bad and have a miserable season. I don't think there's much middle ground with this team. Let's hope they have a great season and make the playoffs for the first time in quite a few years!
This wasn't a fun game to watch as it was very sloppy football throughout the entire game. However, it gave us a glimpse as to why the Dolphins are doing a few things the way they are doing them, a few players who could make an impact this year and also a few players who we now know shouldn't make the roster. With all of that said, here are my ten thoughts from the Dolphins vs. Rams preseason game.
Jordan Tripp and Chris McCain are not ready to start
There has been a lot of hype regarding these two players over the course of training camp and preseason but I think tonight showed why they aren't yet in the starting lineup. They were exposed several times in coverage and had trouble with their endurance after playing pretty much every down for an extended period of time. I truly believe that both of these guys will be part of the starting linebacker corps within the next two years, if not sooner. I also believe that they will both see significant time on the field during the 2014 season. However, they still need some fine-tuning, conditioning and need to pack on more muscle in order to be a starter and on the field every down.
However, McCain is a pass rushing monster
Although I don't think McCain is ready to start, he's definitely a monster when it comes to rushing the passer. Whenever his number is called to do just that, he always finds a way to get close to the quarterback or hit them. You don't see him getting caught up in the blocks very much when he's coming full speed at the quarterback. McCain will likely be used in obvious pass rushing situations this year and should be let loose whenever possible. He can wreak havoc on a game and could easily fill Dion Jordan's role for the first four weeks of the season.
Will Davis is a boom or bust cornerback
Will Davis is a gifted athlete and I think he will do great things in a Miami Dolphins uniform. However, there were several times where he was just running way too fast with the receiver and wasn't staying fully in tune with them. Throughout the game, there were multiple times where the receiver he was covering would stop and come back while Davis kept on running. By the time he knew what was going on, he had already given up a first down.
While the comeback is one of the hardest routes to defend, he needs to find a way to adjust and figure it out. Otherwise, quarterbacks - both elite and average - will look his way and pick on him whenever he's on the field. On the other hand though, he makes some great plays from time to time. He just needs to find more consistency and then he can become a solid player.
The Dolphins will have a time tough deciding who to keep at DT
The Dolphins are going to have a tough time deciding who to keep at the defensive tackle position. Tonight, all of the defensive tackles made some impact plays and will make the Dolphins think long and hard. Whether it's Anthony Johnson, Isaako Aaitui, Kamal Johnson or Garrison Smith, the Dolphins are going to have a solid player or two they can develop into the future. Personally, I think Anthony Johnson and Aaitui make the team while Kamal Johnson and Smith head to the practice squad if they aren't picked up by another team.
Shelley Smith - not Dallas Thomas - needs to be the starting RG
It's not pass protection that Dallas Thomas struggles with - it's the run blocking. There was one point tonight towards the end of the first quarter where Thomas whiffed on a block, which resulted in a running play that suffered a loss of a few yards. He struggles to stay alert and find the right person to block on running plays. In terms of pass protection, he's nothing special but he gets the job done.
Shelley Smith is a much better run blocker and an average pass protector. Whenever Smith plays, the running game seems to come alive. He is the type of athletic lineman the Dolphins are looking for - one that can pull and get out to the second level to block. Smith does a great job of that and his combination of skills gives the Dolphins the best overall option at the right guard position and should be the starter on September 7 against the New England Patriots.
It should be time for Daniel Thomas to be done as a Miami Dolphin
When Jeff Ireland traded up in the second round to draft Daniel Thomas four years ago, he was supposed to be a big running back who can break the tough tackles and convert in short yardage situations. Unfortunatley, he hasn't done much of that as he now enters his fourth year on the team. During the game, he looked like a man who was just going through the motions and didn't show the passion of someone fighting for their roster spot. Thomas finished the evening with 38 yards on 13 carries, which is a 2.9 yards per carry average.
It appears that Damien Williams has one of the spots locked up so Thomas needs to pray and hope the Dolphins carry four running backs as he would then be up against Orleans Darkwa. It will be interesting to see what happens but I believe that Thomas has had enough time to prove himself and hasn't done a good job of doing so.
Marcus Thigpen didn't seem to have much fire either
Earlier this week, someone familiar with how releases happen in the NFL said that players usually know days before the cut deadline that they know what their fate is. That's because the position coaches usually start distancing themselves from these players and don't talk to them as much. I am suspecting that this is what happened to Thigpen. He looked disinterested and seemed to just be going through the motions on the field. Offensive Coordinator Bill Lazor liked Thigpen but Damien Williams or Orleans Darkwa can easily fill the role that Thigpen held on the team on the offensive side of the ball. As far as special teams, the Dolphins will likely use Jarvis Landry or Damian Williams.
Will Seth Lobato make it to the practice squad?
Seth Lobato looked really bad during the game. While he made a few impressive plays, he was under-throwing and over-throwing receivers throughout the game and had trouble making quick decisions. When the Dolphins signed him, they had hoped that he would be good enough to warrant putting him on the practice squad. However, I"m not so sure that Lobato has proven that he belongs with the Dolphins. The team will likely search the waiver wire on Friday and Saturday and see if they have any better options to place on the practice squad to help develop.
Dion Jordan seems to be going through the motions
Much has been said about Dion Jordan's lackluster preseason but I believe that he might just be going through the motions. There were several plays where he didn't look like he was playing very hard and was just doing what he had to get through the play. Whether or not this is true remains to be seen but it sure had the feeling of it. Jordan will miss the first four games of the season but then will return against the Green Bay Packers.
Now it's time for some real football!
When the Dolphins take the practice field again on Sunday, they will do so with 53 players and the final roster heading into the first week of the regular season. The preseason is just about officially over and the Dolphins and our site will turn our attention to the New England Patriots. It's been quite a while since we've had football that matters and I am extremely excited about the potential of this year's team. I believe that they will either do really well and make the playoffs or do really bad and have a miserable season. I don't think there's much middle ground with this team. Let's hope they have a great season and make the playoffs for the first time in quite a few years!
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