Sports Buzz: Postscripts from game 8-16

[gafin]

Sports Buzz: Postscripts from game 8-16, Sun 8-17

Postscripts from the Dolphins’ 20-14 win at Tampa Bay in their second preseason game:



Yes, there was a lot to like, and we’ll get to that in a minute. First, five issues that should concern you:

### Has this team given any indication – ANY – that it’s capable of running the ball consistently? Last week, Miami averaged 2.5 yards per carry against Atlanta. On Saturday, the Dolphins lost five yards on nine first half carries (admittedly against a team that’s stout against the run), and finished with 46 yards on 26 attempts (1.8 per carry).

Yes, you would like to see Lamar Miller, Damien Williams and others break more tackles. The same obviously can be said for Daniel Thomas and Mike Gillislee, who both missed the game with hamstring issues.

But Buccaneers defensive players (primarily Gerald McCoy, but others too) too often shook blocks quickly, and too easily, on running plays. We saw this too often last year, with far too many tackles for loss on running plays. And we saw it again tonight. Perhaps Knowshon Moreno will make a difference. But the blocking needs to be better, especially from Thomas and Ja'Wuan James.


It’s worth noting that Shelley Smith, who cannot crack the starting lineup, is considered one of Miami’s best run-blockers. But he was partly to blame on a six-yard loss by Damien Williams on one running play.

Here were the final numbers from the Dolphins’ running backs: Miller 3 for 3; Cameron Marshall 4 for 11; Orleans Darkwa 6 for 11; Damian Williams 11 for 20.

### You don’t want to overreact to Dallas Thomas’ horrific night because he isn’t going to face players of McCoy’s quality all that often. And yes, it was horrific --- beaten for a strip sack (Samson Satele provided no help), beaten for a quarterback hurry, beaten on at least two running plays for losses, and two penaltys thrown in for good measure.

But at the very least, Saturday’s developments should make the Dolphins reconsider their decision to move Smith to the second team. And Billy Turner played well at right guard tonight, with the major caveat that he wasn’t going up against McCoy. The Dolphins need to consider all three options. We assume they will.

### Can the starting linebackers ever make it through a half without doing something exasperating? On Saturday, defensive end Derrick Shelby’s third down sack was negated by a downfield holding penalty on linebacker Dannell Ellerbe, resulting in an automatic first down.

### We agree with Armando Salguero’s assessment today that there has been no discernable improvement in Ryan Tannehill’s ability to connect with Mike Wallace on deep balls. Wallace said he cannot practice deep balls with Tannehill repeatedly after practice because it wouldn’t be healthy for his legs.

But how about just a few after every practice? That would better than nothing, which is what they’re doing now.

Tannehill overthrew Wallace on their one deep ball attempt Saturday.

### The Dolphins love Jimmy Wilson as their nickel back. Not sure they’ll love him so much filling in for Reshad Jones during Jones’ four-game suspension.

After allowing a catch and missing a tackle against Mike Evans (resulting in another 30 yards of YAC), Wilson was very fortunate that Evans fumbled the ball out of bounds, negating a long touchdown.

But enough doom and gloom. Now the good news, and there was a lot of it:

### Aside from deep balls, Tannehill has been terrific this preseason. He followed last week’s 6 for 6 opener by going 9 for 14 for 110 yards and an 88.4 QB rating. The big blemish: fumbling on the McCoy fumble, leading to Tampa’s only sack.

### Matt Moore solidified his hold on the backup quarterback job, leading the Dolphins’ offense to 13 points, including an impressive 9 play, 71 yard drive to close the first half. Moore’s final numbers: 13 for 19, 158 yards, one touchdown and a 111.3 rating.

### Brandon Gibson has regained his pre-injury form. He had two receptions for 28 yards and remains a clutch target on third down.

Others who caught more than one pass: Damian Williams (3-46); Rishard Matthews (3-43), Armon Binns (2-28), Kevin Cone (2-30), Lamar Miller (2-20), Brett Brackett (2-12).

### Will Davis played ahead of Jamar Taylor and impressed for the second consecutive week, with two pass breakup and generally tight coverage. When Davis entered, Cortland Finnegan moved inside to cover the slot receiver.

### Besides Davis, the work of some of the other young defenders was VERY encouraging. Jordan Tripp had a couple of tackles for very short gains.

Chris McCain got early work at linebacker (playing at one point alongside Ellerbe and Koa Misi) and made a few plays, including a stop on a running play for a one-yard gain.

Anthony Johnson drew a holding penalty.

Terence Fede had a sack and there’s no reason to believe he won’t be on the team.

Dion Jordan forced a fumble.

### The Dolphins had five sacks, from Olivier Vernon, Jordan, Fede, Jared Odrick and Kemal Johnson.

### Misi had six tackles and played pretty well at middle linebacker.

### Caleb Sturgis re-aggravated his groin injury before the game, but the Dolphins might have found a capable replacement in John Potter, who nailed 47- and 51-yard field goals. This job has suddenly become a toss-up.

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sports-buzz/

 

[Rev Kev]

Shore up that Oline and we push for a PO spot

 

[MD]

Cut Sturgis now.

 

[gafin]

We are going to have to cut some wide receivers that can play in the NFL.

 

[spiketex]

Most encouraging thing is that the talented young guys are popping up and competing. Landry, Fede, McCain, Tripp, Taylor, Davis, Brown, Anthony Johnson all had their moments. I know it's just a practice game but it is good to see a lot of talent taking shape.

 

[LANGER72]

Wheelerbee, Dallas Thomas, and Daniel thomas need to pack up and catch a buss out of Davie.

---------- Post added at 11:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:32 PM ----------

Wheelerbee....LMAO

 

[Travis34]

Wheelerbee, Dallas Thomas, and Daniel thomas need to pack up and catch a buss out of Davie.

---------- Post added at 11:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:32 PM ----------

Wheelerbee....LMAO

I like the name

 

[NRA]

Wheelerbee....LMAO

i actually had a 1971 wheelerbee. had the 347 octogon in it.

unfortunately, it sputtered and didnt start half of the time. i sent it packin'.

 

[gafin]

Two more tidbits for Sunday:

### The representation for tight end Charles Clay, the Dolphins’ most important 2015 unrestricted free agent, has spoken to the team about a new deal, but the Dolphins are holding off for now, eager to make sure his surgically-repaired knee (which was aggravated two weeks ago) holds up and that his 2013 breakout wasn’t an anomaly.

Clay had much better numbers last year (69 catches for 759 yards) than Kyle Rudolph (30-313), who recently landed a five-year, $36 million deal with Minnesota.

### One Dolphins player said one reason the move of Koa Misi to middle linebacker was needed was that Dannell Ellerbe, now playing weakside, made mental errors and wasn’t quick enough in diagnosing plays and changing the calls at middle linebacker last season.

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sports-buzz

 

[utahphinsfan]

Wheelerbee, Dallas Thomas, and Daniel thomas need to pack up and catch a buss out of Davie.

---------- Post added at 11:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:32 PM ----------

Wheelerbee....LMAO

Couldn't you also say the Thomas twins? Kinda like that horrible 1980's British new wave group?

 

[BlueFin]

I'm concerned about the middle of the O-line, Dallas Thomas seems to have a weak lower body and is moved easily.

On the Bucs coverage Ronde Barber raved about Will Davis.

 

[gafin]

Is Coyle's defense to complicated for our linebackers?

 

[Sirspud]

No, because they are in position to make a lot of plays and then don't physically finish the play.

 

[roy_miami]

### The representation for tight end Charles Clay, the Dolphins’ most important 2015 unrestricted free agent, has spoken to the team about a new deal, but the Dolphins are holding off for now, eager to make sure his surgically-repaired knee (which was aggravated two weeks ago) holds up and that his 2013 breakout wasn’t an anomaly.

Clay had much better numbers last year (69 catches for 759 yards) than Kyle Rudolph (30-313), who recently landed a five-year, $36 million deal with Minnesota.

I'm going to be very pissed off if we end up in a bidding war over a coveted TE, a coveted TE that we, and only we, had the opportunity to sign on the cheap. Though I suppose the franchise tag can be used if it comes to that.

 

[uk_dolfan]

Unless he takes a team friendly deal to avoid it I would tag clay with very little hesitation