1st String Dolphins Manhandled the 2nd String Commanders
The Miami Dolphins finally gave us our first real look at the Jeff Hafley era, and while it is important not to overreact to a preseason game, there was plenty to like — particularly from Miami’s starters. Still, the team looked disciplined, physical, and moving towards a completely new style of football. The 1st string Dolphins had their way mostly with the 2nd string Commanders. I know this is context, but let’s remember last preseason the Bears and Jaguars benched most of their starters too and Miami struggled on offense.
However you slice it, this is a step forward from last year.
The biggest story was the run game. Miami’s starting offensive line played with a level of physicality that has been missing for years. De’Von Achane consistently found room between the tackles, while the combination of heavier personnel, tight ends and pulling linemen created running lanes and allowed Malik Willis to work effectively off play action.
Jonah Savaiinaea may have been the biggest individual surprise. After struggling badly as a rookie, he looked far more comfortable in his stance, fired off the football better and made an impact as a puller and at the second level. Patrick Paul, Aaron Brewer and rookie Kayden Proctor also performed well, giving Willis time and creating space for the running backs.
How good did Achane look running inside! Last year his menu was outside or hitting a wall between the tackles. I think we will see the best Achane in 2026. There is an obvious qualifier: Miami’s first-team offense was facing Washington’s second-string defense.
That matters. But it shouldn’t erase what happened.
Miami was placed in similar situations last preseason, when its starters faced backups, and the results were often ugly. The Dolphins struggled to move people at the line of scrimmage and finish drives. So while dominating second-stringers doesn’t prove Miami has suddenly developed an elite offense, doing what a starting unit is supposed to do against inferior personnel represents progress.
The starting defense also offered reasons for optimism. Chop Robinson looked explosive and physical, Jordan Phillips was disruptive inside, and Jacob Rodriguez flashed with a blitz and pass deflection. The front looked capable of creating problems.
Starters Look Promising, Depth Looked Ugly!
You can bet with the best pay per head that the biggest concerns came when Miami moved deeper into the roster.
There were coverage problems in the secondary, missed technique and some individual performances that raised questions. Lonnie Johnson Jr. struggled, while other defensive backs had issues in coverage. It seemed to me we also ran more man coverage that what a Hafley defense normally runs. If so, maybe it was deliberate by Hafley to test his personnel.
The potentially the biggest negative takeaway from the night: while the 1st strings looked good, the depth — particularly defensively and Ewers — did not.
Ewers was awful throw as many picks as completions. The secondary was also picked apart by 3rd and 4th string Commanders quarterbacks. This is a major concern because injuries are inevitable during an NFL season. Miami cannot afford a massive drop-off when starters leave the field. The Dolphins may have enough at the top of the roster to be considerably more competitive than expected, but the next few weeks need to be about finding out whether they have enough behind them.
It’s preseason. Keep the expectations under control.
But after years of watching Miami struggle to impose itself physically — even against backups — this looked different.
