Preseason Game #2: Keys To Watch For

The primary key to Preseason Game #2 is the play of defensive line, but there are many more keys.

Preseason Game #2 has keys involving both players and schemes.

The Miami Dolphins will travel to Dallas to play the Cowboys tonight in Preseason Game #2. While this game won’t have equal weight as Week 3, it will go a long way towards revealing the legitimacy of crucial elements in the 2016 team.

First, Dallas’ Offensive Line will test the supposed strength of Miami’s Defensive Line. This will test the strength of players v.s. players as Dallas has top 5 line talent. Since this is obvious, I’ll move on to a more important point: it will test Miami’s scheme. Dallas runs the ball and runs it pretty well. Washburn’s Wide-Nine is said to have a weakness in its interior against the run game. If Miami can stop gashing runs inside, this will be THE most important key coaches and fans should look for tonight. If teams can run all over this scheme, it will be a very long year. If Miami can limit, or better yet, stop the run game, this 2016 defense has a real shot at being special.

The second crucial key is also obvious, the Offensive line. This key though isn’t as clear cut. Without presenting the squad that will start the regular season as a whole, the play of the O-Line won’t be definitive due to the reality that the “starting squad” will likely be rolled out in parts – parts that include Dallas Thomas. Yes, individual play will have weight, especially when Tunsil steps in. But it’s in week 3 that the Offensive Line will be the primary key as the “starting” squad will come out for extended play.

Now, aside from these two obvious elements, there is always the ever present need for Ryan Tannehill to show he has turned the corner. Tannehill is battling a minor illness, but this will not stop him from playing in front of his home-town. T-hill and the offense went three and out in their only two offensive series, which means they will be desperately looking to improve on that tonight. His sickness shouldn’t be considered a negative as it gives him a great opportunity to show that he can face adversity and over come…But, in all fairness, if the O-Line plays like they did last week, not even a mad scientist’s genetically-amalgamated, love-child of Marino, Montana and Manning should be expected to perform well.

So, there’s that…

But, there are several other keys that also need keen attention:

Preseason Game #2 could start unraveling some player careers in Miami

Will Kiko Alonso not only get to the spot, but make the stop? Finish please! And if it’s not too much to ask, can you finish like Zach?

Can Brandon Doughty continue to make doubters eat there words?

Can Foster stay healthy and show elite separate from the rest of the RB pack?

Does Ajayi have soft hands or hands of stone?

Will Isaiah Pead build on his excellent camp and outing last week or is he a flash in the Pan?

Jordan Phillips has been marked as inconsistent, will he take a step forward towards shedding that label?

Is Chris McCain able to hold the edge in the run game? If not, he may be losing his spot on the roster.

Can we get someone to make plays at the Tight-End position?

In this game Coach Adam Gase will be a bit more “generous” with playing time for the starters, probably allowing most of the presumed starters to play the entire 1^st quarter, and even a little of the 2^nd quarter. A crucial key will be health – no Whammies please, gods of gridiron!

The fact is that the Dolphins are most likely going to be a work in progress this season, especially on offense. So tonight, the offense needs to start small, with positive yards, and then a first down – shocking progress, huh?  Forgoing sarcasm, Miami’s 1st string offense needs to start making positive plays because football is about confidence, and if they get that confidence, before you know it, they will start scoring points. Positive plays lead to first downs, which lead to points, and points go a long way in instilling that confidence.

Again, the best pay per head software fans are not going to determine the Dolphins fate from the outcome of a preseason game, but it would be nice for the starting units to actually begin to play better. The overriding key is for the Dolphins to improve with each practice and game. In this Preseason Game #2, we will see if 2016 can continue to trend upward. Go Fins!!!