The Miami Dolphins’ first joint practice against the Washington Commanders provided a much-needed test against unfamiliar competition, and three storylines stood above the rest: Chop Robinson continues to flash, Caleb Douglas continues to emerge, and Miami’s offensive line—particularly the right side—has some work to do.
It’s still early and you don’t want to make sweeping judgments on whatever was reported from today’s practice. But we can note the good and bad data points to see how they line up as we go.
The Biggest Winners
Chop Robinson was arguably one of Miami’s biggest winners.
After spending training camp battling familiar Dolphins blockers, Robinson carried his production into joint practice. He generated pressure and, perhaps more importantly, made multiple plays against the run. That matters for a player whose ability to become a complete edge defender could determine just how high his ceiling goes this season.
The Dolphins need more than sacks from Robinson. If his added size and strength allow him to consistently disrupt the running game while maintaining his explosiveness as a pass rusher, Miami could have something special developing on the edge.
Caleb Douglas provided the offensive counterpart.
Douglas continues to make plays, and this is becoming more than a one-practice story. Reports from the Washington side reportedly praised Douglas, with the 6-foot-4, 205-pound receiver consistently creating opportunities with his combination of speed, size and leverage.
In a receiving corps searching for answers, Douglas is beginning to look like a legitimate candidate for a significant role. The transcript ultimately identifies his trajectory toward becoming a quality No. 2 receiver as a reasonable evaluation rather than simply preseason optimism.
Unfortunately, you can bet with the best pay per head that the offensive line produced the day’s biggest concern.
Right Side of the O-line Was a MAJOR Issue
Washington consistently generated pressure, and the right side was particularly troublesome. Daron Payne beat Jonah Savaiinaea, while K’Lavon Chaisson beat Austin Jackson. On another play, the right side collapsed on a sack of Malik Willis, and a run toward that side also broke down.
That’s particularly concerning because Savaiinaea and Jackson are supposed to provide stability there. Savaiinaea’s stance and overall setup appear improved from last season, but his initial footwork remains something to watch. Jackson, meanwhile, needs to prove both his performance and durability can hold up.
There were positives elsewhere. Aaron Brewer reportedly battled well, while Patrick Paul won some reps despite also losing against pressure.
But after one joint practice, Miami’s biggest question hasn’t changed.
Can this offensive line protect long enough for everything else to matter?
Robinson and Douglas gave Dolphins fans legitimate reasons for optimism. The right side of the offensive line gave them an equally legitimate reason to keep watching. Let’s hope Jamaree Salyer gets healed up very soon!
