How Concerning Miami’s Offensive Struggles?

This wasn’t a great final showing for the Phins “O” with Week 1 around the corner

The Miami Dolphins’ first-team offense had a rocky showing in their third preseason game, facing off against the Jacksonville Jaguars 2nd team defense. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa led three drives with the starters that generated only and one score. While there were flashes of promise, the overall execution left much to be desired especially when it came to protection.

Now this is only a preseason game, and Tyreek Hill didn’t play, but playing that ugly against mostly a 2nd defensive squad it should leave fans concerned.

Is this the darkness before the dawn or point to problems ahead?

Tua was sacked twice on two drives

Tua’s first drive started with efficiency on a pass to the outside, but sacks, deflection and confusion followed until the third drive.

This wasn’t just a case of just poor blocking that led to pressure, but poor pre-snap calls too. So, you can bet with the best pay per head that the good news is that better line calls will help this situation. On the flip side, Tua is in his 4th Year of this offense, and this isn’t what is expected entering Week 3 of the preseason.

The Dolphins’ first-team unit struggle to maintain consistency and that has been a problem for years. This ugly offensive performance didn’t do anything to change that narrative. Neither did McDaniel’s instance on passing the football, which has been a long-time complaint among fans for years. It was clear that running the football behind Ollie Gordon was what the offense needed.

Will McDaniel remember to run the football come the Regular season?

Let’s hope.

It is preseason and we can hold out hope that it will change come ‘real’ gametime

Drops, miscommunication, and a few missed blocking assignments can’t continue in a season that the Phins will need every edge they can get. Miami must notch every win they can if they want to prove themselves. These are clear failures and there is no denying that. But we also have to remember that we don’t know exactly what McDaniel was looking for and missing Hill, Jackson, and Achane is a big piece of the puzzle.

Let’s run hard with the hope that Preseason was a testing ground for McDaniel and this isn’t the type of football we’ll offer when it counts! If it is, then Mike McDaniel will quickly find himself looking for another job.

The Colts game will be here in a blink of an eye, and they won’t be an easy out. Hold on to your hats Phins fans, in two weeks we’ll see clearly what McDaniel and this 2025 Dolphins team is really made of!