Huntley is a vet & has some pop with his legs
While the Miami Dolphins signed veteran quarterback Tyler Huntley today to help with the position until Tua Tagovailoa returns, it will take time for him to get up to speed with the offense. But, Skylar Thompson is the key to the Phins’ season because the Seahawks, Titans, and even the Patriots on the road are must-win for us. Maybe by the Patriots game, Huntley can be ready, still, the Phins need the next two wins big time! No way they can go 1-3 over the first quarter of the season given Tua’s uncertainty and the brutal end of the schedule. Right now it needs to be one game at a time and Miami must knock off the Seahawks on the road.
Can Skylar bring the good? What does Huntley bring to the table?
Miami has stiff competition vs ‘Hawks
The first thing is Miami tends to struggle on the road with getting calls in and it doesn’t get any louder than in the Seahawks stadium. The Phins can’t afford to burn timeouts or take presnap penalties. So, you can bet with the best pay-per-head that Mike McDaniel needs to be on point with Skylar just getting the plays in.
The Seahawks’ defense hasn’t played good teams in the Patriots and Broncos and they squeaked by both. So, they aren’t a powerhouse, but they have some top-notch talent on defense and Skylar will have to beat them to win the game.
Seattle has two good defensive line players in Mafe and Williams, both are perennial high-end producers. Considering how poor our offensive line is, this is my biggest concern. In 2023 Mafe had 9 sacks, 29 stops, and 42 hurries. This season he is on a tear with 2 sacks, 6 stops, and 11 hits. Williams in 2023 had 6 sacks, 34 stops, and 37 hurries. Considering Skylar throws with less anticipation and a slower release, this is my biggest key to success. Add in three high-end defensive backs in nickel Witherspoon, boundary CB Woolen, and safety Love, and Miami might struggle to get their fast throw game on track. This is why Achane and the run game will be critical to take the heat off Skylar and drive the Phins to a win. Achane has had 4 explosive plays on the season and is averaging over 2 yards after contact. Miami should feed him on the ground and through the air and let Skylar take tactical shots at Waddle and Hill.
How will McDaniel handle it and will Sklyar handle it right? We almost pulled off a win with Skylar in the playoffs vs the Bills in 2022, so there is hope!
What does Huntley bring to the table?
Huntley was a good acquisition and while it will take time, he is very mobile and brings a ton of experience to help him on the field and help Skylar as well. I don’t see a downside to this signing. He was the best of what was left on the market. But, he is sorta’ like Skylar: mobile, but slow processing and delivery. Huntley will be quicker to process than Skylar and we need to get the ball out quickly because we’ve built our whole system on this. At the very least, Huntley is an excellent backup for Skylar.
We need to win big time this week! The Dolphins must find a way to win without Tua. Look at Minnesota beating the 49ers with Sam Darnold. If they can do it, we’d better!
What do Miami Dolphins news fans think about the Dolphins chances vs the Seahawks?