Phins staff is slowly bringing this young roster along
While the Phins did lose in the waning seconds of their Preseason Game against the Buccaneers, the consistency and growth they showed as a team was far more important than the outcome. The good news for fans is the Dolphins are showing that they have a quality staff.
Now, this team has a long way to go and a final grade for the Flores / Grier is miles down the road. But, given the poor reports from the Bucs / Phins practice the growth this team showed come game time offers some evidence that this regime might know what they are doing.
Phinsnews had pegged better tackling and play from the offensive line as the key areas that the Phins staff needed to coach up. Both areas made strides. Shockingly, the O-line was the more improved of the two despite Laremy Tunsil only playing one quarter.
A big concern was would Left Guard Michael Deiter improve fast enough to be ready for the start of the season? Deiter posted the Phins highest PFF grade with an elite overall grade of 91.0. This was a stark improvement over his 54.0 grade from Week 1. He allowed just 1 pressure over 30 pass-blocking snaps and had a run-blocking grade of 89.9.
Context to his success from the best pay per head software (www.AcePerHead.com) is that Vita Vea and Ndamukong Suh didn’t play. Still, Deiter and the rest of the “starting” O-line had a solid outing. Deiter having another good game this week would be a positive sign that the left side of the O-line is in good hands.
Charles Harris sighting officially confirmed
Another “hope” Phinsnews had was to see Charles Harris finally have quality production. And to our surprise, he did… in spaded. Over the course of just 30 snaps, Harris dominated with a PFF grade of 86.7 generating 1.5 sacks, 2 hits, 1 hurry, 4 tackles with a TFL.
But, Harris was just one of a few defenders that shined on a squad that allowed only 88 yards in the 1st Half despite missing Xavien Howard.
The game was rainy and likely contributed some to some missed tackles. But, even though there was some improvement in this area, the team as a whole still has a ways to go. Minkah Fitzpatrick, whose tackling miscues for last year has continued, must stop and drop much better going forward.
Still, the defense’s tacking consistency is trending up.
The rest of the good we saw from the Bucs game
- LB Jerome Baker continues to prove an excellent pick.
- LB Sam Eguavoen missed two tackles, but he was all over the field and looks to be the real deal. Paired with Baker this could very well end up the best Miami LB group in a long time.
- DE Carradine and DTs Taylor, Godchaux, and Wilkens were effective.
- Rosen made small improvements though he still has a ways to go.
- RB group is deep: Walton, Gaskin, and Laird all played well.
- Rudock again had enough moments to still be in the consideration for the #3 QB spot.
- Mike Gesicki is taking steps forward.
- LB Nick Deluca popped a bit and could make the team.
- DT Godchaux proving a good anchor and is holding up well against double teams.
- RG Calhoun was solid in pass blocking.
- Tackles Jaryd Jones-Smith and Isaiah Prince held their own.
- Laremy Tunsil played despite missing last week and a day of practice this week. Tunsil is a major key to this team’s success.
While not everything went peachy-keen, the overall tenor of the team is that of improvement.
Aspects that still need to see some polish
- QB Rosen needs to throw cleaner and more consistent. He needs to reign in the picks and near picks some more.
- WR Williams has elite potential, but he is still green.
- RT Jesse Davis had a pretty good game, but he needs a bit more consistency. He allowed a sack on a spin inside and had trouble sealing the backside of two stretch runs.
- LT Laremy Tunsil still has the occasional big hiccup in the run game.
- S/CB Minkah might or might not be best suited as an in the box safety, his tackling is still surprisingly poor.
- CB Needham needs more growth to not be a QB pincushion.
- My man CB Jalen Davis had a rough go by giving up back to back receptions that led to the loss. I once thought he’d be a major contributor, now I’m not sure he’ll make the roster.
- Tight End blocking as a squad has been hit or miss.
- We have yet to see this secondary get extended exposure to a quality QB.
Week 3 against Jacksonville and Nick Foles will be an excellent barometer
So far, so good all things considered. Quality talent acquisition and coaching is the key to long term success. If the staff can get this roster consistent and to play even remotely quality football, imagine what’s possible with a roster bolstered by all the picks and cash they have available in 2020? Making more with less is a certain sign that the future will be bright. There’s a load of time till we can say this is the case for sure with Flores and Co., but nothing so far says it ain’t. Go Phins!!!
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