Phins Preseason Is Done… Now The Real Journey Begins
Phins Preseason Is Done… Now The Real Journey Begins
Phins Preseason ended on a high note
I’ll never complain about a Dolphins win… even it’s just the Phins Preseason
The Miami Dolphins ended on a good note with a 34-7 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. Yeah, you might say ‘who cares’ it was Week 4 of the Preseason’… blah-blah-blah. Doesn’t it always feel good to see the Dolphins win—even if it’s nearly inconsequential?
You can bet with the pay per head sites that I take ’em when I can get ’em these days.
True, this is the most meaningless Preseason Game. It was such an afterthought this week that I thought the game was on Friday night. Mostly, I was too absorbed into watching and re-watched Weeks 1-3 for a few film studies.
The only reason I knew it was on was that I checked NFL.com for some stats and to my surprise, the game was entering the 3rd Quarter. So I won’t pretend the win was a tremendous deal, but I won’t utterly dismiss it either.
A group of ‘above average +’ Dolphins did what they should do in Week 4 of the Preseason: dominate.
If a players’ game tape isn’t popping in Week 4, it might be a problem
Kalen Ballage looked excellent. Senorise Perry didn’t play, this shows Miami is keeping 4 RB’s on the roster or trading Perry. He would have played if they intended to outright release him.
Ford slightly outplayed Carroo. Both had some nice plays. Miami will keep 6 Wide Receivers or trade one. Carroo is likely done in Miami. I bet he sticks elsewhere.
Brandon Radcliff played well. He’ll find a home somewhere as a 3rd RB.
Thomas Duarte was solid, but they’ll cut him hoping to bring him back to the Practice Squad. Then Again, Derby was almost silent. So you never know.
Rashawn Scott has no luck. He played well but got injured—again.
Matt Haack average 49.0 yards per punt. A nice high note on a somewhat lackluster Preseason.
Jordan Lucas had an epic game with a 3 Tackles, 1 sack, and a pick. Even with all of this and his special teams play, I’m not sure he beats out Maurice Smith.
Torry McTyer looked good and lessens the concern of CB depth. His play wasn’t enough to prevent Miami from getting the best one they can find in FA, though. But with Tony Lippett still struggling, McTyer doing well is a good thing.
Some problems cropped from the game though, they ranged from blips on the radar to a real concern.
The most obvious issue coming out of the game is that Miami lacks depth on the O-Line.
This problem could be fixed fairly easily when cuts come Saturday… and if Ted Larsen is okay. All signs are it isn’t serious. At least the Phins aren’t very thin at O-line depth. But none of the backup linemen beyond Sam Young are worth banking on. Isaac Asiata is downright poor at Left Guard in pass protection. I have said it before, he’s a Right Guard.
Tackle Eric Smith has played meh. I liked Smith a lot in last year’s Preseason, but this year he has teetered on the edge of not good enough. Hard to say if Zach Sterup is a better option. Maybe both need to go. Smith might make it to the Practice Squad. Maybe get a quality 8th Linemen in Free Agency and keep one as the 9th man. Hard to say until we see the cuts.
Smith was almost Phinsnews Adopted Player of the Year this season. It’s a coveted title, I’m sure he’s upset about missing out on the Prestigious Award.
Miami needs at least one more effective O-linemen to feel snug as a bug in the rug.
Two more would be stellar.
Miami needs help at Linebacker, maybe two LB’s, but surely at least one
The primary reason I wanted to see this Week was to see if Raekwon McMillan could dominate lesser competition. He didn’t see action. Adam Gase is going with McMillan as the starting Middle Linebacker. Tape says McMillan played poorly through 3 Weeks. His stats amounted to 2 Solo Tackles and 3 Assists. Stats always need context. The tape and the stats together spell UGLY. Fingers crossed that he has an epiphany in Week 1 against the Titans.
Phinsnews liked Stephone Anthony as Nickel and Weakside LB. Miami hasn’t used him as they did last year in those roles and Anthony hasn’t played as well as he needed to. He had a pick last night but was statistically silent this Preseason. Anthony has played far better than McMillan but they demoted him. Draft status is nice. Not sure if Anthony sticks. His sticker price of almost 2 million might make him expendable.
Chase Allen had his 1st start but wasn’t as productive as he was with limited starts. I’m not concerned about it though. He was solid most of his snaps but the action didn’t come his way. Miami needs to dump all the remaining back up LB’s beyond Allen and Anthony and try to stash some on the Practice Squad.
Baker is coming along nicely, and Kiko has had his best Preseason yet. So LB isn’t dire. But with the combination of thin depth and McMillan being a big question mark, adding a Veteran, 2 Down MLB in Free Agency would be a wise security blanket. Trade or pay for one, just get one, or they’ll regret it.
Overall, Phin Fans should see the success of this Preseason, despite the flaws
O-line starters, Wide Receiver, Tight End, Running Back, D-Tackles, D-Ends, Starting Cornerbacks, and Safties are in good positions. Gase has tamed the atrocious discipline a bit as well. Add in an effective run game and above average QB play, there are reasons for hope.
If they can get good play out the Middle Linebacker, stay healthy at Cornerback, O-line, and Quarterback, and catch a few breaks, Miami will be effective in 2018… that is IF they maintain discipline. Go Phins!!!
