A win is always great, but there are more important returns to look for
Miami can win on the scoreboard and still leave plenty of reasons for concern. They can also lose while providing real evidence that this new-look team is moving in the right direction. What matters is how individual players perform, the techniques they show on film, who they are competing against, and whether some of the optimism coming out of camp translates when the hitting becomes real.
Here are my keys for tonight’s Miami Dolphins vs Washington Commanders preseason game.
Not saying they are all of them, but I think they matter a ton!
Start with Willis, but Don’t Stop There
Malik Willis will obviously command attention. Miami needs him healthy, making good reads and operating comfortably from the pocket. But preseason football isn’t necessarily designed to make a quarterback look good. Coaches intentionally put players into difficult situations to evaluate weaknesses, so the process may tell us more than the statistics.
The biggest evaluation, however, comes up front.
Patrick Paul has shown improvement with his feet, stance and body positioning, but his hand placement remains something to watch, particularly against speed rushers. Kayden Proctor needs to demonstrate the power that made him such an intriguing prospect while showing he can handle quicker inside pass-rush moves at guard. Jonah Savaiinaea may be the most fascinating of the group. His stance appears more compact and explosive than last season, but tonight gives us a chance to see whether those improvements hold up against an opponent.
And then there’s right tackle. Between Austin Jackson, Charlie Heck and Caeden Wallace, it remains perhaps the biggest question mark on Miami’s roster.
There are intriguing players elsewhere. Caleb Douglas has been one of camp’s pleasant surprises at receiver.
On Defense…
Chop Robinson needs to show that his pass-rush arsenal has expanded beyond speed while proving he can hold up against the run. Rookie linebackers Jacob Rodriguez and Kyle Louis provide another reason to keep watching after the starters leave.
The secondary may provide some of the night’s biggest answers. Miami needs clarity at cornerback and safety, with players such as Marshall, Bonner, Anderson and Taaffe having opportunities to establish themselves. Communication, positioning and how the group handles crossing routes will matter as much as interceptions or highlight plays.
Finally, you can bet with the best pay per head that I’ll be watching Jeff Hafley and his staff.
This is our first opportunity to evaluate how Miami’s new head coach manages an NFL sideline while overseeing the entire operation. Are substitutions clean? Are players disciplined? How does the team respond when things go wrong? And when the starters are finished, are they still engaged with their teammates?
Those details won’t appear in the box score.
But for a Dolphins team trying to establish a new identity, they may tell us far more about what really matters tonight.
So, let’s hope we win, but more importantly, the key players respond right. Win or lose, that will matter far more when the Regular Season comes!
Go Phins!!!