Everything matters, but what else is there to key on?
Beyond the obvious key of Cutler, what else are good story lines?
Now that the Miami Dolphins injury-plagued training camp has ended things will move fast towards the 2017 Kick Off.
Tonight, Miami will have their second preseason game in Miami at 7pm against the Baltimore Ravens. And despite the long list of injuries, Adam Gase must continue to build consistency, chemistry, and evaluate his players in preparation for the 3rd Preseason Game that’s a dress rehearsal for Week 1.
There are a few obvious keys:
This week alone, Tony Lippett was lost to an ACL injury, and Kenyan Drake suffered a concussion, along with several other players getting nicked up. So #1 key to a successful night tonight is making it through the game without suffering any more injuries.
Please, pretty please football gods, be kind!
Also, IF Mike Pouncey and / or Jay Ajayi play, they need to be handled like a toe testing freezing-cold water– in and out fast. Heck, it might be best to not let them play as any type of setbacks in their recovery would be a disaster.
And last but not least, you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know all eyeballs will be focused on Jay Cutler.
Some of the smaller things to key on matter a lot at this stage
But, beyond the obvious keys:
How does this patch-work Offensive Line perform? Can they keep Cutler from getting his head taken off?
Anthony Steen had a poor showing last week in run block, will he rebound in his start at LG?
Jake Brendal has been solid. Can he build on that… and be even more?
Will Isaac Asiata move up from 3rd string?
Can Laremy Tunsil begin a course towards dominance?
Eric Smith has been a nice surprise. Will he take the bull by the horns?
Is Kraig Urbik‘s back bad enough to keep him from playing?
Ajayi will see little to no action, and Drake won’t suit up. So will any of the back-end RB’s step up?
Storm Johnson can all but secure the 4th RB spot tonight… but will he?
De’Veon Smith had a lot of hype, tonight will be his best shot to prove he’s the real deal.
LB’s need some help:
Will Mike Hull shine, wilt, or be pedestrian under the spotlight?
Trevor Reilly had a nice week of practice, will it translate into a good game?
Deon Lacey looked solid at the WLB last week, will it continue?
Defensive Line needs consistency:
Jordan Phillips seems to be accepting his role as a back up… will he ever find motivation?
Davon Godchaux is making a name for himself. Can he post a second excellent performance?
Charles Harris showed burst off the edge, but he will he improve in run stop.
Who will grab hold of the 4th DT spot?
Corners were fine… till Lippett went down:
Miami needs Bobby McCain to step up more than ever.
Cordrea Tankersley went from luxury to necessity. Can he develop on the fast track?
Alterraun Verner is the most likely candidate to be given the 3rd CB spot… but will earn it
Lastly, the best pay per head sites have the line for this game with the Dolphins as the -3 point favorite. Yeah, the score doesn’t matter, but this is more about perception. Given that the Ravens will be without starting QB Joe Falco, and other various starters are limited, the perception of the Dolphins isn’t hot at the moment.
Fine. They said the same thing last year. The Dolphins can start to change their perception by having a great night. Go Fins!!!
…2nd preseason game is normally where we first see the likely starters together in more than one series …a first taste of what the coaches really believe, rather than the rah rah hype they give in camp
…but that’s not what we will see tonight …a QB who little more than a week ago was an on air game analyst, retired because no one wanted him, and with a negative win record …despite all the pr spin out of Davie, that is the reality
…an OL so broken that what were once just camp fodder are now going to fill first team slots
…a DB field that was only 2 weeks ago hoping to upgrade from McCain, now looking to early rookie fails and last minute scrap heap acquisitions to find starters
…a DL looking at a rookie 5TH round DT to start next to Suh, putting the nail in former 2nd rounder Phillips coffin …and praying that the rookie 1st round pass rusher can do more than act like a tackle dummy against the rush
…and then there are the LBs where the guy in the middle reminds everyone of Zack physically but so far, not his skill set
…if, if, if …if only Gase can work his magic again …but we’ve all been here before, eh …first year miracle workers exposed in their 2nd year …the man has his work cut out for him, he does …if he can pull this out, he’s going to need a bit more than just another miracle
Well after last night I’ll just speak on where we disagree… far more do we agree on BTW. Hull actually did pretty good… he doesn’t have Zachs burst, instant recognition, and brutality at the POT. Who does. But he acquitted himself well last night and appeared quicker in play rec. and didn’t get lost in the scrum as much. It looks like they adjusted some of the scheme to help him. Going to watch last weeks and this weeks back to back to see. The OL IS going to get a shot in the arm from Smith and Davis. They look like good finds. Davis especially has done very well. Smith is a rookie but has done very well and looked solid at the POT. He has only worked against 2nd team (maybe some first last night), but Davis has been playing against 1st -3rd and done very well. Check my response Dunner on the last article if you care to see an expansion on this thought. The IF that does haunt us is Pouncey. He (and James if he returns) will change the look of this line. Tunsil, Davis (urbik), Pouncey, Bushrod and James will be an effective line. If Urbik takes Pouncey’s place it will still be effective, but nowhere near as effective against 3-4 D’s. Pouncey’s ability to work the second level is far better than Urbik…night and day. 3-4’s pretty much let the C get a free run to the second levle. But even still Urbik will be solid and if all the other pieces are in play, this OL will be functional. At this point the pieces have been so jumbled for so many reasons that it does look poor. Waiting to see if Jimmy sends me an article, but I’m working on a film or play study of Smith and Davis…
…2nd preseason game is normally where we first see the likely starters together in more than one series …a first taste of what the coaches really believe, rather than the rah rah hype they give in camp
…but that’s not what we will see tonight …a QB who little more than a week ago was an on air game analyst, retired because no one wanted him, and with a negative win record …despite all the pr spin out of Davie, that is the reality
…an OL so broken that what were once just camp fodder are now going to fill first team slots
…a DB field that was only 2 weeks ago hoping to upgrade from McCain, now looking to early rookie fails and last minute scrap heap acquisitions to find starters
…a DL looking at a rookie 5TH round DT to start next to Suh, putting the nail in former 2nd rounder Phillips coffin …and praying that the rookie 1st round pass rusher can do more than act like a tackle dummy against the rush
…and then there are the LBs where the guy in the middle reminds everyone of Zack physically but so far, not his skill set
…if, if, if …if only Gase can work his magic again …but we’ve all been here before, eh …first year miracle workers exposed in their 2nd year …the man has his work cut out for him, he does …if he can pull this out, he’s going to need a bit more than just another miracle
Well after last night I’ll just speak on where we disagree… far more do we agree on BTW. Hull actually did pretty good… he doesn’t have Zachs burst, instant recognition, and brutality at the POT. Who does. But he acquitted himself well last night and appeared quicker in play rec. and didn’t get lost in the scrum as much. It looks like they adjusted some of the scheme to help him. Going to watch last weeks and this weeks back to back to see. The OL IS going to get a shot in the arm from Smith and Davis. They look like good finds. Davis especially has done very well. Smith is a rookie but has done very well and looked solid at the POT. He has only worked against 2nd team (maybe some first last night), but Davis has been playing against 1st -3rd and done very well. Check my response Dunner on the last article if you care to see an expansion on this thought. The IF that does haunt us is Pouncey. He (and James if he returns) will change the look of this line. Tunsil, Davis (urbik), Pouncey, Bushrod and James will be an effective line. If Urbik takes Pouncey’s place it will still be effective, but nowhere near as effective against 3-4 D’s. Pouncey’s ability to work the second level is far better than Urbik…night and day. 3-4’s pretty much let the C get a free run to the second levle. But even still Urbik will be solid and if all the other pieces are in play, this OL will be functional. At this point the pieces have been so jumbled for so many reasons that it does look poor. Waiting to see if Jimmy sends me an article, but I’m working on a film or play study of Smith and Davis…
As far as the LB’s… thin, thin, thin.