Who’s hot, who’s not after the Dolphins’ season-opening win over the Patriots
The Dolphins began their 2022 season with a 20-7 win over the New England Patriots and had a number of star performances, from newcomers and returning players.
Here’s a look at who’s hot — and who’s not — after the Week 1 win.
Who’s hot
▪ Tyreek Hill: The six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver left his mark in his Dolphins debut, leading the team with eight receptions for 94 yards. The speed he brings to Miami was evident throughout training camp and his brief stint in the preseason finale and again on Sunday. One one catch, the 5-10 Hill high-pointed a pass and snatched the ball from Patriots defensive back Jack Jones. On another, he caught a short screen pass, bobbed inside and then cut back out, beating the defense to the edge for an 18-yard yard run. His production trailed off in the second half as he caught just two passes, but he showed he’ll have a big impact on this Dolphins offense.
▪ Brandon Jones: So much of the talk about Dolphins safeties is regarding Jevon Holland, the second-year breakout candidate who recorded a first-quarter interception. But Jones excelled as a pass rusher last season and continued to do so in the opener. He recorded a team-high 11 tackles and his unimpeded strip-sack of quarterback Mac Jones led to a second-quarter scoop and score by outside linebacker Melvin Ingram. On the next possession, he made an acrobatic deflection. It was the type of play in coverage that could elevate an already stout defense.
▪ Kader Kohou: The undrafted rookie from Texas A&M-Commerce made his NFL debut and though he played just 17 defensive snaps, he made the most of his time. He recorded three tackles, made a key pass breakup on fourth down and forced a fumble that was recovered by the Dolphins on the Patriots’ final possession.
Who’s not
▪ Run offense: The Dolphins’ rushing offense had troubles in the preseason and that continued in the first game of the season. Despite additions in the backfield and along the offensive line, team totaled 65 rushing yards on 23 attempts. Last season, the Dolphins ranked 30th in rushing yards.
▪ Run defense: The Patriots finished with 78 yards on 22 carries, a 3.5-yard average, which is a good figure on the surface for the Dolphins defense. But it doesn’t tell the story of a unit that struggled to contain the edges early on, which was its Achilles heel last season.
▪ Mike Gesicki: The fifth-year tight end’s role in McDaniel’s offense was questioned throughout the summer and in Week 1, his playing time was limited. He logged just 25 of 59 offensive snaps — his position mate Durham Smythe played 37 snaps, for context — and caught his sole target for one yard. With a bevy of skill-position players in the fold, Gesicki likely won’t see the volume of targets that came his way in his previous four seasons. But it was a quiet afternoon for him, nonetheless.
This story was originally published September 11, 2022 at 7:34 PM.
