Neither backup quarterback impressive in Dolphins’ preseason win over Falcons
There were far more Dolphins likely to be on the team for Miami’s regular season opener on Sept. 8 standing on the sideline Friday night than those playing on the field at Hard Rock Stadium.
While not too many conclusions could be gleaned from the Dolphins’ 20-13 win against the Atlanta Falcons in their preseason opener in regards to among the ongoing battles for roster spots and starting jobs, one thing is clear.
Their backup quarterback play leaves a lot to be desired.
Starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa sat out Friday and is not likely to see game action in the preseason aside from next week’s second game, which teams tend to use as their main dress rehearsal for the upcoming season.
So the Dolphins got a long look at both backups, Skylar Thompson and Mike White, as they each played a half in their ongoing battle to see who earns the No. 2 quarterback spot behind Tagovailoa.
Neither quarterback delivered a confidence-building performance.
Thompson completed 8 of 19 passes for 95 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
White played the entire second half and the Dolphins only scored on one of his six series - a 46-yard field goal by Jason Sanders. White completed only 4 of his 14 passes for 26 yards.
In fairness to White, he faced the more difficult challenge working with the third-team offensive line and receivers who are mostly undrafted rookies or have not been with the team more than a week or so as in the case of Willie Snead IV and Mike Harley Jr.
But White was still not sharp on multiple throws.
“We’re limited on what we could run so that kind of stinks, but I thought it was good. I thought we had some good plays,” White said. “But we had a couple drops, which happens, and you just gotta have that next play mentality.”
Thompson was in the game for eight drives and led Miami to scores on three of them with one drive consisting of one play - a 6-yard touchdown run by rookie Jaylen Wright after the Dolphins’ Isaiah Mack recovered a fumble at that spot.
“I felt like it was a solid first half. You always wish it could be better or plays that you could have back. I was very proud of our group. It was just a weird, weird first half,” Thompson said. “It felt like it was kind of just some guys getting injured. The pace, finding a rhythm. That’s what I kept preaching to the guys is we just got to find a rhythm and get going. I had the pick but bounced back and put it in the end zone. That’s a real-life situation. Being able to flush the last play and move on to the next one is big-time. We were able to put it together and get in the end zone, which is very good for us.”
Thompson directed the previous touchdown drive on the Dolphins’ fourth series after the first three possessions ended in a punt, field goal and an interception. Thompson capped the drive with a 6-yard screen pass to Jeff Wilson Jr., who stretched the ball over the pylon for the score.
Thompson’s biggest mistake came on another rushed throw over the middle intended for Malik Washington on which Kevin King jumped the route and picked off his pass.
“I think each quarterback has a different set of circumstances. That’s why you try to replicate in a competition, you try to replicate that as close as possible. Inverse situation at some point in the preseason,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said. “I thought both quarterbacks in their own scenarios had some issues during the game and then they were able to bounce back and do some things, specifically in the second half.”
Thompson found himself under duress often early on but often rolled out and connected on throws on the run, an ability that could give him a slight nod in the competition.
OTHER NOTABLES
▪ The Dolphins suffered a potentially significant loss on the offensive line when Kion Smith exited the game with what appeared to be a left knee injury on the last play of Miami’s second offensive series. Smith, a former Fayetteville State standout, had his knee collide with fellow lineman Ryan Hayes’ helmet at the conclusion of a pressure he allowed on a third-and-10 play where Thompson rushed a pass that was incomplete.
Smith, who is battling with numerous Dolphins offensive lineman for a spot on Miami’s 53-man roster, or the team’s practice squad, started the game at left guard, but he generally played left tackle.
▪ Among the notable offensive players that did not play in Friday’s game besides Tagovailoa were Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Raheem Mostert, De’Von Achane, Odell Beckham Jr., Terron Armstead, Smythe, Smith, Austin Jackson and Liam Eichenberg.
Among the top defensive standouts who sat out were Jordan Poyer, Kendall Fuller, Calais Campbell, Jalen Ramsey, Zach Sieler, Emmanuel Ogbah and David Long Jr.
▪ With Aaron Brewer out with an injury and Eichenberg among the regulars resting, Jack Driscoll started the game at center and played the first handful of series. The Dolphins have been plagued by snap issues at times in training camp practices. But Driscoll did not have any errant snaps or glaring pass protection breakdowns on Friday.
▪ Sanders appears to be in midseason form...at least on his first two attempts. The Dolphins’ veteran kicker boomed an attempt from 58 yards through the uprights in the first quarter and followed by his 46-yard make in the third quarter. Sanders tried another 58-yarder early in the fourth quarter, but missed wide left.
▪ Rookie Jaylen Wright finished with 10 carries for 55 yards and a touchdown and looked smooth making cuts and finding creases in the Falcons’ defense. Besides the score, Wright took a screen pass from White and reversed field and burst down the far sideline for a 14-yard gain early in the third quarter.
▪ On the Dolphins first touchdown drive, tight end Tanner Conner, who has flashed at times in camp, made a tough catch in a tight window over the middle for six yards. He then lined up on the boundary and hauled in a pass from Thompson 17 yards downfield and turned it into a 43-yard gain.
Conner, who appeared in three games but did not have a catch or target, is competing for a potential tight end spot in a stacked room with Jonnu Smith, Durham Smythe and Julian Hill presumably locked in for the top three spots. Jody Fortson Jr. and Conner are vying for another spot should the Dolphins keep four tight ends. But Conner walked to the locker room in discomfort after his third catch.
▪ Cornerback Siran Neal, likely a special teams player who is battling for a reserve cornerback spot, forced and recovered a fumble with 11:01 left in the first quarter and made two special teams tackles early on. Neal is getting more reps with Cam Smith out with an injury.
▪ Cornerback Ethan Bonner was burned on an early big play when Michael Pennix Jr. hit Chris Blair for 41 yards. Bonner recovered a few plays later with good coverage and a pass breakup on Casey Washington on a fade route to the corner of the end zone.
▪ Channing Tindall recorded the Dolphins’ lone sack of the game.
This story was originally published August 9, 2024 at 10:39 PM.
