Kelly: Dolphins questions that need answers against Commanders | Opinion
The Miami Dolphins don’t have any more time, or seasons to waste.
Training camp is more than half over, and the start of the 2024 regular season is a little more than three weeks away, yet the Dolphins still have lingering questions that will likely impact the outcome of the season if they are not addressed in a favorable fashion.
Here’s a look at what remains on the Dolphins’ to-do list heading into Saturday night’s preseason game against the Washington Commanders, which will be played at Hard Rock Stadium.
1. How will quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and the first-team offense execute in their limited work.
The expectations are that Tagovailoa and a dozen or so starters who aren’t nursing injuries will play for a series or three, possibly working until the start of the second quarter. It will be interesting to see if Miami showcases what tight end Jonnu Smith adds to the offense, especially since receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle aren’t expected to play.
2. Is Cam Smith ready to shake off his rookie struggles?
Smith, the Dolphins’ 2023 second-round pick, played sparingly on defense last year because he fell into defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s doghouse, and was never allowed to exit. Smith’s finally healthy, and has played well in practice this week, but will it carry over the preseason games? With Jalen Ramsey and Ethan Bonner expected to be held out of Saturday’s game Smith could inherit a starter’s full workload at cornerback.
3. Can Miami own the line of scrimmage for the second straight game?
The Dolphins won the trench battle in last week’s 20-13 win against the Falcons, gaining 144 rushing yards and scoring a rushing touchdown on 35 carries, and limiting Atlanta to 2.7 yards per carry on 30 attempts. Miami has to continue emphasizing how important it is to create running lanes and setting the edge are to this team’s success.
4. Will Chop Robinson have a productive rookie debut?
Robinson, the Dolphins’ 2024 first-round pick, was held out of the Falcons game because of a minor injury he was nursing, but the former Penn State standout expects to be cleared to play against the Commanders, the team his father grew up rooting for. It’s unlikely Weaver will showcase his pressure packages that feature Robinson in a preseason game, so we will have to see this edge demon consistently do battle with oversized offensive tackles, winning his 1-on-1 matchups.
5. Will Erik Ezukanma and Braylon Sanders deliver for their quarterbacks?
Braxton Berrios and River Cracraft have carved out their roles as Miami’s top backups, and that leaves Ezukanma and Sanders on the outside looking in when it comes to pecking order on which receivers make it onto Miami’s 53-man roster, and possibly the Dolphins’ practice squad. Ezukanma and Sanders have each struggled with catching the ball cleanly, and if they don’t show up for their quarterbacks it might be time for the franchise to move on.
6. Is Skylar Thompson closing the gap on Mike White as Miami’s No. 2 quarterback?
Thompson, who started last week’s game against the Falcons, has handled the bulk of the second-team snaps this week in practice, so it will be interesting to see how their roles are played out in Saturday’s game. Is White in legit danger of being unseated as Tagovailoa’s backup? And can Thompson shake his inconsistent play, showing that he can be a more dependable passer.
7. Does Miami have a backup nose tackle on the roster?
This week’s release of Teair Tart, and Benito Jones’ injury, which hasn’t been disclosed, creates plenty of opportunity for defensive linemen trying to latch onto an NFL 53-man roster. Brandon Pili likely gets first crack at cementing himself onto Miami’s defensive line rotation because he’s a traditional nose tackle. But don’t be surprised if Da’Shawn Hand, Jonathan Harris and Neville Gallimore are duking it out for playing time, and established roles.
8. Will Robert Jones lock down the starting left guard role?
Jones has held the starting left guard spot since training camp opened, and it doesn’t seem as if a contender will surface any time soon because of the mystery injury that kept Isaiah Wynn sidelined all of training camp. While Jones has started 13 NFL games in his previous three seasons, this is his first opportunity to prove he can be more than an injury fill-in.
9. Is Miami’s starting right guard on this roster, or do the Dolphins need to find one?
The Dolphins’ decision-makers will likely use the next two games to evaluate where the team is when it comes to starting-caliber offensive linemen. While Liam Eichenberg, who began camp as the projected starting right guard, fills in for an injured Aaron Brewer at center, Lester Cotton and Jack Driscoll are having open auditions for the right guard role. Are either more than a stop gap option?
10. Will a fourth or fifth tailback showcase himself, securing a spot on the 53-man roster?
Raheem Mostert, De’Von Achane and Jaylen Wright will safely make it onto Miami’s 53-man roster, which leaves Jeff Wilson Jr., Salvon Ahmed and Chris Brooks battling it out for the final one, two spots available to tailbacks. Wilson seemingly broke his nose last week, which has sidelined him for at least a week, opening the door for Ahmed or Brooks to impress the coaches.
This story was originally published August 16, 2024 at 9:30 AM.
