Travis Wingfield
Our hearts are so extremely heavy as we mourn the lack of an expensive good friend, husband, father, visionary – any adjective to explain greatness as they match Senior Vice President of Communications and Community Affairs Jason Jenkins to a T. I am unable to assist however suppose the Dolphins efficiency within the 48-10 win over Philadelphia Saturday night time as a mirrored image of him – polished and to the nines.
Each day in soccer is a progress checkpoint. Every assembly with Jason ended with two phrases – nice work and preserve it going. So that is what we’ll do. We’ll preserve it going. Here are the three takeaways from Miami’s preseason finale.
1. Tua and Tyreek
This city is aware of all about perfection. On the fiftieth anniversary of the undefeated staff, the Dolphins head into the 2022 marketing campaign driving a excessive after an ideal efficiency from two of the staff’s greatest stars.
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa ended the night time with an ideal 158.3 passer ranking. Wide receiver Tyreek Hill ran two routes and caught two passes for 64 yards, a cool 32.0 yards per route run.
Starting their first sport motion as teammates the identical manner they started Wednesday’s apply – with a profitable deep ball – the nation lastly caught a glimpse of what we have seen all month at Dolphins camp.
“I want to hear the crowd cheer,” Quarterbacks Coach/Passing Game Coordinator Darrell Bevell stated of the practice-opening deep shot, in accordance with Tagovailoa at his Wednesday news convention.
The cheering by no means stopped, particularly with QB1 on the controls. Tagovailoa threw with precision and timing. He confirmed the fleet-of-foot pocket mobility that draft analysts beloved when he was popping out of Alabama. He hit chunk performs of 13, 15, 16, and 18 yards along with the 51-yard bomb. He directed two touchdowns drives and a subject objective march to punctuate the preseason by scoring on 4 of his 5 drives.
“I was just happy for those two individuals because they’ve invested a lot,” Head Coach Mike McDaniel stated. “I was happy for the team and the organization really because they’ve invested a lot. They know – let’s just say it was cool to see them not blink and do what they love doing. Really good players. I’m happy to call them my teammates.”
2. Rowe the boat
Safety Eric Rowe’s skilled profession took off with the Dolphins. A place change, lockdown tight finish protection and weekly enchancment in opposition to the run, the veteran security has piled up 243 tackles on 2,629 snaps performed since his 2019 arrival. Early on within the technique of shifting to security, he mentioned the distinction within the run-game and taking over blocks.
Last night time’s sport is an effective indication of the work he did, which isn’t solely bettering that facet of his sport, however making it a energy. He made 4 whole tackles together with two because the power defender (participant answerable for setting the sting). He did not simply corral the Eagles exterior makes an attempt; he caught his shoulder on the belt of ball carriers and made the play himself.
Rowe’s versatility and selfless mindset are a microcosm of this Miami protection – a bunch that held the Eagles to a 20 % third-and-fourth-down conversion charge final night time. A bunch that surrendered simply 264 yards and 10 factors whereas scoring six of their very own on an Elijah Campbell interception returned for a landing.
Top to backside, guys made performs. Just because the offense seemed prepared for Week 1, the protection seems to be to be choosing up the place it left off the final couple of seasons.
3. In the air, on the bottom, at all times in management
Comprehensive, three-phase wins are a rarity within the National Football League.. Nearly doubling up the Eagles in yardage (494-264), the Dolphins confirmed how harmful this operation will be, particularly when one key factor is clicking.
“The running game is the foundation of everything we want to do on offense,” left sort out Terron Armstead stated final week.
Foreshadowing a lot?
The Dolphins did not simply roll up 203 yards on the bottom, they used the play motion sport as a conduit to chew up chunks of yardage. Tagovailoa accomplished all six of his play-action passes for 121 yards and the landing toss. Skylar Thompson went 5-of-6 for 79 yards with each of his touchdowns working off play-action. The Miami quarterbacks posted a play-action passing line of 12-of-14 for 215 yards and three touchdowns (Bridgewater, 1-for-2 with 15 yards).
All of the backs obtained in on the motion. Gerrid Doaks, ZaQuandre White, Myles Gaskin, Salvon Ahmed and Raheem Mostert all averaged over 6.0 yards per rush; the latter three with runs of 10-plus yards. Sony Michel’s alternative for a excessive common is a bit skewed by his two objective line carries, however there is not a single Dolphins fan on the market upset along with his capacity to transform in short-yardage, significantly on his 1-yard landing run within the first quarter.
Complementary and complete, an ideal ode to the group’s combat tune.
For extra evaluation, takeaways and breakdowns, take a look at the Drive Time Podcast with Travis Wingfield, out there on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.