Most of the highest gamers for each groups sat out the preseason opener between the Miami Dolphins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which allowed lower-on-the-depth-chart gamers a possibility within the Dolphins’ 26-24 exhibition win on Saturday night time at Raymond James Stadium.
Quarterback Skylar Thompson, the rookie seventh-round choose who bought the beginning with Tua Tagovailoa amongst 20-plus Dolphins resting, went 20 for 28 for 218 yards, a landing and narrowly averted an interception.
With backups within the secondary permitting the Buccaneers to drive late, former Miami Hurricanes Lou Groza Award-winning kicker Jose Borregales had a game-winning discipline objective try doink off the precise upright no good, preserving the preseason win for Miami.
Thompson’s second-quarter landing lifted Miami from a largely lackluster first half, hitting Lynn Bowden open in the long run zone on a double transfer for the 22-yard rating.
“The whole objective of the preseason was to have some adversity and fight through it,” first-year Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel advised the CBS4 broadcast at halftime. “Obviously, we didn’t come out the exact way we wanted. Guys are getting used to tackling, but what I did like is no one panicked and then people made some plays and then we were opportunistic.”
Thompson and Bowden related once more to begin the second half for a 29-yard achieve excessive of the Buccaneers protection on a drive that finally resulted in a discipline objective. Bowden, who spent the 2021 season on injured reserve, led Miami receivers with 55 yards on three catches on Saturday.
“It’s an [opportunity],” Bowden mentioned. “I missed a whole year last year — just have to put it on film and just keep stacking the days, just keep going.”
The Thompson-to-Bowden rating got here on the next play after cornerback Elijah Campbell intercepted a brief move to the flat, ripping the ball away from a receiver.
Linebacker Sam Eguaoven, who was having a tough night time with missed tackles early, scored a defensive landing on a 33-yard fumble return. Outside linebacker Darius Hodge hit Buccaneers quarterback Kyle Trask’s arm earlier than it went ahead on a move to power the fumble.
“You just got to get it before he gets it off,” Hodge mentioned. “You don’t get that opportunity a lot, so when you do, you definitely got to take advantage of it.”
The Buccaneers scored a first-quarter landing from quarterback Blaine Gabbert to receiver Jaelon Darden the place it appeared Dolphins robust security Brandon Jones was not in the precise spot in zone protection as Darden ended up open between Noah Igbinoghene and Nik Needham, the cornerback who was enjoying free security excessive.
Tampa Bay, with former Florida standout Trask changing Gabbert to begin the second quarter, went for a 15-play, 86-yard drive to observe the place backup Dolphins defenders had a number of missed tackles, together with a noticeable one from Eguavoen. Ke’Shawn Vaughn capped the drive with a 1-yard landing run.
The Buccaneers scored a third-quarter landing from Trask to Jerreth Sterns the place cornerback D’Angelo Ross was with Sterns 1-on-1 in the long run zone however couldn’t get circled to defend the move. The Dolphins’ cornerback depth stays a priority as Buccaneers passers mixed to go 30 of 38 for 314 yards, two touchdowns and the Campbell interception.
“I think we showed a lot of resilience [Saturday], and at the end of the day, we got it done,” mentioned exterior linebacker Jaelan Phillips who was certainly one of few starters to play.
Cornerback Trill Williams had two harm scares in second-half play, coming back from one, however the second appeared extra severe with McDaniel strolling out to the sector to test on him earlier than he was finally carted off. He was later seen exiting Raymond James Stadium on crutches.
“There was some concern, definitely for his lower extremity, but we’ll find out more [Sunday] exactly what it is,” mentioned McDaniel of Williams, who was emotional after taking place. “He’s a competitor. He did not want to be hurt, and I think that’s what you saw from him, was emotion, that he felt like he was making plays and this was a setback.”
Cornerback depth might be a priority going ahead for Miami after the Bucs had the passing effectivity they did on Saturday and Williams went down, together with fellow cornerback Tino Ellis. McDaniel hinted postgame that basic supervisor Chris Grier could also be wanting into out there cornerbacks this week.
“You get some dings, you have to kind of reassess. You have to figure out exactly the timeline,” McDaniel mentioned. “But I know Chris and his staff — I saw he had his backpack on — so he’s probably already started to look at guys just in case we get unforeseen or, really, any bad news [Sunday] on some lengthy injuries. We’ll just be prepared for whatever is dealt.”
While tight finish Mike Gesicki, enjoying 2022 on the franchise tag, has seldom seen targets in coaching camp practices in McDaniel’s new offense, Gesicki bought the Dolphins’ first offensive play to come back his approach, a brief pitch and catch with room to run for 13 yards.
With free agent offensive line additions Terron Armstead and Connor Williams out, Larnel Coleman began at left deal with and Michael Deiter at heart. Deiter had solely returned to apply on Wednesday from a foot harm. He didn’t have any poor snaps, which have been an issue for Williams in apply.
Coleman gave up the third-down sack of Thompson on Miami’s opening drive that compelled the Dolphins to accept a 33-yard discipline objective after Thompson began 4 of 4 for 31 yards on the opening sequence. On a 3rd down for an ensuing sequence, the Buccaneers ran a stunt in entrance of Deiter and proper guard Robert Hunt, which bought Thompson hit on the unfinished move.
The Dolphins had one other drive stall deep into the primary half the place proper deal with Kion Smith, changing Austin Jackson at that time, allowed a sack, inflicting Miami to accept a 52-yard Jason Sanders discipline objective.
With a number of starters out, Miami trotted out a defensive unit to begin that concerned defensive linemen Raekwon Davis, John Jenkins and Porter Gustin, exterior linebackers Phillips and Andrew Van Ginkel, inside linebackers Eguavoen and Duke Riley, cornerbacks Igbinoghene and Keion Crossen and safeties Jones and Needham, who could be the workforce’s nickel when Xavien Howard and Byron Jones can be found at cornerback and Jevon Holland is in at free security. Crossen had a bodily move breakup on a deep 1-on-1 alternative.
In addition to Thompson’s outing, fellow Dolphins rookies in third-round linebacker Channing Tindall and fourth-round huge receiver Erik Ezukanma bought their first preseason motion within the NFL. Tindall made his first two tackles, and Ezukanma made his first reception, a 14-yard catch and run. Deandre Johnson, the undrafted rookie out of the University of Miami and Miami Southridge High, break up a late sack with Miami Central High product Owen Carney.
“It was an exciting experience, honestly, just going out there, stepping out on the field,” Tindall mentioned. “I got a little bit of goosebumps out there, dreaming as a kid growing up. It’s just amazing.”
Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders went 4 for 4 with transformed discipline targets of 33, 52, 23 and 53 yards.
Preston Williams took within the Dolphins’ first punt return, and Bowden was again deep on the preliminary kick return, a touchback.
Both beginning operating backs Saturday, the Dolphins’ Sony Michel (American Heritage) and Buccaneers’ Giovani Bernard (St. Thomas Aquinas) have been South Florida highschool soccer stars.
The debut of McDaniel’s run sport within the exhibition didn’t present a lot early, though key offensive linemen Armstead and Williams sat, as did tailbacks Chase Edmonds and Raheem Mostert. McDaniel additionally famous the Buccaneers have been dedicated to stopping the run.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com