The Miami Dolphins have three in-game alternatives to prepare for the 2022 season, which kicks off a month from now at residence in opposition to the New England Patriots.
Time is ticking, and Mike McDaniel’s to-do checklist stays lengthy.
A brand new offense is being put in by the Dolphins’ rookie head coach, and it’s accompanied by a brand new fashion of working recreation that’s nonetheless being launched.
A brand new defensive scheme is being tinkered with by Josh Boyer, and Miami’s trying to find its subsequent batch of playmakers and leaders not named Tyreek Hill.
Where this workforce goes? Their preseason efficiency will seemingly present a couple of hints.
Here are 10 issues to search for in Saturday’s preseason opener in opposition to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
How a lot does Tua Tagovailoa play, if in any respect?
McDaniel has hinted that Tagovailoa, who owns a 13-8 file because the workforce’s starter the previous two years, won’t take part in Saturday’s exhibition. Considering how sharp he’s appeared in coaching camp’s first three weeks, taking a cautious, protecting strategy is comprehensible. Tagovailoa’s stable practices have raised his confidence, and the arrogance his teammates and coaches have in him. There’s a chance that he might battle in his one or two sequence in opposition to the Buccaneers and it might put a damper on the whole lot he’s executed the previous three weeks.
Will the Dolphins facilities present clear snaps?
Connor Williams’ transition from guard to middle is ongoing, and which means his snapping is a tad erratic at instances, which is comprehensible. While I don’t anticipate Miami’s beginning offensive line to be on the sector for greater than 1 / 4’s price of labor, it might be preferrred for Williams to deal with at the least a dozen snaps in an actual game-like scenario, so he can know what that looks like, and will get adjusted to duties and challenges of enjoying the middle place.
Will a beginning offensive line lacking Terron Armstead look respectable?
It has been years since Armstead, the Pro Bowl left deal with the Dolphins signed to a five-year, $74.5 million deal this offseason, performed in a preseason recreation. Considering how restricted he’s been in observe the previous three weeks, the percentages of Armstead enjoying in any of the three preseason video games are slim. But that doesn’t imply Miami ought to fold the tent and go residence in opposition to Kacy Rodgers’ forceful protection, which yearly ranks as one of many NFL’s finest defensive fronts. The burden is on Greg Little and Larnel Coleman, the backup offensive tackles, to play nicely as Armstead’s alternative.
Can Noah Igbinoghene clear up his troublesome method?
The Dolphins used the thirtieth choose within the 2020 NFL draft on Igbinoghene, and it’s time he exhibits his coaches, teammates and the Dolphins fan base that he’s not in possession of a one-way ticket to bust-land. Igbinoghene’s ball talent and receiver recognition is often a split-second sluggish. That’s why he must be on the soccer discipline for at the least 25 defensive snaps a recreation in all three preseason video games so he can both iron out his points, or the Dolphins can decide whether or not the juice is, or isn’t well worth the squeeze with this former Auburn standout.
Will the wide-zone run recreation have a productive debut efficiency?
The Dolphins have possessed one of many worst speeding assaults within the NFL the previous three seasons, and the simplest approach to flip the tide is to totally decide to McDaniel’s wide-zone working scheme, which has delivered one of many NFL’s prime speeding assaults at every of his NFL stops. The transition received’t occur in a single day, however the excellent time for Robert Hunt, Liam Eichenberg, Austin Jackson and Williams to iron out the wrinkles is throughout these first two preseason video games.
Will Skylar Thompson proceed to make strides?
Thompson, the previous Kansas State starter the Dolphins chosen within the seventh-round of the 2022 NFL draft, has been considered one of camp’s prime performers the previous two weeks. The rookie is clearly getting snug with Miami’s offense, which is analogous to the one he ran in school, and together with his new teammates. He carved up the Buccaneers’ protection throughout Thursday’s joint observe, and it will likely be attention-grabbing to see if he continues to be environment friendly and make constant clutch throws throughout Saturday’s recreation, the place he’ll seemingly play many of the second half, if no more.
Whoever needs to be Miami’s fifth receiver wants to boost his hand.
Preston Williams and Lynn Bowden Jr., the incumbents on the roster, have proven little throughout coaching camp’s first three weeks. While each are considered as distinctive receiver abilities, they haven’t proven a lot of a mastery of this offense. They both have to shine in these video games, or make room for Braylon Sanders, River Cracraft, Trent Sherfield, DeVonte Dedmon or Mohamed Sanu to take the fifth and presumably sixth receiver spot on Miami’s 53-man roster.
Will tight ends have an effect in opposition to Buccaneers?
Miami’s tight ends have had a quiet begin to camp due to the troublesome transition they’re making, which in response to McDaniel pressured them to scrap the whole lot they’ve discovered and modify their strategy to this West Coast fashion, which calls for aggression. However, it might be preferrred to see Mike Gesicki take a look at out his blocking and Durham Smythe and Hunter Long work downfield, showcasing their route-running means. Tanner Conner additionally shouldn’t be missed as a result of the previous Idaho State receiver Miami has transitioning to tight finish was considered one of final week’s prime camp performers.
Can Dolphins protection include Tampa Bay’s tailbacks?
The Buccaneers will seemingly use the preseason to straighten out the offensive line points they’re having, and provides the run recreation a take a look at drive. Tampa Bay wants higher stability offensively in the event that they need to take among the burden off Tom Brady’s shoulders. During this week’s joint observe, the Buccaneers have been productive working the ball on Thursday, whereas on Wednesday the tailbacks had their means with Miami’s protection off display screen passes. Miami’s linebackers have to turn into extra aware and efficient at diagnosing issues.
What back-of-roster participant will show he belongs?
The first preseason recreation is often when the sunshine bulb comes on for many rookies, they usually notice this is likely to be the NFL, however the recreation’s nonetheless soccer. Channing Tindall, the Dolphins’ 2022 third-round choose, has had a quiet coaching camp. The former Georgia standout ought to have loads of alternatives to make an affect within the second half of Saturday’s recreation. But it will likely be attention-grabbing to see which back-of-the-roster participant excels in his debut.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com