Dolphins host Falcons
Rookie Godchaux among young players to debut
Rookies get chance to impress in first preseason game.
“It’s really about attitude. If you have the right attitude, you can do anything.” Davon Godchaux, rookie defensive tackle
Quarterback Jay Cutler, signed Monday to replace injured starter Ryan Tannehill, won’t play in the Miami Dolphins’ preseason opener against the Atlanta Falcons at Hard Rock Stadium today at 7 p.m.
But rookie defensive tackle Davon Godchaux, the fifth-round pick from LSU, will play, and he’s been one of the best stories in training camp.
At last, Godchaux, who has seemingly overtaken third-year defensive tackle Jordan Phillips as a starter, and his teammates get to test their skills against an opponent.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for the guys to prove what they’ve been doing out here in a real game,” coach Adam Gase said this week. “You get to tackle. Every time you think you’re sacked or it’s a negative play, now you have to take the guy to the ground. “It’s good. We need it.” Godchaux promises to be the same in the game as he’s been in training camp.
“At the end of the day it’s football,” said Godchaux, valued for his run-stuffing skills. “I feel like a lot of people over-think it too much, at the end of the day I’m going to line up and I’m going to this man.
“That’s really all it is. It’s really about attitude. If you have the right attitude, you can do anything.”
It’s unclear how long the Dolphins’ starters will play tonight.
Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan is expected to play one series and Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones won’t play at all as he’s still recovering from offseason foot surgery.
It’s not clear how many regulars will play for the defending NFC champions and for how long.
But there will still be plenty to watch, especially for the Dolphins, who are trying to improve a run defense that ranked 30th in the NFL last season. Godchaux is part of that.
So, too, is Phillips, who has been called out in the past for his uneven performances. Defensive line coach Terrell Williams said Godchaux hasn’t necessarily overtaken Phllips to start alongside fellow defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.
“Really we’re just kind of, at this point of training camp, just trying to mix and match and see what the best combinations are,” Williams said. “So [Godchaux is] competing. He’s doing a good job. For a rookie he’s a strong, physical [player], he’s doing what you want a defensive tackle to do.
“In my mind it’s an open competition at all the positions.”
Rookie defensive end Charles Harris, the firstround pick from Missouri, and rookie linebacker Raekwon McMillan, the secondround pick from Ohio State, join Godchaux as part of a draft class that should shore up defensive weaknesses from a year ago.
Offensively, the line might be a bit of an adventure. Center Mike Pouncey (hip), whose practice time is being carefully managed, won’t play, left guard Ted Larsen (biceps) will be sidelined for weeks, and left tackle Laremy Tunsil, who has had an excused absence the last few days, also isn’t likely to play.
Add in the absence of Cutler and Tannehill, running back Jay Ajayi (concussion) and the questionable status of wide receiver Kenny Stills (hamstring) and coaches might not be able to draw many conclusions on offense.
As for special teams, all eyes will be on kickoff/punt returner Jakeem Grant, whose problems handling the ball have been welldocumented. If Grant, a speedy scoring threat each time he touches the ball, can’t do the job, running back Kenyan Drake, who has returned kickoffs in a game but never punts, will get a look followed, possibly, by wide receiver Drew Morgan.
Usually the preseason opener belongs mostly to the reserves, and that’ll likely be the blueprint for the Dolphins.
Many reserves, such as quarterbacks Brandon Doughty and David Fales, wide receivers Leonte Carroo and Grant, linebacker Mike Hull, and rookie cornerback Cordrea Tankersley, the third-round pick from Clemson, to name a few, should get significant playing time. How much? Gase has a simple rule. “Play until somebody tells you to come out,” he said.