Tough choices arrive for Dolphins evaluation staff.
DAVIE – At this point in the preseason everyone associated with an NFL team — players, coaches and executives — starts becoming a mathematician as they attempt to figure out what’s the right formula for the 53-man regular-season roster.
The Miami Dolphins have about a dozen tough decisions to make regarding the 53-man roster, which must be submitted to the NFL by 4 p.m. on Saturday by releasing 37 players from their training camp roster, and Thursday night’s preseason finale against the Atlanta Falcons will be critical to the decision-making process.
“Everybody knows the task at hand, the severity of the situation, the logistics of this business,” tailback Kenyan Drake said Monday, explaining the magnitude of the final preseason game for players on the roster bubble.
The Dolphins have three position battles ongoing as Miami’s search for a backup to starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill, a boundary cornerback to put opposite Xavien Howard, and a kicker carries over to the final preseason game.
Brock Osweiler and David Fales, two veterans who have history in coach Adam Gase’s offense, will split the workload against the Falcons to determine who serves as Tannehill’s backup in a winner-take-all situation.
Gase was disappointed in the second-team offensive line’s performance in last Saturday’s 27-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens because it hindered the evaluation of the offense.
“We didn’t do a good job of executing some of our protections, which snowballs real fast because the quarterback had no chance,” Gase said. “It was disappointing to see.”
Fales, who has a 42.8 passer rating in the preseason, has outperformed Osweiler, who has a 60.4 passer rating in the preseason, during practice. But Osweiler has 25 starts on his resume, and Fales has only played in three NFL games. Each quarterback is slated to earn $790,000, but Osweiler has $540,000 of his salary guaranteed, unlike Fales.
Torry McTyer, Cordrea Tankersley and Tony Lippett are still battling to determine who becomes Miami’s third cornerback, entering the playing time equation in nickel and dime packages. Miami hasn’t been pleased with that group’s progression, which explains why Bobby McCain has been moved outside to the boundary and rookie safety Minkah Fitzpatrick is manning his old nickel spot.
Jason Sanders, the Dolphins’ 2018 seventh-round draft pick, is viewed as the favorite to win the battle with rookie kicker Greg Joseph, who is Florida Atlantic’s all-time leading scorer. Sanders has been more consistent during practice kicks, and had made 6-of-7 field goals in the preseason. Joseph has made both his field goal attempts, which includes a 54-yarder. Sander’s lone miss was a 53-yarder.
Jerome Baker, who has contributed a team-leading 15 tackles in the past three preseason games, appears to have won the outside linebacker spot, where he’ll be teamed with Kiko Alonso and Raekwon McMillan. But Miami’s searching for three or four backup linebackers, and only Chase Allen has secured his spot on the 53-man roster.
The offensive line has been set since organized team actives and Miami’s hope is that continuity will help the starters develop chemistry. But the Dolphins need to identify two to three backups to join Ted Larsen on the 53-man roster. That means how Sam Young, Zach Sterrup, Eric Smith, the three offensive tackle contenders, and offensive guard Isaac Asiata play against the Falcons could determine who stays with the team.
“It’s in the back of everyone’s mind. That’s just the business of it,” said Asiata, a 2017 fifth-round pick who struggled against the Ravens in pass protection. “I have to perform and do my job.”
MarQueis Gray and Mike Gesicki appear to be Miami’s starting tight ends since Gray is Miami’s best in-line blocker, and Gesicki, the 2018 second-round pick, has made steady improvements as a blocker, holding off A.J. Derby. Derby’s future in Miami likely comes down to whether or not the Dolphins can carry four tight ends on the roster.
That decision could impact how many tailbacks, receivers, offensive linemen, defensive linemen or linebackers the Dolphins carry on the 53-man roster because each decision has a domino effect.