Backup QB competition could linger past preseason
Miami Dolphins coach Adam Gase refuses to make it a winner-take-all situation.
Tonight’s exhibition finale against the Atlanta Falcons will be his last attempt to evaluate backup quarterbacks David Fales and Brock Osweiler during the preseason. Still, he said he doesn’t necessarily feel he has to make an immediate decision.
The competition could linger into the regular season.
“We’re going to look at all the information and we’re going to keep talking through this,” Gase said. “I just want those guys to focus on what they’re trying to do right now, which is get ready for Atlanta and we’ll figure all that out next week.”
There is so much uncertainty, Gase hasn’t decided how many quarterbacks he will keep after cuts are made on Saturday. Keeping both remains a strong possibility.
“I don’t know if I’m looking at it like that,” Gase said. “We haven’t even really said, ‘This is how many we’re keeping.’ If we keep three, then those two guys keep battling it out for however long we go. If we make a decision and we say we’re going to keep two, then does it really matter if it was this game that was winner take all?”
Both quarterbacks have struggled during the preseason. They each threw an interception in Saturday’s loss against the Baltimore Ravens and combined to complete 10-of-17 passes for 86 yards with a 33.1 passer rating average.
Gase refused to discuss if the Dolphins were entertaining signing another quarterback.
“We’ll figure all that out when the time comes,” Gase said. “We’ve still got another game. I want to see those guys go out there and execute what we’re asking them to do, compete and then we’ll figure that out the next week. I just want to respect the guys that are playing in this game that are fighting for jobs. I don’t want to get ahead of myself on that.”
Both quarterbacks said they could have played better, but are comfortable with how they have performed in the preseason. Fales rated his effort as “decent.”
“There were a couple of days where I want a little bit more consistency, but I feel like I’ve had a solid camp,” Fales said.
Added Osweiler, “It’s not really up to me to make that decision of where I sit on the depth chart. It’s just up to me to each day compete on the practice field, to work hard in the meeting rooms and really just be the best quarterback and teammate I can be.”
While Fales was on the roster last year, Osweiler has been hampered because he is still adjusting since being acquired in March. He is now finally understanding and growing more comfortable with Gase.
“A lot about having success in this league is understanding your play-caller’s intent,” Osweiler said. “And now at the end of training camp, I feel very comfortable with why coach Gase is calling certain plays and where he wants that football to go.”
The battle is arguably the most important entering the final game. The Dolphins had to turn to their backup quarterback the last two years when starter Ryan Tannehill sustained season-ending knee injuries.
“You can’t put pressure on one game,” Fales said. “It’s a group of games and camp, so I’m approaching it the same way I did the last three weeks. Of course it’s hard [not to think about it]. You want to be here and it is hard, but you’ve got to … that’s not going to help you today or getting ready for this game, so I try to stay away from that.”