5 things we learned from yesterday’s game
Miami needs more from McMillan
When the list of people who fell short of expectations in 2018 gets produced Raekwon McMillan’s name will be found up high on it. The Dolphins expected more from McMillan, the team’s 2017 second-round pick, who is being used as a two-down linebacker, and can often be found shooting the wrong gap during games. Plenty of Green Bay’s big runs Sunday came right up the gut of the defense, which is usually where McMillan is supposed to be. He finished the game tied for the lead with seven tackles, but many of them were plays made downfield.
Rizzi’s special teams had rare roller-coaster game
On the plus side, Jason Sanders was 4 for 4 in his field goal attempts and Leonte Carroo grabbed the snap as the up man and pulled off a perfect fake punt for a first down. But then, there was Sanders drilling a kickoff out of bounds. And, late, Walt Aikens tried deadening a Matt Haack punt, while standing 2 yards in the end zone. And, the coup de grace, Green Bay, with its special teams coached by former Florida Gators coach Ron Zook, faked a punt .
Dolphins continue to struggle on the road
The Dolphins have allowed 138 points in their past four road games, which were losses to the New England Patriots, Cincinnati Bengals, Houston Texans and now the Packers. Even more troubling is the fact that Miami scored 59 points in those contests, which averages out to 14.7 points per game. During Gase’s three seasons, his Dolphins own a 7-15 record in games played away from Hard Rock Stadium, which includes Miami’s 20-0 loss to New Orleans in London in 2017.
Where was the ejection on the McCain injury?
Rookie Green Bay wideout Equanimeous St. Brown blindsided the Dolphins corner viciously as McCain trailed Davante Adams after a catch. Further, he threw his elbow up at the finish for good measure. It was flagged for 15 yards, but that was all. If that didn’t merit an ejection, the NFL should never eject a player.
Backup tackles delivered a decent performance
Before Sunday’s game, the last time we saw Zach Sterup and Sam Young on the field for the Dolphins their performance against the Jets and Bengals put Miami’s quarterbacks in harm’s way. Sterup, who replaced Laremy Tunsil as Miami’s starting left tackle because of his left knee injury, and Young, who replaced Ja’Wuan James because of his right knee injury, held their own against the Packers in a performance where a couple of Brock Osweiler’s six sacks were on the quarterback holding the ball too long because Miami’s receivers weren’t open.