What to watch for in Jags game
Thursday’s game the best look at what Dolphins have to offer
Dolphins head coach Brian Flores watches quarterback drills during at Nova Southeastern University in Davie.
The third NFL preseason game is the most important of all these exhibitions because it’s generally used as a dress rehearsal for the regular season.
That means the Miami Dolphins will look to put the franchise’s best foot forward during Thursday night’s game against a physical Jacksonville Jaguars team, which will be played at 8 p.m. inside Hard Rock Stadium.
Here are 10 things to look for from the Dolphins during the game:
Fitzpatrick needs to prove why he deserves to be starting QB
Ryan Fitzpatrick, who has a 44.4 passer rating in the two preseason games he’s played in for the Dolphins, has been doing most of his heavy lifting during practices. However, that doesn’t justify to fans why coach Brian Flores clearly favors him to begin the season as Miami’s starting quarterback. The 15-year veteran needs to have a clean performance that produces points during this dress rehearsal to show fans why his coaches and teammates view him as Miami’s best option.
Can Rosen have a clean preseason performance?
Flores has spent two weeks nitpicking Rosen’s play to justify why the coaching staff feels the 2018 first-round pick is not ready to start a meaningful game for the Dolphins yet. Fair or not, it’s on Rosen, who has produced a 73.7 passer rating in the preseason, to silence the skeptics by leading his offensive unit to scoring drives, having a turnover-free outing, and getting Miami’s playmakers and the offense line into the right plays and protections.
Jones practiced all week, will he play?
Reshad Jones has spent a total of three weeks on the practice field in Miami’s new defense because he skipped the offseason program to train on his own, and the various injuries he’s been nursing. The goal is to have the two-time Pro Bowler ready for the regular-season opener, but wouldn’t it be wise to test out his understanding of Flores’ scheme, and his fit in it at least once? Injuries to T.J. McDonald and Walt Aikens have created a need at strong safety, so it would be wise for the Dolphins to give Jones a series or three playing next to Bobby McCain on Thursday night.
Can Dolphins produce a productive rushing attack?
Kalen Ballage and Kenyan Drake have shown flashes in the past, but neither has proven that they can carry the load for a potent rushing attack, which is what Miami will need to make this offense respectable this season. The Dolphins are averaging 3.9 rushing yards a game in the preseason and that’s not going to be good enough in the regular season. Miami needs to get Ballage ready to handle a starters’ workload, and must determine if Patrick Laird or Mark Walton is the best option to be the third back on the 53-man regular-season roster.
Can Williams earn the starting split end spot?
Preston Williams’ blend of size and speed made the undrafted rookie from Colorado State one of training camp’s top performers, but he’s had an uneven preseason. Against the Falcons he caught four passes for 97 yards, and showed he’s a potential playmaker. But last week against the Buccaneers, Williams dropped two passes and played like a rookie. Miami needs to know what they have in Williams because of the injuries that have sidelined DeVante Parker, Albert Wilson, Jakeem Grant and now Allen Hurns.
Dolphins must identify a cornerback who can play opposite Xavien Howard
Eric Rowe played sparingly in his first preseason game with Miami last week, and has had his practice participation limited since the start of training camp because of a lingering injury. And injuries have been an issue throughout his NFL career, so this isn’t a good sign. Rowe’s availability could be a major problem if no one behind him — Nik Needham, Jomal Wiltz, Torry McTyer, Cornell Armstrong, Tyler Patmon and Chris Lammons — steps up and plays well. The Dolphins need to use the next two preseason games to determine which two cornerbacks out of this batch of lackluster options deserves to be on the 53-man roster. Someone needs to make a play.
Will Dolphins’ two rookie guards continue to make steady improvements?
Michael Deiter and Shaq Calhoun will conclude their fourth week of working with Miami’s starting offensive line by taking on a physical and aggressive Jaguars defensive front for likely an entire half. Miami needs those two rookie guards to tighten up on their technique, and to make less mental errors to ensure that this investment in them is worthwhile, and that they are the best options for Miami’s starting offensive line.
Can Eguavoen and Baker continue to make impact plays?
The Dolphins have handed over the linebacker unit to Sam Eguavoen, a former CFL standout, and Jerome Baker, a second-year player who has picked up where he left off last season, and both have been impressive in the preseason. But they need to develop a chemistry that allows them to communicate without speaking, and they must deliver game-changing plays like the forced fumble Equavoen caused last week, and the two sacks Baker just missed out on.
Who wants to earn a roster spot through special teams?
Flores has openly declared that the way to his heart is to be a top performer in the kicking game, and the Dolphins are looking for half a dozen players who could be reliable core special teamers. That means linebackers like Tre Watson, Terrill Hanks, Nick Deluca, Terrance Smith and defensive backs like Tyler Patmon, Cornell Armstrong and Jalen Davis have a chance to impress as a gunner, flyer, personal protector and overall coverage guy on special teams.
Dolphins need to find a capable offensive tackle
Jesse Davis is two games into his transition to right tackle, and that experiment seems to have taken root. But the Dolphins don’t have any decent options if Miami moves Davis back to right guard, or if something happened to left tackle Laremy Tunsil. Jordan Mills is the only proven veteran in the group, and his first preseason game showed that he’s not a viable option at left tackle. Miami needs Jaryd Jones-Smith, Zach Sterup, Will Holden and Aaron Monteiro to take their game up another level, or else its time to comb the waiver wire. Rendering of the Miami Dolphins new $135 million state-of-the-art training complex and sports performance clinic in Miami Gardens next to Hard Rock Stadium.