Offensive performance not only Tua’s domain
The Miami Dolphins are starting a rookie quarterback, playing without their leading receiver and rusher and trying to find the right fits on their offensive line.
Still, the offense has been able to do just enough to keep the Dolphins (6-3) rolling, particularly in the past two games against the Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Chargers, en route to a five-game winning streak.
And offensive coordinator Chan Gailey believes his offense is just scratching the surface.
“We can be better,” Gailey said Tuesday. “I’m looking forward to seeing what we can be and not what we are at this time.”
Here’s an update on 11 players who could help the Dolphins offense during the final stretch of
the season, starting with Sunday’s road game against the Denver Broncos:
■ On Tua Tagovailoa, who improved to 3-0 as a starter with five touchdowns and no interceptions:
“He’s getting better every week and doing what we hoped he would do,” Gailey said. “He’s taking care of the football and being very smart about that. He’s making plays.
“Is he missing some things? Yeah, but that will come with experience and time. We just have to continue to help him grow.
“Hopefully he learns, and as he continues to learn, I think it slows down for him each week. The more he plays, hopefully the better he gets and themore comfortable he feels.”
■ The good news on receiver DeVante Parker, who had 1,202 yards with nine touchdowns last season: He has 38 catches for 462 yards and three touchdowns in nine games, which is on pace with his totals through nine games last season (33 catches, 469 yards, four touchdowns).
But he’ll have to turn it on like he did in the final seven games last season (39 catches, 733 yards, five touchdowns with four games of more than 100 yards) to come close to those career highs.
Parker’s separation between defensive backs to make catches may be criticized, but receivers coach Josh Grizzard says, “If he’s high-pointing balls and beating DBs off the ground, like we’ve seen at times this year, that’s really all that matters. That’ s part of his game, and we like him on those things.”
■ Tight end Mike Gesicki exploded for eight catches for 130 yards and a touchdown in Week 2, and five catches for 91 yards in Week 5. Since then, he’s had just five catches for 90 yards and no touchdowns in the past four games. He had two catches on five targets for 40 yards last Sunday against the Chargers.
Tight ends coach George Godsey says a factor in Gesicki’s production has been the Dolphins’ knack of spreading the football around to other targets on the field.
“We’re doing a good job of distributing the ball, and that’s beena positive,” Godsey said when asked specifically about Ge sic ki .“If one of those balls goes to another tight end or a back or a receiver, then we’re getting everybody involved to try to keep the defense covering all 53 yards horizontally and as far aswe can throwit.”
■ The Dolphins spread it around so much that eight receivers caught a total of 15 passes from Tagovailoa against the Chargers. Receiver Jakeem Grant led Miami with four catches for 43 yards and a touchdown and has caught four passes in three of his past four games.
“He’s incredibly tough and just been focused. It’s good to see that pay offon Sundays,” Grizzard said of Grant.
■ Rookie Sal von Ahmed rushed for 85 yards and a touchdown in his second career game, but the Dolphins don’t appear to be ready to name him the team’s full-time starter just yet.
Second-year leading rusher Myles Gaskin could return in two weeks from injured reserve, while veteran Matt Brieda could make his return from a two-game absence due to a hamstring injury that could eat into Ahmed’ s opportunities.
“We were very pleased with how he prepared and how he performed, but we’re going to take it week by week,” running backs coach Eric Studesville said of Ahmed.
■ Rookie receivers Malcolm Perry and Lynn Bowden Jr. have immense talent the Dolphins hope to uncover. But they have been limited in their opportunities this season because of their developing knowledge of Miami’s offense.
“Malcolm has come a longway,” Gailey said of Perry, who had two catches for 21 yards against the Chargers. “He didn’t play receiver. He’s been a quarterback.
“He’s really tried to work to become a better receiver. He’s still learning.”
Gailey also praised Bowden, whohas played in only fourgames and missed the past two games due to COVID-19 protocols.
“Lynn is a gifted, talented athlete,” Gailey said. “He’s showed that in college and we’ve seen flashes of ithere. Hopefully he can continue to develop the way we think he can.
“Both of them have some unique talent to themselves. We’ll see ifwe can develop them andmake them be an integral part of the offense.”
■ New Dolphins receiver Antonio Callaway was active for his first game of the season but did not register a snap against the Chargers. The former Florida Gator and Miami Booker T. Washington High standout is coming along in his third week of practice with the team.
“He’s done a good job of coming in here, learning the playbook, trying to get on the same page,” Grizzard said. “I can see the progression with him from day to day. He’s trending in the right direction.”
■ Rookie left tackle Austin Jackson, the second of three firstround Dolphins picks in April, was able to shake off some more rust in his second game back froma foot injury. Jackson draws Broncos defensive end Bradley Chubb in pass protection this Sunday.
“I anticipate him getting back in the swing of things after a month off. It’s still like trainingcamp for him,” offensive line coach Steven Marshall said of Jackson, adding Chubb is “a big challenge” thisweek.
■ Marshall credited four-year veteran lineman Jesse Davis as the key factor in the Dolphins’ ability to shuffle their offensive line the past two games.
Davis has played right tackle, left tackle and right guard this season, allowing Miami the opportunity to evaluate rookie draft picks like Jackson, Robert Hunt and Solomon Kindley.
“The key factor is Jesse,” Marshall said. “Jesse has been a guy to function and play at a solid level. Obviously, he’s played at multiple positions, and it affords us the opportunity to be solid.”
■ Lastly, center Ted Karras doesn’t need more reps with Tagovailoa to overcome two poor snaps he had against the Chargers, including one that led to a turnover.
“There’s no other explanation other than it slipped out,” Marshall said. “Do we need extra reps? No, but I think we can try to get extra towels.”