Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Changes on defense
Look for lots of new faces in preseason game.
DAVIE — Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill and the first-team offense could play more than one series in Friday night’s second preseason game at Carolina.
But the bigger reveal when the Dolphins visit the Panthers at 7:30 p.m. at Bank of America Stadium will be the re-tooled defense, which also could play more than one series.
Miami made dramatic changes to its starting defense, which struggled during last week’s 26-24 loss to Tampa Bay. The Dolphins allowed the Buccaneers to go 57 yards on six plays for a touchdown on their opening possession.
Defensive coordinator Matt Burke kept the scheme simple last week. He just wanted to see knowledge of the defensive fundamentals, and, more importantly, intensity.
“We didn’t execute that part of it,” Burke said. “That was the most disappointing [aspect of the game].”
As a result, Burke now has cornerback Bobby McCain, the usual slot/nickel, at boundary cornerback. Rookie safety Minkah Fitzpatrick is in the slot/nickel, and rookie linebacker Jerome Baker is at one of the two outside spots.
And let’s not forget starting middle linebacker Raekwon McMillan, the 2017 second-round pick, is basically a rookie having missed last season with a knee injury.
Miami has a lot of unproven talent at key defensive positions among the “rookie” trio
“That rookie label is over. We’ve got to play ball games in a few weeks.” Matt Burke, Dolphins defensive coordinator
of McMillan, Fitzpatrick and Baker.
Because Fitzpatrick doesn’t play in the base package, and Baker doesn’t play in the nickel package, Miami’s defense isn’t likely to have more than two rookies on the field at the same time.
McMillan, who only played one preseason play a year ago before sustaining a season-ending knee injury, expects more from himself in one particular aspect this week.
“A lot more enthusiasm,” he said. “The last game, I kind of was thinking a little bit but this game, I’m going out there and having fun.”
Whoever is on the field, Burke hopes his defense shows more grit.
After all, Miami needs more grit from a unit that ranked 29th in points per game (24.6) last season.
“We can coach technique, we can coach scheme, we can game plan better for a scheme that we’re going to see,” Burke said. “But to not just come out and line up, run hit and play with some passion and aggression and those sort of things, that was the most disappointing to me.”
Offensively, the decision of how long the starters play ultimately rests with coach Adam Gase, and he hasn’t revealed his plan. The starters only played one series against Tampa Bay.
“I wanted to play more last week, especially my first time playing in a long time,” said Tannehill. “I got the juices flowing and got a taste of the action, and I wanted more.”
The starting offense’s only possession stalled at the Tampa Bay 35-yard line.
The first-team offense will likely be without receivers Kenny Stills (ankle) and DeVante Parker (hand/ finger) against Carolina.
In practices they’ve been replaced by Jakeem Grant and Albert Wilson, who join slot receiver Danny Amendola in the three-receiver packages.
Regardless of who starts at receiver, Tannehill has a feeling the starting offense will be on the field for more than one series.
“Gase has a plan, he does everything for a reason,” Tannehill said, “and I’m sure I’ll get to play a little more this week.”
On special teams, there’s a battle at kicker between rookies Jason Sanders, the seventh-round pick from New Mexico, and Greg Joseph, who was undrafted from FAU.
“Neither of their first [appearances] was very good,” special teams coach Darren Rizzi said. “Greg kicked the ball out of bounds, and although Jason had plenty of leg on that 53-yard [field goal attempt], he obviously pulled it a little bit. I think he was a little excited.
“The good thing for both guys is that they really bounced back the rest of the game.”
Even with the intrigue around the first-team offense and the kicking battle, the defense, and the youngsters on that unit, will be the thing to watch as the Dolphins play the Panthers.
As Burke stated earlier this week, he’ll have very little tolerance for youthful mistakes.
“That rookie label is over,” he said. “We’ve got to play ball games in a few weeks. We’ve got to find the best players.”