Dolphins keep 3 QBs; Ford, Lippett among cuts
Miami will likely look to the waiver wire for upgrades to its roster.
DAVIE — Brock Osweiler was 72nd in the NFL’s preseason passer ratings and David Fales was 105th, according to NFL.com.
But Dolphins coach Adam Gase obviously thinks it is important to continue to work with both quarterbacks, as neither was cut Saturday.
The Dolphins revealed their initial 53-man roster, and while it seems unlikely this group will contend for a Super Bowl, the goal is to be competitive.
Gase believes this roster will be competitive. He also believes that Osweiler and Fales deserved an opportunity to continue to compete behind starter Ryan Tannehill.
And really, the entire season depends on Tannehill’s health, anyway.
But it is interesting that Miami chose to keep three quarterbacks, while sending away promising receiver Isaiah Ford and still-recovering-from-injury cornerback Tony Lippett.
It’s possible the Dolphins would never need Ford, and it’s true there are almost always receivers available on the waiver wire and on the street.
But Ford really flashed at times in camp. He’s tall, rangy and smart and has good ball awareness and leaping ability.
As for Lippett, he had not yet regained the form he had at
the end of 2016, when he emerged as a starter and snagged a team-leading four interceptions. An Achilles injury is very tough to come back from, especially at cornerback or wide receiver.
Cornerback is a position of need and a position of concern in the area of depth. Miami is hoping Bobby McCain will play as well outside and he has inside. And that rookie Minkah Fitzpatrick will flourish at nickel.
As of now, Miami’s thirdbest corner is Torry McTyer, an undrafted find last season. But the Dolphins likely will continue to monitor the waiver wire for a veteran capable of playing in a pinch.
The Dolphins have decent depth on the offensive line, though it will be important that center/guard Jake Brendel returns to practice as early as this week after missing almost all of camp with a calf injury.
And it will be important that center/guard Ted Larsen’s lower-body injury is, in fact, not serious, as early indications suggested.
Gase has a wide variety of tight end options with two rookies and two veterans making the roster. Of the rookies, Durham Smythe can block better than he can catch and Mike Gesicki can catch better than he can block. Same holds true for veterans MarQueis Gray and A.J. Derby.
The Dolphins must feel there is a very good chance DeVante Parker (hand) and Jakeem Grant (concussion) will be fine for next Sunday’s season-opener against the Titans. It was more of a surprise that Ford was cut than Leonte Carroo, but the health of Danny Amendola and Parker for the bulk of this season now will be especially imperative.
The Dolphins didn’t have many especially-difficult cuts on defense, aside from Lippett. The ability to cut veteran Kendall Langford is an indication of Miami’s depth on the defensive line.
The Dolphins will need their defensive line to dominate this season. And even without jettisoned defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, it should be a strength.
Miami likely will look to add one linebacker this week. Mike Hull, who has been out with a knee injury, is on the roster, but he probably will start the season on shortterm injured reserve.
The Dolphins would, ideally, flip four or five players off their final 53 with upgrades before the season, though that’s sometimes easier said than done.
One player who was moved late Friday was defensive back Jordan Lucas, dealt to Kansas City for a late-round draft choice.
Many folks see the Dolphins as probably winning anywhere from five to eight games, with most suggesting six or seven. It’s doubtful that any decision the Dolphins made Saturday will be critical in determining which way their season swings.
However, if Tannehill misses any action — and it’s not unusual for a quarterback to miss time in a 16-game NFL regular season — it will be fascinating to see who Miami turns to, and if keeping those two backup QBs was a savvy decision.