10 things we learned against the Ravens

MIAMI GARDENS — It is hard not to expect another ride on the mediocrity merry-goround this season based on what we have seen from the Miami Dolphins during the preseason.

If this is the best the 2018 Dolphins can produce, it is going to be a long season unless someone really steps up.

Miami’s performance against a physical Baltimore Ravens team, which sat most of their starters Saturday night against Miami, showed that the Dolphins have plenty of issues to fix on offense (slow starts), and defense (can’t stop the run), and might have overall depth issues because coach Adam Gase’s team keeps fizzling at the end of these preseason games.

Here is a look at 10 observations made during Saturday’s dress rehearsal for the regular season:

Ryan Tannehill takes a few hit and survives

The Miami Dolphins starting quarterback, who missed the past 20 games because of a left knee injury, hadn’t been roughed up all preseason, but his jersey got dirty during Saturday night’s game against the Ravens, which sacked him twice in the first quarter. It didn’t seem like any of those hits rattled Tannehill considering he completed 11-of-16 passes for 115 yards and one touchdown, producing a 110.2 passer rating. This camp Tannehill’s executing Miami’s offense at a higher level, taking ownership of Adam Gase’s offense, which could possibly lead to his best season.

Dolphins prepared to hound opposing quarterbacks

It is quite possible the Dolphins could be in possession of one of the NFL’s best pass rushing duos of 2018. Cam Wake, who has been extremely consistent throughout his 10-year career, gave Orlando Brown Jr., the Ravens backup right tackle, fits all night, consistently hounding Baltimore’s quarterback. And Wake might be playing on the opposite side of an Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill gets sacked by Baltimore Ravens linebacker Patrick Onwuasor during Saturday’s game at Hard Rock Stadium.

elite pass rusher because newcomer Robert Quinn, whom Miami traded a fourth-round pick four, produced his third sack of the preseason taking down Robert Griffin III on third down.

Kenyan Drake’s good for a big play every game

Drake has a knack for delivering big plays each game, and against the Ravens he produced two. Drake broke a 30-yard run gallivanting through a wheel barrel sized hole created by Jesse Davis and Ja’Wuan’s blocking on the right side of Miami’s offensive line. Drake got to the second level courtesy of a strong block from Albert Wilson. And in the second quarter Drake caught a 9-route 36-yard downfield after lining up as a receiver. Drake finished the game with 68 yards on five touches in his limited work.

Daniel Kilgore has shaky performance against a 3-4 defense

Cheaper doesn’t always equate to better, and that’s one of the reasons it seems Miami downgraded at center this offseason when they traded for Kilgore,

which led to the release of Mike Pouncey, who quickly signed with the Los Angeles Chargers. Ryan Tannehill fumbled the football twice against the Ravens, but only one of those plays was a bad quarterback-to-center exchange. However, Kilgore, who has a rough night in last week’s loss to the Panthers, did allow a first quarter sack on a play that took a while to develop.

Chase Allen gets a chance to compete for starting linebacker spot

Allen doesn’t have the sex appeal that Jerome Baker’s draft status provides the rookie, but Allen’s knowledge of the defense and experience level might allow him to unseat Baker, the Dolphins 2108 third-round pick, for the open strong side linebacker job. Allen, who started four games last season as an undrafted rookie from Southern Illinois, entered the game in the second series as Baker’s replacement and made a handful of plays. It appears that competition for a starting spot isn’t over.

Frank Gore makes his South

Florida debut

Gore has been impatiently awaiting his first game as a Dolphins player, but his debut was somewhat of a letdown because the former University of Miami standout produced little to nothing in his one series. Gore gained

1-yard on his one reception, and his one run produced a 2-yard loss because right guard Jesse Davis allowed his defender to get into Gore’s rushing lane in the backfield. Considering head coach Adam Gase is hesitant about even practicing Gore don’t expect the

14-year veteran to participate in next Thursday’s preseason game against the Falcons.

Backup quarterback job coming down to final preseason game

David Fales was the first quarterback to enter the game in the second half, which is an indicator that he’s slightly ahead of Brock Osweiler for the battle to determine who will be Ryan Tannehill’s backup in 2018. Osweiler was sacked twice on one series in the third quarter, and his unit struggled. Don’t expect this battle to be over until next Thursday night’s preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons. Miami’s coaches have said that battle will take place all preseason, and the quarterback who leads the team to the most scoring drives will be the winner.

Dolphins defense continues to struggle against run

The Dolphins defense entered Saturday’s game against the Ravens as the NFL’s worst defense against the run in the preseason, allowing 136 rushing yards per game. Don’t be surprised if they remain at the bottom of the rankings after getting gashed by the Ravens all night. De’Lance Turner outsprinted Miami’s entire defense to produce a 65-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, and both Robert Griffin III (41 yards on five carries) and Lamar Jackson scrambled for big gains against Miami’s troublesome run defense.

Vincent Taylor is earning his spot on special teams

Taylor, the Dolphins 2016 sixthround pick, has had a pretty solid camp and preseason. But his block of a Justin Tucker field goal on Saturday night could earn him a spot on the 53-man roster. While it may be argued that keeping a grizzled veteran like Kendall Langford as Miami’s fourth defensive tackle would benefit the defense, Taylor’s knack for blocking field goals on special teams might motivate special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi to advocate for him.

Dolphins’ first-team offense has plenty of work to do

Miami’s starters began the game with three unsuccessful drives that produced one first down against a Ravens defense that was missing a handful of starters. But that unit warned up on the fourth drive as Danny Amendola scored a 16-yard touchdown by taking a short pass and turning it up field to outrun the Ravens defenders, capping an 8 play, 75 yards drive that featured a 30-yard run from Kenyan Drake and rookie tight end Mike Gesicki bringing down his first pass from Ryan Tannehill.

JIM RASSOL/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER