The Miami Dolphins’ preseason opener at the Washington Commanders marked the unofficial debut for the new trio of general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan, coach Jeff Hafley and quarterback Malik Willis, and it got off to a relatively good start despite Washington leading, 17-7, through three quarters.
Willis led the starting offense to a touchdown drive on the game’s opening possession while showing promise as a passer and runner. Running back De’Von Achane had success on the ground behind a strong effort by the offensive line. Most of the offensive starters only played one possession.
The defense struggled a bit in the first half with the reserves on the field even after producing a second-quarter interception, and the offense also gasped and wheezed with the reserves on the field.
Among the things that Sullivan and Hafley have preached are physicality, being tough in the trenches and running the ball, and those traits surfaced at times. Miami’s offense totaled 157 yards in the first half (87 rushing, 70 passing) but the defense allowed 207 yards, including 112 rushing. Washington’s offense totaled 287 yards through three quarters compared to 192 yards for Miami’s offense.
Here’s what we learned Friday:
Malik Willis shines in preseason debutWillis played the opening possession before leaving the game, but it was a strong appearance.
Willis showed good composure, arm strength, accuracy and decision-making, going 4 for 5 passing for 43 yards while leading the Dolphins on a 14-play, 93-yard touchdown drive. Willis also had two carries for nine yards.
Willis initially showed his legs when he slid after a six-yard gain to the Washington 20-yard line and he later added a three-yard gain.
Willis has been solid in training camp and Friday’s appearance supported what he’s displayed so far.
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Rookie wide receiver Caleb Douglas, the third-round pick, flashed some good and bad Friday, which has been his story in training camp. Douglas, who has displayed enough talent to overtake Malik Washington as the so-called WR1, the team’s top wide receiver, stepped out of bounds on a potential first down reception when he was wide open but didn’t know where he was on the field, negating a potential 23-yard gain to the Commanders’ 39-yard line.
A few plays later, however, Douglas went up and showed his skills with a one-handed reception for a 28-yard gain. Overall, Douglas (one reception, 28 yards) has been an early success but he needs consistency.
Chop Robinson sets the edgeEdge rusher Chop Robinson offered a sign of progress set the edge in the first quarter by turning a run by Washington running back Kaytron Allen back to the inside on a one-yard gain. Hafley has said he wants Robinson, the 2024 first-round pick who has just 10 sacks in two seasons, to be a complete player, meaning playing the run and pass. Robinson is making gradual progress in both areas.
Physicality shows on offense through run gameThe starting offensive line of center Aaron Brewer, left guard Kadyn Proctor, left tackle Patrick Paul, right guard Jonah Savaiinaea and right tackle Austin Jackson did good work on the opening possession with punishing run blocking and decent protection for the pass.
Achane, who only played the first possession, had seven carries for 39 yards and a touchdown, and the Dolphins’ starters didn’t have any negative runs by mostly running between the tackles.
Achane had a 14-yard gain running in a hole created by Brewer and Savaiinaea on his second carry and the ground game kept going from there.
Guards Savaiinaea and Proctor stayed in the game past the first possession but Brewer, Paul and Jackson went to the sideline.
Jacob Rodriguez enters game on second possessionRookie linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, the second-round pick who has had a hot start to training camp, didn’t start but he took the field on the second possession in relief of veteran Tyrel Dodson, the returning starter. Rodriguez has been disruptive in training camp with pass deflections and sideline-to-sideline speed along with good awareness.
Rodriguez (one tackle through three quarters) appeared to overrun the play on a 15-yard run by Commanders running back Robert Henry Jr. but he remains a threat to take Dodson’s starting job for the season opener.
CB Marco Wilson makes another play for playmaking defenseCornerback Marco Wilson, the five-year veteran who is fighting for a roster spot, had an interception near the Washington 5-yard line on the final play of the first quarter, holding up a pattern of playmaking for the defense. It was third and 10 play at the Dolphins’ 30-yard line and Wilson secured an errant throw by quarterback Sam Hartman, who was relieving Marcus Mariota, who left with an apparent leg injury a few plays earlier.
Miami’s defense, led by the secondary, which was without two starters Friday — cornerback JuJu Brents and safety Dante Trader Jr. — has had good success producing interceptions and fumbles in training camp. Rookie cornerback Chris Johnson (two tackles in first half) had a chance at an interception in the end zone on a low pass in the second quarter but couldn’t come up with the ball.
Quinn Ewers has an INT, continues up and down campBackup quarterback Quinn Ewers (1 for 8 for 27 yards, one interception) threw a second-quarter interception, continuing a trend of inconsistency that might see him losing his previously firm grip on the No. 2 job. Ewers has probably thrown more interceptions in training camp by himself than Willis and third-team quarterback Cam Miller have combined.
And while Ewers has been victmized by receivers bobbling or mishandliung catchable passes on a few of those interceptions, that wasn’t the case Friday when there wasn’t a receiver near the pass. It should be pointed out it’s unclear whether Ewers or the receiver was at fault for the interception. However, this is becoming a theme for Ewers, who started the final three games last season as a rookie seventh-round draft pick but has been spotty in camp.
ObservationsEdge rushers David Ojabo, the veteran, and Max Llewellyn, the rookie seventh-round pick, combined for a second-quarter sack on a play that both needed to make the 53-man roster…edge rusher Cameron Goode, who has consistently pressured backup quarterbacks in training camp, had a sack in the third quarter…running back Jaylen Wright muffed the opening kickoff. Wright, who has been so-so from scrimmage and is battling Washington for the No. 1 kickoff returner job, rushed for 22 yards on six carries in the first half…Fullback D.J. Herman, a linebacker at San Diego State, got lots of work, which is signficant because the Dolphins might not carry a fullback and might opt for a tight end to handle those duties. Herman had a holding penalty in the fourth quarter that negated an 11-yard gain by running back Ollie Gordon II.
Veteran linebacker Willie Gay Jr., who might be fighting for a roster spot, had four tackles, all in the first half…rookie linebackers Trey Moore and Kyle Louis each had two tackles through three quarters…cornerback Miles Battle, who had a two-interception day in camp last week, had a third-down PBU (pass break up) in the third quarter.
Newly-acquired offensive lineman Caedan Wallace entered the game at right tackle in the third quarter. Wallace is likely battling for the No, 2 job at tackle and guard…Washington came close to blocking two punts, which will be something special teams coach Chris Tabor watches moving forward.
This story will be updated.
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