Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins and Buccaneers kick off their preseason schedule Saturday night. Here are three things to keep an eye on from Miami.

Deiter played guard as a rookie and NFL sophomore, but when getting the nod at center in 2021, Miami was 5-3 while he snapped. 2020 saw punter Matt Haack hold for Sanders, who was a remarkable 36-of-39 in his field goals attempts and perfect on 36 point-after-tries. Distance is rarely, if ever, a problem, and shanks are few and far between. Premier free agent left tackle Terron Armstead joins the team to lead and anchor a line with five players that Miami has selected in the top three rounds since 2019. The safest starters to assume would be Armstead at left tackle and 2020 second-rounder Robert Hunt at right guard. Williams has performed admirably as a left guard in his four seasons as a Dallas Cowboy. Miami will be using him at center, and through training camp, he’s been solid despite some snapping yips. Simply put, the snap-to-hold-to-kick battery is a fascinating aspect of football that’s often overlooked. While this is his 16th season as a coach in this league, McDaniel is a rookie as head coach and enters 2022 with a Dolphins team on a two-year winning record streak, despite missing the postseason both years. Rookie draft pick Erik Ezukanma and undrafted upstart Braylon Sanders have caused a good problem of an influx of talent in the room. Veterans Preston Williams and Lynn Bowden Jr. have a steep hill to climb with next to zero room for error in a few regards. No need to rehash the rankings, but the 2022 season brings two new veterans and progression from Miami’s draft picks. Veteran Mohamed Sanu being signed this summer didn’t help their cause, as well as the additions of Trent Sherfield and River Cracraft.

It's finally that time that everyone has been waiting for. The first live action that we will see this year from the yet again new-look Miami Dolphins.

Please use this evening's live game thread to follow and discuss tonight's preseason game between your Miami Dolphins and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. As always all site rules apply to the live game threads as they do on any other post on the site. There is still a chance that McDaniel will run Tua out for a series or two but no one expects to see Tom Brady on the field this week if at all during the preseason. Additionally, the coaches will get a chance to see how the players are adapting and absorbing the new schemes, especially on offense as none of us yet know what will or will not change, if at all, scheme-wise on the defensive side of the ball now that Brian Flores is gone.

When the Miami Dolphins run out onto the field tonight it will mark the first game played under new head coach Mike McDaniel and a return to football.

Miami fans are waiting to find out who will be playing and who will be taking the night off. How he utilized time management, player substitutions, and even to some small degree, in-game adjustments. The energy won’t diminish though.

For the first time, fans can see Mike McDaniel's coaching style as Dolphins head coach, against the Buccaneers.

Now, Dolphins fans may begin to see how McDaniel's style will translate to his new team. Tom Brady, however, will not play Saturday – he is taking personal leave until Aug. 20. Will they use Tua?: Mike McDaniel offers outline of how he'll use Tua Tagovailoa in preseason games

Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, wide receiver Tyreek Hill and cornerback Xavien Howard are out, but tight end Mike Gesicki will play in Dolphins' preseason ...

“It’s an extension of practice to a degree,” McDaniel said of his decisions about who to play in preseason games. He and those three linemen, along with Tagovailoa and Waddle, are the most high-profile holdovers from the last regime, still trying to prove themselves to a new coach this preseason. Gesicki, who is playing for $10.9 million on a franchise tag this season, has seen a seemingly diminished role throughout training camp after he finished second on the team with 780 receiving yards last year.

Get all the in-game updates, highlights, stats and analysis for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers week one preseason game vs. the Miami Dolphins.

The Miami Dolphins kick off their 2022 preseason this evening as they visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After two joint sessions with the Buccaneers earlier ...

Or, he could be shunned to the sideline as the Dolphins have shown their hand when it comes to plans for Shaheen as well as a chance to see more from Long. He is a solid, veteran, all-around type of tight end who could reclaim a spot on the roster, or he could be showcased to try to draw more trade interest. The coach might limit the playing time of some of the top unit, but getting more repetitions for players like Jackson could be a huge benefit to the development of a young player. Although the offense will be fairly vanilla given it is only preseason game one, tonight will be McDaniel’s first chance to control the team as a head coach and to call plays for his offense. Miami needs some of their young cornerbacks to step up and, in a game when the starters will be on the sideline, tonight is the perfect opportunity to make an impression. The offensive system McDaniel uses asks for blocking from the tight end and it is not something Gesicki has been asked to do a lot. Who plays when and where will be something to keep an eye on throughout the game. The Dolphins offense seems to be more about putting players in positions to succeed and running different plays from the same formation than it is about trying to surprise the opposing defense with exotic looks and formations. Today’s game will be more about the depth players and what they can prove than it will be about tuning up the team for the regular season. Not only will McDaniel be working as a head coach for the first time, but he will also be calling plays for the first time. More interesting is, this will be McDaniel’s first time as the offensive play caller for a team. Miami head coach Mike McDaniel has not ruled out having the starters play tonight, but he has said he is “encouraged” about the idea of having players like quarterback Tua Tagovailoa skip the game.

Miami Dolphins football is back! And Miami is back in the win column to kickoff the 2022 preseason with a thrilling 26-24 victory over the Tampa Bay ...

Following an impressive juggling interception from third-year defensive back Elijah Campbell, Thompson found wide receiver Lynn Bowden Jr. in the end zone from 22 yards out for the first touchdown of the year. But on his first night as a coach, nerves were nowhere to be found for McDaniel. "The thing is I'm not good at much else besides football.

TAMPA, Fla. -- Opening the preseason at home, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hosted the Miami Dolphins for Week 1 following two days of joint practices earlier in the ...

For more on this and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers check out James Yarcho and David Harrison on the Locked On Bucs Podcast! There was an opportunity near the end of the first half when Miami quarterback Skylar Thompson floated a pass to the right side of the field, but two Bucs defenders were too far off in zone coverage to break on the ball. While Giovani Bernard and Ke'Shawn Vaughn dominated the first half, and did well respectively, but the potential in White was evident there and we want to see more of it. Unfortunately, there was more football to be played, and a bad decision by Trask on the next Buccaneers possession led to an interception. All season long, BucsGameday will bring you a halftime brief on what we've seen from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first half, and what needs to happen in the next, for the team to get their next win. Despite the fact Miami started their first drive of the game on the Tampa Bay 38 yard line, they were unable to find the end zone and instead had to settle for a 33-yard field goal by kicker, Jason Sanders.

Several of the Dolphins' top stars sat out the team's preseason opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday night, but a team led mainly by reserves ...

“But what I was happy about was the whole team stayed locked in for their teammates and they genuinely wanted to win. And after the Dolphins’ sideline watched the kick miss the middle of the goal posts, they burst onto the field in celebration of their preseason-opening victory. The team responded with 20 unanswered points to take a 23-14 lead, assisted by a pair of turnovers. There were times where I felt a little hesitant instead of trusting my read, throwing it, and throwing it to a spot. But I felt I was seeing the field well and had a good understanding of what they were going to do. He finished 20 of 28 with 218 yards and one touchdown, a 22-yard pass to wide receiver Lynn Bowden Jr. in the second quarter.

The Miami Dolphins are 1-0 under Mike McDaniel and all it took was a full 60 minutes of exhibition football and a well-timed, time-out.

It was a drive that saw Tampa pick up a 3rd and 30 in two plays to extend the drive and eventually land in a position to make the game-winning field goal. He pounded the ground in frustration and was helped off the field. Skipping to the end, the Buccaneers drove the field in the final two minutes setting up a 38-yard field goal.

Skylar Thompson and Jason Sanders shined in the Miami Dolphins victory against Tampa Bay in the preseason opener.

He also had a 21-yard scramble in the second half. Bowden added a 29-yard reception early in the third quarter, while Trent Sherfield had the biggest gain on offense for the Dolphins with a 33-yard reception in the second quarter. The Miami Dolphins eked out a 26-24 victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the teams' preseason opener when kicker Jose Borregales missed a 49-yard field goal attempt on the final play, but what happened earlier on that final drive put a damper on the victory.

GOOD Skylar Thompson Many questioned the selection when Skylar Thompson was taken in the 7th round of the 2022 NFL Draft - not because the player wasn't any ...

He would later be carted to the locker-room. Miami has been pretty lucky in that regard this offseason, but on Saturday, that luck changed towards the end of the game. For an offense that is predicated on running the ball well, this will certainly need to be cleaned up as we approach the regular season. All in all, without Miami’s starters, it was a rough night for the pass defense. Ideally they’d place the QB on the practice squad and protect him from being poached for as long as they can, but they risk exposing him to waivers if they attempt that move. He finished the contest with 218 yards passing and a touchdown.

The Miami Dolphins defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 26-24 on Saturday night. Here's what we learned from the contest.

Rookies Erik Ezukanma and Braylon Sanders had flashed in practice sessions, but when it came to the game, it was Bowden that showed up. Williams left the game multiple times because he was shaken up. He commanded the offense well and had some great throws. Then, when Eichenberg, Hunt, Jackson and Deiter left the game, it got even worse. It’s a preseason game, and everybody will say that, but for a seventh-round rookie, Thompson played pretty well in his debut. Rookie quarterback Skylar Thompson was still able to lead Miami’s offense for a full game, and they walked out of Tampa as winners.

Several Dolphins starred on Saturday night and three stood out the most. Skylar Thompson, Lynn Bowden and Jason Sanders lead the way.

Sanders hit all six of his kicking attempts, four field goals and two-point after tries, including a 52 and 53-yarder. At this point, it’s a very popular and widespread theory that the holding was the issue. Sanders was a 2020 All-Pro, and in 2021 something was off. “But he is a rookie, and to his credit, we rely on him as a veteran.” On Saturday, he went 20-for-28 in his passes for a 71.4% completion percentage and 218 yards. However, Bowden shined on Saturday night as both a receiver and dual-threat special team return man.

The Miami Dolphins open their preseason schedule with a 26-24 victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on Saturday night.

BEFORE THE GAME: Because he was a first-round pick two years ago, Noah Igbinoghene always will be in the spotlight as long as he remains with the Dolphins, and he'll be looking to rebound in the preseason opener from a rather rough couple of joint practices. However, replays seemed to show the Dolphins were in a zone on the play and it's tough to tell whether it was Igbinoghene or Brandon Jones (or both) who botched the assignment on the play. BEFORE THE GAME: The preseason always offers a great stage for those rookie free agents hoping to land a roster spot. DURING THE GAME: Igbinoghene has been going through a rough patch lately after a pretty solid start to camp, and he was the closest defender to wide receiver Jaelon Darden on a first-quarter touchdown pass. Thompson has been making his share of big-time throws in practice over the past two weeks and if he continues that kind of work in the preseason games, the Dolphins will have to think long and hard about finding a spot for him on the 53-man roster. Dedmon was used on two kickoff returns, one of which went out of bounds and the other ending with him fumbling (though the Dolphins recovered). This game did nothing to help Dedmon's chances. Shaheen remains in limbo after the failed trade to Houston and his days in Miami clearly are numbered, with another trade or an outright release almost a certainty. The biggest thing to watch when it comes to McDaniel is how basic — or not — the play-calling will be for a preseason opener (both on offense and defense) and perhaps more importantly which players will be in the lineup and which ones will be kept out. For a coaching decision perspective, maybe the only thing that disappointed us was McDaniel opting to punt on a fourth-and-1 in the third quarter (yes, it was from the Dolphins 34, but it would have been a good situational challenge for his offense. Regardless of what kind of production either has in the preseason, the likelihood remains that — barring injuries — neither will make the 53-man roster but it could help facilitate a trade with a WR-needy team. The Dolphins did use three of their projected starters — Robert Hunt, Austin Jackson and Liam Eichenberg — and Hunt and Eichenberg both had negative plays during their brief time in the game. This position has been a focal point of the team for several years now and the hope is that a new scheme and veteran additions Armstead and Connor Williams can help make a big difference.

The Miami Dolphins new head coach has made it clear from the start that the running game is a priority. Last night, you wouldn't think that was the case.

The Dolphins simply didn’t have the intention of putting the running game on the field. And on the other side of the ball, it isn’t like the Bucs lit it up either. That too was a big surprise given the anticipation that the Dolphins were transitioning to a more balanced offense. Miami managed to lose yards for most of the first half and it wasn’t until Myles Gaskin broke a 20-yard run that it appeared to be working. We can also say that whatever new system is being installed on offense, in the running game, apparently hasn’t trickled down into the depths of the offensive roster. We can also say, to be fair to McDaniel, the top two RBs on this roster didn’t play and the team’s top left tackle and center didn’t play either.

It was only the preseason, but Skylar Thompson showed off why the Dolphins are so high on their rookie quarterback with accurate deep balls and clutch ...

In the fourth, Thompson set Sanders up for a game-winning field goal when he stepped up in the pocket and took off for a 21-yard scramble on second-and-9 to move the Dolphins down to Tampa Bay’s 21-yard line. On his very first play, Thompson rolled out to his left and threw on the run to tight end Mike Gesicki for a 13-yard gain and he finished the drive with two more completions to set up kicker Jason Sanders for a field goal. With Bridgewater on a one-year deal, Miami has incentive to keep Thompson around, in case Bridgewater, who has started 63 games in his career, leaves next year. That’s the point of being a coach,” McDaniel said. He linked up with wide receiver Lynn Bowden Jr. for a 22-yard touchdown in the second quarter, and also connected on passes of 33 and 29 yards. Most importantly, he avoided any catastrophic mistakes.

The Dolphins held out 14 projected Week 1 starters for the team's preseason-opening win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday night.

Armstead is a top tackle and the team is hoping Jackson can look like the player they hoped he’d be as a first-round pick. McDaniel praised the progress of the group but acknowledged they might have to reassess their options in light of the recent injuries. However, the rushing offense has looked clunky at times in camp and it was an uninspiring debut on Saturday. The more Thompson shows, the more the question rises whether the Dolphins should keep a spot for him on the 53-man roster. After making 36 of 39 field goals in 2020, the Dolphins struggled in 2021, missing eight of 31 attempts. It’s been a quiet start to camp for Bowden, a talented player who’s failed to stay on the field because of injuries.

Erik Ezukanma – Honestly, I thought we would we see a lot more of the rookie WR and I also believed that with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle out, we would see a ...

On that specific play in the 2nd half, Bowden was left uncovered and was wide open. Yes, his TD pass to Lynn Bowden, Jr. was spot on but he also underthrew him on a deep pass that could have been taken in for a touchdown. In fact, he had some good plays but he wasn’t as impactful as I expected to see him.

The Miami Dolphins defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday night with rookie Skylar Thompson under center for all four quarters.

I took the opportunity to tell him, “Hey dude, you need to get the guys in and out of the huddle.” He was able to adjust that – he did better with that while also taking each play, one play at a time. They were trying to get the play in pretty fast and I don’t know what he was saying exactly in the huddle, but it was just taking a long time to get them lined up. There’s a lot of rookies out there that I think felt more rookie feelings than he did, and he touches the ball every play. “I thought he played well, I thought he played great. He knew what he was doing out there. “I saw he was playing really well.

Last night's matchup between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Miami Dolphins at Raymond James Stadium was certainly no exception. There was plenty of intrigue in ...

You would expect his regular season experience to translate to plenty of success in a preseason game, especially one that saw him play 32% of the snaps, but Grayson was nowhere to be found as a receiver in this game. Unfortunately for Zyon, he wasn't able to make a splash play later in the game to make up for the blunder. Despite rushing the ball 10 times, Vaughn was only able to account for 19 yards on the ground in this contest, for an average of 1.9 yards per carry. A lot will change between now and the start of the regular season. Despite being responsible for one of the Buccaneers' three touchdowns in this game, and catching two passes for 22 yards, KeShawn Vaughn didn't do anything to separate himself from the other running backs on this team that are vying for touches behind Leonard Fournette. In fact, Vaughn was the least impressive of the running backs who suited up for the Bucs in this game. Knowing he would see the majority of snaps under center, this was a great opportunity for the second-year signal caller to show what he was capable of. Although he had a rough stretch to finish the first half, where he had a role in two turnovers in a span of three plays – both of which led to touchdowns for the Dolphins – Trask was very solid overall. Nelson was also active on special teams and nearly recovered a fumble on kickoff coverage, where he was one of the first players down the field. Tyler Johnson will need to maintain this high level of play throughout the preseason if he hopes to make the final roster and have any role in the offense this season. Time to discuss the players who didn't necessarily impress in their 2022 preseason debut. Unfortunately, Jose Borregales wasn't able to capitalize, as he missed a 49-yard FG as time expired, resulting in a narrow loss for the Buccaneers. A play or two later, he produced an impressive sack on Dolphins quarterback, Skyler Thompson, where he was relentless in his pursuit while also using his length to get to the quarterback, and ultimately, secure the sack.

When the Miami Dolphins selected a quarterback in the 7th-round (247th overall) in the 2022 NFL Draft — I understood the why but wasn't entirely sold on the ...

I took the opportunity to tell him, “Hey dude, you need to get the guys in and out of the huddle.” He was able to adjust that – he did better with that while also taking each play, one play at a time. They were trying to get the play in pretty fast and I don’t know what he was saying exactly in the huddle, but it was just taking a long time to get them lined up. There’s a lot of rookies out there that I think felt more rookie feelings than he did, and he touches the ball every play. I took the opportunity to tell him, “Hey dude, you need to get the guys in and out of the huddle.” He was able to adjust that – he did better with that while also taking each play, one play at a time. They were trying to get the play in pretty fast and I don’t know what he was saying exactly in the huddle, but it was just taking a long time to get them lined up. There’s a lot of rookies out there that I think felt more rookie feelings than he did, and he touches the ball every play.

The Miami Dolphins beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 26-24 in Saturday's first preseason game of the year. Both teams used the game to get a closer look at ...

Sanders definitely looked like he is in even-year form, hitting all four field goal attempts, including two over 50 yards. Honestly, I did not think about the safeties at all in the game. If you remember back to last summer, I like Jones and think he has potential as a solid depth defensive tackle. Preston Williams is the bubble player here, and he got work as a punt returner, which may be his only way onto the roster right now. Neither Ingold nor John Lovett played in the game. Change: None. Gaskin had a nice 20-yard run, but that was basically the entire rushing attack on the day (minus a 21-yard scramble from Thompson). Salvon Ahmed would be the threat to crack into this group, but nothing on Saturday makes that move a requirement now. Change: None. I am going to add him to the roster here, but he is definitely still a roster bubble player in my mind. The final roster cuts come the Tuesday after that, August 30, when the limit drops to the in-season 53-man limit. With the first cut day of the summer, when rosters move from the current 90 players down to 85, just a couple of days away, a strong performance yesterday could keep a player around the team a little longer - and potentially move them toward making the 53-man roster at the end of the preseason. The Miami Dolphins beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 26-24 in Saturday’s first preseason game of the year.

The Miami Dolphins got bad news today when they learned that Trill Williams suffered a torn ACL making a tackle during Saturday night's preseason game.

Xavien Howard will see limited time this preseason as well and the Dolphins haven’t seen much to be excited about with Noah Igbinoghene. According to ProFootballReference.com, Williams appeared in one game for the Dolphins last season. Williams had an MRI earlier today and the worst was concluded.

PHINSIDER RADIO | Mike McDaniel's first depth chart, joint practices with the Bucs, and what to watch for as the Miami Dolphins take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Dolphins looking for another corner.— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) August 14, 2022 With the lack of experience behind Miami’s trio of starting cornerbacks, the Dolphins may follow Jackson’s suggestion and pursue a free agent as some additional depth. Williams had two tackles in Saturday’s game and was responsible for one of the team’s three tackles for a loss.

The Miami Dolphins lost cornerback Trill Williams in the fourth quarter of their preseason opener at Tampa Bay.

It’s something that I think hurt the hearts of the whole team, myself included." "He was an example of a player early on that I could tell, in a healthy way, that he wasn’t totally happy with where he was at in terms of depth. You want to talk about an example of a player handling that the right way and transferring that energy to the point where he’s been making plays daily on the ball.

After a 26-24 win in Tampa Bay, the Miami Dolphins experienced a loss to cornerback, Trill Williams that may have them looking to add a new player.

An injury to a starter in this unit may spell disaster for the overall defense. The Dolphins have largely avoided the injury bug in training camp and preseason. Most secondary starters for the Fins did not play.

The Miami Dolphins could use additional depth at cornerback in light of the injury to Trill Williams, but who would represent the best option?

He played in 10 games, made one start and recorded a single pass breakup. Harris spent the 2021 season with the Chargers. He played in 14 games (11 starts), recorded one interception and had six pass breakups. Deayon is a smaller player, so he’d probably have to move into the slot, but Miami needs help there too. Haden is in a similar situation as Harris. He’s also 33 years old and a three-time Pro Bowl selection. His sample size is incredibly small, but the returns are promising. Harris is a four-time Pro Bowl selection and former first-team All-Pro selection, but he’s also 33 years old. D’Angelo Ross was picked on in man coverage from the slot a couple of times. That was veteran Justin Coleman, but he's in Seattle now after signing with the Seahawks as an unrestricted free agent. "I kind of like where he’s at in terms of his play. But McDaniel seemed cool on that idea when he was asked Sunday. I like where he’s at right now at his position. There’s a new side of him that was kind of displayed in the joint practices.

News on the Miami Dolphins' decision on depth in five areas: cornerback, offensive tackle, wide receiver, running back and defensive end/outside linebacker.

I expected to get a C on the math test. ▪ No. 3 and 4 running backs: It was telling that Sony Michel and Salvon Ahmed both had touches on Saturday before 2021 starter Myles Gaskin, who had the best night of the three with four carries for 27 yards. If this is a harbinger of the next two weeks, Bowden could give the Dolphins something to think about. Coleman played 42 of Miami’s 45 offensive snaps on Saturday, allowed a sack and did nothing remarkable in the running game. “Moving a player that’s in a spot where he’s being productive, now you have two spots that are less than than one thing that you can work around,” McDaniel said. And Brennan Scarlett - who has worked at both linebacker and defensive end - has value. ▪ Fourth cornerback: One of the candidates, Williams, was lost for the season with a left knee injury sustained late in Saturday’s game. Now I can work” to get an A. During that ‘20 season with the Texans, Crossen permitted a strong 83.2 passer rating in his coverage area in 28 targets. From a starting point, I would try not to move a starter out of their position to cover up another position.” It hurt the hearts of the whole team.” “He does have versatility where we could go down that road if need be,” McDaniel said.