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Thoughts on Fins/Falcons Game

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by KeyFin, Aug 22, 2021.

  1. KeyFin

    KeyFin Well-Known Member

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    I know a lot of people don't buy much into preseason since there's a lot of moving pieces, but last night both teams played their starters for the first half and it was a pretty good preview of what's to come. And what I saw was a dominant Miami Dolphins football team.

    If you combine both games so far with just the 1's on the field, we've won 31-3. Only, we're not truly starting our 1's because it's Waddle and 2nd string receivers on the field. Waddle is a stud. Hollins looks phenomenal. Even Grant stands out with quick cuts and great hands (so far...). TE's are hauling in big passes left and right as well, because Tua is not the same timid kid we saw in the pocket last season. He's firing bullets out there and really looking confident. Gaskin also had some really solid runs & catches.

    On offense last night, we didn't punt until late in the 4th quarter- that's how much they were clicking as an offensive unit from the starters to the 2s, 3s and 4s. We have depth folks at nearly every position and this team looks poised to make some noise in the AFC East.

    On the defensive side of the ball, there wasn't much opportunity for the Falcons. Balls were getting swatted out of the air and we were generating consistent pressure from "standard rushes". I don't want to say blitzes because that's not what we're really doing as a team- it's Rowe, X, Jones and the secondary playing man and everyone else crashing down on the pocket- every play felt like 5-7 players rushing the QB.

    That's where our turnovers came from last season as well- it's not just guys picking off passes, it's a QB trying to get the ball out fast when their receiver isn't yet "NFL open". Our guys are just closing that gap with the ball in the air and capitalizing on bad passes. It's the rush that's created by having true studs in the secondary that don't need a lot of help, and this is going to be a whole lot of fun to watch again this season. We absolutely, positively need Xavien Howard and Byron Jones on the field- it changes the entire dynamic of that defense and what we're able to do.

    Folks, I'm looking at the schedule this season and only one thing truly scares me- injury. If we have our starting 11 on defense and a good chunk of our starting offense (WR's being optional since everyone is balling out), there's not a single game where I'm thinking we can't match up talent-wise. Our only real weakness is still the offensive line, and I expect that will continue to improve over time.

    The problem teams are going to face against us is those RPO plays where we option for the run and if it's not there, throw the quick slant to Waddle/Grant on a play that basically can't be covered without getting the linebackers involved....which is slowing down the blitzes, letting lanes open up and giving Tua more time. And that's the thing, you just can't give Tua time the way he's throwing and playing with so much confidence.

    Call me crazy, but I believe that we're taking the AFC East this year, and I think we're going to start the season 2-0 against the Pats and Bills. This team is a different beast on offense this season and I think it's going to be a lot of fun all year long.
     
    Last edited: Aug 22, 2021
  2. mlb1399

    mlb1399 Well-Known Member

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    There were definitely some positives although to your point, it’s hard to read too much into them being a preseason game.

    -Tua played a great game
    -Waddle wasn’t seriously injured
    -Eichenberg got some good reps
    -looks like we were running the ball effectively
    -Gaskin flashed in the passing game
     
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  3. pumpdogs

    pumpdogs Well-Known Member

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    I would feel alot better about last night if this was against the falcons starters.We basically beat up their B team.
     
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  4. KeyFin

    KeyFin Well-Known Member

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    Absolutely- they were without several starters and their QB2 went down early- I completely get that. But between Tua's accuracy and the speed we have in our receivers, I'm starting to get a "KC-like" vibe from this offense and their potential this season. Basically, our philosophy is to get fast players in space, get the ball out quick and let them make plays.

    We haven't seen the exciting part yet- that's Parker, Williams, Fuller, Gisecki, etc. in man coverage 20+ yards downfield...those are all names that drew double-teams last season and we're not even talking about them yet. Teams will have to give help to slow Waddle, Grant, Wilson, Gaskin, etc. and chunk yards are going to be there for the taking fairly often.

    If Tua has the year a lot of optimists are expecting him to have, then this offense is going to be just about unstoppable at times.
     
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  5. tirty8

    tirty8 Well-Known Member

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    Here are some of my general thoughts thus far:

    Pros -
    Tua has exceeded all expectations
    Nik Needham continues to be underrated
    Myles Gaskin looks better than I remember
    TEs will be an important part of our game
    This is an odd one, but I legitimately think Mack Hollins is good.
    Pass rush is looking great
    Waddle looks like his is gonna fit in this offense

    Cons
    The line is still suspect
    Austin Jackson looks bad
    Malcolm Brown feels like Jordan Howard 2.0. I think Ahmed is better.


    Where I would be looking during cuts:

    I think we are okay for the moment with Gaskin, and I think we can rely on Ahmed for brief periods of time. If Gaskin missed extended time, I would be concerned. I'd keep my eyes peeled for another RB.

    I'd be a little more aggressive about improving the line. I'd love to send a WR for a T. I would be looking for an older, established veteran. I don't want to give up on Jackson entirely, but in my mind, setting up Tua for success trumps everything. I would certainly start Jackson week 1, but if it becomes apparent that he is a liability and not getting better, I would like a viable plan b.
     
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  6. KeyFin

    KeyFin Well-Known Member

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    Doesn't he? Something just seemed to click for him this off-season...he's doing everything at a higher level. He might develop into a legitimate starter even when everyone's healthy.
     
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  7. pumpdogs

    pumpdogs Well-Known Member

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    According to Dave hyde the falcons sat just about every starter on both sides.
     
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  8. Galant

    Galant Love - Unity - Sacrifice - Eternity

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    Last edited: Aug 22, 2021
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  9. Galant

    Galant Love - Unity - Sacrifice - Eternity

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  10. Galant

    Galant Love - Unity - Sacrifice - Eternity

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  11. Galant

    Galant Love - Unity - Sacrifice - Eternity

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    Here's the scary moment:
     
  12. Galant

    Galant Love - Unity - Sacrifice - Eternity

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  13. Galant

    Galant Love - Unity - Sacrifice - Eternity

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  14. Sceeto

    Sceeto Well-Known Member

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    I think Tua has shown improvement. You can tell he is feeling better with the hip and all. It is encouraging. He has been accurate and his mechanics and ball placement have improved.
    One thing I would like to see from him is the ability to laser it in there at times, sometimes into tight windows with a lot of zip.
    However, so far, so good.

    Man, the AFC East is shaping up to be a very tough division. They all looked pretty good this past week. We'll shall see.
     
    Last edited: Aug 23, 2021
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  15. Finatik

    Finatik Season Ticket Holder Staff Member Club Member

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    You can only play who they put out their. I loved coach Flo’s answer when they asked him if he was going to play starters “We don’t play scared and we don’t coach scared”.
     
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  16. Claymore95

    Claymore95 Working on it... Club Member

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    As Finatik says above, you can only play who they put out there, and we looked good against who the Falcons put out. We were also missing 6 WR's and, as well as the likes of Holland not playing, X/Jones/Baker only played 9 snaps on D.

    Can't get carried away yet ("Hold....hold!") but we'd have been rightly criticised if we'd looked bad against the Falcons backup, so have to enjoy what we did see.
     
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  17. pumpdogs

    pumpdogs Well-Known Member

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    I am just saying let's not get to carried away with the performance I have huge concerns with the offensive line and they played the scrubs This team won't go very far unless this line takes a step forward.
     
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  18. OwesOwn614

    OwesOwn614 Well-Known Member

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    Falcons are in salary cap hell and had to sign a bunch of undrafted rookies and cheap, relatively inexperienced players this offseason just to build a roster. Coach Smith decided he knows who's going to likely be at the top of the depth chart and that it's more important that he gets a good look at his depth. Can't argue with the logic because every Dolphins win on Saturday was a teaching moment for Atlanta's scrubss.

    With that being said, Miami thoroughly outclassed them in many phases of the game and that needs to be appreciated. If you're upset that we looked great against backups, consider two things:

    1. We still haven't seen our retooled WR corps in action and just playing Waddle alongside Parker and Wilson or Fuller is going to change the entire dynamic of how teams play us. I love Mack Hollins but if he makes the team (as he should), he'll be lucky to see 15 plays a game. The Falcons didn't play against our best either.
    2. Performing as expected in a situation like that is great. The alternative is to have a tough time against a clearly developmental team, in which case we're all sulking today about how we should have played better.

    Props to the team. Wish we could go right into the season from here.
     
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  19. Tin Indian

    Tin Indian Rockin' The Bottom End Club Member

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    Tua has liked worlds better, funny what being healthy and a full offseason program can do. I don't think we will see a while lot more zip on his passes because his arm looks pretty much as I remember at Alabama. Not sure what can be done to increase his velocity but it would be nice if there was just a little more, However his accuracy and anticipation will help make up that difference. I don't think we will be talking about him being a problem after the first few games.

    The problem now as we all know is the O line. if anything is going to derail the season thats going to be it.
     
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