The Miami Dolphins hosted the Jacksonville Jaguars at Laborious Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida for week one of many NFL common season, and so they handled followers to a close to heart-stopping victory courtesy of a 52-yard subject objective off of the appropriate foot of kicker Jason Sanders as time expired!
It wasn’t fairly the offensive explosion that some followers anticipated heading into this one — no less than within the first half — however ugly wins rely the identical within the standings as 70-point offensive outputs, and the Dolphins bought themselves a victory to maintain tempo with the New England Patriots, who defeated the Cincinnati Bengals, and the Buffalo Payments, who defeated the Arizona Cardinals, within the AFC East.
The beginning of the season means the return of my longstanding column on The Phinsider — Good, Unhealthy and Ugly — so let’s sit again, loosen up, and reminisce about an thrilling opening day victory!
GOOD
Miami’s protection tightens its bootstraps throughout second half; blanking Jaguars offense
The Miami Dolphins acquired a brand new defensive coordinator this offseason after parting methods with Vic Fangio and hiring former Baltimore Ravens defensive assistant Anthony Weaver.
Throughout the first half of Miami’s week one win, issues weren’t going so nicely for the Dolphins new-look unit. The Jaguars put up 17 first half factors, whereas clearly having their means with Weaver’s group.
Nicely, halftime changes have been clearly made, because the Dolphins allowed zero, zip, zilch, nada, diddly-squat (that one is my favourite) on the scoreboard throughout your complete second half in opposition to Jacksonville.
Mounted it;
Trevor Lawrence first half: 9-of-14 for 125 yards (8.9 YPA) and a landing. 116.7 score.
Trevor Lawrence second half: 3-of-7 for 37 yards (5.3 YPA) and a 59.8 score.
— John Shipley (@_John_Shipley) September 8, 2024
At one level within the third quarter, it appeared just like the Jaguars have been about to go up by 17 factors with a close to landing run by Jaguars working again Travis Etienne, nonetheless Dolphins security Jevon Holland, displaying heroic effort, punched the ball free earlier than the runner crossed the goalline and cornerback Kader Kohou recovered the fumbled ball within the endzone, giving Miami’s offense possession. An 80-yard landing bomb to broad receiver Tyreek Hill narrowed the hole to a few factors only one play later.
BAD
Dolphins beginning guards depart extra to be desired regardless of victory
For what seems like an eternity, Dolphins followers have been involved — or downright terrified — by the crew’s offensive line, particularly, the beginning guards. Throughout their week one victory, Miami began Robert Jones at left guard and Liam Eichenberg at proper guard.
For a lot of the recreation, there have been muddy pockets for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, and nil working lanes inside for working backs Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane. Actually, Tagovailoa was sacked thrice whereas Mostert tallied simply 9 yards on six carries (1.5 yards per carry) and Achane solely mustered 24 yards on 10 carries (2.4 yards per carry). Late within the contest, Jeff Wilson Jr. got here into the sport and the crew did discover some push on the bottom as Wilson carried the ball 5 occasions for 26 yards (5.2 yards per carry).
If the Dolphins need to replicate their dashing success from final 12 months because the season progresses, they’ll want much better performances from Jones and Eichenberg on the beginning guard spots.
UGLY
Three years into Mike McDaniel’s tenure, crew nonetheless burning timeouts attributable to late playcalls
While you’re a rookie head coach and first-time play caller, you’re given some grace on the subject of operational issues like playcalls taking too lengthy to get to the offensive huddle.
While you’re a second-year head coach and second-year play caller, followers anticipate higher, however nonetheless perceive when issues aren’t excellent.
Nicely, when it’s your third 12 months in each roles, endurance runs skinny when these operational issues aren’t corrected.
On Sunday in opposition to the Jaguars, the Dolphins have been nonetheless discovering themselves with lower than 5 seconds on the clock after breaking the huddle and attending to the road of scrimmage. Consequently, Miami burned not one, not two, however three timeouts through the course of the ballgame attributable to late playcalls.
These wasted timeouts didn’t come again to hang-out the Dolphins in week one, however we’d be silly to assume that they gained’t have a unfavorable impact on the membership because the 2024 season rolls alongside. Hopefully, by some means, Mike McDaniel can handle this concern for good someday quickly.
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The Dolphins bought their first victory of the 2024 season on Sunday with a 20-17 defeat of the Jacksonville Jaguars. What do you assume the crew must work on probably the most through the brief week forward of their tilt in opposition to the Buffalo Payments on Thursday? Do you assume they’ll clear some issues up and play a whole recreation in opposition to the reigning AFC East champs? Let me know within the feedback beneath or on Twitter at @MBrave13. Fins up!
