Fins vs Jags Game Thread

[JEGnj]

Realized this is the prime time game on FOX in the NJ area. This is my first actually footage I've seen of practice or preseason. I don't go into as deep as you guys but my first impression is 2 HORRIBLE lines and a team of average players playing hard to grab a spot on a very bad team full of holes.

[JEGnj]

Rosen looked pretty good to me. Still like to see him watch and learn for a few games but I hope he becomes or franchise QB and we can use some high picks and build a great OL

[JMP]

After a boring first half, the game really picked up in the second. Some thoughts:

Three players made the team tonight:
1. Nate Orchard - this guys finds a way to get to the QB every time he's on the field. Looks like a pass rush specialist to me.
2. Patrick Laird - when he runs north-south, he's an absolute beast. Love this kid...makes big plays constantly.
3. Chris Lammons - outstanding special teams play, and held his own at CB.

Isaiah Ford also looks like he's a keeper...but WR is a bit cloudy with all the injuries.

Josh Rosen looked outstanding on that 99-yard TD drive. Top-notch pocket presence and ability to avoid the rush...very impressive. And his ball placement is about as good as it gets. This guy really could be special if the OL doesn't get him killed. I'm totally on board with letting him sit behind Fitz till after the bye...no need to destroy all his confidence with that BRUTAL opening 4-game stretch. Let him learn and then he'll be ready to go. Hopefully the OL gels by then too...

Speaking of OL...man do we miss Tunsil. The line should improve dramatically when he gets back in, because tackle looks like the weak link. I have been pleasantly surprised by the interior OL, at least in pass pro. Dieter and Calhoun will struggle at times, but both look to have bright futures. Davis has been awful at RT, and Sterup and Mills have been even worse at LT. Prince has shown some good things at RT with the second team, but he needs time. This team desperately needs a legit RT. Something must be done with the run-blocking - it's non-existent right now. Time for Coach Guges to earn his paycheck and figure something out.

Another poor game from Preston Williams. He needs to stop reading his press clippings and get back to work. This WR corps is very underwhelming right now.

I have no idea how TE will play out. O'Leary has been great, but both he and Gesicki offer very little as blockers. Nice catches by both of those guys tonight...both could be target monsters if the WRs don't step up. Smythe is very "meh"...just a JAG at this point. Allen has looked terrible so far, but he'll probably get the benefit of the doubt because of all his experience. The staff seems to like Walford...he's been getting a lot of snaps. 5 guys battling for 3 or 4 spots. I think I might keep 4 and try to stash Smythe on the practice squad.

This defense could be really good if they can find a way to generate a consistent pass rush. The run D was excellent early in the game, and the pass D was solid. There didn't seem to be much blitzing tonight..guess they're saving it for the regular season. But they showed tons of different looks tonight, which is great to see. This defense looks MUCH faster than it did under Matt Burke the past couple of seasons.

Rowe looks like a solid #2 corner and had a real nice INT tonight, and we have some talent at safety. Jerome Baker has looked like a Pro Bowler this preseason and was all over the field making plays tonight...amazing what coaching can do. Eguavoen hits like a truck and is going to be a fan favorite. The DL seems like it's been put together with scotch tape and spit when you look at it on paper...but there is definitely some talent there. Charles Harris looks like a different player and could become the difference-maker he was drafted to be. Carradine, Ledbetter and Orchard are all intriguing, and I'm very excited about Wilkins. Godchaux seems much improved as well.

Overall, I'm pleasantly surprised by what I'm seeing. This is by no means a playoff team, but it looks like it could be a fun season...even if it only adds up to 4 or 5 wins. If the OL ever gets it's act together and the D finds a pass rush, we could actually surprise...but regardless, I like the direction we seem to be headed in. The roster lacks talent for sure, but the Dolphins finally look like a well-run football team again. The coaching seems to be light years ahead of what we saw from Crazy Eyes Gase and his weak-ass staff. I see actual player development happening, which is amazing.

[HalCHorn]

I think Flores is the right coach. Haven't been as impressed by a coach in a long time.

Also think Rosen will be ready by October, and that's the time to play him. Let him keep absorbing the system the first few games.

We have found some players in unexpected places. Yeah, I'm thinking 5-11 is the most likely outcome this year, but I see a bright future. Finally.

[JMP]

I think Flores is the right coach.  Haven't been as impressed by a coach in a long time.  

Completely agree. The last few years, watching Dolphins games has become a chore for me - it hasn't been fun or interesting at all, I haven't felt anything positive about the players and I questioned just why the hell I was wasting my time. But this pre-season, I'm finding my interest renewed, and I'm rooting for players I thought I hated (Baker and Harris, in particular). When Rosen completed the passes to O'Leary, Gesicki and Ford, I jumped off the couch, yelling excitedly and doing my best Sparano fist-pump. Honestly, it's been YEARS since I showed that type of emotion during a game...and this was just preseason! I used to be the loudest, most passionate Dolfan you could find...but Philbin and Gase destroyed that. Now, Coach Flo is waking up the sleeping dragon! I haven't been this excited about the Phins in ages. Yes, this is going to be a rough season in the W-L column - but it's also going to be fun and interesting, and I have HOPE that we are on the right path.

[Degarmo]

I'm very impressed with the defense scheme. They're very vanilla right now, but are showing lots of looks, which is essential nowadays. Rosen looked good against the backups, but he's making the reads and the throws, so, incremental steps.

First string offense looks to be terrible. Offensive line talent is STILL an absolute must. Hopefully it'll improve significantly with Tunsil's return.

Like to see Walton make the team, but I don't think he will. Laird is looking like the guy that will stick. I feel bad for Drake and Ballage behind this line. Wouldn't surprise me if they don't make 1K yards combined rushing unless Guge can perform some magic.

Fitzpatrick looked like Fitzpatrick, and as I said, the first team offense was horrid.

I'm happy about the direction they're going though, and it's hard to tell exactly how they're going to be in the regular season. Since we have a real coach now, he's not showing a lot of stuff in the preseason, and is calling plays specifically to see how certain players perform.

I'm interested to see how Rosen performs in Week 4, since Fitz will probably only play a set of downs or maybe 2.

The funny thing for me is, this year I have the confidence that the coach will keep the right players on the team.

[JMP]

First string offense looks to be terrible.  Offensive line talent is STILL an absolute must.  Hopefully it'll improve significantly with Tunsil's return.

Yeah, it is tough to watch this offense. Tunsil will make a huge difference on the OL, but until proven otherwise the line will be an issue. I am also concerned about the skill positions. WR looks very weak, even if Grant and Parker come back. Wilson has to be considered a HUGE question mark...who knows when or if he'll even play? RB also seems weak, with Drake banged up and Ballage looking pretty average - and the OL clearly can't run block at all. TE seems very mediocre, as evidenced by the fact that O'Leary is head and shoulders our best TE. Gesicki still looks really soft and awkward, but should at least make some plays in the passing game.

I'm hoping the offensive sheme will help hide some of these issues once the season starts. It's a work in progress that should improve as the year goes on...but we'll see. I feel much better about the defense - despite a lack of star power, I love what the coaches have done and we seem to have a lot of overachievers. That defense will be the main attraction this season, in my opinion.

[Degarmo]

You mentioned Gesicki, JMP, and to me he runs awkward, lots of movement, not much momentum. If he could get the back of the train to move with the front of it, he might be more dynamic as a player.

I don't think we'll really know what kind of running backs we have with the current OL either. Guys were getting hit before they even fully secured the ball. At one point the announcer said that Walton hesitated. Yeah, he did, because it was an interior run scheme and all three gaps were completely filled. Bouncing it outside would have been impossible, and it looked like he made three reads in a half a second and decided he was fucked, which, as it turns out, he was. I wouldn't mind going with Walton, Laird, Ballage and Drake. I'd carry four, because RBs are always dinged up, and the two starters don't strike me as durable equipment.

[JMP]

 I wouldn't mind going with Walton, Laird, Ballage and Drake.  I'd carry four, because RBs are always dinged up, and the two starters don't strike me as durable equipment.

Agreed, and I'd keep Cox at FB too. He's made some great blocks this preseason.

[Degarmo]

It'd be nice to have some real fullbacks again.

[JMP]

Speaking of RB, I really liked Gaskin in college and I think he fits this offense very well. But watching in preseason, he doesn't seem to be ready. A year on the practice squad will do him well.

[finskev]

Defense seems to be so much Faster from what I see and the Hitting was nice to see and the Hit by Fitzgerald where he used his Shoulder and not his head was nice to see. Hoping this Defense can carry over in the regular season because we will need it to with the first 4 games on the Schedule being who they are.

[JMP]

Yes, the D looks very fast and it seems like everyone swarms to the ball. Been a long time since we could say those things about a Dolphins defense!

If we added Clowney this D would be totally legit - but even without him I think we're going to surprise a lot of people on D.

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