Here we are. The moment we’ve all been waiting for. Well, one of the moments. The fourth and last preseason game is behind us and now comes the time for our Miami Dolphins to choose who they’ll move forward with during the regular season. I always enjoy putting this list together and will confess I did it out of pure joy well before I did podcasts or wrote the occasional article.

​Without further delay, let’s get to the good stuff.

• Ryan Tannehill
• Brock Osweiler

I’m sure many of you clicked off this article the moment you saw Brock. I’ll admit none of the backups to Tannehill give anyone the warm fuzzies. Osweiller has been dreadful in practice but a little better in the preseason. He looked sharp in Thursday night’s game against the Atlanta Falcons going 16 of 25 for 147 yards and 2 touchdowns. But my thoughts go more to the fact he was the one who got the start in the first place last which lends me to believe he already had a leg up and last night did nothing to change Gase’s mind.

If they’re only keeping two quarterbacks it’s much too risky to keep Fales. He has so little experience. Perhaps the backup QB isn’t currently on the roster but Gase has been quoted stating it is.

• Kenyan Drake
• Frank Gore
• Kalen Ballage
• Senorise Perry

This group wasn’t that tough to pick. We know where these guys stand. Drake gets the start and should see the larger share of the carries. Gore is the veteran presence and the change up back. Ballage has done a decent job for a rookie and will get in the mix as the season progresses.  It may be him vs. Gore for some of the goal line stuff.

Perry, is a big contributor on special teams and won’t see much in the way of offensive snaps unless an injury to one of the other three occurs but has shown enough talent to be kept.

• Mike Gesicki
• MarQueis Gray
• A.J. Derby
• Durham Smythe

​This might be the most improved position on the roster. Mike Gesicki has shown the physical ability the Miami Dolphins have lacked at this position for many years. The questions on his blocking ability have not really come into play and even though he’s been announced as the starter the other tightends will get plenty of playing time. Miami now has the talent at the position to run more two tightend sets (12). A formation that Tannehill has seen some of his best numbers out of and should also help our running game. Derby clearly beat out the rest of the gang for the fourth spot in this group.

• DeVante Parker
• Kenny Stills
• Danny Amendola
• Jakeem Grant
• Albert Wilson
• Isaiah Ford

Dolphins fans have been debating this position for three months. The wait is almost over. Five of these guys are obvious. The question has been from the beginning: Will the Miami Dolphins keep six wide receivers and if so who will be that last guy. My prediction is they now have no choice but to keep six.

Injuries to Parker and Grant going into week one makes it an almost impossibility to keep five now, or at least for the time being. Why is Ford the sixth guy? The answer: he’s outplayed the others as well as has been a Gase favorite along the way.

​That’s a powerful combination to make the 53. I did consider Carroo however. He’s been that guy who won’t go away for a while and has a special teams role. But Ford is simply better at wide receiver and has the height to perhaps replace Parker this season. So, my original prediction coming into the season stands. 

• Laremy Tunsil
• Josh Sitton
• Daniel Kilgore
• Jesse Davis
• Ja'Wuan James
• Sam Young
• Ted Larsen
• Isaac Asiata
• Eric Smith

This may be our best starting five in a few seasons but there are still questions with depth and we all know it’s rare not to have to dip into your bench for some starts during the season when it comes to the offensive line. If Ted Larsen can stay healthy (that’s a big if considering he's currently injured), he makes a nice back up guard and perhaps even a better backup center.

Sam Young does a good job filling in at tackle when we need him. Davis can also play tackle if necessary. Asiata is getting one more season to prove he was worth the draft pick. Eric Smith gives us a little more insurance on the line. Brendel might have had a shot here if it wasn’t for the injuries. He’ll likely remain on the team with an injury designation but doesn’t factor into the initial 53.

• Cameron Wake
• Robert Quinn
• Andre Branch
• Charles Harris
• William Hayes

I believe this group could wreak some havoc on opposing offenses this season. Quinn appears to be more suited for our Wide-9 defensive scheme (where he made his name in the first place). Charles Harris showed some flashes last year and now has the opportunity to develop more behind the starters.

Branch is there mostly because it’s too expensive to move on from him but he can contribute in spots. William Hayes is more of a run stuffer which is something this team needs desperately. Oh, did I need to mention Cameron Wake? Guess I should just out of respect. He hasn’t shown a bit of slowing. 

• Davon Godchaux
• Jordan Phillips
• Vincent Taylor
• Akeem Spence
• Kendall Langford

It would seem Miami had plans to move on from Suh even last year, making two selections on this position in the same draft. Although I’m not sure if the starters have been completely sorted out, not sure how much that matters. This is a position that usually sees a heavy rotation of guys.

Kendall Langford was a last minute add and worked himself into the lineup quickly. I’m not sure if Spence is good enough to start or average enough to move on from considering the addition of Langford and the performances from the other guys. But I believe they’ll keep five so he makes it.

I don’t know if anyone stands out in this group, but I don’t believe anyone is a bad player. This unit should perform better than people are thinking.

• Kiko Alonso
• Jerome Baker
• Raekwon McMillan
• Stephone Anthony
• Chase Allen

I’d like to say this group has potential. Maybe. But the problem is they also have potential to be very bad. Kiko still shows he can’t hang with backs coming out of the backfield. McMillan is pretty much a rookie and hasn’t played one snap of regular season football yet.

Same goes for Baker who actually is a rookie but did impress in moments during the preseason. Stephone Anthony is average at best and was easily pushed from his possible starting role by Baker. Chase Allen keeps hanging on. This may be a position the Dolphins use some waiver claims on so I wouldn’t get too attached to anyone but the first three.

• Xavien Howard
• Bobby McCain
• Torry McTyer
• Minkah Fitzpatrick
• Cordrea Tankersley
• Tony Lippett

The Miami Dolphins went into training camp wondering which one of these exciting young guys (Tony Lippett, Jalen Davis, Cordrea Tankersley, Torry McTyer) was going to grab hold of the boundary corner spot opposite Howard. When it was all said and done the Dolphins didn’t feel comfortable giving the spot to any of them.

Instead last year’s starting nickel corner, Bobby McCain, will be moved to the outside and our first-round pick Minkah Fitzpatrick gets the nod at the nickel spot. McTyer likely did enough to make the team. A case could be made for Jalen Davis and if he is cut it a very likely practice squad candidate.

Lippett will last through the initial cuts but Miami will be scouring the waiver wire for cornerbacks as well and I don’t think he makes it to Monday. 

• Reshad Jones
• T.J. McDonald
• Walt Aikens
• Maurice Smith

This group was sure to include Fitzpatrick when heading into the season but his move to the nickel spot means there may be an opening for another guy. Maurice Smith is that guy. He played well during preseason and should be on this team once we cut down to 53.

Walt Aikens is a special teams guru and can back up on safety and even corner when necessary.

Jones and McDonald will be the thumpers in the middle with McDonald coming down in more of run support role if the linebackers struggle.

Even though he’s not listed in this group, Fitzpatrick is still the likely candidate to replace either Jones or McDonald should one of them get injured.

• (LS) John Denney
• (P) Matt Haack
• (K) Jason Sanders

Yes, I know Sanders has already been named the starter before this article was released. But he’s still a lock. It was close between him and Joseph who Gase was quoted as saying is also an NFL kicker, but Sanders gets the nod.

Haack did a much better job this preseason than I thought he was capable of especially after watching that bad performance during the scrimmage.

John Denney, need we say more. He’ll remain our long snapper for yet another season. Maybe forever.
 
There’s plenty to be excited about and plenty of questions to ask. I think we will see an active Miami Dolphins on the waiver wire in the next few days. Perhaps we even grab a released vet or two to fill in some questions at cornerback and linebacker. Will be interesting to see how close I come. 

This story was written by Ron Canniff. Follow him on Twitter: @FinsBroadcaster

The preseason is done, the final spots on the 53 are being decided, and I’m sure (or at least hoping) that the front office is searching the waiver wire for some additions (looking at you cornerbacks).

In other words, this is the perfect time for an annual Record Prediction for your 2018 Miami Dolphins.

​Twitter gave me some positive feedback on my method, so I believe it best to share it in a proper template. Although rooted in statistical analysis, the method is rather straightforward when applied to football.
 
First, you divide the 16-game schedule into brackets of 4 games each. You then go through each bracket, and provide a floor (the worst record you estimate) and a ceiling (the best record you estimate) for each 4-game bracket.

​Once completed for each 4-game stretch, you then add the floors and the ceilings. This then yields your total floor and ceiling. Statistically, this is a safe method that guards against outliers, while still allowing for some wiggle-room in the final prediction.

First Bracket (Game 1 – Game 4)

• vs. TEN
• at NYJ
• vs. OAK
• at NE

 
Floor: 2-2
Ceiling: 3-1
 
Why?

I see New York as an automatic win. I know it’s an away and divisional game, and yet…I do not see Tannehill, Gase and Co. leaving Metlife and the Jets' rookie signal caller with a loss. They win Week 2.

This then leaves you, when looking at the floor, with needing a win against either Tennessee or Oakland (no surprise, New England is my auto-loss here). I believe they win Week 1, and I see it being rather easy. The Titans have a new coach, many moving parts, and we all know what happens to teams than come play down in South Florida in September; it’s not good for them. 

Second Bracket (Game 5 – Game 8)
​

• at. CIN
• vs. CHI
• vs. DET
• at. HOU

 
Floor: 2-2
Ceiling: 3-1
 
Why?
 
I follow a similar pattern to the first bracket, in which I see one automatic win (vs. Chicago), one automatic loss (at Houston) and two games which I see as uncertain; and yes, I know there is nothing certain in the NFL, but this is a predictive piece so just work with me.

​As a result, I split the difference between the two uncertain games, and arrive at the floor/ceiling presented above.

Third Bracket (Game 9 – Game 12)

• vs. NYJ
• at GB
• at IND
• vs. BUF

 
Floor: 2-2
Ceiling: 3-1
 
Why?
 
If you’re seeing a pattern here, then it’s because there is definitely a pattern to be seen. The Dolphins season is rather equally split, up to now, on floor/ceiling.

Again, in this bracket, we see a game which is likely an automatic loss (at Green Bay), even though we all should remember how well a certain QB1 played last time he played the daunting Packers. Nonetheless, that was a long time ago, and the defenses are completely changed.

I see two auto wins here, in New York and Buffalo. Let me be clear, I fully expect both of these teams, especially the Bills, to be awful this year. The true variable here is Indianapolis. Will Luck’s arm hold up? Even if it does, will his supporting cast be enough to get them a win? I’m more confident in this ceiling than any other ceiling throughout the year. 

​Fourth and Last Regular Season Bracket (Game 13 – Game 16)
 
vs. NE
at MIN
vs. JAX
at BUF
 
Floor: 0-4
Ceiling: 2-2
 
Why?
 
Well…here is why hitting those early bracket ceilings will be important. Because the last part of the Dolphins schedule is...

There is no way to know how these four teams will look or be playing like in December. But if they are anything like what they are projected to be, then 0-4 is not out of the question here. Now, I know I said the Bills are awful, and I fully expect them to be.

But by Week 17, they would have likely found an identity, and being that Miami simply doesn’t play well in Buffalo, I cannot sincerely pretend that it is an auto win. As for auto losses, Minnesota looks like the most likely, with Jacksonville and New England being close. The saving grace? Miami gets the Patriots and Jaguars at home…and Bortles will still be the Jacksonville QB, likely.

​Aside from that…ouch. ​

When you add up the final totals, you arrive at the following:
 
Total Floor: 6-10
Total Ceiling: 11-5
 
My Final Prediction: 10-6 and an AFC Wild Card Position
 
 My wins:

• vs. TEN
• at NYJ                        
• vs. OAK
• at CIN
• vs. CHI
• vs. NYJ
• at IND
• vs. BUF
• vs. NE
• vs. JAX

                       
 My losses:
                       

• at NE
• vs. DET
• at HOU
• at GB
• at MIN
• at BUF

As always, thank you for your time and read. If you enjoyed it, please retweet and share. It is my true opinion that we need more intellectual diversity in our Dolphins media material and what makes it out to the Dolphins masses! Part of the reason that I love writing with PhinManiacs!

This story was written by Daniel Martinez. Follow him on Twitter: @all_right_Miami

Kalen Ballage was making up for lost time.

After shining in the first preseason game, the Miami Dolphins rookie running back missed the next two games while dealing with a concussion. He jumped right back into where he left off, totaling 62 yards on seven touches with a rushing touchdown in the Dolphins 34-7 win over the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth preseason game.

“I like this group,” Gase said of his 2018 rookie class as a whole. “I like the way they work. I like the way they handle everything that we do from the start of the day to the end of the day … They’re going to find a way to get things done the right way.”

And Ballage, a 6-foot-2, 238 pound bruiser with speed, is doing things well enough that he’ll be a contributor this season as the third string running back behind Kenyan Drake and Frank Gore.

“Really it’s nothing I even think about,” says Ballage of his performance. “I’ve been playing football since I was nine or ten years old. I see a lane. I see an opportunity. And I just go.”

And go he does. Ballage did have a hiccup early in camp when quarterback Ryan Tannehill threw him out of the huddle, them yelled at him on the sideline during a practice for missing a key blocking assignment. But Tannehill and Ballage have talked about that, and see it as a learning opportunity.

“I think my football knowledge in general has grown a lot,” said Ballage. “Just learning the little details. The ins and outs of the game that I may not have known before. I think that’s allowed me to really grow, physically as well,”

“In my mind, there is always more,” he continued. “I feel like I can do more. There is more that I want to do. So I’m just going to continue to grow. Continue to learn the play book and get better.”

​Head coach Adam Gase is noticing.

“I was excited,” said Gase after the game. “A couple of us were talking on the sideline before the game and tried to gauge where he was at, and he looked very focused. I think you can tell from that first play of the game (where) he could’ve easily stepped out of bounds, he leaned back in and he had good contact there and got going a little bit. That was good to see. I think he came out here with a purpose, and I think he (showed) that.”

Ballage’s teammates noticed too.

“A lot of the guys were proud of me, knowing what I was doing,” Ballage said. “Staying engaged. Making plays... I just want to be somebody that’s trusted with the ball in my hands.”

“My time will come,” Ballage said. “I truly believe that. I feel God is going to put me in a position to make plays. If I get the chance, I want to do the best I can.”

​This story was written by Eldon Jenson. Follow him on Twitter: @EJFootball

Brock Osweiler started the Miami Dolphins fourth preseason game Thursday night, and made a pretty good case for the team to keep him as the primary backup to starter Ryan Tannehill as the team opens the 2018 season next week.

But was it enough?

Osweiler, who completed 16 of 25 passes for 147 yards and two touchdowns as he helped the Dolphins to an early 24-0 lead against the Atlanta Falcons, played the best we’ve seen him in a Dolphins uniform, finally looking like the guy that earned a $72 million contract from the Houston Texans back in 2016.

David Fales completed 13 of 20 for 94 yards and an interception that really shouldn’t be blamed on him, as the receiver failed to hang onto a perfectly thrown ball.

For the preseason, Osweiler has completed 62.1 percent of his passes for 321 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Fales completed 57.4 percent of his passes for 278 yards, with three interceptions against no touchdowns. On the surface it appears to be a no-brainer decision, right?

“I thought (Osweiler) did a good job. He controlled the tempo of the game,” said Adam Gase, who dodged the question. “I thought he was good with his accuracy.”

Gase ceded playcalling duties to offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains for this game, and may want to consider letting Loggains have more input during the regular season, as the offense was sparked by aggressive playcalling through this game.

“They had a good tempo going,” Gase said of the offense under Loggains. “They took advantage of some of the calls versus the coverages they ran. They got some explosive plays. It was good to see.”

Welcome to the third and last—sad face—installment of our 3-part series on who Ryan Tannehill has been, who Ryan Tannehill currently is, and who Ryan Tannehill can still become. Today we take a look at a predictive ceiling and career trajectory of the signal caller in Miami.
 
But first, let’s review what we’ve learned in our first two sections. In our first article, we dissected cohort comparisons to other franchise quarterbacks, age to age appraisals with tier 1 signal callers, while also analyzing his most recent performances. Our conclusion: Ryan Tannehill has been an average to slightly above average quarterback, with well below average pass pro and defense.

In our second article we took a look at some of the questions regarding who QB1 currently is. Specifically, assessing his health, mechanics, knowledge of the system, and recent output. Our conclusion: Ryan Tannehill is currently a healthy, system-mastering quarterback, who is displaying footwork and mechanics that could be considered his career best, all while coming off a season where he was objectively above average.
 
But what about the future? 

In my own field of work, research and predictive analysis is just a daily aspect of life (I can’t tell you how much money I’ve given to SPSS over the years, and if you’re familiar with what that program is…then please know that I feel for you). So being that I deal with analysis every day, it becomes gut wrenchingly angering when I see tweets or posts about “knowing what he (Ryan Tannehill) is.”

Or seeing a talking head on NFL Network—still much better than ESPN—saying how “Tannehill is what he is, no reason to think he will ever take the next step.”
 
See, it’s gut wrenching because it makes absolutely zero objective sense. There’s no analysis in that type of thinking, or film study, or even critical thought. In contrast, those takes are entirely subjective, too linear, lacking—even elementary levels of—nuance, and generally basic. Is that judgmental of me? Sure. But I might as well be saying that 2+2 = 4, because that’s how straightforward that assessment of the detractor’s hot takes are. So why am I so confident that the detractors are wrong when it comes to his ceiling?

Well…because Mr. Math says otherwise.
 
Mr. Math and Ms. Common Sense dictate the following: when you have a myriad of dynamic variables working together (dynamic variables: different units on the football team), you cannot isolate one variable’s significance (one variable: Ryan Tannehill) without controlling for the confounding variables that are present (confounding variables: pass protection, defensive units, coaching, etc.)

For those of us without a history of stats or research, this roughly translates to the following: you objectively cannot judge Ryan Tannehill and his ceiling, when he has not ever been assisted with even average support.

It is a concept that I would imagine fans would understand off the get-go, I don’t believe that you have to attend a Doctoral program to understand the following: there is NO way of assessing a quarterback’s ceiling, when the walls around him have yet to stand upright. (See: that’s a house imagery that I’m giving you there). The detractors keep standing in the house, pointing out the low ceiling or leaks from the rain, without realizing that the ceiling being low has much more to do with the crippling walls than the actual roof.

So when the rain comes down, and the house gets flooded, it’s not necessarily because of a leak in the ceiling, rather because you’re in a house with a ceiling that has no structure beneath it. The ceiling has never been the problem, give Tannehill some upright walls and watch 2014 and 2016 not just become constants, but eventually just another stepping stone from a tier below.

​If you want to know what a player’s ceiling is, then assess their performance when given average to above average support (when the confounding variables are controlled, as Mr. Math would say). For instance, want to know about Derek Carr, then look at his 2016 season when he had an elite—as in a generational type—offensive line in front of him, and a defense with the 2nd most takeaways in the league. 

Do I believe there is ever a hard ceiling on a player? No (so don’t get angry OAK fans), but we all saw what happened to Carr when he suddenly didn’t have the Great Wall of China blocking for him in 2017.

But then how do we assess a player’s ceiling when they have never received that average to above average support (Ryan Tannehill)? Well, you isolate the points in their careers where their support was their best, you combine these ranges across seasons (so no, we can’t just use the 8-game stretch in 2016), and you then control the difference by comparing him to the league average. In brief, you look at what they’ve done when best supported (i.e. in the case of Ryan Tannehill, that’s the 2014 and 2016 seasons). By the way, it’s pathetically sad that those are the best, because in those two years the defense was as follows: (2014: 20th Points Allowed and 12th Yards; 2016: 18th Points Allowed and 29th in Yards) and his Pass Pro was Bottom 3 in time until pressure.
 
So how did Tannehill do during those two years? Here are the cumulative numbers and percentages:
 
2014 and 2016 Ryan Tannehill:
29 Games
653/979  67% Completion
46 Touchdowns
24 Interceptions
7,040 Yards
7.2 Yards/Attempt
93.1 QB Rating
4.70 TD% and 2.50 INT%
 
Let’s be extremely clear here, this is a ceiling in which he was STILL not given even average support. Recall that when not given controlled variables (average support) you then mathematically increase the values by comparing to league average. That means that each of these numbers, shown above, must then be mathematically increased. I’ll say that again, this is a low-balling ­and conservative ceiling for Ryan Tannehill.

Look at the numbers, then look again, and then realize this is MATHEMATICALLY low when controlling for confounding variables. Conclusion: this is why some of us laugh when detractors talk about Ryan Tannehill as a backup, or a bust, or a low ceiling, or anything other than an above average Quarterback.
 
I’ll add one note, this predictive ceiling is with a slightly below average support model. What happens if we use above average support? What happens if this Oline holds up, and the defense does better than 18th or 20th in points allowed?
 
The answer to that is that Tannehill’s career trajectory takes off, much like Matt Ryan’s did. You want to know what a ceiling trajectory can look like for the QB in Miami, well I present you with Matt Ryan’s career. No, they are not the same player, they do not run exact schemes or comparable dynamics…but mathematically, that is Tannehill’s trajectory.

Mathematically, we are entering Ryan Tannehill’s prime, and if the walls remain even adequately upright, a lot of you detractors are about to eat crow, and I’ll be the first one with the receipts.

This story was written by Daniel Martinez. Follow him on Twitter: @all_right_Miami

After struggling to score points in the first three preseason games, the Miami Dolphins suddenly started firing on all cylinders as the backup players put up some good tape for their final audition, defeating the expected playoff-contender Atlanta Falcons 34-7.

​Perhaps the biggest surprise of the night was the performance by quarterback Brock Osweiler, who is in competing with David Fales for the right to be the backup QB to Ryan Tannehill. For all of the preseason and even back during training camp, Osweiler has struggled mightily, making it seem like Fales was the easy favorite to win the job.

Then Fales began to struggle as well, and Osweiler came on strong in this final preseason game, going 16 for 25 for 147 yards and two touchdowns.

Osweiler led the Dolphins to touchdowns on his first two drives of the night; the first one was a 1-yard pass to running back Buddy Howell, then the second touchdown was a run by Kalen Ballage, who played in a game for the first time since suffering a concussion in Week 2 of the preseason against the Carolina Panthers.

Ballage, for his part, also played very well in his return, gaining 25 yards on four carries, and making three catches for a total of 37 yards, again showcasing his dual-threat ability, which is impressive for a player his size (6-foot-2, 237 pounds).

Even more impressive was the fact that Miami was only penalized three times total against the Falcons (as opposed to Atlanta's 10 penalties), which is a major improvement given how many times penalties hindered them in the first three preseason games - particularly with the starting offense.

This is the type of football the Dolphins need to be playing all the time: smart, clean and efficient. It was clear that Miami's toughest opponent throughout the preseason was themselves, defenses struggled to stop the offense until a foolish mistake was made. This time, there were very few foolish mistakes, and the Dolphins scored 34 points, 24 of them in the first quarter with Osweiler.

Even the defense, which has struggled to keep opposing offenses from racking up yards on the ground as well as in the air, managed to put together an impressive performance. Cornerback Torry McTyer, who was initially leading the competition to be the boundary corner opposite Xavien Howard (before Bobby McCain took that role), made an excellent pass breakup which set up an interception by linebacker Stephone Anthony.

Defensive tackle Vincent Taylor continued to dominate, harassing rookie QB Kurt Benkert and making stops against the run, safety Jordan Lucas made an interception, a sack and a tackle for a loss, and pass rusher Cameron Malveaux also had an excellent game, providing pressure and decently setting the edge.

Head coach Adam Gase has a lot of tough decisions to make, there are only so many slots on the practice squad, and the Dolphins are also expected to be active on the waiver wire when the final cuts start. There's no telling who will come out on top after the performances on Thursday.

When your team combines for a total of 343 yards, 26 first downs, and a mere three penalties, it speaks to strong execution across the board. Whoever makes the final 53 may do so only by a hair.

This story was written by Luis Sung. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung ​

Icing on the cake. That is the best way to describe the fourth and final game of the preseason. Although the Miami Dolphins have failed to secure an exhibition victory in three attempts, there were a few positives to take away from Thursday’s 27-10 loss to Baltimore at Hard Rock Stadium.

The first team offense was finally able to cross the endzone. Early in the first quarter, quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who has been accurate with his passes in three football games, connected with offseason acquisition Danny Amendola, on a 16-yard catch and run.

Meanwhile, Kenyan Drake, the former Alabama Crimson Tide, continues to show his mobility from the passing and running game.

“I don’t know. It’s hard for me to look back." he said. "I’m looking forward to the season, so I’m just trying to play every rep 100 percent, make sure I have all of my responsibilities down. It wasn’t perfect just because it’s preseason. You’re trying to iron out the wrinkles, make sure that you get the details down so when the bullets really start flying in the season, you’re ready to go out there and play ball.”

Drake rushed for 32 yards on four carries, to go along with a deep 36-yard reception. Keep in mind, all 32 NFL squads are to be fully set with their 53-man roster by Saturday, September 1 at 4:00.

From a simple perspective, Thursday night’s contest against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium allows players such as Isaiah Ford, David Fales, Brock Osweiler, Rashawn Scott, and others to have a lasting impression, and prove they deserve a roster spot.

Miami opens the 2018 season at home, September 9, versus the Tennessee Titans.

Atlanta, coming off a sluggish 17-6 defeat at the hands of Jacksonville, is in similar water to Miami: unable to secure a win in preseason. However, for coach Dan Quinn and staff, that is not the main goal heading into their opener Thursday night, September 6, against the reigning Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles.

Quinn, along with Adam Gase, is seeking productivity from guys fighting for a job on their particular football team. Quarterback Matt Ryan, running back Devonta Freeman, and wide-receiver Julio Jones are just some of the names to expect on the Opening Day roster. Calvin Ridley, the former Alabama product and Broward County native, currently sits third among the WR depth chart.

Ridley trails Jones and Mohamed Sanu. In 2017, these two opponents squared off in a much different scenario during the preseason and regular season. The Dolphins were led by eye-itching and turnover-prone Jay Cutler, Jarvis Landry, who was dealt to Cleveland, and Ndamukong Suh, who was shipped to the LA Rams.

At the conclusion of the game, Dolphins fans will have a complete understanding of who will be on this football team, and who will become unemployed.  

This story was written by Brandon Liguori. Follow him on Twitter: @BLiguoriSports

With all the consternation among Dolphins fans concerning the terrible play so far in the preseason by the team’s backup quarterbacks, you would think that the team would be looking to sign someone else to come in and compete.

You’d be wrong.

Miami Dolphins head coach Adam Gase put that story to bed this week, when he was asked specifically if he could say with certainty that whoever starts the season as the backup quarterback is on the roster right now.

“Yes.”

Can’t get any more succinct than that.

And from the tone in Gase’s answers, it’s apparent he’s not suffering these questions well. Case in point, when he was asked why he felt David Fales or Brock Osweiler could step in and get the job done if something were to happen to starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill, Gase simply said, “Because I've called games for both of them.”

And as to whether the team will cut one or the other, or be able to keep three quarterbacks on the roster, he was equally unforthcoming with information.

"We'll figure all that out when the time comes,” He said. “We've still got another game. I want to see those guys go out there and execute what we're asking them to do, compete, and then we'll figure that out the next week. I just want to respect the guys that are playing in this game that are fighting for jobs. I don't want to get ahead of myself on that."

But Gase does admit that he’s not looking at the final preseason game as a winner-take-all situation for Osweiler and Fales.

"I don't know if I'm looking at it like that,” he says. “We haven't even really said, 'This is how many we're keeping.' If we keep three, then those two guys keep battling it out for however long we go. If we make a decision and we say we're going to keep two, then does it really matter if it was this game that was winner take all? We're going to look at all the information and we're going to keep talking through this. I just want those guys to focus on what they're trying to do right now, which is get ready for Atlanta and we'll figure all that out next week."

As is always the case in the NFL, things can change quickly. If a viable candidate became available who could come in and execute the offense at a level that made Gase comfortable, you can bet Mike Tannenbaum and Chris Grier would do all they could to get that guy in camp.

But for now, those who are hoping for a new body in camp will just have to take Gase’s word for it; the backup quarterback for the Miami Dolphins is already on the roster, for better or worse.

​This story was written by Eldon Jenson. Follow him on Twitter: @EJFootball

Last March, when the Miami Dolphins traded their 4th round pick (plus a swap of sixth round picks) for defensive end Robert Quinn, they acquired a seven-year veteran with 76 career starts and more than 60 sacks under his belt.

And if the preseason has been any indication, the trade is looking like a very prudent move by the Dolphins, as Quinn is looking like the version of himself from 2013-14 when he made the Pro Bowl twice and was named an All-Pro after the 2013 season when he registered 19 sacks on the year.

The Dolphins were looking for defensive line help at the time, but were somewhat surprised to see a player of Quinn’s caliber become available.

"It was just one of those things where (the Los Angeles Rams) were making some changes with that defensive roster with Robert and (Alec) Ogletree getting traded,” notes head coach Adam Gase. “We were just surprised. It was an opportunity for us, and the good thing was (Executive Vice President of Football Operations) Mike (Tannenbaum) and (General Manager) Chris (Grier) didn't hesitate.

“I know this, I'm really glad that we made that trade. They approached us and Mike and Chris acted quickly and found a way to get it done.”

Quinn didn’t lose any love in leaving the Rams behind, as noted in a previous story, and has noted that being in Miami has been a “breath of fresh air” for him. And he’s been playing like a rejuvenated player, both in practice and on every snap he’s played in the preseason.

When the Miami Dolphins released All-Pro defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh for salary cap reasons, everyone looked at Jordan Phillips and second-year player Davon Godchaux to pick up the slack and make up for the loss of an elite talent.

But as the preseason has worn on, it's becoming clear that those two aren't the only ones capable of making big plays when it counts: Vincent Taylor, who was drafted out of Oklahoma State in the sixth round of the 2017 NFL draft (one round after Godchaux) has also making big plays, even though the amount of chances he's gotten with the starters is fairly small.

"I'm just trying to make a play every chance I get, that's what the coach is looking for." Taylor said after the game on Saturday. "I'm just trying to go out there and have fun, and it's paying off for me."

That's a bit of an understatement, as through his first three preseason games, Taylor has accounted for eight total tackle, 1.5 sacks, a pass batted down at the line of scrimmage, and a blocked field goal that he logged against Baltimore.

A feat that he actually managed to do last year as well.

“I had two last year." Taylor said. "I had one against (Justin) Tucker last year and to go out there and get it again. That’s one of my goals, to block the kick. Every chance to get, I just go out there and make it happen. (Davon) Godchaux gave me a good push so shout-out to him.”

Taylor has had a knack for blocking field goals since his days in college, and to see him continuing that trend at the NFL level speaks highly of his potential and room for growth even as he finds ways to contribute.

Needless to say, the plays he's made have not gone unnoticed by head coach Adam Gase.

“As soon as you put pads on, he seems to show up." Gase said on Monday. "He’s the kind of guy that he’s an old-school football player. He does a great job. When it gets physical, I think he enjoys that. He’s got a knack for getting his hands on kicks. There’s a lot of value in that. To me, that’s a turnover for you, because you’re getting great field position, you’re preventing points. That’s something that can help us.”

If this is only the beginning for Taylor, then there's no telling just how good he can eventually be, especially if he's kept fresh in the rotation along with Akeem Spence, Jordan Phillips, Davon Godchaux and potentially Kendall Langford, who also has done well in run support since his arrival.

With the few chances he's gotten, Taylor has shown that he can be a force. The best part? He's only just now starting to convert his ability into instinct, improving from his rookie year to now.

“I think I improved a lot." Taylor said. "I’m not thinking as much as I was last year. I’m just going out there and playing, not thinking as much.”

Once his disruptive play style becomes instinctual, opposing offensive lines better hope they're prepared.

This story was written by Luis Sung. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung

T.J. McDonald had his fair share of struggles in 2017, even to the point where head coach Adam Gase admitted that the safety situation didn't pan out as well as he had hoped.

But now that he's in his second year in defensive coordinator Matt Burke's scheme, McDonald is coming on strong and is quickly showing himself to be nearly indispensable when defending the run, as he spent a lot of time in the box (near the line of scrimmage) against the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday, making a lot of stops and even making a key play during a goal line stand in the second quarter that limited Baltimore to a field goal.

​"Wherever I'm lined up, I'm gonna make plays," said McDonald. "I definitely am comfortable in the box, comfortable around the action, coming downhill, being in on the play downhill, I'm comfortable with that."

And it certainly showed against the Baltimore Ravens this past Saturday, as during his full half of play time, McDonald made seven tackles, four of them being solo and one of them being for a loss of yards. He also added a pass deflection to his box score during that game.

The 27-year old McDonald was suspended for the first eight weeks of 2017 for violating the league's substance abuse policy, and this led to him being unable to truly participate and get a handle on what he should be doing on the field. But, again, now that he's in his second year and was allowed to fully participate in practices and games, his impact is being felt.

"Just being in the second year in this scheme, understanding what's going on, and just growing with this defense and learning this scheme," McDonald said. "You have to take that next step up and be able to react and take that thinking off and just react and play football the way you know how."

This is where the Miami Dolphins should be taking a good long look at potentially doing what many have been suggesting for the longest time.

Put T.J. McDonald in a hybrid safety/linebacker role and have him play in the box for the majority of his snaps.

McDonald's tenacity and aggressiveness near the line of scrimmage proved itself crucial against the Ravens, and extended play time in that area of the field would greatly shore up a run defense that's been leaky at best and has given up huge runs at worst.

"I think we have to continue to not give up these big explosive runs, it's a big thing for us, we can't give up explosive runs," McDonald said. "We took care of that for the most part, make sure we tackle, swarm as a defense, keep running to the ball ... being on all of our assignments, making sure we're on top of everything. Secondly, just tackling, not missing any tackles."

Tackling has also been an issue in Miami for the longest time, but McDonald has appeared to be one of the exceptions to this issue, always making solid tackles and not letting players sneak past him. This makes him a solid candidate for the hypothetical role that most want to see him in at this point.

It would be a very simple matter to simply have McDonald lined up as a linebacker in the nickel defense, allowing for Reshad Jones and Minkah Fitzpatrick to handle the strong and free safety positions, then Bobby McCain can switch back to the slot corner position, where he is best suited, and then either Cordrea Tankersley or Torry McTyer can take over on the boundary opposite Xavien Howard.

But isn't that why the Dolphins drafted Jerome Baker? Yes, but McDonald is bigger and stronger than Baker, and as previously stated, his value in run support is undeniable at this point.

If Miami wants to shore up the run defense, they should seriously be looking at putting McDonald in a position where he can make more plays than simply putting him and Reshad Jones in the back of the defense when both are better suited as strong safeties.

Rookie DB Minkah Fitzpatrick, however, is very well suited for the free safety position, roaming around the field with range that exceeds both Jones and McDonald in pass coverage, which has been demonstrated in his first three preseason games.

​It's time for defensive coordinator Matt Burke to get creative with his personnel and do what the tape has been showing: T.J. McDonald is a crucial key to the Dolphins' run defense in 2018. He needs to have the hard-hitting playmaker thinking inside ​the box.

This story was written by Luis Sung. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung

The Dolphins curse that was apparently cast by the Ravens years ago continues to plague the franchise as they were defeated 27-10 during their dress rehearsal game. Thankfully, it was the preseason and not the regular season that this happened.

Nevertheless, the loss displayed some very real struggles that have consistently dogged Miami for the past two seasons, not the least of which was the rush defense, which gave up a total of 223 yards on the ground, including a 65-yard touchdown run by rookie De'Lance Turner in the third quarter.

Rookie phenom QB Lamar Jackson, who is still projected to be a backup barring any sudden injury to starter Joe Flacco, also added some running yards of his own, racking up 39 yards on three attempts, one of which was a read-option touchdown run.

But things weren't all bad for Miami, as the starting offense finally scored a touchdown when QB Ryan Tannehill threw a 16-yard pass to wide receiver Danny Amendola, who caught the short pass, maneuvered around the defense and dove into the endzone for the score.

"It was a big play for us," Amendola said after the game. "Tannehill made a good throw, and it was something we needed. It was a good drive."

Miami followed up that drive by gaining 65 yards with just six plays and 45 seconds for another field goal. The big play of the day (besides the touchdown) came on that drive when Tannehill found running back Kenyan Drake going deep down the left sideline for a gain of 36 yards.

And it was a good thing they had that bounce back, because the offense started extremely flat against the Baltimore defense, which was missing key starters in linebackers Terrell Suggs and C.J. Mosley, as well as safety Eric Weddle. Tannehill bobbled two snaps and penalties once again became a problem before they started getting their rhythm going.

The backups, however, continue to be an issue. This fourth preseason game coming up will tell a lot about who deserves to make the 53 and who doesn't, ​because if things don't improve in a hurry, then the depth on the roster projects to be a serious problem when the regular season rolls around.

This story was written by Luis Sung. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung

Welcome back, football fans! Today we continue our 3-part series of what Ryan Tannehill has been, what Ryan Tannehill currently is, and what Ryan Tannehill can still become by looking at QB1 in his current form.

​I’d also like to take a second to thank you all for your overwhelming support in the first part of this series; I have a strong belief that many will enjoy this part even a tad more. But enough with the chit-chat, let’s jump in:

December 11, 2016. That was the date that the Dolphins franchise was set back two full seasons. As Ryan Tannehill was being consoled by his teammates on the sideline, as the Cardinals were roaring back with a comeback, and while many fans recognized that the season was likely over, the realization of what this injury did to the franchise was beginning to sink in all around Hard Rock, Davie, and the entire Dolphins fanbase.

Prior to that injury, Ryan Tannehill and the offense had put up a QB Rating over 100, throwing for 1,723 yards, 13 TDs, and 5 INTs over the last half of the season. But the numbers alone aren’t what placed him at an above average level during that stretch; his quick decision making, his almost perfect mechanics, and his execution within the system was what had knowledgeable fans excited.

Even in the doomed Arizona game, you could see the quickness within the offense. The ball was being placed within inches of the intended target’s catch placement, the communication with the WR unit was nothing short of perfect; Stills adjusting routes mid-play in expectation of where Tannehill was throwing, Landry positioning his body low versus high, anticipating the ball placement perfectly, and other examples of an offense that was clearly not only on the same page, or same paragraph, but on the same word within a sentence.

The chemistry and efficiency in the offense was unquestioned…and then the injury happened.

I’m sorry to those who don’t care to relive this experience, but it’s important to my point...the Miami Dolphins and Ryan Tannehill had finally achieved “it.”

(Let me be honest, I hate the term “it” I really do, but “it” fits in this situation).

The offense that Gase had envisioned was unfolding in front of their eyes, they were getting hot at the right time and steaming to the playoffs; it seemed like the Dolphins had finally gotten over that hill. 

I am here to tell you that we may have not seen the extra hurdle in that hill (these last 2 years of rehab, Moore, and Cutler), but that the hill is finally behind us, and the following reasons are why:

You may still get some nerves when he drops back, or the first time that he scrambles away or even more so, when he takes his first hit; that’s just normal as a fan. But read these following words carefully, a knee surgery in 2018 is not equivalent to what we have known about knee surgeries in the past.

This is not a death sentence, or even a “have to watch him closely” verdict. It is simply not. A knee surgery in 2018 yields a knee that is on-par in terms of strength as pre-tear (i.e. go look up the careers of Rivers, Palmer, Brady, and many others who have had successful and healthy careers post-surgery).
 
At this moment, at whatever time you are reading this, I can guarantee you that Tannehill’s knee is medically stronger than it was a year ago, and likely just as strong as it was prior to his initial tear. Luis Sung wrote a great piece on this very topic, and if you want to read more of it from knee specialists themselves, please make sure to click HERE.

​As for me, I am telling you he is healthy and going to remain so for a very different reason, and it has nothing to do with medicine or biology; it has everything to do with mechanics and footwork. 

I am not in Davie, I do not have his MRI or CT results, but I do have eyes that allow me to analyze and compare his footwork and throwing mechanics pre-surgery and post-surgery.

And boy oh boy do I have some news for you…somehow, whether through studying or extensive rehab or simply building confidence in himself and his team…his footwork and throwing mechanics appear improved from 2016. They’re crisper, cleaner, and surprisingly compact for someone coming off a major knee surgery.

(Yes, I'm aware of Peyton Manning, but he's out of the league so that's moot).

First it was Philbin with Sherman and Taylor (2012), then it was Philbin with Lazor and Taylor (2014), then it was Philbin with Taylor (2015), and then finally it was just Adam Gase (2016). What an amazingly awful way to bring up a rookie quarterback that we all knew needed significant development coming out of college.

I mean…wow.

Nonetheless, I digress. In 2018, Tannehill—for the first time ever in his entire football life, even pre-NFL—will be walking out onto the field in his third consecutive year under the same system, scheme, and coach. Think about that for a second and then marvel at some of the production he’s still been able to produce.
 
Now why is this important? Two reasons. The first being that a level of consistency is what leads to success, ask any football coach and they’ll tell you that change is overrated; what you need is something successful and something consistent.

Well, for the first time, Ryan Tannehill will have something consistent. And just in case we’ve forgotten (as many fans tend to do), it was very successful last time it was utilized with a quality starting quarterback (2016 and Ryan Tannehill).
 
Yes, there are questions about new moving parts on the offense, and whether the departure of Landry will make a significant difference, but the point remains…no one outside of Gase knows his system better than Tannehill, and when you have a QB1 who can control the field and is allowed to (unlike Philbin, Sherman, Lazor and “go go go”) it allows you to succeed. Something that has already occurred once with this tandem of Gase and Tannehill, and will occur again.

I’ll make one last point, we are limited in what we can take away from preseason stats and success. With that being said, the following are his cumulative production numbers for this year’s preseason, with the assumption that he will not be partaking in Game 4:
 
29/39
74% Completion Percentage
247 Yards
8.5 Yards per Completion
6.3 Yards per Attempt
98.9 Quarterback Rating
1 Touchdown
0 Interception
 
= He’s ready.
 
In sum, Ryan Tannehill is currently a healthy, system-mastering quarterback, who is displaying footwork and mechanics that could be considered his best ever, all while coming off his last active season where he was objectively above average. That’s the formula for a fun and exciting 2018 campaign in South Florida.
 
Be on the lookout for the last of this 3-part series, where we look at Ryan Tannehill’s ceiling and career trajectory.

This story was written by Daniel Martinez. Follow him on Twitter: @all_right_Miami

As the list of the Miami Dolphins inactives comes out, one name in particular stands out above the rest, but because of his name's absence, rather than his name's presence.

Veteran running back Frank Gore, who has been left out of the first two preseason games - presumably for precautionary reasons - will be active and available to play for this third week against the Baltimore Ravens.

It makes sense for head coach Adam Gase to be cautious with the 35-year old running back, saving him for when it really counts would be prudent. However, Gase is aware of Gore's desire to play, and there's a chance the future Hall of Famer might get on the field at last.

“I never said I wasn’t (playing him)." Gase said on Thursday. "I just know he’s played a lot of football. He’s a running back. I don’t know. I’ve seen a lot of veteran running backs go through the entire preseason not playing and go Week 1 and they’re fine. I know Frank wants to get out there and get hit a couple of times and probably get in the stadium and kind of get that first time over with.”

The players who are inactive for Saturday's dress rehearsal are:

• WR DeVante Parker
• QB Bryce Petty
• S Trae Elston
• RB Kalen Ballage
• LB Mike Hull
• OL Jake Brendel
• WR Leonte Carroo
• DE William Hayes

The most notable of these is Parker, who is currently nursing a broken finger after having a pass in the endzone in practice broken by up and coming cornerback Xavien Howard. Parker's durability has been an issue since he was drafted back in 2015, and his effort level has been called into question in recent seasons.

While it's unlikely Parker is any danger of not making the roster, him being absent for the dress rehearsal does give the likes of Albert Wilson a lot more spotlight time to showcase what he can do.

QB Bryce Petty was recently sidelined with an oblique injury, and led the last units to a touchdown in both of his appearances. While Brock Osweiler and David Fales continue to battle it out for the backup job, it would have been nice to get a chance to see what Petty can do with perhaps the second-stringers.

Safety Trae Elston, who was claimed off of waivers from the Bills late last season, has been sidelined with a shoulder injury.

Rookie running back Kalen Ballage is still out with a concussion.

Linebacker Mike Hull is out with a knee injury.

Jake Brendel's calf has been a problem since the first day of training camp, and his missing the third preseason game and still unable to practice does not bode well for his chances at this point.

​Wide receiver Leonte Carroo has an injury to his groin, and with him fighting for a spot on the roster, his chances are growing increasingly slim as he is no longer practice squad eligible. At this point, it's likely Carroo will be suiting up for another team when the regular season rolls around.

Last but not least, veteran DE William Hayes is out with a hamstring injury, though he has been doing rehab work in recent practices.

"He’s wearing me out right now about playing this week, but we’ll be smart with that." Gase said on Thursday. "That was a pretty severe hamstring (injury) he had. That was one of the longer ones that I’ve been around.”

This story was written by Luis Sung. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung

​On this episode of PhinManiacs Live, the panel discusses everything that's happened in training camp and the first two preseason games as they prepare for Saturday - August 25 - and the "dress rehearsal" game versus the Baltimore Ravens.

Then, thoughts will be shared on what is to be expected in that game, and what they hope to see once the regular season begins. All this and more on this week's episode of PhinManiacs Live.

If you'd like to interact with us during the show, you can chat with us live through the YouTube chat, tweet us at using the hashtag #PhinManiacsLive, or - if you prefer to be more hands on - you can call in and talk with us on-air using the number: 954-376-5704.

The third preseason game is typically known as the “dress rehearsal for the regular season.” 90 players are currently roster members of the Miami Dolphins. However, as the Dolphins draw closer to the end of their exhibition schedule, that number will ultimately begin to dwindle.

​As the winless Dolphins prepare to battle hometown quarterback Lamar Jackson and the undefeated Baltimore Ravens Saturday night at Hard Rock Stadium, take a sneak peek at five key Dolphins to watch throughout the football game:

​Tannehill, versus Tampa Bay and at Carolina, has been efficient. Although Tannehill has not thrown a touchdown pass in two preseason games, he is getting extra playing time, mixed along with protection from the offensive line.

​Expect Tannehill to find Jakeem Grant, Danny Amendola, and Albert Wilson for positive yardage gains, and over a half's worth of snaps under center.

​Gore, the Miami native, has been inactive in the Dolphins first two exhibition matches. With Coach Adam Gase choosing to rest the future Hall of Famer.

​Gore has pleaded to suit up Saturday night. Expect Gore to make his Dolphins debut, and get some touches early on.

​Stills, the former Oklahoma Sooner, sustained a leg injury in the preseason opener August 9 versus Tampa Bay. The injury kept Stills out of practice the past week and a half, before returning Tuesday morning.

​Stills must stay healthy on a consistent basis. Keep an eye out for specific routes Stills runs, making sure the leg is not a major issue.

​Alonso, who had a strong 2016 season, struggled heavily last year. The linebacker position has been a major question for Miami over the past couple seasons.

​Versus a feisty Baltimore Ravens squad, it will be interesting to see how Alonso, Raekwon McMillan, and draft prospect Jerome Baker perform.

​Fales is expected to take most of the second-half snaps Saturday night. Fales completed one pass for six yards in Friday’s loss to Carolina.

​This moment will be absolutely significant for Fales, hoping to prove Adam Gase and the coaching staff he is Miami’s understudy to Ryan Tannehill. If not, the job will come down to journeymen Brock Osweiler or former Jets quarterback Bryce Petty.   

During a recent practice, reporters noted that Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill spent an entire throwing session working exclusively with rookie tight end Mike Gesicki.

And for good reason, as the 6-foot-6, 252 pound Gesicki, with a 41.5 inch vertical leap and 4.5 second-speed in the 40-yard-dash has abilities not seen in South Florida since a pretty good basketball-player-turned-football-player named Jimmy Graham was roaming the University of Miami campus about 10 years ago.

Overhyped? Maybe. Rookie tight ends tend to start their careers notoriously slow in the NFL, so expectations need to be tempered somewhat as the Dolphins head into the 2018 season. But watching the athleticism of Gesicki, it’s hard not to get excited about the possibilities to come.

Head coach Adam Gase sees the matchup problems that Gesicki presents when the offense is operating in the red zone.

"I think it makes teams really decide what they want to do,” says Gase of utilizing Gesicki. “Do they want to man it up and see if he's as good as sometimes we've talked about? Do they want to play zone and give us a chance to run the ball and try to stop the run with a light box? Are they going to do something different where maybe they just max pressure us and try to get the ball out quick? I think it just helps us … it can open up other guys; it can open the running game up; it just gives us options."

Buried in those comments is the fact that Gesicki won’t always be the focus in the red zone, but what he can do, what he’s capable of doing, will make the defense have to think about him, and know where he is on the field, which opens up mismatches in other areas of the field.

And Gesicki understands that while Gase has said the catches are going to come for him, there are many other assignments with his position. And he’s putting in the time to learn those as well as he can.

“I'm not concerned about that at all,” Gesicki says about catching a lot of passes. “We're sitting here going into preseason (game) three. I'm out there running my routes, trying to win, blocking when I'm asked to, pass protecting when I'm asked to. I know that the catches are going to come. I think that Coach Gase has done a great job in this offense of getting guys the ball, getting guys in space being able to make plays and creating mismatches. In terms of making the plays in these games right now, it's not really what I'm concerned about. I'm just concerned about knowing my job, knowing my role, my assignment, and going out and executing."

Gase has noticed the work that Tannehill and Gesicki have been putting in to create chemistry and trust on the field. And he encourages that, in hopes it carries over to game situations.

"Any time that we can give him opportunities just in practice, for those guys to hook up when it's legit competition, that's only going to make us better,” says Gase. “We can throw as many routes on air as possible and the timing looks good, but when you get in that competitive period, that's where you want to see it. You want to see the ball go up, the trust to be there, and it be put in the right spot.”

​And the coaches aren’t the only ones noticing similarities with Gesicki and a certain All-Pro tight end.

Wide receiver Kenny Stills says, “I talked to Mike a lot about my time in New Orleans playing with a guy like Jimmy Graham, and just seeing when Jimmy had success, how it opened up the field for the rest of the guys. Obviously, they're two different type of players, two different guys, but Gesicki can go up and get the ball. We know that if … he can start to have success, it's going to open the field for the rest of us. I'm proud to see the way he's progressed in his blocking and his route-running. I definitely think he can help us this year."

In spite of all the accolades, Gesicki has a maturity beyond his years, and knows that nothing comes easy in the NFL, and he has the determination and work ethic to put in the time and learn all the nuances of his position.

“It's going to be an everyday process,” he says. “Whether it's running routes or whether it's making plays in the pass game, whether it's pass protecting, run blocking, whatever it is, it's not going to happen overnight. I'm just going to keep coming in here and growing, developing, getting better in this scheme and doing everything I can to help this offense."

As for the extra time spent with Tannehill, Gesicki adds, “That was good. It was really productive. Just being able to get those extra reps, and being able to just go out there and get that chemistry, that's something that's really productive, and I think it will pay huge dividends in the future.

"You're not coming out here every day just to be a backup or anything like that; but at the same time, you have to come out here with the right mindset, right attitude, and just put your best foot forward and then let everything else fall where it may."

​This story was written by Eldon Jenson. Follow him on Twitter:@EJFootball

There’s football talk, and then there’s quarterback talk. For whatever the reason, these two dialogues never seem to come across as equivalent. There’s something interesting that occurs, where somehow all the rationale and objectivity that found a voice when talking football, mysteriously escapes fanbases when discussing the man that lines up behind center. Unfortunately, the Miami fanbase is no different; because if there is one thing I know, it’s that there’s Miami Dolphins talk, and then there’s Ryan Tannehill talk.
 
Today, I am interested in discussing the latter (Ryan Tannehill), and how many fanbases—including those of you with Dolphins gear in your own homes—greatly misperceive who Ryan Tannehill has been, who Ryan Tannehill currently is, and who Ryan Tannehill can still become.
 
The dialogue I am attempting to generate answers those three fragments as follows:
 
Tannehill has been an average to slightly above average quarterback for most of his career, he currently is an above average quarterback with fair but tough questions heading into 2018, and he can be a top 10 quarterback who leads the Dolphins to accolades that Miami hasn’t experienced in decades.

But here’s what makes this article different than just another pro/anti-Tannehill write up: unlike many national media members who create this type of dialogue for the clicks, I choose to follow up my three answers with proof and objective rationale for my claims rather than just providing conjecture. In today’s edition, we begin with what Ryan Tannehill has been.

Robert Quinn has never considered himself to be a west coast guy, and that’s just fine with the Miami Dolphins.

When the Dolphins traded for the defensive end last April, Quinn didn’t mince words, saying he felt like the Los Angeles Rams turned their back on him, and that coming to Miami was a breath of fresh air after “suffocating” in Los Angeles. And while he was deemed an ill fit in Wade Phillips scheme, he’s looking to thrive with the Dolphins.

Quinn suffered a rash of injuries after a phenomenal 2013 season in which he racked up 19 sacks in his first of two Pro Bowl seasons, but he approaches 2018 expecting to return to that dominance.

“That's kind of my mindset, to break records and do something extreme,” he says. “Hopefully yes, I can get back to those good numbers, but at the end of it, as long as this team is winning, they don't matter. The numbers don't matter as long as the wins show up.

"My motto since I got here is just trying to do my job, add my piece to the puzzle, trying to get back and just be a productive player to help this team win. Just do my part, do my one eleventh, and hopefully that's good enough. And of course the guys around me, I know they'll step up and make plays ... I'm just preparing myself for the season."

One of the bright spots in the Miami Dolphins defense so far this year has been the play of third-year cornerback Xavien Howard, who snagged his fifth interception in the past seven games (including preseason) last week against the Carolina Panthers.

Howard has been a solid contributor in his first two seasons, with 88 tackles, four interceptions, and one sack. Defensive backs tend to take three years to settle into a comfort zone in the NFL, and it’s looking like Howard is coming along ahead of the curve in that regard. He’s been a notoriously hard worker in practice, and wants to earn the respect of his teammates and coaches.

When the Dolphins posted a picture of him on their media site, Howard responded on Instagram with the caption, “Make ‘em believe.”

​"I'm just taking advantage of an opportunity that coach gives us,” says Howard. “And just being in the right position at the right time; really just going out there and balling and being comfortable."

Howard credits a great playcall from defensive coordinator Matt Burke for him being in position to pick off Panthers quarterback Cam Newton in the second preseason game last week.

"It was just a great call from the defensive coordinator. I just took advantage of the opportunity that I had. I was in the flats in a little bit of a soft squat. Really, it was just reading the quarterback and looking for somebody to come across. I didn't know he was going to throw the ball exactly right to me, but I just took advantage of it."

Howard was tackled short of the endzone on his interception, and has had to endure some ribbing from his teammates for that. "Yes, everybody has been getting on me about the pick-six. Next time when I get the ball in my hands, I'm going to make something happen with it."

And while Howard is turning heads in practices and games, his aggressive playing style does cost him every now and again, as he picked up a pass interference penalty in the same game last week.

"I've been physical at the line,” said Howard. “I saw it on film. At first I thought it wasn't the right call but when I looked on film and looked back at it, I jumped a little bit early before the ball came. It was close. I respect the call."

But don’t expect that to alter Howard’s aggressiveness.

"He's done really well in camp,” says head coach Adam Gase. “In practice I just want him to keep playing aggressive. You're going to get manhandled occasionally. I love his confidence right now. He really takes it personal if somebody throws it on his side. The more we can get him exuding that confidence on other guys, that's really what we're looking for."  

Howard gets the same message from his defensive coaches as well.

"We really just want to have tight coverage. It doesn't matter if the ball is away from you. Every time I'm on the field, be close and tight, and really just play."

Howard’s play rubs off on his teammates, which is exactly how the Dolphins would like thing to be. Whether it’s a practice, a scrimmage, or a game, Howard only knows one way to play.

"I treat every game exactly the same,” he says. “It doesn't matter which game, preseason or a little scrimmage we're having. It doesn't matter. I've got to take advantage of it when I'm on the field."

This story was written by Eldon Jenson. Follow him on Twitter: @EJFootball

When former Dolphins running back Jay Ajayi came onto the scene in 2016, fans were no doubt convinced that they'd seen the greatest running game in Miami since the prime days of Ricky Williams. His power running style and never-say-die effort with the ball in his hands turned him into one of the top running backs in the league.

And then he was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles halfway through the 2017 season, presumably for his dissatisfaction with how head coach Adam Gase used him.

But rather than falling off a cliff due to the absence of Ajayi, the running game showed signs of potentially reaching an entirely new level with Kenyan Drake finally getting the chance to show what made him a star at Alabama. Drake was fast, he was versatile, and his pass-blocking has steadily improved, making him very well-rounded as well as a dangerous weapon.

But it's the weapon part that has people excited over what Drake can do, and he continued showing his speed and elusiveness in the second preseason game against the Carolina Panthers this past week, taking a handoff in the backfield and dodging a defender before cutting the opposite direction and running for 34 yards instead of losing 5 yards, a play that had even his quarterback thrown for a loop.

"I didn’t even realize he had spun out of it because I had finished my fake, turned around and he’s running off to the other side." Tannehill said on Tuesday. "But after watching it on tape, he should have been tackled for a 3-yard loss and somehow gets out of it and it ends up being a 30-something-yard gain. I think that’s the kind of playmaking he brings to the table. Any play can be a home run.”

In that regard, Drake is very similar to Ajayi; what he lacks in overall power, he makes up with his speed and agility. He also had some maturity concerns leading up to the season, also similar to Ajayi.

The key difference? Drake has seemingly found a way to overcome himself, while his counterpart in Philadelphia still seems to be struggling in that regard.

“Kenyan has grown up a lot." said Ryan Tannehill. "He’s matured and kind of became a pro. I think he’s had a couple of older guys to learn from. He’s doing a great job of being in the right spot on the field and working hard every single day. He’s a talented guy. He’s had that since he got here but I think he’s added all of the off-field stuff and just a complete understanding, and he’s really taken it to the next level.”

Of course, the presence of veteran running back Frank Gore on the team should not be understated; he's a pro's pro, a future Hall of Famer, and even at age 35, he's running as hard as he ever has, practicing like a player ten years younger than he actually is.

That dedication to his craft has had a very positive effect on the young speedster out of Alabama.

​“Frank is one of those guys, you just watch what he does. That’s what makes him different." said head coach Adam Gase. "He’s not afraid to say something if he needs to. Kenyan has done a good job of just watching what he does. Frank is such a pro. Just watch him get ready for practice. He’s always out there early. He’s always doing something. It’s hard to keep him off the field in practice."

Gore's effectiveness is sure to be a good change of pace throughout the season, but it's still Drake who is expected to get the majority of the carries for the Miami Dolphins, and already throughout the preseason, Drake has managed to run for 70 yards on just 11 total carries, averaging an impressive 6.4 yards a carry.

And what does Drake envision for himself and the offense in 2018 given all of these factors?

“With the success of our offense and how explosive we are in general, the sky is the limit for myself and a lot of other players that come out here and try to do their best in this offense." Drake said. "Big plays are something … Big explosive plays are something that we pride ourselves on.

​"Obviously you got to take what the defense gives you, but in those situations where you make big plays, you have receivers blocking down the field, running backs blocking down the field, o-linemen chasing down the field helping get those big plays. Not one person can do it on their own. Collectively as a group, we strive to have that excellence."

The team has struggled to maintain that excellence throughout the preseason, with penalties and lapses of focus causing the offense to stall just when they really get going; this was showcased on pretty much every drive the starting offense had against the Panthers. So as Week 3 of the preseason approaches, Drake is hoping the Miami offense can finally end their drive with an exclamation point of a touchdown rather than a period of a field goal.

“Well you know, (for) anybody in the league, it’s a dress rehearsal for the third game." Drake said. "So we want to go out there and execute the plays that (Head) Coach (Adam) Gase calls and make sure in the situations that we need to be very productive, which is third downs and in the red zone, that we need to try to pick up a little bit of that slack.

"We (want to) kind of use this game as a dress rehearsal to go into the season and have that type of success that we need to, to get in the end zone. There’s nothing that we need to do out of the ordinary, we just need to execute more and not shoot ourselves in the foot.”

This story was written by Luis Sung. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung

1,696 professional football players each have their own story. For Kenyan Drake, his dream was officially complete in 2016, when the Miami Dolphins drafted him in the third round.

Drake attended Hillgrove High School, located in Powder Springs, Georgia. Drake played his high school football at Hillgrove. Senior year was a memorable experience on the field for Drake. Rushing for 1,610 yards with 18 touchdowns, Drake secured the Gatorade Football Player of the Year, for the state of Georgia.

At the completion of his high school career, Drake decided to extend his football education, at the University of Alabama, in Tuscaloosa. Drake’s mentor while on Alabama’s squad from 2012-2015? A very familiar face in Coach Nick Saban. Throughout Drake’s tenure with an elite program such as the Crimson Tide, there was a lot of success.

In 2012, Drake’s true freshman campaign, he was a backup to Eddie Lacy, who is currently an NFL free agent, and T.J. Yeldon, a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars. At the end of the season, Drake finished with five rushing touchdowns. Alabama captured their 15th National Championship in the same season, defeating Notre Dame in blowout fashion, 42-14.

Drake’s junior season was hard to fully swallow. Appearing in only five games due to a broken leg, Drake had to watch his teammates consistently from the sidelines. Senior season, on the other hand, wound up to be one to remember. 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship. Alabama Vs. Clemson. Ahead 31-27 midway through quarter four, Drake returned a kickoff 95-yards for a touchdown, punctuating Alabama’s 16th National Title.

The Crimson Tide defeated the Tigers, 45-40 in that game. As Drake’s career in Tuscaloosa came to a memorable close, Coach Nick Saban had high words to speak of Drake’s football mentality.

​"Kenyan Drake is a unique style player," Saban said. "He's kind of a specialty guy who is a great receiver, especially as a mismatch guy out of the backfield, but he can also go out and run routes like a receiver. And he does have some potential as a running back, which is his natural position, especially on any kind of space plays. This is a guy that some people are going to covet, especially in style of play that you have right now.

"Bill Belichick and I were talking last night about 60-65 percent passing in the NFL right now. Well, that's certainly a guy you could feature in an offense like that."

The Miami Dolphins listened to Saban’s words, selecting Drake with pick #73 in the third round. Drake made his NFL debut in the Fall of 2016, as the Dolphins traveled to face the Seattle Seahawks. Drake secured his first professional rushing touchdown against New England the week after.

On November 6, a home game versus the New York Jets, Drake had a 96-yard kickoff return for a score, his second return TD in his football career. The Miami Dolphins clinched their second postseason berth in franchise history, falling to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild-Card round, 30-12.

The following season, Coach Adam Gase made a shocking move in October, shipping rising superstar RB Jay Ajayi to the Philadelphia Eagles. This move meant Drake moved one spot up the official depth chart, understudying Damian Williams, who was signed to a contract this past offseason by the Kansas City Chiefs. In week twelve versus Tampa Bay, Williams sustained an injury mid-game, allowing Drake to become the starting back.

From weeks 12-17, Drake made his presence well known, rushing for 644 yards and three touchdowns, in six starts. A key characteristic Coach Adam Gase talked about with Drake was improving his maturity, which was a key issue. In Miami’s 22-16 season-finale lost to Buffalo in 2017, Drake was ejected for tossing a Bills player’s helmet mid-field during a scuffle.

Miami signed future Hall of Fame running back Frank Gore to a 1-year deal this past offseason, hoping Gore can become a positive mentor to Drake, and the duo can establish a strong running game, something the Dolphins have not accomplished since the Ronnie Brown-Ricky Williams days.

“Occasionally I want to possibly hurt Drake every once in a while,” said Gase, “but he’s my guy. He does so many good things, but he always does one thing, whether it be on or off the field, that will test me.
 
“I kinda like it."

Now, Drake is continuing where he left off at the end of 2017, and seems primed to make a huge leap, similarly to how Jay Ajayi burst onto the scene in 2016. Only this time, the ceiling appears to be much, much higher.

This story was written by Brandon Liguori. Follow him on Twitter: @BLiguoriSports

Ryan Tannehill looked very sharp in just short of 2 quarters worth of work. He was 14 of 17 for 100 yards as he dropped back, read the field and delivered the ball reasonably accurately to the open receiver.

He showed no ill effects coming off of a torn ACL in 2017 and his passer rating for the night was a solid 91.2. Tannehill wasn't asked to do much in that the Dolphins stuck to the short passing game. But there were virtually no negatives when looking at what he did and his performance was encouraging.

​Robert Quinn, acquired in the offseason from Los Angeles for a fourth round pick made Executive Vice President of Football Operations Mike Tannenbaum and General Manager Chris Grier look good as he showed both quickness and power while rushing off of the edge.

Quinn hasn't been dominant for a couple years but certainly looked like he will be a handful for any offensive tackle in the league one-on-one if he keeps playing like he did against the Panthers. Overall the Dolphins pass rush was solid and Quinn was a big part of the effort.

​Xavien Howard got an interception on a pass where Cam Newton evidently didn't see him lurking on the left side of the defense. He returned the ball 34 yards. Howard also contributed to a rash of Dolphins penalties by committing a pass interference so his night wasn't perfect.

​But his coverage was tight and he looked like he's going to be the kind of asset the Dolphins thought he could be when they drafted him in the second round in 2016.

​Daniel Kilgore. The offensive line on the whole didn't have a great night but Kilgore was solid in the middle. He was particularly effective blocking in the running game and held his own in pass protection.

He did have one minor breakdown on a screen pass near the end of the first half but it was a difficult block with the defensive tackle making a good read after shading to the play side of the center. Miami's situation at right guard and both tackles can be a bit unsteady at times. Kilgore's presence could help stabilize the situation.

​Raekwon McMillan is effectively a rookie and though he was improved over his debut performance last week, he still looks like one as he was very inconsistent on the night.  McMillan shows excellent range and he frequently makes good, quick reads that get him in position to make plays from sideline to sideline.

You can see why the Dolphins liked him when they drafted him in the second round in 2017 before an injury derailed his season. But he had trouble taking on and getting off of blocks and was solidly sealed out of the hole on a Christian McCaffrey 71-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. It also appeared that he failed to pick up tight end Ian Thomas in coverage on a 27-yard touchdown pass near the end of the first half.

​David Fales had a bad night as he competes with Brock Osweiler for the backup quarterback job.  Osweiler (10 of 13 passing for 68 yards) wasn't great by any stretch and could improve his ball placement.

​But it was nothing compared to Fales' struggles with accuracy. Fales was only 1 of 6 for 1 yard. He was high and in front of an open Francis Owusu on a pass in the fourth quarter, then immediately followed it up by throwing behind Drew Morgan for an interception. It was just one game but it was a bad look for Fales.

​Dolphins defensive tackles. Akeem Spence, a free agent pick up from Detroit, got blocked completely out of the play on McCaffrey's touchdown.  The problems weren't an isolated to Spence. Vincent Taylor and Cameron Malveaux didn't do a very good job of taking advantage of the absence of William Hayes (hamstring) as they were getting pushed around like children's toys. 

For the most part all of the defensive tackles as a whole were mauled at the line of scrimmage. This was bad news for the Dolphins run defense. The Panthers ran the ball 31 times for 226 yards including 10 times for 113 yards in the first half when the Dolphins starters were playing most of the time.

​Dolphins team discipline. The Dolphins were on 3 of 12 on third downs and this was largely (though not entirely) due to some bad penalties. It's only the second preseason game and sloppy performances aren't uncommon. But the Dolphins were one of the most penalized teams in the league last year and what makes this game disturbing is that the team has been working on resolving the issue in camp.  Whatever they are doing isn't having an apparent effect.

​The Dolphins had 8 penalties for 69 yards on the night including 4 for 46 yards in the first half.  Howard had his pass interference, right guard Jesse Davis and left tackle Laremy Tunsil both had holding calls and there was a delay of game at the Carolina 9 yard line.  This needs to get cleaned up.

There was no apparent advantage gained either way in the kicker competition.  Dolphins seventh round pick Jason Sanders kicked three field goals from 42, 28 and 32 yards. But undrafted free agent Greg Joseph had the longest of the night with his 54-yard field goal in the second quarter.

• The Panthers starters spent the first half playing off coverage and the Dolphins went predominantly to the short passing game in response. Tannehill averaged only 5.9 yards per pass and didn't throw the ball deep. They're going to have to execute very well and very consistently in the passing game if this translates to the regular season.
  ​
• The Dolphins showed a surprising amount of their blitz packages. Most defenses keep their schemes bland during the preseason (as Carolina did) but the Dolphins brought guys from everywhere. This was notable only in that it wasn't particularly effective. Cam Newton got the ball out quickly and though the Dolphins did do a good job of generating pressure on him, it didn't come from the blitz. If this is going to be a big part of the Dolphins defensive game plan this year it needs to get better.

This story was written by Tom Shannon. Follow him on Twitter: @bearingthenews