Dolphins Pos/Neg – Pre-Season Game 3

Aug 17, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Miami Dolphins cornerback Brent Grimes (21) reacts after making an interception during the first quarter against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

The Miami Dolphins played a tough game last night against the Houston Texans, but eventually dropped the game 24-17. Miami’s preseason record now falls to 1-2 overall.

While Miami looked good at times, they also looked just down right terrible. And terrible may be saying it nicely.

First off, our thoughts are with Dustin Keller and his family after a gruesome leg injury that will likely cause Keller to miss the entire year. Keller was carted off the field and underwent an MRI last night, the results of which have not been released yet.

By some chance that Keller is not hurt badly – i.e. torn ACL, MCL, PCL, yada yada yada – Miami can consider themselves the luckiest team in the league. Keller was going to be a pivotal part of Miami’s offense and his presence will be sorely missed.

UPDATE: Keller will miss the entire 2013 season. Somewhat sad to see, but Miami must rebound and move on. We wish the best for Dustin! Get healthy big man.

Now, let’s take a look at some positives and some negatives from the night:

Positives:

QB Ryan Tannehill: If you were to ask me who I would give the title of “player of the game” to, I would ride with Miami’s second-year quarterback. Tannehill looked calm and spectacular at times. He definitely has command of the offense this season and most importantly, Tannehill took care of the football. No turnovers! If and when G John Jerry gets himself healthy, Tannehill will finally have time to read the defense without running for his life.

Tannehill finished the night 10 of 15 for 141 yards and 1 touchdown. He also scrambled twice for 11 yards – one of which showed his incredible athletic ability to escape the pass rush and pick up some yardage. A+ for Tannehill tonight.

CB Brent Grimes: For years Miami has faced the Jets whom have had CB Darrelle Revis and his “Revis Island”. For those who are unaware, this basically means whichever receiver comes to Revis’ side of the field will not see any targets as many teams would shy away from throwing to Revis’ side of the field.

Attention quarterbacks, when facing the Miami Dolphins, do not throw towards Brent Grimes’ side of the field.

Grimes was thrown at once. Count it, once. That one throw resulted in an interception where Grimes showed off his insane athletic ability. Grimes presence alone will boost Miami’s secondary which has been one of the worst in the league for quite some time now.

WR Mike Wallace: Mike Wallace entered the night with high expectations and no receptions, targets or drops thus far in preseason action. Okay, so he really only played in Miami’s second preseason game as his missed the opener against Dallas with a groin injury.

When Wallace’s night was complete he met those expectations and may have exceeded them.

Wallace reeled in three balls for 58 yards and one touchdown. He absolutely burnt Pro Bowl CB Jonathan Joseph on a go route that resulted in a 33-yard reception down the side-line. In fact, Wallace did all of his damage facing Joseph on the night.

And for those who are still claiming Wallace is a one trick-pony, check out this block on RB Lamar Miller‘s touchdown run.

RB Daniel Thomas: Thomas entered the night needing a big-time performance to prove his worth to not only the coaching staff, but those fans out there calling for his head.

Thomas impressed. Thomas impressed ten fold.

The fourth-year running back ran the rock four times for 25 yards. He also caught one ball for 27 yards which was actually on a third and long, showing elusiveness and speed.

Thomas also looked quite good in pass pro, proving his worth to the team as it’s most valuable pass pro tail back.

Bottom line, Thomas actually looked like the back GM Jeff Ireland thought he was drafting a few years ago in the second-round.

LT Jonathan Martin: To be quite honest, I think we are all quite brutal on Martin, myself included. Martin is no Jake Long. We need to stop trying to connect the two. But Martin can be a very good left tackle in this league.

Martin showed us just that last night.

Martin looked the part of a good left tackle last night for his second straight week. Martin was able to hold up in pass pro and was able to move his man in the run game.

If all that Martin needs is just time to adjust to the game speed of the NFL at the LT position – remember he spend most of his rookie season at RT – then Miami may actually be in okay shape at LT. Cross your fingers his performance only continues to improve.

Aug 17, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Miami Dolphins wide receiver Mike Wallace (11) reacts to the injury to tight end Dustin Keller (81) during the first half against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Negatives:

G Josh Samuda: My apologies if it seems like I hate Samuda. I actually really like the kid and had him picked to be one of the team’s top back-ups. Now? Well, now I actually am beginning to believe Samuda may not make the team.

Samuda looked downright awful last night. He was yet again being thrown around like a rag-doll and could not hold a block to save his life.

Samuda caused RB Lamar Miller to lose yardage on numerous occasions and caused two screen plays to blow up behind the line-of-scrimmage.

G John Jerry cannot get himself healthy soon enough. Hell, I don’t think his stock has ever been higher.

CB Will Davis: Yikes, Davis was looking like a steal for Miami after a great showing against Jacksonville and numerous reports out of camp praising his ball-hawking skills. That all changed last night.

Davis was picked on time after time after time. He not only looked lost in coverage but he was absolutely toasted by WR Lestar Jean on a 38-yard touchdown.

Davis did put together three tackles, but that can be attributed to the fact that he was being thrown at all night long.

It’s quite evident after last night, Davis has a ways to go before he sees significant playing time. Even if he is a ball-hawk during practice.

QB Matt Moore and Aaron Corp: Moore looked terrible. Just terrible. He finished the night completing three of his eleven passes for just 15 yards. Moore was also sacked on numerous occasions and just looked like he was playing at half-speed.

No, Moore will not be cut. But his performance thus far must have the coaching staff wondering if they should have taken a QB to groom this past April.

Corp, on the other hand, came in towards the end of the game to relieve Moore. While many thought, “Oh Brother…”, Corp actually looked “okay” at first. He was putting together a decent drive. And just as Miami looked like they were on the verge of scoring, Corp scrambles and fumbles the ball.

Aaron, that is not a way to make a team. Hell, you probably wouldn’t anyway.

LT Will Yeatman and RT Dallas Thomas: Yeatman and Thomas did their best Josh Samuda impressions last night. Both Yeatman and Thomas were getting QB Matt Moore killed in the pocket by numerous Texan pass rushers. Thomas was actually making rookie Trevardo Williams look like Cameron Wake.

Yeatman has been talked about as a potential back-up to Martin at LT. After his performance Saturday, I’m not so sure he makes this team.

Thomas, on the other hand, will not be cut due to his draft position. But he has a LONG way to go before the coaching staff EVER thinks about putting him into a live game.

After seeing Thomas’ performance last night, I seriously wonder why Ireland took him. Let alone in the third-round.

First Team Offense: No Miami’s first team offense is not here because of their play. Nor are they here for lack of execution. They’re here because of the loss of one single player.

Losing TE Dustin Keller is going to kill this offense. The lack of experience at the tight end position is not a good thing for this young offense. With tight ends Dion Sims, Michael Egnew, Kyle Miller and Charles Clay on the roster, I would not be surprised to see Ireland checking with teams to see who is available. Especially since the only “decent” tight ends available via free agency are Kevin Boss and Todd Heap.

If Keller is done for the year, which is pretty much a lock at this point, Clay may see more time at TE meaning either Lane or Rodriguez may make this roster now as the team’s fullback.

The time is now for Michael Egnew to prove that his third-round selection was not a fluke.