Miami Dolphins: 3 pre-season games leaves coaches less evaluation time

The Miami Dolphins and the rest of the NFL find themselves dealing with one less preseason game and that means less evaluation.

No one liked having four preseason games, the players, the coaches, the NFLPA, only the owners and the league itself enjoyed the three exhibition schedules. Even fans were not all that thrilled when they have to pay full price at some games to watch players that would not make the roster.

Those that did like having four games were the players trying to make a statement, trying to make an NFL roster, and needing in-game reps to do it. Now, they will need to show what they can do at practice and make the most of what will be less opportunity prior to final cuts.

Consider that the 4th game of the exhibition season was really more about playing the third-string guys as the starters typically sat out for all but maybe one series. Now, the question is how will the coaches distribute the work in the first three games?

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Traditionally, the third game of the preseason was the dress rehearsal. The game that would showcase the starting lineup into the third quarter but will that now become the 2nd week? Will there be a dress rehearsal game at all?

After week three of the preseason, teams will have the following Sunday off before the season kicks off the Thursday after that and then week one Sunday two weeks after the final preseason. This will give coaches more time to pour over the tape of their edge-of-the-roster guys.

For Miami’s coaches, losing reps isn’t ideal but there is also no choice in the matter. Danny Crossman, the Dolphins special teams coordinator told reporters his thoughts on what game would be the dress game.

"“Some teams used the second game, the first game, whether they worked against a team going into a game. There are a lot of things that go into it. I’m sure we’ll spend a lot of time talking about that when it’s closer that time.”  – Miami Dolphins communication department."

Less opportunities for players to make an impression in a game will hurt but this has been discussed for a long time so it should not come as a surprise to anyone.