3 things we learned in the Miami Dolphins last preseason game

The Miami Dolphins defense needs to get back in the lab and work on tackling because it wasn’t anywhere near good.

I hope this isn’t going to be something that plagues the defense all year. I honestly don’t think it will but I must say I didn’t love what I saw. Easy for me to critique dudes that can break me in half with one hand, but I think they would tell you as well that they missed tackles that led to big gains.

Why I think this it’s relevant to bring up is because it was starters that were missing the tackles.

First, it was Jerome Baker who was pursuing a running back who caught the ball in the flat. He overran the guy and back easily picked up eight yards on a play that should have been a one-yard gain.

A few drives later, Jaelan Phillips dropped back in coverage and was running up to a receiver that caught a three-yard dump-off pass. Phillips whiffed at the guy’s shimmy and the receiver went and picked up more yardage.

The last one that stood out was the one that led to the Eagles’ biggest play. Channing Tindall bounced off Jason Huntley and he scampered for the only TD of the night for Philadelphia. Tindall bounced off the guy like he wasn’t even there.

I realize that live tackling doesn’t happen like it used to but man alive I think there’s probably room to add a bit more. These guys are too skilled to miss completely or not wrap up. Yes, the other team practices too but I don’t care. Make the play that’s right in front of you.

Hopefully, when they go over these plays in the film room they all realize that they need to break down a bit more and not worry about anything else besides keeping four-yard gains four-yard gains. Fortunately, tackling issues is something that can be fixed by practice and focus. I expect it to be cleaned up in two weeks.