No one was expecting a victory over the New York Giants, especially after the Miami Dolphins sat their entire starting lineup. But this game got ugly rather quickly.
The Giants got to an early lead that they wouldn't give up, but there were some things that stood out, both good and bad. Jeff Hafley is going to have a lot to work on, but his team looked more prepared early on. Clearly, the Dolphins wanted to see what their backups and fringe players could do. On a roster that is already thin on experience, Miami had little choice but to lean on the depths of the roster.
On Saturday, the Dolphins got their best look yet at the depth on the roster and will give the coaching staff and Jon-Eric Sullivan the best evaluation tape as they fill out the bottom of the final 53. Despite the loss and some rather questionable play, there were elements that stood out.
Miami Dolphins week two preseason loss shouldn't concern fans at all
5: The Dolphins secondary may not be saved by the starters
Chris Johnson and Jason Marshall played sparingly in the first quarter. JuJu Brents didn't play at all. The guys behind them? The good news is they tackled well, but in coverage, they all couldn't stay with the Giants' WRs consistently. The Giants' quarterbacks were able to expose the weaknesses and inexperience. It should be expected, considering that the Dolphins' depth may be one of the most inexperienced units in the entire NFL.
4: Willie Gay Jr. deserves to get playing time with the starters
There were a few plays where Gay was out of position to make a play, but his motor is non-stop. Gay was all over the field on Saturday, and when he was in the game, he made plays. The Dolphins should have no questions about him making the roster, but it would be great to see how he plays with players who have the experience to complement his energy. Perhaps the unfortunate injury to Trey Moore will mean more opportunities moving forward.
3: The Dolphins have no idea who is rounding out the WR room
The rookie trio of Caleb Douglas, Chris Bell, and Kevin Coleman, along with Malik Washington, will form the core of the Dolphins' WR room, but beyond those four, they don't seem to have a good idea of who will make the team. Jaelan Reagor, Tutu Atwell, and Jalen Tolbert made appearances in the second half with equal results. No one is standing out, and none of those guys were pulled. The last two spots are wide open.
2: The Dolphins can't afford a single injury on the offensive line
The backup option for Austin Jackson is Charlie Heck, who would also back up Patrick Paul. He has been horrible all camp, and again was bad in this preseason game. Andrew Meyer wasn't much better in relief of Aaron Brewer, who sat out today. None of the backup linemen stood out as the game went on. Rookie D.J. Campbell isn't making the strides many predicted, and that adds to the depth issues. There is a long way to go, and Miami may want to keep a close eye on the free agent market after final cuts.
1: Jackson Woodard deserves a roster spot
The Dolphins have to decide what they are going to do with their inside linebackers, but Woodard is proving that he has what it takes to play at the NFL level. Was he lights-out extraordinary? Of course not; it's preseason, but he did show a propensity to find the ball carrier and make physical contact. Woodard stood out the entire first half.
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