Falcons vs. Dolphins: Previewing Miami's Preseason Week 3 Matchup
The third preseason game is known as the "dress-rehersal" preseason game, and based off the first two weeks, the Miami Dolphins' starting unit (0-2) looks more than ready for the 2015 season to officially begin.
The Dolphins' first team has outscored its opponents 21-0 in the first two games, and in that time we have seen a goal-line stand, an interception nearly brought back for a touchdown and dominance up front.
It will be interesting to see how the unit does with extended action against the Atlanta Falcons (1-1) come Saturday night. The Falcons have an offense that can test Miami's first-team unit on defense, while Atlanta's defense, headed by new head coach Dan Quinn, is still very much a work-in-progress.
Atlanta's defensive line looks like one of the most improved of the offseason, thanks to the signing of Adrian Clayborn as well as the selection of Clemson standout Vic Beasley in the first round of the 2015 draft. They will be matched up with a Dolphins offensive line that still has many holes and a lot to prove.
While the starters for both teams will likely play the entire first half and part of the third quarter, the battle between each team's reserves will loom just as important. It has been in this battle that the Dolphins have been trounced, having been outscored 58-19 in their two preseason games. This has brought about questions about their depth and could make the final-cut decisions even tougher.
Here's a breakdown of what to watch for on Saturday night.
Location: Sun Life Stadium; Miami
Time: 7 p.m. ET
TV: WFOR CBS 4 (Miami-Ft. Lauderdale), WTVX CW34 (West Palm Beach), WBBH NBC2 (Ft. Myers/Naples), WRDQ Channel 27 (Orlando), Fox Sports Florida (Replay—Sunday, 8/30, 8:30 p.m. ET) NFL Network (Replay—Monday, 8/31, 5:30 a.m. ET)
Preseason Week 2 Recap: Panthers 31, Dolphins 30
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Which part of last week's contest against the Carolina Panthers was more important?
If you believe that the game, as a whole, was important, then your view on it might be of a team that's in deep trouble, as for the second consecutive week Miami blew a double-digit lead and wound up losing because of turnovers and poor defense in the second half.
That's how the Panthers won 31-30.
If you only believe that how the starting unit did was important, then you have to feel good about this team.
For the second consecutive week, Ryan Tannehill was sharp. In three series he went 12-of-15 for 105 yards and a touchdown along with 11 yards rushing and no turnovers. His quarterback rating through the first two games (of which he played a combined four series) comes out to 126.9.
The run game was a concern, though, as Lamar Miller only ran for five yards on three attempts. He did a good job as a receiver, though, gaining 38 yards on two receptions, including a 36-yard reception where he had 34 yards after the catch.
Damien Williams was impressive with 14 yards and a touchdown on four carries while also catching an 11-yard touchdown pass (his only reception of the game). One could say that the pylon robbed him of his third touchdown of the game.
One of the most talked about plays of the game was Williams' pylon play. On the play it looked like Williams was able to stretch the ball out past the pylon for a touchdown, but he was instead ruled out of bounds at the 1-yard line. Head coach Joe Philbin challenged the play and wound up getting it overturned.
This wasn't good for the Dolphins, the play was overturned because Williams lost the ball before he was out of bounds, and since it went out of bounds in the end zone, it was ruled Carolina's touchback.
Many have taken Philbin to task for the challenge, including Philbin himself. During the halftime interview on WFOR CBS 4 (h/t Dave Hyde of the Sun Sentinel), Philbin sarcastically said "great call" and then went on to say it was a "bad decision," adding, "There was no other person to blame but me."
I might be alone here on this, but I didn't think it was a bad decision on Philbin's part. It was risky because of the fact it would've been 2nd-and-goal at the 1-yard line had there been no challenge, but the ball did look like it was knocked out by the pylon itself, which usually results in a touchdown. I wouldn't blame Philbin, or his replay coordinators, if that's what they saw and expected as well.
News and Notes
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Branden Albert Fully Involved in Practice
It's been a long time coming, with plenty of gradual steps along the way, but Branden Albert is now fully practicing with the Dolphins.
Albert took his first full-practice snaps on Tuesday, per Chris Perkins of the Sun Sentinel.
Seeing Albert practice at full speed provides more hope that he'll be available for Week 1's game in Washington and is timely because of the concussion backup Jason Fox suffered in last week's preseason game.
Albert's return is also good news because in the first two games, it has been Fox who has been the weak link of Miami's offensive line and not the guards whom fans and analyst feared would be.
Albert said he is unsure about whether he will play on Saturday, but my deduction would be no.
Dolphins Using Dallas Thomas at Left Tackle
Dallas Thomas has had a good training camp and preseason at guard, good enough that its safe to say he will start Week 1 at left guard.
He will start at guard, though, not at tackle. Despite that, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports that Miami is giving him snaps at left tackle.
Considering Thomas' poor performance at right tackle in 2014, that might be a scary proposition to some. However, come Saturday he might be the Dolphins' best choice to play left tackle.
Jason Fox is still dealing with the after-effects of the concussion he suffered last Saturday and still has not been cleared. The other options are Jeff Linkenbach, rookie Aundrey Walker and second year player Donald Hawkins.
Linkenbach is the only player I'd likely put over Thomas at left tackle among this lot, as neither Walker nor Hawkins have been impressive (or even good) while on the field.
If Thomas starts at left tackle, rookie Jamil Douglas will likely start at left guard.
Suh Believes Dolphins Defense Has Talent To Be Tops in NFL
Ndamukong Suh has been on some great defenses in his career, and last year was on the best defense against the run and one of the top defenses overall.
Per James Walker of ESPN.com, Suh believes this year's Dolphins defense will be better than last year's Lions defense and has the potential to be the league's No. 1 defense.
"I don't have a problem saying this, but I think personally that we have more talent [in Miami] than we had in the No. 1 defense last year in Detroit. So, by that saying, you would say we should have the No. 1 defense this year. But that's not going to happen [because] we don't know what's going to happen until guys come together, understand what they're going to do and then you create a camaraderie.
"
The talent is certainly there, depending on where you look. Reshad Jones hasn't made the Pro Bowl, but he is a Pro Bowl-caliber safety. Brent Grimes is a Pro Bowl cornerback, and Miami's defensive line around Suh might be the AFC East's second-best defensive line and potentially the second-best in the entire NFL.
There are a lot of holes along the defense that will stunt the growth, though. Miami's linebackers have been worse than advertised, and while Jamar Taylor has had a good preseason, his health is a major factor (he is still nursing a thigh injury suffered against Carolina), and Miami's second safety spot is a huge question mark.
If those holes can be concealed, the defense has potential, but for now it looks like there's too many holes and not enough plugs.
Latest Injury News
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During the regular season, teams are required to release their injury reports.
Since we're still in the preseason, that requirement isn't present. Because of that, for this week the injury report comes from Chris Perkins of the Sun Sentinel and is based on who practiced this week.
The list does not include Louis Delmas, who has been placed on injured reserve (via the Sun Sentinel).
| Player | Position | Injury |
| Jamar Taylor | CB | Thigh |
| Koa Misi | LB | Calf |
| Jordan Tripp | LB | Ankle |
| DeVante Parker | WR | Foot |
| Branden Albert | LT | Knee |
No real changes on this list, save for Jamar Taylor, who injured his thigh during Saturday's game. If he's unable to go against Atlanta, Brice McCain will likely start in his place.
Key Matchups
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Roddy White vs. Brent Grimes
This matchup should be a fun one to watch between two veterans.
The only time they matched up during the regular season, Grimes was assigned to White and graded out at 1.9, per Pro Football Focus. Against Grimes, White failed to catch a pass and Grimes deflected one pass.
Grimes likely won't just cover White, as he should see some time on Julio Jones as well.
Falcons Defensive Line vs. Dolphins Offensive Line
A new-look Atlanta defensive front should challenge the Dolphins' offensive line.
Led by first-round pick Vic Beasley and free-agent acquisition Adrian Clayborn, Atlanta is hoping to replicate the Seahawks defensive front's success. This is a unit new head coach Dan Quinn formerly ran. Beasley will be playing the "Leo" spot (hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker used primarily on third down) while also playing a little bit of both outside linebacker and defensive end.
Clayborn, formerly of the Buccaneers, plays alongside Beasley. Quinn has already praised the chemistry between the two, per Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com, saying: "It was good to see him and Adrian—they're getting their timing and their chemistry together over on that right side."
This will be a challenge for whoever lines up at left tackle for Miami. The Falcons front dominated the New York Jets last week, and the Jets' offensive line right now is better than Miami's.
Matchup X-Factors
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As stated earlier, Dallas Thomas has been taking snaps at left tackle this week in practice, and for that reason he is our X-factor of the week.
Thomas was much-maligned coming into camp due to his woeful performance last season. While he looked decent at guard, at right tackle he was an unmitigated disaster, lowering his final grade to minus-32.7.
Because of this, as well as the fact that he had a rookie and a player who played in 19 snaps behind him, guard was looked at as a major position of weakness for Miami going into training camp and the preseason.
Thomas has so far held his own at guard. His grade isn't the best (minus-1.4), but he has made plenty of terrific blocks both in the run game and the pass game and has for the most part held his own against other teams.
If he plays at left tackle on Saturday, it's only out of necessity, thanks to Jason Fox's concussion. A good performance from Thomas solidifies him as the starting left guard, a position he is in the lead for at this time.
Prediction: Falcons 28, Dolphins 21
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When both teams' starters are in, expect a very close and exciting battle.
While Miami's defense has been good, this will be the secondary's first real test. You won't have the erratic Jay Cutler throwing passes, while a crew of wide receivers that has been solid over the past four seasons will test the secondary.
Miami's offense should have its hands full as well with a defense that promises to be aggressive up front, a true tune-up for teams on their schedule that should do the same, such as Jacksonville, Buffalo, Houston and the New York Jets.
Both teams' starters will make this game a close one, but Miami's second- and third-string struggles are likely to continue. It won't be as bad as the first two games, but it should be enough to cost the Dolphins the game.
Statistics provided by NFL.com unless otherwise noted.
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