Miami Dolphins vs. Dallas Cowboys: No-Win Situation for Fins' Offense

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When the Miami Dolphins' first team offense took the field against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night they faced a no-win situation.

If they moved the ball and scored they would be doing exactly what they were supposed to against the Cowboys' second team. Dallas coach Wade Phillips followed the lead of most of the league by sitting his starters while Tony Sparano, clearly irritated by the entire team's performance last Friday against the Atlanta Falcons, decided to play his starters.

Still, moving the ball and scoring was a preferred option to the alternative of struggling which would suggest the offense is clearly not ready for the regular season opener.

Guess what?

Miami doesn't look ready for the opener.

They did move the ball on occasion, and kicked a field goal on their opening drive, but pass drops and questionable protection left the Dolphins with more questions than answers.

Here's a closer look at the ups and downs of the offense.

1. Ricky Williams

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Clearly the best play by Miami's starting offense was a 42-yard burst by Williams, which showed that the 33-yard old still has some wheels.

More importantly, this was the best run by a Dolphin all preseason.

The running game was otherwise anemic and I still wonder about the readiness of Ronnie Brown for the regular season.

2. Brian Hartline

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I take credit when I make a good prediction about this team and I have got to take responsibility when I blow a call too.

I thought this season was Brian Hartline's coming out party. I know he caught a touchdown pass on his back shoulder from Chad Pennington, but his drops during the preseaon (and I believe he has had a drop in every game) have to concern Dolphin fans.

He also had ball security issues earlier on the touchdown drive when he caught a ball and it squirted loose. Apparently, the referee blew the play dead, but Miami can't afford these type of mistakes during the season.

Brandon Marshall has taken plenty of heat for his drops, and deservedly so, but it's time to place some pressure on Hartline's shoulders as well, which leads us to the most dependable receiver currently on the Dolphins.

3. Davone Bess

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Davone Bess is ready for the regular season.  The 5'10" wideout from Hawaii got going on the Dolphins initial drive by catching a Chad Henne pass on a little curl route that Bess has run to perfection during his previous two seasons in Miami. 

Later on the drive, Bess hauled in a 17-yard catch from Henne on third down and 12. Overall, Bess had five catches for 42 yards and showed the consistency that much of the rest of the offense is missing.

In a key situation, it will be interesting to see whether Henne looks primarily for Bess or Marshall during the regular season.

4. Protection Questions

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The pass protection was pretty good on the first drive and as a result Chad Henne had his most successful drive of the night.

However, in the second quarter, shortly after Williams' big gallup, Henne had virtually no time before he was sacked by Dallas linebacker Victor Butler and fumbled the ball over to the Cowboys.

After Chad Pennington took over on the subsequent drive, he got taken down by reserve defensive linemen Sean Lissemore and linebacker Steve Octavien. The sack was wiped out by a facemask call on Lissemore but do you sense a disturbing trend here?

I believe rookie John Jerry was beaten on the second play and there has to be a real concern about the interior of the line.

I'm pretty convinced that Jake Grove is a better center than Joe Berger but just isn't healthy

5. Marlon Moore In, Patrick Turner Out, Roberto Wallace?

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Marlon Moore has made this football team.

If there was a question before (and there shouldn't have been given that the undrafted rookie was seeing time in multiple receiver packages with the starters), there can't be after his three-yard touchdown catch on a slant pass from Tyler Thigpen.

It's the kind of pass that you could see Patrick Turner dropping, which is pretty ironic since Turner (one catch for 25 yards) had dropped a very catchable ball just a few plays earlier.

Yes, it seems likely that Miami will cut both it's second round (Pat White) and third round (Turner) pick from 2009.

The former Fresno State Bulldog did drop one catchable ball but was also Miami's second leading receiver with four catches (31 yards).

Fellow undrafted free agent wide receiver Roberto Wallace caught three passes for 59 yards and a touchdown. He has tremendous physical ability and potential.

He also dropped the football on one play and showed his inexperience on another when he failed to "turn into a defender" on an off-target Tyler Thigpen pass that was picked off.

A veteran receiver might make this play.

Wallace did not. It's the kind of play that could put Wallace on the practice squad instead of making the roster as a fifth receiver.

My guess right now is that the Dolphins will put Wallace on the roster. If they don't, expect the team to look for a veteran receiver to fill out a position that includes Marshall, Hartline, Bess and Moore.