Miami Dolphins Preseason: Week 4 Stock Report
In less than two weeks, the Miami Dolphins will be suiting up for the regular-season opener against the Washington Redskins.
Now is the time when players should be on an upward trajectory, playing their best football and gearing up for the most important season in recent Dolphins history.
Unfortunately, that's not the case. Sure, there are players who are hitting stride, but there are also players who are taking steps back for one reason or another.
With that in mind, here's a look at a handful of players who are trending in either direction headed into the regular season.
Stock Up: Sam Brenner
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Sometimes, a player's stock can go up by process of elimination.
That's exactly what's happening with backup offensive lineman Sam Brenner. With the release of center J.D. Walton, Brenner's chances of making the final 53-man roster have gone up a bit.
In the end, it most likely came down to versatility. Walton has only played center in his five-year NFL career, whereas Brenner has played both guard and center in his career. The third-year pro also has the benefit of experience in Joe Philbin's offensive system.
Brenner's versatility could be a difference-maker. The Dolphins face issues at both center and guard.
Starting center Mike Pouncey suffered a knee injury against the Atlanta Falcons in preseason Week 3, but according to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, the MRI came back negative, and he was back at practice on Monday. At guard, the Dolphins are sticking with Billy Turner and Dallas Thomas; for how long, though, remains unknown.
Brenner could be called on sooner than later.
Stock Down: Branden Albert
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For months, reports have indicated that left tackle Branden Albert would be fully recovered from his torn ACL in time to play in Week 1. Only recently has the story begun to change.
Last week, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com reported that Albert shouldn't be expected back in the lineup until Week 3. Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald, via Salguero, reported that "Albert and the Miami Dolphins remain hopeful he can be ready for the opener but that doesn't seem nearly as probable as it once did," and Beasley's source said that he "could be [back] sooner" than Week 3.
If Albert is unable to play at the beginning of the regular season, the Dolphins' entire offensive line would be thrown into flux. Guard Dallas Thomas would have to play tackle, where he has played at times in the preseason, which would force guard Jamil Douglas into the starting lineup as well. Thomas has fared much better at guard than tackle, and Douglas is just a rookie who has yet to play a meaningful NFL snap.
Ultimately, Albert's absence would mean a lot of uncomfortable changes on the Dolphins offensive line.
Stock Up: Ryan Tannehill
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Ryan Tannehill may be having the best preseason of any starting quarterback.
Through three games, Tannehill has missed on only eight of his 41 pass attempts with an 80.5 percent completion rate and 303 yards (7.4 yards per attempt), and he has thrown a touchdown in each of the Dolphins' three preseason games so far. His passer rating of 121.8 is 12th-best of any quarterback, but many of those passers have thrown fewer than 20 passes this preseason.
In truth, no one should be terribly surprised. Tannehill has taken steps forward in each of his three seasons as a starting quarterback in the NFL, improving in completion percentage, yards per attempt and passer rating each year. Now, with a stabilizing offensive line (save for the issues mentioned in the previous slide) and an improved group of pass-catchers, Tannehill could continue to take the next steps forward in his development.
The Dolphins gave Tannehill a monster four-year contract extension worth $77 million in new money and $21.5 million guaranteed. If the preseason is any indication, he will live up to that billing.
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Stock Down: Jamar Taylor
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The Dolphins had hoped that third-year cornerback Jamar Taylor could step into a starting role in their secondary this year. That may still be the case, but he has a new hurdle to clear on his way to the starting lineup.
Adam Caplan of ESPN.com reported August 25 that Taylor is dealing with a quadriceps injury and could miss 10-14 days, but the "hope is that he practices some time next week."
Taylor has been targeted five times this preseason but has yielded just one reception for six yards, according to Pro Football Focus. Taylor also notched an interception against the Carolina Panthers, which could be the difference-maker in the battle for the starting job opposite Brent Grimes.
That being said, this is just the opening that someone like Brice McCain could use to get himself in the starting lineup early in the season, and if he performs well in that role, who's to say that the Dolphins would even go back to Taylor when he is healthy?
Stock Up: DeVante Parker
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All the good things that Ryan Tannehill has accomplished this preseason have been done without the full complement of receivers that he'll have at his disposal when the 2015 regular season begins. That's because the Dolphins have been without 2015 first-round pick DeVante Parker.
James Walker of ESPN.com reported that Parker practiced on Monday for the first time since undergoing foot surgery earlier this summer.
"When I run, my foot is feeling pretty good so I'm just glad about that," Parker said in the locker room before practice, per Walker. "Having no pain in it is a good thing. It's a start."
If Parker is good to go for the beginning of the season, the Dolphins would have all three of their starting receivers: Parker, Kenny Stills and Jarvis Landry. That's a best-case scenario for Tannehill and the Dolphins offense.
At 6'3" and 209 pounds with the ability to win jump balls and run vertical routes effectively, Parker provides a presence the Dolphins have been missing in their offense for years and one that they cannot replicate on their current roster.
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