Miami Dolphins: What We've Learned Through Week 4 of Preseason
We are just eight days away from the regular-season opener. All of the Miami Dolphins' hard work this offseason is close to coming to a head.
All the roster battles are close to playing out, most of the injuries are nearly fully rehabbed, and the picture of the Dolphins' 2015 season is coming into focus.
That being said, there are still some new developments coming out of Dolphins camp. Could the Dolphins potentially be engaged in a trade? Could there be a surprise or two in the starting lineup?
Read on to find out.
Conflicting Reports Abound over Branden Albert's Status
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It seems that no one can agree on whether or not Dolphins left tackle Branden Albert will be suiting up in Week 1 against the Washington Redskins.
Albert has been rehabbing from a torn ACL and has been working back into the lineup slowly but surely, but there's been some doubt cast on his availability for the season opener.
Last week, Adam Caplan of ESPN reported that we should not expect Albert to be back until Week 3 against the Buffalo Bills. The next day, Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald reported that Albert's status for Week 1 was "not as rock-solid a call as it once seemed," per his colleague, Armando Salguero. Just days later, Salguero reported that "barring a major upset (setback)," Albert will be ready for the season opener.
At this point, it really just depends on who you believe. We'll just have to wait and see.
Jamil Douglas Will Start at Right Guard over Billy Turner
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One of the big questions on the Dolphins offensive line was who would start at the guard spots. It came down to three men battling for two jobs: Jamil Douglas, Dallas Thomas and Billy Turner.
For a while, it appeared Turner would start on the right, and Thomas would start on the left. But according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, Douglas "pulled ahead" of Turner in the battle for the right guard spot. Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald added some context to his colleague's report:
"By [Tuesday] players throughout the locker room, including Douglas, were talking about how Douglas is the new starter at the position. And with starters not playing at all or very little against Tampa Bay in the preseason finale Thursday, the lineup isn't going to change. Douglas is the right guard for the opener barring an unexpected circumstance.
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The Dolphins drafted Douglas in the fourth round of the 2015 draft in hopes that he would one day develop into a starting guard. As it turns out, "one day" will be "day one." The 6'4", 304-pound guard has all the traits the Dolphins need in a lineman in terms of his agility and quickness to block in the open field and pull out in front of a play. He should have always been the choice.
At least now the Dolphins know what they're doing up front. The next step is to put it in action and hope it actually works.
Dolphins Shopping Cornerback Will Davis
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Brent Grimes will start at cornerback on one side of the field in the Dolphins defense. Jamar Taylor is the likely starter on the other side. Other areas on the depth chart are still very much up in the air.
That's made clear by the recent news that third-year cornerback Will Davis could be on his way out of Miami. Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald reports that the Dolphins have been shopping Davis around to other teams.
Davis was considered valuable depth in the secondary—valuable enough that the Dolphins feel they can get something good in return for his services. But the Dolphins are not entirely pleased with where Davis is at this point in the preseason, per Salguero:
"Davis played well in the preseason opener against Chicago but struggled in the second preseason game against Carolina, giving up consecutive first-down completions and then being flagged for pass interference. That inconsistency, which has been present throughout camp practices as well, and the fact the Dolphins have other cornerbacks they like on the roster has led to the team shopping Davis for a possible trade.
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Besides, there simply isn't enough room for everyone. The Dolphins already have six viable cornerbacks on their roster: Grimes, Taylor and Brice McCain will be the top three cornerbacks in the lineup; Zack Bowman and rookies Bobby McCain and Tony Lippett will be the top backups. Seven is just too many.
Davis had an outstanding performance in the Dolphins' preseason finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, nabbing two interceptions that should help raise his value; whether that value is for the Dolphins or for a team that needs a cornerback remains to be seen.
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DeVante Parker Should Be Ready for the Season Opener
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Just three months ago, wide receiver DeVante Parker was having surgery to replace a screw in his left foot. There has never been much doubt that he would be ready for the season opener, and any remaining doubt was cast aside when he suited up for the final preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Parker finished the night with just one reception for 11 yards. His night came to a quick end, as is to be expected given the fact that as of Tuesday, the Dolphins were "quietly hopeful" that Parker would be ready for action on September 13 against the Washington Redskins, according to Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald.
If Parker is ready to go by the beginning of the season, he will help complete the Dolphins' receiving corps by providing a big-bodied deep threat for the boundary of the offense. That's a presence the Dolphins have been missing for years and one that they currently do not have in any other form on the depth chart.
Rishard Matthews Could Start over Kenny Stills at Wide Receiver
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Once upon a time, it seemed the breakup between wide receiver Rishard Matthews and the Dolphins was only a matter of time. But in the words of John Cena, that time is up, and Matthews' time is now.
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports Matthews could be given the starting nod over veteran wide receiver Kenny Stills, the former New Orleans Saints wideout who was widely expected to be one of Miami's top three pass-catchers this season.
"Rishard Matthews, who wasn't even assured a roster spot a month ago, not only appears a lock to stick but also could end up starting. He started ahead of Kenny Stills on Saturday, alongside Jarvis Landry and Greg Jennings.
After requesting a trade this past spring, Matthews said Monday he is "glad I'm here for another year." He said all he wanted was a fair competition and it "definitely has been fair" and he has tried to "show that I need to be on the field more offensively."
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There's an obvious caveat here: It was only a preseason game. That being said, the third preseason game is often seen as a tune-up for the starting unit to get ready for the regular season.
Matthews has earned rave reviews for his performances all preseason and has hauled in five passes for 37 yards and a touchdown through three games. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill is low on receivers with experience in the offense (save for Matthews and Jarvis Landry), so he could be leaning on the guys he already trusts to help get the offense off to a fast start in 2015.
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