Miami Dolphins Week 2 Stock Report
The Miami Dolphins started the 2015 season on the right foot against the Washington Redskins with a 17-10 victory on the road.
The same can't be said for everyone on the roster, though. On paper, the Dolphins were the far superior team to the Redskins, but paper doesn't always translate to the field.
Dolphins owner Stephen Ross has high expectations for his investment to finally pay off with a trip to the playoffs. In order for that to happen, the Dolphins will have to get the most out of every player on their roster.
Which players are already headed for big things in 2015, and which ones need to make the most of another chance to prove themselves in Week 2?
Stock Up: Ryan Tannehill
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It was not a great week for the Dolphins offense, but it was not an awful week for quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
The fourth-year passer hit 22 of his 34 pass attempts (64.7 percent) for 226 yards (6.6 yards per attempt), a touchdown and a 93.5 passer rating.
There was some room for improvement; Tannehill was sacked three times on the day, and while some of the Dolphins' pass protection issues could be blamed for the pressure on Tannehill, there were also some instances where he should have been looking to get rid of the ball a bit more quickly than he did.
Of course, the one area of Tannehill's game that will be most closely monitored is his deep passing accuracy, and on Sunday, he hit two of his six attempts that traveled 20 yards or more.
Tannehill has improved each year in the NFL, and this year has the potential to be his best yet.
Stock Down: Lamar Miller
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It's not Lamar Miller's fault. The Dolphins running back can only carry the ball as often as the coaching staff decides to give it to him. Unfortunately for Miller, that has resulted in a string of 20 games in which Miller has failed to earn 20 or more carries out of the backfield.
On Sunday against the Redskins, Miller carried the ball just 13 times for 53 yards and had one 22-yard catch on a screen. He had just seven carries with eight minutes remaining in the game, and earned six more carries down the stretch as the Dolphins tried to milk the clock.
The Dolphins weren't exactly playing from behind by an insurmountable deficit; the Redskins maxed out at a 10-point advantage before the Dolphins marched down the field for a touchdown with less than two minutes remaining in the first half.
That being said, it might be time for Miller Time.
Stock Up: Jarvis Landry
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Second verse, same as the first.
Jarvis Landry was among the most productive rookie wide receivers in 2014. His 84 receptions were second-most for any rookie, per Pro-Football-Reference.com, but he averaged just nine yards per catch. It looks like he's ready to follow up with similar numbers in 2015. Landry hauled in eight catches for 53 yards (6.6 yards per catch) against the Redskins on Sunday.
A high volume of catches and a low average of yards per catch has become characteristic of Landry's style of play. His ability to get open from the slot in short spaces and find soft spots in coverage made him one of Ryan Tannehill's favorite security blankets last year. Now, with a year of experience in the NFL and in Bill Lazor's offense, Landry figures to be a key component of the offense once again as Tannehill looks for familiar targets in the passing game.
That being said, Landry proved that he can still be a big-play threat on special teams when he returned a punt 69 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter that gave the Dolphins their first lead of the game.
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Stock Down: Earl Mitchell
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The Dolphins defensive line has the potential to be one of the best in football, but if Week 1 is any indication, that group may only be as strong as its weakest link.
Defensive tackle Earl Mitchell was bowled over in the running game, as the Dolphins yielded 161 rushing yards and 4.4 yards per carry to the Redskins. Mitchell was not the only one responsible; the Redskins did a good job of double-teaming Ndamukong Suh on nearly every play. That being said, Mitchell needs to capitalize on the one-on-one opportunities he'll see as a result of offensive lines focusing so closely on Suh.
Mitchell is not the Dolphins' only option at defensive tackle; in fact, the Dolphins used a second-round pick on defensive tackle Jordan Phillips, who notched a sack in his first NFL game. If Mitchell doesn't turn it around, he could find himself on the bench while the rookie gets an opportunity to contribute on a more consistent basis.
The Dolphins have had issues with angles and tackling in the past, and unless the defensive line tightens up dramatically, those issues could be under a microscope once again in 2015.
Stock Up: Rishard Matthews
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Back in the months of March to July, no one could have guessed that Rishard Matthews would be one of the Dolphins' most productive receivers in the season opener. Fortunately for Matthews, that's not what's important.
The most important thing is what you do on the field, and Matthews has made the most of every opportunity he's had in training camp and the preseason. Now, he is getting an opportunity to remain a vital component to the offense.
He got his season off to a great start when he put up four receptions for 34 yards and a touchdown on Sunday against the Washington Redskins. He could potentially supplant wide receiver Kenny Stills on the depth chart, but it all depends on his ability to remain a consistently productive piece in the offense.
He's one of only a few receivers (along with Jarvis Landry) that already has regular-season experience with Ryan Tannehill. That rapport could be what helps Matthews set himself apart in the Dolphins offense.
Unless otherwise noted, all advanced stats obtained via Pro Football Focus.
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