Miami Dolphins: The 5 Most Important Things Learned from Preseason Game 1

The Miami Dolphins went into the Georgia Dome, a place where Atlanta was unbeatable last year, and beat the Falcons 28-23. We're going to the Super Bowl!!! Not quite.

This was only the first preseason game, and head coach Tony Sparano had already warned the media that this game would be treated more like a scrimmage than anything else. The Dolphins were worried about working on their own issues more than game planning for Atlanta, which is fine especially for the opening week of the preseason. Brandon Marshall and Reggie Bush dressed, but did not play. 

In other words, there is not much to take from this game that offers concrete evidence for anything that is to come in the next three preseason games. Some things did stand out though, and here are the top five most important pieces of information to digest from Dolphins-Falcons Week 1. 

5. A.J Edds Can Play

That picture pretty much sums up everything the Dolphins have seen up to this point from last year's fourth-round draft pick, A.J. Edds. Now we know why the coaching staff was so high on this kid, even after he missed all of last season due to injury. Edds was the Dolphins' best defensive player on Friday night, leading the team with seven tackles and a sack. 

I'm not suggesting Edds should start or by any means extrapolating these numbers into the regular season, but talent is talent, and he's obviously recovered from the injury and looks like he will contribute this season on an extremely deep front seven for the Dolphins. 

4. The Secondary Is Still Muddled

There are a lot of unfamiliar names for Dolphins fans in the secondary. As good and deep as the front seven may be, the secondary has some issues they need to clear up, regarding both the depth chart and on-the-field. The first-team defense let the Falcons' first-teamers get up and down the field, not necessarily via the deep ball, but concerning nonetheless. But, onto the good news.

Benny Sapp and Jimmy Wilson stood out with the second team. Wilson had a sack and five tackles, and Sapp, who played sparingly last season, has a shot to be the nickel corner. Will Allen is the front runner, but injuries and age are both concerns with Allen, who is looking more like a sleeper to be cut in the coming weeks if guys like Reshad Jones, Sapp and Wilson continue to play well.

Side note: Chris Clemons' hair may be the longest in all of football.  

3. The Second Team Offense Clicked

I know Dolphins fans would love to hear there is an open competition between Chad Henne and Matt Moore for the starting job at QB. I'm not ready to pronounce Moore the starter, but he certainly outplayed Henne on Friday. Both quarterbacks threw relatively easy deep balls to open receivers for touchdowns, but Moore's second score to rookie Edmund Gates was a laser in traffic. 

The second and third units on offense played very well. Nine players caught passes, so nobody really stood out in the receiving corps except for Roberto Wallace, who is making his case for the fifth WR roster spot. Wallace is very athletic and has the build to go up and get balls thrown up to him.

Nic Grigsby and Kory Sheets each got heavy work at running back as opposed to their other competitor to make the roster, Lex Hilliard. The next three games will give a better indication as to who stands behind Daniel Thomas and Reggie Bush in the backfield.  

2. The First Team Defense Took a Beating

Let me be the first to reiterate this Dolphins defense is going to be the reason for optimism this season. There is a great deal of talent and depth on the unit, and this opening preseason game should not be a cause for concern. Having said that, it was not good to see the defense get beaten down on consecutive long drives resulting in touchdowns. 

The Falcons are a very good offensive team, especially in the dome. And maybe Julio Jones is a stud in the making, but the Dolphins played very far off him and gave him ample space to show his talent. Kevin Burnett, who is essentially replacing Channing Crowder, barely played, but is coming off an outstanding season in San Diego.

The Dolphins play Carolina on Friday and I feel the panic meter will certainly go up if the worst offense in all of football last season does what the Falcons did in this game.  

1. There Were No Injuries

The most important thing to take from Friday night's game was that no players were injured. Yeah, sure, the NFL keeps score and the referees have whistles and flags, but the key is to not get anyone hurt and to see what you've got with your second- and third-teamers fighting to make the team. Coach Sparano was as fired up as usual, but in reality he knows just as much as everyone else associated with the team that this game was a glorified dress rehearsal.

Brandon Marshall and Reggie Bush will certainly help the offense, but their absence let Roberto Wallace and Clyde Gates show what they can do in extended minutes.

The biggest factors in the Dolphins' 2008 division championship were the fact they had absolutely no injuries of importance and they led the league in fewest turnovers. Both of these will once again play a huge role should an underdog Fins team compete in the very tough AFC East.