Miami Dolphins: 3 Things to watch in Preseason Week 2
The search for a true backup is something to look for in week two of the Miami Dolphins pre-season but that’s not all
There are a few things to watch as the Miami Dolphins visit the Carolina Panthers in Week 2 of the 2018 NFL preseason on Friday night.
Defensive rookies need to make some plays and prove their worth. There’s a nice quarterback battle brewing between the three backups. And rookie running back Kalen Ballage has value, but he needs to show why he should be the third-down back.
Here are the three things you need to look out for on Friday from the Dolphins.
Keep and eye on defensive rookies
The Miami Dolphins are looking to find the right pieces for Matt Burke’s defense. While Burke is looking for the cornerstone to build around, the Fins selected two important pieces in the 2018 NFL Draft. Burke recently opened up about rookie mistakes when speaking to the Sun Sentinel. The Fins have two defensive rookies who can’t afford to make those mistakes.
The first is safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, who the Dolphins selected in the first round. Second is Jerome Baker from Ohio State, who was selected on Day 2. There are a lot of expectations on Fitzpatrick, who’s expected to improve the Miami secondary right away. He needs to make some big plays this week to prove he’s progressing.
Baker needs separate himself from the pack at linebacker. He needs to prove that he’s mentally ready to take the place of Stephone Anthony, Mike Hull or Terence Garvin.
Interesting QB2 Battle
Brock Osweiler has a similar skill-set to Ryan Tannehill. He’s big and athletic, but with a stronger arm. Moreover, he’s had experience playing under Adam Gase during their tenure together in Denver. So if something were to happen to Tannehill, Osweiler is an ideal replacement. However, there’s Bryce Petty and David Fales nipping at his cleats for the backup role.
Petty and Fales are both pocket passers with some athleticism to make plays happen outside of the pocket. In Week 1of the Dolphins preseason, Petty and Fales outplayed Osweiler statistically. Adam Gase doesn’t have a history of keeping three quarterbacks on the roster so this battle is a crucial one.
Will Kalen Ballage earn some playing time?
Right now, Kalen Ballage is shooting himself in the foot each time he fumbles the ball. And it doesn’t help that he was kicked out of the huddle by Ryan Tanehill after missing a key block during Sunday’s practice (per Dolphins Wire). The good news is he’s been getting reps with the first team — more specifically on passing situations.
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The reason is, Ballage gives the Dolphin offense a different look from the running back spot. He has value especially on third downs because of his 6-2, 228-pound frame that’s perfect for blocking. Additionally, he’s the best receiver of the bunch because of his route-running and hands. With the skill-set Ballage has he can carve out a role out for himself in this upcoming preseason game