Quick hits and thoughts as the Dolphins prepare for the third and final week of preseason, culminating in Thursday’s joint practice with the Jaguars in Miami Gardens and Saturday’s preseason finale against Jacksonville at Hard Rock Stadium (7 p.m., CBS-4).
▪ The Dolphins have at least a dozen difficult decisions to make, Among them:
1). What to do with cornerback. Even the retired Terron Armstead, now hosting a podcast, said Miami needs to add another skilled veteran corner.
Beyond Storm Duck and (likely) Mike Hilton Jr., can any of the corners confidently say they’ve earned a roster spot? Perhaps Kendall Sheffield, but that’s debatable.
The Dolphins wanted a look at Ethan Bonner as a starter, but he’s now out with a hamstring injury, which could effectively remove him from the starting battle.
Jack Jones - very good at times, not so good at others - has a good chance to stick unless Miami adds a better veteran. Sheffield - who started the opener but not the second game - could stick by default.
Rookie Jason Marshall Jr. has flashed but doesn’t seem ready for a major role. Isaiah Johnson, Cam Smith and rookies Ethan Robinson and BJ Adams are all firmly on the bubble, with Robinson helping him a lot on Saturday and Smith playing well during an extended second-half appearance.
Cornell Armstrong has had a difficult past week.
So who’s available? Rasul Douglas remains unsigned, but he already has rejected at least two Dolphins offers. Miami, at least earlier this summer, showed little interest in the older corners such as Stephon Gilmore and James Bradberry.
Asante Samuel Jr. remains the most appealing name available, but one of his two agents declined to say Sunday whether he has been cleared medically from a neck injury. There have been no reports of any Samuel visits to teams in the past month. Samuel “liked” a social media post from a fan encouraging the Dolphins to sign him.
2). Who sticks among the backup outside linebackers?
Derrick McLendon, Cam Goode, Grayson Murphy, Quinton Bell and Mo Kamara could all make a case for roster spots behind Jaelan Phillips, Bradley Chubb and Chop Robinson.
Per PFF’s Ryan Smith, there have been 98 players who have rushed the passer 30-plus times this preseason, and Murphy ranks third in win percentage (23.6%), third in PFF pass-rush grade (85.4) and third in total pressures (eight). Phillips says Murphy might be the best pure pass rusher on the team.
McLendon has at least five sacks between practices and games.
Bell is steady, always well prepared and has a year in the system.
It seems too soon to give up on Kamara, a 2024 fifth-round pick who has been in concussion protocol recently.
Don’t underestimate Goode’s value on special teams; over the past week, he had two very good tackles in the return game and a blocked punt in a practice.
But Miami obviously isn’t keeping eight edge rushers. And with Willie Gay Jr. able to play outside linebacker at times, I’m not even sure there’s a need for six.
3). Sixth wide receiver job, if the Dolphins even keep six. With Dee Eskridge well positioned for the fifth job, this comes down to the speed and shiftiness of 5-10 Tahj Washington and the size and productivity of 6-2 Theo Wease, who doesn’t get a lot of separation but finds a way to make catches with little airspace. Both have had very good preseasons, with Wease catching six passes for 80 yards and two touchdowns against Detroit.
Erik Ekukanma, Andrew Armstrong, Tarik Black and AJ Henning seemingly face longer odds.
4). Backup offensive line. Larry Borom - better over the past two weeks, aside from two pre-snap penalties, will be the No. 3 tackle, but everything else appears unresolved. Daniel Brunskill, who struggled for much of camp, seemed to help his stock with a solid game against Detroit. Guard Braeden Daniels has made a case with two strong games.
Kion Smith played every snap on Saturday and allowed his third sack in two preseason games, per PFF. Smith, Jackson Carman, Ryan Hayes, Jalen McKenzie and rookies Josh Priebe and Addison West seem to be fighting uphill climbs, though Priebe was very good Saturday.
5). Backup safety and backup inside linebacker. If Miami keeps five inside linebackers, then it’s a toss up among Channing Tindall, Eugene Asante, Dequan Jackson (less likely) or someone on the waiver wire. Tindall played a team-high 58 defensive snaps on Saturday; he’s a core special teams player but has struggled in pass coverage and had problems finishing some plays. Asante had six tackles (including one for loss) and has an interesting skill set.
Who sticks behind Minkah Fitzpatrick, Ifeatu Melifonwu and Elijah Campbell at safety could come to what the Dolphins do with Ashtyn Davis (out indefinitely with a leg injury) and Dante Trader Jr. (limited to five defensive snaps Saturday after returning from injury). In other words, do they begin the season on injured reserve?
Patrick McMorris’ immediate future could hang in the balance, with John Saunders Jr. and Jordan Colbert also still competing.
OFFENSIVE NOTES FROM PFF
▪ Among Dolphins who played at least 10 snaps on Saturday, PFF gave its five highest offensive grades to the Michigan rookie Priebe (33 offensive snaps), Wease Jr. (31), Eskridge (19), Hayes (21) and tight end Chris Myarick (23).
▪ PFF gave its five worst offensive grades to tight end Tanner Conner (26), Ezukanma (32), quarterback Zach Wilson (35), receiver Tarik Black (23) and running back Jaylen Wright (21).
▪ PFF graded rookie guard Jonah Savaiinaea as Miami’s worst pass blocking lineman on Saturday; he permitted two pressures in 16 pass blocking snaps. Carman was graded the best; he didn’t permit a sack on pressure in 27 pass blocking chances.
▪ Among linemen who played at least 10 snaps, Priebe and Daniels were graded the two best run blockers. DEFENSIVE NOTES FROM PFF
▪ Among Dolphins who played at least 10 snaps on Saturday, PFF gave its five highest defensive grades to cornerback Robinson (his 14 defensive snaps included a game-sealing interception), Smith (34), Sheffield (11), Isaiah Johnson (34) and Kenneth Grant (16).
▪ Among Dolphins who played at least 10 snaps, PFF gave its five worst defensive grades to linebacker Willie Gay Jr., defensive lineman Zeek Biggers, McMorris, Asante and cornerback Cornell Armstrong.
▪ PFF graded Grant, Marshall Jr. and Colbert as Miami’s best run defenders Saturday.
▪ In pass coverage, Colbert allowed an 11-yard TD on the only pass throw against him… Lions quarterbacks were 3 for 3 for 40 yards against Marshall Jr…Armstrong allowed two completions in four targets for 29 yards and a touchdown…
Jones allowed the only pass thrown against him to be caught for eight yards…. Sheffield permitted the only pass thrown against him to be completed for four yards… Bears quarterbacks were 0 for 1 against Smith and 0 for 2 against Johnson…Duck and BJ Adams weren’t targeted.