The Miami Dolphins are 1-6, and the scoreboard hasn’t been kind. They’ve scored the second-fewest points in the league, with only the winless Los Angeles Chargers below them, and that’s the kind of number that tells you exactly where this season sits right now.
But buried inside the losses is something worth watching. For one half against the Patriots, Miami looked like a team with structure, energy and a plan.
The defense forced a fumble deep in New England territory, and after a first half that mostly featured field goals, the Dolphins put together a 70-yard touchdown drive. Greg Dulcich, Caleb Douglas and Kevin Coleman all got involved before Malik Washington finished it off with a short touchdown right before halftime.
That was the good version. The second half brought the version that has defined too many of these games.
The Patriots adjusted, Miami didn’t answer, and the Dolphins piled up enough self-inflicted mistakes to let a winnable game slip away. Even so, it’s fair to wonder what this team might look like if it stops beating itself so often.
If it can build a double-digit lead against a playoff contender while still making that many mistakes, there has to be something real in there somewhere.
The problem is that the rookie mistakes are still showing up everywhere. Against a Mike Vrabel-led team, every communication breakdown gets exposed, and Miami had plenty of them.
On one of Malik Willis’ five sacks, Douglas and Bell ended up running to the same area of the field. After the Dolphins opened the second half by stopping the Patriots, they had a chance to extend the lead, but on third-and-9 Willis’ throw at the sticks bounced off Dulcich’s helmet.
Later, at the end of the third quarter, two defenders chased the option on Drake Maye’s goal-line read-option, leaving Maye free to walk into the end zone untouched. Jaylen Wright also dropped an easy pass, and yes, Ollie Gordon’s unsportsmanlike penalty is still sitting there, waiting to be dealt with emotionally.
None of that is glamorous, but it is fixable. It also cost Miami a game it could have won.
Willis, at least, is starting to look more settled. A 21-of-32 day for 211 yards, two touchdowns and a deflected interception isn’t going to quiet the loudest voices around the team, and it doesn’t change the bigger quarterback conversation.
But it does show progress. He’s beginning to do the basic things teams need from a quarterback: take the easy yards, get rid of the ball when nothing is there and keep it out of harm’s way.
There’s still growth left - including the habit of sliding into a sack instead of throwing the ball away - but the trend is moving in the right direction. He’ll get another test against the Lions this week.
Up front, Kadyn Proctor’s absence made the point for everyone. In my Tracking the Guards series, I’ve talked about how people who understand offensive line play have been impressed with his development this year, even if the PFF grades don’t always line up with that view.
The Patriots game made his value easier to see. Proctor missed the game while in concussion protocol, and Jarrett Kingston filled in.
Kingston played fine, but the run game lost some of its force without Proctor. There were fewer moments where linebackers got neutralized, and New England’s safeties and second-level defenders had a much easier time getting involved.
Proctor is expected back against the Lions, and Miami clearly needs him.
And that’s the larger picture here: the rebuild is messy, but it does look like a rebuild. The Dolphins are giving real snaps to a long list of players 25 or younger, including Patrick Paul, Caleb Douglas, Malik Washington, Kevin Coleman, Chris Bell, Kadyn Proctor, Jacob Rodriguez, Michael Taaffe, Chris Johnson, Chop Robinson, Jordan Phillips and Jonah Savaiinaea. Kenny Grant, Dante Trader, Jason Marshall and Zeek Biggers could be added to that group, too.
That’s a lot of development time, and it’s time that isn’t going to older names like Jonnu Smith or Jalen Ramsey. It’s also time that comes with penalties and blown assignments, because that’s part of the process.
The record is ugly, and the week-to-week pain is real. But the talent growth is there, and for now, that feels more worthwhile than watching older players underperform and get hurt.
In Other News...
Austin Jackson Just Put His Dolphins Future Back In Doubt
Austin Jacksons future in Miami already felt uncertain, and his latest comments only added to the noise around it. The Dolphins offensive lineman was asked about trade speculation and made it clear he is open to playing for any team that wants him, a notable stance for a player whose time with the organization has already been marked by inconsistency and questions about availability.
For Miami, the timing makes the situation even trickier. Jackson is nearing the end of his career, which naturally puts a different lens on his place with the team, but the Dolphins also have to weigh what kind of market there really is for him. With limited perceived value around the league, moving him would not be simple, and the front office may be left deciding whether to hold onto a veteran lineman with an uncertain future or see if another team is willing to take a chance. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Offensive Line Has A New Concern After Patriots Game
Miamis offensive line has been trying to find its rhythm all season, and the latest stretch only added to the uncertainty. Kadyn Proctors time in concussion protocol already forced the Dolphins to adjust up front, and any absence there matters because cohesion is such a big part of how the interior line functions. When one guard is out, the ripple effects show up quickly in communication, timing and how cleanly the unit handles pressure.
Jonah Savaiinaeas recent play has now become part of the conversation too. Against New England, he had his first penalty of the season and drew a poor evaluation from the grading side, which is not the kind of trend Miami wants to see from a young lineman still trying to settle in. The Dolphins have reason to keep a close eye on how the group responds next, because the margin for error on the offensive line gets thinner when one spot is already in flux. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Get A Chance To Change Their Season Against Detroit
The Dolphins get a fresh measuring stick in Week 9 when Detroit comes to Hard Rock Stadium, and the matchup arrives with Miami looking to keep building under Jeff Hafley. The Lions bring one of the leagues most explosive attacks, which is why so many around the game see Detroit as the safer pick, but Miami has at least shown enough recent fight to make this feel like more than a routine assignment.
There is also a little extra edge attached to the visit. Dan Campbell is back in Miami for the first time since his interim run with the Dolphins in 2015, adding a familiar face to a game that already carries real weight for a team trying to change the tone of its season. For Miami, the challenge is obvious: turn a tough matchup into the kind of win that can shift the conversation around the rest of the year. [Read more 🡒]