The Miami Dolphins’ 31-24 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 5 brought the same old warning signs on both sides of the ball, but it also gave another clear reminder that the youth on this roster is still flashing.
Start with Joe Burrow, who worked Miami underneath all game long. Pending Monday Night Football, he ranked sixth in EPA per dropback on throws coming out in less than 2.5 seconds and eighth in EPA per dropback on passes under 10 air yards. That was the story: Burrow got the ball out quickly, stayed decisive, and kept attacking the spaces Miami was willing to give up.
The Dolphins were built to take away the deep stuff to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, so the Bengals happily lived beneath that umbrella. On one snap, Miami’s quarters look basically turned into something close to a prevent shell, with the linebackers sinking too far and Chase Brown slipping free for a 10-yard gain. That’s the bind Miami is in right now - the scheme is asking the second level to hold up, but the personnel hasn’t answered.
It doesn’t help that Chop Robinson was getting chip help and double teams throughout the game, which leaves Miami without a real edge presence to force quarterbacks into bad decisions. The result is a messy combination: a defense built around limiting possessions, backed by linebackers who haven’t been good enough in coverage and a front that can’t consistently create pressure on its own.
The passing game had its own set of problems. Bobby Slowik couldn’t reliably create easy looks, the receivers struggled to separate, and Malik Willis contributed several costly mistakes. The structure of the offense clearly borrows from Mike McDaniel, but some of those ideas already feel stale, and without Tyreek Hill or Jaylen Waddle, they don’t maximize the players Miami has available.
Too often, the Dolphins were sending only two or three receivers into routes, and that was paired with a long play-fake. On second-and-10, Cincinnati’s linebackers were able to sink into the intermediate windows, and Chris Bell couldn’t get off the press well enough to threaten the coverage. For a team without enough proven pass-catchers right now, those looks aren’t built to be a staple.
If Miami wants to make life easier on Willis, the answer may be to lean on volume and attack more of the field with the route tree. That said, Willis still has to own his share of the mess. He was slow in his process, reluctant to move beyond his downfield reads, and unaware enough in the pocket to make bad situations even worse.
The bright spot continues to be the rookie class. Chris Johnson had the best game of his young career, and it showed in more than one way. He forced a fumble, and he also put together a strong pass-rush rep by fighting through three different blockers to pressure Joe Burrow.
Kadyn Proctor and Will Kacmarek kept adding to the list of encouraging moments, too. On a toss to Malik Washington, Proctor sealed off Dexter Lawrence while Kacmarek delivered a key crack block on Boye Mafe. It was another example of physical play from a group that has already started to look like part of the future.
That’s where the optimism lives for Miami. The overall product in Week 5 was a rough blend of talent and scheme that wasn’t nearly enough against Cincinnati, but the rookie class keeps giving the Dolphins something to build on.
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Dolphins Rookies Are Forcing An Early Rebuild Debate
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For Miami, that kind of usage is more than a counting stat. It speaks to how quickly the rookie class has been pushed into real roles, from offensive line spots to other key rotational jobs, and it also raises the question of whether this is simply a development year in disguise. The snap totals suggest the Dolphins are getting a close look at their future now, even if the broader shape of that future is still taking form. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Fans Know Exactly What Atlanta May Be Walking Into
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For Dolphins fans, the larger takeaway is less about one snap than the possibility of seeing an old storyline in a new uniform. Atlanta is still sorting out its quarterback situation, and if Michael Penix Jr. is unavailable in Week 6, Tagovailoa could be the one asked to lead the offense. It would put a familiar face back in the spotlight, with the same questions Miami supporters know all too well about how long the good stretches can last. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Practice Squad Shuffle Says Plenty About One Fading Gamble
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The corresponding move sent running back Jarquez Hunter out the door, ending a stint that never really got traction after Miami acquired him in a summer trade. Hunter did not get on the field for the Dolphins, and the decision to release him came after the team claimed rookie running back Kaytron Allen off waivers, another sign that Miami is still hunting for the right fit behind its top backs. [Read more 🡒]