Chris Perkins: 10 observations from Dolphins-Falcons preseason opener; draftees fare well, QBs not so well

MIAMI GARDENS — Most of the Miami Dolphins’ top starters and top subs, including edge rusher Chop Robinson, the first-round pick from Penn State, were out of uniform for Friday’s preseason opener against Atlanta at Hard Rock Stadium.

Dolphins quarterback Skylar Thompson, who is battling Mike White for the No. 2 job, got the start.

Neither was overly impressive.

But don’t start the calls for free agent quarterback Ryan Tannehill just yet.

Friday was just one game. Most likely the Dolphins will stick with Thompson and White as their backup quarterbacks.

Beyond that, the 2024 draft class had a good showing and there wasn’t much to learn on this night from the new kickoff alignment. Here are some more takeaways from Friday night’s game:

Thompson gets start, throws INT and TD

Thompson, who is battling White, the incumbent backup, for the No. 2 job behind Tua Tagovailoa, started Friday and went 8 for 19 for 95 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He had a 53.6 passer rating.

Thompson threw a first-quarter interception while under pressure. But he threw a 6-yard second-quarter touchdown to running back Jeff Wilson Jr.

His longest play was a 43-yard completion to tight end Tanner Conner.

Thompson didn’t do anything to separate himself from White.

White has rough outing

White had a rough night, going 4 of 14 for 26 yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions and a 39.6 passer rating. White isn’t in danger of being cut but it should be noted his $3.5 million salary isn’t guaranteed.

White, who began Friday’s game 1 of 8 passing, was Tagovailoa’s primary backup last season but played sparingly, going 5 for 6 for 74 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

White’s best days were 2022 with the New York Jets when he was 103 of 175 for 1,192 yards, three touchdowns and four interceptions.

Last week coach Mike McDaniel called the backup battle between White and Thompson “neck and neck”.

Dolphins’ 2024 draft class has good showing

A few key members of the Dolphins’ 2024 draft class – Robinson, fellow edge rusher Mo Kamara, the fifth-round pick, and wide receiver Tahj Washington, the seventh-round pick who is on the reserve/injured list – didn’t play Friday.

But the draftees who did play performed fairly well.

Left tackle Patrick Paul, the second-round pick from Houston, was aggressive and finished his blocks.

Running back Jaylen Wright, the fourth-round pick from Tennessee, showed some nice bursts of speed, his trademark, and showed some toughness. He had a 6-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

Wide receiver Malik Washington, the sixth-round pick from Virginia, had some good punt returns, ran a good 21-yard end around and had one reception for five yards in the first half.

Safety Patrick McMorris, the sixth-round pick from California, had a team-best eight tackles and was involved in some good action. He left the game briefly and went into the blue injury tent but returned to action.

Dolphins use OT Kion Smith at LG

The Dolphins started Kion Smith, usually an offensive tackle, at left guard. Smith had back-to-back rough plays against Falcons defensive lineman Kentavius Street, allowing Street to record a tackle for a 3-yard loss to running back Jeff Wilson Jr., and then allowing Street to put pressure on Thompson before an incomplete pass.

Smith went down after that play and the medical team was looking at his left knee before he walked off and went into the blue medical tent on the sideline.

The Dolphins replaced Smith with newly-signed guard Sean Harlow.

Smith, Vandenburgh, Murphy, Neal injured in first half, Conner hurt in second half

Smith, linebacker Ezekiel Vandenburgh and cornerback Siran Neal all went into the lockerroom in the first half after apparently sustaining injuries. Smith appeared to have a left knee injury in the first quarter. Later in the first quarter edge rusher Grayson Murphy, who has had a good camp, went down with an apparent right knee injury. He later re-entered the game.

Vandenburgh and Neal went into the lockerroom accompanied by team personnel in the second quarter. Both had been in the blue medical tent on the sideline.

Tight end Tanner Conner left the game in the third quarter after being shaken up after a catch and run.

Quinton Bell has quiet week, quiet game

Edge rusher Quinton Bell, one of the sensations of training camp, had two quiet days during joint practices and he followed that with a quiet game.

Bell was in the backfield with regularity before the joint practices but the Falcons have managed to contain Bell, the third-year player who was on the Dolphins’ practice squad last season, for three days.

Bell also played special teams Friday, appearing on the kickoff return team.

Falcons 24, Dolphins 20 (if joint practices were a real game between starters)

The Dolphins would have won Tuesday’s joint practice with Atlanta. But the Falcons appeared to make better “halftime adjustments” because they won Wednesday’s second joint practice by a fairly comfortable margin.

Tagovailoa was sharp Tuesday, but not sharp at all Wednesday. He had a few overthrows in the end zone and was uncharacteristically off on a couple of other throws. But he was under pressure.

The Falcons’ pass rush, led by defensive tackle David Onyemata, gave the Dolphins pass protection concerns both days.

The Dolphins’ red zone offense was productive in its first session Wednesday but got shut down in the second red zone session.

The Dolphins’ pass rush, led by edge rushers Emmanuel Ogbah, Robinson and, to a lesser extent, Bell, was strong both days, constantly harassing quarterback Kirk Cousins. The Dolphins’ first team defense was strong overall, but the backups got peppered by Falcons quarterback Michael Penix.

Mind you, the Dolphins were missing numerous key players Wednesday including five would-be defensive starters among defensive linemen Calais Campbell (rest) and Benito Jones (unknown), linebacker Jordyn Brooks (unknown) and safeties Jordan Poyer (unknown) and Jevon Holland (unknown).

Offensively, Miami was without wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (unknown) and left tackle Terron Armstead (rest), and wide receiver Tyreek Hill (rest), right tackle Austin Jackson (rest) and running back Raheem Mostert (rest) had limited snaps.

Jason Sanders booms a FG from 58 yards and adds 46-yarder

Kicker Jason Sanders, who has kicked Miami into the playoffs the last two years, had field goals of 58 and 46 yards Friday. The 58-yarder, which came in the first quarter, would have been a career-best if it was in the regular season.

Sanders’ current career best is a 57-yarder against Dallas last season.

Sanders added a 46-yard field goal in the third quarter Friday.

Sanders missed wide left from 58 yards in the fourth quarter.

Dolphins kickoffs, kickoffs returns don’t reveal much

With all the excitement over the new kickoff rules there wasn’t much you could glean from Friday’s game. The new alignment didn’t provide any memorable highlights or lowlights.

Washington had two returns for 46 yards, including a 23-yard return.

Fellow rookie wide receiver Kyric McGowan had one return for 27 yards.

Atlanta had four kickoff returns for 42 yards with a best of 23 yards.

The Dolphins appeared to have linebackers, defensive backs and running backs on their first kickoff coverage team. They’d shown offensive linemen in joint practices with Atlanta.

On a few of the Dolphins’ kickoff returns they had two offensive linemen.

No Tyreek, very little jet or ‘cheat’ motion

Hill didn’t play Friday and as a result the Dolphins didn’t have much pre-snap jet or “cheat” motion, an action that often sees Hill running parallel to the line of scrimmage before the snap and turning upfield with a head of steam as the ball is snapped.

The league has decided to make it a point of emphasis this season that Hill doesn’t head upfield early, thus gaining an advantage on his defender.

Teams have complained about that the previous two seasons.

Miami hasn’t used the action much during training camp, with or without referees at practice, and hardly used it at all Friday.