Wow. That was ugly. The Miami Dolphins by no means confirmed up throughout Sunday’s 24-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. The loss dropped Miami to 1-2 on the season, the primary time in Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel’s profession that he has been under the .500 mark. Miami’s Week 3 sport is one which followers have to overlook – however the crew must proceed to see as a result of it was not adequate.
Throughout the board, Miami struggled through the sport, particularly on offense. The protection made sufficient performs to maintain the crew inside attain of the Seahawks, preserving Seattle from scoring within the second and third quarters, forcing turnovers, and making stops. The offense couldn’t capitalize on any of the benefits the protection offered them, and Miami deserved to lose the sport.
Who noticed their inventory rise through the sport? Who had some struggles that damage their inventory score? We react to the performances from all through the competition.
Inventory Up
Zach Sieler and Calais Campbell, defensive sort out – I’m going to group these two collectively as a result of the pair has been dominant collectively in the midst of the Miami protection. Sieler recorded three tackles, a sack, and an interception on Sunday whereas Campbell had three tackls, a sack, two quarterback hits, and a move defensed (deflecting the ball Sieler intercepted). After the sport, I noticed a meme on X insinuating that the Dolphins protection is lacking Christian Wilkins, the defensive sort out who signed with the Las Vegas Raiders in free company this yr. That appears false. There are loads of points with Miami proper now, however Sieler and Campbell will not be part of that checklist.
Inventory Down
Skylar Thompson, quarterback – I don’t need to kick Thompson whereas he’s down, the with the quarterback sustaining a ribs/chest harm through the sport and being pressured out, however earlier than the harm, he merely was not enjoying properly. He was taking too lengthy to decide, with the sport wanting too quick for him nonetheless. He completed 13-for-19 for 107 yards. A 5.6 yards per try common simply provides to the frustration of the Dolphins’ offense not wanting to make use of its pace to open up the highest of the protection. Thompson is in his third season and has been a developmental challenge since he was drafted within the seventh spherical in 2022, however he performed like a developmental challenge on Sunday.
Tyreek Hill, huge receiver – Do you bear in mind Hill doing something on Sunday? I believe probably the most memorable second was when he let a bubble display move bounce off his arms. The All-Professional huge receiver didn’t have any impression on this sport. He completed with a team-high 40 receiving yards, however I actually can’t consider any reception he made. With quarterback Tua Tagovailoa injured, Miami wants their high gamers to step up – however Hill didn’t do this this week.
Durham Smythe, tight finish – Smythe simply appears to be regressing this yr. He was focused twice, pulling in a single move for 3 yards. His second goal was behind the endzone, with the tight finish capable of get his arms on the ball as he dove however couldn’t maintain on to it as he hit the bottom. This isn’t a score primarily based on that one play, but it surely seems like Smythe is a forgotten piece of the offense proper now.
Julian Hill, tight finish – Whereas Smythe has been disappearing, Hill stands out for the mistaken causes. He continues to attract flags, each on offense and on particular groups. Hill must see his enjoying time drop, doubtlessly including extra enjoying time for Smythe to get him again on the opposite facet of this score.
Robert Jones, guard – This won’t be truthful as loads of the offensive line struggled through the sport, particularly with penalties. Jones, nevertheless, stood out as somebody struggling greater than the remainder of the group.
Mike McDaniel, head coach – In 2023, the Dolphins averaged 401 yards per sport on offense and scored 29.2 factors per sport. In 2024, they’re averaging 318.7 yards per sport and 11 factors. The final two weeks have been depressing when you think about Miami racked up 400 yards of offense in Week 1 towards the Jacksonville Jaguars whereas scoring 20 factors. McDaniel’s high-octane offense isn’t enjoying like a high-octane offense. It seems like he’s attempting to show his creativity by altering what labored for Miami final yr, however it’s not working this yr. The sport plans, the in-game choices, the clock administration, the undisciplined errors, and the play calling haven’t been as much as par via the primary three weeks of 2024. Even contemplating Tagovailoa’s harm, the Dolphins had ten days to organize for the Seahawks sport, and it regarded like they had been going via a walkthrough for a lot of Sunday. Unacceptable.
