Oh here in Miami, fans should definitely be doing the safety dance. This is easily the best collection of safety talent in quite some time. In 2011, we had Yeremiah Bell and Reshad Jones, but Reshad was just getting his career started at that point. This is now the best unit on this team. I know Minkah Fitzpatrick is just a rookie, but I think you can throw out the typical rookie plan, this kid is special, and and he’s not going to be overwhelmed by anything he sees in the NFL. He was used like a pro at Alabama, exposed to just about everything playing multiple positions and assignments at Alabama. Nick Saban said he was his best player, and he could handle anything, and that’s high praise indeed. We know what Reshad is, he’s a playmaker who can make things happen against the run or pass. T.J. McDonald didn’t get a full shot here because he was suspended for 8 games, but this former Rams strong safety can lay the wood, and has had over 100 tackles in a season. The talent drops off after the super trio, but maybe this is the year that either Walt Aikens or Jordan Lucas take a step forward, learning from Jones, McDonald and Minkah. Or, maybe Maurice Smith steals the last spot.
Reshad Jones S – 6’1 215 – 30YO
Reshad has done it all as a Miami Dolphins safety. Drafted in the 5th RD (#163) in the 2010 NFL draft, he’s been one of our best draft picks in that time period, if not the best. Annually racks up 100 or more tackles, and has 18 INT’s and 10.5 sacks so far in his career, along with 5 TD’s, 3 on INT returns and 2 on fumble returns. Playmaker! He can play near the LOS, and also has the speed to make plays on the back end. A leader on this team, and one that should hopefully be a career Dolphin.
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T.J. McDonald S – 6’2 225 – 27YO
The former Rams Strong safety is a lot like Reshad in that he can play close to the LOS or make plays deep as well. He’s a very good athlete, but hasn’t been anything like the playmaker Reshad has been. Still, he tackles well, and can cover, and can be used like a safety or a linebacker, so he brings versatility. Both he and Reshad can be part of the new formation that’s sweeping the NFL for the last few years, the Big Nickel. That means sometimes deploying a combination of big defensive backs, usually safeties replacing the smaller nickel corner. I look forward to seeing a lot of T.J., Reshad and Minkah on the field together this season.
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Minkah Fitzpatrick S – 6’1 202 – 21YO
The great thing about Minkah Fitzpatrick to me is the fact that while playing for Nick Saban, Saban used him in so many different situations, and Minkah succeeded in all of them. He wasn’t just a guy who was versatile enough to play multiple positions, he was excellent enough to do it better than anyone else. That’s the key right there, some guys are versatile, and can do things adequately at a few different things. Not Minkah, he kills it everywhere. We got a taste of what he’s capable of in the very first preseason game. That play where a completion was certain, but Minkah closed with a quick burst and was able to get to the receiver and cause him to drop the football. I saw him making tackles and defending the pass all over the field. good things are coming, no GREAT things are coming for this player.
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Maurice Smith S – 6’0 194 – 23YO
Right now, Maurice Smith is 4th on the depth chart, ahead of Walt Aikens and Jordan Lucas. The former Alabama, then Georgia safety was picked up by the Dolphins last season as an UDFA. So far in training camp, according to HC Adam Gase said this of Smith . . .“I think his confidence level is extremely high right now,” Gase said. “He understands the defense. It’s allowing him to play faster.” Whether he can continue to impress remains to be seen. Smith played in 6 games last season for the Dolphins.
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Jordan Lucas S – 6’0 190 – 25YO
Lucas was a 2016 6th RD pick (204th). He appeared in 8 games in ’16, and 11 games in ’17 playing mostly special teams. The former Nittany Lion safety is now 5th on the depth chart, and that’s not a great place to be, especially if we only carry 4 safeties. Last year for the most season we carried 4 safeties, but in December we carried 5. If Smith stays ahead of Lucas, Lucas could definitely be on the roster bubble.
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Walt Aikens S – 6’1 208 – 27YO
Aikens is really a player w/o a true position. The Dolphins have been shuffling him around from S to CB since they drafted him back in the 4th RD (#125) in the 2014 NFL Draft. in 2015, Aikens started 5 games, but otherwise has mostly been a ST’s player, but has played in almost every game since ’14. He’s show he’s durable, and is a good special teams player, but it seems like at this juncture, he’s no more than that.
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So that’s our safety situation. Depending upon how many CB’s and how many WR’s we keep will probably impact how many safeties we choose to keep, and keep in mind that if Aikens is stowed on the CB depth chart, he’s a guy who can also play safety. It’s the top 3 though, that should give Miami Dolphins fans something to really look forward to. Reshad and T.J. are a great tandem as is, so just think how much Minkah elevates the defense? I know I do all the time!
Finsmob Unleashed 
I hope to catch the game on the rerun in the morning at 2am pet on NFL Network. Make it a good one fellas😏
Anybody in the Disney area? Have to take an unexpected trip for a few days…could meet up for a quick beer possibly
CA or FL ?
This is a very good way to make the whole stupid thing go away.
“New ESPN president Jimmy Pitaro said that the network will not show the national anthem during broadcasts, which is a return to standard operating procedure.”
Bout time, someone is finally listening.
The rerun for me (central time) is at 5:30am. Sucks
DVR?
DVR
https://twitter.com/AsiataFive4/status/1030534252885168134
Not sure that is a good thing…. but seems he is fired up.
Tell ’em Wyo!
And we bashed Landry for wanting the extra money. The smart man planned ahead.
LOL
BailBondMike says:
August 17, 2018 at 10:38 am
M13, Like me, I know you HATE seeing Patterson as a Patsie and teaming up with Brady.
————–
You KNOW it, Bro! It REALLY pizzes me off, actually.
ElephantRider says:
August 17, 2018 at 3:57 pm
Anybody in the Disney area? Have to take an unexpected trip for a few days…could meet up for a quick beer possibly
—————
Crazy you should mention that. Remember I told ya the other night about my work colleague who’s close friends to Q-Tip and Phife (<–RIP)? He's on vacation at Disney World as I type this. That doesn't help you at all, I know… I just think it's a strange coincidence.
It’s a small world. 😉
PDog..
There’s only 1 Disney! Lol FL.
No! I’m pretty sure I’ve been to 2
Doggy is a cali guy. Good number of folks up that way though…. and you know where Son lives.
I know. I went to HS in Cali…
No comparison in the 2, imo.
Do hope you make Friday tunes with The Dog on Hollywood Beach. Busts the budget for the Fest, but his private plane out is well worth it.
I went to Disney in CA back in 1975. Has it changed much?
Completely..
No
I don’t have a DVR. Still have a regular cable box, so I guess it is my fault. lol
Wilson + Grant + Drake + Gesicki…… feel the need for speed.
Talk to me Goose.
LOL — Goose says he’d take Meg Ryan over Kelly McGillis and day of the week.
^”any” day.
I’m glad that no name piece of shit isn’t playing. Screw that guy.
😆
CavKong, I think your joke went over everybody else’s head! I liked it! 😆
🙂
I seen it before I posted but had to run an errand!
Glad I’m not the only smart-ass in the bunch! 🙂
Here’s what I’m looking at this evening…
1) NO INJURIES, PLEASE!!!
2) Our O-Line continuing to gel
3) Tannehill spreading the ball around, instead of this ‘patty-cake’ BS, targeting only 1 or 2 players (don’t want to see Amendola become the new Jarvis, targeted ALL day!)
4) Jerome Baker continuing to emerge
5) Raekwon McMillan continuing to emerge
6) More press-coverage from our CBs
7) Fales vs Osweiler… and I’ve got Fales in the lead
I want a Touchdown drive – early. Getterdone (miss him)
Agreed, on BOTH accounts. Where has GDP been? I hope he’s alright.
ER, I’m relatively close to Disney send me an email
johndibi@yahoo.com
A guy I work with told me today he’s a😎 UCF Alumni
I’m down the street from there
Use the run between their legs play!
Dick Stockton still does a great job at 75. Griese is the guy who won us a couple Superbowls.
Why the hell do you call a running play on 2nd and long???????
Our Defense still SUCKS. SMH
Here we go Dolphins here we go 😏
Well???????
So what was the main fail on the TD run?
Failing to stop them would be my initial guess 🤔🤡
Was Fitz in at safety on the long run?
How’d we lose the ball?
ESPN show Car with the ball, WTF.
That 9 yard run by Drake doesn’t count
My viewing choices are
1) Browns/Bills
2) 19:3o Wpg/ Ottawa
Cards Saints here
Fist Pump
Fist pump!
Why is Drake dancing????
Our short passing game is excellent!
Bills look like shit
Hey Bobby!!
XAVIEN!!!
Alright Howard!!!!
Howard Jones in the house
Hey. Just got home and tuned into a stream and a INT! Coincidence? 😂
That series on offense wasn’t pretty!!!
Can’t even score from the 9
What do you mean, didn’t we fist pump😉
Fist pump, fist pump, someone’s jackin off
For the love of football, WTF is wrong with our Offense? Sheesh! SMH
Not once, but TWICE we squandered a ‘goal-to-go’ sit on that drive, after the Xavien INT!!! SVUCKS!!!
Tunsil penalty
Why do we even pretend to run the ball??????????
Just pass it 6 yards a play???????
Defense looked good again on that drive.
Hey Bobby
QUINN!!!
You owe me a beer
“Bobby” Quinn??? Fair enough, I guess… *BEER for you*
2 McMillan sightings!
Finally, a long run.
Why is Drake running more than 10 yards on 1st down?
DID McCaffrey run 71 yards for a TD ALREADY??–And who kicked those two FG’s for the Fins?–
BILLS offense had NO 1st downs in the first quarter against the Brownies! Just remember, the “O” in BUFFALO stands for their Super Bowl wins!! –Looks like that stat won’t change this year!!
Nailed it, good from 54.
FUCKIN PENALTIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Its preseason penalties are BS, they dont call most of that shit during the regular seasson, well at least, not against the cheats.
Where’s Gesicki?
I never liked the guy . . .
I REPEAT, WHO-O-O kicked those FG’s for Miami?? —NFL Network won’t tell.
Joseph kicked only the 54.
THANKS, STEVE!
Morgan blows on punt returns
Another McMillan sighting!
I’m liking it!
Who does Haack have compromising pictures of?
Are we getting a raw deal on these penalties?
Aiight Ryan time for one more fist pump
WTF on the calls????????
OK I’m done for the evening if TannEhill is done!
Horrible call against the cards, one of those new lowering the Helmut calls, next play jnt on the sideline ruled out of bounds, then they change the call on the field to int, so they could review it. I agree anything close should just be called int, so they can review, but until that’s the norm…come on man. I see so much homerism in preseason for the home team, unless we’re at home.
WYOMING: Your boy Allen looked MUCH BETTER tonight than Tyrod Taylor!!
He can’t be my boy anymore!
Or I’d have to be a Jills fan!
wyoming85 says:
August 17, 2018 at 8:50 pm
OK I’m done for the evening if TannEhill is done!
————-
Same here, bud. And no… I was NOT impressed with Tannehill.
7.14 YPC for Tannehill on the evening. That’s below mediocre.
It’s what they were giving!
Why did we go away from it????????????
I was impressed with Thill
The penalties are KILLING us!
Another FUCKIN flag costs a TD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OK I’m not done!
I’m not a quitter!!!!!!
Another F’n PENALTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi ho the Derry o a fist pump we go.
Are they bad calls?
Not most!
That’s the major problem!
Another FUCKIN PENALTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tankersley getting roasted now!
————–
Well there ya go… Joe Schad said it. Gesicki is DOOMED!!! SMMFH
Haven’t seen him wide open either?
Chase Allen looking like a man among Boys with the 3rd string????????
WTF everybody have to work on Saturday??????????
The only thing I care about is did anyone get hurt?
Not that I saw!
First team looked good!
Clean up the MF penalties and we’ll b ok!
The offense made some good plays, had drives goin,
but pre-snap delay of game/17,
and other various penalties on productive plays
resulted in FG’s rather than TD’s
THill left game with 9-6 lead,
Then Cam Newton on his final series took the 13-9 halftime lead…
Upon X interception Fins had 1St & goal from the 9,
we had a holding penalty on a run to the 2,
and then a delay of game..
So we went from 2ND/Goal from the 2, to 1st/Goal from outside the RZ (or something to that effect)!!!
So we ran the ball for a 3/out FG!!!
Gase said angrily at halftime,
“”””If we can’t execute/stop the pass play penalties, then we’ll just run the damn ball”””
Similar on first series, had it moving, the penalties ruined every thing positive!!!
JUST GOTTA SQUASH THEM DAMN PENALTIES!!!
GOFINS!!!
Think that DB Maurice Smith made the team tonight,
Wowww nice play was one especially (resulting in turnover),
among quite a few others,
and played well last week too!!!
Our #4 RB Perry is a hell’of’a #4 RB, both this & last preseason, gonna be hard not to keep him,
but we also need to keep a 4th TE of experience,& a 6th WR/Owusu or Ford,
GONNA BE TRICKY!!!
THREE of our offensive skill player starters, and rookie Stud RB Kalen Ballage didn’t dress!!!
Defensively, (in response to Newton’s o17 excessive flagless tauntings)
Dolphins “””PLANTING THEIR OWN FLAGS ON Cam Newton”””,
THREE SACKS, and an Xavien Howard pick (almost six) just two minutes into the 2ND quarter,
Of those 3 plantings
Robert Quinn had TWO SACKS!!!
D played great first half,other than on basically two big plays,
Otherwise, pretty impressive!!
Fales first series started with a first and goal that ended in FG…
Oz got burned on a few with drops, penalties, and pass rush..
Petty has just his two PS game final drives of distance and TOUCHDOWNS, Yea I know they’ve been vs those about to be cut
Jus-Saying that Gase suggested early on that
“”” at whatever positions, we’ll keep the guys that score TD’s”””
Maybe Petty should get a chance to go second next week???
Though being the dress rehearsal game,
goin second is the 4th quarter anyways…
GOFINS!!!
Drake blows!
O for 5 on first half third downs REALLY SUCKS!! On the two that I got to see this morning, Coach GARSE called for a 1-Yard pas pattern on 3rd and 5, and another pass that was WELL SHORT OF THE NEEDED YARDAGE!!! I SUPPOSE many of you will blame LANDRY for that???????–Well I’m NOT falling for your bag of shit, you haters!!! THE BLAME for this team’s inability to convert third downs too often lies in ADAM GARSE!!! This guy is NOT a championship caliber coach, period. But who is surprised by this?? Virtually every coach and every GM selected by Ross has been a failure!! Yet Ross keeps them around and gives them pay raises for FAILURE!!!
IS THIS ANY WAY TO RUN A FRANCHISE???
IT IS IF YOUR NAME IS STEVE ROSS!!
So far 2 pre season games and the biggest take away is the D is bad. First game we could not stop the pass 2nd game we could not stop the run
So, I had to work very late yesterday and forgot to set my DVR. How did we look?
(Going to go back and read the posts now)
First triple play in over 100 years without getting out the batter compliment of the Texas Rangers. Pretty cool.
Oops, baseball reference.
CavalierKong says:
August 17, 2018 at 6:35 pm
I’m glad that no name piece of shit isn’t playing. Screw that guy.
LMAO!!
I was like who is the nonamePOS? Oh….Number…Name…
DOH! That was funny.
Looking at the box score Tanny (and the rest of the passing game) had a 91.2 rating with 82% completion percentage. That is pretty good on the surface. What is the reality of how they looked?
Quinn had two sacks? Nice! I see Harris had a sack too. (Probably against backups I am guessing?)
watching the highlights on NFL.com now. That pick by X was NICE! like a shark coming out of nowhere!
steveccnv says:
August 17, 2018 at 8:27 pm
Where’s Gesicki?
Reply
Mike E. says:
August 17, 2018 at 8:30 pm
I never liked the guy . . .
Reply
Coffee, meet sinus passages. LOL
Well I’m NOT falling for your bag of shit, you haters!!
Sputtering, gasping, can’t breath, laughing too hard!
OD – Preseason game 2, and you’re this riled up? You should probably take a step back my friend, it’s not worth it man.
Kong – I thought the no-name POS was hilarious too, I just couldn’t get this blog to let you know. That was great!
Turrible . . .
Durham Smythe sighting last night 2 catches 27 yds. Don’t know where he was playing (1’s or 2’s). Was Bobby Mac the starter opposite X? Wonder how he played? Cause Tank is tanking. Tank showed some promise last year but seems to have taken a step back. Wonder if the competition has gotten to his head?
Smythe’s catches came 2nd half. Dude can catch, but doesn’t look real natural as a runner. More of a rumbling lumber…but he could sneak out of his blocking on plays and is a big target. MCCain started and actually didn’t notice him much. Which is normally a good thing but could be cause they were running a lot and many of their passes were dump off/outlet ones.
Tanny was 14/17 for 100 yards that came to a 91.2 QB rating even without a TD. And thought both Wilson and Grant looked like legit passing options even though used as outside wideouts. Were getting open against the Panthers first team D.
I didn’t see the game, but seems like they were all short passes. Is that true?
They kept is short, especially first half. But plenty of medium ones. Think a main reason average is so low is lots of pass to run stuff, many of which didn’t work too well.
Once the regular season starts, we need to open up this offense, run the ball, and hit some medium to deep passes to Stills, Wilson, Gesicki. I don’t don’t want to see the same ole Landry type of offense, throw the ball 5-10 yards and hope to get a 1st down. Open it up man!
Most of all, if it’s because Tannehill is just playing it safe, then we know w need to move on. Not saying that’s the case, but it IS possible.
Most of the passes to Wilson and Grant (most of Tanny’s completions) were route stuff, most of them down and outs and looked like first option stuff. And dudes were getting open. Wasn’t your safety blanket variety. My main problem with the O was penalties and lack of finish.