The Dolphins are hosting their 2nd consecutive game at Hard Rock Stadium tomorrow evening at 7PM as they welcome the Washington Commanders, who they have been practicing and scrimmaging against the last few days. One of the most interesting storylines is who plays and how much. This is a preseason game after all. Andy Reid, HC of the Super Bowl winning Kansas City Chiefs believes in playing his starters and getting them playing time so they’re ready for the long haul. Hard to argue the results Any Reid has yielded, since the Chiefs have won back to back Super Bowls. On the other hand, this is a 20 game season, 3 preseason games, and 17 regular season games. The Dolphins haven’t had an issue starting strong, it’s been quite the opposite. In 2022, the Dolphins started out 8-3, and then faded to a 9-8 finish. Last season, the Dolphins ripped off a 9-3 start, only to once again fade at the end of the season to an 11-6 record. To add, in 2022 we lost in the WC playoff game against the Bills and then again in 2023, the same result, a Wild Card loss to the Chiefs. In other words, I think HC Mike McDaniel has to be more mindful of “saving” players so they’re more likely to be healthy at the end of the season. That’s a difficult tightrope to walk, because as Rock would gladly tell you, ALL the games count.

All that being said, I do expect to see more starters play this week, and in general, more players playing. Last week there were a higher percentage of players on the 90 man roster that sat than played, I think it was around 40 total players that participated last week. That number will much higher and starters will at least see a series or two, including QB Tua Tagovailoa. The Dolphins made a big statement this week releasing DT Teair Tart, who some felt might be the starting NT. That spot now appears to belong to DL Benito Jones. Our rotation looked pretty solid last week against mostly 2’s, 3’s and 4’s of the Falcons. This week, they will see more starters and more of the 2nd tier linemen. Once again, picking up Calais Campbell, for less than market value was a huge get. I love Campbell opposite Sieler. You know how deeply upset the loss of Wilkins made me, but bringing in Calais Campbell was a great elixir and I feel much better about our defense. Hopefully the rotation guys continue to shine, meaning Jonathan Harris, Brandon Pili, Neville Gallimore, Da’Shawn Hand and Isaiah Mack.

The offensive roster breakdown is going to be very interesting to me. How many QB’s, WR’s, RB, TE’s and OL will we carry. We carried 9 OL last season, I’d expect the same this season. LT Terron Armstead, LG Robert Jones, C Aaron Brewer, RG Liam Eichenberg and RT Austin Jackson. Is it possible that if projected LG starter Isaiah Wynn isn’t healthy enough to play the first 4 weeks that he gets cut? LT Patrick Paul and T Kendall Lamm are locked in. It appears that T/G/C Jack Driscoll is a shoe in as well. That leaves one more spot, and don’t be surprised if it’s not Wynn. You can only wait so long, and be ever so hopeful. G Lester Cotton, T Ryan Hayes, OG’s Andrew Meyer, Seth Harlow and Matthew Jones are all available now, and that just might factor in this decision.

AS for WR, I have no idea which way this could go. Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and OBJ are locked. After that though, it’s a dogfight. With a roster of smaller, less physical WR’s, you’d think third year WR Erik Ezukanma 6’2 210 might have a leg up, but he’s been often injured, and that will hurt him as vies to make the roster. When I say physical, I mean catching contested balls, and running after the catch. We haven’t see either of those per se from EZ, but we have seen him with the football on end arounds, and maybe a screen or two, and he’s the most physical one with the ball in his hands of the bunch. Veteran WR River Cracraft is a savvy guy who can get open and is an excellent blocker in the pass game. If I had to pick a player I think faces the steepest uphill battle to make the roster, it’s Braxton Berrios. I feel that rookie WR Malik Washington is his replacement, so I’m thinking Hill, Waddle, OBJ, Cracraft, EZ and Washington, if we carry 6 WR’s. Early in the season we carried 5 wideouts, later 6.

The Tight End battle will be another one to watch. The top 3 are set, and perhaps that’s all we carry. Durham Smythe, Jonnu Smith and Julian Hill are locked. We know they love potential of Tanner Conner, but will it ever be realized in a Dolphins uniform? Conner left PS 1 against the Falcons with potentially a rib injury, but nothing was confirmed on that front. Yeah, he looked great on that long catch and run play, but can he play more than 3 plays without getting hurt? Former Chiefs TE Jody Fortson, who seems more like a big WR is another player hoping to make the roster. Hayden Rucci is the other guy fighting for a roster spot, and don’t be surprised if we carry on three.

The RB battle might be a little easier to decipher. Well, at least as far as the top 3, which are co-starters Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane, and then rookie sensation Jaylen Wright. Who wins that final roster spot, and yes, we’ll almost certainly be carrying 4 running backs, will probably be determined after the preseason. Veteran Jeff Wilson Jr., Chris Brooks and Salvon Ahmed will be battling for the final spot. Both Wilson and Brooks are two of the more physical runners in the group, but age is on Brooks side, experience on Wilson’s. Ahmed, who seems to always be counted somehow always sticks because MM loves the guy. FB Alec Ingold is locked in. I think it will be Brooks, but this last spot is very unpredictable

Once again, lets hope for no injuries, and some good, clean play all around on both offense and defense. We’re still going to be seeing lots of basic, vanilla stuff from both our team and the opposition, but that’s when you can really gauge game play. No one is going to be fooled out there, it’s just mano a mano, so if you want to make the roster, you’d better show well on that game film or you may be looking for a job next week. There’s a different kind of excitement now, this is Tua’s team, he’s confident, happy, and poised to take the next step in his career. Just stay healthy, and that goes of course not just for Tua, but the entire roster, as that was our undoing at the end of the season last year. Such a pleasure to see OLB Jaelan Phillips activated off the PUP! I’m so excited for him and our defense. We have to be careful with him, we need him around at the end, so Chop Robinson, Quinton Bell, Emmanuel Ogbah and Mo Kamara have to be effective when the big guy rests.

GO DOLPHINS!!!