TAMPA — It’s entirely possible that the Miami Dolphins‘ game-opening touchdown drive last week against the Washington Commanders will be the only time the first-team offense collectively sees the field this preseason.
If so, it’s instructive to look at how that group (particularly the interior offensive line) performed in the four short-yardage chances it got. Third and fourth-and-short have been an issue for pretty much Mike McDaniel’s entire time in Miami, and apparently, it still hasn’t totally gotten it fixed.
Miami Dolphins’ Short-Yardage Concerns
The Dolphins gained a total of three yards in its first three short-yardage plays — all runs.
On try No. 4, McDaniel bowed to reality and had Tua Tagovailoa take a shot to the end zone, resulting in a 13-yard River Cracraft touchdown catch.
“I thought, ultimately, we understood the situation,” Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith said this week. “We understood our emphasis and execution. … Overall when you look at short-yardage or red-zone third down in the preseason, you’re looking at execution of the group, understanding the situation and what we need and you can see the intent with the guys, the purpose of the runners, everyone trying to execute.
“So we felt good about it, but ultimately, we know where we can clean up in the blocking schemes and stuff like that.”
Change to Dolphins’ O-Line?
Smith was being diplomatic because the touchdown drive was probably a case of bad process, a good result for Robert Jones, Liam Eichenberg, and Lester Cotton (who started at left guard, center, and right guard, respectively). They struggled to get much forward push in the team’s gotta-have-it situations.
And they certainly didn’t slam the door on a possible lineup change even beyond Aaron Brewer’s eventual return from injury.
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McDaniel on Thursday seemed open to switching up that starting group, which will feature Terron Armstead at left tackle and Austin Jackson at right.
“The competition is very good at that position,” he said. “I do think that the guys that have been working with the first unit, that has been about seven guys. I think they’re pretty solid in their areas.
“There are some pretty competitive battles going on from specifically in the interior where if I’m the fifth or sixth guy, my job isn’t necessarily as set in that role and that you could — there is just some real growth from some of our younger players. As well as lineups have changed a little bit since Brewer went out just because the complexion of how many players we have at the position and who’s overstrained and who’s not.
“I feel very good about the top portion of our offensive line, and I feel very strong about the competitors pushing those guys to the point that there’s some spots still to settle, but it’s not because the failure of one; it’s because the push from another.”
If the Dolphins were to make a change, the most obvious candidate for playing time is Jack Driscoll, who has been solid in both practice and games. Driscoll has allowed just one pressure but no sacks in 37 pass-blocking snaps this preseason, per TruMedia.
Cotton is expected to return to the bench when Brewer returns, but don’t count out the possibility of Driscoll supplanting Eichenberg at right guard.
Friday night’s preseason finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers could be consequential.