Week 2 for the Dolphins? Man, it just flattened any hope from Week 1 right into the dirt. Any thought of this team being better than folks think? Gone. Absolutely regretting that six-win prediction right now, because after Sunday, it feels like it might be a reach. This team’s problems aren’t just about youth, and that’s the kicker.
Takes No Talent to Get the Basics Right
Remember that “Takes No Talent” wall from 2019? Brian Flores had players and coaches running to it after mistakes to emphasize effort, discipline, accountability. And honestly? This roster needs that vibe back, pronto. Because right now, they’re missing the absolute fundamentals, the stuff that takes no talent at all. We’re talking about securing the snap before punting, making routine kicks, avoiding procedural penalties, lining up correctly, executing assignments, catching a punt. This stuff is Football 101! Their path to victory is already super narrow with all the youth and dead cap on the roster. They just cannot be missing field goals, muffing punts, gifting opponents short fields, and coming away empty on red-zone drives. They simply aren’t good enough to beat themselves and their opponent on the same Sunday. That’s a tough recipe for any NFL team.
The Pass Rush Is Exceptionally Bad and Everyone Noticed
But maybe the biggest head-scratcher, the absolute glaring problem, is that pass rush. When you’re stripping a team down to the studs, you know you’re gonna have some growing pains. You can’t be shocked if position rooms aren’t playing at a league-average level. But the Dolphins’ pass rush? It’s been exceptionally bad through the first two games. How bad, you ask? They are the only team in the entire league that hasn’t recorded a single sack through two games this season. ZERO! On top of that, they’ve got the second-worst defensive passing rating allowed. Brock Purdy completed a mind-boggling 91% of his passes on Sunday. Ninety-one percent! The pressure stats for Sunday were just as brutal. Tackles Zeek Biggers, Zach Sieler, Jordan Phillips, and Keith Cooper combined for fifty-seven pass rushes and generated a grand total of one quarterback pressure. On the edge, Josh Uche managed three pressures, but Malik Herring, Clelin Ferrell, Robert Beal, and Max Llewellyn? They failed to generate a single pressure on twenty-five combined pass-rushing snaps. Part of this mess might be chalked up to their draft strategy, passing on Reuben Bain to draft OL Kadyn Proctor. But honestly, it feels like even Bain couldn’t fix this motley crew of rushers.
Austin Jackson: The Unlikely Silver Lining?
Okay, so this next take might surprise you, but my opinion on Austin Jackson is actually shifting, for the better. Don’t get me wrong, my initial thoughts on his game weren’t exactly sky-high. And Sunday’s performance? Epically bad: nine pressures allowed, two sacks allowed, and a fourteen percent pressure rate allowed, which is the highest among qualifying offensive tackles. Plus, the false starts and holding penalties. Brutal, right? But here’s the thing: he was going up against Maxx Crosby and Nick Bosa. Those guys are All-Pro caliber pass rushers. And more importantly, Jackson is on a one-year contract and is highly unlikely to be on the team next year anyway. For a rebuilding year, all they need from AJ is to hold down the fort at right tackle while Kadyn Proctor learns to play left guard, keeping Malik Willis upright in the process. That’s the mission, and despite the rough edges, he might just be doing it.
This season is clearly a rebuild. The self-inflicted wounds and the nonexistent pass rush are alarming, but if they can somehow get those basics locked down and let the young guys develop, maybe, just maybe, they can build something for the future.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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