Tennessee Titans in Miami Dolphins, a review

Dolphins coach Adam Gase said, "The band is not lying."

So, every week, I'll look at the gaming band more closely.

Here are some of the things I noticed after watching Miami's 27-20 loss to the Tennessee Titans in the first game of the season, which also proved to be the longest in the world. NFL history due to two long delays:

1. Minkah Fitzpatrick has a future in the Pro Bowl. You can tell he played only one game of the NFL. And you can say that Miami did not really need another security with the 11th pick in the last draft of the NFL. But Fitzpatrick, which is actually currently a niche, is the real deal. We have seen it throughout the camp. We saw it in the preseason. And we saw it at the start of the first win of the season in Miami. In the first quarter, Fitzpatrick disengaged from a blocker, turned around him, plunged at the right thigh of former Alabama Herculean ballooner Henry Derrick and overturned him. after a win of 5. At the next play, Fitzpatrick diagnosed a Corey Davis pass. He quickly accelerated to the catcher and dragged him by the ankles after a gain of 1 meter. Subsequently, in a test in the first quarter, Minkah prevented a touchdown of the Titans. He identified the passing game (he possesses extraordinary diagnostic skills and instincts as a rookie) and made his way out of the end zone and towards the catcher, who caught the ball inside. from the 3-yard line. Fitzpatrick blocked Corey Davis by the left thigh and pulled him out of Miami's end zone. It was a tackle in pure form. He uses an excellent technique. It takes as much time as any Dolphin student. It also brings tons of energy. Fitzpatrick brings juice to the unit with its juvenile exuberance. He is simply a future Pro Bowler.

2. Albert Wilson moves the creative ideas of Adam Gase. Gase has had months and months to find creative ways to use Wilson, the small but strong receiver / rider who does many things that Jarvis Landry does, but at a fraction of the cost. Miami was only two for ten on the third declines, which still needs to be corrected. But on a game in the first quarter, Wilson managed on his own. He grabbed the ball at 18, came out of a tackler's arms, stayed on his feet and dipped forward for another five yards and a first conversion. Wilson, who usually plays outside, started the game in receiving position inside and made a simple run. Tannehill and the Dolphins will be relying on Wilson and Danny Amendola to create the first tries when they catch the ball just yards from the third-place scorer. And Wilson actually has an advantage over Amendola to achieve this. In the second quarter, Wilson was lining up for the race. Later, Ryan Tannehill handed Wilson, who went from left to right and stopped in the backfield. Wilson took the ball, with an option to pitch to Kenyan Drake. It was directly from Mike Martz Rams' playbook. Drake was disappointed that he did not receive the draw. Maybe next time. We must assume that they will revive this game. Or maybe another Gase research play that Wilson once ran at Georgia State. In the third quarter, on a play in the red zone, Wilson was lining up at quarterback Wildcat, with Tannehill as receiver, but Miami escaped the timeout. Gase has a lot of creative options with versatile players like Wilson, Jakeem Grant and Kenyan Drake at his disposal. We appreciate when Gase deploys several formations and plays that we have never seen before. More importantly, it's great when it's not the case for the opponent. "It's fun to do," Gase said Monday. "You try to stay in the system and be creative at the same time. When you have good players, you can do it and it is fun to call these games.

3. Reshad Jones is back to his old life. Jones had a lot of tackles last season and did the Pro Bowl. But at least for me, it did not seem as dangerous as in 2015 and 2016, before he was hurt. Jones plays again without fear. He shows he can play ball on the field, with two interceptions of Titans Sunday. And, of course, the most exciting aspect of Jones' game is how he is able to deceive opposing quarterbacks and think he will not come, then – boom! – at the last minute, he comes here. Jones had the second half. First, Jones intercepted a Marcus Mariota float, which resulted in a little scrum that spurred the crowd. Then, with Miami leading 10-3 at the end of the third quarter, and Tennessee driving, Reshad, a vintage. He felt exactly what was going to happen, pretended to fall deeply, sneaked into the line of scrimmage, blitzed and broke Lewis for a loss of two. Jones then stood in front of Lewis while saying some things that he might not want the children to hear. Jones then folded his muscles. "SAVAGE", Texan security Tyrann Mathieu tweeted about Jones' game. Jones was not perfect, as he occasionally missed a tackle in the field by shooting outside. But Jones, at its best, always seems to play instinctive games that change the game. In the fourth quarter, Jones put Miami in the winning position by intercepting Blaine Gabbert. The ball was offside, meant for Delanie Walker, but Jones did a really impressive athletic game, catching the ball by falling, almost on his back, and then, of course, following it with a 54-yard return. Jones has a security of $ 12 million a year and it is well worth every penny.

4. Dolphins have the speed to burn. Dolphins are faster in attack. That's what happens when you remove Landry and add Albert Wilson. That's what happens when you remove Julius Thomas and add Mike Gesicki. Jakeem Grant? A blur effect on this return touchdown, which was also at the rendezvous, helped by Walt Aikens and Senorise Perry. Dolphins have fast athletes in attack, defense and special teams. The Kenyan Drake is explosive. Fitzpatrick is extremely fast. Jerome Baker is a sports linebacker. Miami has long wanted and tried to improve speed at all levels and they did a great job this season. Oh yes – and Kenny Stills. He is fast too. Do you think Ryan Tannehill knew exactly where Stills would be when he landed the 46-yard ball on a 75-yard touchdown pass? Do you think Tannehill knew that Stills would be past Patrick Malcolm Butler? Hell yes, he did it. Did you forget that in 2016, Tannehill hit Stills for 74, 66, 43, 39, 28 and 24 yards touchdowns? "They all count the same," said Stills at the end of the training camp. "But when you catch a bomb, you're a speed receiver, you go deep, you only know the gear changes. A quick score can compromise the confidence of the defense. And it really gives us the impression of being able to start again. In the spring and summer, Dolphins debated and discussed (maybe we also fed it) which player was the fastest. It's probably Grant. But in fact, the correct answer is that Miami has a lot really fast guys.

5. BONUS POINTS. The Dolphins' project of launching nine defensive linemen in a match will probably do a lot of damage, you know, when the game does not stop twice for about two hours a clip … Who did not expect Gase to roll with? Kenyan Drake AND Frank Gore on the first game of the 2018 season? Gore flashed more than we expected, always seeming to understand exactly what was needed for a first run. In the second quarter, the Dolphins needed 20, and he caught 21 with Josh Sitton and Daniel Kilgore… But I think we all know that Gase will have to deal with the Kenyan Drake even more … It's nice that Miami can keep a defensive balance. By going with short passes, the defense does not pile up against the race. By going with short passes, it can cause an occasional strike because a defensive back does not necessarily wait for it. Drake has such momentum and acceleration. And they do not want to wear it out, but … the way it bursts in the middle, the way it's not afraid to cross the traffic, the way it's biting guys – elite. It's so elitist … Laremy Tunsil had a false start and a catch. Ja'Wuan James had two detention penalties. Something deserves to keep watching … Security T.J. McDonald missed games. In the first quarter, he did not take a wide angle on a pass to a receiver and eventually ran after a tight end after a long completion. More importantly, McDonald must tackle in free field because it is often the last line of defense. On a long run of Derrick Henry, a 62-yard run run, Miami took a break while Delanie Walker was called Jerome Bakerwho actually had Walker by the mask. Still on this game, McDonald does not take a wide angle on a game that should have equalized the score at 17 … Bobby McCain shattered a pass to Delanie Walker at the goal line with her left arm. McCain only plays aggressively, he competes, he fights, he tries to play without fear. At the next game, McCain had a cover at the back of the end zone on Corey Davis. Overall, a very solid start to the regular season for McCain in the outer corner … Miami must be better in the red zone and although the ball has slipped from his hand, Ryan Tannehill and whoever watched seeing that he needed a better ball for Mike Gesicki in the end zone. Especially for Gesicki, Tannehill needs to party better next time, as Gesicki has been recruited to jump and finish this game … Sometimes center Daniel Kilgore is hit by bigger defensive tackles – during racing games and of passes. It's worth watching … It appeared Tanner McEvoy had a shot to stop, but was blocked, during a key moment of the Titans' return landing. Durham Smythe maybe the only dolphins who have a chance to slow down the blitzer who shot Tannehill for the first time this season … We will congratulate Smythe for volunteering in an emergency to replace the wounded John Denney… So, Andre Branch Taylor Lewan injured and William Hayes injured Marcus Mariota. This defensive line of dolphins is certainly physical and aggressive. "Sweep your leg!" Or should I say, "Put it in a bag!"

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