Mike McDaniel, Miami Dolphins captain, Tua Tagovailoa
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MIAMI GARDENS – The Miami Dolphins, coach Mike McDaniel and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, opened their 2024 NFL season at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars, coach Doug Pederson and quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
The Dolphins defeated the Jaguars 20-17 in the season opener for both teams with a 52-yard field goal by Jason Sanders.
Tyreek Hill caught an 80-yard touchdown from Tua to cut the score to 17-14 in the third quarter.
Jevon Holland forced an incredibly large fumble and stopped Travis Etienne as he ran for a potential 24-7 lead.
Here are Joe Schad’s instant grades after Sunday’s game:
quarterback
Tua Tagovailoa threw a long touchdown pass to Hill. And another very long pass to Jaylen Waddle. On Sunday, Tua struggled at times to drive the ball consistently down the field, and he was also hurt by a few drops. Tua earned a first down with a key 11-yard run in the second quarter, just before halftime. Tua finished the game with more than 300 yards passing. And he didn’t throw an interception.
Degree: B
Running backs
The Dolphins were unable to establish an effective running game. Midway through the fourth quarter, Miami had 14 carries for 32 yards, a paltry average of 2.3 per carry. De’Von Achane took full advantage of a block and caught a 39-yard pass in the first quarter. The Dolphins had just 1 yard on 4 carries in the first quarter. Later, Achane caught another 15-yard pass. Achane scored a 1-yard touchdown run just before halftime, bringing the Dolphins within 14-7. Achane was a valuable weapon in the passing game, rushing for over 70 yards.
Degree: C+
Recipient
Jaylen Waddle went all out on the field, catching a long pass against zone coverage for a 63-yard gain in the third quarter. In a great play in the third quarter, Tyreek Hill caught a deep pass from Tua Tagovailoa and ran it 80 yards, outrunning two Jaguars defenders and bringing Miami within 17-14. Like most of last season, Tua relied heavily on two receivers. Hill reached 100 yards in the game, hours after being arrested by police following a traffic stop. Waddle also reached 100 yards.
Degree: B
Tight ends
This was not a game to remember for Jon Embree’s team. Tight end Jonnu Smith got off to a rough start, with a drop and an offside penalty that was dismissed, both in the first quarter. Durham Smythe dropped a short pass in the second quarter and failed to catch several other passes in the second quarter. Smythe was later cautioned for a false start.
Degree: D
Offensive line
Guard Robert Jones was flagged for holding in the first quarter. That negated a 12-yard first-down scramble by Tagovailoa. Then Jones was flagged for holding on a run in the third quarter. Arik Armstead stormed past right guard Liam Eichenberg in the third quarter for a third-down sack. Tua was sacked three times in the first 2.5 quarters on Sunday. The line failed to gain ground on the run game.
Degree: C
Defence line
38-year-old veteran Calais Campbell had a sack and a tackle for loss in his first two games as a Dolphin. Emmanuel Ogbah had pressure in the second quarter. Ogbah had a huge sack late in the fourth quarter. Zach Sieler made a few plays. But Jacksonville’s running game was too effective for most of the game, as they totaled over 100 rushing yards and averaged over five yards per carry.
Degree: C+
Linebacker/Edge Rusher
Rookie Chop Robinson pulled a Jaguars tackle offside in the second quarter. Jaelan Phillips, returning from an Achilles injury, and Chop did not have a quarterback hit in the first half. Phillips had a huge sack late in the game. Trevor Lawrence was not under consistent pressure, although like many other teams they entered the game with doubts about the strength of the line.
Degree: C+
Defensive Backs
Jalen Ramsey, the star cornerback who played despite a hamstring injury, was flagged for pass interference on a long pass play in Miami’s end zone in the first quarter. Ramsey put his arm around Brian Thomas Jr.’s chest, setting up a short touchdown run. In the second quarter, Thomas caught a touchdown pass while Ramsey and safety Jordan Poyer were in coverage. To be fair, it was a great throw by Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence. But neither defensive back got off to a good start.
Jevon Holland had a pass breakup on third down early in the third quarter. Poyer later received a facemask penalty. Holland forced an incredibly large fumble on Travis Etienne as he headed into the Miami end zone for a 24-7 lead. Great play. Miami ball at the 20. Kendall Fuller made a key run stop on a failed fourth down by the Jaguars on fourth-and-1.
Degree: C+
Special teams
Punter Jake Bailey dropped a ball inside the Jaguars’ 10-yard line in the first quarter when it rolled out of bounds at the 4-yard line. Bailey later punted another ball to the Jaguars’ 3-yard line. The Dolphins were penalized for moving too early on a kickoff return, costing Miami five yards by Anthony Walker. This dynamic kickoff play isn’t so dynamic, as everyone just goes for the touchback. Kicker Jason Sanders missed a 42-yard field goal that would have tied the score at 17-17 in the fourth quarter, and hooked wide left. Sanders made a 37-yard field goal to tie the game.
Degree: B
Coaching
The Dolphins recovered from a 17-7 deficit that would have been nearly 24-7 without Holland’s forced fumble. Defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver gets a win in his first game against Miami.
Degree: B
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Joe Schad is a journalist who covers the Miami Dolphins and the NFL for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at [email protected] and follow him on Instagram and on X. @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe’s free weekly Dolphins Pulse newsletter. Support our work by signing up today.
