Miami Dolphins' 3-Point Slump Doesn't Define Their Season
The Miami Dolphins' offense struggled to consistently move the football during a joint practice with the New York Giants on Thursday, but the session was far from a definitive verdict on the team's season.
Miami absolutely needs to improve its pass protection, and Thursday's practice exposed problems that coaches will undoubtedly put under the microscope. But the Dolphins also weren't unveiling their regular-season offensive plan.
Joint practices are designed to test a team's ability to execute in difficult situations, rather than to design a game plan specifically to beat the opposing team. Miami's new head coach, Jeff Hafley, has been clear about this approach.
The Giants certainly provided a difficult test, with their defensive front consistently creating pressure on the Dolphins' quarterback, Malik Willis. Reports indicated the Giants recorded at least six sacks, with Brian Burns suggesting the actual number was even higher.
Malik Willis acknowledged the Giants' defensive success, but also pointed out that the Dolphins weren't game planning specifically for the Giants. "We weren't game planning for those guys," he said. "We would have a few better options on some plays where we were just kind of stuck," if it had been a regular season contest.
The real test comes when Miami has a week to study an opponent, identify its tendencies and build a protection plan specifically designed to neutralize its best pass rushers. This is when the Dolphins will get a better sense of their strengths and weaknesses.
The Dolphins have a chance to redeem themselves when they take on the New York Jets in their first preseason game on August 27. The team will have had a week to study the Jets' tendencies and build a plan to counter their pass rush.
The outcome of this game will give fans a clearer picture of the Dolphins' season.
Source: Yahoo Sports