Dolphins Lose To Falcons As Offense Struggles - SB Nation Tampa Bay

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10 months ago
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Miami Dolphins WR's A Big Area Of Concern

The wide receiver issues for the Dolphins might be a bit more concerning after their performance against the Falcons on Friday night. Going into that game, it seemed as if at least four receivers were sure to make the roster, but from The Phinsider's perspective, all but two should be fighting for their jobs at this point.

Davone Bess and Brian Hartline have been the most consistent so far this preseason, while Chris Hogan, B.J. Cunningham and Marlon Moore are still fringe guys who didn't catch any passes against the Falcons.

From Kevin Nogle:

Maybe the biggest frustration was the lack of receiver (and tight end) ability to hold on to a pass when they got their hands on the ball. Seven of quarterback Ryan Tannehill's incompletions last night came on drops.

That's obviously a problem. It's not like Miami has a quarterback that can make the receivers look better than they are. Tannehill could turn out to be pretty good, but he's still a rookie. Having a shaky group of receivers will only make his job and development more difficult.

Read more on the Dolphins at The Phinsider and SB Nation Tampa Bay.

10 months ago
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Falcons Vs. Dolphins Reaction: Miami Defense A Winner

The Miami Dolphins haven't had a whole to be happy about through their first three preseason losses, but despite a 23-6 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, praise is finally starting to come in for the defense.

The Phinsider says a lot of this was sparked by the return of defensive end Cameron Wake, who returned from a car accident to snare 1.5 sacks. Most of the big scores were put on the second and third defensive units, with the first holding off three drives for field goals.

The first team held the Falcons' offense to three field goals in the first half. Matt Ryan was able to put up the game's first touchdown early in the second half, but the Dolphins had already rotated the second and third team players into the game. Once the team is able to add Karlos Dansby and Kevin Burnett back into the lineup, it really should become the dominating defense we all expect it to be.

The Dolphins starters limited Atlanta to two third-down conversion in seven attempts. As Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald pointed out, the Falcons had the tenth best offense in the NFL last season. The first team unit kept the lethal combinations of Matt Ryan, Roddy White and Julio Jones out of the end zone each time.

Coach Joe Philbin even joined in the praise of a unit that stifled the Falcons to just 29 yards on 11 rushes.

"They kept a good offense out of the end zone," Philbin said. "They put some pressure on the quarterback, which we haven't seen. Had a couple of sacks. We did a relatively good job on third down. We gave up that one big play, but overall it was a good performance."

For more on the Miami Dolphins preseason, head over to The Phinsider and join the discussion.

10 months ago
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Falcons Vs. Dolphins Reaction: Miami Wide Receivers Big Losers

The Miami Dolphins wide receiving corps did Ryan Tannehill no favors in the exhibition loss to the Atlanta Falcons 23-6.

As The Phinsider points out, Tannehill didn't have much of a chance to shine as the Dolphins receivers dropped four guaranteed Tannehill completions in the loss -- three of them from Anthony Fasano including a potential touchdown. The Dolphins dropped a total of seven passes in against the Falcons. The only reliable hands came from Davone Bess who finished the night with four receptions for 59 yards.

If the Dolphins are going to win games this year - and if they are going to develop Tannehill at all - the team has to figure out how to catch. The Dolphins may be reaching the point where they have to make a move, otherwise things could get ugly really fast.

It may seem drastic, but it is an opinion shared throughout quite a bit of the Dolphins community. The Dolphins receiving corps has seen such little improvement that it might be time for some fresh blood to try and jumpstart the final two weeks of preseason.

Two weeks to turn things around. For a receiver corps -- tight ends included -- that has shown practically zero improvement this preseason, the only way we see a turnaround is if we see a fresh set of players.

For more on the Miami Dolphins preseason, head over to The Phinsider and join the discussion.

10 months ago
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Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill Shows Some Promise

The Miami Dolphins' offense wasn't much to write home about in Friday night's 23-6 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, but Ben Volin at the Palm Beach Post writes that rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill at least showed glimpses of why the Dolphins drafted him in the first round.

Tannehill played seven series that yielded just 3 points, running the first-string offense's three-game total to an anemic 16 points. Dropped passes brought down Tannehill's final line of 11-of-27 passing for 112 yards with one interception.

Still, the rookie from Texas A&M looked like a pro running the team's new-look, no-huddle offense, calling audibles and at one point drawing a Falcons defender offsides for a penalty. Tannehill connected with projected No. 1 receiver Davone Bess four times for 59 yards. After being sacked three times last week against Carolina, Tannehill only took one sack from the Falcons.

"I feel like we improved," Tannehill said. "I felt comfortable. We did some things a lot better than we did last week. We just need to be more consistent in my play, and the offense as a whole."

Stick with this StoryStream for more news on the Miami Dolphins preseason. For all things Dolphins, check out The Phinsider. And don't miss SB Nation Studios' preview Miami's season:

10 months ago
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Falcons Vs. Dolphins Reaction: Wide Receiver Troubles Plague Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins lost to the Atlanta Falcons on Friday night, dropping the preseason game by a score of 23-6. The offense's anemic performance has to have Dolphins fans concerned, and the fans over at SB Nation's Dolphins blog The Phinsider know right where the trouble is:

The struggles with the team came in the passing game. Ryan Tannehill made some mistakes during the game, but he's a rookie. He's going to make rookie mistakes, but at other times, Tannehill looked solid. We are going to have to take the good with the bad for a little while with Tannehill, so patience is going to be the key with the rookie.

However, the wide receivers need to spend the next week doing nothing but Juggs machine work. At some point, someone not named Davone Bess has to make a catch. My biggest disappointment of this game was tight end Anthony Fasano, who surprisingly forgot how to catch. He clearly had a Tannehill touchdown pass, and dropped it in the endzone.

Head over to The Phinsider for more coverage of Friday night's game, as well as to voice your own opinions about issues facing the Dolphins.

Stick with this StoryStream for more news on the Miami Dolphins preseason. For all things Dolphins, check out The Phinsider. And don't miss SB Nation Studios' preview Miami's season:

10 months ago
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Falcons Vs. Dolphins Final Score: Miami Falls To Atlanta 23-6

The Miami Dolphins fell to 0-3 in the 2012 preseason, losing to the Atlanta Falcons Friday night by a score of 23-6. Any QB battle between Ryan Tannehill and Matt Moore became a question of who was struggling worse, with Tannehill going 11-for-27 for 112 yards, with no touchdowns and one interception, and Moore finishing the night 4-for-12 for 49 yards. The Dolphins fumbled the ball three times, but were able to recover it twice.

The first team defense struggled to contain Matt Ryan and Julio Jones. Ryan was 18-fo4-26 for 220 yards, and Jones had four catches for 90 yards with a long of 49. If there was a silver lining in the game, it was that Miami did not suffer any major injuries to key players. That may be little consolation to a struggling offense, but it does ensure they can continue their best effort with their best personnel.

Stick with SB Nation Tampa Bay for coverage of the Dolphins preseason. For all things Dolphins, check out The Phinsider.

10 months ago
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Falcons Vs. Dolphins Score Update: Miami Trails 9-3 At Halftime

The Miami Dolphins trail the Atlanta Falcons by a score of 9-3 at halftime of their preseason game. Ryan Tannehill is 11-for-25 for just 112 yards in the first half with one interception and no touchdowns.

Miami was only outgained by Atlanta in the first half by nine yards, 175 to 166, but despite that, the offense has not looked good, collecting only two drives that went beyond six plays.

Matt Ryan has thrown for 162 yards and the Dolphins defense has given up a handful of big plays, including a connection between Ryan and Julio Jones that went 51 yards, but they have repeatedly stiffened up and forced the Falcons to settle for field goals.

Things seemed to pick up for Tannehill in the final two minutes, where he connected with Davone Bess multiple times, including one pass for 17 yards. That drive faltered when Miami faced a 4th-and-1, went for it and came up short on a Tannehill incompletion.

Preseason football is sometimes tough to read, but Dolphins fans can't be happy with what they saw out of Tannehill in the first half.

Stick with this StoryStream for scores, injury updates and more from the Dolphins vs. Falcons preseason game. For all things Dolphins, head over to The Phinsider. For the Falcons perspective, check out The Falcoholic.

10 months ago
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Falcons Vs. Dolphins Inactives: Karlos Dansby, Brian Hartline Will Miss Friday's Game

The Miami Dolphins will be without several players when they host the Atlanta Falcons on Friday night, including Brian Hartline and Karlos Dansby.

Not playing tonight for #Dolphins:Garrard, Burnett, Dansby, Hicks, Murtha, McDaniel, Hartline, Kevyn Scott, Kelcie McCray
— Ben Volin (@BenVolinPBP) August 24, 2012

Related: Falcons vs. Dolphins: Miami Players Say Good Performance Needed

And here is the list of Falcons inactives:

Cornerback Christopher Owens (hamstring), cornerback Darrin Walls (right quad), safety Shann Schillinger (foot), running back Jason Snelling (lower right leg), defensive tackle Elisha Joseph (concussion), left tackle Will Svitek (upper right arm), wide receiver Kerry Meier (foot) and defensive tackle Corey Peters (foot) will not play against the Dolphins.

For the latest on the Miami Dolphins, be sure to check out The Phinsider and SB Nation Tampa Bay. For more on the Falcons check out The Falcoholic and SB Nation Atlanta. Head over to SB Nation's NFL hub for even more NFL news. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video commentary.

10 months ago
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Falcons Vs. Dolphins: Michael Egnew Needs A Big Night

As the Miami Dolphins prepare for their third preseason game, there are plenty of players still looking to impress the coaching staff. One of the players who could use a good effort against the Falcons on Friday night is TE Michael Egnew:

Michael Egnew needs a good performance tonight, if only to get out of the doghouse. Egnew is going to make the roster, simply based on his draft status as a third round pick. He needs time to develop, since, as we discussed on last night's Phinsider Podcast, his head seems to be swimming right now with the speed of the game, but he has the potential and the raw skills to be something special in the league.

Related: Miami Dolphins News You May Have Missed - 8/24/12

Friday night's game is set to begin at 7:30 p.m. ET.

For the latest on the Miami Dolphins, be sure to check out The Phinsider and SB Nation Tampa Bay. For more on the Falcons check out The Falcoholic and SB Nation Atlanta. Head over to SB Nation's NFL hub for even more NFL news. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video commentary.

10 months ago
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Falcons vs. Dolphins: Miami Players Say Good Performance Needed

The Miami Dolphins are 0-2 halfway through the preseason. Players told Ben Volin of the Palm Beach Post on Thursday that a solid performance -- or perhaps even a victory -- would go a long way in building some confidence.

A win over a perennial playoff team such as the Atlanta Falcons right after naming Ryan Tannehill their starting quarterback could be the boost the team needs with the regular season only two weeks away. With most of the starters likely to sit in next week's preseason finale, this will be the last chance for the starters to get things right, and the first chance with the rookie Tannehill firmly entrenched as the starter.

"We’ve got to be more urgent, big time," left tackle Jake Long said. "The last couple of games, we’ve started really slow and haven’t gotten into a good rhythm. We’re going to be playing a lot more, so we’ve got to put it together and we’ve got to start fast."

All eyes will be on Tannehill, who struggled last week against Carolina, completing only 11-of-23 passes, and he was sacked three times.

"He’s got to do what any good quarterbacks do," Philbin said. "They make great decisions. They throw the ball accurately. They make plays when they have to. And they get you out of bad plays."

The defense has struggled in two preseason games, too, allowing 14 points early to Tampa Bay and 17 points early to Carolina. The task for the first string won't get easier with Matt Ryan, Julio Jones and the high-powered Falcons also looking to get ready for the start of the season.

For the latest on the Miami Dolphins, be sure to check out The Phinsider and SB Nation Tampa Bay. For more on the Falcons check out The Falcoholic and SB Nation Atlanta. Head over to SB Nation's NFL hub for even more NFL news. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video commentary.

10 months ago
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Falcons Vs. Dolphins: Jerry Brothers Will Face Off Again

John Jerry may line up against his brother Peria Jerry on Friday night when the Miami Dolphins play the Atlanta Falcons. This would be the second time in the two brothers' careers that they would face each other. The other time occured back in the 2010 preseason, when the Falcons beat the Dolphins, 16-6.

John is an offensive lineman that the Dolphins drafted in the third round in 2010. He may have to block his brother Peria, who was drafted as a defensive lineman by the Falcons in the first round in 2009. John had a strong game blocking against the Carolina Panthers and is looking to impress his coaches again.

For the latest on the Miami Dolphins, be sure to check out The Phinsider and SB Nation Tampa Bay. For more on the Falcons check out The Falcoholic and SB Nation Atlanta. Head over to SB Nation's NFL hub for even more NFL news. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video commentary.

10 months ago
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Falcons Vs. Dolphins: Game Will Provide Clarity At WR

The Miami Dolphins hope to answer some of their questions at the wide receiver position when the Atlanta Falcons come to town for Friday night's preseason game. SB Nation Dolphins blogger Kevin Nogle at The Phinsider takes a look at who should make the roster at WR.

Davone Bess and Legedu Naanee are the only two receivers on the roster who are assured a spot with one more preseason game to go before rosters are cut down to 53 men. Nogle makes a case for Julius Pruitt and Brian Hartline to claim two more of the spots, Pruitt mainly as a special-teams standout. Hartline has recovered well from a calf injury. Hartline should be the third receiver if not pushing Naanee for a starting role.

That would seemingly leave two spots for Clyde Gates, Roberto Wallace, Chris Hogan and Marlon Moore, none of whom have made much of a splash this preseason. Wallace in particular has been counted on by coaches to emerge from the pack, but has yet to do so.

The Falcons and Dolphins meet at 7:05 p.m. ET Friday night in Miami.

For the latest on the Miami Dolphins, be sure to check out The Phinsider and SB Nation Tampa Bay. For more on the Falcons check out The Falcoholic and SB Nation Atlanta. Head over to SB Nation's NFL hub for even more NFL news. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video commentary.

10 months ago
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Falcons Vs. Dolphins 2012: Game Preview, Kickoff Time, TV Schedule And More

With the official title of Miami Dolphins starting quarterback now all his, rookie Ryan Tannehill looks to make the most of the first of his final two preseason tuneups Friday night against the Atlanta Falcons.

Tannehill will get valuable playing time with the first-team offense as Miami is looking to get more out of a unit that has scored only 24 points through two preseason games. Behind Tannehill, the backup quarterback battle is one to watch with rumors this week that David Garrard could be a possible roster casualty. Last year's starter Matt Moore is currently No. 2 behind Tannehill.

The Falcons have had their starting quarterback in line for four seasons now in Matt Ryan, who has been solid all preseason. Behind him, though, the backup offensive players haven't produced much.

Both teams are looking for the first preseason win with two weeks left before the wins matter. With rosters being cut down to 53 men next week, look for backups on both teams to try to make their marks to earn a spot.

Game Date/Time: Friday, Aug. 24; 7:30pm ET

Location: Sun Life Stadium, Miami, Fla.

Local TV Schedule

WFOR 4 (CBS; Miami)
WTVX 34 (CW; West Palm Beach)
WZVN 7 (ABC; Fort Myers)
WRDQ 27 (Orlando)

TV Distribution Map: The506.com

Radio Schedule: Sirius XM Radio: 94

For the latest on the Miami Dolphins, be sure to check out The Phinsider and SB Nation Tampa Bay. For more on the Falcons check out The Falcoholic and SB Nation Atlanta. Head over to SB Nation's NFL hub for even more NFL news. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video commentary.

10 months ago
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Miami Dolphins Wide Receiver Davone Bess Praises Quarterback Ryan Tannehill

Newly-crowned Miami Dolphins starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill picked up a key endorsement Wednesday from receiver Davone Bess, who joined The Big O Show for an interview. On why he believs in his new quarterback, Bess praised Tannehill's composure. "He's pretty poised and he's very, very level-headed," Bess said. "He would throw a bad pass and he'll come back and want to talk to the receiver and there's always good dialogue there wondering what's going on...or even if we score through a perfect pass, he's just real humble about the way he handles the position. You need guys that's not satisfied and guys that are continuously wanting to get better and stay hungry."

Bess also spoke about the needed progress of the wide receiver group. "A big part of this league is being given the opportunity," he said. "You can't do much without the coaches putting you there. From what they can do on the practice field, they've been getting better. ... Guys have to step up. I appreciate having the bull's eye. I want the bull's eye, whether it's third down a critical fourth-down conversion we have to make, I want the bull's eye and I'll be ready."

Tannehill, a first-year quarterback out of Texas A&M, beat out Matt Moore for the starting job after veteran quarterback David Garrard went down with a knee injury. Bess will likely be his top target .

For more on the Dolphins, check out SB Nation's Dolphins blog, The Phinsider. OTAs for the Dolphins also began this week, so for coverage, be sure to follow this StoryStream here at SB Nation Tampa Bay. And for more general news and commentary related to the NFL, be sure to visit SB Nation's NFL Hub.

10 months ago
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Falcons Vs. Dolphins Weather Report: Miami Could Be On Hurricane Watch

Tropical Storm Issac is picking up steam in the Caribbean and could develop into a hurricane by Thursday. If so, South Florida is one of the areas in danger.

The worst of the hurricane should not come until Sunday or Monday, likely missing the Miami Dolphins' preseason game with the Atlanta Falcons. However, some effects could still be felt.

They will have a more clear picture of the storm’s future Friday morning when the storm is expected to pass over the mountainous terrain of Hispaniola. Meteorologists say the move could weaken Isaac, but then the storm is expected to cross into the "very warm water between Cuba and Florida and strengthening appears likely," according to the NHC’s 8 a.m. forecast discussion.

The situation is being closely watched by the National Hurricane Center.

For more on the Miami Dolphins, visit The Phinsider. Atlanta Falcons news can be found at The Falcoholic, and all your NFL info is available at SB Nation's NFL page.

10 months ago
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Miami Dolphins Announce Ryan Tannehill As Starting QB

Rookie Ryan Tannehill is officially the Miami Dolphins' starting quarterback, ending one of the league's preseason QB races in time for two more preseason games:

Philbin has announced that Ryan Tannehill has been named the starting quarterback
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) August 20, 2012

Tannehill earned the job through both performance and circumstance, outplaying rival Matt Moore and advancing in part because of the knee injury to David Garrard. The Phinsider reports that the move has been all but official for a while judging by the team's actions (namely Tannehill taking the majority of the snaps with the starters after Garrard's injury).

The rookie's first task will be against the Atlanta Falcons at Sun Life Stadium Friday night. Tannehill will be the first rookie quarterback to start for the Dolphins since Dan Marino, and creates a record four rookie starting QBs in one season (Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III and Brandon Weeden).

For more on the Miami Dolphins, visit The Phinsider. Atlanta Falcons news can be found at The Falcoholic, and all your NFL info is available at SB Nation's NFL page.

10 months ago
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Falcons Vs. Dolphins: Miami Will Prepare Sort Of Like A Real Game

When asked about his approach the the Miami Dolphins' upcoming preseason game, head coach Joe Philbin said they're treating it a bit like a real game, though the schedule won't play out exactly like it would during the regular season.

"To a large degree. It's not totally, but to a large degree, yes. Today, for the players, is like a Monday. For the coaches, it's kind of like a Monday and a Tuesday. We're combining things because we got back so late from Carolina."

Related: Falcons Vs. Dolphins Game Preview: Moore And Tannehill QB Battle Brews

The players were off on Saturday and began to break down their loss to the Panthers on Sunday. Their game against the Falcons is set for Friday.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Tampa Bay. For more in-depth coverage of the Miami Dolphins, visit The Phinsider. And for more news and notes from around the NFL, check out SB Nation's NFL hub.

10 months ago
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Falcons Vs. Dolphins Game Preview: Moore And Tannehill QB Battle Brews

The Dolphins quarterback battle continues to brew as the third preseason game looms.

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