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.
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