Florida Atlantic’s offensive chemistry paying off at the right time

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Quarterbacks transferring from one school to the next have become quite common in today’s college football.

Transferring with your receiver, however, is the unique circumstance that is finally paying off for Florida Atlantic.

After three seasons at Western Kentucky, redshirt junior quarterback Caden Veltkamp arrived in Boca Raton along with receiver Easton Messer intending to be the straw stirring the drink that is first-year head coach Zach Kittley’s offense.

For Messer, that chemistry paid off during the Owls’ 40-21 win over Tulsa on Nov. 8. The fourth-year receiver caught three touchdown passes for the first time in his career, two of which weren’t by design.

“A lot of times you know this should work if I run the right route, if I run it good,” Messer said. “I was pretty excited when he checked those two.”

Veltkamp checked out of a play after seeing a favorable matchup with the Tulsa defense and tossed a 44-yard deep pass to Messer in the second quarter, giving the Owls a 17-6 lead.

“They were playing man coverage, they had seven guys in the box,” Veltkamp said. “A slot fade is not a great check but I don’t care what leverage you are, I’m gonna take Easton to win it.”

Later in the second quarter, Veltkamp saw Tulsa playing man coverage again and chose to exploit their matchup with Messer for another touchdown.

“Right before I snapped it, I checked into a corner, just to make it easy for him,” Veltkamp said. “The second [touchdown] was based on leverage. Easton ran two great routes. I just threw him the ball.”

Messer even threw a pass to Veltkamp for a change. A trick play from receiver to quarterback resulted in seven yards and on the one-yard line. The next pass resulted in a loss and the Owls had to settle for a field goal.

“They’re fun but we got to score on the next one for sure,” Veltkamp said.

With 2,596 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions through nine games, Veltkamp is close to his offensive totals last year when he led WKU to eight wins and, ironically, the Boca Raton Bowl. While a majority of his yards have gone to Messer, Jayshon Platt, and Asaad Waseem, Veltkamp has thrown a touchdown pass to eight different receivers. After the game, he emphasized the importance of developing a rapport with the entire receiving room as the season progresses.

“It should always continue to progress and get better,” Veltkamp said. “It should never get worse.”

Veltkamp wasn’t the only quarterback to throw a touchdown pass to Messer last week. His third score came from veteran backup quarterback Zach Gibson on a nine-yard flea-flicker pass in the fourth quarter.

“That’s a crucial play right there,” Gibson said. “If we don’t get that, they’ve got all the momentum. I didn’t try to put too much pressure on myself but I knew the play was going to work. When you have trust in your guys, good things are going to happen.”

Gibson, a 25-year-old graduate student, is on his fourth team in six seasons. He spent the first three years at Akron, where he threw for 1,262 yards and 10 touchdowns without an interception in 2021.

“Zach has played a lot of football,” Messer said. “He’s gonna come in and spin it.”

Gibson came in for Veltkamp in the second half as a way to preserve the starting quarterback’s health. 

“Being a backup quarterback is a lot like being a bullpen pitcher,” Gibson said. “When your number is called, you’ve got to be ready to go.”

At 4-5 entering the final three games of the season, the Owls have a chance to finish with bowl eligibility. The Owls are 1-4 away from the nest and are entering their final road game of the season at Tulane on Saturday, Nov. 15, which is contending for an American Athletic Conference championship. The Owls are 3-1 at home and will finish the regular season by hosting UConn and East Carolina, another conference championship contender.

Florida Atlantic’s improving offense will be put to the test through the final stretch of the season.

De'Von Achane runs for one of his two touchdowns in the Dolphins' win against the Bills.

Pressure Point: Dolphins frustrate Bills’ Allen, show they have McDaniel’s back

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Well, well, well.

The Miami Dolphins’ 30-13 upset of Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium was like looking out and spotting a chartreuse unicorn in your backyard.

Seeing Allen frustrated by the Dolphins is something rarely if ever seen before. They went toe-to-toe with their long-time nemesis and prevailed, ending a seven-game skid against their division rival.

They made big plays on offense, led by De’Von Achane’s 225 yards from scrimmage (174 yards rushing) and two touchdowns.

The provided an eye-opening response following a humbling loss to the Ravens, the firing of long-time general manager Chris Grier and the trade of popular linebacker Jaelan Phillips.

Clearly all of that was a wakeup call for the Dolphins, who coach Mike McDaniel described as “quite honestly, a little salty.”

The Miami defense, especially, played pissed off and determined. Which begs the question why that mindset wasn’t more prevalent in many of the lackluster performances earlier in the season.

“It’s pretty obvious from their play they didn’t believe their season was over,” said McDaniel, whose job is in jeopardy due to the team’s ragged play the first half of the season. “They chose to believe, throughout the whole thing … They made that decision to continue to believe and continue to invest in each other.”

Win detrimental to Dolphins’ draft position

The one conclusion that can be drawn is that this team has not quit on its coach.

For Dolphins, now 3-7 amid a disappointing season, it’s something to build on, though it didn’t aid the larger rebuilding task ahead of them, in regards to draft position.
It was a surreal day for the Fins and their fans.

It began with a report by NFL insider Tom Pelissero made the best pitch of any team for Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle at the trade deadline last week. According to Pelissero, the Bills offered a first-round draft pick in 2027 and a third-rounder in 2026.

The Dolphins reportedly wanted the first-round pick in 2026, so no deal.

That brought mixed reaction from Dolfans, especially those who want the team to tank this season and accumulate as much draft capital for the future as possible.

Building through the draft is the way to go, but I’m not onboard with trading one of their best assets on offense to an opponent in their division that they must find a way to get past in the years ahead.

That was a mistake the franchise made in 2007 when they traded wide receiver Wes Welker to the Patriots for a couple of draft picks. It haunted the Dolphins for years, while Welker contributed significantly to the Patriots dynasty as a favorite target of Tom Brady.

Jaylen Waddle has big game after nearly being traded

Fitting that Waddle reiterated his value to the Dolphins with five receptions for 84 yards, including a spectacular 38-yard grab from Tua Tagovailoa for the game’s first touchdown while being covered so aggressively by Bills rookie Maxwell Hairston drew a flag for interference.

Keep in mind, if they trade Waddle, their best receiver in the absence of injured Tyreek Hill – who may never suit up for Miami again – that becomes a big hole to fill.

In addition, any draft picks that might have been acquired from the Super Bowl-contending Bills figure to be late-round.

While Tagovailoa (two touchdown passes, two interceptions) led the offense to four touchdowns and a field goal, it was the defense that stood out in throttling a dangerous opponent.

Allen, the Bills’ super-star quarterback, has owned them. Often he has humiliated them. He came in 14-2 against Miami.

Dolphins’ defense gives inspired effort

Sunday was altogether different. The Dolphins defense intercepted him in the endzone and forced him to fumble in the fourth quarter while a comeback was still within reach. They sacked him three times and had seven quarterback hits.

They also contained running back James Cook (53 yards, 4.1 per carry).

They played with resolve rarely seen this season, led by Jordyn Brooks, Bradley Chubb, Tyrel Dodson and Mikah Fitzpatrick. Zach Sieler finally got his first sack of the season and Ifeatu Melifonwu his first interception as a Dolphin.

With veteran cornerback Rasul Douglas out with an injury, they got strong play from young cornerbacks including Jack Jones (forced fumble), JuJu Brents (fumble recovery) and Jason Marshall Jr.

This game did nothing to alter the balance of power in the AFC East. It could be viewed as a trap game for the Bills, who were coming off an emotional win over the Kansas City Chiefs, the main obstacle for their Super Bowl ambition.

This reminded me of the “Wildcat game” in 2008 when the lowly Dolphins stunned the Patriots 38-13. The Patriots were on a 21-game regular-season winning streak and 12.5-point favorites. They were surprised by running back Ronnie Brown taking shotgun snaps in a college-style offense.

This one wasn’t built around a gimmick. Instead the Dolphins gave the sort of determined effort, on offense and defense, that they struggled to muster until this season wilted into a lost cause.

Dolphins remain an enigma despite win over Bills

“I’m proud of this team,” Tagovailoa said.

How much of what they exhibited in beating the Bills convincingly is who they really are?

The seven remaining games will provide a more definitive answer. As well as determine whether McDaniel remains as coach beyond this season and how much of the roster is worth retaining as a foundation.

It is said that a team is what its record says it is. By that measure, the Dolphins are a 3-7 team with numerous flaws. It remains to be seen who will be entrusted with improving the roster in the ongoing quest of the first playoff win in a quarter century.

But give them credit, against the Bills they played with the sort of conviction and competence it takes to achieve that objective. For one week, at least, they answered the charge that their coach and quarterback can’t win against playoff-caliber teams.

Even the embarrassed Fins  fan with a paper bag over his head had his arms up in celebration.

And for once, Josh Allen was left wearing a frown.

Craig Davis has covered South Florida sports and teams, including the Dolphins, for more than four decades. Follow him on the site formerly known as Twitter @CraigDavisRuns.

Dolphins fans show their displeasure with their team's latest failure in a 28-6 loss to the Ravens.

Pressure Point: Dolphins’ season goes from bad to ugly; Grier first to take fall

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The Miami Dolphins are nothing if not exasperating.

They set you up just to let you down.

Every. Damn. Time.

It’s the constant in the flood of squandered opportunities amid a generation of failed seasons.

Four days after a surprising rout of the Falcons in Atlanta, the Dolphins confirmed the hint of a turnaround was a mirage in an embarrassing 28-6 flop at home in prime time Thursday against the Ravens.

Might we add, as expected?

There can be no doubt now, this latest regime under coach Mike McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier and, yes, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, is over. Done. Kaput.

Grier was the first domino to fall with team owner Steve Ross announcing a “mutual” parting Friday morning. McDaniel will remain until the end of the season, but he’s the lamest of ducks.

Change was inevitable after to a national television audience witnessed utter disgust on the faces of Dolphins fans Thursday night. That is, except for the ones expressing their displeasure by sporting bags over their heads.

Dolphins squander many opportunities in loss to Ravens

Don’t say the Dolphins can’t beat anyone. They are masters at beating themselves.

It happened early and often Thursday night. The reaction went from gnashing of teeth to throwing hands up in despair to an increasing chorus of boos.

A lot of boos. And finally, storming for the exits early in the fourth quarter.

The maddening part was that the Dolphins, who fell to 2-7, were the better team on the field through the first half.

Miami outgained the Ravens 225 to 109 and held the ball for 19 of the opening 30 minutes — but trailed 14-6.

For the second game in a row, they showed positive signs on offense, defense and the return game. But they couldn’t get out of their own way.

Any hope that even the most optimistic Dolfans retained was swept away in a catastrophe of errors.

Here a blunder, there a stupid penalty, everywhere a mystifying mistake.

Coach Mike McDaniel summed it up in a sideline interview before the second half, saying, “You can’t play against two teams, we’ve got to play against one.”

It started with receiver Tahj Washington making his first NFL catch for first-down yardage, only to have the ball stripped from his grasp and the Ravens recover at the Miami 7. They cashed in with Lamar Jackson throwing his first of four touchdown passes, one of two to tight end Mark Andrews in the opening half.

Dolphins fail to finish scoring chances

Jackson and the Ravens offense were relatively quiet in the first half, recording only four first downs. They didn’t have to do a lot because the Dolphins were so busy sabotaging themselves.

Miami had three drives deep into Baltimore territory — reaching the 25, 17 and 13 — that netted only three points.

On one of those, McDaniel elected to go for it on fourth-and-1, only to have tackle Larry Borom false start. McDaniel was livid. He then sent in the field goal unit and Riley Patterson missed the 35-yard attempt.

Andrews was wide open for his second TD reception because two Dolphins defenders had a head-on collision while he ran past them on a crossing route.

Soon after, the Dolphins had a 36-yard completion to Jaylen Waddle called back because of a personal foul for tripping on rookie running back Ollie Gordon II. Gordon appeared to lose his footing and the pass rusher fell over him.

Bad call? Even the officiating expert said so on the broadcast.

But it paled in comparison to what the Dolphins were doing to themselves.

Late in the half, with third-and-2 at the Baltimore 13, the Dolphins elected to run with the Ravens defense stacked against the run. No gain for De’Von Achane.

On fourth down, Tagovailoa tried to throw a fade in the endzone to Achane, who was matched against much taller Kyle Hamilton, a Pro Bowl safety. Achane broke off the route and the pass sailed harmlessly away.

McDaniel explained it as “miscommunication, so to speak.”

Dolphins fans turn against team

All hope imploded imploded in the second half as Jackson took over with back-to-back touchdown passes in the third quarter.

Those were sandwiched around a Dolphins three-and-out which began with a sack of Tagaovailoa, followed by Achane thrown for a loss of 1 and Tua throwing incomplete behind Achane in the flat.

The fitting bookend to a self destructive performance came early in the fourth quarter when the Dolphins’ other receiver named Washington — Malik — had the ball stripped from his hands at the Baltimore 10.

All that remained was for the bagheads to render their verdict on the game, the season and the latest fruitless chapter in the history of a franchise that once achieved the only undefeated run to a Super Bowl championship.

By the end, fans on social media were punking Tua’s attempt to inspire his teammates in the tunnel.

“That sucks. All of that sucks,” McDaniel said afterward. “Fans enjoy winning. We have to go back to work to give them something to cheer about.”

Alas, that is somewhere over the rainbow with no yellow brick road leading there. The Dolphins’ future calls for painful rebuilding yet again.

It only gets worse next week with Josh Allen and the Big Bad Bills coming to town.

It remains to be seen who will make the trip to Spain the following week to face the Commodores. And whether they will bother to come back.

The first order of business for interim general manager Champ Kelly will be the trade deadline coming Tuesday. Whether or not wholesale housecleaning begins immediately, the remainder of the season must be used to assess who is worth retaining for the future. That should feature more playing time to young players like defensive lineman Jordan Phillips, cornerback Jason Marshall Jr., and yes, rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers.

Whoever Ross chooses to lead this next rebuilding effort will need to know what they have to work with and what they need to address. Here’s hoping the owner makes better decisions on coach and front office than he has so far in his stewardship of the franchise. He owes it to long-suffering fans.

There is no quick fix for these Dolphins. And no coming back from what transpired Thursday night.

Craig Davis has covered South Florida sports and teams, including the Dolphins, for more than four decades. Follow him on the site formerly known as Twitter @CraigDavisRuns.

Jaylen Waddle catches one of four touchdown passes thrown by Tua Tagovailoa in the Dolphins' rout of the Falcons.

Pressure Point: Dolphins must show success no fluke when they face Ravens

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There are a couple of divergent ways to look at the Miami Dolphins’ surprisingly dominant 34-10 rout at Atlanta on Sunday.

The immediate reaction is, where has this team been the first two months of the season when they were masquerading as one of the most inept NFL teams in recent memory?

Conversely, as a sizable portion of the Dolphins’ fanbase sees it, why did they have to blow up valuable groundwork laid in pursuit of the No. 1 draft choice?

One unexpectedly positive performance doesn’t mean all is forgiven in the NFL. Who knows, the other team may have just gotten some bad fish at their Saturday night training table.

Anomalies pop up every week. The Falcons had an impressive Monday night win over the Bills in Week 6, two games after getting trounced 30-0 by the blah Panthers.

Dolphins finally have a win to build on

On Sunday, the Dolphins did a 180 on their embarrassing rollover a week ago at Cleveland, while the now 2-6 Browns reverted to who they really are in a 32-13 dud at New England.

For those still pulling for the Dolphins to salvage this woebegone season, take heart in everything they did well against the Falcons. There were a lot of positives to build on.

Most notable, Miami won the line of scrimmage on offense and defense after getting pushed around in most games so far.

It certainly helped that Tua Tagovailoa didn’t throw any head-slapping interceptions — hallelujah, he threw no picks at all — while tossing four touchdowns.

We’ll find out soon enough if this was a blip or a turning point for the 2-6 Fins.

First indication will come Thursday in prime time at home against Baltimore. The Ravens, an uncharacteristic 2-5, are seven-point favorites on the road because quarterback Lamar Jackson is expected to return from a hamstring injury.

That will be followed by another home game against the Bills before a trip to Spain to face the Commodores. A difficult final month includes cold-weather visits to Pittsburgh and New England as well as a tough home finale against Tampa Bay.

Dolphins’ controlling line of scrimmage was vital to win over Falcons

The Dolphins are in a strange space where many fans want them to fail miserably this season to bring about a total housecleaning of the front office and coaching staff, as well as at quarterback.

If coach Mike McDaniel and staff are to keep the vultures at bay, Sunday’s blueprint was one to follow.

Most unexpected was Miami’s porous run defense shutting down Bijan Robinson, one of the best running backs who came in leading the league in yards from scrimmage.

What stood out was the sort of determination to make tackles that has been missing all season. Instead of getting pushed aside like scarecrows, the inspired Dolphins defense allowed a mere 1.53 yards after contact.

The Falcons had 11 total first downs, which tied for their fewest in a game since 2008.

It’s a wonder that it took eight games into a win-or-else season for some Dolphins defenders to play like they cared.

Similarly, the Miami offense had everything headed in the right direction. They had success running the ball, and stayed with it for a change, finishing with 10 more runs ( 37 times for 141 yards) than passes, effectively mixing carries among De’Von Achane, Ollie Gordon II and Jaylen Wright.

Dolphins’ changes on offense paid off

Utilizing Daniel Brunskill as a sixth offensive lineman in place of the tight end on some running plays helped facilitate that success.

McDaniel also elected to have offensive coordinator Frank Smith on the sideline instead of in the booth. Players said that facilitated better in-game communication.

In addition, rookie guard Jonah Savaiinaea finally looked like the promising offensive lineman they traded up to draft after weeks of impersonating a turnstile.

Can we expect more growth against the Ravens and through the second half of the season?

The only conclusion that can be made right now is the rout of the Falcons is another example of why wagering on NFL teams is a fool’s game.

Dolphins turn desperation into positive results

There are only a handful of legitimately good teams in a field of posers. Most teams are flawed, and injuries can upset the balance in any given matchup.

The Dolphins were aided by the Falcons having to switch quarterbacks. Kirk Cousins, filling in for injured starter Michael Penix Jr., has had a decent career, but he came in rusty and played like dog meat. He also didn’t have star receiver Drake London, who was out with a hip injury.

But give the Dolphins full credit for addressing their own shortcomings following their most putrid effort of the season at Cleveland.

“The coaching staff and players did a great job being focused,” McDaniel said. “The results, it’s nice to finally get them in it feels like forever.”

He added, “We have to replicate them in the coming weeks.”

Craig Davis has covered South Florida sports and teams, including the Dolphins, for more than four decades. Follow him on the site formerly known as Twitter @CraigDavisRuns.

Tua Tagovailoa pointed out a leadership problem with the Dolphins after losing to the Chargers.

Pressure Point: Dolphins’ shortcomings much deeper than choosing the wrong quarterback

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What transpired Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium wasn’t a revelation.

It has been well established that the Miami Dolphins made one of the biggest draft mistakes in their history when Chris Grier and company chose Tua Tagovailoa with the fifth pick in 2020 instead of Justin Herbert, who became the gift that keeps on giving for the Los Angeles Chargers.

Having the quarterback they famously spurned in the draft turn what would have been an uplifting comeback victory for Miami into a gutting 29-27 defeat against the Chargers was merely salt rubbed in a painful wound.

The story was much bigger than the difference between quarterbacks. It was affirmation of the inability of this Dolphins leadership group — and the others that preceded it this century — to get much of anything right.

The latest loss was another example of a poorly constructed team that doesn’t have the aptitude or the attitude to win.

Tagovailoa points to need for better leadership

On what proved to be the decisive play, Herbert didn’t deliver the knockout punch as much with his arm as with sheer determination in the final minute. Jaelan Phillips had him in his grasp but Herbert shrugged off the linebacker and made an easy throw to a wide-open Ladd McConkey who raced to a 42-yard gain to the Miami 17.

Instead of a game-saving sack, it was game over with a gimme field goal coming a few plays later.

It didn’t even come as a surprise from a 1-5 team that always finds a way to lose, provided they are not playing against the even more woeful New York Jets.

Tagovailoa, in his postgame media session, offered eye-opening insight into what is lacking inside this team, revealing that some players have shown up late and in some cases skipped players-only meetings in recent weeks.

“I think it starts with the leadership in helping articulate that for the guys and then what we’re expecting out of the guys,” he said.

Coach Mike McDaniel noted that these meetings aren’t required. But it would seem that a team prone to missing assignments, whiffing on blocks and tackles and committing game-altering penalties, would be taking every extra opportunity to attempt to eliminate the mistakes that have already rendered this a lost season.

Justin Herbert quickly negates Dolphins’ comeback with Herculean effort

As for the quarterbacks, there was a certain symmetry in the game beginning and ending with interceptions by Tagovailoa, who threw three on the day.

While boos directed at Tua were justified, give him credit for doing what he hasn’t done often enough in rallying the offense from a fourth quarter deficit. He led back-to-back long touchdown drives to put Miami ahead 27-26 with less than a minute remaining.

Herbert had 39 seconds to get the Chargers into field-goal range and he did it with several seconds to spare.

Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh, in his postgame comments, compared Herbert to Hercules and said of the quarterback’s effort on the final pass to McConkey: “That play will be burning in my mind until they throw dirt over top of me.”

Imagine how it burns from a Dolphins’ fan perspective.

No one could try to argue at this point that the Dolphins wouldn’t have been better off with Herbert, with the possible exception of Dolphins general manager Grier, whose career will ultimately fall on that sword.

Drastic change inevitable for struggling Dolphins

McDaniel said being 1-5 “sucks” before rambling on about finding ways to fix what’s wrong, adding, “While we didn’t get it done, the guys showed me why I believe in them.”

Viewed from outside the team, belief has clearly left the building, where a banner calling for firing Grier and McDaniel again flew over the stadium.

The loss dropped McDaniel’s record as Dolphins coach below .500 at 29-30.

“I’m not worried about the team staying together, I’m worried about getting our football right,” he said. “I think that’s the fourth game that we’ve lost in the final couple of minutes this season … so we’ve got to figure that out.”

It is the refrain of clueless coaches everywhere: Watch the film and figure out how to get better.

If defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver wanted to throw up after last week’s gut-wrenching collapse at Carolina, wait until he watches the video of the third quarter against the Chargers. His defense gave up two touchdowns and 155 yards.

Meanwhile, the Dolphins were held to a minus-11 yards during that floundering 15-minute stretch.

See, there are problems everywhere, including special teams, which allowed a generous kickoff return that gave the Chargers favorable field position for their final drive.

There is no doubt that drastic change is coming for the Dolphins, the question is when. More daunting is finding a way out of this never-ending cycle of poor decisions and failure on the field.

Craig Davis has covered South Florida sports and teams, including the Dolphins, for more than four decades. Follow him on the site formerly known as Twitter @CraigDavisRuns.

Keys to a Miami Dolphins Victory vs The Chargers

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While many have already given up on the season, there is still football to be played. In fact, the 2016 Dolphins made the playoffs after starting 1-4 back when there were only 16 games in a season.

Now, no, I’m not saying that’s likely. But the Miami Dolphins are going to trot onto the field each and every week with that belief, because that’s what athletes do, they have that will to win, no matter what everyone else has to say.

The last time the Miami Dolphins played the Chargers, Tua Tagovailoa was incredible, going 28-of-45 for 466 yards, three touchdowns (and one interception), capped off by a game-winning drive.

Watch that game’s highlights here!

This time around, both teams look a little different. Both are dealing with struggling offensive lines, and both quarterbacks still have plenty to prove in this league. With all that said, here are the Miami Dolphins’ keys to victory.

The Front Seven’s Best Opportunity to Shine

Last week was embarrassing, a blown lead and complete domination on the ground. This week, Miami’s supposed strongest unit has to play like it.

The front seven has been exposed in the running game, failed to generate consistent pressure, and missed tackles and gap assignments across the board. But the Chargers will be without Joe Alt, are allowing 3.4 sacks per game, and may be rolling out an offensive line that rivals the Dolphins for the league’s worst.

If there were ever a time for this group to wake up, it’s now. Miami’s defensive front needs to generate 4+ sacks and allow fewer than 4.0 yards per carry for the Dolphins to have a real chance.

Time for Tua to Change the Narrative

Last week, Tua played nearly perfect football and still took the blame because he “had a shot.” Yes, he missed an open Waddle and came up short on the final drive, but that’s an unfair judgment for a quarterback who put his team up 17-0, got just 19 yards of rushing support, and was sacked three times.

Still, that’s life in the NFL. Quarterbacks don’t get excuses, especially when their name is Tua Tagovailoa.

He finished 27-of-36 for 256 yards and three touchdowns, including a beautiful go-ahead strike to Waddle. It wasn’t enough. So this week, Tua must not only outplay the quarterback he was drafted ahead of, Justin Herbert, but summon that same fire from the 2023 matchup.

If he doesn’t respond and outplay Herbert, this season will be all but over.

Play With Pride

Nobody in the locker room is happy, not with the results, not with the narratives, not with the attention. But only they can change it.

The Dolphins must come out with an intensity they’ve yet to show this season. They need to play cohesively, play with something to prove, and do it for all 60 minutes, not just when it feels easy.

Beating the Chargers isn’t impossible. Los Angeles has faltered two weeks in a row, first to the Giants, then to the Commanders. Now, the stumbling Dolphins have their chance to get back on their feet.

Getting a rushing attack going this week would surely help Tua and the offense, especially in maintaining leads. But more than anything, I’d like to see the Dolphins simplify the offense and let Tua find his playmakers, don’t get cute.

For Miami, this is truly their final chance to save the season.

Touchdown pass to Darren Waller helped the Dolphins to a big early lead at Carolina, but then they stopped throwing to him.

Pressure Point: Dolphins’ collapse at Carolina signals change inevitable

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The Miami Dolphins lost a lot when Tyreek Hill blew out his knee in week 4.

His absence is not the reason the Dolphins’ season is a lost cause five weeks in following a dispiriting 27-24 loss Sunday at Carolina.

Not with the timely arrival of another former All-Pro receiver, Darren Waller, providing a dynamic new weapon for Tua Tagovailoa (5 receptions for 78 yards and a touchdown). And with Jaylen Waddle doing his part to fill the void (6 catches for 110 yards including a 46-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter).

No, the absolute failure of this poorly constructed Dolphins team isn’t about having enough play makers on offense.

It’s about the must fundamental aspect of the game. If you can’t man up on at the line of scrimmage, you’re a pushover.

The Dolphins have been just that, bowled over and bludgeoned on both sides of the ball, week after week.

Dolphins out-muscled at line of scrimmage

Two stark numbers succinctly summarize how the Dolphins lost this battle of 1-3 teams after building a 17-0 lead:

Miami mustered only 19 yards rushing on 14 attempts.

Carolina rushed for 239 yards on 32 attempts.

It was a simple matter of brute force and the ability (and will) to block and tackle. Each category was no contest in favor of the Panthers.

Carolina achieved that despite missing starting running back Chuba Hubbard. That proved no impediment with backup Rico Dowdle running wild for 206 yards while averaging 9 yards a carry.

Dowdle went 53 yards untouched around the right side before Mincah Fitzpatrick made a touchdown-saving tackle on one third-quarter run.

There is no apparent solution to the inability to run the ball or stop the opponent from doing so.

No easy fixes for Dolphins’ shortcomings

These are the players that were chosen to fill this deeply flawed roster. It’s not a matter of watching the video and making adjustments. This group simply is not good enough.

The gap just to attain mediocrity is a wide chasm.

Consequently, the Collapse at Carolina has the look of a regime-ending defeat. It’s a matter of when, not if, heads will roll.

The remainder of the season will be more about what team owner Steve Ross decides to do than about how coaches and players adjust. Because drastic change is inevitable now.

While fans are chanting for firings, beginning with the coach and general manager, the state of the franchise is disheartening for everyone who still cares about it.

The latest so-called rebuilding effort, convened after the 2019 season, has produced nothing more than two one-and-done playoff appearances. This season is destined to be the second in a row without an extra game.

The drought without a postseason win since 2000 is no closer to ending. It will be a long climb from starting over again.

Dolphins squander early lead

Sunday’s loss was a prime example of how the Dolphins build up hopes, only to let their followers down. They took advantage of two turnovers by Panthers quarterback Bryce Young to build a 17-0 lead.

But after Waller caught a 4-yard pass from Tua in the back of the end zone early in the second quarter, the big tight end wasn’t targeted again the rest of the game.

Meanwhile, the Panthers realized they could run with ease through Anthony Weaver’s defense and the outcome appeared inevitable even while the Dolphins clung to the lead.

Tagovailoa, as he often does, won the stats game with 256 yards passing, three touchdowns and a 122.0 passer rating. But his day ended with a high throw off Waddle’s fingertips and a sack.

Ultimately, his accomplishments in the game — including the long TD heave to Waddle to reclaim the lead with less than five minutes remaining — had a hollow ring, much like his career.

Watching it unfold was like witnessing a crash in slow motion. With 12 games left to be played out, it remains to be seen how much of the audience bothers to keep watching.

Craig Davis has covered South Florida sports and teams, including the Dolphins, for more than four decades. Follow him on the site formerly known as Twitter @CraigDavisRuns.

Tua Tagovailoa has thrived in coach Mike McDaniel's offense with the Miami Dolphins.

The Key’s to a Miami Dolphins Victory in Carolina

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Coming off of their first win of the 2025 season and the loss of their biggest superstar, the Miami Dolphins will look to stay on track as they travel to Bank of America Stadium to take on the Carolina Panthers.

For the Dolphins it’s about making a statement and getting their season back on track and for the Panthers it’s about responding and finding some consistency following two interesting football games.

So here are three keys to victory for the Miami Dolphins.

  1. Run the Ball: I have repeated this key each and every week of the Miami Dolphins season. And now with Tyreek Hill out it is even more important. The Miami Dolphins most talented offensive weapon is their tailback (Devon Achane) and the offensive line has done much better in run blocking versus pass blocking. Running the ball will enable the Dolphins to follow their success from last week in the play action game and help alleviate this offensive line. The Dolphins are top 10 in yards per attempt, but bottom 5 in rushing yards per game. Establish the run, control the clock.
  2. Pressure Bryce Young: Bryce Young has yet to show that he can be a top quarterback in this league. He struggles under pressure, turns the ball over, and will be without his top back this week (Chuba Hubbard). For the Dolphins, the pass rush that everyone raved about in the offseason has been nonexistent. Last week the Patriots got 4 quarterback hits and one sack on Young in their 42-13 rout. On top of pressuring Bryce Young, it will be essential for the Dolphins to contain first round pick Tet McMillan, the only true game changer the Panthers have.
  3. Get Malik Washington Involved: Malik Washington can do it all, and without Tyreek Hill I expect him to benefit most. Washington has been seen on punt/kick return, in the receiving game, and in the rushing game, even lining up in the backfield. Washington is dynamic and throws a good wrinkle in there, making it hard to contain the Dolphins offense.

Some other keys:

  • Win the turnover battle. The Dolphins generated their first turnovers last week and look, they won the game.
  • Time to let McDaniel and Tua shine. Without Tyreek, the Dolphins offense loses the over-the-top explosiveness, but this offense is still talented and could benefit in a way without Tyreek.

Miami will look to their next man up without Tyreek Hill and should be able to handle an inferior opponent. That being said it’s the NFL, and on any given Sunday, anyone can come out on top.

Dolphins Loss Chiefs

Longtime Dolphins Corner Xavien Howard Abruptly Retires

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While seeing Xavien Howard in a Colts jersey was a weird feeling, it didn’t last long. Howard had a rough start with the Colts and after four weeks he has abruptly retired. Howard made his announcement October first via his Instagram:

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Xavien Howard is arguably the best corner in Dolphin’s history, up there with franchise icons Patrick Surtain and Sam Madison. As a Dolphin Howard tallied:

  • Achievements: 5× Pro Bowl (2018, 2020-2022), First-team All-Pro (2020) 100 games
  • Stats: 29 interceptions, 4 touchdowns, 95 passes defended, 331 tackles

Over 100 games. Howard was a bright spot in the rough Dolphins years, forming a fierce duo with the likes of Byron Jones and Jalen Ramsey, holding down the Dolphin’s secondary. Howard was a playmaker, a ball hawk and should have been the defensive player of the year in his 2020 campaign where he recorded:

  •  10 interceptions (led NFL)  
  • 20 passes defended (led NFL)  
  • 1 forced fumble
  • 51 total tackles

Howard came third in the voting that year and led the Miami Dolphins to a top 10 defense.

Now Xavien Howard will get to spend more time with his kids and be a father. At 32 Howard has plenty ahead of him and will look forward to his next chapter in life.

After nearly a decade in the NFL, Howard believes he has “fulfilled his purpose” with football and it’s hard to argue against that. His 8 seasons in Miami contain some of the most dominant stretches from an NFL corner and make a strong case for the best tenure in Dolphin’s history.

A corner has yet to make the Miami Dolphins ring of honor, but it will be difficult not to make a case for Xavien Howard. Below are his best highlights. https://x.com/FinsPhanatics/status/1973516416528818230

Howard’s career might feel like it ended suddenly, but his place in Dolphin’s history is anything but fleeting. For nearly a decade, he was the heartbeat of Miami’s defense, the rare player who could tilt a game with one play. Few corners in the league could match his instincts and ability to bait quarterbacks into costly mistakes, and for Dolphins fans, his interceptions were often the lone sparks in otherwise lean years.

Whether or not he becomes the first cornerback in the team’s Ring of Honor, Howard has already secured something harder to earn–lasting respect from the fanbase and a spot in the conversation with the Dolphins’ all-time greats.

Why Cameron Wake Belongs in the Dolphins’ Ring of Honor

 

The Miami Dolphins must quickly fill the void after losing Tyreek Hill to a serious knee injury.

Pressure Point: Dolphins must adjust quickly to reality without Tyreek Hill

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Granted, any win in the NFL is a hard day’s work.

The Miami Dolphins can feel accomplished that they are finally proud owners of one in 2025. It came with a steep price, though, losing their most impactful player in a 27-21 conquest of the winless New York Jets on Monday night.

The term for that is pyrrhic victory.

This one will be remembered only for the loss of five-time All Pro receiver Tyreek Hill to a devastating knee injury, certainly for the season, quite possibly forever.

Harsh reality sets in rapidly in a league whose initials could stand for Not For Long.

The 1-3 Dolphins can point to improvement over the past six quarters of play, including the second half at Buffalo. Whether that is a genuine turn for the better is inconclusive at best.

As for Monday, the difference was a recovered fumble at the goal line against a team whose performance was so inept its coach could be heard afterward by media members bellowing behind closed doors.

Rarely does an NFL team play as stupidly for 60 minutes as the Jets did Monday. They had 13 assessed penalties, three turnovers and committed a slew of mental errors.

Jets’ epic ineptitude aided Dolphins

Jets fans were calling for the head of Isaiah Williams, who fumbled away the second-half kickoff and called for a fair catch at his own 2 yard line in the final minute.

Jets running back Breece Hall summed up the evening well with “Teams shoot themselves in the foot, then we come back and shoot ourselves in the head.”

Quite frankly, the Dolphins also were beneficiaries of several questionable rulings by the officials.

What, then, was revealed about the Dolphins in holding off one of the league’s most dysfunctional teams?

Again, inconclusive.

One thing to say with conviction, I actually liked the Dolphins’ “Dark Water” rivalry uniforms. They looked badass, a quality this team has lacked.

The defense did answer coordinator Anthony Weaver’s demand for a more “violent” approach. They created turnovers for the first time this season. Cornerback Jack Jones punched the ball free just before Braelon Allen crossed the goal line on the Jets’ opening drive and Minkah Fitzpatrick recovered.

But prior to the fumble, Fitzpatrick accurately noted, “They were running the ball with ease.” The safety acknowledged, “When a team is running the ball like that, especially on the first drive of the game, it can be super deflating.”

Dolphins defense still getting run over

Although they got better after that, Miami’s defense still allowed 404 yards total offense, including 197 on the ground (7.1 yards per attempt).

There was a lot of violent head turning as Jets backs ran past.

The pass rush had trouble reaching and containing Justin Fields, who scampered away for a 43-yard touchdown.

The Miami defense needs more examples like linebacker Jordyn Brooks (18 tackles). Cornerback, a position of concern, has actually been passable with Jones and Rasul Douglas.

But whether the Dolphins can beat anyone better than the Jets with this defense is: inconclusive.

That their grip on this one remained uncomfortable until the end is concerning. But there are positives to cite.

In the immediate aftermath of Hill’s departure on a cart, joking and waving, the Dolphins responded with back to back touchdown drives. They uncovered an intriguing new offensive force in the Dolphins debut of massive tight end Darren Waller, a target so expansive that Tua Tagovailoa will be hard pressed to overthrow him.

“I mean I can’t remember the last time I’ve thrown the ball to dang near the goal post and somebody catches it like that,” Tua said of Waller’s jaw-dropping grab at the back of the end zone for the first of two touchdown catches. “So, that’s the kind of guy that we have in Darren Waller.”

Tight end Waller has immediate impact for Dolphins

So, Waller becomes exhibit No. 1 of how the Dolphins will cope with the loss of Hill, who has missed only one game in his four seasons with Miami. He is their leading receiver this season and even claimed that distinction for this game (six catches for 67 yards) despite his early departure.

Througouth his tenure, the Dolphins have gone best when Hill is going well.

Even with the void Hill’s injury leaves, there is reason to be encouraged by the potential of McDaniel’s offense. It looked more like the 2023 version than we’ve seen since then with the combination of pre-snap motion, deception and speed bringing positive results. It was evident they had 11 days to prepare.

For the first time this season Tagovailoa didn’t have a turnover or a sack. I liked getting him out of the pocket, where he’s been vulnerable if his first read isn’t open, and having him throw on the run.

Best of all was the balance with 31 rushes (123 yards) and 25 passes. The makeshift offensive line did a good job of opening lanes for De’von Achane, including Cole Strange getting his first start at right guard.

But is that a reflection of general improvement or status quo by facing the Jets, who have lost 10 in a row at Hard Rock Stadium? Again, inconclusive.

Jaylen Waddle must lead Dolphins receivers

What matters now is how they go forward without Hill. Is Jaylen Waddle ready to step into the featured receiver role? He has moments of brilliance, but now he must emerge as the go-to guy.
Malik Washington will have the chance to play a bigger part and there should be opportunity to finally  take the wraps off talented Tahj Washington.

There is speculation about using running backs Achane and Ollie Gordon II together, with Achane lining up as a receiver. But Achane is too valuable as the featured runner for that to me more than a variation.

How will this Dolphins team respond to the post-Tyreek reality? The weeks ahead will reveal a lot more than Monday’s win over the self-destructible Jets.

A good starting point would be to throw to Darren Waller as often as possible.

Craig Davis has covered South Florida sports and teams, including the Dolphins, for more than four decades. Follow him on the site formerly known as Twitter @CraigDavisRuns.