Keys to A Miami Dolphins Week One Victory

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The Miami Dolphins open up their 2025 regular season as underdogs on the road against the Daniel Jones led Colts. The Colts made little to no adjustments on the offensive side of the ball this offseason other than their quarterback change, and bolstered their secondary signing Camryn Bynum, Xavien Howard, and Charvarius Ward. On the offensive side of the ball, they lost linemen Will Fries and Ryan Kelly and added Penn State tight end Tyler Warren in the draft. Miami gets nearly the same Colts team they lost to a season ago, but this time without Tua under center.

Daniel Jones is sure to be an upgrade over Anthony Richardson, but the Miami Dolphins will be much better, much in part to health, the bolstering of their offensive line, and some late off-season additions (Rasul Douglas and Matthew Judon).

So here are the keys to a Miami Dolphins victory.

  1. Start Fast: The Miami Dolphins are being attacked by the National Media, their own fans, and many players amongst the NFL. Culture attacks, leadership attacks, and questioning the organizations continuity and trust in certain individuals. The Miami Dolphins must show that they are ready to head back to the playoffs. Start fast, silence the haters, and put this game away early. Getting ahead will enable the Miami Dolphins to unleash their fierce pass rush, Jaelan Phillips, Bradley Chubb, Chop Robinson, Zach Sieler, and Matthew Judon. A fast start plays in the Dolphins favor, make Daniel Jones beat you.
  2. Stop the Run; Force Daniel Jones to Throw: Daniel Jones isn’t a prominent passer but rather a dynamic quarterback who should bring a good balanced attack with Jonathan Taylor, especially since he’s an upgrade from Anthony Richardson. The Colts averaged 137.1 yards per game on the ground last season (8th in the NFL) and will likely lean on the rushing attack again this season. Adding Tyler Warren should open up the play action attack but also bolster the Colts run blocking. With Jonathan Taylor handling the ball, the Dolphins have to contain him. The new look front seven and Anthony Weaver’s scheme will be essential in containing the Colts on the ground. Jordyn Brooks, Willie Gay, Tyrel Dodson, will need to have gap integrity and be sure tacklers for all 60 minutes. For the edge rushers it will be essential to keep the Colts in the middle of the field, don’t let Jonathan Taylor get to the outside.
  3. Win the Turnover Battle: The Dolphins only forced 16 turnovers last season, among the NFL’s worst. Winning the turnover battle is always a key to victory, but it really fits this Miami Dolphins’ team’s agenda, especially early.

The Dolphins really have the talent to make some noise in 2025, but the must stay healthy, connected, and start fast, reasserting themselves as a top team in the NFL. If the Dolphins do these three things, nothing is stopping Mike McDaniel and company (except health). The Colts open up as favorites, but the Dolphins should surely take this one.

 

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Angel Reese has put the Chicago Sky on notice

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Angel Reese is a star and has no issues throwing her weight around on and off the court, even at the expense of her teammates. Her second season has five games left, but the start to her career has been spent on a team far away from doing anything serious because of internal drama, injuries and a limited, rebuilding roster. That’s not good enough for Reese, a college champion at LSU who also led Saint Frances Academy in Baltimore to three straight championships. 

 

She said, “… I’d like to be here for my career, but if things don’t pan out, obviously I might have to move in a different direction and do what’s best for me,” per the Chicago Tribune’s Julia Powe. Now her teammates are rightfully upset.

 

Now think of the Sky’s avenue to improvement. Per a press release on April 13, “In 2026, the Sky hold the rights to swap Phoenix‘s first-round pick with Connecticut’s.” Yet, they traded their 2027 FRP and the third pick in the 2025 draft, which was used on All-Star rookie Sonia Citron, for Ariel Atkins, who is in her eighth season and was formerly a two-time All-Star. Don’t forget that they also got the 11th pick in the last draft and the Lynx kept Chicago’s 2026 FRP. Hailey Van Lith, Reese’s former teammate at LSU who has struggled in her rookie campaign, was picked at 11.

 

The Sky (9-30) is one game ahead of the Dallas Wings (9-32), owners of the worst record in the league.  Can anyone foresee a bounce-back year in 2026 for the Sky? They need it for their sake, so morale isn’t zapped if they are the bottom feeders and Washington drafts superstar prospect Juju Watkins through the original Chicago pick.  

 

Reese must be looking at Phoenix’s Alyssa Thomas thinking, “Dang, give me a team like that, and we’ll be in the mix.” 

 

Reese, on top of being the most productive rebounder (by average) in WNBA history at age 23, has shown she can be a reliable playmaker, nearly doubling her assists (to 3.7 per game) on a lousy 3-point shooting team. With snipers around her, she could average two to three dimes on offensive rebounds alone because defenses are vulnerable in those situations. Eventually rivals will stop helping on her drives if she keeps burning them with a feed to the corner or wing, and when that happens, expect her accuracy to elevate at close range.

 

Additionally, Reese guards well, but needs teammates strong at checking the point of attack to maximize her impact. She can’t be next to someone who is exposed in drop coverage either. 

 

There are two things she needs to do to emulate Thomas: get stronger so opponents are at an even worse disadvantage when she dribbles toward the cylinder. The other is to keep working on her jumper, which only drops 28.2% of the time, per WNBA Stats. This season, Thomas has raised her accuracy on her jumper by 15.2%.

 

Still, Reese has played at the level of a top-15 player since her turnaround after the poor start to the season. It behooves the Sky to get her some help quickly.



Predicting the Miami Dolphins 2025 Record

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It’s finally game week, and the Miami Dolphins will look to bounce back after missing the playoffs for the first time under head coach Mike McDaniel. The 2025 offseason and NFL Draft saw Miami invest heavily in the trenches while adding proven veterans and key depth pieces. The late off-season acquisitions of Matthew Judon and Rasul Douglas, the return of Kendall Lamm, the emergence of rookie running back Ollie Gordon, and improved special teams play throughout the preseason have reinforced early predictions that this roster is built for a strong rebound.

Miami now has the potential to field one of the most disruptive front sevens in the NFL and an offense capable of returning to its 2023 explosiveness. Health across the roster is improving, but concerns remain in the secondary, particularly at cornerback. Until that position progresses, it remains a limiting factor in projecting the Dolphins’ ceiling.

The Dolphins are scheduled for five primetime appearances and an international showdown in Spain, a clear indication of the NFL’s belief that Miami is one of the league’s most entertaining and competitive teams to watch, although the National media may say otherwise.

Miami Dolphins 2025 Game-by-Game Predictions

WEEK DATE OPPONENT LOCATION NETWORK TIME (ET) RESULT
1 Sun., Sept. 7 at Indianapolis Colts Lucas Oil Stadium CBS 1:00 PM W
2 Sun., Sept. 14 New England Patriots Hard Rock Stadium CBS 1:00 PM W
3 Thu., Sept. 18 at Buffalo Bills Highmark Stadium Prime Video 8:15 PM L
4 Mon., Sept. 29 New York Jets Hard Rock Stadium ESPN 7:15 PM W
5 Sun., Oct. 5 at Carolina Panthers Bank of America Stadium FOX 1:00 PM W
6 Sun., Oct. 12 Los Angeles Chargers Hard Rock Stadium CBS 1:00 PM W
7 Sun., Oct. 19 at Cleveland Browns Huntington Bank Stadium CBS 1:00 PM W
8 Sun., Oct. 26 at Atlanta Falcons Mercedes-Benz Stadium CBS 1:00 PM W
9 Thu., Oct. 30 Baltimore Ravens Hard Rock Stadium Prime Video 8:15 PM L
10 Sun., Nov. 9 Buffalo Bills Hard Rock Stadium CBS 1:00 PM L
11 Sun., Nov. 16 Washington Commanders (Spain) Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid NFL Network 9:30 AM L
— Sun., Nov. 23 BYE WEEK — — — —
12 Sun., Nov. 30 New Orleans Saints Hard Rock Stadium FOX 1:00 PM W
13 Sun., Dec. 7 at New York Jets MetLife Stadium CBS 1:00 PM W
14 Mon., Dec. 15 at Pittsburgh Steelers Acrisure Stadium ESPN/ABC 8:15 PM W
15 Sun., Dec. 21 Cincinnati Bengals Hard Rock Stadium NBC 8:20 PM L
16 Sun., Dec. 28 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Hard Rock Stadium FOX 1:00 PM L
17 Jan. 3 or 4 at New England Patriots Gillette Stadium TBD TBD W

Final Record: 11–6

  • AFC East Record: 4–2

  • Conference Record: 8–4

  • NFC Record: 3–2

Key Wins

  • at Pittsburgh (Week 14, MNF): A statement primetime win in a cold-weather playoff-style environment.

  • vs New York Jets (Week 4): An early divisional victory that helped set the tone for the season.

  • vs Los Angeles Chargers (Week 6): A complete team effort against a high-powered offense provided momentum heading into the midseason stretch.

The Dolphins offense and strong front seven will lead to the majority of their wins. They have the clear quarterback and coaching advantage in many games, causing a high floor, barring health.

Toughest Losses

  • vs Washington (Madrid, Week 11): Travel fatigue and unfamiliar conditions made for a costly international slip.

  • vs Buffalo (Week 10): Being swept by the Bills could be the difference in the AFC East race.

  • vs Cincinnati (Week 15): A potential playoff preview that gets away under the lights at home.

The Dolphins secondary will be very telling in how their 2025 season goes. Can they contain they high octane offenses?

Playoff Outlook

An 11–6 finish should comfortably secure a Wild Card berth in a stacked AFC. If Buffalo falters down the stretch, Miami has a path to stealing the division via tiebreakers. The Dolphins start hot at 7–1 before stumbling in the stretches of November and December, but the foundation is there for a postseason run, especially if the secondary solidifies.

Final Thoughts

Between favorable scheduling, manageable travel, and improved depth, Miami is positioned to return to the playoffs. Winnable games against Carolina, Atlanta, New Orleans, and Cleveland should serve as anchors to the record (Miami is just the better team), while divisional matchups against New England and the Jets could determine playoff seeding (do the Patriots and Jets take a leap?).

The addition of Judon and Douglas strengthens a defense already built to pressure quarterbacks and now gives them support on the backend. Lamm’s return adds needed stability up front, while Gordon provides fresh juice to the backfield. Special teams, long a weakness; look sharper and could swing close games.

If Tua Tagovailoa stays healthy, Miami’s floor is at least eight wins. The ceiling pushes into 12+ territory if the Dolphins can take a game from Buffalo and slow down elite offenses like Baltimore, Cincinnati, Washington, and Tampa Bay.

The schedule suggests streaks are likely, but the pieces are in place for Miami to reassert itself as a postseason contender.

The Miami Heat’s ’06 files: Setting the stage

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The dream season became a nightmare as the Pistons celebrated as Eastern Conference champions in the Heat’s house following Game 7 in 2005. The hosts exited to the locker room with their pride wounded, looking like they’d seen an apparition after blowing a 3-2 lead.

 

Two sweeps against New Jersey and Washington were inconsequential because what could have gone wrong in the fourth quarter did. The Heat got away from what worked- giving it to Shaquille O’Neal- instead Dwyane Wade took bad shots and the role players did too much, including Damon Jones, whose turnover with two minutes left resulted in a Rip Hamilton pick-6, tying the game.

 

Wade said after that, “They made plays at the end, you know, that we didn’t make. That was the main thing.”

 

On the other side, Chauncey Billups buried a trifecta and coffin-closing free throws. Rasheed Wallace took the lead for good with freebies and made a vital putback with under a minute left on the next possession. 

 

The Heat’s clock management was suspect, and Wade didn’t get a clean look from deep while down four points with seven seconds left. 

 

O’Neal was the white whale that the front office acquired the previous summer, instantly elevating them to contending status. He was even better than in his last year with the Lakers after shedding around 40 pounds, too, and his presence with the remaining ingredients racked up 59 regular-season victories, the second-most in franchise history at the time. 

 

The one-two combination with O’Neal and Wade was as tough to stop as any league duo, but the latter was compromised with a rib injury suffered in Game 5 and needed an injection before tip-off of Game 7. Ron Culp, who was the Heat’s first trainer and later died in 2021 of cardiac arrest per his official obituary, applied heat to the rib area during timeouts.

 

Heat play-by-play broadcaster Eric Reid told Five Reasons Sports Network that the moment Wade got hurt was a “high point and a low point at the same point.” He tried warming up for Game 6, but never played.  

 

The Heat’s locker room was quiet after elimination because they felt they let one slip away. O’Neal’s voice usually filled every room with bass, but not this time. The Associated Press’ Tim Reynolds was present for the scene. He told FRSN, “If you weren’t within six inches of him, you couldn’t hear him.”  

 

O’Neal was pissed off not just at the outcome but at coach Stan Van Gundy as well because he wanted the ball more late. He complained to anyone who would listen about Van Gundy later that offseason. 

 

Management’s first order of business was to improve when league rules allowed. Team president Pat Riley called Wade in the summer for his input on moves and received feedback from his surprised star player. Wade publicly said on Quite Frankly with Stephen A. Smith during the 2005-06 season that the moves confused him. The changes included: 

 

-Certified playmaker Jason Williams via five-team trade from Memphis. 

 

-Top-shelf perimeter defender and 3-point marksman James Posey via five-team trade from Memphis.

 

-Antoine Walker, a former 20-point-per-game scorer, arrived via a five-team trade.

 

-Gary Payton, whom the Heat wanted for multiple years, committed on Sept. 22. Payton’s defensive prowess was instantly going to help the Heat at guarding at pick and roll, a notorious weakness for O’Neal, who was his teammate in 2003-04 in LA. 

 

-Jason Kapono, the 10th man for the Charlotte Bobcats in 2004-05, was an extra body with outside range. He signed as a free agent on Oct. 3.

 

One of the consequences of Eddie Jones’ inclusion in the Memphis trade was that more was demanded of Wade on defense. Wade added on Quite Frankly, “My concern was defensively… as a young player, I didn’t know how to take that, but I came in and worked hard to become the best defender I can for this team to help us win and still be productive on the offensive end.” The other departures included Keyon Dooling, Rasual Butler, D. Jones, Steve Smith and Christian Laettner.

 

Additionally, one advantage the Heat had going into 2005-06 was that Alonzo Mourning was arguably the best backup big man in the NBA. He was no longer the man who was second and third in consecutive years in MVP voting while winning back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year awards because of a kidney scare years earlier, but Mourning could still guard well and was a respected member of the team. He returned to the Heat on March 1, 2005.

 

Reid said, “On paper, it looked like the greatest team that the franchise had ever put together.” For that reason, the mood around the team was all or nothing. Despite Wade only going into year three, O’Neal would turn 33 that season and with limited time before his powers declined further.

 

 “Some players didn’t love how hard that training camp was,” Reynolds said. “Stan Van Gundy was the coach in that camp, but it was a Pat Riley training camp in a lot of ways.” Multiple members of the team did not show up in Heat shape.

 

While management did its job, making bold alterations for a squad nearly there, one cloud hung in the backdrop: Before the upcoming campaign, Riley said he wanted to be more hands-on with the team, unnecessarily creating speculation about Van Gundy’s job security. 

—

-Stay tuned for more podcasts and written episodes of the ‘06 Files during the Heat’s 2025-26 season.



 

Five Takeaways: Canes Survive Irish Rally in Beck’s Debut

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Photo Credits @CanesFootball

Miami Gardens, FL – The Miami Hurricanes held on for a wild 27-24 win over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Sunday night, opening the Carson Beck era with plenty of drama. It was a night that started with control, turned shaky late, and ended with a clutch kick and a defense that sealed the deal. Here are five takeaways from a memorable season opener at Hard Rock Stadium:

1. Carson Beck Brings Stability at Quarterback

The Georgia transfer gave the Canes exactly what they needed after losing Cam Ward to the NFL: poise, leadership, and efficient decision-making. Beck finished 20-for-30 with 205 yards and two touchdowns, including a 28-yard strike to true freshman Malachi Toney. His calm presence stood in contrast to Notre Dame’s redshirt freshman CJ Carr, who looked rattled at times in the hostile environment.

2. Miami’s Receivers Can Play

One of the biggest offseason questions was whether Miami had enough talent at wide receiver. The Hurricanes lost their top six pass-catchers from last season, leaving Beck to build chemistry with an entirely new group. Those concerns were silenced early. True freshman Malachi Toney looked dynamic in his debut, catching six passes for 82 yards and the game’s opening touchdown. CJ Daniels, another new face, delivered the highlight of the night when he hauled in a one-handed touchdown grab just before halftime. For a room that entered the year under heavy scrutiny, this was as strong of a statement as Miami could have made.

➡️ Five Reasons Sports 🏀🏈⚾️🏒⚽️ on X: “HOLY BLEEP CJ DANIELS”

3. Defense Delivered When It Mattered Most

Miami’s new look defense set the tone early and came up huge late. Rueben Bain Jr.’s tip-drill interception in the fourth quarter stopped a potential Irish rally, and the final two sacks in the closing minute sealed the win. The Canes finished with three sacks and forced two turnovers — the kind of disruptive performance fans have been waiting to see.

4. Conservative Play Calling Nearly Cost Miami

After the opening possession of the second half, Miami’s offense stalled out, going three-and-out on four consecutive possessions. The run-heavy, conservative approach gave Notre Dame life, and the Irish capitalized to tie the game at 24. Mario Cristobal’s staff got away with it this time thanks to Carter Davis’s clutch field goal, but the approach will draw questions moving forward.

  • Three straight runs after the momentum-changing interception when already in field goal range.

  • Three straight runs with a chance to put the game away late.

Cristobal has carried a reputation for clock-management issues, and now the conservative play calling nearly cost Miami the game.

Let’s see if they build more trust in Beck down the stretch.

5. Carter Davis Is Clutch

In his Hurricanes debut, the FAU transfer kicker calmly drilled two field goals, including the 47-yard game-winner with just over a minute left. With Miami’s offense sputtering late, Davis became the difference-maker in front of a program-record crowd of 66,793 (much larger than any FAU crowd). If this game is any indication, Miami finally has a reliable kicker it can trust as the season progresses.

Bottom Line

The Hurricanes showed flashes of dominance, then made things harder than they needed to. But a win is a win, and against a top opponent, Miami proved it can win ugly, survive tense moments, and lean on new leaders. For a fan base starving for progress, this was a season-opening thriller worth celebrating.

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Big-time fourth-quarter heroics saved the Sparks in the win over the touring Mystics

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Kelsey Plum and Dearica Hamby kept the Sparks from folding against the visiting Mystics. Despite Washington being eliminated from playoff contention, they tried to play spoiler, hanging around until the end. Los Angeles’ flimsy playoff hopes stay alive with six games remaining, the last three being at home. 

The Sparks took first blood with a 12-0 run. They flashed a 2-3 zone early, plus benefited from missed open shots while holding Washington to 16.7% first-quarter shooting.  Rickea Jackson built most of LA’s 11-point lead, making two trays on and off the dribble, plus got to the line. Cameron Brink came off the bench, warping drives to the basket, too.

 

Then the Mystics tied the game with Sonia Citron on the bench by cracking the zone for an inside finish, scoring on the break after a turnover, Kiki Iriafen making a right-side jumper, Jade Melbourne downing a left-side triple, and Lucy Olsen stealing (her fourth) and scoring in Washington territory for a layup.  But the Sparks countered with a 16-7 run, pulling away in the fast lane as the visitors went cold.

 

The Sparks led 40-31 at intermission, setting an 11-2 edge in fastbreak points. Iriafen was the only Mystic starter to log more than a field goal (3), and the other four combined for 18.1% shooting in the first half. 

 

Iriafen followed up with cutting layups and a midrange jumper, but her teammates were allergic to the net for almost nine minutes. On the other side, the Sparks’ ball movement exposed the guests, and they raised their advantage to 14, but they got too comfortable. The edge was cut to six heading into the fourth on a late burst from Lucy Olsen, Emily Engstler, Shakira Austin and Citron. 

 

The Mystics were like a fighter with a second wind in the championship rounds, and they took their first lead of the game nearly 2 minutes into the fourth on a drive-and-kick triple set up for Stefanie Dolson. Yet Plum, who had made one of seven shots through three quarters, punished Washington from the outside and sliced inside, and Hamby’s rim pressure broke down the Mystics. The former had 14 of her 18 digits in the fourth. 

 

The Sparks won 81-78 while being outscored off the bench by 17. Their record improved to 18-20.

 

At her on-court interview, Plum said it’s the point of the season when everyone is tired and praised her teammates for their resolve and ball screen defense. She knew she would get loose, and they had no answers for her off-ball movement and pull-up shots when she did.  

 

What Must the Miami Dolphins Do to Shed the “Soft” Label?

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For decades, the Dolphins have carried a reputation pinned on them by both the media and their own fans, a reputation born from an inability to beat teams with winning records, an inability to win in the cold when the season is on the line, and an organizational culture that too often seems fragile.

This stigma is magnified by history. The Dolphins have not won a playoff game since the year 2000, twenty-five years ago. That is the longest active playoff winless streak in the four major sports, and the second-longest drought of winning a playoff series, behind only the Cincinnati Reds who last did it in 1995. This is the worst company a sports franchise can keep. For Miami, every “glimmer of hope,” every “different feeling” ends the same way, disappointment and the eternal “what if?”

Maybe the label sticks because it is an easy punchline about an aquatic mascot, but there is plenty of evidence fueling the consensus. The Dolphins have beaten their division rival Buffalo Bills only once in the Mike McDaniel era. They are 2-13 in games played at 40 degrees or below since 2014, the worst mark in the NFL. They consistently struggle against playoff-caliber teams. To make matters worse, their offensive identity has been framed around speed and finesse, which feeds the narrative, especially when the team falters in short-yardage situations or when their star quarterback’s durability is questioned.

But the truth is the “soft” label is a misnomer. There are no soft teams in the NFL. Every player is among the toughest athletes in the world, forged by years of grueling practices and sacrifices to reach the highest level. The Dolphins’ issues are not about toughness. They are systemic. They are the result of bad coaching hires, poor roster management, injuries, and instability at the most important position in sports.

The revolving door at quarterback tells the story as clearly as anything. Since Dan Marino retired, Miami has tried Jay Fiedler, Gus Frerotte, Daunte Culpepper, Chad Pennington, Chad Henne, Ryan Tannehill, Jay Cutler, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and now Tua Tagovailoa, among others. Coaches have come and gone just as quickly: Dave Wannstedt, Nick Saban, Cam Cameron, Tony Sparano, Joe Philbin, Adam Gase, Brian Flores, and now Mike McDaniel. Every regime promised to be the one that changed the culture, yet the cycle always reset after a few disappointing years.

To shed the label, Miami has to do more than talk about being tougher. They need to build a culture that values accountability, resilience, and execution. That means not just flashing speed in September but winning games in December, on the road, against playoff teams. It means proving they can win at the line of scrimmage and not wilt when conditions are not perfect.

Signs of progress are beginning to show. Reports this offseason have pointed to players staying after practice, locker room problems being addressed, and strong leaders added to a young core. These are the right steps. But until the Dolphins finally win in January, the perception will not change.

The “soft” label is not about individual players. It is about twenty-five years of dysfunction. The only way to silence it is not with words, but with wins. A playoff victory is the only answer. Until that happens, fair or not, the narrative will live on.

******

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Mateo’s Hoop Diary: “I’m the human definition of ‘stay ready so you don’t have to get ready’”: Sims and Fever break LA’s heart

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Odyssey Sims nailed a left-handed floater in the lane, lifting the Fever to their 21st win and sinking the Sparks perhaps out of the playoff race. It was her first visit back to LA against the team that waived her on July 2. Aside from the Fever exposing the paint for 52 digits, they outscored LA on second chances (16-5), on the break (13-10) and points off turnovers (23-8).

 

The Sparks had an early 10-point lead but that vanished quickly. The fourth quarter started with the Sparks ahead 58-57. Azura Stevens was a problem for the Fever as she barreled into the paint for two layups and downed a 3-pointer. But they keyed in on Rickea Jackson and Kelsey Plum, holding them to zero points on three second-half attempts. 

 

Sims totaled 21 points, including nine in the fourth quarter on runners in the lane and a wing triple, plus logged three assists and six boards. 

 

After the game, Sims said, “I haven’t been with the team long, but each practice, each game, [We’re] getting better. We have two other new players along with myself, so [we’re] continuing to gel, like [Boston] said… tonight wasn’t pretty, but the most important thing, we came out with the W.”

 

Aliyah Boston also scored six of her 22 points in the fourth quarter as the pendulum swung back and forth six times late. Notably, she missed her first five attempts but made her next 11 of 13 tries, including eight in a row between the first and third quarter.

 

Coach Stephanie White was pleased with her team’s defense and discipline. “The selfless nature of this group just can’t be overstated, and that’s why we are able to be in positions like this that we are able to be in.”

 

The Fever remain the sixth seed, three games ahead of ninth place (Sparks) and one in front of eighth (Valkyries), with five matches left on the calendar. Their games against the Sky (Sept. 5) and the Lynx (Sept. 9) will be in Indiana, but the others versus the Valkyries (Aug. 31), the Mercury (Sept. 2) and the Mystics (Sept. 7) are away.

 

 



What Does Adding Rasul Douglas do For the Dolphins Defense?

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The Miami Dolphins recently signed Rasul Douglas, ending a long-awaited arrival as Miami has been in contact with Douglas all off-season.

Miami Dolphins Sign Veteran CB Rasul Douglas to One-Year Deal

Head coach Mike McDaniel said in his press conference Thursday when asked if Rasul was signed to start, “we aren’t in the business of handing over those positions, especially in a competitive environment” Talks about how the Dolphins are better because of Rasul.

So, what does Rasul Douglas do and how can he elevate this Dolphins defense?

Two years ago, I would have said a lot, Douglas was one of the NFL’s top corners, recording 4+ interceptions for three years straight, while being a sure tackler and allowing a less than 65% completion percentage across the three seasons. This all came to a screeching halt for Douglas as last season he allowed a 72.9% completion percentage and a 122-passer rating, among the NFL’s worst.

Yet, Douglas will have a chance, due to the talent level in the Dolphins corner back room. The Dolphins are rolling out, second-year undrafted free agent Storm Duck, inconsistent Jack Jones, and rookie Jason Marshall Jr. with little to no depth behind them. So although McDaniel says there are no handouts, Douglas comes in as the most prolific, proven player and will make an immediate impact for the Miami Dolphins.

Douglas comes in as a sure tackler, something Miami has always struggled with, Douglas has a nose for the ball and isn’t afraid to make a tackle. The Dolphins added a lot of sure tacklers this offseason which will surely help limit the explosive plays after contact.

Douglas is reliable- he doesn’t miss games; he has appeared in all but 12 games in 9 seasons and has played in at least 87% of defensive snaps each season since 2020. The Dolphins are notorious for health issues, and Douglas could be the glue that holds the unit together.

The veteran the cornerback room needs: Douglas comes in as Miami’s oldest corner and can mentor this young room, something he did in Buffalo with Christian Benford, Kaiir Elam, and in Green Bay with Jaire Alexander. Douglas can also help lead Jack Jones. A very talented player that has dealt with off the field issues, something he has personally addressed. Douglas will come in as a leader, and his leadership will be essential to the development of the room.

Most importantly, it’s what he can bring on the field. Even after a down year Miami is giving Douglas the proverbial prove it deal. Douglas, primarily a zone corner, fitting right in with Anthony Weaver’s defensive scheme. Douglas’s worst work this past season was in man, and with Miami’s versatility across the secondary will enable Weaver to create a scheme to play to his defense’s strengths.

Grier on adding Douglas

“He’s been a player that’s very smart, instinctive, tough, competitive, so I’m really happy to add him to the group,”

Douglas has the profile to help Miami succeed but he is on the casual cornerback downfall, lose their man-to-man skills, sign a deal late in camp, and have to prove that they can be who they once were. For Douglas he benefits from having Anthony Weaver by his side, and a young hungry defense that coach Weaver gave great praise to last season, giving them a comparison to Dolphins “No-Name Defense” of the seventies.

The Dolphins have bolstered their secondary with a veteran presence in Rasul Douglas, whose experience, tackling prowess, and leadership address critical needs in a young and injury-prone cornerback room. Under Anthony Weaver’s guidance, Douglas’s zone-coverage skills align perfectly with Miami’s versatile defensive scheme (which will be a learning curve for Douglas), offering a chance to rediscover his elite form. As the Dolphins aim to solidify their defense and compete in a tough AFC, Douglas’s signing could be the spark that transforms a promising unit into a formidable one, reminiscent of the gritty “No-Name Defense” of the past.
Miami Hurricanes

The 2025 Miami Hurricanes Will Embrace History

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From one perspective, the Miami Hurricanes’ history is a burden. The Canes’ run of dominance from the early 80s to early 20s hits a sweet spot of recent enough for living memory and far enough away to have not been in the current players’ lifetimes.

In a way, the players are responsible for a legacy that was created before their lifetimes. That can appear unfair and serve to put undo pressure on them.

That pressure is enough to crush weaker teams. And we’ve seen it do just that. Do that for damn near 25 years.

But the 2025 Miami Hurricanes are not one of those teams.  

Embrace History and Write A New Chapter

Mario Cristobal helped write the legacy that the current Canes are saddled with. It’s one thing to talk about something, it’s a completely different thing to know what you’re talking about.

Cristobal knows the work, the exacting detail, the pursuit of excellence that is needed to sustain greatness. Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither are football programs.

For 3 years, Cristobal has laid the foundation upon which a perennial contender is built on. This team is deep, tough, and ready to win. The roster is vastly different from the one that was inherited 3 years ago.

But that was largely “expected.” Even Cristobal’s biggest detractors will acknowledge that he is one of the better recruiters and roster builders in college football. So, why is this team going to excel beyond the 10-win mark that the 2024 Canes reached? Well, because the Coach has also improved year on year.

While Cristobal has never been short of critics, it is apparent he is his own harshest critic. An offseason has not gone by without decided moves to upgrade player personnel, coaching, and plug gaps to crescendo to this point. This team is ready, willing, and able to win now. 

And enter Carson Beck.

Beck is the perfect QB to team up with Cristobal on the next step. They are largely mirror images. Despite a lot of winning, and a resume that is the envy of most people in their positions, both the Head Coach and his Quarterback are the subject of irrational barbs. 

The QB can’t play on this level despite QBing an SEC team to a 24-3 record as a starter and the coach is a QB killer despite coaching NFL All Pro Justin Herbert and the #1 Pick in last year’s draft.

A tradition as old as time. Nothing invites skepticism quite like putting a U on your clothing or helmet. But is it warranted?

In 2025, the answer is absolutely not. You have a coach that has increased his win total every year at Miami, and won 10 last year. You have a QB that is 24-3 as a starter. What is there to be skeptical about? That something always goes wrong?

Not this time. Not for this team. Not now. Something always goes wrong until it goes right. This is the year.

Rather than be burdened by the weight of expectations from past and the legacy of recent failures the 2025 Hurricanes are poised to add a chapter to their illustrious history, not be defeated by it. 

Catholics Versus Convicts

The 2025 football season arrives into this historical context with a rivalry of yore. In a way, a Miami-Notre Dame game of this stature should be a revival for college football. A thing to be celebrated.

The issue is that this particular rivalry is also tinged with racism. There was nothing that was ever “convict” about Miami. But acting a certain way will always make a certain segment of our most bigoted populace feel uncomfortable. And at the height of this rivalry, the Canes didn’t do things “the right way,” which meant they embraced the diversity of the background of their players and allowed them to be who they are as people.

What should have been a story of triumph and of hope became one of bigotry. The legacy of that bigotry lives on today in much the same way that the legacy of wins and championships live on. Look at this analysis of the Canes from a Notre Dame show:

source: https://x.com/GrantSpeaks1/status/1961425325495062734

What exactly makes a bunch of college students “unintelligent thugs?” We already know the answer. They’re Canes. And being a Cane means having to endure racism like this. It’s part of the legacy. Look at the alacrity with which they bask in their bigotry.

And they “love it.” So how should we as the offended party respond?

We could point out this person celebrating his co-host’s “unintelligent” comment either does not know the Saffir-Simpson scale goes up to Category 5 or does not think too highly of his own team.

We could point out that you’d have better discourse with a pastelito than with a person making the “brilliant” point that Miami’s greatest strength and weakness is that they are “unintelligent thugs.” Pro-tip: when you’re calling someone else “unintelligent” it is wise to not do so in service of making a point that is completely incoherent.

This could be a teaching moment. A moment where we pause and talk about the hurtful legacy of harmful stereotypes. Of bigotry baked into society.

But it wouldn’t matter anyway. These people are gone. It’s one thing to blurt out some racist comment like this and realize you’ve erred. It’s another to be so conditioned to living in that bigoted world that you casually blurt out “unintelligent thug” to thunderous applause from your co-hosts. 

And if this season is about one thing, it’s about embracing our past to build our legacy of the future. So my response to these 4 Horsemen of the Caucapolis is this:

KISS MY BROWN ASS

Don’t come down to Dade County with that attitude.

You are not talking about faceless “thugs.” You are talking about our sons and brothers, our uncles and fathers. You are talking about our people.

MY PEOPLE

No one talks about my people like that. 

The Canes are ready to take on you and all comers. Category 5 style. As the real Mayor of Dade County once foretold:

I don’t know what this world’s gonna doBut I know one thing that this is the life for meBaby cause I’m a thug

It’s a Canes Thing, You Wouldn’t Understand

Vishnu Parasuraman is a show host and writer for @FiveReasonsSports. He covers the Miami Hurricanes Football for @SixthRingCanes Miami Hurricanes Basketball for @buckets_canes , and Miami Hurricanes Baseball for @CanesOnDeck as part of the @5ReasonsCanes Network. You can follow him on twitter @vrp2003