Day 1,655, Quasi-Quarantine: Dolphins-Seahawks Game 3 Review

Every long-suffering Miami fan knew this game was going to be hard to look at. I'm not sure any of us realized just how bad it was going to be.

Coach Mike McDaniel's team seemed not to have practiced at all during its mini-bye, getting flagged for 14 penalties and playing a generally uncompetitive game on the road in Seattle. If the 'Fins were interested in excellence or accountability, they would have cut Julian Hill and Anthony Walker and fired special teams coordinator Danny Crossman after this game, but Feel-Good Mike doesn't really roll like that.

On to the questioning-every-element-of-the-franchise recap ...

Offense

• The 'Fins managed just 13 first downs, misfired on 11 of 12 third downs and all three fourth-down attempts, did not score a touchdown on either red-zone trip, and managed just 205 total yards (3.7 yards per play). In a game that screamed for a run-heavy approach considering the signal-caller situation, Miami ran it just 18 times for 65 yards (3.6 yards per carry). If there was a silver lining, it was that the Dolphins did not commit a turnover despite taking six sacks.
• Skylar Thompson turned in a timid, skittish performance, connecting on 13 of 19 passes for just 107 yards. Despite hearing a lot about his mobility being a differentiator, he did not tote the ball once, absorbed five sacks, took a number of avoidable hits, and predictably left the game with a rib injury. Tim Boyle -- recently elevated from the practice squad -- came on to complete seven of 13 passes for 79 yards, rushing for six yards and taking a single sack. Boyle at least appeared to play with confidence, but most observers believe the fourth quarterback on the roster, Tyler Huntley, will be the starter in the next game.
• DeVon Achane led the way again at running back, with 14 touches for 58 yards, though he was called for a chop block at one point. Rookie Jaylen Wright showed some burst on his two carries for 17 yards, but oddly did not receive enough touches. Jeff Wilson carries three times for 14 yards, while fullback Alec Ingold ran once for a loss of two yards and caught all three targets for 16 yards. He added an assisted tackle and an illegal-formation penalty. As noted, the game plan did not include nearly enough run calls nor a commitment to the process.
• It was a lost day for the wide receivers, due to quarterback ineptitude and a myopic offensive plan. Tyreek Hill reeled in three of five targets for 40 yards and Jaylen Waddle snared four of five targets for 26 yards, but both were relegated to underneath targets. Former Seahawk Dee Eskridge contributed a 30-yarder on his lone target, but reserve Erik Ezukanma was targeted twice with a catch in his first action of the season and Braxton Berrios could not come up with his lone target -- meaning he has now played three games this year without a reception.
• The tight end room had another brutal performance in what was been a season-long theme. Julian Hill caught both targets for 24 yards, Jonnu Smith grabbed two of three for 18 yards, and Durham Smythe hauled in one of two for three yards (including one in the end zone that he probably should have reeled in), and Tanner Conner added one catch on two targets for a single yard. Conner added a solo tackle and Hill contributed an assist, but penalties were the story of the day: this unit accounted for five penalties. Hill was whistled for a staggering four (two holding and two illegal motion) and Smith was called for an illegal shift. In a season rife with disappointment, the abysmal play of this group ranks pretty high on the list.
• The offensive line has been an easy target this year, and deservedly so in most cases. In this one, however, the line held up reasonably well, though indecision at quarterback led to some sacks. Guard Liam Eichenberg (fale start) and tackle Austin Jackson (illegal formation) were called for penalties, but Kendall Lamm came off the bench to earn a 74.9 grade from Pro Football Focus as something of a bright spot. Injuries and game-planning are certainly compounding this unit's struggles.

Defense

• In an impressive effort, this side of the ball did its part, limiting Seattle to 21 first downs, stopping them on eight of 11 third-down tries, forcing two turnovers, and coming up with three sacks. The Seahawks did score touchdowns on both red-zone visits, but overall the 'Fins "D" -- despite a number of in-game injuries -- played well enough to win.
• Zach Sieler was a monster on the interior, posting three tackles, two solos, a sack, a stop for loss, a pass breakup, a quarterback hit, five pressures, and an interception -- all good for an 86.5 grade from PFF. Calais Campbell somehow bested that mark, earning a 91.1 PFF grade after notching three tackles, a solo, a stop for loss, a sack, a pass breakup, two quarterback hits, and five pressures. Da'Shawn Hand was active in the rotation, recording five tackles, three solos, a sack, a stop for a loss, and one quarterback hit.
• On the edge, Emmanuel Ogbah had three tackles, two solos, a stop for a loss, and a quarterback hit, while Jaelan Phillips added two assisted tackles, a pass breakup, and a quarterback hit. Chop Robinson completed a relatively quiet day for the outside linebackers, recording one solo stop.
• At inside linebacker, Jordyn Brooks registered nine tackles, three solos, and a quarterback hit, while David Long picked up two solo stops before leaving with injury. Walker added three tackles and two solos in 16 snaps off the bench, while Duke Riley had a single snap from scrimmage.
• Jalen Ramsey's performances continue to climb, as he earned a 79.3 PFF grade after contributing five tackles, three solos, and two stops for losses. Kendall Fuller had three tackles, two solos, and a pass breakup before departing, while Kader Kohou picked up four tackles, three solos, a pass breakup, an interception, and a facemask penalty. Reserves Storm Duck (five tackles, two solos) and Siran Neal (one solo stop) got extra time after Fuller's injury.
• At safety, Jordan Poyer recorded nine tackles and five solos and Jevon Holland added four solos. Marcus Maye is starting to see more scrimmage time, earning 19 snaps and collecting three tackles and two solo stops.

Special teams

• Jason Sanders missed a 57-yard field goal, but made a 23-yarder for the lone Miami points.
• Jake Bailey punted six times, averaging 46.2 yards per boot and placing three inside the 20-yard line, with a lone touchback.
• The 'Fins showed some signs of life in the return game, with Achane running back a kickoff 32 yards, Berrios adding a 31-yarder, and Eskridge contributing a 28-yarder. Berrios also sprang a 44-yard punt return, a welcome contribution in a bit of a lost year for him to date.
• Elijah Campbell had a solo tackle -- and here ends the good news for the third phase. The Dolphins were called for a stunning five penalties on special teams alone, with Campbell and Walker picking up illegal-formation infractions ... Walker for the THIRD STRAIGHT GAME. Ramsey was called for holding, while Riley was whistled for unnecessary roughness.
• Despite the small sparks on returns, Crossman should have been fired more than a year ago, and that hasn't changed. Miami is consistently and dramatically outplayed in this phase of the game.

Momentum plays

• A 39-yard kickoff return set up Seattle in good position, and an 18-yard pass from Geno Smith to Tyler Lockett moved the Seahawks into Miami territory. The defense stiffened at that point on the strength of a Hand sack, but Jason Myers drilled a 56-yard field goal for the first points of the game.
• Achane took a short pass for 22 yards on the ensuing possession, but a nine-yard run by Wright was followed by failures on 2nd & 1 and 3rd & 1. McDaniel passed up an opportunity to convert a 4th & 1, opting instead for a 57-yard Sanders attempt that was way wide left.
• Taking over at its own 47-yard line, Seattle quickly picked up two first downs before Smith hit D.K. Metcalf for 22 yards. The 'Hawks punched it in from four yards out on the next play, moving ahead 10-0.
• After an exchange of penalties, the 'Fins turned a 2nd & 1 into a 4th & 19 after a negative-yardage run followed by a sack.
• A strong Bailey punt pinned Seattle deep, and a 3rd & 15 from the 5-yard line should have ended up in a Sieler safety. Instead, the officials allowed the play to continue, and Smith's pass sailed high, was deflected by the receiver, and landed in the hands of Kohou, who returned it two yards to the Seahawks' 6-yard line.
• A costly illegal motion on Julian Hill helped Miami gain two yards in four plays, forcing a short field goal to make it 10-3 despite the incredible field position.
• It took Seattle exactly one play to score again, as Smith hit Metcalf for a 71-yard touchdown that effectively ended the game after a single quarter at 17-3.
• An initial first down on a 10-yarder to Waddle set up another punt three plays later.
• The Seahawks converted a 3rd & 5 on a seven-yarder to Lockett, then hit back-to-back passes of 16 and 15 yards to move into Dolphin territory. A key holding penalty stymied the next set of downs, and Myers missed wide left from 53 yards to give the 'Fins a reprieve.
• A 13-yard run by Achane put Miami near midfield, but a sack helped force another Dolphin punt. The 'Hawks returned the favor after a 17-yard pass to Lockett, with a Sieler sack leading to a Seattle punt that Berrios returned 44 yards to set the visitors up in Seahawk territory.
• One of the worst drives in the history of football ensued, with the 'Fins managing to lose 29 yards in three plays, thanks to penalties on four straight plays. Seattle couldn't quite match the feat, losing only nine yards on their own three-and-out.
• An initial 17-yarder to Tyreek Hill led to some small hope that Miami could steal points before the half, but a baffling sequence of calls and brutal time management led to Thompson being blindsided for a sack-fumble to run out an awful first half.
• A rejuvenated Miami team came out of the locker room and immediately -- just kidding. They went three-and-out after another sack.
• Campbell's third-down sack forced a Seattle three-and-out, and another 17-yarder to Tyreek Hill got the 'Fins going briefly. Thompson left with an injury, and after an Ingold fumble on 3rd & 1 created a 4th & 3, Boyle misfired for Berrios to turn the ball over on downs.
• The Seahawks took over in Miami's territory, but went three-and-out after a couple of penalties. Another Julian Hill penalty submarined the Dolphins' next possession, leading to yet another three-and-out.
• Seattle picked up three straight first downs, but a 3rd & 22 pressure by Campbell led to a deflected pass that was plucked out of the air by Sieler, setting the 'Fins up in Seahawk territory.
• A hard-earned initial first down seemed to settle the offense a bit, as Boyle hit tight ends Smith (13 yards) and Hill (11) to set up first & goal from Seattle's 3-yard line. Two ill-fated Achane runs got a single yard, and Smythe couldn't reel in a third-down toss in the end zone. The 'Fins elected to go for it, but Boyle threw incomplete for Achane to turn the ball back over to the home team.
• The 'Hawks responded with an 11-play, 98-yard drive to salt the game away against a gassed Dolphin defense, with a 10-yard run extending the margin to 24-3.
• The 'Fins got a couple of first downs, but a series of penalties set up back-to-back incompletions to Ezukanma to give the ball back to Seattle on downs. The Seahawks mercifully ran out the clock to end the contest.

2024 Schedule

Miami 20, Jacksonville 17 (1-0)

Buffalo 31, Miami 10 (1-1)

Seattle 24, Miami 3 (1-2)