Tag: Miami Dolphins

NFL Week 3 Preview: Jacksonville Jaguars host Miami Dolphins

Lisa Johnson
AFC South AFC East Reporter

By Lisa Johnson // @LJ1303

Week 3 of the NFL season starts with a Florida showdown. The 0-2 Miami Dolphins will visit the surprising 1-1 Jacksonville Jaguars, who many an NFL analyst believed would be vying for the number one pick in the upcoming 2021 NFL draft.

”I think every time we step out there, we’re always trying to prove what we are,” Quarterback Gardner Minshew said. ”But more than anything, we really don’t have to prove it to anybody else, we believe in our locker room. And as long as we have that and people in our locker room believe, then that’s our main concern.”

Minshew has gone for 49 of 65 passes with 512 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions through the teams first two games, and has a passer rating of 115.7.

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AFC East Week 1 Preview

Lisa Johnson
AFC South AFC East Reporter

By Lisa Johnson //@LJ1303

Week one of the 2020 NFL season for the AFC East will see all four teams facing off against each other. The Buffalo Bills will host the New York Jets, while the Miami Dolphins will start where they finished their 2019 season, in Gillette Stadium against the New England Patriots.

Let’s take a look at each team before Week 1.

Miami Dolphins 

Starting behind quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, the team will have first-round, future franchise QB Tua Tagovailoa watching and waiting in the back-up spot. Miami solidified that spot for Tagovailoa after the release of former first-round quarterback Josh Rosen.

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Miami Dolphins are fine tuning the team before mandatory cut down

Lisa Johnson
AFC South AFC East Reporter

By Lisa Johnson // @LJ1303

We are a few weeks shy of the start of the 2020 NFL season. The Miami Dolphins are spending these weeks finalizing their offense and their defense.

Since league rosters were preset to only 80 players rather than the maximum 90 players due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Dolphins coaches have had to use this time carefully evaluating players.

With the mandatory cut down day looming September 5th, all NFL teams must have rosters set at 53, leaving teams with extra talent to make decisions based on the extended training camps.

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2020 Miami Dolphins Training Camp: Opening Week

Lisa Johnson
AFC South AFC East Reporter

By Lisa Johnson // @LJ1303

As we kick off the start of the 2020 Dolphins training camp, many questions remain for fans. The Miami Dolphins have yet to officially announce if fans will even be allowed to attend regular-season games or if there will only be a limited capacity.

Dolphins head coach Brian Flores answered questions, via Zoom, from the local media to address questions surrounding the season and the team.  And of course, the health of their first-round draft pick, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, was at the top of everyone’s list.

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ProFootball Hall of Fame Class of 2020: Jimmy Johnson

Lisa Johnson
AFC South AFC East Reporter

By Lisa Johnson // @LJ1303

What more could one write that hasn’t already been written about Coach Jimmy Johnson?

Besides building arguably one of the greatest football teams in the history of the NFL, with the players like Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman and all-time NFL rushing leader Emmitt Smith, Coach Johnson led the Cowboys to two Super Bowls, winning back to back titles in 1992-1993.

Those that have known Coach Johnson personally will tell you straight away, that everything Jimmy Johnson does, he does 110%. Failure isn’t an option for this coach. This goes as far back as Johnson’s playing days at the University of Arkansas where he won a National Championship with the team in 1964.

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Could we see a 2020 season without football fans?

Lisa Johnson
AFC South AFC East Reporter

By Lisa Johnson //@LJ1303

We’re inching closer to the 2020 NFL season and the question about fans in the stands still remains.

The New York Giants announced via email that season ticket members now have the option to forgo the 2020 season due to the coronavirus pandemic. Ticket members will not lose their seating rights or license if they choose to stay home. The New England Patriots released a statement of their own, saying that higher risk fans now have the option to opt-out this year without the penalty of losing their seats to other fans on the waiting list

As NFL teams prepare and announcements are made, fans are facing decisions of their own. After all, football season is right around the corner.

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Remembering Don Shula

Lisa Johnson
AFC South AFC East Reporter

By Lisa Johnson // @LJ1303

As I sit down and reflect on the news of legendary Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula’s passing, I felt yet again that a part of my childhood was lost. Lost to only memories now. I won’t get to see Coach Shula in his golf cart driving around Hard Rock Stadium, or as it once was Joe Robbie Stadium.

Like so many older Dolphins fans, it took a while to adjust to this stadium, for all of our early memories were of the Orange Bowl. That is where the real magic was. That is where it all began. During the late ’60s and ’70s, Don Shula’s name was a mainstay in our household. Going to Dolphins game became so religious that all our neighbors would think we were heading off to church.

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Is the AFC East up for grabs?

Lisa Johnson
AFC South AFC East Reporter

By Lisa Johnson // @LJ1303

Since the departure of quarterback Tom Brady from the New England Patriots to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the AFC East now is considered “up for grabs”.  So which team is poised and ready to take over the reins?

Buffalo Bills

With the Miami Dolphins in full rebuild mode and the Jets still finding their nitch with second-year Head Coach Adam Gase, the Bills are poised and are deemed the heavy favorites to take over the AFC East. Fourth-year head coach Sean McDermott brought the Buffalo Bills to a 10-6 record and second in the AFC East in 2019. With the aid of a departing Brady and a solid draft class(see below) for 2020, the Buffalo Bills and their Bills Mafia fan base are ready for an AFC East take-over.

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Miami Dolphins Draft assault continues Day Two

Lisa Johnson
AFC South AFC East Reporter

By Lisa Johnson // @LJ1303

As the Miami Dolphins approached rounds two and three of the 2020 NFL Draft, they held two picks in the second round (39-56 picks overall), followed by the 70th pick in round 3.

With the 39th pick, the Miami Dolphins selected Louisiana tackle, Robert Hunt. This guy is a beast. At 6’5″ and 323 pounds, Hunt played mostly right tackle for the Ragin Cajuns. Miami was sure to add more protection for their star pick, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who just happens to be a left-handed quarterback.

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Miami Dolphins lay the foundation on day one of the 2020 NFL Draft

Lisa Johnson
AFC South AFC East Reporter

By Lisa Johnson // @LJ1303

Coming into the 2020 NFL Draft with three picks in the first round, the Miami Dolphins were poised to make some noise. There were rumors swirling all day about the Dolphins moving up to secure a quarterback or offensive lineman. But, Dolphins general manager Chris Grier held fast.

The Miami Dolphins didn’t flinch and grabbed Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa with the fifth overall pick. Despite his season ending hip injury he suffered in November 2019, Tagovailoa has been on the Dolphins radar all year.  Grier said the team felt comfortable with his health. Coach Brian Flores then added that Tagovailoa was the guy they felt at the end of the day would be the best fit for the Dolphins.

After landing their quarterback, the Dolphins went back to work.  Having a left handed quarterback meant that Miami would need a right tackle to protect his blind side. With the 18th pick Miami went with USC tackle Austin Jackson.  Interesting fact, in the summer of 2019 Jackson donated bone marrow to his younger sister. Which already speaks volumes of the young man.

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