Miami Dolphins: Who to watch in preseason game vs. Buccaneers
Which Miami Dolphins players should we be keeping an eye on in their preseason Week 2 matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers?
The Miami Dolphins kicked off the preseason slate with an exciting 34-27 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. Obviously, preseason wins do not mean much, but the Dolphins came out and took care of business. They did so while showcasing a lot of their young talent.
The Dolphins are unlikely to be a competitive team in 2019. This season is primarily about growing their young talent and finding players who can help them become competitive in 2020 and beyond. Their preseason opener was promising, but this team has a long way to go.
In their second preseason game, the Dolphins will take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Friday night. Here, we are going to look at the players who we should be keeping the closest eye on against the Bucs. Up first, probably the most interesting guy on the roster.
Josh Rosen, QB
The Dolphins took a flyer on Rosen this offseason and at some point, will likely give him a shot to prove himself. Rosen can establish himself as the franchise quarterback of the Miami Dolphins this season, but that is far from guaranteed.
He played well in the preseason opener, completing 13 of 20 passes for 191 yards. He did not throw a touchdown pass and was toss a bad interception, but Rosen mostly played under control and did a great job of putting his teammates in a position to succeed.
Ryan Fitzpatrick will likely begin the season as the Dolphins’ starting quarterback, but Rosen is the only guy on the roster who can be the long-term starter. If he continues to play well in the preseason, Rosen will get a real chance to prove himself soon enough.
Preston Williams, WR
Undrafted rookie wide receiver Preston Williams has been the most exciting player for the Dolphins this preseason. He has shined throughout training camp and balled out with a four-reception, 97-yard performance in the preseason opener.
Against the Falcons, Williams showed off his big-time ball skills, going up and taking the ball away from the defender multiple times. He is a big and athletic target who has fantastic natural playmaking skills. Williams has shown an immediate rapport with Rosen. It will certainly be interesting to see if that continues on Friday night.
Dewayne Hendrix, DE
Dewayne Hendrix is an extremely unheralded prospect out of the University of Pittsburgh. In college, he showed an impressive combination of quickness off of the ball and overall athletic ability. Hendrix explodes off the ball, bends around the edge well and can rush with a bit of power.
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He put his talents on display against the Falcons, finishing the game with two sacks and one tackle for loss. Hendrix has a chance to be a nice find for the Dolphins, undoubtedly showing the upside to be a productive situational rusher. If his strong preseason continues, Hendrix undoubtedly has a chance to make the roster out of camp.