LAS VEGAS — There's plenty for Miami Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley to fix from the 27-13 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.
There isn't plenty of time to fix it, not with a game at the San Francisco 49ers approaching Sept. 20.
Watch Dolphins-49ers on Fubo
So, we are sizing up the level of concern for what ails this 0-1 team, with the number of alarm bells (on a 1-4 scale) that seems appropriate:
1. Special teams leading tackler was K Riley Patterson
Forget for a second those two long kickoff returns by the Raiders. Two signs of how far this unit has to go are in equally plain view.
The Dolphins’ leading tackler on special teams? Kicker Riley Patterson with two.
The guy practicing long snaps during the game? Linebacker Jacob Rodriguez.
The Rodriguez situation is what you get when guys who are supposed to tackle
don’t. That puts the onus on the specialists to save touchdowns.
“Clearly there were some guys that weren’t in their lanes,” Hafley said.
Long snapper Tucker Addington suffered what appeared to be a knock on his shoulder on a return, so for the brief time his availability was in question, it put Rodriguez on the spot.
“Obviously I practice getting a couple of reps throughout the week, and then if it ever comes up, you’re ready for that role,” Rodriguez said.
Were tackling issues to be expected? Probably. The Dolphins made an NFL-high seven waiver-wire claims after cut-down day, with many of those players filling out special teams.
Alarm bells: 3 1/2.
2. Defensive line failed to tie up blockers, freeing Ashton Jeanty
The Dolphins began with Rodriguez, Jordyn Brooks and, in a bit of a surprise, Willie Gay at linebacker. The idea was for the large men up front to occupy blockers and let those linebackers stonewall running back Ashton Jeanty.
Didn’t happen.
The Raiders controlled the line of scrimmage, running up the middle with impunity. It’s up to Zach Sieler, Jordan Phillips and Zeek Biggers to put a stop to that. (And remember, Kenneth Grant still must rehab an injury and still must prove he was worthy of first-round selection last year).
Alarm bells: 3 1/2.
3. 'We missed a lot of tackles'
When Hafley said he thought the Dolphins tackled better as the game wore on, he probably meant the fourth quarter, when Miami forced a few punts. Because in the pivotal third quarter, the Dolphins couldn’t bring down Jeanty. The worst of it was sandwiched around an interception Malik Willis threw, which is how the Raiders ran 18 plays in a stretch that saw Miami run only two.
“It seemed like we missed a lot of tackles,” Hafley said. “So obviously that’s disappointing and we’ll have to go back and look at that.”
Gassed or otherwise, finding solutions isn’t easy in an era in which teams don’t practice tackling like they used to.
Alarm bells: 2.
4. Blame can't all be placed on Malik Willis
To his credit, Willis probably took more accountability than he had to.
When asked about the five sacks he suffered, he said, “You can just blame them all on me.” That’s what leaders do. Yes, he has to learn when to bail on a play. The interception he threw was a speculative ball down the middle of the field into double coverage. It was a pick waiting to happen.
Willis completed only 15-of-27 passes. Although he went nine-for-12 when targeting Caleb Douglas and De’Von Achane, he was six-of-15 targeting anyone else, including just three-of-eight when looking Malik Washington’s way.
Willis made one play — a touchdown — with his legs. If there’s one area where we already know he can excel, that’s it, whether he buys time to pass or burns a defense scrambling.
Alarm bells: 2.
5. Offensive line play was disappointing
This brings us to the offensive line, a quintet of high draft picks of whom much improvement is expected. That’s what made the opener so disappointing.
Center Aaron Brewer was caught holding twice (one penalty was declined) and tackle Patrick Paul once. As was pointed out on the Fox broadcast, Brewer’s bright orange gloves are beacons begging officials to toss flags. Coaches should “suggest” Brewer ditch them.
Meanwhile, De’Von Achane managed 3.3 yards per carry, more than 2 shy of his career average.
“We have to be better, and we will be better,” Paul said.
Alarm bells: 3.
6. Pass coverage mistakes should lead to growth
There’s a line of thinking that Raiders quarterback Kick Cousins came out intending to pick on rookie cornerback Chris Johnson. Regardless of whether it was planned, anytime a starting cornerback finishes as the team’s second-leading tackler (with 11), it’s a stat that must be examined from all angles.
“If you look at the amount of rookies that we had playing in the game, I like the way a lot of them responded,” Hafley said. “Regardless, if they made some mistakes early in the game they’re going to grow.”
That’s not only in coverage, but in tackling.
Alarm bells: (See next item)
7. Pass rush was non-existent
Cousins wasn’t sacked.
Phillips and Brooks tied for the team lead in quarterback hits. With one apiece.
Edge rusher Chop Robinson’s stat line had zeroes across the board with the exception of one assisted tackle.
Robinson is the team’s best hope for a pass rush. That’s a pickle for any edge rusher to be in, not having a bookend to draw blockers’ attention.
“I think it goes back to stopping the run,” Rodriguez said. “I think if you stop the run, you're earning the right to rush the passer, and we didn't do that tonight."
If the pass rush isn’t getting to QBs and this young secondary is learning on the fly, the last thing you want to see is that Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow & Co. are right around the bend.
Alarm bells for items Nos. 6 and 7: 4
Hal Habib covers the Miami Dolphins for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at HHabib@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Here are alarm bells and fixes for Miami Dolphins heading into Week 2
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