\u201cIt was pretty incredible and I look forward to watching it on tape,\u201d Hafley said.<\/p>\n
Just like his coach, the rookie tried to downplay the incredible feat.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really just made a good play on the ball,\u201d Douglas said. The one-handed nature of the grab was nothing more than a necessity considering how cornerback Antonio Hamilton Sr. had held him. \u201cI couldn\u2019t really bring my other hand in.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sure, this just might be preseason but to see the connection manifest itself against a different team cannot be overlooked.<\/p>\n
MALIK WILLIS LOOKS THE PART<\/p>\n
Yes, the sample size was small. Yes, he only threw five passes. And yes, he only scrambled once.<\/p>\n
Still, it\u2019s difficult not to be a fan of Willis\u2019 command of the offense. The quarterback finished with 43 yards on 80% completion, a stat line that doesn\u2019t immediately jump off the page but was very serviceable.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s very confident in calling his plays,\u201d offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor said of Willis, later adding that \u201che did a tremendous job of leading us out there.\u201d<\/p>\n
With the Dolphins backed up on their own 7-yard line to start the game, Willis led the offense on a 14-play, 93-yard drive that ended with a one-yard scamper courtesy of running back De\u2019Von Achane.<\/p>\n
From the decision-making to the ball placement to even his two scrambles for nine yards, you couldn\u2019t ask for a better opening drive for the first time starter.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust the consistency of the guys out there,\u201d Willis said when asked about what he liked from his first series. \u201cKeeping up the energy and the execution all the way down the field.\u201d<\/p>\n
THE STARTING OFFENSIVE LINE MIGHT BE LEGIT<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a select group of Dolphins fans who will forever view Proctor\u2019s career through the prism of what could\u2019ve been.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s because both Miami edge Rueben Bain Jr. and Ohio State safety Caleb Douglas were both still available when the Dolphins opted to select the offensive lineman.<\/p>\n
If the Dolphins run game can replicate its showing against the Commanders then those doubters might soon find themselves silenced. Not only did Miami\u2019s new look offensive line, complete with Proctor at left guard and Jonah Savaiianae moved to right guard, keep Willis clean, it created holes that allowed Achane to rush for 36 yards and a touchdown off of just seven carries.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe did a really good job,\u201d Hafley said of Achane. \u201cI was a proud of him and I was a proud of the o-line [and] the way they blocked.\u201d<\/p>\n
Proctor said it quite plainly after being drafted that the Dolphins want to \u201crun the s**t\u201d out of the ball. After Friday night\u2019s showing, he might just be right.<\/p>\n
LINEBACKER LOOKS TO BE THE STRONGEST UNIT<\/p>\n
It should come as no surprise that linebacker remains the deepest unit on the Dolphins.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s where, of course, first-team All-Pro Jordyn Brooks resides.<\/p>\n
But even with the star linebacker sidelined, the starting and backup unit still played well.<\/p>\n
Willie Gay Jr. flew around, punctuated by a first-quarter tackle in which he hawked down a scrambling quarterback Sam Hartman for a short again. Tyrel Dodson hit of Marcus Mariota quite literally forced the quarterback out of the game a play later. And Jacob Rodriguez managed to swat a ball at the line of scrimmage.<\/p>\n
DEPTH IS AN ISSUE<\/p>\n
The Dolphins starters scored seven points and didn\u2019t allow a score.<\/p>\n
Everything changed when the backups entered the game.<\/p>\n
Not only did the offense have three turnovers, all of which were interceptions from Quinn Ewers and Cam Miller, the unit barely moved the ball. The Dolphins finished with 226 yards on the day yet 93 of it came on the opening drive.<\/p>\n
Ewers looked particularly lackluster, completing just one of his eight passes for 27 yards and an interception. Miller, unfortunately, wasn\u2019t much better as he threw for 39 yards on 27% completion and two picks.<\/p>\n
Defensively, it didn\u2019t look much better. The backups allowed 20 unanswered points and more than 300 yards.<\/p>\n
While the starters certainly looked acceptable, depth could blossom into a bigger issue if the injuries start to pile up.<\/p>\n
This story was originally published August 14, 2026 at 10:08 PM.<\/p>\n
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