Gerrid Doaks, Sam Eguavoen Among Players on Bubble to Make Fins Roster

The Miami Dolphins’ roster has something to prove this year, going 10-6 last season and barely missing the playoffs. This year, the team needs to show that its youth developed and its draft picks can perform.

Miami is getting set for its second game of the 2021 preseason tonight against the Atlanta Falcons, who it has held joint practices with all week.

After giving up 20 unanswered points and falling short to the Chicago Bears, 20-13 in week one, the Dolphins must make some in-game changes this week to put together a more complete game. 

Seventh-Round Pick Doaks Must Get More Involved

2021 seventh-round draft pick Gerrid Doaks is someone Miami needs to see more from. The University of Cincinnati back will have to perform better in the remaining two games, and prove he deserves more touches throughout practices, if he wants a spot on the team.

Doaks carried the ball just three times for a total of two yards and caught the ball once for a loss of three yards. Doaks is only a rookie, so there is the possibility that the team won’t expect him to perform so early on, and could even place him on the practice squad to begin the year based on its current depth.

The Dolphins currently have Myles Gaskin, Malcolm Brown, Salvon Ahmed, Patrick Laird, Jordan Scarlett and Doaks in their RB room.

When you’re selected No. 244  overall, there aren’t a lot of expectations on your shoulders. However, averaging less than one yard per carry in a preseason game isn’t going to get you the starting job, or a spot on the active roster, when you’re out-performed by your teammates. 

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On the Flip Side, Ahmed Wants to Make this Team

However, Miami’s second-year back, Ahmed, had himself a night.

He carried the ball six times for 40 yards and added two receptions for 31 yards, giving him 71 total yards. He also got his hands on the team’s only touchdown of the night – a pass from backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett. The TD reception put Miami up 13-0 with 45 seconds remaining in the first half. 

Should Ahmed keep up the performance the rest of the preseason, he could find himself in a committee situation, or as the backup again to Gaskin. Prior to preseason, Brown was brought in for the role, but struggled in week one with nine carries for eight yards.

Miami WRs Struggled in Chicago

The receiving game was somewhat of a disappointment, too, for the Dolphins. 

The team combined for 217 receiving yards on 20 receptions, but Mike Gesicki and Lynn Bowden Jr. combined for 103 of those yards and six of the receptions. Gesicki went for 56 yards on two catches and Bowden Jr. went for 47 yards on four catches. 

When 134 of your team’s 217 receiving yards came from three returning players, it brings some comfort to the coaches knowing that their players developed, however, it doesn’t allow much insight into player talent. 

Hopefully, going into the next game, some of the less experienced players get some action, so that the Dolphins’ coaching staff, as well as fan base, can tell who’s worth keeping around in Miami. The Dolphins currently have 13 wideouts on their depth chart and have 10 days to likely slice that number in half.

On Defense, LB Eguavoen is in Danger of Being Cut

On defense, linebacker Sam Eguavoen is another player to keep an eye out for early. Entering his third year in Miami, this preseason could be make or break for him. 

Eguavoen had a fairly decent rookie year in 2019, getting himself 3.5 sacks on top of 42 tackles (22 solo). However, it was followed up by a not-quite-so-hot second year. He only accumulated nine total tackles (five solo) and only one tackle for loss. To add to his woes, Eguavoen was added to the reserve/COVID-19 list on Wednesday, and although reactivated, will make it very difficult to make his case for redemption this preseason.

The Dolphins still have two more games to decide who will and won’t be a starter, much less make the final roster cuts, come week one of this NFL regular season. Miami’s first game is Sept. 12.