Miami Dolphins’ New Veterans Shine In Week 1 vs. Jaguars

The Miami Dolphins’ Week 1 showdown ended dramatically, as the Phins rallied in the second half to secure a thrilling comeback victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 52-yard field goal that ended the game followed complimentary football and clutch playmaking by the Dolphins’ depth.

The game took Miami Dolphins fans on a roller coaster of emotions. Before the week one matchup, superstar Tyreek Hill and newly acquired Calais Campbell were handcuffed by police under questionable circumstances. Thanks to Calais Campbell and the Dolphins’ other veteran free-agent acquisitions, South Beach fans were able to leave Sunday happy.

DE Calais Campbell’s Eventful Debut

Photo byCésar HernándezonUnsplash

Calais Campbell’s NFL career may find him in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Drafted in 2008, the 38-year-old defensive lineman has amassed numerous awards in his career. In his 15 seasons as a starter, Campbell has tallied 106.5 sacks, 255 QB hits, six pro bowls, and one all-pro honor. The veteran brick wall signed with the Miami Dolphins in hopes of chasing the one accolade he has not earned, a Super Bowl ring.

The acquisition by the Dolphins has many positive traits, Campbell’s innate ability to block kicks at six-foot-eight, his familiarity with DC Anthony Weaver, on the defensive line, and most importantly his ability to pressure the QB. These traits came into fruition on the very first play from scrimmage against the Jaguars, in which Campbell caught Trevor Lawrence in no man’s land and dropped him on a ten-yard sack.

Calais Campbell came out strong and finished as the Dolphins’ second-highest-graded defender, according to PFF metrics. Although his Dolphins debut was nearly ruined by a peculiar encounter with police officers, Campbell overshadowed the event with his play on the field against his former squad.

CB Kendall Fuller Made Presence Felt in Miami Dolphins Backfield

With the departure of the former Dolphin star corner Xavien Howard, Commanders’ CB Kendall Fuller was signed to aid the defensive backs. The Dolphins’ pass defense in 2023 failed to make an impact, ranking among the middle of the league. The 2016 third-round selection had an impressive season for Washington in 2023, looking to continue his consistency in Florida.

Fuller did everything in his power to make up for Howard’s impact against the Jaguars, playing in every single defensive snap for the Miami Dolphins. Kendall Fuller was a cornerstone of the defensive outing, in which the former no.1 overall Trevor Lawrence pick threw only 12 completions for 164 yards.

LB Jordyn Brooks Shut Down Jaguars’ TE Evan Engram

Off-ball linebacker Jordyn Brooks has been a versatile defender in the NFL since his drafting in 2020. The first-round pick brings a unique blend of size and speed to the Miami Dolphins, and it showed in his season debut.

The Jacksonville Jaguars offense was figureheaded by their top-dollar tight end Evan Engram in 2023. He finished the season with 963 yards, good for second on the team. However, to begin 2023 his production looked a lot different. With the majority thanks to Jordyn Brooks’s impressive athleticism, Engram managed to grab only one catch for five yards for the entire week one matchup. If Brooks manages to maintain that level of coverage through the season, the Miami Dolphins may have an ace tight end stopper come playoff time.

Final Thoughts

The Miami Dolphins 2023 season will go however far their offense will take them, with playmakers like Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle it may be as far as the Super Bowl. Veteran acquisitions have been a key trait of Superbowl rosters for years. If the Dolphins’ free agents continue to play at such a high level as week one, the stars may align for a deep playoff run.

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Article originally written by Tye Ellison