The Miami Dolphins have reached their first-quarter checkpoint with an offense that has left too many points on the field. Locked On Dolphins host Kyle Crabbs gave the unit a D after Miami produced three touchdowns in nine red-zone trips and averaged 11.5 points per game through four losses.
Crabbs’ assessment was not that every offensive player has failed. He pointed to encouraging individual snaps across a young supporting cast, but said the Dolphins have too often paired a good assignment with a mistake elsewhere on the same play. His charting against the Minnesota Vikings last Sunday found mixed individual results on 62.5% of Miami’s qualifying snaps.
Miami quarterback Malik Willis has supplied flashes as a passer and runner, according to Crabbs, and the host credited his improved sack avoidance over the past two games. But the offense has not turned those moments into sustained drives or touchdowns often enough, particularly once it reaches scoring range.
The personnel challenge has grown tougher with running back De’Von Achane out for the season with a torn ACL. Crabbs said the offense misses Achane’s influence in the passing game, leaving Willis and the available skill group with less margin for drops, penalties and missed assignments.
Crabbs also put some responsibility on the offensive design, calling the timing in Miami’s screen game inconsistent. He said the calls have not consistently created the defensive aggression and blocking angles the Dolphins want, another issue that can stall an offense built around creating space after the catch.
The next test comes at home against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, Oct. 11. Miami does not need its young offense to be perfect, but it needs cleaner full-play execution and more than three touchdowns from its next nine red-zone chances.
For the Dolphins, the Cincinnati game is a direct chance to turn individual progress into a functional offense. The red-zone results are the clearest place to start.
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