Dolphins in Depth: Dolphins preparing for Raider team without Brock Bowers

Miami Dolphins preparing for Sunday's season opener against the Las Vegas Raiders and they will be playing the Raiders without their top offensive weapon, tight end Brock Bowers. Joining me on Dolphins In Depth to discuss this and the impact that it will have on the game is Isaiah Smalls, Miami Herald Heat Reporter covering the Miami Dolphins. I am Omar Kelly, Miami Herald columnist. Isaiah, Brock Bowers has a meniscus procedure done to trim some scar tissue in his knee. He'll be sidelined four to six weeks. This is a surprise to everybody in the NFL, especially fantasy players. They got to be hurting. They got to be hurting. How much do you think that this will impact the game? I think it's going to be huge. I think knowing where Clint Kubiak came from in that system in Seattle, right? As the driver of that offense, if you watch the Seahawks last year, the thing that made that offense go is the multiple ways in which they use JSN. And I'd have to imagine that he was planning on doing the same thing with Brock Bowers in Las Vegas. And so now that you're down your top offensive player, I tweeted this out earlier. It's essentially for Kubiak, it's essentially like getting a brand new car, but then telling you, hey, you don't have to wait a few weeks to use that steering wheel. You know what I'm saying? Because it's like, that is the driver of the offense. He's the guy that is going to make their offense. Yes. Who is going to be the driver? It's not Ashton Jensen. I don't know. I did not see enough from Jensen last year to build my offense around him. I'm building my offense around Brock Bowers. Hold on, you're building your offense around a tight end? Really? He has one of the most productive tight end seasons in NFL history is that first year. Okay, if I got nobody else to pass to, I mean, name me a Las Vegas Raiders receiver. Jalen Naylor, Trey Tucker, a bunch of guys that are threes and fours. So again, you're building that attack around the tight end and lining up in a bunch of different places. I asked Kathy about it on Monday. What makes defending an elite tight end a little bit more difficult than an elite wide receiver? At an elite wide receiver, you know it's going to be outside the squad. Those are two positions. Sometimes you might push it out of the backfield and might do some things, right? But for a tight end, it's that, oh yeah, and he's going to line up on the line of scrimmage, could block some, could do a chip and go. So I just think that there's a lot more ways that you can use an elite tight end. And now they're going to be without that. So for the Dolphins standpoint, I mean, I guess now you shift your attention to Michael Mayer, right? And Gente's hurt as well, right? So we don't know how healthy he's going to be, I think. If I had to guess, he's going to be limited in practice today. I mean, if I'm a Dolphins fan, if I'm a Dolphins player, not that I'm saying, hey, this is going to be easy. But I have to be a little bit excited that they're down, especially on the defense, they're down their top offensive threat. So, I mean, it's going to be easier. Now, Kirk Cousins is an established veteran quarterback. I know people have taken shots about Kirk Cousins, what he has left in his arsenal. He's been in the league for, I think this is his 14th season. So, you know, it is what it is in terms of what he brings to the table. However, if Gente is who the league thinks he is, he should be able to put up 100 yards. And Michael Mayer is no slouch. And, you know, big credit to you because I couldn't name a Las Vegas Raiders receiver. I think that might be the only team in the NFL that the Dolphins actually have a better receiving core than, just my personal opinion. So, yes, but it makes the game more achievable. I'm pretty sure the loss of powers is probably going to move the line significantly. Now, does that mean that I would put money on the Miami Dolphins who are going to have a ridiculous amount of first-year unproven players in the lineup? No. But what do you think will happen to the NFL landscape and the team's confidence if the Dolphins do go in there and shake things up and beat the Raiders on the road? I mean, to me, it should be expected. I think I picked them to win. I expected the Dolphins to win this game, even with Brock Bowers. Anybody that read my, you know, game-by-game prediction, I said that this was a win. I think that they started off the season 1-0. And especially with no Brock Bowers, to me, I'm double, triple, quadruple down on that. Look, man, I think that this team, while it doesn't have a lot of talent, it's not the most talented team in the NFL, they have enough pieces, both returning and drafting, to beat a Vegas team that, look, I don't necessarily believe in Kirk Cousins. After what I saw last year, when the Dolphins walked into Mercedes Benz and Spank Them Boys, I don't believe in Kirk Cousins, to be honest. I'm not the biggest Jensey fan. I mean, like, he was okay last year. I drafted him in one of my fantasy leagues last year, did not win that league. In part, we did. I think you were a little bit hurt on Jensey a little bit, in terms of expectations. I mean, you can say that. That's the way, you can say that. I wouldn't deny that. I mean, look, you can't let your personal feelings get involved when you're doing this job. You feel like as you continue to caution your fantasy league, don't you? Yeah, a little bit, but I think, I mean, I feel like I could have made better choices along the way, but his... Yeah, don't blame the talent. Blame management. Don't blame the talent. Blame management. Yes. That's it. That's one thing you guys should realize. Like, if you're drafting a top running back and you're expecting him to be a lead, please go check that offensive line. Please check to see. Like, everyone that was so high on Jeremiah Love, I'm like, what are y'all doing? I can't name you one player on that offensive line. How is he going to run the ball? And him being immediately met with like two or three defenders in his face. So, like... We should title this segment Fantasy Tip from Isaiah Smalls. I already have to write a story every single week on the fantasy, you know, ins and outs of the fantasy matchup, so you might as well, you know, come listen to me and do it here as well. With the mic in my hand, because I'm trying to eliminate the audio issue. I am interested to see how this game... I'm not exactly predicting a win for the Miami Dolphins, but I could hear the argument that you have. What I find interesting is I find the approach of, okay, we're going to pair all week and then we're just going to go out there and play. I find that approach, that mindset, that message that is permeating from everybody from Jeff Hathaway on down. It's just a game. It's a game you've been playing your whole life. The moment's not too big. You belong here. I find that message reoccurring, and I'm kind of... I'm kind of... And here we are in the locker room, and I love this. What's it going to feel like to play in your first game? What's it going to feel like? Are you going to be nervous? Oh, little baby, baby Dolphin, are you going to be scared? Like... Like people. You're a grown man. Yeah, these are grown men. Devon H. is like, when I get my first hit, it'll all come back to me. And, you know, that's... I'm assuming what playing in the league is like. I think even a 19-year veteran like Calais Campbell will get nervous in a season opener. So, you know, it's a new season, new everything, new team. What chance do you give this Dolphins team of developing chemistry? What chance do I give it? I mean, what NFL team do you know immediately starts the season? Especially with the amount of new guys that they have. And it's just perfect for the chemistry. I think that that's not a good thing. Last year, they hit a new quarterback. New quarterback? But, like, they had the offensive line. I don't know the in-and-out offensive line, but they've had Quentin Nelson for years. Yes. You know, Jonathan Taylor for years. New quarterback. That had a whole nucleus second year of a team. Yeah, I mean, I think for me, it's about having... I think it's about the best team that I think can weather those things. They have minimal changes. Minimal changes. Minimal changes where it's really just dropping a guy in here and there, and now they have to fit with the program. I think, to me, this Dolphins team, whether or not you agree with the talent that everybody has, I think that there is a lot of changes. I'm not saying too many because I don't want to put a video on it. I just think that there is a lot of changes for me to be able to say, oh, this team is going to come out and play perfectly from day one. I think that's just unrealistic. There's a lot of changes. The starting offense really didn't get a lot of time to play together. They played that one series in the commando game. Is it going to look rusty? I think it will. But I still think the Dolphins have enough to beat the Raiders. I mean, that's just my personal opinion. I still think it's going to take some time. That's not what I said. You said to having the core, you know, having stability and veterans, it helps you get off to a hot start. And I know that 2014 Dolphins season got sidetracked by Tula's concussion, but they still had the same talent. You said 2014. 2014 is the year I graduated from high school, my guy. 2024, 2024. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm sorry. 2024. You graduated from high school? Oh, my God. I got to remind you every now and then, you know. I said I might have been on my second family by then. But let's get to rookie contributors. I'm going to name you some guys. You tell me if they start or they don't start. Okay? Shane Proctor, we know he started. Chris Johnson, we know he started. Yeah. Okay. Now I get to Will Kaczmarek. He's on the injury report, coming back from an injury. Starting or not starting? Starting, but package specific, right? I don't know if he's going to be restarting tight end in the first package that comes out. If they're out there with 11 personnel, no. But 12 personnel. Does he take 25 snaps this season, this game? Yeah. Yeah, I'd say more so 20. I'll say 20. Okay. Caleb Douglas, obviously has to start. Chris Bell, if he's starting or not starting. Yeah, he has to start. Without a pitch count, which I think was pretty surprising. Yeah, but he started. How do you feel about that? Look on your face to suggest something. I think that they're going to have a heavy rotation of wide receivers. I wouldn't be shocked if he got. I think Kevin Coleman, Jr. is in the mix to start. That's the one I wanted to name, too. He's going to be doing the slot work. Everybody has a role. And I think the only guy who can pretty much play all three roles is Malik Washington. So I think we'll see all of the rookies. And this is what the season is going to be. You'll see all of the rookies playing a very specific role. And then the veteran guys like Malik Washington and Jalen Tolbert come in and spell those players in, filling those roles. What it'll look like, I have absolutely no clue. Jacob Rodriguez is clearly starting. He's a Green Dot player. People have come out and said he's going to be the only rookie Green Dot player in the NFL. I don't think that's too much of a big deal because how many rookies? Green Dots is really going to be your safety or your inside linebacker. Yeah, but that's still significant. It's still significant. Tell me why do you think it's not significant? I think it's not significant because I don't think there were many other rookies. It's not like, oh, this rookie was in position, but he's not doing it. I guess maybe the one from Washington and the Giants, those two could. Yeah, I guess it is. That's what I'm saying. Sonny Stiles, Arvell Reese. It could have been Caleb Douglas down in Dallas. The reason why it is significant is because they cut Tyrell Dodson. They cut the guy who did it the last couple years. To me, you have this much faith in a rookie, but you're willing to give him the responsibility of setting up your entire defense. Do you want to say something on Stiles? Sure, sure. You're right. But at the same time, as a first year head coach, you have to come in here and have trust in a guy. Yeah. Specifically on the defensive side of the ball. I feel like while, yes, $3 million is a lot of money, I want to say that, whatever, but at the same time, I don't think you're willing to pay out the $3 million or to lose $3 million at the expense of your defense and guys being aligned. Because that's the easiest way to get gassed. Okay, okay. Play devil's advocate on what you just said. I'm going to ask you a question, and I want your honest opinion. Are the Dolphins' defense better with Terrell Dodson not being here or better with Terrell Dodson here? I think they're better because they have more depth. They're better because they have more depth. Jacob, I think it's fair and reasonable to say that Jacob beat Juan to the job. And if it's even, I've always been taught the tie goes to the rookie. Everybody knows they want to see Jacob Rodriguez. There's a maturity level that comes with him. And you want to invest in him long term. So we knew the deck was really stacked in his favor, but he showed up and he delivered. He did. Now the question is, how good is he going to be in this rookie season? Are we going to be feeling and experiencing those growing pains that we experienced last year with all of the other rookies? Just because he's starting out, that doesn't mean that he's instantly going to be an upgrade over T-Dot or be the next Zach Thomas. Even though talking to him today, the studiousness, the nature, the professionalism, it does remind me a lot of Zach Thomas, who I was fortunate enough to cover at the end of his career and fortunate enough to cover when I was an intern. So I'm seeing it. Now the question is, is it going to live up to what this fan base's expectations are for David Rodriguez, which I honestly don't really know what their expectations are. I think, for me, I think if I could predict an impact, a similar stat line, I'm not going to go with the Hall of Fame. I'm going to go with somebody that is a lot more recent. Carson Schwesinger from the Cleveland Browns. Defensive rookie of the year last year. Had a solid stat line as a rookie. I'm going to read it out to you real quick. Two picks. Two and a half sacks. 156 combined tackles. 11 tackles for loss. Nine quarterback hits. Three passes left. To me, if you have that sort of season, then I don't. I understand that. I'm not saying that you have to go over that or even that you have to meet those numbers. I'm just saying if you had a similar impact on the game, he was a guy that you heard his name throughout the year in Cleveland. To me, that, to me, is the bar. I want you to have a similar season to that. I'm not saying you have to replicate those numbers outright, but I also want to see some of the things that made you a standout in college. Translate. Smartness. Turnover. Takeaway ability. I think these are things that, especially with this rule now that the defense has, this three turnover rule, it's something that, yeah, I talked to a few guys about it, something that Dante and Lester said, something that they actually had implemented last year but for whatever reason, they didn't follow through. It didn't work. No, no, no, no. They didn't follow through. Mm-hmm. It's funny that you say the three turnover rule. If they don't, just real quick, if they don't keep three takeaways in a game, don't force three turnovers, the team won. The defense won. And so it will be interesting to see whether or not they keep this up throughout the year. I'm going to have to be my eyes and ears out there in Napa, make sure that they, you know, regardless of, you know, if they do hit that benchmark, I hope they do the right practice. Yeah. It's funny that you say expectations for Jacob Rodriguez. I personally believe that he's going to have to replicate what TDOT's numbers were, 129 tackles, five sacks, one interception. I don't think that that's too high of a bar for him to cross, but obviously that requires him playing all 16 games. Then we got the interesting discussion and debate about who should start at safety, Michael Taft or Dante Trader-Hughes. Where do you stand in that little debate, competition? Hafley basically said all three of them will contribute. When you say three, he's referring to Zane Anderson. Where do you stand in what roles they should play? I think for me, and you talked about this before, like Dante Trader-Hughes is certainly a force in the run game. And that's not something that we've seen from Michael Taft. We haven't seen that aggressiveness in the run game. So for me, I would prefer to have a Dante Trader-Hughes on the earlier downs in order to add some run support, especially considering how that front seven looks to start, especially the defensive line, look to start the year last year and the inefficiencies that they had when it came to stopping the run. So just to have a guy back there that can add out, that can help with that, I think would be huge. And I know you've said that you see some promise from Taft as a, kind of in the passing game. I don't know how much I agree with that. I didn't necessarily see a guy that is, there's at least a couple of players that come to mind where I believe he should have gotten a hand on the ball, where the offense took a shot his way. He just didn't necessarily make the play on the ball that I expected him to make, especially considering the situation that the safety position was wide open that this defense wants to force turnovers and you're in a position, last but not least, you're in a position to make a play. I just, he did it and I didn't, I don't know. I just, it just bothered me that those plays weren't made. So not to say anything about him as a player, but I'm not to say that I'm confused. I understand like you drafted this guy, you want him to play. It's going to look better for you that I have X number of players playing, but at the same time, I'm not the biggest fan. So we'll, we'll have to see what happens, but listen, I'm all for going with whatever you feel is going to give you a secondary, the best look. That's from a communication standpoint. If that's Michael Papp, and it seems to be Michael Papp ready to make sure that it doesn't compromise the athleticism and ability wise. But I know the infatuation that defensive coaches have with that coach on the field. And so I think it's going to be Michael Papp that, that gets the edge over Dante Crater, but I expect that to be a competition all season. On that note, we will be back on Friday to give you a wrap up the injury report. It's not going to feature that many surprises, but obviously we'll cast America's one guy to watch. And we'll tell you who else pops up on the injury report on Friday. We'll give you a preview of Sunday 415 game against the Las Vegas Raiders. We'll be right back.