Five Bubble Dolphins to Watch Tonight

Five Bubble Dolphins to Watch Tonight

Miami’s second preseason game kicks off this afternoon against John Harbaugh’s New York Giants at Hard Rock Stadium, the first home game of the new campaign.

Wednesday’s joint practice showed up a number of issues, with Big Blue’s edge group generating sacks and pressures at an alarming rate under new defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson. The Dolphins will be keen to show tonight that a lack of game-planning during practice was the issue, rather than a trend as the season gets ever closer.

Whilst the offensive line remains a work in progress, especially when Austin Jackson isn’t on the field, there are a number of players across the team who are making a push for the roster as August rolls towards September, and tonight will be massive for them.

Here are five players on the bubble to look out for who’ve all made an impression and could go a long way to solidifying a roster spot with a second strong performance later on.

Four years ago, Chris Grier made one of his smartest free-agent signings when he plucked FB Alec Ingold from the Raiders. Coming off an ACL tear, he was a bargain at $6.5 million over two seasons, and during his four years in Miami, he was consistently one of the best players at his position in the league. In fact, he was unlucky to have only made the Pro Bowl once. But he was released in the spring as part of cost-cutting measures under the new regime, leaving Miami without a fullback. It was Grier’s replacement, Jon-Eric Sullivan, who saw something in San Diego State linebacker DJ Herman, who started just two games for the Aztecs in 49 games, inviting him to the Dolphins’ rookie minicamp on a tryout basis and having him switch positions.

For a team desperate to establish the run game behind a powerful offensive line that contains a 326lb left tackle, a 327lb right guard and a 352lb left guard, Herman was an afterthought. But he showed when the pads came on that he not only understood the role, but could also block with power, flashing good hand placement and vision to find the right target. He followed up a strong couple of weeks in camp with an excellent performance in Washington, leading the way for De’Von Achane, especially from the I-formation. If he can follow that up, especially against the Giants’ active defensive line, he could be ripe to make the 53-man roster, especially as his special teams work is solid.

When Max Llewellyn was at Iowa, he was all hands, body shifts, shoulder shakes and spin moves, and he pass-rushed like a washing machine washes clothes: non-stop spin and movement. Not explosive or overly quick, he put his body in harm’s way to always be around the ball. He showed off a good Sunday frame, could set the edge, and relied on a relentless spin that was both a blessing — because it was effective — and a curse — because he relied on it way too much. My close friend Chris Kouffman called him ‘White Freeney,’ which was the perfect name for him. But clearly, defensive line coach Austin Clark and new assistant DL coach Chuka Ndulue have worked extremely hard on him, destroying that muscle-memory fallback of just relying on the spin, because it’s all but disappeared. He’s been more active in the last couple of weeks in camp, and took early snaps against the Commanders, an indicator of how he’s viewed. He’s always possessed a lunatic style and attitude that can’t be coached; he’s got excellent technique and versatility to reduce and rush the interior. Kudos also to the strength and conditioning team led by Todd Hunt because he’s way more physical against the run than I ever remember with the Hawkeyes.

Arguably, the most impressive all-around performance against the Commanders came from a defensive tackle who very few people knew of. I had two scouts message me during the game asking whether Fatorma Mulbah had been this dominant during camp, as they’d liked him coming out of West Virginia. Signed on August 5th, he spent last season with the Jets on their practice squad. A native of Liberia, he only moved to the United States in 2014, when he was 12 years old, not knowing what football was.

He was in on nine of sixteen run plays last week, playing off his man with great strength, leverage, and eyes to make stuff, then walking former Dolphin Daniel Brunskill straight into Sam Hartman’s lap on a rush rep. Miami is in good shape at defensive tackle with last year’s draft class, as well as veterans Zach Sieler and Matthew Butler. But if Mulbah performs well again tonight, he’s going to be extremely tough to keep off the 53. The Dolphins just won’t want to let him be picked up as a late cut.

One of the most intriguing signings of the off-season was edge Robert Beal Jr., a former five-star prospect from Georgia who led the team with 6.5 sacks during the Bulldogs’ national championship season of 2021. A fifth-round pick of the 49ers, he spent three seasons in San Francisco, recording just a single sack.

But he’s intriguing because of his traits. A unique physical prospect at 6’4”, 250lbs, who runs a 4.44 forty and has a 6’10” wingspan, he isn’t a rush threat in the slightest. Beal was signed for his ability against the run and as an edge setter. Like Max Llewellyn, he played early in the game last week — he was visible in the first quarter — which is a strong indicator of his stock. I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that he’s the natural replacement for Quenton Bell and should see a tonne of early-down snaps tonight as he tries to unlock the Giants’ tackles versus the run.

We started with the offensive line and their struggles on Wednesday, which could benefit Josh Priebe. The loss of Jamaree Salyer has been big as ‘next man up’ at potentially four spots, but behind Andrew Meyer , who’s purely a center, Priebe is the next cab off the rank. Listed as a G/T, he was also the primary back-up at center for the Week 17 game last season against the Patriots, behind Meyer, so it’s clear his versatility is of value. A season-long starter at RG for Michigan in 2024, he went undrafted before being picked up by the Dolphins, spending last season on the practice squad. He’s strong, gets good extension, and is well liked by the coaching staff. He should see a lot of playing time tonight, potentially even at center late on over Jim Bonifas, who isn’t making the roster. He should be a lock for the 53, and he can throw away the key with a good performance tonight.