Kelly: Plenty of Dolphins make their final plea for roles and roster spots

Ever get on a roller coaster with the bravery of a superhero, and then when the ride takes its first dip you shut your eyes and impatiently wait for the herky jerky motion to conclude?

That had to be the sentiment of every Miami Dolphins player and coach who participated in Friday night’s preseason finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers - and maybe the fans who watched this meaningless exhibition game too - because few who mattered played, and the entire game, a 24-14 win by the Buccaneers, was filled with scary moments.

From Mailk Washington getting ear-holed by a Tampa Bay safety on the Dolphins’ second drive, stumbling off the field before eventually returning and shining, to Brandon Pili, Ryan Hayes, Anthony Schwartz and Wyatt Ray suffering injuries that make their health a mystery leading up to Tuesday’s cut day in the NFL, the game was filled with couple of gasp worthy moments.

But that’s what game three is traditionally for, considering many of the players on the field will have their football dreams extinguished, forced to find real jobs in the coming weeks and months since their NFL aspirations got derailed.

During Mike McDaniel’s three-year tenure as head coach, the Dolphins have annually used the third preseason game as an audition for the final 10 or so spots on the 53-man roster, and the 16 practice squad jobs. And that’s exactly what Friday was about, which explains why the play looked so sloppy.

The only starters who participated in the game were Robert Jones, who has held the starting left guard role all of camp, and will likely fill that role for the Sept. 8 season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Quinton Bell, a 2023 practice squad player who had a solid camp, shooting to the top of the edge player depth chart this month..

But that doesn’t mean significant roster battles weren’t decided by Friday night’s performances.

Jack Driscoll likely cemented his spot on the 53-man roster by playing three offensive line spots in the game. The fourth-year veteran added as a free agent this offseason started the game at center, moved to right guard after the first couple of series, and when Hayes suffered a injury in the first quarter, and Bayron Matos whiffed on a critical third down block that resulted in a sack, Driscoll replaced the rookie at right tackle and finished out the game.

That makes him a keeper, and if we’re being honest he might be a better starter at right guard than Liam Eichenberg or Lester Cotton.

“It’s awesome when you get to play the [Buccaneers starters] because those are the guys who are going to be out there Sunday,” Driscoll said of his match-up with Vita Vea, who is considered the best nose tackle in the NFL. “I want to be here. I want to be part of this organization, and help this team win.”

Channing Tindall, a disappointing 2022 fourth-round pick, made his case to remain on Miami’s 53-man roster with his third straight solid preseason performance, producing nine tackles by the half. He finished the game with a team-leading 12 tackles and had one quarterback hits.

Tindall, who will likely be one of the last players on or off Miami’s 53-man roster, showed growth this preseason.

“What a cool game for Channing. So much growth,” McDaniel said. “This is his third year and third defensive system.”

But was it enough to keep him safe? We’ll likely find out on Tuesday when every NFL team must trim their training camp rosters to 53 players.

In the too little, too late category we can find Mike White, who started his first preseason game and delivered yet another underwhelming performance.

White completing 5-of-9 passes for 37 yards, which produced a 65.5 passer rating.

His struggles this preseason are significant because Skylar Thompson, the Dolphins 2022 seventh-round pick, had seemingly leapfrogged him on the depth chart all training camp, and outshined him when he took over in the second quarter.

Thompson, who spent all of last season running the Dolphins’ scout team offense, which got the first-team defense prepared for each week’s opponent, finished the game completing 19-of-27 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns and an interception.

Thompson was dealing a hot hand until his final throw, a slant Buccaneers safety Antonio Grier Jr. stepped in front off, which came in the game’s closing minutes and squandered a possible scoring opportunity.

Despite the pass, Thompson’s ability to make something happen with third-teamers, and practice squad caliber talent, stood out.

Thompson outshining White could lead to the release of the fifth-year veteran, and might trigger the signing or claiming of another quarterback.

“I feel like I’ve left everything on the table and have no regrets,” said Thompson, whose 76.3 passer rating in the preseason surpasses White’s 58.2 passer rating. “There was a lot of plays tonight where I felt growth. I felt the reward of putting the time in to get better.”

Those are the types of decisions the Dolphins will make in the coming days, and what players put on film in Friday’s night’s loss will serve as the final exam.

Now that the game’s over, the scary moments for those who participated will begin.