First-round rookie Josh Allen was a one-man wrecking crew in limited action, but his Jacksonville Jaguars still fell to the Maimi Dolphins, 22-7.
PFF's ReFocused series features immediate takeaways from the two analysts who graded the game live. The two offer a detailed breakdown of the game's most notable performances before the grades and advanced stats are reviewed and finalized by Senior Analysts.
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Final Score
Miami Dolphins 22, Jacksonville Jaguars 7
Miami Dolphins
There was a lot to be desired fro the Dolphins' offense in the first half led by Ryan Fitzpatrick. The wily veteran led the offense to just one first down in the first quarter on four drives. Fitzpatrick was under a lot of pressure, missed too many throws and did not do himself any favors in the ongoing quarterback competition.
Josh Rosen came in with the second unit and did well for himself. Rosen showed good movement skills, scrambled for first downs and also showed off plus ability to throw on the run.
Edge defender Charles Harris was very active as a pass-rusher. While he didn't record a sack, Harris consistently found ways to beat the Jaguars' offensive line for multiple pressures.
Linebacker Jerome Baker stood out early for the Dolphins. His decisiveness and speed made him difficult to block at the second level. His quickness to the point of attack resulted in a handful of tackles for short gains and losses.
Rookie Takeaways
Rookie undrafted free agent Patrick Laird had a very successful night against the Jags' defense. He led the team with 26 rushing yards and a touchdown on just six carries. Fellow undrafted free agent Deion Calhoun, a former Mississippi State standout, didn't have the night Laird had, as Calhoun earned underwhelming marks in pass protection and as a run-blocker.
Jacksonville Jaguars
The flashiest defender in the first half for the Jaguars was first-round pick Josh Allen. The Kentucky product made plays in coverage, run defense and rushing the passer. Allen was in Fitzpatrick's lap on multiple occasions. He also was effective in disrupting the Dolphins' rushing attack and made a tackle for loss in coverage.
Datone Jones continued a solid preseason with his best performance yet against the Dolphins. He was especially effective against the run, providing a strong edge for the Jaguars and disrupting the line of scrimmage on more than half of his run-defense snaps.
Quarterback Nick Foles didn't show much in his Jaguars debut. He relied on the short passing game on most of his throws, and his biggest play was an underthrown deep pass that resulted in a defensive pass interference with 4:42 left in the first quarter. Two plays later, he hit a wide-open Dede Westbrook on a corner route for a touchdown.
Running back Leonard Fournette showed some explosiveness in his first action of the preseason. He showed tremendous burst on two separate runs during the Jaguars' third drive of the game. On the final drive of the first quarter, he broke a tackle on a swing pass en route to a 15-yard gain. He displayed his agility on the next play, turning what could've been a loss into a five-yard run.
Rookie Takeaways
Josh Allen is a freak of nature with absurd positional versatility. Rookie Florida offensive lineman Jawaan Taylor turned in a dismal performance in pass protection but made up for at least some of it with positive play in the run game.
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