Lamar Jackson puts on a movie fit for Hollywood as the Baltimore Ravens crash the 2019 Miami Dolphins season opener | September 8, 2019

Lamar Jackson

Miami Gardens, FL – The Miami Dolphins are officially in full rebuild mode, and Lamar Jackson made that very apparent today. I’d just like to point out that Edwin, my co-host on the Lemon City Live podcast, picked the Fins to win today. He couldn’t have been more wrong. The tanking is on like Donkey Kong and Miami is acquiring draft picks galore, and clearing up enough salary cap space to buy out the U.S. government deficit. Most recently, the Fins sent tackle, Laremy Tunsil and wide receiver, Kenny Stills (along with a 2020 4th-round pick and a 2021 6th-round pick) to Houston. The Aqua and Orange got back a 2020 1st-round pick, and a 2021 1st-round and 2nd-round pick! Miami also waived linebacker, Chase Allen and released defensive tackle, Akeem Spence and safety, T.J. McDonald. But the one I’m most upset about was losing is linebacker, Kiko Alonso. The Fins traded him to the New Orleans Saints for linebacker, Vince Biegel. Schematically it makes sense. Barry Jackson, of the Miami Herald, reported that Kiko fell out of the coaching staff’s good graces after being “scolded repeatedly in the May/June practices for freelancing or not doing things how the coaches wanted.”, according to one anonymous Dolphins player. However, his postgame interviews were always soundbite worthy. He’ll be missed, LemonHeads.

Today’s Fins game was the effect of a short term loss for a long term gain. For years, fans have been clamoring for the Dolphins to tank in order to have the best chance at drafting whomever the best quarterback available will be. Everyone seems to want Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa, but if Miami is going to tank, might as well see if Rosen pans out after just one season. Give him a 2nd season and wait to draft Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence the following season. We’ve waited this long, right? Plus, I think Trevor is by far the better QB. 

There are no two ways about it. The Dolphins got stomped today. They lost 59-10! At one point in the 1st quarter, it was 21-0. Local Miramar native, Lamar Jackson was 17/20 on 324 yards and five touchdowns! He was quoted as saying that it was “not bad for a running back”, trolling his critics after being the last pick in the 1st round of his draft class. The Broward Connection was in full effect! His favorite target today was Marquise “Hollywood” Brown who played his high school ball at Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory School down here in Hollywood, FL. Does the nickname make sense now? But, the dude put on a movie-esque show today, catching four passes for 147 yards and two touchdowns. You might know him as Antonio Brown’s cousin, but the rookie out of the University of Oklahoma is having no problems making a name for himself in the league thus far. (Especially since AB went a little crazy this offseason) What a debut! If his work ethic is any near his cousin’s, he’s going to have a great career.  

Brian Flores told his guys to remember this loss. I think they’re going to have nightmares about it. Miami starting QB, Ryan Fitzpatrick was 14/29 for 185 yards, one touchdown (thrown to rookie WR, Preston Williams), and one interception. Back-up QB, Josh Rosen actually came into the game at the end of the 3rd quarter. On the very 1st play of the 4th quarter, he threw his 1st interception as a Miami Dolphin’s QB. A rite of passage… Josh went 1/3 for five yards and one INT.

Miami’s bright spot this season will be the play of the wide receivers. If DeVante Parker can stay healthy, he’ll put up decent numbers. He caught three passes for 75 yards today. Rookie, Preston Williams, who shined during the preseason, scored his 1st touchdown today. It was a six-yard pass from Fitzpatrick. Newcomer wide receiver, Allen Hurns from the Miami Hurricanes, brought down his lone target, a 22-yard pass from Fitzpatrick. 

Dolphins fans are going to have a tough time forgetting Lamar Jackson while getting mentally prepared to watch their squad face the New England Patriots next week. It’s a lot to ask of these guys for a repeat of the Miami Miracle, but it would be so Miami Dolphins to win that game and lose every other home game this season. Tank for Tua? Win never, get Trevor? Whichever you’d like, that’s where the team is now, so just sit back, relax, and take these beatings like a good Fins fan… It puts the lotion on the skin!

📸Credit: Edwin Garcia

(Visited 279 times, 1 visits today)