Preseason Game Four Analysis

Well, the preseason is over now, and what a glorious way to go out (sarcasm). That was one ugly game, but obviously that's to be expected since it was mostly third and fourth stringers getting a majority of the playing time and rightly so. It makes no sense to risk the health of the players that are actually going to make the roster on a meaningless game. I'm not against having preseason games, but I really do think the fourth game should be axed. The first three games have their uses, but the last game is truly worthless, despite what the coaches and G.M. may say.

Anyways, there wasn't much to be garnered from this game, but here's a few observations to ponder.

The Bad
John Beck - I guess you can't look good all the time. Beck really struggled in this game, going 8 of 15 with just 63 yards and 2 interceptions while also taking four sacks. A few of his passes were batted and tipped at the line of scrimmage, giving credence to the worries about his size (6'2"). That is a problem that can be corrected, however, as he learns to navigate the pocket better and find the open passing lanes.

Lorenzo Booker - Again, Booker showed an inability to successfully run the football, gaining only 11 yards on 7 carries. I doubt he'll see many carries this season, although he will see his fair share of receptions.

Overall offensive production - The Dolphins were out-gained by the Saints 326 yards to 121. Enough said.

Defense on third downs - The defense allowed the Saints to convert on 8 of 16 third down attempts.

The Good
Patrick Cobbs - Cobbs got the ball early and often, receiving a total of 20 touches (15 runs, 5 receptions). Despite averaging less than 3 yards per carry, he showed some toughness running behind a porous line. He also made some defenders miss in the open field.

Jason Allen - Allen started the game at CB and was matched up with the Saints' starting WRs - Marques Colston and Devery Henderson - for almost the entire first half. They were limited to a meager 2 receptions for 17 yards combined, thanks in large part to Allen's coverage. He also stepped up nicely in run support. He finished with 8 tackles and also managed to snag an athletic interception. Hopefully, this will serve as a much-needed boost of confidence for Jason.

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Play of the Game - Not much to choose from here. Probably Jason Allen's INT.

Player of the Game - Patrick Cobbs. Capping off a solid preseason, Cobbs touched the ball 20 times for 83 total yards. He locked up a practice squad spot at the very least with his performance.