The Miami Dolphins’ Week 1 game plan may hinge on the availability of one rookie—and it may not be the one you think
The Miami Dolphins’ offensive outlook in Week 1 could hinge on the availability of a surprising name.
Welcome to Week 1, friends. The Miami Dolphins are officially ready to rock and roll in the Jeff Hafley era.
Up first? A trip out west to play the Las Vegas Raiders. If the Dolphins are going to secure a win, they’re going to need their focus on the run game to come through in a big way. And there’s a key X-factor to know — a player who hasn’t dressed for practice as of late thanks to getting dinged in the preseason. But make no mistake, he’s close to a “must” for Miami. Third-round rookie tight end Will Kacmarek must be ready to roll to optimize Miami’s chances.
Why Will Kacmarek’s availability is huge for the Miami Dolphins in Week 1
Even though he is a third-round rookie, Will Kacmarek could be argued as essential personnel. Miami wants to run the football. So much so that you could argue the offense is entirely built around its ability to run the football. And Kacmarek’s role in the tight end room is a standalone trait.
Consider the other tight ends on the roster. Greg Dulcich profiles as more of a receiving tight end. The two other rookies in the room? Seydou Traore and Justin Joly (claimed off waivers at 53-man cuts) don’t project as inline blocking players either. That creates a real problem for Miami if whatever has ailed Kacmarek recently prevents him playing.
Without him, the Dolphins would likely need to trot out six offensive linemen to get the kind of physicality they want at the point of attack. And Miami doesn’t have that much depth on the offensive line to begin with, which makes that a less-than-ideal fallback plan. When you consider some of the questions around Miami’s skill group, having one less eligible who can legitimately run routes could further compound their ability to stress the Raiders’ coverages, too.
If Miami gets the ground game humming in Week 1, it changes the entire complexion of the game. Las Vegas would have its hands full trying to slow down a Dolphins offense that can churn yards and move the chains on the ground. Kacmarek is a key piece of that engine being ready to go come Sunday. Third-round draft status be damned.
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