South Florida Local News

Today is Monday, Sept. 23, the 267th day of 2024. There are 99 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Sept. 23, 2018, capping a comeback from four back surgeries, Tiger Woods won the Tour Championship in Atlanta, the 80th victory of his PGA Tour career and his first in more than five years.

Also on this date:

In 1780, British spy John Andre was captured along with papers revealing Benedict Arnold’s plot to surrender West Point to the British.

In 1806, the Lewis and Clark expedition returned to St. Louis, more than two years after setting out for the Pacific Northwest.

In 1955, a jury in Sumner, Mississippi, acquitted two white men, Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam, of killing Black teenager Emmett Till. (The two later admitted to the crime in an interview with Look magazine.)

In 1957, nine Black students who entered Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas were forced to withdraw because of a white mob outside.

In 1952, Sen. Richard M. Nixon, R-Calif., salvaged his vice presidential nomination by appearing on television from Los Angeles to refute allegations of improper campaign fundraising in what became known as the “Checkers” speech for its reference to his family’s cocker spaniel.

In 2002, Gov. Gray Davis signed a law making California the first state to offer workers paid family leave.

In 2022, Roger Federer played his final professional match after an illustrious career that included 20 Grand Slam titles.

Today’s Birthdays:

• Singer Julio Iglesias is 81.
• Actor/singer Mary Kay Place is 77.
• Rock star Bruce Springsteen is 75.
• Director/playwright George C. Wolfe is 70.
• Actor Rosalind Chao is 67.
• Actor Jason Alexander is 65.
• Actor Chi McBride is 63.
• Singer Ani (AH’-nee) DiFranco is 54.
• Producer-rapper Jermaine Dupri is 52.
• Filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos is 51.
• Actor Anthony Mackie is 46.
• Actor Skylar Astin is 37.
• Tennis player Juan Martín del Potro is 36.

There’s bad. There’s ugly. And there’s Seattle 24, Dolphins 3 on Sunday.

The team knew it needed help with its starting quarterback out. But help never materialized until Seattle had built the kind of early, double-digit lead every opponent has this season.

Here are 10 thoughts on the game:

1. The prime problem Sunday wasn’t Tua Tagovailoa’s concussion. It was the mega-drop in talent to Skylar Thompson. He was effectively given this start last winter when the Dolphins didn’t sign a better backup.  Sure, he beat out Mike White. But there were growing questions in preseason. Still, nothing was done. Thompson looked lost before he got injured Sunday. He completed 13-of-19 passes for 107 yards, was sacked five times and got three points when the defense gave his offense the ball at the Seattle 6-yard line. Not good enough, obviously. Green Bay, Minnesota and Pittsburgh are all undefeated after playing back-ups in at least two games. The question is what GM Chris Grier and coach Mike McDaniel thought would happen back in February and March when they made this decision.

2. Let’s look at the next three games that suddenly don’t look like as soft as they once did:

* Sept. 30. Tennessee at Hard Rock Stadium on Monday night. Selling an 0-3 team and a 1-2 team isn’t what Monday Night Football expected. Then again who cares what a network expected? Green Bay just whipped Tennessee, 30-14, on the road with back-up Malik Willis.  So let’s not go too far off the deep-end saying how back-up quarterbacks spell trouble in the short term. Tennessee, while winless, is the team that sunk the Dolphins season with a fourth-quarter comeback last year. Sending the Dolphins to 1-3 would put them on the brink this year.

* Oct. 6. At New England. It’s Tom Brady Day for the Patriots, and if ever there was a chance to sink the Patriots’ celebration this is it. New England isn’t Brady’s New England. Not even close. They’re 1-2 and looked like dogmeat in a 24-3 loss to the New York Jets.

* Oct. 20. At Indianapolis. After a bye week, this would look like another win against a Colts team that got its first win Sunday against Chicago.

Related Articles

• Miami Dolphins | Dolphins Deep Dive: Perkins and Furones on Skylar Thompson’s injury, Miami’s loss to Seahawks in Seattle | VIDEO
• Miami Dolphins | Dave Hyde: Can Dolphins save season? Not if they play like Sunday in Seattle
• Miami Dolphins | Things we learned in Miami Dolphins’ 24-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks
• Miami Dolphins | Dolphins steamrolled by Seahawks as QB Skylar Thompson exits with injured ribs
• Miami Dolphins | Instant Analysis: Seattle Seahawks 24, Miami Dolphins 3

3. Play of the game: Geno Smith to D.K. Metcalf for a 71-yard touchdown late in the quarter that made it 17-3. Game over. Dolphins safety reacted to Metcalf’s cut with the result being the Seattle receiver ran into open field. This is the kind of big play the Dolphins have won with the last couple of years right down to taking advantage of the defensive coverage.

“They were playing low quarters on one side, playing halves on the other side,” Smith said. “We got the safety in the position we wanted him, and he really dug down on the in route. … Just knowing the coverage, the safety in the quarters coverage is going to be more aggressive to any in-cuts or underneath routes. You try to take advantage of that. D.K. read that perfect, the protection was great, we got the play off.”

4. What’s happened to aggressive Mike McDaniel? He kicked a chippie, third-down field goal with eight seconds left in the half against Buffalo rather than have Tagovailoa run one more play into the end zone. In Sunday’s opening drive, facing third-and-1 at the Seattle 39, he opted for a 57-yard field goal that missed. Small sample size. But McDaniel led the league in fourth-down attempts (and conversions) last season. Of course, their short-yardage plays might back his decisions as on Sunday …

5. Look at two possessions that might not make Grier chuckle about questions of his offensive line:

* The offense was handed the ball first-and-goal at the 6 after a Kader Kohou interception in the first quarter. Result: A 2-yard run by De’Von Achane up the middle was negated by a Julian Hill false start. Facing first-and-goal at he 11 now, Thompson threw for passes of 1 and 6 yards before an incompletion. Sanders kicked a 23-yard field goal.

* They had first down at the Seattle 3 early in the fourth quarter. Two Achane runs up the middle netted a yard. Durham Smythe then couldn’t get a catchable pass and Tim Boyle threw incomplete on fourth down. Seattle ball.

Dolphins Deep Dive: Perkins and Furones on Skylar Thompson’s injury, Miami’s loss to Seahawks in Seattle | VIDEO

6. Quote of the day: “The quarterback is the extension of the offense and the offense is an extension of me. I don’t know that I’ve ever won a game with three points. … We’ve got to figure it out fast.” — McDaniel.

7. The Dolphins had 11 penalties, including four on successive plays from scrimmage at one point. Now, Seattle had 11 penalties, too, suggesting either these refs were flag happy or these teams are undisciplined. Or both. But here’s a question: Dolphins tight end Julian Hill had four penalties and kept playing in the game? He had a couple catches afterward so you can see why. But is there a line a player can cross in making mistakes before he’s pull from the game?

8. Yes, the defense played well over the final three quarters in limiting Seattle’s offense and setting up the offense in some cases. But let’s not get carried away here. They gave up 17 points in the first quarter. This was a game where the defense was asked to carry more of a load due to the quarterback situation. Instead, it put the game in a double-digit hole.

9. Seattle held Tyreek Hill to three catches and 40 yards and Jaylen Waddle to four catches for 26 yards. But let’s be clear: It wasn’t just a Sunday thing or Thompson thing. Last week, Waddle had four catches for 41 yards and Hill had three catches for 24 yards. Each had some big plays in the opener against Jacksonville, but the offense still only had 20 points. Have defenses caught up to this offense? It’s McDaniel’s chess move now.

10. Quick hits:

* The Dolphins were 1 of 15 on third and fourth downs.

* Condolences to the family of Mercury Morris, who died at 77 and was one of the big personalities I got to know in writing a book (Sill Perfect) about the team and then through the years in my good dealings with him.

* Any complaints about over-officiating only go so far. The Dolphins led the league in false starts and illegal formations coming into the game.

* The Dolphins first play was a well-designed pass in the flat to an open Achane that went for 22 yards and looked like a good confidence-builder for Thompson. It was their longest play from scrimmage of the day.

* Some good news: Zack Seiler balled out — getting a sack and an interception.

 Next week. Tennessee on Monday night, as mentioned. It’s worth mentioning again considering the difference between how a 1-3 and 2-2 start will feel like for this team in the easy part of its schedule.

STARKVILLE, Miss. — Billy Napier didn’t sound like a coach who’s days at Florida are numbered.

Napier was ready to get to work during the bye week as the Gators prepare for an Oct. 5 visit from UCF (3-0).

A 45-28 win Saturday at Mississippi State was a start, but much ground remains to make up.

“It’s good to win a game like that and go into the open date,” Napier said. “I told him in the locker room, Look, we’re going to rest and recover, but when you show up Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday next week, we’re working.

“We have work to do to improve, and we’ve got to put all of our heads together to try to get it shored up.”

Many wondered whether Napier, now 13-16 at UF,  would get a chance to coach beyond his team’s first open date, even if the Gators won in Starkville. A Sunday ouster, however, did not unfold.

Florida head coach Billy Napier motions to the field judge Phillip Davenport during the Gators win at Mississippi State Sept. 21 in Starkville, Miss. (AP Photo/James Pugh)

But while Florida (2-2, 1-1 SEC) snapped a seven-game losing streak to FBS foes, the win came against a program at the start of a rebuild under a first-time head coach. Napier’s offense had 503 yards against the Bulldogs (1-3, 0-1) behind a two-quarterback system and revived run game, yet at the expense of the SEC’s second-worst defense.

The league’s last-ranked D belongs to Florida, an often-discombobulated unit allowing an average of 499 in three games against power conference competition. Mississippi State finished with 240 each passing and running as Jeff Lebby’s up-tempo attack caught the Gators flat footed.

“We got to get it fixed,” Napier said.

Florida defense might be too broken and missing too many pieces.

Veteran coach Ron Roberts came on board in January after two seasons near the bottom of the SEC — 12th in 2022 and 11th in 2023 — under two different coordinators, Patrick Toney and his successor Austin Armstrong. With Roberts at the helm, the Gators sit 16th in the expanded SEC.

In the search for answers, the offensive-minded Napier reportedly pitched in on the other side of the ball last week. At Mississippi State, Roberts moved up to the coaches booth at Mississippi State to get a better vantage point, but the view changed little.

Mississippi State tight end Cameron Ball (10) attempts to break a tackle against Florida defensive back Trikweze Bridges (7) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/James Pugh)

Veteran safety Trikweze Bridges, a sixth-year player who transferred from Oregon, said Roberts also simplified the scheme, yet communication issues continued when the Gators tried to line up prior to the snap.

“That’s kinda what it was today versus the tempo — just lining up to them,” he said.

Costly penalties are among Napier’s other concerns.

UF averages just 48 yards in penalties against FBS competition, third fewest in the SEC. Entering Saturday, the Gators gift-wrapped four touchdowns with defensive penalties during its two FBS games.

A questionable personal foul call on tailback Montrell Johnson Jr. erased an electrifying 65-yard touchdown by sophomore receiver Aidan Mizell.

Florida head coach Billy Napier reacts to a play from the sidelines during the Gators win at Mississippi State Sept. 21 in Starkville. (AP Photo/James Pugh)

“They’ve got a hard job to do, much like we have a hard job to do,” Napier said of the officials. “Those are tough judgment calls.”

A pair of pass interference calls in the span of four plays by on nickel back Sharif Denson, including on 4th-and-3, gave Mississippi State 1st-and-goal but the Bulldogs fumbled three plays later following a poor pitch during an option play.

“Big, big momentum play,” Napier said. “Really great to see our defense kind of stand up there.”

It was a rare sight at Mississippi State. Napier hopes signs of hope await during the bye week.

“We have to develop practice plans that reflect the areas where we need to improve,” he said. “That’ll be the challenge on all three parts of our team. We got to really take a good look at where our issues are at, at the self scout, and then getting ready for a Power Five opponent coming to the Swamp.”

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com

In this Dolphins Deep Dive video, the South Florida Sun Sentinel’s Chris Perkins and David Furones discuss quarterback Skylar Thompson, who was playing after starter Tua Tagovailoa sustained a concussion in Week 2, getting injured in Miami’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks. They also give updates on all the injuries the Dolphins suffered Sunday.

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If only it was only the quarterback situation.

If only it was only about injured Tua Tagovailoa’s backup, Skylar Thompson, being hurt in the third quarter.

If only the Miami Dolphins’ 24-3 loss at the Seattle Seahawks only had to be explained by third-string quarterback Tim Boyle being called on to save the day in the third quarter.

But the day was unsavable long before that. Maybe it was in trouble since February when this organization decided to bet the season on Thompson’s seventh-round pedigree, if it came to that.

Or maybe all quarterback problems this team now faces provide cover for some other problems. The defense, so strong by Sunday’s end, gave up 17 points on three of Seattle’s first four drives.

That was the third time in three games the Dolphins have fallen behind by double figures in the first half, too. So, you see, it wasn’t just a Sunday problem or a quarterback problem.

Its looks bigger than that. It’s an organizational problem that’s got to get solved quick. Look at a snapshot of what happened after the Dolphins got the ball at the Seattle 48 in the second quarter with the day still alive.

They got four penalties on four consecutive times they lined up: False start by Liam Eichenberg; illegal formation by Austin Jackson; illegal formation by Julian Hill; and unnecessary roughness by Duke Riley.

Related Articles

• Miami Dolphins | Hyde10: QB problems, defense’s first quarter, Titans loom again — 10 thoughts on Dolphins’ 24-3 loss at Seattle
• Miami Dolphins | Dolphins Deep Dive: Perkins and Furones on Skylar Thompson’s injury, Miami’s loss to Seahawks in Seattle | VIDEO
• Miami Dolphins | Things we learned in Miami Dolphins’ 24-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks
• Miami Dolphins | Dolphins steamrolled by Seahawks as QB Skylar Thompson exits with injured ribs
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Sure, the refs thought everyone came to see them, considering each team had 11 penalties on it. But four consecutive penalties? And Hill had a four-penalty game — and remained a part of the day (even having two late catches).

That last penalty by Riley negated a punt that had Seattle pinned at its 6-yard line. Seattle started instead at its 42.

Do you see how the day went? How they stacked problems on top of the quarterback problem?

One more question: Is general manager Chris Grier still chuckling about the media wondering about the offensive line like he was last month?

You’d like to lean on a good line with quarterbacks going down, especially with Seattle missing defensive linemen and linebackers. You don’t have to look at the rushing yards 18 times for 65 yards to judge how that went.

You shouldn’t look at Thompson being sacked five times, considering he was the cause of a lot of that. You don’t even have to know left tackle Terron Armstead left in the second quarter with an eye injury after leaving the previous week with a shoulder injury after not practicing all summer due to concern over injury. It was revealed after the game that Armstead is in the concussion protocol.

Dolphins Deep Dive: Perkins and Furones on Skylar Thompson’s injury, Miami’s loss to Seahawks in Seattle | VIDEO

Just look at what happened when the Dolphins had first down at the Seattle 3 early in the fourth quarter. Score here and there’s still a chance.

First down: De’Von Achane, not exactly a power back, lost a yard up the middle. Second down: Achane up the middle to the 2-yard line.

But after a couple tries, McDaniel didn’t trust going to the run on third down. Just like, on fourth-and-1 at Seattle’s 39 on their first possession, the previously fourth-down gambler of a coach opted for a 57-yard field goal attempt that missed.

This time, on third down from the 2-yard line, tight end Durham Smythe couldn’t bring in a catchable ball. Boyle threw incomplete on fourth down. And that was all Sunday wrote.

There’s a line old football people use: “Bad lines don’t travel.” But, again, it wasn’t just a line story or a quarterback story.  This offense rallied to score 20 points in the opener and had 10 in the second game that had Tagovailoa through three quarters.

Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle were the engines of this offense last season. But they haven’t looked like that other than a few big plays in the Jacksonville opener.

That didn’t change Sunday. If Buffalo squeezed them in the second game, Seattle squeezed harder squeezed Sunday. Hill had three catches for 40 yards on Sunday, Waddle four for 26.

So Seattle’s defense said anyone but those two can beat us. Just like Buffalo did. Just like a lot of teams did at the end of last season.

Here’s the scary part: Seattle might be 3-0, but isn’t a team that looks 3-0. This is a game the Dolphins should have been in no matter who their quarterback is if they’re as good as they’ve been saying.

Instead they didn’t last the first quarter.

Instead this season has the feel of being on the ropes after a Sunday that left you sleepless in Seattle.

Instead, as much as the quarterback situation is a problem, the larger problem is it’s not just the quarterback situation.

SEATTLE — Miami Dolphins quarterback Skylar Thompson made his first start since the 2022 playoffs on Sunday. But Thompson, who left the game with 9:35 left in the third quarter after being shoved to the ground, fared worse during Sunday’s 24-3 loss at Seattle than he did in that wild-card round loss at Buffalo.

Few fared well Sunday for the Dolphins. Not coach Mike McDaniel. Not wide receiver Tyreek Hill. No one.

Beyond that, penalties are an issue again (they were an issue in 2022).

The Dolphins (1-2) could use some good fortune very quickly, or this season’s playoff hopes will take a big downturn.

Here are some more takeaways from Sunday’s loss to the Seahawks: 

Skylar struggles, but so does OL

Quarterback Skylar Thompson didn’t have a good day before leaving the game with 9:35 left in the third quarter after a hit by linebacker Dre’Mont Jones.

A few plays earlier, Thompson went down due to a big hit but seemed OK on the sideline after some apparent initial discomfort.

But his offensive line didn’t do much to help him. And for that matter, neither did his other offensive teammates.

Thompson finished 13 of 19 for 107 yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions, five sacks and an 82.6 passer rating.

He didn’t seem to have much pocket presence.

But he also didn’t have much time to throw as the five sacks would attest. The Dolphins’ offensive line also had a rough day Sunday. More on that later.

Quarterback Tim Boyle replaced Thompson and at this point newly-acquired Tyler “Snoop” Huntley is the backup quarterback. — Chris Perkins

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• Miami Dolphins | Hyde10: QB problems, defense’s first quarter, Titans loom again — 10 thoughts on Dolphins’ 24-3 loss at Seattle
• Miami Dolphins | Dolphins Deep Dive: Perkins and Furones on Skylar Thompson’s injury, Miami’s loss to Seahawks in Seattle | VIDEO
• Miami Dolphins | Dave Hyde: Can Dolphins save season? Not if they play like Sunday in Seattle
• Miami Dolphins | Dolphins steamrolled by Seahawks as QB Skylar Thompson exits with injured ribs
• Miami Dolphins | Instant Analysis: Seattle Seahawks 24, Miami Dolphins 3

Dolphins have trailed much of season

Seattle took a 3-0 lead on a 56-yard field goal by kicker Jason Myers in the first quarter. That meant the Dolphins have allowed their opponent to score first in all three games.

It also extended the time the Dolphins have trailed this season. Miami has technically not held a lead. Their only lead vs. Jacksonville was as time expired on kicker Jason Sanders’ 52-yard game-winning field goal.

McDaniel falls to below .500 for first time in his career

Coach Mike McDaniel is below .500 for the first time in his career with the Dolphins’ loss at Seattle and their 1-2 season record.

The closest McDaniel came previously was in 2022 when the Dolphins were 8-8 after their five-game losing streak. They defeated the New York Jets to finish 9-8 and make the playoffs. 

McDaniel is now 21-16 (.568) and 21-18 including playoffs (.538).

Offensive line finishes without Armstead

Pro Bowl left tackle Terron Armstead, who battled shoulder and knee injuries during the past week, left the game late in the second quarter with an eye injury and didn’t return. It was revealed after the game that Armstead is in the concussion protocol. 

Veteran Kendall Lamm replaced Armstead.

But the offensive line is often leaky without Armstead and Sunday was no exception.

Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall ended with 2.0 sacks. Jones and fellow linebackers Boye Mafe and Tyrel Dodson each had one sack as did nose tackle Jarran Reed.

The Dolphins allowed six sacks.

The offensive’s pass protection skills, which were minimized because quarterback Tua Tagovailoa got rid of the ball so quickly, become more of a factor with quarterbacks such as Thompson and Boyle, who don’t get rid of the ball as quickly as Tagovailoa.

Dolphins Deep Dive: Perkins and Furones on Skylar Thompson’s injury, Miami’s loss to Seahawks in Seattle | VIDEO

Tyreek targets way, way down

Wide receiver Tyreek Hill (three receptions, 40 yards) had only five targets in the game, and three targets through the first half.

Miami ended the half with 16 pass attempts and right running attempts. It ended the game with 32 passes and 18 rushes.

Hill, wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (five targets, four receptions, 26 yards) and running back De’Von Achane (five targets, three receptions, 28 yards) each had three targets in the first half.

Achane also had five first-half carries.

Penalties continue to mount

The Dolphins, who entered Sunday’s game with 16 penalties (tied for seventh in the league) for 153 yards (tied for fifth), ended with 11 penalties for 85 yards.

Tight end Julian Hill had two holding penalties and an illegal motion.

The Dolphins ended the first half with seven penalties for 50 yards.

Seattle didn’t fare any better. The Seahawks ended with 11 penalties for 92 yards.

DK Metcalf takes a toll on Dolphins defense

Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf, who ended with four receptions for 104 yards and one touchdown, had two receptions for 93 yards and a touchdown in the first half.

For much of the game All Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey was on Metcalf. 

But on Metcalf’s 71-yard touchdown Ramsey appeared to think he had safety help. He released Metcalf after a double move. Safety Jevon Holland appeared to bite, and then he was too late to catch Metcalf.

There was also a 22-yard reception that Metcalf had vs. cornerback Kendall Fuller down the sideline. Fuller, by the way, left the game with a concussion in the first half. He was replaced by cornerback Kader Kohou.

Injuries continue to mount

You know about the Dolphins’ injuries to Thompson (chest), Armstead (eye) and Fuller (concussion). But rookie cornerback Storm Duck (shoulder) also left the game.

Duck was replaced by Siran Neal, the special teams ace. Neal played the boundary in the nickel, same as Duck, and Kohou stayed as the slot.

Additionally, linebacker David Long Jr. sustained a hamstring injury.

Veteran running back Raheem Mostert (chest) missed his second consecutive game.

There’s no word on the long-term outlook for Thompson, Armstead, Fuller or Long. Duck re-entered the game.

Dolphins’ offense needs more muscle

Twice the Dolphins offense was inside the Seahawks’ 6-yard line and came away without a touchdown.

The Dolphins don’t have a big, hard-running running back so they used the 188-pound Achane for much of their inside running.

They also tried to throw to tight end Durham Smtyhe but it was just out of his reach and he couldn’t come down with the ball.

The Dolphins had the ball at the Seattle 6 after a Kohou interception in the first quarter. But they settled for a 23-yard field goal by kicker Jason Sanders and a 10-3 deficit.

In the fourth quarter the Dolphins got to Seattle’s 2-yard line but couldn’t punch it in.

Miami’s offense seems to need more muscle for short-yardage situations.

Road woes continue

The Dolphins fell to 7-11 (.389) on the road in the regular season under McDaniel and 7-13 (.350) on the road including playoffs.

As a reminder, four of the Dolphins’ next six games are on the road.

The opponent is almost irrelevant.

The Dolphins struggle away from Hard Rock Stadium. Period.

Dolphins’ pass rush looked like their 2023 record-setters

After a basically silent game against the Bills, the Dolphins, whose pass rush set a franchise mark with 56 sacks last year, entered the Seahawks game with only three sacks and four quarterback hits. Against Geno Smith and company, they doubled their season sack total and also saw two near-sacks turned into huge batted-ball interceptions. Calais Campbell had a sack and one of those tip balls and Zach Sieler had a sack and an interception after Campbell’s bat. The front four gave the Dolphins a chance in this game. — Steve Svekis

The Dolphins are 4 for 4 in a category they want no part of

When DK Metcalf caught his first quarter-ending touchdown and the Seahawks tacked on the extra point to make it 17-3, it meant that Miami has trailed by at least 14 points in each of the three games this season. The Dolphins trailed the Jacksonville Jaguars 14-0 in the season opener before rallying to win, and then lost to the Buffalo Bills by 21. When including the 26-7 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in January in the playoffs, that makes it four consecutive such games. The last time the Dolphins trailed by at least 14 points in four consecutive games was from Games 1-4 of the Tank for Tua decimated-roster season of 2019.

The scourge of tackles for loss allowed continues

The Dolphins, who allowed a decimating 19 tackles for loss in their first two games, allowed five by halftime in Seattle and nine for the game, making it at least nine TFLs in each contest. The 28 TFLs for the season put Miami on pace for an inconceivable 158.

More road rash for the Dolphins

Since Oct. 1, 2022, the Dolphins have almost inconceivably gone 0-11 on the road against teams who had a record of .500 or better at the time.

Julian Hill has had a flag-strewn start to the season

The reserve tight end has had at least one penalty per game, and has a total of five in fewer than 100 snaps participated in on offense. Ouch.

Yards not the only aspect of the passing game that has fallen off a cliff

Much has been made of the two-deep safety looks having been responsible for a precipitous drop in pass yardage (from 2023’s 218.9 passing yards per game to this season’s 192.7 going into Sunday). The league, heading into Sunday’s action, was on an early pace for only 41 illegal contact flags this season. Last year, there were 90 illegal contact automatic first downs. The Dolphins came into the game in Seattle with no such penalties called against them or to their benefit.

On deck: Tennessee Titans, Monday, Sept. 30, 7:30 p.m., Hard Rock Stadium

If the Dolphins aren’t breathing fire for this opponent, whose 28-27 win at Hard Rock Stadium on Monday Night Football in Week 14 last year derailed their chances to win the AFC East and host a playoff game for the first time in 15 years, then nothing will. … Quarterback Will Levis has been a crucial turnover machine, throwing a game-losing pick-six in Chicago in the opener, putting the ball on the ground at the Jets’ 6 on an attempted lateral while leading New York 7-0 in a game they lost 24-17, and then threw an crucial interception for a touchdown against the Packers that made the score 17-7 during Sunday’s 30-14 loss in Nashville.

SEATTLE — Down to their second quarterback and then their third, the Miami Dolphins never quite stood a chance in one of the NFL’s most hostile road environments Sunday afternoon once they fell behind early.

Already replacing starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, backup Skylar Thompson exited Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks early in the second half with a rib injury, bringing the team to No. 3 quarterback Tim Boyle by the end of the 24-3 defeat at Lumen Field.

Miami (1-2) is under .500 in a season for the first time in coach Mike McDaniel’s three years at the helm. Sunday’s result in Seattle marks another loss against a winning team as the Seahawks improved to 3-0.

“It’s going to take a better effort from everyone, starting with myself.” McDaniel said after the game. “Consistency has to be found from the nucleus. The guys who truly know the offense need to really be on it. We have to just keep chopping wood and get better fast.

“I have never won a game scoring 3 points, so I think, collectively, starting with me, that has to be better, and we have to get it figured out fast. … Every single season, there’s teams that find a way to win football games when their starter or even their backup is out. That’s what we’re signed up for this year in the present situation.”

Where do Dolphins players take it from here?

Ramsey, using very few words in a three-question podium press conference at Lumen Field, replied: “Up a notch.”

“There’s a lot of ball left,” said Dolphins defensive tackle Zach Sieler, who had an interception and a sack. “Everything’s in front of us. It’s only Week 3.”

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• Miami Dolphins | Hyde10: QB problems, defense’s first quarter, Titans loom again — 10 thoughts on Dolphins’ 24-3 loss at Seattle
• Miami Dolphins | Dolphins Deep Dive: Perkins and Furones on Skylar Thompson’s injury, Miami’s loss to Seahawks in Seattle | VIDEO
• Miami Dolphins | Dave Hyde: Can Dolphins save season? Not if they play like Sunday in Seattle
• Miami Dolphins | Things we learned in Miami Dolphins’ 24-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks
• Miami Dolphins | Instant Analysis: Seattle Seahawks 24, Miami Dolphins 3

Thompson took a big third-down sack early in the third quarter from Seahawks linebacker Tyrel Dodson. He was slow to get up and barely moved his right shoulder as he jogged back to the sideline, while also reaching for his chest/rib area.

Even after that hit, though, Thompson did not go into the injury tent and went back in for an ensuing drive, but on that series, he was pushed down and contacted on the right shoulder as he threw a pass to the flat.

Thompson was down for several minutes as trainers tended to him. Once he was up and walking on his own power, Thompson was escorted straight to Miami’s visiting locker room. He was ruled out for what was first deemed a chest ailment deep into the third quarter. McDaniel later clarified the quarterback hurt his ribs.

Boyle entered for Thompson as the Dolphins’ backup after he was signed to the active roster from the practice squad Saturday. Miami had Tyler Huntley on the active roster but inactive pregame and available only as an emergency third quarterback.

Thompson was 13 of 19 for 107 yards at the time of his departure, as Miami struggled to get any offense going in Seattle.

Boyle got the offense moving slightly — some once the outcome was settled — and finished 7 of 13 for 79 yards passing.

“We’re down a couple of scores but you got to go out and prove what you got,” Boyle said of his mentality going in. “It tells a lot about your character as a person and as a competitor.”

Dolphins star wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle were held to three receptions for 40 yards and four catches for 26 yards, respectively. McDaniel credited the Seahawks defense for schematically taking Hill out of the game, but noted Miami has to improve and finding ways to get him the ball. Running back De’Von Achane had 30 yards rushing and 28 receiving.

Dolphins Deep Dive: Perkins and Furones on Skylar Thompson’s injury, Miami’s loss to Seahawks in Seattle | VIDEO

Miami, like Seattle, had 11 penalties. The Dolphins’ went for 85 yards and the Seahawks’ 92. Miami was 1 for 12 on third downs Sunday. McDaniel attributed his team’s penalties to how it handled the loud road environment in Seattle.

Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith, a Miramar High product, was 26 of 34 for 289 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions that were off of deflections. Smith’s touchdown went 71 yards to DK Metcalf, who had four catches for 104 yards.

Seattle burst out to a 10-0 lead when running back Zach Charbonnet, who scored twice Sunday, plunged for a 4-yard rush up the middle that followed a remarkable grab by the physically imposing Metcalf, elevating to get the ball over cornerback Kendall Fuller along the right sideline.

Even when the Dolphins were gifted field position at the Seattle 5-yard line from a Kader Kohou interception, they couldn’t punch it in. Jason Sanders kicked the short field goal after the Miami offense went nowhere.

On the following play from scrimmage, the Seahawks made the Dolphins further pay. Metcalf got open deep over the top of the Miami secondary, with safety Jevon Holland the nearest defender in the Cover-2 look. Metcalf hauled in the 71-yard touchdown reception from Smith.

The Miami defense kept the team in the game through the second and third quarters, getting off the field on third downs. Late in the third period, Sieler had an interception off a tipped ball by Calais Campbell to create a takeaway.

Boyle drove the Dolphins 50 yards to the Seahawks 2-yard line, but the drive concluded when the third-string quarterback threw incomplete to Achane at the pylon after Achane fell from apparent contact with a defender.

Charbonnet, who finished with 91 rushing yards on 18 carries, and the Seattle run game put together a long drive to put Miami away deep into the fourth. He scored his second touchdown from 10 yards out.

The Dolphins had a peculiar end to the first half. Around midfield, instead of throwing to the end zone for a Hail Mary, threw to the middle of the field to tight end Jonnu Smith. It drew a defensive penalty, though, for an untimed down, but even then, Thompson did not throw the end zone and was lit up on a hit from behind. Seattle finished with six sacks.

McDaniel said after the game he wanted to put Seattle in a position to defend, which could possibly draw a pass interference to bring the team within field goal range. He alluded to the same strategy working last year in the road win at the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Seahawks’ opening series resulted in a 56-yard field goal from kicker Jason Myers. Defensive tackle Da’Shawn Hand recorded a sack, coming up the middle to take down Smith after beating right guard Anthony Bradford with an inside rip move.

After Seattle converted its long field, Miami did not, with Jason Sanders missing a 57-yarder wide left. The Dolphins picked up 22 yards, from Thompson to Achane, on the opening offensive play, but they failed on a third-and-1, giving the ball to running back Jeff Wilson Jr. for no gain before sending out the kicker on fourth-and-1. The Dolphins did not get what could’ve been a horse-collar penalty called on a 9-yard first-down rush by Jaylen Wright a few plays earlier.

McDaniel said he kicked the field goal because he liked how Sanders was connecting with the ball before the game.

Sieler, Campbell and Hand had sacks for the Dolphins in Seattle.

Braxton Berrios turned in a 44-yard punt return in the first half that didn’t result in points.

“It’s early,” Campbell said. “It’s not the end of the world, but it still sucks.”

Tagovailoa is still out on injured reserve while he works through concussion protocol. The IR designation sidelines him at least the next three games after Sunday’s game against the Seahawks. He was on the sideline after traveling with the team to Seattle.

The Dolphins, after the long travel of more than 3,000 miles back to South Florida, have an extra day before their Week 4 game, facing the Tennessee Titans back at Hard Rock Stadium for a Monday night game on Sept. 30.

Quick thoughts from South Florida Sun Sentinel staffers on the Miami Dolphins’ loss to the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on Sunday:

Chris Perkins, Dolphins Columnist

This was a total disaster. Injuries. Penalties. Bad execution. The Dolphins need to find something they can rely on. Defense. Special teams. A run game. Something. Anything. Or else it’s going to be a miserable existence for the next few weeks.

David Furones, Dolphins Writer

The Dolphins can’t seem to stay healthy. They didn’t have much of a chance in Seattle with Skylar Thompson, but now he’s down, as are several others as this roster is constantly getting hurt.

Steve Svekis, Assistant Sports Editor

The only aspect of the Dolphins’ operation that noticeably showed up in Seattle was their pass rush, with three sacks and a major pressure by Emmanuel Ogbah to create an interception at the Seahawks’ 6 and a batted ball by Calais Campbell that created a Zach Sieler interception. Otherwise, what an atrocious showing. They are fortunate to have two NFL cupcakes (Titans and Patriots) coming up in Weeks 4 and 5. If Miami isn’t 3-2 at the bye week, look out below.

Keven Lerner, Assistant Sports Editor

Third-year quarterback Skylar Thompson looked very much like rookie quarterback Skylar Thompson, and then he was injured as the Dolphins appeared overwhelmed by the Seahawks and their surroundings. The next two games against the Titans and Patriots, beatable opponents, see their importance ratcheted up.

Dolphins Deep Dive: Perkins and Furones on Skylar Thompson’s injury, Miami’s loss to Seahawks in Seattle | VIDEO

MIAMI — When elections officials in Palm Beach County emailed ballots last week to military and overseas voters, they failed to notice a typographical error: The name of Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota, the Democratic nominee for vice president, was misspelled as “Tom Walz.”

The office was made aware of the error less than 18 hours after the ballots went out, Wendy Sartory Link, the county’s elections supervisor, said Sunday.

“The error was isolated to 257 electronic ballots,” she said in an email, adding that the misspelling had been “immediately corrected.” The affected voters were emailed a recommendation to download the updated ballot, she said.

The New York Times learned of the error from a concerned voter overseas who sent the newspaper a screenshot of her misspelled ballot. The voter said she had contacted Link’s office but not yet received a response.

Link — a Democrat whose reelection bid is on the ballot — said her office had sent an “accurate ballot file” to its vendor. The vendor then made a “manual typed change” to the ballot and “incorrectly typed ‘Tom’ instead of ‘Tim.’”

“The elections office was never notified of the manual change,” she said.

She said that the error would not affect the counting of the votes. “The error in no way affects the proper tabulation of any of the electronic ballots and every vote will count as the voter intended,” Link said. “This error does not affect any other military and overseas ballots or domestic ballots.”

During the 2000 presidential election recount, Palm Beach County became notorious for its “butterfly ballot,” which listed candidates on both sides of the ballot, with voters required to punch a corresponding hole in the middle. But the order of candidates listed did not align with the holes to punch.

After the election, many voters said — and data showed — that they had intended to vote for then-Vice President Al Gore, the Democrat, but had instead voted for Pat Buchanan, the Reform Party candidate.

Florida determined the outcome of the 2000 election, with George W. Bush beating Gore by fewer than 600 votes.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.

A Pompano Beach man is in jail on a murder charge after allegedly using his Ford F-250 truck to run over the 29-year-old mother of his child on Saturday night, according to the Broward County Sheriff’s Office.

The incident occurred shortly before 9:30 p.m. near an apartment complex at 130 SW Eighth St. in Pompano Beach, where BSO deputies and Pompano Beach Fire Rescue responding to a call discovered two victims who had been struck and dragged by a vehicle. They were identified as Pompano Beach residents Brenda Hernandez Amaya, 29, and Omar Munguia-Henrique, 32.

A preliminary investigation by detectives with BSO’s Homicide and Crime Scene Units found that a verbal dispute occurred between Hernandez Amaya and Edwin Amaya, 32, of Pompano Beach, over their shared child.

Detectives said that during the argument Amaya got into his truck and intentionally struck Hernandez Amaya before barreling into several parked cars with Munguia-Henrique hanging onto the vehicle. Amaya then fled on foot, the BSO report stated.

Paramedics transported the victims to Broward Health North where Hernandez Amaya was pronounced dead. Munguia-Henrique was treated for injuries that were not life threatening.

BSO deputies soon located Amaya and arrested him in the 700 block of South Dixie Highway. Amaya was transported to the Broward County Main Jail and faces one count of premeditated murder.

At election time, we expect deep-pocket donors to buy TV ads that aren’t true. Here’s a fact check on those lying ads about Amendment 4, to ban government interference with abortion in Florida. Amendment 4 would simply restore Florida law to where it was before July 2022.

Clinics will still be strictly regulated by the state. A parent will still need to sign the form for a minor.

“Viability” means that, with good medical care, a pregnancy can survive outside the mother’s body. Every pregnancy is different, so a doctor and medical team must make this determination (the average is 24 weeks).

Elective abortion after viability has never been legal in Florida. Amendment 4 will not change this. After viability, if there’s a pregnancy-related emergency or illness, doctors will always try to save the mother and the infant. When this is not possible, doctors must save the mother.

High-risk obstetricians, who are most qualified to save the mother and infant, are becoming afraid to practice in Florida and other states with abortion bans. They may leave. Medical students cannot receive full ob-gyn training here, and recently certified ob-gyns are reluctant to move here.

A vote for Amendment 4 is a vote to keep pregnancy decisions within the family where they belong. It is also a vote of support for the professionals who give good prenatal, birthing and postpartum care.

H. Joan Waitkevicz, M.D., West Palm Beach

Standing with Haitians

Gov. Ron DeSantis has again failed his constituents.

Although Florida has the largest population of Haitians of any state, DeSantis is too cowardly to criticize Donald Trump’s demonizing of the Haitian people. Many Republicans have rebuked Trump’s vile statements, but our governor trembles at the thought of criticizing Trump.

Whenever DeSantis is afraid of being asked a tough question, he runs and hides behind a softball interview at Fox.

Not only should Haitians be ashamed of him, but all Floridians should. They should also stand in solidarity with our Haitian neighbors.

Martin Kleinbart, Aventura

Lying about Ohio

Admitting they were wrong isn’t anything the Trump campaign does, so the city of Springfield, Ohio, is embroiled in bomb threats, school closures and other disruptions built on the lie that Haitians were stealing people’s cats and dogs and eating them.

JD Vance knew they were false when he spread the story, according to The Wall Street Journal. So he has taken to the familiar strategy of deflection, blaming the media for not fact-checking the people of Springfield. “That is bullying on an industrial scale, and the media should be ashamed,” he said.

No, what’s bullying on an industrial scale is intentionally spreading a falsehood that endangers the Haitian community.

Vance is trafficking in racism. He claims the media is being unprofessional. JD is not being presidential, and neither is Donald Trump, who continues to spread these lies.

Richard Beardsley, Boca Raton

They can’t make the sale

The basic rule of any sale is not to turn off your customer before your product gets a positive thought.

Why would Republicans get involved in abortion? (Too controversial.) Why pursue the idea of immigrants eating dogs and cats?

These two issues show they don’t know how to make a sale. Sell your positive ideas to the country. If you can’t understand this concept, how can you run the country? This leads me to believe that Republicans can’t make the sale.

Stanley Greenbaum, Delray Beach

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STARKVILLE, Miss. — Florida’s 45-28 win against Mississippi State validated the Gators’ new two-quarterback system, ended a seven-game losing streak against FBS foes and continued to raise concerns about a struggling defense. A bye week offers a breather and chance for UF (2-2, 1-1 SEC) to take inventory before an Oct. 5 visit from UCF.

Montrell Johnson Jr. might not be the Gators’ best RB

The veteran leader had 90 yards from scrimmage, including a team-high 68 of UF’s 226 yards rushing. But he needed 15 carries, had a fumble and was at times overshadowed.

Sophomore Treyaun Webb ran harder (41 yards, 8 carries) and is a better blocker while true freshman Jadan Baugh’s explosiveness (53 yards, 4 carries) continues to impress. Former junior-college transfer Ja’Kobi Jackson showed superior speed on a 10-yard touchdown run, along with soft hands on 2 catches for 27 yards.

A four-year starter for Billy Napier, Johnson is unlikely to lose his No. 1 spot. For the Gators to be their best, he will have to share the ball more.

Florida running back Montrell Johnson Jr. (1) tries to avoid the tackle from Mississippi State linebacker Branden Jennings (44) during the Gators’ 45-28 win Sept. 21 in Starkville. (AP Photo/James Pugh) Edge rusher Jack Pyburn’s remarkable comeback continued

Pyburn is showing no ill effects from a torn ACL suffered during a Nov. 5 loss to Arkansas. At Mississippi State, he might have been the Gators’  most active defender, finishing with 6 tackles, including 1 for loss, and helping disrupt a fourth-down option play at the goal line that led to a fumble.

A junior from Jacksonville, Pyburn stepped in for Justus Boone, another Gator recovering from ACL surgery he underwent three months prior to Pyburn.

Florida wide receiver Aidan Mizell (11) tries to break a tackle from Mississippi State safety Hunter Washington (21) during the Gators’ 45-28 win at Mississippi State Sept. 21 in Starkville, Miss. (AP Photo/James Pugh) Orlando’s Aidan Mizell nearly had monster day

Mizell replaced injured star Tre Wilson (knee) and showed his big-play potential. He finished with a team-high 5 catches for 36 yards but could have had much more.

Officials erased an electrifying 65-yard touchdown, featuring Mizell cutting across the field and outracing several players, with a questionable personal foul call on Johnson for blindsiding a Mississippi State defender facing him head on and in pursuit.

Earlier, officials failed to blow a whistle as Mizell’s knee barely grazed the ground following a 1-yard catch on 3rd-and-3. The 6-foot-1 ½, 186-pound sophomore with sprinter’s speed gained his balance to complete a 68-yard touchdown that was reversed to a short gain.

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com

Today is Sunday, Sept. 22, the 266th day of 2024. There are 100 days left in the year. Autumn begins at 8:43 a.m. EDT.

Today in history:

On Sept. 22, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, declaring all enslaved people in Confederate states should be freed as of Jan. 1, 1863, if the states did not end the fighting and rejoin the Union.

Also on this date:

In 1776, during the Revolutionary War, Capt. Nathan Hale, 21, was hanged as a spy by the British in New York.

In 1957, Haitian women were allowed to vote for the first time, 153 years after Haiti became an independent country; François Duvalier was elected president.

In 1975, Sara Jane Moore fired two shots in an unsuccessful attempt to assassinate President Gerald R. Ford outside a San Francisco hotel, missing Ford by inches.

In 1980, the Persian Gulf conflict between Iran and Iraq erupted into a full-scale war that would continue for nearly eight years.

In 1985, rock and country music artists participated in “Farm Aid,” a concert staged in Champaign, Illinois, to help the nation’s farmers.

In 1993, 47 people were killed when an Amtrak passenger train fell off a bridge and crashed into Big Bayou Canot near Mobile, Alabama.

In 2014, the United States and five Arab nations launched airstrikes against the Islamic State group in Syria, sending waves of planes and Tomahawk cruise missiles against an array of targets.

In 2017, as the scale of the damage from Hurricane Maria started to become clearer, Puerto Rican officials said they could not contact more than half of the communities in the U.S. territory, where all power had been knocked out to the island’s 3.4 million people.

Today’s Birthdays:

• Singer-choreographer-actor Toni Basil is 81.
• Musician King Sunny Adé (ah-DAY’) is 78.
• Football Hall of Famer Harold Carmichael is 75.
• Rock singer David Coverdale (Deep Purple, Whitesnake) is 73.
• Actor Shari Belafonte is 70.
• Singer Debby Boone is 68.
• Country singer June Forester (The Forester Sisters) is 68.
• Singer Nick Cave is 67.
• Singer Andrea Bocelli (an-DRAY’-ah boh-CHEL’-ee) is 66.
• Singer-musician Joan Jett is 66.
• Actor Scott Baio is 64.
• Actor Bonnie Hunt is 63.
• Actor Mireille Enos is 49.
• Soccer player Thiago Silva is 40.
• Actor Tatiana Maslany is 39.
• Actor Tom Felton is 37.
• Actor Teyonah Parris is 37.
• Olympic gold medal skateboarder Coco Yoshizawa is 15.

TAMPA — The Hurricanes took the Bulls‘ best punch on Saturday night, and they left Raymond James Stadium with their record unscathed.

After a tug-of-war in the first half, No. 8 Miami (4-0) pulled away in the second half and notched a 50-15 win over upstart USF (2-2), which has proven its mettle in closely fought games against both UM and Alabama. The Hurricanes are 6-1 all-time against the Bulls.

“Proud of our guys for responding the way they did,” Miami coach Mario Cristobal said. “First time we actually trailed this year. The second-half response, we played cleaner and better Miami Hurricane football.”

South Florida was arguably Miami’s toughest test through the first third of the season, taking the lead from Miami twice in the first half. But the Hurricanes battled back both times before outscoring the Bulls 28-0 in the second half en route to a dominant victory.

“I believe (they were the toughest opponent so far),” quarterback Cam Ward said. “Just because they’re so physical. It’s a physical team over there, and they showed it today.”

The Bulls showed how much fight they had in them early in the game. They nearly got Miami off the field with a three-and-out to start the game, but Ward connected with Xavier Restrepo to keep the drive alive. Aided by four USF penalties, the Hurricanes drove 75 yards down the field and punched in a 2-yard rushing touchdown by Damien Martinez to begin the game.

USF responded with a field goal: a 58-yarder by freshman Nico Gramatica, the son of former NFL kicker Martin Gramatica.

UM had been good at avoiding turnovers through the first three games of the season, but wide receiver Jacolby George cost Miami. Ward tossed George a third-down completion, but George could not hang onto it. The ball popped out of his hands and directly to a waiting Brent Austin. The Bulls then scored their first touchdown on a trick play where wide receiver Sean Atkins tossed a touchdown pass to quarterback Byrum Brown.

The Bulls nearly caught the Hurricanes flat-footed, kicking and seemingly recovering a surprise onside kick after their touchdown. After a lengthy review, however, the Bulls were ruled offside, and they had kicked off to UM. Ward led an eight-play, 90-yard drive drive down the field, punctuating it with a 6-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Horton.

The back-and-forth struggle went back into the Bulls’ favor after an 8:30 drive ended with a 44-yard field goal by John Cannon, pushing USF ahead 15-14 before the end of the first half.

“We did everything we possibly could to simulate them, but they’re difficult,” Cristobal said. “They’re a good football team.”

Ward was not going to let the Bulls keep the momentum, though. He hit Sam Brown Jr. for a 76-yard score — Brown’s first as a Hurricane — and put Miami back ahead 22-15 after Ward converted the two-point conversion with a pass to Martinez.

After getting a stop on the Bulls’ first drive of the second half, the Hurricanes took command of the game with an 80-yard touchdown drive. Martinez collected the final yard, scoring his second short touchdown of the night.

Martinez notched his third 1-yard touchdown of the night late in the third quarter, putting Miami ahead 36-15. Ward added his third touchdown of the night on a 5-yard pass to Xavier Restrepo, putting the game well out of reach. Freshman running back Jordan Lyle added a 91-yard touchdown run for good measure in the game’s final minutes. Lyle’s touchdown run was the longest play from scrimmage in UM history.

“Nobody’s content,” Cristobal said. “We’re excited about the progress. We’re enthused and driven, but we certainly just kind of want to get back to work.”

Five takeaways 1. Cam Ward shows why he is a gunslinger

Ward has been a star for the Hurricanes this season, and he has described himself as a “gunslinger” at quarterback. That archetype has some good and bad, and Ward was not perfectly on his game Saturday.

“The biggest thing for us, especially to me — you saw out there tonight I missed a lot of easy throws, playing man coverage that we knew they were going to play — they actually played more man coverage than what we thought they were — that’s just something I’ve got to home in,” Ward said. “The O-line gave me enough time; I didn’t connect downfield. Receivers were winning early on; I didn’t connect downfield.”

Ward missed open receivers a couple of times, which stood out after three near-perfect games to begin the year. His first-half interception was not one of those — he hit George in the chest and the ball popped out.

But even when he was not at his absolute sharpest, Ward finished the game with 404 yards, completing 24 of 34 passes with three touchdowns. He also ran for 25 yards.

2. Miami plays a sloppy game, and USF joined in

Miami coach Mario Cristobal has cited penalties as something to work on in recent weeks, and he could not have been happy with his team’s performance in that regard on Saturday.

Miami had eight first-half penalties, racking up 80 yards on fouls. UM had all types of penalties: personal fouls, personnel issues and simple mistakes alike.

Fortunately for Miami, USF obliged them by playing equally as sloppy. The Bulls had eight penalties for 51 yards in the first half. South Florida ended the game with 11 penalties for 73 yards.

Cristobal delivered a blunt message to the team at halftime, and Miami cleaned up its penalties in the second half. UM finished the game with 11 penalties for 113 yards.

“I think we were anxious,” Cristobal said. ” … We knew this was going to be a physical game, we had to be physical. And that’s not what we’ve been. It’s not. And we started doing it, and it wasn’t a matter of want-to or just arrogance for not doing things the right way. It’s just we got off of what we are. If we want to really put on display what we are, we had to show it in the way we played, not the way we talked or the way we did stuff.

“Really proud of these guys for taking over that part in the locker room as leaders, as grown men, and putting our words into action and having a great second half.”

3. Horton and Brown get their shine

Restrepo and George had the bulk of Miami’s wide-receiver touchdowns entering Saturday’s game, but Brown and Horton got their time to shine in Tampa.

Horton’s eight catches for 108 yards were both career highs. He nearly had a second touchdown late in the third quarter, but the play was overturned on review and he had to settle for an 18-yard catch at the 1-yard line.

“I thought Isaiah Horton continues to show that true development has really taken its course, and he’s playing some great football for us,” Cristobal said.

Brown finished the game with 7t yards and scored his first touchdown with the Hurricanes.

Restrepo did have a special accomplishment, though. He hauled in a 16-yard catch in the third quarter that put him across the 2,000-yard mark for his career. He is the 10th player in UM history to reach 2,000 receiving yards.

4. Bend but don’t break

Although the Hurricanes gave up their share of big plays and yardage on Saturday, they had several defensive stands that proved crucial.

Late in the second quarter, the Bulls drove from their own 7-yard line down to the Miami 8-yard line. The Hurricanes pushed them back, forcing a field goal that put USF up 15-14 instead of a go-ahead touchdown that would have put the Bulls up by five. At the end of the half, the Hurricanes forced another field goal, and the Bulls missed it. USF had just one touchdown in the red zone.

Miami’s defense adjusted in the second half and did not give up any points after halftime.

“We quickly kind of snugged down the coverage a little bit,” Cristobal said. “Our pressures, the internal part of our pressure and the pocket push was better. It caused more problems for their quarterback, and then we sacked them a couple times and got off the field on third down. In all, we stopped worrying about the post-snap … and started playing our brand of football.”

5. Versatile Damien Martinez

Martinez was a 1,000-yard rusher last year, but he has not been racking up the yards lately. After rushing for only 3 yards on three carries in UM’s win over Ball State, he notched just 31 rushing yards in Miami’s win on Saturday.

However, he was still quite productive, scoring three short touchdowns. He also made an impact in the passing game, providing a safety valve for Ward. Martinez had two catches for 50 yards.

 

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — Durell Robinson and Mel Brown each ran for 156 yards and Robinson scored two touchdowns and the duo helped UConn trample Florida Atlantic 48-14 on Saturday.

Robinson did his running damage on just 16 carries and Brown carried 21 times. Quarterback Nick Evers ran for 78 yards on 18 carries and scored two touchdowns. Evers and reserve quarterback Joe Fagnano each threw for a touchdown.

The Huskies (2-2) built a 27-0 lead and amassed 542 yards with 421 coming on the ground.

CJ Campbell scored two touchdowns with runs of 3 and 38 yards for FAU.

The Huskies and Owls (1-3) played for the first time since the 2002 season, a 61-14 UConn win in the final season at Memorial Stadium on campus in Storrs, Connecticut.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Ja’Khi Douglas had a 36-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter and Florida State defeated Cal 14-9 on Saturday in the Bears’ first Atlantic Coast Conference game.

Patrick Payton had three of Florida State’s seven sacks, the last when Marvin Jones Jr. and Edwin Joseph combined to sack Cal’s Fernando Mendoza on fourth down with 54 seconds left. The Bears had driven to the Florida State 23.

Lawrance Toafili had 17 carries for 80 yards and a 2-yard touchdown for Florida State (1-3, 1-2 ACC).

FSU’s DJ Uiagalelei was erratic, completing 16 of 27 passes for 177 yards but it was his touchdown pass to Douglas that gave the Seminoles the lead early in the fourth quarter.

Mendoza completed 22 of 36 for a season-best 303 yards for Cal (3-1, 0-1). The Miami native also had an interception.

Cal running back Jaydn Ott returned after missing a game due to injury, picking up 73 yards on 13 carries.

The takeaway

California: While the Bears picked up 422 offensive yards, they missed two field-goal attempts of under 40 yards. Pre-snap penalties often hurt Cal drives.

Florida State: The Seminoles were held to just 284 offensive yards, the fourth straight game they couldn’t surpass the 300-yard mark.

Up next

Cal has a bye and plays host to No. 8 Miami on Oct. 5.

Florida State plays at SMU on Saturday.

___

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AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

MIAMI (AP) — Matt Olson broke a seventh-inning tie with a two-run homer and the Atlanta Braves beat the Miami Marlins 6-2 on Saturday to stay two games behind the New York Mets for the last National League wild card.

New York beat Philadelphia 6-3 at Citi Field, preventing the NL East-leading Phillies from clinching the division crown.

Gio Urshela and Jorge Soler also went deep for the Braves. Marcell Ozuna and Michael Harris II each had three hits.

Atlanta starter Max Fried allowed two runs — one earned — and five hits over six innings. Fried (10-10) walked one, struck out six and reached double-digit wins for the fourth time in his career.

Olson connected off reliever Lake Bachar (0-1), sending his 29th homer over the right-center wall to snap a 2-all tie. Later in the inning, Urshela chased Bachar with a two-run drive that landed in the left-field seats.

Pierce Johnson, Joe Jiménez and Raisel Iglesias each worked a scoreless inning in relief.

Olson hit an RBI single in the fifth that put the Braves ahead 2-1. Ozzie Albies singled and advanced on a walk to Ozuna before racing home on Olson’s line drive to left.

The Marlins tied it in the sixth when Jonah Bride scored from second on a throwing error by Albies at second base as he tried for a double play.

Derek Hill’s run-scoring triple in the first gave Miami a quick lead before Soler tied it with a leadoff homer against starter Adam Oller in the second.

Oller was lifted after 5 2/3 innings. The right-hander allowed two runs and eight hits. He walked two and struck out seven.

“I thought he was really good, threw a lot of first-pitch strikes,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said. “He got out of a couple of tough innings as well. It shows that he has stuff that should play up here and should be enough to be in a rotation.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Marlins: LHP Braxton Garrett will undergo an MRI after he experienced discomfort in the back of his elbow following his last bullpen session. Garrett has not pitched since June 17 because of a forearm flexor strain. He had been scheduled to start Sunday before geting scratched Friday.

UP NEXT

Braves RHP Grant Holmes (2-1, 3.84 ERA) starts the series finale Sunday against RHP Darren McCaughan (0-0, 7.64).

 

TAMPA — Hurricanes standout defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. missed his third straight game due to an injury he sustained in the season opener.

Additionally, Miami offensive tackle Jalen Rivers also missed his third straight game due to injury.

Neither player participated in pregame warmups and were not dressed for Saturday’s game against USF.

Bain’s injury, which UM coach Mario Cristobal described as a soft-tissue injury, came early in Miami’s win over Florida in Week 1.

Rivers, whose injury is undisclosed, played all of UM’s win over the Gators but did not take the field against Florida A&M or Ball State.

Cristobal said Monday that Rivers was expected to play against USF. 

Fortunately for UM, right guard Anez Cooper returned from a minor injury he suffered last week against Ball State.

Cam Ward, Byrum Brown display different approaches to scrambling

Miami Hurricanes star quarterback Cam Ward can escape the pocket when he needs to scramble. USF quarterback Byrum Brown uses his athleticism frequently, leading his team in rushing yards entering Saturday’s matchup between the two Florida schools.

Each strategy has its pros and cons, and Ward explained why he is a throw-first quarterback as he prepared for the game against the Bulls.

“I just think there’s a time and place when to do that,” Ward said. “I haven’t had that time yet this year, to be put in that position to do that yet. But if I need to, I will.”

Through three games, Ward has seven carries for 46 yards and a rushing touchdown, significantly fewer running attempts per game than he had last season. In 2023, Last year, he had 120 carries (including sacks) for 144 yards and eight touchdowns.

Brown, on the other hand, uses his legs as another weapon frequently. He has carried the ball 46 times this year for 254 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Last year, Brown had 203 carries for 803 yards and 11 scores.

The difference, in part, may lie in Miami’s pass-catchers and its offensive line. Ward typically has had plenty of time to throw in UM’s first three games, taking just two sacks. He has had no trouble delivering the ball to Hurricanes wide receivers.

“You have a receiving corps like ours, you’ve got four or five legit dudes who can go,” Ward said. “What are you trying to run for when you can throw to those guys and they run it wide open. I’m just trying to get the ball to the playmakers.”

Coaches reunited

The Hurricanes and Bulls’ coaching staffs have some familiarity with each other.

Miami coach Mario Cristobal poached running back Matt Merritt from Alex Golesh’s staff at USF last year after Merritt spent one season with the Bulls.

Golesh also has a couple of former Cristobal staff members working with him, as well.

USF defensive coordinator Todd Orlando served as Cristobal’s defensive coordinator for two seasons when Cristobal was the head coach at Florida International.

Additionally, Bulls cornerbacks coach DeMarcus Van Dyke, a UM alum, was a quality control analyst under Cristobal in 2022.

NEW YORK (AP) — James Sands scored late in stoppage time and New York FC salvaged a 1-1 draw with Lionel Messi and Inter Miami on Saturday.

Miami (19-4-7) didn’t get on the board until the 75th minute when Leo Campana, a late entry to the game, finished a play started by Messi. Messi carried the ball forward before finding Jordi Alba to his left streaking inside the box and he tapped it across to a wide-open Campana

New York (11-11-8) got a corner kick in the fifth minute of stoppage time and Santiago Rodriguez sent a perfect feed into the box where Sands was wide open at the 6-yard line to head the ball just inside the near post.

The game drew 44,738 to Yankee Stadium, the second-highest total in NYFC history. The clubs played to 1-1 draw in Miami on March 30.

Inter Miami started the day eight points ahead of next-closest team in Supporters’ Shield race with four matches left.

Inter Miami return home to play Charlotte FC on Saturday.

SEATTLE — The Miami Dolphins, on Saturday, signed quarterback Tim Boyle onto their active roster off the practice squad, placed wide receiver Grant DuBose on injured reserve and elevated wideouts Erik Ezukanma and Dee Eskridge for Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks.

Boyle being brought up to the roster gives the Dolphins three quarterbacks Sunday at Seattle’s Lumen Field.
Skylar Thompson is in line to start with Tua Tagovailoa in concussion protocol and on IR, and Miami signed local South Florida product Tyler Huntley this week. One can be inactive and designated as the emergency third quarterback.

DuBose injured his shoulder this week in practice. After being listed as limited on the Wednesday injury report, he missed Thursday and Friday practices.

“It’s kind of one of those that we don’t think to be season-ending,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Friday, “but there’s got to be a decision and we’re just gaining information to kind of assess that.”

DuBose was seen in the team’s locker room Friday with his left arm in a sling.

Without DuBose and with rookie Malik Washington doubtful to make his NFL debut Sunday with a quadriceps injury, the Dolphins would otherwise have three healthy receivers Sunday in Seattle.

Ezukanma and Eskridge now join Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and Braxton Berrios in Miami’s receiving corps against the Seahawks. Robbie Chosen was released from the practice squad this week.

Eskridge gets a shot at his former team, which drafted him in the second round of the 2021 draft. Ezukanma is in his third NFL season and has only seen action in three previous games after being a Dolphins fourth-round pick in 2022. He has been on Miami’s practice squad this season while the Dolphins await the health of Washington, Odell Beckham Jr. (PUP) and River Cracraft (IR).