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Grades for Dolphins-Falcons

Here are the top takeaways from Saturday night’s Falcons-Dolphins game, including the highest-graded players for each team:

Falcons:

–Can DT Adrian Clayborn continue this form into the regular season? The former Buc has been a preseason revelation rushing from inside in the Falcons’ sub-package, having the kind of explosion to win quickly in the Falcons’ stunting front. Six preseason QB disruptions don’t tell the whole story of how good he has been.

–QB Matt Ryan had an ugly outing. Clearly missing WRs Julio Jones and Roddy White in the starting lineup, Ryan simply wasn’t putting the ball where it needed to be. His pass protection in front of him was a big issue, as well.

–Rookie edge rusher Vic Beasley saw 18 snaps, with only six of them rushing the passer, and he generated just one hurry. Perhaps more important, however, was the fact that he looks to be working extremely well with Clayborn on the right-hand side of Atlanta’s nickel defense.

DT Adrian Clayborn (+3.6)

DE O’Brien Schofield (+3.3)

DT Joey Mbu (+2.5)

RT Pierce Burton (+2.4)

MLB Paul Worrilow (+2.0)

 

Dolphins:

–It was a nice performance for Ryan Tannehill, who mixed in a lot of short stuff around and behind the line of scrimmage with some real big-boy throws down the field.

–If James Stone doesn’t start at left guard for Atlanta in Week 1, it’ll be because DT Earl Mitchell put the kind of tape on him that scares a team. Mitchell is the forgotten man on Miami’s D-line, but he ruined Stone’s night with his explosiveness, turning 14 snaps into two quarterback disruptions and one more tackle for loss.

–We liked Mike Hull in college, as he had the seventh-highest grade of all linebackers from the 2015 class. And it was nice to see him put his best foot forward against Atlanta. Five defensive stops have helped propel him to a +3.3 grade in 68 snaps.

DE Derrick Shelby (+4.2)

DT Earl Mitchell (+3.3)

LB Mike Hull (+1.9)

LB Jelani Jenkins (+1.5)

QB Ryan Tannehill (+1.4)

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