Here’s the ACR Fish Wrap for the Miami Dolphins (1-5) Week 6 win at the New York Jets, the first of head coach Jeff Hafley‘s NFL career.

FIRST QUARTER

• ~13:00 – Greg Dulcich hasn’t had the year many anticipated, but put that more on offense struggles than his own. His catch down the seam to the Jets 5-yard line marked the second game-in-a-row Dulcich has shown exceptional hands on a big play (last game’s two-point conversion being the other).
• I own it. Like many, I was wrong about Caleb Douglas. His best trait as a pro has been his ability to throw shake at the top of a route like he did on his first TD reception. He’s also the first receiver to find success out of Texas Tech in some time (take a look around the league).
• First offensive play of the game for the Jets, Geno Smith caught Michael Taaffe mid-transition into the box (Cover 3) out of Cover 2 while Jason Marshall Jr. laid off Omar Cooper Jr. and was lazy in his recovery. To me, Marshall is the weakest link in the secondary, if only for his consistent inconsistency.
• Jets first two plays in the red zone stymied by Jordyn Brooks, who seems to get more comfortable in Hafley’s scheme each week. The last two weeks he’s been exponentially better than earlier this season.
• Smith touchdown to TE Mason Taylor was actually strong coverage from Marshall, especially if he’d turned his head. Insert favorite emoji here.
• Dolphins getting no pass rush and when they go to man in the red zone (they have all year), there always seems be some player exposed. On that score, it was mostly a good throw and a very good catch.
• 6:57 – Good signs from Willis so far. Using his pocket, taking the open receiver instead of hero ball and keeping his feet under him when he throws. Hope this continues.
• Six games in and it still feels like a great relief not to have the play clock in the red every down. Credit Bobby Slowik for that and for what feels like a team more on the same page this week.
• 4:00 – Blocking was pretty well-executed on Malik Washington inside run for a good gain, but moreover it showed Washington’s ability to operate in small spaces. Good run, and a good start for the Dolphins most consistent offensive player so far this year.
• Color me an Ollie Gordon fan at this point. Plays pretty fearless. Good vision and runs hard.

SECOND QUARTER

• Chris Johnson is one of the better tackling corners the Dolphins have had in recent years.
• Surprisingly six games in, biggest issue the defense has right now isn’t the youthful secondary as much as it’s the lack of pass rush. Completely silent so far this game.
• Notable that Hafley doesn’t start blitzing/shaking up his scheme, but I think it’s just part of the big build (and smart). Find out what you have in exactly what you plan to run in the future.
• ~12:00 – Playing single-high safety in Cover 1, Michael Taaffe pick showed him directing coverage for fellow rookie Johnson while still reading Geno Smith and breaking on the ball for the turnover. Kid’s a natural and like Douglas, chalk another one up for the vision of Jon-Eric Sullivan.
• There may be an inverse relationship between how much time Willis has the ball and a play’s outcome. The longer he has it, the worse things seem to get.
• 8:51 – DT Zeke Biggers just deflected a pass from his 3T position. Previous three plays Kenneth Grant had been in (two at nose) — mildly disappointing. He’s not getting off single blocks or punishing the other team for not doubling him. The down before Biggers PD was his best rep, drawing a double team and getting upfield. Still, overall, disappointing.
• 8:48 — Dolphins begin drive with Willis under center and use play action to Dulcich, who’s having a big half. It’s my opinion that Willis would be more of a threat and more effective if Miami ran a higher percentage of plays from under center.
• 6:47 – This is Dulcich’s “extend me” game. Shifts into the backfield and the pads crack when he hits David Bailey. Result is a six-yard Gordon inside run.
• Same formation next play but this time off tackle, first down.
• So far, best half of the year for Willis. Same goes for Aaron Brewer, who’s been nasty.
• ~1:10 – For the first time (I’ve seen), Dolphins have Seydou Traore in as a blocking H. If he proves capable, this would be an upgrade over using DJ Herman, who’s limited offensively. Possibly even clear up a roster spot in time.
• 0:16 – Pass interference called on DeAngelo Ponds. But given he was under no pressure and for the second game in a row had Washington wide open in the end zone, how does Willis miss him by that much? Nitpicky, but still.
• Slowik dialed it up this half. Multiple formations, attacking … good stuff.
• Noticed Chris Bell sh*t talking multiple times in the half

THIRD QUARTER

• Silent in the first half, Chop Robinson starts the second by getting blocked to the ground on a run play, which impeded Chris Johnson’s efforts at the line. Johnson recovered to make the tackle, 28 yards later. The Robinson roller coaster is perplexing.
• 11:30 – I bagged on him as a tackle, but the Dolphins “Great Tryout” has seemingly granted an opportunity for Malik Herring as a big end, which he looked better at last game as well. First sack. Miami used Jackson Woodard as a LEO, rushing from the opposite side. Expect this to be Trey Moore‘s job once healthy.
• On the long 3rd & 7 completion from Smith to Omar Cooper Jr., it’s hard to tell what Chris Johnson was doing. His coverage was fine but he seemed to run as if the play was over as the ball was arriving. Sunlight in his eyes? It’s hard to tell what was going on. He was in position but never reacted until after the completion.
• Dante Trader injury on his awkward tackle of Allen looked like maybe something to his left shoulder. The young Dolphins are out here hitting people.
• 5:50 – Hafley needs to revisit what they’re running in the red zone. Including Cooper’s touchdown in a list of mishaps that leave receivers wide open this season. It’s counter-intuitive since the field is squeezed. What’s more, it suggests Miami is better-equipped to run zone right now than it is man.
• 4:22 – Willis with a nice, on time throw to Bell past the sticks on 3rd & 7. Balanced Willis > Off-platform Willis. Start watching it for yourself, big difference.
• Willis has been a little sloppier this half. Can live without the sidearm throws.
• To me, Miami stays competitive in games by playing hard and because it has what’s becoming a pretty good offensive line.

FOURTH QUARTER

• 12:49 – Jets pounding Dolphins with Braelon Allen. Two plays straight Zach Sieler has been sent flying, a rare sight. Also noticeable: consecutive short-yardage sets and Grant isn’t on the field.
• 12:39 – Chop finally gets a pressure/hit. Jets are picking on Zayne Anderson a little, who’s in for Trader. It should be noted that Anderson is typically a field safety, not boundary.
• Let’s get real — did anybody see the Dolphins being in a regular season game and having Malik Herring, Jackson Woodard and Zayne Anderson all on the field at the same time?
• 10:10 – Grant with better reps in goal line stand as he was in all three plays. Robinson sack was a missed assignment by right tackle Armand Membou.
• ~8:00 – Another three-and-out. Second half play has felt disjointed. Less success running, Willis a little more loose, and small mistakes making a difference like Traore’s second down drop.
• Julius Wood (aka number 25) is noticeably one of Miami’s better special teams players.
• Inside stunts seem to be something that works for Chop.
• Haven’t keyed on him all game, but Austin Jackson has looked pretty good and effective when I have. Kind of looks like a different man from early games.
• 5:32 – Traore playing a lot of snaps, and being a pretty effective blocker. This is not good for Herman’s future. It also may have been the original plan for this offense when it signed Ben Sims, to use more of an offset blocking H, which is what he was.
• Big-play Douglas strikes again. Watching the Jets though is what’s ironic. Unlike the team they’re playing, they stopped running to the ball. Douglas put the stink leg on Minkah Fitzpatrick after the corner on his side had blitzed, and two Jets in pursuit quit early.
• For a team sitting on a pile of 2027 draft picks, this is not good for Aaron Glenn.
• Trader surprisingly back in. Tough kid.
• Have a game Mason Taylor. Which makes you notice — what did the Jets do different with Dulcich in the second half?
• 3:24 – Taylor on the TD and the two point. We have a tie game right now if Jason Sanders doesn’t doink a field goal in the first half.
• First play of Dolphins drive and a pulling Kadyn Proctor takes out two Jets. First down run by Gordon. I have said it before quietly but will get a little louder as we go — pick position be damned, keep Proctor on the left side and let’s keep this thing rolling.
• And let’s project for a minute: Achane/Gordon a viable 1-2 punch in ’27 and beyond.
• 2:16 – Something went wrong on 3rd & short because Dulcich came in motion behind the back, almost as if it should’ve been a delay. That’s all I can deduce anyway.
• Tush push to secure a win with an roster — at worst — full of effort guys. Cap tip to Hafley. And though there was some regression in the second half, cap tip to QB coach Bush Hamden and Willis for his improved play.
• First team the Dolphins play with a losing record and they get the win. We may have to dial back our first pick expectations.

The Great Tryout continues.