Dolphins Rookies Report Card: Rodriguez's Forced Fumble and Coleman's Late Touchdown in a 13-Rookie Game

A 1-6 team playing out a rebuild learns what it has in games like Sunday's, and the Miami Dolphins learned it with 13 rookies dressed. The Palm Beach Post's rookie report card from the 24-19 loss to New England reads like a depth chart being written in real time — starting with the two rookies who were not out there: left guard Kadyn Proctor, who did not clear concussion protocol, and tight end Justin Joly, both inactive.

The best grade on the defense belonged to Jacob Rodriguez (B+), who forced a first-quarter fumble by punching the ball away from Efton Chism III — JuJu Brents recovered — on a play where fellow rookie Kyle Louis (B, three tackles, on the field for Miami's second defensive snap) was making the tackle. On offense, Kevin Coleman (B) converted a third-down catch in the second quarter and then caught Malik Willis's 35-yard touchdown with about two minutes left, the score that gave Miami its late chance. Caleb Douglas (B) added a 6-yard catch late in the first half and an 18-yard red-zone catch before halftime, and Chris Bell (B) caught two third-down screens that both came up just short.

The harder lessons were in the secondary. Cornerback Chris Johnson (C+) was flagged for illegal contact, missed a clear sack chance on Drake Maye, and saw his late-third-quarter fourth-down tackle inside the 25 overturned on replay into a Patriots first down. Safety Michael Taaffe (C) tackled Maye short to force a missed field-goal try before halftime, then was in coverage on Maye's 43-yard touchdown to Kyle Williams and part of the split coverage on the 48-yard touchdown to DeMario Douglas. That is the rookie bargain in one game: a forced fumble and a touchdown on one side of the ledger, two explosive scores on the other — and, for a team at 1-6, snaps that will decide who is still here when the record turns.