Brian Flores is facing quite the conundrum this week in Miami’s preseason showdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Dolphins’ quarterback competition has not yet been called, meaning it would behoove the Dolphins to get both Ryan Fitzpatrick and Josh Rosen snaps with the team’s starting offense.
But Flores has already come out and said that Ryan Fitzpatrick will “probably” start the Dolphins’ game against Jacksonville on Thursday night.
A team’s third preseason contest is typically used as the long push for starters — maybe Miami will play their first stringers for a half or three quarters of the football game. But if Brian Flores wants to keep the integrity of his quarterback competition, he’s going to have to make at least one swap — Rosen for Fitzpatrick or vice versa.
So how will Flores handle splitting the snaps?
It would be senseless to have the two quarterbacks alternate possessions, as that prevents either player from fully getting into a rhythm and simulating a game situation. Instead, look for the quarterbacks to each take one quarter of the contest. Miami’s starters are likely to play all of the first half — expect to see Ryan Fitzpatrick commandeer the offense for the first quarter and Josh Rosen to step in with the starters for the second quarter.
This compromise allows an equal look at both players with the same supporting cast and avoids interrupting the flow of the football game.
