5 things to watch for....
1. How will Panthers backup wide receivers play in Benjamin's absence?
A battle for who will replace Benjamin after suffering a knee injury should surely be the focal point of the wide receivers in this game. The competition should be between Corey Brown, Ted Ginn, and Jerricho Cotchery. If Benjamin misses major time this is the battle fantasy owners and Panther's fans need to watch.
2. How much playing time will DeVante Parker get coming off of the PUP list?
Parker is coming off of the PUP list after rehabilitating his foot, now the Dolphins need to give him a crash course on being a wide receiver in the NFL. The Dolphins want to get him the most reps possible since he has missed most of the offseason. How Parker looks, and responds will be a sure testament to his value this year.
3. Can the Dolphins establish a ground game?
In their first preseason game the Dolphins did very little on the ground. Lamar Miller was their top rusher and he played the least out of any of the running backs on the roster. Newly drafted Jay Ajayi, LaMichael James, and Damien Williams should look to expand their roles on the offense and fight for the backup position.
4. Will a leader emerge from the Panthers backfield?
The Panthers running backs are going to need to rally around someone who is not Jonathan Stewart, he cannot stay healthy enough to be the lead back for an entire season. This leaves Cameron Artis-Payne, Jordan Todman, and Fozzy Whittaker to help deliver some production. Payne had the most success in the last preseason game with Todman chomping at his heels. Can the Panthers find themselves an insurance running back from the stable of guys on their roster?
5. Can the Dolphin's defense remain dominant?
Suh's impact varies with each play he is involved in. But the biggest impact he will have is the fact that he always draws a double team. Two blockers are required to stop Suh all the time and sometimes that might not be enough. This allows the Dolphins to send other guys after the quarterback who people don't really know about. It also helps their star pass rusher before Suh, Cameron Wake do his job a little bit easier.
