After comfy season-opening wins, the Ravens and Miami Dolphins will face off Sunday in Baltimore in one of many week’s most anticipated matchups.
To assist break down the sport, The Baltimore Sun requested former Sun reporter Daniel Oyefusi, now a Dolphins beat reporter for the Miami Herald, three questions in regards to the Week 2 matchup.
Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was more aggressive throwing downfield in Sunday’s win over the New England Patriots than he sometimes was final yr. Does large receiver Tyreek Hill’s arrival make {that a} viable strategy in 2022, or is it extra of a raffle with Tagovailoa’s arm energy?
There was a variety of debate all through the offseason concerning whether or not Tagovailoa has the arm energy to maximise Hill’s pace. But for all of the speak about that, two issues weren’t usually mentioned. One, Hill’s common depth of goal in his final season with the Kansas City Chiefs dropped to a career-low 9.1, in response to Pro Football Reference. And two, the success of passing offenses isn’t actually decided by what occurs 20-plus yards downfield however extra within the intermediate vary of the sector.
Tagovailoa has struggled in that space of the sector, however Week 1 confirmed how Hill, paired with Jaylen Waddle, can support him. His stats on throws between 10 and 20 yards towards the Patriots have been significantly better than his profession averages. That’s the a part of the sector that first-year coach Mike McDaniel desires to reside in, too, as a result of he can optimize their yards-after-catch potential. Tagovailoa’s arm energy and talent to make off-platform throws constantly do stay questions, however Hill widens the margin for error.
The Dolphins blitzed Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson into submission in final season’s upset win. With McDaniel having changed Brian Flores as coach, do you anticipate any vital modifications in Miami’s recreation plan within the rematch?
Flores could also be gone, however defensive coordinator Josh Boyer was retained, together with all 13 gamers who made a minimum of 5 begins in 2021. Boyer has stated the protection’s core philosophies will keep the identical, and that seemed to be the case in Week 1. The workforce’s blitz charge (27.3%) towards the Patriots was decrease than final season’s determine (39.6%), however enjoying with a lead for many of the recreation and the absence of cornerback Byron Jones, who’s on the reserve/physically-unable-to-perform record, all might have been components within the decline in blitzing.
Against Baltimore, I wouldn’t anticipate a lot to vary: Crowd the road of scrimmage, key on the Jackson-led run recreation and get the Ravens into third-and-long conditions, the place they will unleash “Cover 0″ once more. With a full week of preparation, versus final season’s quick turnaround, the Ravens must be higher ready, and the Dolphins might want to have counters prepared. But why go away from what labored so properly?
Where do the Dolphins have the most important benefit over the Ravens, and the place are they most weak?
You by no means wish to overreact to at least one recreation, particularly a Week 1 recreation. But the Dolphins’ line of defense seems prefer it might once more give the Ravens’ offensive line bother. Miami has a deep entrance, led by gamers comparable to Emmanuel Ogbah, Christian Wilkins, Jaelan Phillips and outdated pal Zach Sieler. Newcomer Melvin Ingram regarded actually good in his first recreation as a Dolphin. A variety of strain will probably be on gamers comparable to heart Tyler Linderbaum, left guard Ben Powers and doubtlessly Patrick Mekari at left sort out to create push up entrance and provides Jackson sufficient time within the pocket.
Meanwhile, the Dolphins’ upgraded offensive line regarded strong however nonetheless seems to be a weak hyperlink within the new-look unit. The Dolphins rushed for under 65 yards, and safety broke down at occasions. Right sort out Austin Jackson left the sport with an ankle harm and didn’t return. McDaniel stated the harm is critical sufficient that it’s one thing they’ll have to watch all through the week. New additions Terron Armstead and heart Connor Williams ought to regular the younger group, however left guard Liam Eichenberg might want to play higher than he did in Week 1, or in final season’s matchup, for that matter. The Ravens acquired a great inside go rush towards the New York Jets, in order that might be a key matchup Sunday.
Week 2
DOLPHINS@RAVENS
Sunday, 1 p.m.
TV: Chs. 13, 9
Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM
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Source: www.bostonherald.com