After the Dolphins’ season-opening victory over New England, coach Mike McDaniel declared the workforce belongs to the protection.
The Dolphins’ 16-10 victory over Pittsburgh on Sunday confirmed nothing has modified, six video games later.
The protection, and the secondary, particularly, is the power of the workforce, the explanation the Dolphins are 4-3, and within the thick of the AFC playoff race.
The offense? Yeah, no matter.
They’ve executed an ideal job of promoting season tickets and creating hype. Among quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, left sort out Terron Armstead, extensive receiver Tyreek Hill, McDaniel and the remainder of the crew, hey, good job of getting publicity.
But this offense doesn’t produce sufficient touchdowns, and it doesn’t win video games. Not but, anyway.
The offense is extra artistic than ever. But it’s 21 factors per sport common is harking back to the Joe Philbin period, the 2012-14 seasons when the Dolphins averaged 18, 19.8 and 24.3 factors per sport, respectively.
In different phrases, at this level, if the Dolphins get to the playoffs, it’ll be due to the protection.
And the following few video games arrange particularly effectively for the Dolphins’ protection to proceed its team-carrying methods.
The Dolphins’ subsequent 4 opponents are Detroit (1-5), Chicago (2-4), Cleveland (2-5) and Houston (1-4-1). None has a quarterback or offense that prompts concern, although Detroit is ninth in scoring (24.3 factors per sport) and Cleveland is tenth (24 ppg).
Consider how the Dolphins’ injury-riddled protection, led by defensive coordinator Josh Boyer and the talent-rich secondary, clamped down on the Steelers.
Pittsburgh’s seven second-half possessions resulted in 5 punts and two interceptions.
You noticed the protection, which misplaced security Brandon Jones to a knee harm within the third quarter, lead in opposition to the Steelers, with interceptions by cornerback Justin Bethel, security Jevon Holland and cornerback Noah Igbinoghene, the final two coming within the sport’s ultimate three minutes and icing the victory that snapped a three-game shedding streak.
“At first I didn’t think I caught it because the referee right there said it was out,” Igbinoghene stated of his game-clinching play with 18 seconds left. “I saw the review, and I saw everybody get excited and I got excited as well. I got this interception, and it’s my first one. It’s a blessing.”
You additionally noticed the protection lead with security Clayton Fejedelem crashing by way of to make a vital cease on a fourth-and-1 run by Steelers working again Najee Harris early within the fourth quarter.
“It was just a good defensive call,” Fejedelem stated. “Edge pressure, third-and-1, I was able to come off the edge and time it up. Najee Harris is a great back, so to be able to get him on the ground, get out of there, it’s just capitalizing on those opportunities.”
And you noticed the protection lead with guys resembling safeties Verone McKinley and Eric Rowe and defensive lineman Ben Stille making contributions. McKinley and Stille, a pair of undrafted rookies, made their NFL debuts.
“You’re ready,” McKinley stated of the mindset of a Dolphins reserve defensive participant.
“When they say it’s time to go, you strap it up and say, ‘Let’s ride.’ ”
And then there have been guys resembling linebacker Jaelan Phillips (1.5 sacks) and Andrew Van Ginkel, who tied for the workforce lead with eight tackles apiece.
Holland talked in regards to the protection’s potential to make “splash plays,” that are turnovers and large stops.
“I know as a defense all of our defensive players can make that ‘splash play’ no matter who you are,” he stated. “And I think that happens in our preparation. And when our preparation meets opportunity, splash plays happen. And you see that today with Noah, with Justin Bethel, with [Phillips], with [Van Ginkel]. Guys are flying around.”
Understand one thing: Bethel, Fejedelem, Igbinoghene, McKinley and Stille aren’t starters, and even within the common defensive rotation. They’re merely guys who comply with the Dolphins’ defensive pattern of constructing performs.
You know the fellows who have been lacking from the secondary: cornerbacks Byron Jones (Achilles), Nik Needham (Achilles), Kader Kohou (indirect) and Keion Crossen (knee). And then they misplaced Brandon Jones throughout the sport.
Yet, the protection, led by the secondary, nonetheless led the way in which to victory.
No, the protection can’t do it alone.
The offense should discover its approach ultimately.
For that to occur, Hill, the apparent alternative for workforce MVP and NFL’s main receiver with 773 yards, should proceed to ball. The similar goes for Tagovailoa, Armstead and Waddle.
And the offense as an entire have to be significantly better.
In the meantime, they’ll depend on the game-changing, game-winning qualities of the protection.
Because in the meanwhile, it’s the perfect hope the Dolphins have for making the playoffs.
()
Source: www.bostonherald.com