The first-place Miami Dolphins will relaxation effectively throughout this week’s bye. And they need to. Everything’s coming collectively for the workforce that began 3-0, endured a three-game dropping streak, and is now using a season-best four-game successful streak after Sunday’s 39-17 rout of Cleveland.
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is taking part in the very best soccer of his two-plus season profession, newcomers Bradley Chubb and Jeff Wilson Jr., made noteworthy contributions within the Browns victory, the protection signaled it nonetheless has playmaking means, rookie coach Mike McDaniel is making all the precise strikes, and goals of constructing a playoff run are trying as if they could grow to be actuality.
Yeah, particular groups has work to do, however there’s seven regular-season video games left to get that straightened out.
Right now, it’s time to delight in being in first place.
When the Dolphins resume play on Nov. 27, they host Houston (1-7-1) to shut out the so-called “soft” a part of the schedule.
Passing recreation: A
Tagovailoa had a number of extraordinarily correct throws, together with touchdowns to receivers Trent Sherfield and Tyreek Hill, and a dart to Jaylen Waddle. In the final three video games, he’s posted his greatest passer rankings of his profession — 138.7 towards Detroit, 135.7 towards Chicago and 135.0 towards Cleveland. Pass safety was glorious as Tagovailoa wasn’t sacked and was hardly touched. Although neither Hill (5 receptions, 44 yards, one landing) nor Waddle (4 receptions, 66 yards) had large days, others equivalent to Sherfield (4 receptions, 63 yards, one landing) and fullback Alec Ingold (4 receptions, 45 yards, one landing) made an affect.
Running recreation: A
The Dolphins rushed for a season-high 195 yards. This was largely about Wilson (17 carries, 117 yards, one landing), whose bodily model and all-around recreation is simply what this offense wanted. But it’s additionally concerning the offensive line and its blocking. Wilson had holes. So did fellow operating again Raheem Mostert (eight carries, 65 yards). The offensive line led the way in which. Give credit score to middle Connor Williams, guards Robert Hunt and Robert Jones, tackles Terron Armstead and Brandon Shell, Ingold, tight ends Mike Gesicki and Durham Smythe, and Hill, Waddle and Sherfield. Wilson and Mostert obtained the yards, however success of the operating recreation concerned many. Keep that going and life will get a lot simpler for the offense.
Defending the go: A
The Dolphins despatched a gradual stream of go rushers towards quarterback Jacoby Brissett (212 yards passing, one landing, three sacks, 89.2 passer ranking). Among Chubb (.5 sacks), Jaelan Phillips (.5 sacks), Melvin Ingram (one sack), Christian Wilkins (one sack) and others, the Dolphins have been stable. And the push got here from the within and outdoors. No one had large stats however there was fixed stress. The Dolphins had 14 quarterback hits on 35 go makes an attempt. On the again finish, the secondary misplaced cornerback Keion Crossen to a shoulder harm however stored issues going. Cornerback Xavien Howard shadowed receiver Amari Cooper and held him to 3 receptions for 32 yards. Wideout Donovan Peoples-Jones had 5 receptions for 99 yards, together with a 38-yarder on the game-opening drive. But the Dolphins did the job.
Defending the run: A-
Nick Chubb (11 carries, 63 yards) was held in examine till late within the recreation when he broke free for a 33-yard landing run. But contemplating Chubb is among the many greatest within the NFL and entered the sport second within the league in dashing with 841 yards, the Dolphins did effectively. Cleveland rushed for 112 yards on 24 carries, a mean of 4.7 yards per carry. Brissett was a giant contributor with 40 yards on seven carries, and 27 of these yards got here on two scrambles — one for 14 yards and one other for 13 yards. The run recreation wasn’t an element for the Browns, who added 55 dashing yards within the fourth quarter. It needs to be famous the sport was over at that time because the Dolphins took a 30-10 lead.
Special groups: D
Kicker Jason Sanders is struggling. It’s apparent. He missed two further level makes an attempt Sunday. Beyond that, the Dolphins allowed a game-opening 48-yard kickoff return that the Brown became a landing drive for a 7-0 lead. Thomas Morstead didn’t try a punt, which says rather a lot concerning the Dolphins’ offensive success. There was nothing too vital within the return recreation from both workforce apart from the Browns’ opening kickoff return, however Mostert had a 24-yard kickoff return.
Coaching: A
McDaniel and his employees proceed developing with the precise solutions. It’s not simply game-planning, it’s additionally having gamers prepared when it’s their flip. The successes of the go rush and run recreation are prime examples from Sunday. And it’s not simply Chubb and Wilson, the brand new acquisitions. Jones has turned in a pair of excellent video games at left guard, the place he changed Liam Eichenberg. Rookie security Verone McKinley (32 snaps) had an excellent recreation towards the Browns. Fellow defensive again Elijiah Campbell (six snaps from scrimmage) did effectively in spot obligation. But the gameplan was additionally sensible Sunday when you think about the Dolphins gained with Hill and Waddle combining for simply 9 touches amongst 11 targets.
Stock up: LT Terron Armstead
Did Cleveland All Pro edge rusher Myles Garrett play? He was silent all day. Armstead, a three-time Pro Bowl choice, held him to 2 tackles, no sacks, no quarterback hits. Armstead, who’s battling toe, calf and Achilles accidents, has been stellar whereas shutting down expertise go rushers equivalent to Garrett, who entered the sport sixth within the league with 7.5 sacks, New England’s Matthew Judon (league-leading 11.5 sacks), Minnesota’s Za’Darius Smith (9.5 sacks, second within the league), Baltimore’s Justin Houston (8.5 sacks, tied for fourth), Chicago’s Alex Highsmith (8.5 sacks, tied for fourth) and Buffalo’s Von Miller (8.0 sacks, fifth within the league).
Stock down: Ok Jason Sanders
You can’t miss two further factors in a recreation. You simply can’t. Sanders was an All Pro simply two seasons in the past, when he led the league in scoring. But in the intervening time, he’s misplaced his contact. He’s 27 of 30 on further factors and 13 of 17 on discipline objectives, together with a 29-yard miss at Chicago. Not good.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com