The 3-1 Miami Dolphins will face the New York Jets (2-2) on the highway Sunday in Week 5 of the season; listed here are some keys to the sport to observe for:
QB Teddy Bridgewater shifting the offense
This is the primary measuring stick for fulfillment towards the Jets, partly as a result of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (concussion protocol) was enjoying so properly, and partly as a result of Bridgewater is a backup. Bridgewater’s job is pretty easy — get the ball within the palms of extensive receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Period.
It doesn’t matter whether or not it’s a jet sweep, quick, intermediate or deep route, no matter. Keep an eye fixed on Jets cornerbacks Sauce Gardner and D.J. Reed. They might trigger issues for Bridgewater (not Hill). But we noticed Bridgewater scramble for an 11-yard achieve final week vs. the Bengals, which supplies the Jets one thing to think about. Plus, safeties Jordan Whitehead and Lamarcus Joyner will be had. As lengthy as Bridgewater stays away from turnovers, he’ll give the Dolphins an opportunity to win.
Defense coming alive for routine performs
The protection wants to search out consistency. The Dolphins protection is twenty eighth in yards allowed (403 per recreation), thirty first in passing yards allowed (299.3 per recreation), eleventh in dashing yards allowed (103.8 per recreation), sixteenth in factors allowed (22.8 per recreation), tied for twenty ninth in sacks (seven), and thirtieth in third-down conversions allowed (50%). Yet the Dolphins have a 3-1 file.
The protection has made massive performs (Jevon Holland interception in the long run zone vs. New England, goal-line stand and fourth-quarter fourth-down cease at Baltimore, strip-sacks, Melvin Ingram landing on fumble restoration to call just a few) nevertheless it hasn’t persistently made the routine play. The entrance seven hasn’t persistently pressured quarterbacks and the secondary hasn’t persistently denied completions. Jets quarterback Zach Wilson (18 of 36, 252 yards, one landing, two interceptions, 59.0 passer score) made his return from a knee damage final Sunday vs. the Steelers and extensive receivers Garrett Wilson (20 receptions, 255 yards, two touchdowns), Elijiah Moore (15 receptions, 192 yards) and Corey Davis (15 receptions, 261 yards, two touchdowns) will profit. And keep watch over tight finish Taylor Conklin (21 receptions, 192 yards, one landing).
Running recreation getting going
With Bridgewater beginning at quarterback, this could be a superb time to get the operating recreation going and provides him some assist. The Dolphins are twenty ninth within the league in dashing yards (69.3 per recreation). Coach Mike McDaniel mentioned the Dolphins want a extra concerted effort on getting the run recreation going from coaches to gamers, which means the struggles transcend operating backs Raheem Mostert (39 carries, 147 yards, 3.8 ypc) and Chase Edmonds (28 carries, 85 yards, 3.0 ypc).
The Jets are thirteenth in run protection (108.8 yards per recreation) in order that they’re respectable, however not fierce. Granted, the Jets have massive our bodies up entrance between tackles Quinnen Williams, Solomon Thomas and Sheldon Rankins. But the Dolphins’ offensive line, led by middle Connor Williams and left deal with Terron Armstead, should meet the problem. Otherwise, the offense is more likely to battle apart from massive performs.
Special groups enchancment
This is now on the “concerned” degree as a result of it’s been a variety of issues over a time period whether or not it’s the 103-yard kickoff return for a landing allowed at Baltimore, the “butt punt” towards Buffalo, or lacking an additional level and having a 52-yard area purpose try blocked at Cincinnati.
Granted, particular groups has made performs resembling Emmanuel Ogbah getting a hand on a area purpose try towards Buffalo, or punter Thomas Morstead working along with his punt staff, particularly cornerbacks Keion Crossen and Justin Bethel, to persistently nail opponents contained in the their 20-yard line. The difficulty is every of the aforementioned missteps have value the Dolphins factors. Eventually that catches as much as groups.
Dolphins DBs vs. Jets WRs
Cornerback well being is a giant issue right here. Xavien Howard is day-to-day whereas battling a groin ailment. Byron Jones (leg) doesn’t appear more likely to be activated from the physically-unable-to-perform record forward of this matchup, and Crossen is getting remedy for an higher leg/glute ailment. Whatever the case, cornerbacks resembling Crossen, Kader Kohou and Nik Needham, and presumably Noah Igbinoghene, have to be sharp, and so do the safeties, Holland and Brandon Jones.
If there’s a cornerback disaster, keep in mind security Eric Rowe has cornerback expertise. The Jets’ extensive receivers trio of Wilson, Davis and Moore is sweet sufficient to create main complications, particularly contemplating how the Dolphins’ secondary performed in that deciding fourth quarter of the loss at Cincinnati when Howard left the sport with the groin ailment. It was ugly. The Bengals had completions of 43, 36, 22 and 14 yards. They accomplished passes quick, intermediate and lengthy, and obtained loads of yards after the catch. That can’t occur towards the Jets whether or not or not Howard performs.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com