An offensive alternative may very well be staring the Dolphins within the face Sunday when Green Bay involves city, however the questions are whether or not the Dolphins are outfitted to take benefit and whether or not it suits into their gameplan.
Green Bay’s run protection is twenty ninth within the league at 148.9 yards per sport, which opens the door for a Dolphins offensive technique of operating the ball.
The Dolphins, in fact, are coming off a 188-yard dashing efficiency towards Buffalo final week that was highlighted by operating again Raheem Mostert’s season-best 133 yards.
But coach Mike McDaniel mentioned the Packers’ statistical rating goes deeper.
“Sometimes the numbers can be misleading,” he mentioned. “They’ve had a couple of games that have inflated that. I think they’re also extremely, extremely good at pass defense.”
The Packers allowed a surprising 363 yards dashing to Philadelphia in a 40-33 loss. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts rushed for 157 yards and operating again Miles Sanders rushed for 143.
The Packers have allowed at the least 100 yards dashing in 11 video games. The Dolphins have 5 100-yard dashing video games offensively.
Looking on the Packers’ defensive power, Green Bay’s protection is second within the league in passing yards allowed per sport at 185.1. As a foundation of comparability, the Dolphins’ move protection is twenty seventh at 246.3 yards per sport.
The Dolphins’ plan to run the ball may very well be barely impacted by the well being of operating backs Jeff Wilson Jr. (hip), who’s questionable in accordance with Friday’s harm report, and Mostert, who was restricted Thursday and had a veteran relaxation day Wednesday however is now listed nearly as good to go.
For his half, McDaniel mentioned he’s extra involved with the Packers as a complete versus their run protection.
“They’re used to playing playoff football and they have their backs against the wall, but are also riding a streak,” McDaniel mentioned, “so if you take that lightly at all you will be wishing what you don’t want into existence.”
Injury replace
Wide receiver River Cracraft (calf) and offensive deal with Eric Fisher (calf) are uncertain for Sunday’s sport, whereas operating again Myles Gaskin (sickness) is questionable, in accordance with Friday’s harm report.
Also listed as questionable are left deal with Terron Armstead (toe, knee, pectoral), linebackers Bradley Chubb (knee) and Jaelan Phillips (toe), security Eric Rowe (hamstring) and Wilson.
Green Bay left deal with David Bakhtiari (knee/stomach) is uncertain.
Chubb offers himself good grade
Chubb, acquired in a Nov. 1 commerce deadline cope with Denver, has 2.5 sacks and 12 tackles in six video games with the Dolphins. Including his early-season begin in Denver, he has 8.0 sacks this season, a complete that may lead the Dolphins (Jaelan Phillips has 7.0 sacks; Melvin Ingram has 6.0 sacks).
Chubb will likely be counted on to steer the three-man move rush of himself, Phillips and Ingram towards Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers on Sunday. Chubb, who’s tied for fifteenth by Pro Football Focus amongst edge rushers relating to move rush productiveness, was requested Thursday what grade he’d give himself for the Dolphins portion of the season.
“I used to be by no means good at school, man, so I’d give myself an ‘A,’ ” he cracked. “No, I’m simply taking part in. But in all probability like a ‘B.’
“I’ve had good plays here and there, but I want to be more dominant. I want to be taking over games more, and that’s kind of the reason they brought me here is to do that, to help this defense take it to the next level. I feel like, yeah, we took it up a notch, but there’s a whole other level we could take it to, and I want to be the catalyst for that.”
Dolphins offense close to 2014 totals
There’s not a lot statistical distinction between this 12 months’s Dolphins offense and the 2014 offense.
This 12 months’s Dolphins common 24.6 factors per sport, barely greater than the 2014 Dolphins, who averaged 24.3 factors per sport underneath coach Joe Philbin and quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
The Dolphins common 370.4 yards per sport this 12 months and averaged 350.1 yards per sport this 12 months in 2014.
McDaniel’s offense averages 273.6 yards per sport via the air and 96.9 yards per sport on the bottom. In 2014, Philbin’s offense averaged 233.1 yards per sport via the air and 117 yards per sport on the bottom.
The 2014 Dolphins completed 8-8 and plus-14 in factors differential. This 12 months’s Dolphins are 8-6 and plus-1 in level differential.
Dolphins may escape heaters
Sunday’s excessive temperature for elements of South Florida is forecast to be round 53 levels, which might make it the coldest residence sport prior to now few years, because it was 62 levels at kickoff for the Buffalo sport on Nov. 17, 2019, which the Bills received, 37-20.
Would the Dolphins dare convey out the warmers on the bench at Hard Rock Stadium, resembling they did for the Los Angeles Chargers sport two weeks in the past when temperatures dipped to 55 levels in Los Angeles?
There’s been no official phrase from the group. But if the warmers emerge, search for linebacker Jerome Baker, who grew up in Ohio and attended Ohio State, to be close by.
“Yes,” Baker mentioned, “I would be there right next to it.”
For the report, the Dolphins have had eight residence video games wherein the temperature was 55 levels or beneath at kickoff.
The coldest residence sport was a 40-degree temperature for a 27-24 loss to Kansas City on Dec. 24, 1989.
The most up-to-date “cold” sport at Hard Rock Stadium was a 27-20 victory over New England on Dec. 11, 2017, when the temperature was 55 levels.
Baker mentioned he unabashedly stood close to the heater at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
“Who doesn’t like a little heat?” he mentioned.
When reminded he grew up in Ohio, Baker remarked, “That doesn’t mean anything.”
Asked if he’d be ashamed to face in entrance of a heater at Hard Rock Stadium, Baker mentioned no.
“I don’t know why people think we’re Superman or something,” Baker cracked with a smile. “We get cold, too.”
A really Merry Christmas
Right deal with Brandon Shell is without doubt one of the huge winners of the group present change, which is completed by place group. Shell bought a PC gaming system, full with monitor, keyboard, mouse, microphone, audio system, all the pieces, throughout the offensive line’s present change at its weekly dinner, which it does each Thursday night time.
“I got the whole package,” Shell mentioned.
The offensive line did a “White Elephant” present change that allowed the oldest guys to pick their items first. Tackles Terron Armstead (10 years) and Eric Fisher (10 years) chosen first, adopted by apply squad deal with Kendall Lamm (eight years) after which Shell (seven years).
Among the opposite items had been a Gucci bag and a type of self-operating robotic vacuum/mopping machines that goes round and cleans your home.
“If I didn’t get the PC, I was definitely going to get that one,” Shell mentioned. “But I was lucky enough the older guys didn’t want the PC, so I got it.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com