Are Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Josh Boyer’s blitzes turning into too predictable?
A staple for Boyer’s defenses since he started coordinating the whole unit in 2020, he has had back-to-back opponents determine the blitzes out for crucial conversions and scores.
In the primary half of Sunday’s 21-19 win over the Buffalo Bills, twice Allen recognized an open space vacated by an additional cross rusher for a simple landing cross. First, it was a fourth-down throw to Devin Singletary to cap the opening drive. The subsequent time, it was Singletary choosing up a blitzing Jevon Holland as receiver Isaiah McKenzie was vast open on a crosser.
This after the Ravens had been overwhelmingly ready for Dolphins blitzes, which had been so efficient the earlier time they confronted quarterback Lamar Jackson, in constructing a three-touchdown lead on Sept. 18 in Baltimore.
“I mean, you almost have 200 snaps of it over the last couple years on tape,” Boyer stated in a Tuesday internet convention with reporters. “People have accomplished plenty of various things. We have totally different changes that we use, and I feel it’s an evolving chess match because it goes. You received to organize for all of it.
“You’re not quite sure how people are going to approach it, but you have good ideas going in. Sometimes, people will copycat what other teams have done. Sometimes, teams will do what they’ve done in the past. And then, sometimes, we see new stuff. That’s just kind of the ebb and flow of probably all coverages, fronts, blitzes in general.”
While Buffalo and Baltimore entered with counters to Miami’s early blitzes the previous two weeks, the Dolphins should even be credited for adjusting within the second half of these video games. The Bills had been completely saved out of the top zone after halftime on Sunday, and the earlier week, the Ravens solely had the lengthy Jackson landing run within the second half.
The Dolphins, which blitzed second-most incessantly in 2021, really rank towards the center of the league in blitz proportion, at 25.5 p.c, in keeping with Pro Football Reference.
Over 90 offensive performs for Buffalo on Sunday, the Dolphins had 4 sacks, one which turned the Bills over for a fumble pressured by Jevon Holland and recovered by Melvin Ingram. Ingram had two sacks and compelled one other fumble. Defensive finish Emmanuel Ogbah had 4 of Miami’s 10 quarterback hits total.
‘Butt punt’ not amusing
Many from vast receiver Trent Sherfield to teammate Tyreek Hill and others from outdoors the Dolphins received a kick — no pun meant — out of Miami’s “butt punt” late within the win over the Bills, when punter Thomas Morstead booted a punt off Sherfield’s bottom. The ricochet triggered the ball to undergo the again of the top zone for a security.
One one that doesn’t discover it humorous: Dolphins particular groups coordinator Danny Crossman.
“Absolutely zero amusement, and 100 percent critical,” Crossman stated on Tuesday of his response to the blunder. “A mistake that has an opportunity to possibly lose the football game. It never will get a smile from me.”
On Monday, linebacker Duke Riley, who was on the sector for the play, tried to make a case that it really helped Miami. Although giving up 2 factors, Riley argued for the distinction in area place earlier than Buffalo in the end ran out of time on its last drive.
Crossman didn’t agree, noting it leads to related yardage to defend however with the opponent solely needing a area purpose to win as a substitute of a landing.
“It’s a momentum play, also, which you don’t ever want to give up,” Crossman stated.
He did say it was “good to see” the particular groups bounce again on that free kick the place Morstead’s 74-yard boot with hangtime received the Bills to start out at their very own 23-yard line with 1:25 to play.
Crossman stated the Dolphins by no means thought of an intentional security within the state of affairs. He additionally stated that Ogbah received a chunk of Bills kicker Tyler Bass’ low missed area purpose earlier, and the Dolphins are sending that in to the league for a stat correction.
This story can be up to date.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com