Dolphins suddenly can dominate anybody at the line of scrimmage

[DKphin]

The Dolphins in 2013 hit a new low. The franchise-record 58 sacks taken were too many. Young quarterback Ryan Tannehill couldn’t take such a beating. So Miami signed a free-agent left tackle by the name of Branden Albert.

Fast-forward to Week 8 of the 2016 season, and the Dolphins are entering their bye week touting what suddenly has become one of the NFL’s most dominant offensive lines.


"We were all tired of everybody calling us out and calling us soft," Albert told The Miami Herald after the Dolphins dominated the heavily favored Steelers in Week 6. "We played physical today. We wanted to make a statement."
Make a statement, they did.

The line — from left to right: Albert, 2016 first-round pick Laremy Tunsil, 2011 first-round pick Mike Pouncey, former Pro Bowler Jermon Bushrod and 2014 first-round pick Ja’Wuan James — proved against both Pittsburgh and Buffalo (in Week 7) how dominant it can be … and how it affects the entire team.
Running back Jay Ajayi’s back-to-back 200-yard games were no flukes. The Steelers and Bills, both of whom field respectable rush defenses, found out the hard way the Dolphins’ rushing attack is real.
Miami set the tone early against Pittsburgh with physicality and near-perfect execution on combo blocks, pulls and reaches. In this play early in the first quarter against the Steelers, Tunsil shows off his ability to seal the edge on a combo with Pouncey.

https://media.giphy.com/media/l3vRn9wt01hWj2Y5W/giphy.gif

In this play later in the game, the rookie displays his athleticism in taking care of his backside linebacker assignment.

[video]https://media.giphy.com/media/3oriOi8hKtiBbYOKC4/giphy-downsized-large.gif[/video]

In a third play, this time against Buffalo, Albert, Tunsil and Pouncey perfectly seal off their assignments and allow Ajayi to reach the second level.

[video]https://media.giphy.com/media/3o7TKIBntaGcZrx1Je/giphy.gif[/video]

This execution was commonplace for Miami against Pittsburgh and Buffalo. Now contrast it to how Miami looked against Tennessee, for example, with Billy Turner and Dallas Thomas playing left tackle and left guard, respectively.

Read more: http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/new...e-jay-ajayi-fantasy/ocwlbspslaw11vcgqy11938so

 

[Sons Of Shula]

Funny how that also equates to wins.

 

[Sherif]

We have to keep the OL healthy. Especially Albert and Tunsil. If not for the penalties in the red zone and poor special teams play, we could have had enough cushion on the scoreboard to rest both late in the game.

 

[AL R]

Funny how that also equates to wins.

This Jet game is going to be interesting. It looks like the Jets are second in the league on defending the run (yards per game). Is that because their pass defense is getting taken advantage of or because of the front seven?

I think the Jets can stop the run so I wonder if Gase alters the game plan some. We have to at least attempt to run some though, we have seen the results when we abandon it.

 

[jlfin]

They need to balance the offense against the Jets. Williams and Drake need to take some carries from Ajayi.
I want Ajayi running hard at the end of the season and into the postseason (hopefully)

 

[ANUFan]

Easy there!


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[Despacio]

All this hype over two wins. So after years the oline was tired of being soft and suddenly flippprd a switch?? Until we win consistently I'd be cautious about buying into so much hype so fast.


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[Serik]

All this hype over two wins. So after years the oline was tired of being soft and suddenly flippprd a switch?? Until we win consistently I'd be cautious about buying into so much hype so fast.
O

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Amen bro- I have been cautiously optimistic during these last two games! Reminds me of exactly what happens LAST YEAR after Philibin was canned! Remember that 2 game dominance? I'll stay quiet for a little while longer until I know it's real! I did enjoy these two wins.
.

 

[where's th'fish]

Wins and loses both lead to all kind of overreactions. The Bills are 16th in defensive DVOA (16th against the run), the Steelers 25th (22nd against the run). Now, the Jets are 27th total, but 3rd against the run. That should be interesting.

 

[AL R]

Amen bro- I have been cautiously optimistic during these last two games! Reminds me of exactly what happens LAST YEAR after Philibin was canned! Remember that 2 game dominance? I'll stay quiet for a little while longer until I know it's real! I did enjoy these two wins.
.

True and fair, but if they can stay healthy, and keep in mind Dallas Thomas was always good for some horrid plays per game - he is gone. Jason Fox? Oh the nightmares.

 

[nick1]

I agree we can't say Miami can dominate the line until we play the Jets. If we run for over 100 on them by consistently running for 5-10 yards then we can talk

 

[phinsphan001]

Sam Young deserves kudos as well. He played a number of snaps against Buffalo and did a terrific job.

 

[nick1]

Sam Young deserves kudos as well. He played a number of snaps against Buffalo and did a terrific job.

Was he the extra Tackle we used? I wasnt sure who that was

 

[royalshank]

We have to keep the OL healthy. Especially Albert and Tunsil. If not for the penalties in the red zone and poor special teams play, we could have had enough cushion on the scoreboard to rest both late in the game.

so long as we keep improving. Agree we need to cut down on the self-inflicted stupids. They make me want to put my foot through the TV - taunting?!!! We clean that up, keep dominating on the O-line / running the ball and who knows we might find ourselves in the WC conversation - that would be an amazing feat after the start we had.

 

[royalshank]

Was he the extra Tackle we used? I wasnt sure who that was

yes it was him indeed. I hope he's working on his pass catching because it would surprise the crap out of a D if they call one to him. But yeah, they ran a lot of plays w him as a TE.