If this is already posted, sorry I did not see it.
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Some Monday thoughts from the four prominent coordinators in town --- the Dolphins’ Bill Lazor and Kevin Coyle and UM’s James Coley and Mark D’Onofrio.
Bill Lazor
### On changes on the offensive line necessitated by Branden Albert’s injury: “I thought at some point in his career, hopefully later than this, Ja’Wuan James would be a left tackle because I saw his ability to move. He’s very athletic, very knowledgeable. I thought there was a chance this would happen. No one wanted this to happen now with Branden Albert. He’s performed well for a rookie offensive tackle….
Dallas has continued to get better and better. He’s been prepared to make this move. He played pretty well.”
### On Buffalo’s imposing defensive line: “I’m excited for our guys to rise to the occasion. This was one of the fronts that gave us some trouble [in week two]. We gained momentum in the second half, were able to capitalize with enough points.”
### He said Lamar Miller’s carries were limited (11) because “going into the game, there were questions how well he would feel. We expected there would be more of a rotation. Any running back in the ninth game is going to be banged up. I have pretty good faith in Lamar. He really wanted to play in the game and he will really want to play Thursday night.”
### On Ryan Tannehill’s difficulty with the long ball, including an overthrow to Mike Wallace on Sunday: “We’re still working to put the good part together in the game. I feel good where we’re headed. I wish we had hit the last one we threw. It’s my job to help get it better. We’ve addressed the mechanics, trying to get people on the same page. I choose to operate with the belief that the next one will prove to everyone he can do it.”
### Is he concerned teams might defend the read option more effectively, as Detroit did? “Whatever you do offensively, you have to keep moving. You can’t do the same thing over and over. They study what you do. You have to have the next step ready, if you continue to do the same thing with the same look, teams will have a better chance to stop you.”
### On LaMichael James, who was promoted from the practice squad: “I’ve seen a guy that can really operate in space. I love the way he runs routes. I love the way he’s decisive and hits the hole fast. He’s excited to have an opportunity.”
### He said Billy Turner, a tackle at North Dakota State, is working mostly at guard in practice but also is getting some work at tackle. Lazor likes his “explosive power.”
### The Dolphins have had the most red zone opportunities in the league but are fifth-worst in efficiency: “It’s a broken record. We’ve got to do a better job. We’ve got to be more detailed and get it done. We have a good plan going in. I will be the optimist and say this will be the week.”
### On Jarvis Landry: “Every time he touches the ball, you get the feeling he’s trying to score a touchdown. Love his attitude. Love [how he's] very detailed in his routes. He’s on track to be a really good player.”
Kevin Coyle
### Anything Reshad Jones could have done differently on Detroit's game-winning touchdown?
“The quarterback did a good job getting outside the pocket, sidearm throw, snuck it in there. I wish we would have made the play."
### Coyle, on his defense being unable to hold a late lead against Green Bay and Detroit: “The series before I thought was going to be the last series of the game [Sunday]… [On the last drive], the quarterback made some great throws. They have outstanding players on their team, as does Green Bay. We have got to win in those situations. But I have great confidence in our defense and the way we’re playing. We played great in the red zone, great in sudden change.”
### On Brent Grimes: “He played a heck of a game. You saw what a great competitor is made of. He more than held his own.”
### Coyle said he had Dion Jordan help in coverage on Calvin Johnson a few times because “we were utilizing Dion with his height and length. He was on him. Dion loves the challenge. Dion did a heck of a job.”
### Why not use Dion at SAM linebacker instead of defensive end? “When you’re not in base defense maybe one third of the time, we have our plan in base defense and we have our plan in sub defense. We’re in sub defense two out of three plays and that’s where his role continues to grow.”
### On Jamar Taylor, who will be needed a lot Thursday if Cortland Finnegan doesn't make a surprisingly quick recovery from an ankle injury: “Jamar competed. There are some things he can do better and he will. We will have an opportunity with him. Will Davis is another guy we’re going to keep developing.”
Taylor and Davis “have worked hard. They are getting more comfortable with the system. Only time in games is going to tell" if they're up to the challenge.
### On defending Bills receiver Sammy Watkins, who had eight catches for 117 yards in their Week 2 meeting: “They hit a couple crossing routes on us. We have a better feel for who he is now than we did back then. Now you’ve seen more of a body of work from him.
"This is a different team from the one we played earlier. The quarterback change has been significant, has affected their style of offense to a degree. They play best when they’re running the football. That will be our challenge – to defend their run game. [Tight end] Scott Chandler has been a thorn in our side.”
### Pro Football Focus gave James by far Miami’s worst grade of any offensive player, which seemed harsh. PFF justified it by pointing out that James allowed five quarterback hurries and struggled in run blocking. But James was competent when he moved from right tackle to left tackle after Albert’s injury.
PFF gave Miami’s second-worst grade to right guard Mike Pouncey, who allowed two sacks and four hurries.
### Against Detroit, Jarvis Landry was targeted 10 times, Charles Clay nine and Mike Wallace eight. Conversely, Brian Hartline was thrown only one pass, which was completed.
Here’s how the receiver snaps broke down: Wallace 53 (of 61 possible), Hartline 46, Landry 38, Brandon Gibson 30 and Rishard Matthews nine.
### Defensively, PFF gave its highest grades to Derrick Shelby, Jelani Jenkins and Earl Mitchell and the lowest to Jamar Taylor, who allowed 6 of 7 passes thrown in his coverage area to be completed, for 62 yards, in his 23 defensive snaps.
Taylor figures to play a lot Thursday if Cortland Finnegan doesn’t make a surprisingly speedy recovery from an ankle injury sustained in the second half Sunday.
### Defensive snap count notes from Sunday: Among linebackers, Jenkins played all 67 and Koa Misi 65. Philbin Wheeler played just 21.
On the defensive line, Jared Odrick played 57, Olivier Vernon 55, Cam Wake 53, Dion Jordan 30 and Mitchell and Shelby 21 apiece.
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