Sports Buzz: Dolphins Friday Report

[gafin]

The Dolphins will once again give their fans relevant games in December.

Whether they also give them the franchise’s first playoff berth since 2008 rests in part on Ryan Tannehill’s right arm and whether this diminished offense line can hold up against several more imposing defensive fronts.

In their 23-9 win Thursday, the Dolphins allowed five sacks to a Bills’ defense that leads the league with 39.

That’s worrisome, considering five of the Dolphins’ final six games will be against opponents that rank in the top 10 in sacks: Minnesota (third), two games against the Jets (seventh), Baltimore (ninth) and Denver (10th). And New England is 14th.

But here’s the good news: Since 1990, 61 percent of 6-4 teams have made the playoffs.

As we noted in last night's post, even if the Dolphins (6-4) lose at Denver (Miami’s next opponent, on Nov. 23) and at New England, they have a pretty good chance of making the playoffs if they win home games against Baltimore, the Jets and Minnesota and win at the Jets.

And if they win at New England (7-2) on Dec. 14, an AFC East title is a possibility if somebody can cool off the Patriots, who are averaging 40 points in their past five games. The Patriots have a difficult schedule in the coming weeks (at Colts, Lions, at Packers, at Chargers, Dolphins) before closing at the Jets and home against Buffalo.

There was a lot to like about Thursday’s game, which gave Miami its best record after 10 games since 2008.

Executing a game plan that called for mostly short and intermediate passes, Ryan Tannehill posted the third-highest completion percentage of his career (76.5: 26 of 34, for 240 yards) and topped 109 in passer rating for the fourth time in the past seven games.

He closed at 114.8, moving his season rating to 92.2 --- 16th in the league and ahead of Joe Flacco, Russell Wilson and Matt Stafford, among others. He’s now up to 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions for the season.

"To be able to get the ball out of my hands quickly and into our playmaker’s hands and them [turning it into positive] yards-after-catch really opened things up for us,” Tannehill said. “It settled everyone in.”

In an introspective moment on NFL Network’s post-game set, Tannehill said he believes he “turned the corner” when the team was in London, following a tumultuous week in which Tannehill said Joe Philbin created a distraction by not publicly naming him the starting quarterback.

“When I went to London, I took a step back and said, ‘Make plays, have fun and stop thinking so much,’” he said. “It took me a little while to get comfortable in the offense. I feel great [in this system]. I think we’re pretty good.”

The Dolphins’ offense also got a boost from Lamar Miller, who had 86 yards on 15 carries (5.7 average) and ranks seventh among all NFL running backs in per carry average (4.7). “He ran hard, was decisive,” Philbin said.

And the defense, which entered fourth in the league in yards allowed per game (309.8) and fifth in points permitted per game (19), yielded only 237 yards and nine points.

After halftime, the Bills mustered just 79 yards and failed to convert any of their seven third-down plays into first downs. Plus, the Bills had 54 yards rushing, on only 2.8 per carry.

Still, concerns remain, starting with the offensive line and continued difficulties in the red zone.

The revamped line --- with Ja’Wuan James at left tackle, Dallas Thomas at right tackle, and Shelley Smith at left guard --- blocked efficiently in the run game but had lapses in pass protection.

Thomas allowed two sacks against Mario Williams. Philbin said today he liked how Thomas performed in run-blocking but “there were a couple plays that need improvement in pass protection.”

Other sacks were relinquished by tight ends Charles Clay and Dion Sims and center Samson Satele. James and right guard Mike Pouncey each allowed four quarterback hurries.

“I kind of like overall how they blocked in the run game,” Philbin said. “Our backs ran hard. It’s hard to say we had great protection when we were sacked five times. I didn’t think it was terrible. Overall, they did a good job.”

The Dolphins entered with an NFL-high 43 forays into the red zone but just 20 touchdowns, with that 46.5 percent TD rate ranking third worst in the league. On Thursday, the Dolphins had just two touchdowns in six red zone trips, and Mike Wallace said the Dolphins won’t make the playoffs if the offense plays like this.

"No, not when we’re talking about being two of six in the red zone,” Wallace said. “The problem is not getting down the field; it’s putting it in the end zone. The execution has to be that much better when you get to the red zone. The windows are smaller. Spots are tighter. You’ve got to make a play….. We’ve got to score more points in the first half. I think we do a pretty good job in the second half.”

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/spor...date-dolphins-in-lofty.html#storylink=addthis

 

[hoops]

eegads...5 of the last 6 opponents we face are top 10 in sacks and the other the pats is 15th...there's things lazor can do with this gameplan and i think i see evidence of it already as far as trying to limit the right tackles exposure but there's still gonna be plenty of one on one edge opportunities and our rest of the season is loaded with quality pass rush clubs...if new england had chandler jones they'd be in the top 10 also

gameplan can hide some things but this right tackle stuff...it's just not good enough...qb though is definitely handling quick pressure better than i have seen in past years...some of it he cant avoid but he seems more conscious....sometimes though i think he's too deep in his drop but that may be the way some plays are designed...

 

[Travis34]

Dallas Thomas scares the **** out of me going forward, although the Bills D line is so nasty. I think Philbin was a bit nicer than he could've been when asked about the OL. I mean yes, given the circumstances, we got by. but by no means was it good. There was a play where Williams just slapped Thomas' hands right down for a sack where he had a nice easy full speed sack vs Tannehill

 

[Atila]

Good win, missed opportunities in the red zone, Tannehill not getting a good FEEL for the pocket on several occasions, and missed deep ball as well miss on slant to end the game (both to Wallace) all bothered me... but overall I think all three of our units played well. We got that controversial PI call that was veerrrrry helpful for us.

 

[Hayden Fox]

The offensive line will be an issue until the end of the season. As I mentioned earlier today and is kind of in this piece, Miami's RT will face Von Miller, Quiton Coples, Terrell Suggs and Rob Ninkovich in the coming weeks. It is not like the other positions are "nailed down either". This is not a complaint. It is a just a reminder that some games are going to get wrecked because of the line.

Maybe the coaching staff can mask some weaknesses, but it can only do so much.

I would still look at Garner or Fox as savvy veterans to put at RT. Thomas is over his skis.

 

[ebcrew]

what is the problem in the redzone?

Is it bad play calling? Lack of big physical target? Bad QB decisions

 

[Bob512]

Red Zone performance is a concern. We really don't run the ball very effectively inside the 10, which isn't helpful.

I thought RT played very well last night. He missed a few passes, but completed over 70% and was strong when he was needed most. Hopefully that continues.

Also, can't say enough about this defense.

 

[hoops]

now that we are done facing what i would call monster physical fronts i'm sure they will go back to read option and test edge players ability to play assignment football out of it but we should stick with the shotgun and work pa off of it and work from under center in the red zone...miami was just relying too damn much on the read option in the red zone and in that tight a field vs 8 and 9 man congested middle fronts it wasnt working...we made some adjustments thursday i expect to see them continue...they should...although it would make everyone feel better if we were working with our starting tackles out of these looks and not playing musical chairs...

lazor is starting to put to use all of tannehills versatility...no one pony show here...read option shotgun under center 3 step 5 step and 7 step drops etc...throw it all at the opponent...and again wait til next year when this team plays with faster tempo from the get go...we'll score 30 a game folks...and we'll do what the eagles do to the opposition...rely on the tempo and play count to hammer you with yards and points...and we'll do it with a better damn qb too

 

[FinHopeful]

Red Zone performance is a concern. We really don't run the ball very effectively inside the 10, which isn't helpful.

I thought RT played very well last night. He missed a few passes, but completed over 70% and was strong when he was needed most. Hopefully that continues.

Also, can't say enough about this defense.

The strength of the current line appears to be run blocking. If we can tighten up execution within the running game in the red zone, we should be able to improve our TDS conversion rate.

 

[Jehuty13]

what is the problem in the redzone?

Is it bad play calling? Lack of big physical target? Bad QB decisions

I'd say big physical targets in small red zone spaces. Who do we have that could win a jump ball on this offense? I think that's why we don't throw them very often. I think Hartline is our tallest WR if I'm not mistaken and throwing him a jump ball would be fun(ny) to watch.

I like the receiving core regardless. Red zone calls for those big dudes and 1 TE in Clay isn't enough.

 

[Travis34]

now that we are done facing what i would call monster physical front

Jets?? I mean yeah we should beat them, hopefully sweep, but they can compete I feel like. Cooled Big Ben down..

wait til next year when this team plays with faster tempo from the get go...we'll score 30 a game folks...and we'll do what the eagles do to the opposition...rely on the tempo and play count to hammer you with yards and points...and we'll do it with a better damn qb too

hell yeah

The offensive line will be an issue until the end of the season. As I mentioned earlier today and is kind of in this piece, Miami's RT will face Von Miller, Quiton Coples, Terrell Suggs and Rob Ninkovich in the coming weeks. It is not like the other positions are "nailed down either". This is not a complaint. It is a just a reminder that some games are going to get wrecked because of the line.

Maybe the coaching staff can mask some weaknesses, but it can only do so much.

I would still look at Garner or Fox as savvy veterans to put at RT. Thomas is over his skis.

Yeah, its not like its going to be cupcakes from here on out. Also the Vikings have Everson Griffen tearing it up

 

[hoops]

jets are nasty on the interior but those olbs pass rush wise arent special or all that fierce imo...so i would trust my tackles more vs them than some of those other edge fronts...miami has to vs the jets help the interior and we will...i just think miamis real concern with this scheme on the oline is the tackle play now...that's where things could really hurt us...the interior we will combo block guys and there will be one on ones but i dont think they wreck us per say

it's when you face a front like we did yesterday where they zone blitz and all 4 of the front guys can win one on one and they can drop 7 etc that you can have some serious issues...the jets are also a secondary that miami will get after...