Dolphins running back Jay Ajayi (23) records another 200-yard day against the Buffalo Bills. (Al Diaz/Miami Herald/TNS)
Thunder’s rolling down these tracks: Five games in, the Dolphins were sputtering, averaging 72.4 rushing yards per game. They thought they might have something in Ajayi, the second-year back they tried hard to replace in the offseason, but Ajayi had only 117 yards. Finally against Pittsburgh, they set the Jay Train in motion. Result: The Dolphins have averaged 138.7 rushing yards since and Ajayi has a total of 1,213 yards. Gase has told players and coaches to not let him get away from calling runs. They’ve held him to it. Rush attempts shot up by 11 more per game. “Once we went with Jay and said that’s going to be our guy the rest of the way out, I think that made things a little easier because I knew for myself what he liked and what he didn’t like,” Gase said of his play-calling duties.
He who runs controls tempo: Remember early in the season, when Gase was saying late collapses by his defense were the fault of the offense? He was right. The Dolphins were possessing the ball only 24 minutes per game, compared to the current 28:22. It’s an improvement of about 17.5 percent, which in real terms means about seven more plays per game the Dolphins get to run that their opponents do not.
Control the airwaves, too: The Dolphins’ passing average is down about a dozen yards per game, to 219.7. That’s OK. Defenses keying on Ajayi have seen Tannehill become a better clutch passer. Tannehill’s fourth-quarter passer rating has risen from 27th in the NFL to 15th. Likewise, his rating on third down is up from 21st in the league to 16th. No doubt part of that is related to looking Landry’s way more to move the chains. Landry is tied for third in the NFL in third-down receptions (26 catches, 335 yards). And overall, Tannehill’s passer rating is up 10 points to 93.5.
Dolphins cornerback Tony Lippett (36) intercepts a pass intended for New York Jets receiver Robby Anderson (11). Lippett leads the Dolphins with four interceptions. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Control the airwaves 2.0: Hard to believe that through five games, the Dolphins had a paltry one interception. Harder to believe that with Pro Bowl safety Reshad Jones gone for the year, and amid several other injuries including to Xavien Howard, the Dolphins now have 16 interceptions. The opponents’ passer rating is 86.2, a drop of 15 points.
Go ahead, sweat it: Remember those monotonous practices in the August heat? Dolphins players are credit them with a level of conditioning superior to opponents’. Miami ranks among the best closers in the NFL, outscoring opponents by 45 points in the second halves of the past 10 games. The 14-10 win over the Rams was the first time the Dolphins won a road game after being shut out through three quarters.
And don’t forget these factors: The Dolphins’ average starting position after kickoffs inched up a couple of yards to 25.3. While 2 yards may not sound like much, they’re enough to propel the team from 25th to eighth on average starting field position. The Dolphins have the league’s fourth-best kick-return team. … Red-zone scoring efficiency has risen 5 percentage points (to 86.7) while opponents’ efficiency dropped 8 points (to 78.7).
