Have the Phins become better in the Redzone?
Last season was Bill Lazor’s first season as the offensive coordinator of the Miami Dolphins, and he was able to help the Dolphins boost up their points per game total by a significant amount. In 2013 the Dolphins were ranked 26th in the league with 19.8 points per game, but under Lazor’s guidance they improved dramatically to 11th best in the league with 24.3 points per game, and this number could have been even higher if they would have scored more touchdowns in the red zone.
The Dolphins had no trouble moving the ball up and down the field and were one of the top teams in the entire league in regards to trips to the RedZone. The Dolphins averaged 4.2 trips to the RedZone in each game, which was second to only the Patriots, who averaged 4.3 trips to the RedZone per game. However, the biggest difference was that the Dolphins only scored touchdowns on 51.47% of their trips to the RedZone, which ranked them 21st in the league in terms of TD efficiency in the RedZone. This is a far cry from teams such as the Patriots, Broncos, and Cowboys who all were over 62% in regards to scoring touchdowns when they were in the RedZone. If the Dolphins offense wants to take the next step and start to be considered elite, then they will need to become more efficient in the RedZone.
I believe that the Dolphins have made some steps in the right direction this off-season in becoming better at scoring touchdowns in the RedZone. Some of the boys at the local pay per head reviews will immediately argue with me by saying that the Dolphins lost both Mike Wallace and Charles Clay, who combined for 13 touchdowns, however, I believe we added three players in particular that their strengths are scoring within the RedZone.
DeVante Parker is a much bigger target than Mike Wallace, and he is much more aggressive in regards to catching the ball at it’s highest point and fighting for the ball in traffic. Tannehill should have a lot easier of a time getting the ball to Parker in the end-zone than squeezing the ball into tight windows with Wallace.
Clay was a tough hard-nosed player for the Dolphins, however, he was only able to score a total of 3 TD’s for us last season in 14 games. We have swapped tight ends, and will now have Jordan Cameron taking the place of Clay, who is an even bigger target, especially in the RedZone. Cameron only had 2 touchdowns last season in 10 games, but also don’t forget that he did not have a QB as good as Tannehill throwing him the football, so as long as he can stay healthy, it is completely fair to assume that Cameron can at least provide 5 TD’s for us this season.
Lastly, the Dolphins drafted Jay Ajayi in the fifth round, who now finally gives Miami that bulldozer type running back that can get the tough yards, and especially punch it in the end-zone when we are on the goal line. In addition, Ajayi is very good at catching passes out of the backfield, which makes him an even bigger dual-threat within the RedZone. There is no reason why Ajayi can not be counted on for scoring between 5 to 7 touchdowns next season.
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In addition to these three players, Miami should be able to continue to get TD production in the RedZone, from Miller, Landry, and Sims, and will also have some additional firepower with Jennings and Stills. The Dolphins have the talent and big bodies now, which should help them to be more efficient in scoring touchdowns in the RedZone. If the Dolphins can replicate their RedZone trips, but this year gets their touchdown efficiency up to 62%, then this will help to increase their points per game average up another 4 points to around 28.3 points per game, and that in itself will add more wins to their overall record. Does the rest of the Miami Dolphins news gurus think we will be better or worse in the RedZone this season?
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Is this a legitimate question? I do not believe it is even close. Compare the 2 typical line ups (this years/last years).
Wallace or Parker….. I respect Wallace’s speed, but that is where it ends. I think I’ve seen Wallace have a successful jump ball opportunity once in his career. Parker specializes in body control, high pointing the ball, and winning jump ball opportunities. Are you going to split Wallace out one-on-one at the 5 yard line and just throw it up? Absolutely not! ADVANTAGE PARKER
Stills or Hartline….. This one could be considered close. However, Stills can create seperation, even in short areas. Separation is how Hartline ended up in Cleveland. ADVANTAGE STILLS
Cameron or Clay….. Again, I respect Clay (much more than Wallace, as a player/teammate/personality). Cameron is a player that you can split wide at the 5 yard line and just throw it up to him. That was not Clay’s strengths. Cameron creates mismatches every where especially in the red zone. Clay may better keep the defenses guessing pass or run opposed to Cameron. Height alone makes this a no brainer. ADVANTAGE CAMERON
Miller or Ajayi….. With Miller in the game, defenses automatically think run (majority of the times correct). With Ajayi in the game defenses still are unsure which option Miami will choose, pass/run. With Ajayis unknown at this level I will give it a wash between he and Miller. However, it may not take long before Ajayi is the red zone RB. ADVANTAGE NEUTRAL
There may be times Miami has two 6’5 receivers (Cameron/Sims) and a 6’3 receiver (Parker)as well as a excellent receiving RB (Ajayi) in the red zone package along w/Laundry. Not even the Seattle Seahawks can match up to that type of Length.
ADVANTAGE = 2015 RED ZONE OPTIONS
Yes I think red zone offense was the focus of our offensive improvement this off-season, and if the phins can improve this on the field than our offense has a chance to score around 30 points a game. Even if the defense is not playing lights out football every game, a team can win a lot of football games scoring 30 plus points a game
Here are some thing the Dolphins must improved in:
2014 Season: 1. Kick offs TD Miami – 0 opponents 1
2. Sacks Miami – 39 opponent’s 46
3. Interceptions Miami – 14 opponents 12
4. Third Downs Miami – 80 opponents 98
5. Fumbles Miami – 14 opponents 19
6. Fourth Downs Miami made 7 opponents 13
7. Passing TD Miami 27 – opponents 27
8. Rushing TD Miami 12 – opponents 13
9. Penalties Miami 635 yards opponents 920 yards Noted: it was stated the year Miami had
the perfect season the team made 13 mental mistakes that season.
Stats taken from below site:
http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/stats/_/type/team/name/mia/miami-dolphins
The sack comparison definitely needs to improved on both ends, more sacks for us and less sacks allowed. Another thing that jumped out was that we need to be better on defense on 4th down, 13 made is way to hard, those basically like turnovers
Wallace, Clay and Hartline were let go. We have picked up rookies with potential and the surgically reconstructed. We didn’t get a new place kicker. The Dolphins have to hope everyone catches on quickly and stays healthy. We did noting to improve the talent pool at cornerback. I think that we are no better yhan last Year.
I forgot the offensive line! We lost our veteran depth players. We are betting on two guys who showed little promise to be starters. The rookie we picked up was a tsckle in college. What would make you say that this gruop can protect Tannehill? What makes you think that Tannehill will stop holding the ball and getting sacked.
Great article Jimmy, thanks.
I think one of the aspects of Tannehill’s game this season that is set to improve is exactly that. A second year in this offense is going to improve his decision making skills. Plus, I really feel there is going to be a real mental change in Ryan Tannehill, or at least I’m hoping it will. He needs to grab a hold of this whole team. He is the leader now, the franchise QB. The receivers will run the routes the way he says to run their routes and are expected to be where he delivers the balls, when he delivers the ball, or he needs to be in their face about it. That’s the sort of QB that molds a team that is bound for greatness. This is the year where he will show his true mettle. Plus, I think one of the most important members of the entire Dolphins staff is Bill Lazor, and he too has had another to tailor his playbook to his QB’s strengths. If Pouncey and Suh can both act as leaders on their side of the ball, then this team will be bound to success. That is, if Philbin manages to not Phuck it all up.
Cornerback, especially depth, I do agree with you is an issue. A bunch of unknowns, but I am going to trust the FO and hope the Mccain (Brice) and Bowman, are solid players that can contribute right away. I think the spot opposite Grimes is Jamar Taylor’s to lose though. Will Davis needs to step up or step out. I like our safeties a lot.
Hope this year brings us health and wealth (of success).
Oh, and the guy we picked up in this draft, Jamil Douglas, was a tackle last year, but the year before that he received All-Pac 12 Conference honors as Guard. First actual Guard projected to play in a Zone Blocking Scheme, which we run. Garner was a Jack of all trades, and a stopgap of all. Sam Brenner will still provide depth as tackle. Dallas Thomas better show up a changed man in camp because I have already about put him in the same list I had Phillip Wheeler in, as in, the worst possible option to play at that position. Colledge was so old he retired. We are gonna be fine at least in one guard position. The other I agree is a gigantic ?
Douglas should do ok, since he was playing an even tougher Left Tackle position in the tough Pac 12 last season. In addition he was going up against stud DE L Williams in practice every day last year so that had to help make him better. He will still have his rookie bumps but he looks like a day one starter
Yes I will definitely be keeping my eye on if Tannehill has grown more into the leader role. He is getting a lot of money so he needs to start taking more command of this team. And Yes Bill Lazor is the unsung hero of this team, he really helped Tannehill and the offense to improve last year, and I expect big things from him this upcoming season. If Philbin gets fired after this year, I would definitely highly consider making Lazor the head coach
For starters we had Dallas Thomas last year and he was useless. In regards to Douglas moving from Tackle to guard, he played guard in his earlier college career and it is much easier to move from Tackle to Guard, than from Guard to tackle. He is a very good zone blocker and should immediately fit into the zone blocking scheme of Miami’s offensive line. With that being said he is still going to have his growing pains, along with B Turner, but the rest of the line Albert, James, and Pouncey will be playing at their natural positions and well above average
Wallace was a problem child, and only had 10 touchdowns because he got all over Tannehill to throw him the ball in the endzone. Clay had 3 TD’s last season and was banged up most of the year. Hartline, could barely ever reach the endzone. These players were replaced with Jennings and Cameron both players who have been successful in the redzone, and then we added Parker, Stills and Ajayi all players that have unique skills that create Touchdowns. Our offense has become more balanced as well. Nothing to improve the CB position, we added 4 new players, and we still have Davis, Taylor and Aikens that are all young and have flashed potential. The competition at CB will be fierce and every one will get better from it, with the cream rising to the top. Also Brice McCain is a better Nickle CB than Jimmy Wilson
Agreed we should be much better with the players we have added to our roster
You are right on target with your commentary
Let’s hope tannehill has more time to throw the ball this year to take advantage of these new weapons
I still am not comfortable with our guards
I hope they can provide the necessary QB protection we need for plays to develop
This is the only less than ideal players in our offense
Still hoping that as teams trim rosters we might be able to find a guard that was let go because he is too expensive for that team to keep but better than what we now have
Of course I also am hoping our guards surprise everyone and turn out to be studs
I agree the guards are pretty much are only question on offense. Either one or both will step up, or maybe we can still find a viable guard after roster cuts. With that being said considering the rest of the talent on the offense I think we can do just find being soft at the guard positions. It will not be optimal but we can live with it and can still win