Are Giants Just a Stepping Stone into Bye?
The Giants are struggling team gutted by injuries
The Miami Dolphins are facing a struggling, injury-depleted New York Giants team at home and are the heavy favorites to win in their Week 13 matchup. On a four-game win streak, the once pronounced dead Phins are riding a high of emotion from the media and fans. If the wins streak hits 5 games as they enter their Bye next week, the positive meter might shatter with exuberance.
Giants bring a tough interior matchup on defense
I don’t see the Dolphins losing this one especially given Daniel Jones is out, but don’t sleep on this team.
The Giants are scrappy and have two excellent defensive tackles in Leonard Williams and Dexter Lawrence. These interior mammoths will dominate the Dolphins O-line and set MLB Reggie Ragland free on the run game. The Giants secondary is a disaster though especially with CB Adoree’ Jackson out, so ultimately Miami will put on points. Still, I’m focusing on that interior matchup because it will be a good barometer for when the Dolphins face the Saints and the Titans, who are tough on the defensive interior.
There has been a load of talk on how the Phins o-line has improved. You can bet with the best pay per head that this is more talk than substance. Here is some stats to add context and clarity. If you want film to back the stats below, check out the in-depth study here.
- Tua has had 2.1 seconds until the ball is released or there is pressure. This ranks him 33rd over that time.
- Despite ultra quick release time he has been pressured 10 times (tied 15th) while only being blitzed 18th most. And in this time, the Dolphins have run 12 Personnel groupings (two TEs for extra blockers) a mindboggling 74% of the time compared to a league average of 22%.
- The Dolphins have faced over this span the Texans with a decent defensive interior group, Ravens with elite Calais Campbell and not much more, decent pair of DIs with the Jets, and poor Panthers interior DL group.
The game within the game is at the A-Gap when Miami is on “O”
It’s far easier to scheme up protection against edge pressure than interior pressure, which is much more dangerous for a quarterback. Also, Tua thrives on climbing the ladder with his eyes down field to either make the throw or leak out on a run. So, this is why even though the Phins will most likely win, keeping an eagle eye on the interior battle between the Giants DTs and the Phins OL will be the spotlight for me on Sunday.
Really, this season will most likely come down to the final three games and all three team can generate pressure in the A-Gap, although the Patriots have the least talented DL interior. If the Dolphins win and prove they can handle the Giants interior pressure, it will be a great sign that the Phins might keep this win streak alive for a few more weeks to come. Go Phins!!!
Well MJ I’ve been feeling pretty good lately with this 4 game win streak we’ve been on.I was also feeling good about the Giants coming to town this week and then the J.E.T.S. following the bye,making this 4 game streak into 6. But then after reading your article about the interior DL for the Giants you’ve got me skeptical knowing that our OL still struggles with the run game. With our defense finally playing well and Tua coming into his own(on fire) we should absolutely win this game. The Giants have plenty of injuries including Jones out of the lineup so I’m pretty confident our streak continues to 6.So,lets go Dolphins. GO FINS!!!
Me too, Randy… 6 looks VERY good. I think we can get 7, actually. The titans game and Pats game are my concern. Anything is possible before that… for me, today is near sure win, but that interior battle is my focus. Dieter is back and so is Parker… these are 2 important add ons… not sure if they start today though. GO PHins!!!