Phins Defense has fallen apart at every corner
Phins Defense is a complete mess in run defense.The Miami Dolphins defense has fallen to pieces. Matt Burke is getting a lot of heat. Whether it’s his fault due to poor play calls or not, the buck stops at Burke’s door.
Miami’s defense had a total breakdown in all facets of the game Thursday against the Texans.
The breakdowns in the passing game and who missed their assignments are obvious. In the run game, it’s not so obvious.
I am hearing everything from the play calls to D-line run fits and plain ole’ poor tackling.
Obviously given this level or poor play everything is at fault to some degree. But where does the majority of responsibility lay?
Below is a breakdown of every run play by the Dolphins defense until the early 3rd Quarter split up into 3 videos. I had planned on doing the whole game, but by the second play of the 3rd Quarter, the primary culprits were obvious… at least to me. Let’s see if you agree with my findings…
Miami was getting gashed early in the run game
At the end of the 1st quarter, Miami had given up 34 yards on the ground with a chunk run. The chunk runs would gain steam after that.
By midway through the 2nd Quarter DT Vincent Taylor was down due to injury
Counteraction by design and the running backs instincts is kryptonite for the Dolphins defense since Preseason.
You can certainly find fault in some run fits by the Defensive Line. But given they were down Taylor and the complete lack of discipline by McMillan and Kiko, it’s hard to find them the most responsible.
Kiko is over aggressive, over-pursues at times, and has trouble shedding. But his speed allows him to make up for many of his mistakes. Also, he creates plenty of big plays. Both Baker and Kiko mostly balance out their weakness.
McMillan though is the big Mike… who can’t shed, has poor diagnosis and instinct, and is very slow.
Said this in August about McMillan:
- Doesn’t stack and shed well
- Overpursues, impatient, vacates the middle too quickly
- Bites on / doesn’t take into account counteraction, which is accentuated by #2
- Slow which accentuates issues #1-3
Not much has changed to alter the pay per head sites early prediction for 2018.
Opposing offenses and running backs know the Dolphins LBs over pursue. This is game planned in to take advantage of this tendency… week after week.
McMillan and to a lesser extent Kiko are certainly not the only reason for the defense’s failures. Secondary breakdowns and lack of pass rush aren’t due to their failings. But, you can’t have this defensive scheme with a lost Mike LB who can’t shed and is slow as paint drying.
My problem with Matt Burke isn’t his calls… it’s sticking with McMillan.
Yes, McMillan is a 2nd Round pick. He may have the game slow down for him at some point and make an impact. And there’s no doubt McMillan is a great kid. But right now, he’s a complete liability and accentuates Kiko’s weakness.
Together McMillan and Kiko aren’t good enough to have a winning season.
Maybe if Kiko was more disciplined it would lessen McMillan as a liability. Maybe if Kiko and Baker were bigger and better shedders, McMillan’s inability to get off blocks wouldn’t be so bad. This isn’t even cracking open McMillan’s issues in coverage. But wouldn’t it be easier to have had a backup plan? This is always the problem when you guarantee a starting spot to an unknown. Gase and Burke have bet heart of the defense on McMillan… and so far they have lost. They might lose it all on this gamble. Go Phins!!!