Wake and Quinn must lead the way against Darnold and the Jets
If the Dolphins Miami want to be 2-0 they’ll need their pass rush to come alive and get to the New York Jets Quarterback.
The best sportsbook software providers have predicted that the Jets and the Dolphins would battle for the last place in the AFCE this year. However, both teams are 1-0 going into Week 2. Only one of the two teams will be 2-0 going into Week 3.
Todd Bowles and the Jets are coming off of an impressive road victory in Detroit. Rookie QB Sam Darnold played an efficient first game and is the new ‘little darling’ of the league.
Sure he started off the game with a pick 6, but after that Darnold showed poise in the pocket and played like a vet in his first NFL start. Darnold had a ton of help from his running game which gouged the Lions Defense for 169 yards. He also had little pressure to deal with from the Detroit Lions.
How about we give Darnold 2 games before he’s crowned ‘Broadway Joe 2.0’?
Miami will obviously have to stop or slow the Jets rushing attack. It goes without saying that an effective run defense is a force multiplier towards an effective pass rush.
The Jets run game is death by a thousand cuts. While the Jets RB’s aren’t blazers, Raekwon McMillan is very slow. If he doesn’t diagnose fast to compensate, chunk plays off the edge are a strong possibility. But chunk plays in the run game are low on the totem pole of Phins defensive concerns…
…unless you get this:
McMillan does get caught up in the wrong hole more than he should just like Jared Davis was here, but this was an awful alignment on 2nd and 6. I have never seen Burke leave the MLB naked like this… thankfully.
So, Miami’s primary concern should be the pass.
Jets like to run rubs, crosses, and attack the medium middle and outs… with an occasional deep play sprinkled in. They often run a few layers of receivers in a tight area to confuse and jam defender’s lanes. This gives Darnold multiple options in a single window. Pretty smart play designs if you ask me.
The Jets gameplan will likely put Kiko and McMillan in the spotlight.
Mcmillan has struggled in coverage due to poor diagnosis and lack of speed and agility.
But, it’s the last Jets pass play above that worries me.
Jets have a tendency to pull defenses shallow with a high volume of runs and medium depth pass attacks throughout the 1st half. Then at the end of the 2nd Qtr, they run a fly to Robby Anderson. Given Bowles ability and the talent of this Jets defense, this should be a close game unless something goes very right for Miami. An easy score could be the difference in the game.
Remember the play below and how it changed the momentum of the 2017 Dolphins / Jets game?
Anderson has the speed to run past any of the Dolphins defenders in man coverage should their technique slip. Jones and McDonald are too slow to get there to help in time in Single High, and Anderson will blow the top off Cover Two Zone unless they see the route early. The only Safety I feel comfortable to consistently stop this play consistently is Fitzpatrick.
Sure hope Burke doesn’t get out of sorts on this one.
This is why the pass rush will be so crucial.
Darnold has been accurate to go along with excellent diagnosis, an understanding of his progressions, and the ability to perform well on a mobile platform.
The Dolphins have invested heavily to bring talented pass rushers on the team. The time is now for Wake and Quinn to show up in a big way. The Dolphins failed to get a sack or a QB hit against Marcus Mariota and Blaine Gabbert, which is concerning. I get it, though, as the Defensive Ends were excellent in run stop and gap control…
…But this week it’s critical that Miami applies a lot more pressure.
Darnold had a reputation for turning the ball over in college. So you can bet that once a team gets in Darnold’s face, it won’t be all roses and lollipops for him. This is a game that Wake and Quinn must be chomping at the bit to make sure Darnold gets a proper Miami Dolphins welcome. Let’s hope Darnold ends up a pinata.
What are the rest of the Miami Dolphins news fans thoughts on the keys to the upcoming AFC East rival matchup with the Jets?
Let’s hope he is Broadway Joe. Joe was the most overrated bum in history. Lets hope he isn’t Ken Obrien.
Hahahha, true… Namath produced TD’s and yards but loved his interceptions. Yesterday’s game was Namath like.