Playoff Hopes Rise And Falls With Dolphins Defense
When Suh and Wake dominate, the Dolphins defense rolls.
Suh & Wake are the superstars on the Dolphins defense, they must shine in Pittsburgh.
The Miami Dolphins are in the playoffs for the first time since 2008, but there are few in the football world that are giving them even the slightest chance to be anything more than a ‘one and done’ in the 2016 Playoffs.
Miami is the biggest underdog of the Wild Card Playoff weekend at -10 points. Even though they beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in Miami in Week 6, over 2 1 / 2 months ago, the Steelers are playing much better since then and are considered one of the top 3 teams in the AFC.
Pittsburgh is far more healthy this time when 6 starters were sidelined.
All three of the Steelers ‘Big Three’ on offense are healthy and licking their chops at getting revenge.
Running Back Le’Veon Bell is at full strength and has been arguably the best running back in the league amassing 835 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns over the last 6 games.
It also also appears Ben Roethlisberger has fully healed from his knee injury that he suffered while playing the Dolphins. He took off Week 17 to make sure he was as close to fully healed as he could get.
Miami is going to need to find a way to stop these two Super Stars along with shutting down All-Pro Wide Receiver Antonio Brown.
Considering that Miami’s has allowed a whopping 69 points and 985 yards over the last two games, it is clear why all the best pay per head bookie service sites are not giving Miami much of a chance in this upcoming Wild Card game: the Dolphins Defense, or lack thereof.
The old axiom has proven true for the most part: defense wins championship.
Coach Adam Gase has already called out his Dolphins defense, demanding that they must play better.
Yes, Miami is extremely banged up in the secondary and linebacking units; but, this is the NFL, and injuries are a part of the game. The reality is next man up must fill the void.
That could be the case with Byron Maxwell who missed Wednesday’s practice. His appearance or absence could swing the pendulum hard either way if the next man up doesn’t step up. Maxwell limited Brown in the first meeting, if he’s not in will either Howard or Lippett do the same?
Beyond all the gloom and doom, the Dolphins do have two superstars in Ndamukong Suh and Cameron Wake who will be the two most dominant defensive players on either team come Sunday.
They must shine with a dominating performance.
Suh must command double teams…and break them. In recent weeks, he has been moved out on occasion without the need of doubles. That can’t happen this week. Also, he needs to generate more pressure. But…
…this will be a lot easier if Jordan Phillips decides to play even a dozen snaps that meet up to his talent. You saw in the early 3rd against the Pats how Phillips can dominate when he wants to. The problem is, his want seems to not want to all that much. This game will be a big indicator on Phillips future. Questions on whether he’ll ever raise his motor to be anything more than a rotational player will likely get answered this week. If he can’t get up for this one, then it’s not a good sign that he will.
Then there is Wake.
Wake is getting his first Playoff game. This long, long awaited moment is finally here for him and his fans. Wake never gives less than a 110%, but this week, he must dig even deeper. Superstars can at times get into a place where their game elevates to a supernal level for a stretch. If Wake can seize this moment with that kind of elite game play, Miami will not be a one and done.
The question is will Suh and Wake reach that gear this week?
Tough defense will allow Miami to be patient with their running game.
Then there is Vance Jospeh.
He didn’t walk into a job with a defense burgeoning with talent. Then add to it the injuries, and the fact this is his first year as a D.C. But, his bag of tricks needs to expand this week and needs to have the fewest holes he has had this season.
I liked his hire nearly from the day he was hired. Watching his demeanor, I grew to liking him a lot. I think he is an excellent teacher, motivator, communicator and man of character. But, the natural learning curve of a position coach who moves to a coordinator for the first time has cost the team on occasion.
Miami can’t afford that his week…or slow starts on offense, but let’s stick to the defense.
I know I’m stating the obvious: Joseph must call the game of his career. But, when I say this, its not so much that he must have brilliantly timed calls that turn the game on its head, but he must eliminate poor calls and bring some new nuances to his scheme on occasion to spice up the vanilla ‘over shell-coverage’.
Roethlisberger is one of the best QB’s of this generation, and he has tape and an intimate experience against this ‘D’. Vanilla defense just won’t cut it this time, especially when and if the pressure wains.
Miami’s fortunes will rest on the shoulders of this Dolphins defense that has been a bit of a pariah of late. Will they rise with the tide of Playoff caliber football, or will Miami’s Post Season fortunes drown with their failure? Go Fins!!!
Do we move on from Brandon Albert?
I have kinda been on the fence with this. However; the more I have looked into this, The more I believe it would be best to move on at Bradon’s current salary. We would save 7.5 million while replacing Albert with one of the top up and coming LTs that is 10 years younger. Albert has not be able to stay healthy for a full season since he signed w Miami. Plus the 7.5 million saved can be used to sign one of the top young guards via free agency. It would be a win win for Miami and Miami’s O-Line all together for’17 season and beyond.
46 TD’s scored by the Dolphins is the most they have had since 1995 when they also scored 46 TD’s. That was Don Shula’s last year as our coach. Gase did what all those other coaches in between couldn’t.
How about that nugget!
Hoping for a Miami victory Sunday so we can go to New England and shock the world 🙂
J-Train Rolls HOOT!!!HOOT!!!
SWEET nugget!!! I’m starting to see some light in Miami…like the fact Mario is playing…it’s his first Post Season game…he might actually give his all on this one and that could make a difference.. They cut Jones today, so that might mean they believe too!!!
It is going to come down to time of possession. Ajayi could make life much easier for all, but I could see this staff just trying to dink and dunk w laundry, Sims, Parker if there are 8 guys in the box. That could be successful, but boring (all right w me). After all, all they are is extended hand-offs.
Lemmus, we no longer are patching. That is what the previous 4 regimes did. This is a team,and this staff, this organization fills. We need to fill a guard (or two), 2 LBers, the rest is luxury. Exciting isn’t it. I don’t see this as Wakes lone play-off game, he’s going to have another next week :), if not we will be back next year and so will Wake 🙂 🙂 🙂
I’m not sure what to expect Sunday. I can truly see a case for either team to win. I will tell you that “if” Miami had Jones, Pouncey, Tannehill, Isa. Maxwell there I would have no doubt.
Here’s to a great year. maybe, just maybe I will see them win a Super Bowl in my lifetime. Because I damn sure doubted it just one year ago.
J-Train rolls. HOOT!!! HOOT!!!
…all true …and yet, its still going to come down to Ajayi vs Bell …if our defense can stop Bell and their defense can’t stop Ajayi, we win …if not, it has been a damn good year and we can look forward to FA and the draft patching holes in the OL, LB, and DE
…Ajayi had his first 200 yd game against this defense …but they were missing starters on both sides …and we didn’t face Bell who has been the best RB in the league the past weeks
…Gase and Joseph will have an impact, no doubt …but its the guys on the field who will win or lose …Wake is near the end and may be playing the sole playoff game of his career …that’s got to be a major motivator …getting Maxwell back would help of course, but I’m not in the camp that wants to start Tannehill at risk of further exacerbating his injury …Moore is not the future but he is the now …so far, his QBR is 106 as a 2016 starter …unless Tannehill is fully recovered, Moore should start
…side note …both of you guys have done a fair job here this season …enough so that I’ve stopped even looking at the Sentinel and Herald coverage …especially since the improvements in how the site works …hope for even in ’17, eh
It’s good news jenkins will play and is ‘healthy’. He did a decent job on Bell. Maxwell doesn’t seem like he’ll be there and that’s bad. Steelers have given up 25 sacks in their last 7 games, so their is hope Miami can get some big plays…still not sure on how I feel this week. Trying to do some watching of the first meeting and see some recent Steelers games to get a vibe either way….