The Miami Dolphins’ Week 5 win over the New England Patriots was something however fairly. The staff continues to battle with self-inflicted points. That they had every part go unsuitable on this recreation, from a continuation of pre-snap penalties by means of an interception, a blocked punt, a missed area objective, a botched snap on a area objective, a dumb roughing the passer penalty, and extra. It was ugly, but it surely was a win and sends Miami into their bye week with some optimistic information.
The Dolphins have quite a lot of issues to repair throughout their upcoming bye week. They’ve yet another recreation earlier than beginning quarterback Tua Tagovailoa can return, leaving them no less than yet another begin from Tyler Huntley. Can they repair the offense and put up some factors towards the Indianapolis Colts in two weeks?
We check out who noticed their inventory rise or fall through the staff’s Week 5 win.
Inventory Up
Emmanuel Ogbah, linebacker – Ogbah is listed as a linebacker, however he performs as a hand-in-the-dirt defensive finish and he excels in that function. After seeing him disappear in 2023, Ogbah is again to wanting just like the participant who led Miami in sacks in 2020 and 2021. He recorded 4 tackles and a sack on Sunday and appeared to all the time be across the ball any time the Patriots tried to run it. With linebacker Jaelan Phillips out for the 12 months with a knee harm and linebacker Bradley Chubb nonetheless on the bodily unable to carry out checklist from a knee harm final 12 months. Ogbah serving as a constantly impactful cross rusher and edge setter is large for the Dolphins.
Tyus Bowser, linebacker – Ummmm…who? The Dolphins signed Bowser off the Seattle Seahawks’ observe squad three days in the past. He instantly made an affect for the Dolphins. He was initially credited with a half sack, but it surely was modified to present the complete sack to Ogbah. He solely formally recorded a sort out, however Bowser offered a solidifying function on a protection in want of somebody to fill in instantly. He’s already aware of the premise of the Dolphins’ defensive system after seven years with the Baltimore Ravens and he ought to solely get higher as he will get used to the tweaks and updates defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver has made with the Dolphins.
Jaylen Wright, working again – Wright stepped up down the stretch, recording 13 carries for a team-high 86 speeding yards. He has the velocity to interrupt away, however he additionally just isn’t afraid to run up the center, decrease a shoulder, and attempt to run by means of tacklers. The Dolphins have depth at working again and Wright might shortly pressure the staff into discovering extra methods to get him the ball.
Alec Ingold, fullback – Ingold is such a weapon for the Dolphins to have. He may not be the participant getting the glory on a run, however he’s most likely the man who made the play occur. He appears to reside for making the important thing block that springs his teammate for an enormous acquire. He picks up blitzes and he reads defenses so very nicely. He scored a speeding landing for simply the second time in his profession, the final coming in his first 12 months with Miami in 2022. He has six rushes for 11 yards this season, tied for the second-most speeding makes an attempt he has had in his profession and the second-most speeding yards he has had. Even when he doesn’t carry the ball once more this 12 months, Ingold’s affect on the offense is simple.
Tyler Huntley, quarterback – Huntley was solely 18-for-31 for 194 yards with an interception, so this isn’t an enormous step up on the inventory watch, however he seemed extra competent and cozy with the offense, which does make him no less than noteworthy on this class. It nonetheless appears like the sport is shifting too quick for him at occasions, however when he settles in, he makes good selections. He tends to carry the ball too lengthy, or tries to search out the proper throw quite than run at occasions, however Week 5 was higher than Week 4, which suggests his inventory is shifting up – even whether it is incremental.
Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and Jonnu Smith, extensive receivers and tight finish – These weren’t dominating performances that make the Dolphins’ offense a record-setting unit, however they no less than confirmed sparks of displaying up for the primary time in awhile. Hill had six receptions for 69 yards, Waddle 4 for 46, and Smith 5 for 62. If the Dolphins can get all three of them into rhythm, the offense would possibly cease wanting so stagnant and out of rhythm.
Inventory Down
Danny Crossman, particular groups coordinator – The whole lot concerning the particular groups was tough on Sunday, besides possibly the one return from extensive receiver Braxton Berrios on a shanked kick down the sideline. In any other case, the particular groups had been ugly – and we’re going to pin that on Crossman. The Dolphins had a punt blocked, that they had a area objective try bounce off the upright, they had been referred to as for a false begin on a area objective try, and so they had a snap skim the bottom and result in a turnover on downs – on the sector objective try following the false begin penalty. It was a tough day for the particular groups.
Accidents – The Dolphins can’t keep away from the harm bug. Working again De’Von Achane left the sport with a concussion and security Jevon Holland left with a hand harm. Miami appears to be coping with accidents to key members of the staff in each single recreation this 12 months, and we aren’t even speaking about Tagovailoa being on injured reserve. Achane’s harm is no less than the fourth concussion sustained by a Dolphins participant this 12 months – Tagovailoa, sort out Terron Armstead, and cornerback Kendall Fuller the opposite three.
Mike McDaniel, head coach – The sport planning and play calling simply just isn’t the place it must be. McDaniel must get again to fundamentals and begin taking part in to the staff’s strengths, to not his imaginative and prescient of how the staff ought to play. Huntley is the third beginning quarterback Miami has had in 5 weeks of play. He must take the stress off a participant attempting to run an offense he has solely been in for 3 weeks. When the Dolphins turned to the working recreation down the stretch – regardless of the harm to Achane – the staff discovered success. Follow that, return to being a run-game coordinator, and use the bottom recreation extra. Each play doesn’t must be the proper name to interrupt unfastened for an 80-yard rating. These will come, however get again to the fundamentals and this staff can have success.
Self-discipline – Possibly this must also fall on head coach Mike McDaniel right here, however he can’t management when a participant like Jalen Ramsey decides to hit the opposing quarterback within the face as he runs by him. No cause for the hit – the ball was clearly gone, and Ramsey was wanting towards the cross; he simply stiff-armed Jacoby Brissett within the face. If that had been the one case, Ramsey would possible be listed right here, but it surely was not. The Dolphins once more had cases of unlawful shifts, blocks within the again, and holds. The staff has to play extra disciplined soccer shifting ahead. It isn’t all on the teaching employees – the gamers know tips on how to keep away from penalties like shoving the quarterback’s face.
Offensive line – The road nonetheless wants work. Having Terron Armstead again at left sort out helped, however total the offensive line nonetheless has to get higher. Huntley could maintain the ball too lengthy at occasions, however the offensive line doesn’t all the time give him the time he wants to search out an open receiver. Heart Aaron Brewer’s botched snap was ugly, with everybody else on the offense nonetheless getting settled when Brewer sailed the ball over Huntley’s head simply earlier than the first-half’s two-minute warning.
