We’ve seen spectacular stuff at occasions from the Dolphins’ offensive line by way of two video games. They haven’t been flawless. However they’ve given successful efforts, stored the sacks low and opened a couple of holes within the operating video games. And the way in which the Dolphins inform the story, lots of credit score goes to left deal with Terron Armstead.
“You’re speaking a couple of professional’s professional,” Dolphins offensive line coach Matt Applebaum mentioned.
Sure, normal supervisor Chris Grier and his workers, coach Mike McDaniel, offensive coordinator Frank Smith, Applebaum and plenty of others, led by the linemen themselves, deserve credit score for the offensive line’s efficiency.
However Armstead, the nine-year veteran, three-time Professional Bowl choice and free agent signee from New Orleans, has been essential within the early-season growth course of. It even goes past the offensive line.
“I believe he has a ripple impact on the workforce,” Applebaum mentioned. “I believe it’s been like that because the day he joined the workforce.”
Within the game-winning drive in final week’s 42-38 victory at Baltimore, there are snapshots of Armstead speaking to the offense with calming phrases.
“I noticed that little clip,” Applebaum mentioned. “I believe that was a cool second, however that’s one thing that he brings to the desk daily.”
Armstead, who was questionable final week with a toe harm and has been restricted this week because of the identical ailment, leads the offensive line’s cost towards a military of Buffalo Payments cross rushers this week, led by Von Miller and Greg Rosseau and backed by Boogie Basham and A.J. Epenesa.
The Dolphins’ offensive line, which additionally contains heart Connor Williams, left guard Liam Eichenberg, proper guard Robert Hunt and proper deal with Greg Little, would be the underdogs in a battle towards Buffalo’s entrance seven.
The Payments’ entrance, led by tackles Ed Oliver and DaQuan Jones, Miller, Rousseau and linebackers Tremaine Edmunds, Matt Milano and Terrel Bernard, is fierce. They spearhead a protection that ranks second within the league with 9.0 sacks, second in yards allowed per recreation (149.0) and second in factors allowed per recreation (8.5). And so they generate a powerful cross rush whereas not often blitzing. They’re thirty first within the 32-team NFL in blitz frequency (7.8%).
The Dolphins will depend on Armstead dealing with whoever the Payments put in entrance of him, one-on-one.
Applebaum mentioned Armstead is “a really sensible, articulate man [who] is aware of not solely what he must do, however what everybody must be doing when it comes to scheme, method and similar to conduct stuff.”
Armstead, for now, is perhaps the only largest issue to on-field success for the offensive line. Keep watch over him Sunday towards Buffalo and Miller.
Extra kudos for Kohou
Kader Kohou, the undrafted rookie cornerback from Texas A&M-Commerce, is among the many Dolphins’ most nice early-season surprises. He made an influence within the opener towards New England with a pressured fumble and deal with for a loss, and he began the second half final week at Baltimore.
Sam Madison, the Dolphins’ cornerbacks/defensive cross recreation specialist, mentioned he likes Kohou’s mindset.
“He goes on the market and he simply works,” Madison mentioned. “So it’s simply enjoyable to have the ability to watch the issues that he’s been in a position to do since he’s been right here. Simply having the ability to discuss by way of some issues with him after which goes on the market and applies them. However he’s a hard-nosed, powerful, little, younger nook, and we attempt to get him in after we can.”
Search for Kohou, who has 5 tackles, and, sure, is the league’s highest-rated cornerback by Professional Soccer Focus regardless of solely enjoying 43 snaps, to be a serious contributor towards Buffalo.
Taking part in sensible with Hill and Waddle
Large receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, maybe the NFL’s most harmful duo, have every had double-digit targets in at the very least one of many opening video games. Hill had 13 targets towards Baltimore and 12 towards New England whereas Waddle had 19 targets towards Baltimore and 5 towards New England.
Though it’s tempting to get the ball to at least one or the opposite as typically as doable, extensive receivers coach Wes Welker mentioned don’t essentially anticipate one in all them to have double-digit targets every recreation.
“We nonetheless wish to give them the ball, however we additionally don’t wish to be dumb about it,” Welker mentioned. “In the event that they’re giving us alternatives to have the ability to run the soccer and do these various things, we undoubtedly wish to reap the benefits of regardless of the protection goes to have the ability to give us, and so they perceive that.”
To assist illustrate how the Dolphins use Hill, contemplate he has six targets of 20 or extra yards upfield and 5 targets behind the road of scrimmage, based on Professional Soccer Focus.
They’re all coronary heart
Miami’s protection started the week twenty first in cross protection (372 yards per recreation) and seventeenth in rush protection (116.5 yards per recreation). These aren’t favorable numbers when dealing with Buffalo, which ranks fourth in passing offense (302.5 ypg) and 14th in rush offense (111.0 ypg).
Dolphins defensive coordinator Josh Boyer mentioned what they lack in statistics, they make up for with coronary heart.
“I believe it’s a credit score to our gamers that they actually defend each blade of grass that’s on the market,” mentioned Boyer, whose protection is sixth in blitz frequency at 39.1%. “Now, it doesn’t all the time work in our favor. However we’re going to get that effort and I believe they know and perceive what we’re attempting to defend whereas we’re on the market.”
The air present
You already know Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (739 yards, seven touchdowns, two interceptions, 116.5 passer ranking) and Payments quarterback Josh Allen (614 yards, seven touchdowns, two interceptions, 123.7 passer ranking) have equally gaudy numbers.
However a couple of different measurables point out Sunday is perhaps a pass-happy recreation.
The Dolphins are sixth in yards gained per completion (12.5) and the Payments are ninth (11.8). Each groups have seven receiving touchdowns, tied for the league lead.
Past that, Dolphins extensive receivers Hill (25 targets, tied for second most in NFL) and Waddle (24 targets, fifth) and Payments extensive receiver Stefon Diggs (23 targets, seventh) have been utilized closely of their first two video games.
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