The three-1 Miami Dolphins will face the New York Jets (2-2) on the street Sunday in Week 5 of the season; listed here are some keys to the sport to look at for:
QB Teddy Bridgewater shifting the offense
That is the primary measuring stick for fulfillment in opposition to the Jets, partly as a result of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (concussion protocol) was taking part in so properly, and partly as a result of Bridgewater is a backup. Bridgewater’s job is pretty easy — get the ball within the fingers of huge receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Interval.
It doesn’t matter whether or not it’s a jet sweep, quick, intermediate or deep route, no matter. Regulate Jets cornerbacks Sauce Gardner and D.J. Reed. They might trigger issues for Bridgewater (not Hill). However we noticed Bridgewater scramble for an 11-yard achieve final week vs. the Bengals, which provides the Jets one thing to think about. Plus, safeties Jordan Whitehead and Lamarcus Joyner may be had. So long as Bridgewater stays away from turnovers, he’ll give the Dolphins an opportunity to win.
Protection coming alive for routine performs
The protection wants to seek out consistency. The Dolphins protection is twenty eighth in yards allowed (403 per sport), thirty first in passing yards allowed (299.3 per sport), eleventh in dashing yards allowed (103.8 per sport), sixteenth in factors allowed (22.8 per sport), tied for twenty ninth in sacks (seven), and thirtieth in third-down conversions allowed (50%). But the Dolphins have a 3-1 report.
The protection has made large performs (Jevon Holland interception ultimately zone vs. New England, goal-line stand and fourth-quarter fourth-down cease at Baltimore, strip-sacks, Melvin Ingram landing on fumble restoration to call just a few) however it hasn’t persistently made the routine play. The entrance seven hasn’t persistently pressured quarterbacks and the secondary hasn’t persistently denied completions. Jets quarterback Zach Wilson (18 of 36, 252 yards, one landing, two interceptions, 59.0 passer ranking) made his return from a knee harm final Sunday vs. the Steelers and huge receivers Garrett Wilson (20 receptions, 255 yards, two touchdowns), Elijiah Moore (15 receptions, 192 yards) and Corey Davis (15 receptions, 261 yards, two touchdowns) will profit. And keep watch over tight finish Taylor Conklin (21 receptions, 192 yards, one landing).
Operating sport getting going
With Bridgewater beginning at quarterback, this may be time to get the operating sport going and provides him some assist. The Dolphins are twenty ninth within the league in dashing yards (69.3 per sport). Coach Mike McDaniel stated the Dolphins want a extra concerted effort on getting the run sport going from coaches to gamers, that means the struggles transcend operating backs Raheem Mostert (39 carries, 147 yards, 3.8 ypc) and Chase Edmonds (28 carries, 85 yards, 3.0 ypc).
The Jets are thirteenth in run protection (108.8 yards per sport) so that they’re respectable, however not fierce. Granted, the Jets have large our bodies up entrance between tackles Quinnen Williams, Solomon Thomas and Sheldon Rankins. However the Dolphins’ offensive line, led by heart Connor Williams and left deal with Terron Armstead, should meet the problem. In any other case, the offense is prone to wrestle other than large performs.
Particular groups enchancment
That is now on the “involved” stage as a result of it’s been quite a lot of issues over a time frame whether or not it’s the 103-yard kickoff return for a landing allowed at Baltimore, the “butt punt” in opposition to Buffalo, or lacking an additional level and having a 52-yard discipline aim try blocked at Cincinnati.
Granted, particular groups has made performs equivalent to Emmanuel Ogbah getting a hand on a discipline aim try in opposition to Buffalo, or punter Thomas Morstead working together with his punt staff, particularly cornerbacks Keion Crossen and Justin Bethel, to persistently nail opponents contained in the their 20-yard line. The difficulty is every of the aforementioned missteps have price the Dolphins factors. Finally that catches as much as groups.
Dolphins DBs vs. Jets WRs
Cornerback well being is a giant issue right here. Xavien Howard is day-to-day whereas battling a groin ailment. Byron Jones (leg) doesn’t appear prone to be activated from the physically-unable-to-perform checklist forward of this matchup, and Crossen is getting therapy for an higher leg/glute ailment. Regardless of the case, cornerbacks equivalent to Crossen, Kader Kohou and Nik Needham, and presumably Noah Igbinoghene, must be sharp, and so do the safeties, Holland and Brandon Jones.
If there’s a cornerback disaster, bear in mind security Eric Rowe has cornerback expertise. The Jets’ huge receivers trio of Wilson, Davis and Moore is sweet sufficient to create main complications, particularly contemplating how the Dolphins’ secondary performed in that deciding fourth quarter of the loss at Cincinnati when Howard left the sport with the groin ailment. It was ugly. The Bengals had completions of 43, 36, 22 and 14 yards. They accomplished passes quick, intermediate and lengthy, and bought loads of yards after the catch. That may’t occur in opposition to the Jets whether or not or not Howard performs.
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