STOP ACTION
Third-down conversions have been difficult for the Dolphins
DAVIE — There is an anchor that has been weighing down the Miami Dolphins offense for three consecutive seasons, if not longer. Week after week, season after season, coach Adam Gase’s offense has had a decent amount of success moving the ball on first and second down. Then the offense typically stalls on third down, the most important down in football because success keeps drives alive.
The Dolphins offense is converting 32 percent of third downs this season. The only teams that have been worse are the New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals, two franchises led by rookie quarterbacks. Each team has converted only 49 third downs.
And this is not a new problem. It has been an issue all three seasons Gase has called plays and all six seasons Ryan Tannehill has been Miami’s starting quarterback.
“We have tried everything,” Gase said when asked if he’s changed his approach this season. “It’s just the way it is right now. We just have to keep working on it.”
Miami’s coaches and players believe they have a good grasp on what the problem is: It’s penalties and negative
plays that create difficult down-and-distance situations.
On third-down opportunities that range from 7 to 9 yards, the Dolphins have converted 22 percent (7-of-31). Miami is converting 16 percent (8-of-48) of third downs of 10 or more yards.
“That’s definitely an area we need to play better at,” offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains said. “That’s definitely been an emphasis for [Tannehill] as well.
“Third down is going to be a key in this game because [the Vikings] are the best in the NFL [at defending that], and they have been for a couple of years.”
The Vikings are holding opponents to a conversion rate of 29.7 percent on third-down plays. Loggains credits the Vikings’ blitzing package, which has produced 38 sacks this season.
Minnesota consistently puts two linebackers in the A-gap — between the offensive guards — and rushes six defenders.
“We need to do a good job with protection, and Ryan needs to see the coverage and make sure he gets the ball to the open guy,” Loggains said.
Tannehill is completing 54.9 percent of his thirddown passes, throwing for 322 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. He has a 77.4 passer rating on third down. For comparison sake, Tannehill has a 117.2 passer rating on first down and a 115.2 rating on second down.
“We have to do a way better job on first and second [down],” right tackle Ja’Wuan James said. “The times we’re in those [third-down] situations we put ourselves in those situations, whether it’s a penalty [or a play] we didn’t execute right. We find ourselves in a position where we’re like, ‘It’s another third down. Here’s a chance for the defense to tee off with their thirddown blitzes.’ ”
And that’s exactly what Miami knows is coming against Minnesota (6-6-1). As a result of their thirddown struggles the Dolphins have the shortest time of possession in the NFL at 27 minutes, 57 seconds.
The Cardinals are the only team that averages fewer offensive plays per game (55.5) than the Dolphins.
Last season the Dolphins averaged 62.2 plays per game (ranked 22nd), and the season before Miami was last as it averaged 57.4 plays.
Gase knows his offense won’t thrive until a solution to the third-down woes is found, and he believes he has one.
“We’ve got to get it to the guys that can get us a first down, whether it be running the ball, catching it [or] whatever it is,” Gase said. “Right now I think we’re open for business when it comes to trying some different stuff when we need to and when the situation calls for it.
“We need to just get the ball into the guys’ [hands] that can make plays.”