Dolphins defense has improved, but Flores wants players to maintain focus
Two Arizona Cardinals players tested positive forCOVID-19 over theweekend, and it’s possible thatmore positive tests could lead to the Miami Dolphins’ next game being rescheduled.
The Cardinals were on their bye lastweek and are scheduled tohost theDolphins(4-3) atState Farm Stadium at 4:25 p.m. on Sunday.
The Cardinals (5-2) planned to practice as scheduledMonday after all of their Sunday coronavirus tests came back negative, coach K li ff Kings bury confirmed to local media. The facility was closed for adeep cleaning before players return for practice.
Cardinals linebacker Devon Kennard tweeted out that he had tested positive, and Arizona placed cornerback Byron Murphy on itsReserve/COVID19 listMonday afternoon.
“Thankfully, I feel completely normal so far,” said Kennard, who has started four of the five games he’s played this season, contributing 10 tackles and two sac ks .“Please keep my family and
I in your prayers as we navigate this. I lookforwardto being back on the field w/my teammates as soon as I amcleared and it’s safe to do so!”
Kingsbury added that contact tracing showed interactions with those testing positivewas limited andthat all the testsdoneSunday came back negative, “so we’re moving forward with[ practice ].”
“It’ll be business as usual,” Kingsbury told Arizona reporters. “I don’t see this being aproblemmoving forward.
Before and after shutting out the lowly New York Jets in Week 6, Flores’ team has been well-prepared to face teams and/or coaches he has had experience against before.
Miami beat Kyle Shanahan’s San Francisco 49ers team in blowout fashion in Week 5 and topped another offensive-minded coach in Sean Mc Vay and the Rams. Flore shad success as a Patriots assistant against both coaches in Super Bowl LI and LIII, respectively.
The Dolphins’ Week 9 match up this coming Sunday on the road against the Arizona Cardinals features not only a respected offensive coach in Kliff Kingsbury, but one of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL in Kyler Murray.
The Dolphins struggled early this season against new Patriots quarterback Cam Newton, Bills starter Josh Allen and Seattle Seahawks star Russell Wilson.
They’ll face Newton and Allen again this season, while preparing for others like Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes, and rookies like the Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Burrow and Los Angeles Chargers’ Justin Herbert later on.
But the Dolphins know slowing the dynamic Murray — the former No. 1 pick who is middle of the pack with 13 touchdowns thrown (13th) anda 71.5 quarterback rating (14th) — could be another big step the defense can take to demonstrate its vast improvement.
“We have a tough opponent this week, and we just have to play good football,” Flores said. “And that starts with practice.”
Here are some other stand out statistics by the Dolphins defense this season:
They have allowed just eight passing touchdowns, tied with the Chicago Bears for fewest in the NFL.
They allow27.7 percent of opponents’ drives to end in a score, which ranks second only behind the Ravens.
They have the secondbest defense on third and fourthdown, allowing teams to convert on just a third of their play son third down and just 27.3 percent of plays on fourth down.
They are tied for second with 13 total takeaways (seven interceptions and six fumbles recovered), while their plus-4 turn over margin ranks fifth in the NFL.
Opposing quarterbacks have an 81.7 passer rating, which ranks fourth, and complete just 61.1 percent of their passes, which ranks fifth.
The Dolphins are also fourth in the NFL with 40 passes defensed and fifth with 49 hits on quarter backs.
“We still have a lot ofw ork to do and we can be better,” safety Bobby Mc Cain said.
“We try not to [focus] on statistics and worry about what people say about usand where we’re ranked here and where we’re ranked there.
“As I say each and every week, it’s coming out and being better. If you were better than you were last week, then you’re doing pretty damn good.”
Several Dolphins players also standout individually based on their play.
Cornerback Xavien Howard, whodropped what would have been his fifth interception in five games against the Rams, still is the NFL co-leader with four interceptions this season.
Safety Eric Rowe, who locks in on opposing tight ends, has nine passes defensed this season, which is tied for third in the NFL.
Defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah has been a welcomed offseason addition as his six sacks and 11 quarterback hits both rank sixth among all defenders. Ogba hand fellow newcomer Kyle Van Noy, an outside linebacker, are tied with a slew of other players with two fumbles forced as well.
Ogbah was also the catalyst for Miami’s first defensive touchdown this season, causing the fumble that outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel recovered and returned 78 yards Sunday.
“I would say our energy,” Van Ginkel said when asked why the defense is playing as well as it has.
“Week in and week out, I think we’re playing for one another, having fun and bring the energy when someone makes a play go be with them and celebrate. That’s a big part, building momentum and relying on one another. I think energy is a huge part of it.”
The Dolphins defense has one area it could improve significantly: Miami’s rushing defense allows opponents to rush for 4.9 yards per carry, which is the fourth-highest average among teams.
It’s one that could hurt them next Sunday against Murray, who leads all NFL players with 6.7 yards per carry and is third with seven rushing touchdowns this season.
“As soon as I’m off of this call, I’m going to try to figure out away to get Kyler Murray and [wide receiver De Andre] Hopkins and [running back Chase] Edmonds and that group contained or limited— or try to do that,” Flores said one answer before wrapping up his Zoom press conference Monday.