Plenty to work on after exciting win

Brian Flores has spent nearly two seasons preaching about the value of playing “team football,” and having all three phases of the Miami Dolphins complement one another.

It appears the Dolphins coach wasn’t just talking to talk. He has actually built a team to execute his vision considering the Dolphins (4-3) have played complementary football since their Sept .24 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Sunday’s 28-17 upset of the Los Angeles Rams is a perfect example of how each unit can pick one another up when one aspect of the team is struggling.

“It’s a total team effort. The phase scan complement each other if you put an emphasis on it ,” Flores said on Monday. “You get what you emphasize. ... We have to continue to stress it’s importance so it’s not just coach speak.”

Here is the South Florida Sun Sentinel’ s report card, evaluating how the Dolphins performed in Sunday’s impressive win over the Rams:

Passing Game: F

Miami’ s passing game was erratic Sunday, spoiling Tua Tagovailoa’s first NFL start. The rookie Miami selected fifth in the 2020 NFL draft completed 12-of-22passes for 93 yards with one touchdown pass (80.3 passer rating). Miami’s passing game was plagued with three drops, and plenty of over thrown passes by Tag ovai lo a. While some might excuse Miami’s struggles on the large early lead the Dolphins were trying to protect in the second half, Miami’s 3-for-12 conversion rate on third down proves that excuse ismore fiction than fact.

Running Game: F

The Dolphins gained 55 rushing yards on 25 carries against one of the most physical defensive fronts in the NFL. Miami’s struggles running the football weren’t just inthe second-half, while the Dolphins were trying to preserve a double-digit lead. The Dolphins gained 28 rushing yards on 10 carries in the first half (2.8 yards per attempt), which shows that Miami’s struggles running the football are the team’s biggest issue on offense. Myles Gaskin gained 47 yards on 18 carries and scored on a 1-yard rushing touchdown. He also fumbled the ball away, committing a turnover while backed near his team’s end zone.

Defending the Pass: A

The Dolphins were masterful at disguising their coverage sand fronts all game, keeping Jared G off guessing, and it led to four turnovers (two interceptions and two sacks that delivered fumbles Miami recovered). G off finished the game completing 35- of -61 passes for 355 yards (65.9 passer rating), and Rams coach Sean McVay took full responsibility for the loss, saying he got out coached. Safety Eric Rowe kept the Rams tight ends from being a factor. Rowe pulled down his first interception of the season, and also broke up a career high five passes while locking down the Rams tight ends.

Defending the Run: D+

It is surprising that the Rams didn’t stay committed to their rushing attack considering how effective it was against Miami. Los Angeles gained 131 yards and scored a rushing touch down on 31 attempts (4.5 yards per carry). And the longest run of the game was 18 yards, which shows that the Rams simply owned the line of scrimmage. The Dolphins need to speed up Rae kw on Davis’ development (4 tackle son Sunday) if they intend to be respectable against the run because the rookie doesn’t play enough snaps, and when he’s on the field he’s not making many plays. Davis is too talented of an athlete to be a non-factor for this defense, especially with Davon Godchaux on injured reserve.

Special Teams: A

Miami’s coaches have said for weeks that all Jakeem Grant needed was one final block and the floodgates would open on returns. He finally got that block against the Rams and delivered a 88-yard punt returned for a touchdown. Grant also had a kickoff return of 45 yards, helping the Dolphins win the field position battle. Jason Sanders didn’t get an opportunity to tie the franchise’s consecutive field goals made record because Miami wasn’t in position to attempt a field goal. But Matt Ha a ck downed five of his nine field goals inside the Rams’ 20.

Coaching: B

Josh Boyer is clearly in a play-calling groove because he’s been dealing a hot hand the past month, contributing to Gardner Minshew, Jimmy Garoppolo and now G off having their worst games this season against Miami. The Dolphins threw so many different fronts and blitzes at Goffit kept his head spinning. This game shows the Dolphins possess one of the NFL’s best defenses in 2020. If only the offense could match it, Miami would bea title contender. Offensive coordinator Chan G ailey has work to do to figure out how to make an offensive custom-fit for Tagavailoa.

Stock Up

Rowe has been the Dolphins most consistent players all season, routinely taking the opponent’s best tight end out of the game plan with his coverage. Against the Rams, Rowe registered seven tackles, intercepted his first passof the season, and broke up a career-high five passes. The converted cornerback is coming into his own as Miami’s starting strong safety, as a tightend eraser. If he would have pulled down the interception he dropped, which could have been a pick-six, Rowe might have been the AFC’s Defensive Player of the Week.

Stock Down

Gaskin began this season as a feel-good story, a 2019 seventh-round pick who worked his way up the depth chart to earn a starting spot. But as the season has progressed Gaskin — who gained 47 rushing yards on 18 carries and caught three of six passes thrown hisway against the Rams for 16 receiving yards— has looked quite pedestrian. Gaskin, who averages a teamhigh 19.2 touches or targets a game, needs to deliver more than 3.9 yards per carry and 6.7 yards per reception if he wants to keep the Dolphins’ starting tailback job. The Dolphins’ inept run game will hold this offense back unless it improves.