Turning up heat on rookie QB key vs. Patriots
MIAMI GARDENS — The Miami Dolphins need to bring the jalapeno, that scotch bonnetlike heat to Gillette Stadium.
Miami needs to make it hot for Mac Jones, even with that massive offensive line the New England Patriots will have in front protecting him.
If the Dolphins can’t pressure a rookie quarterback in his first NFL start — while most likely working with a limited playbook and having minimal knowledge of a complex NFL defense — they just wasted the last three seasons on this rebuild because an AFC East title won’t be on the horizon anytime soon.
If the Dolphins can’t apply pressure to Jones in his first start, what chance does Miami have to finally play well against Buffalo’s Josh Allen?
A season-opening game shouldn’t be the litmus test for the improvements Miami’s defense has made, but there is no better opportunity to show that defensive coordinator Josh Boyer’s unit will remain a top-10 defense than Sunday’s game against a rebuilding Patriots team.
Let us have a moment of honesty about the Patriots in life after Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski and now Julian Edelman.
New England will likely feature a physical run game, as they have for the past several years, but the Patriots don’t have a single offensive weapon that scares anyone in the NFL.
Nelson Agholor was their top offensive addition in free agency.
Yes, that Nelson Agholor, who a frustrated Eagles fan created a viral moment a few years ago because of his struggles catching the ball.
That’s not to say tight ends Jonnu Smith, a former Florida International standout, and Hunter Henry don’t have accomplished resumes, or that Jakobi Meyers, Gunner Olszewski and Kendrick Bourne can’t blossom into the next Wes Welker in New England’s offense.
But no coach is red-dotting those receivers in the film room, putting Dolphins players on high alert in film sessions when they get on the field. At least not now.
Xavien Howard, Byron Jones, Eric Rowe and Justin Coleman should be able to lock down the Patriots passing game, freeing up the front seven to put pressure against the rookie quarterback.
And if Boyer struggles to dial up enough plays to make Jones uncomfortable and switch looks to keep him guessing before the snap, potentially forcing him to hold onto the ball too long, there’s bigger issues that will likely carry on throughout the season — unless Jones turns into the second coming of Brady.
While the national media is hyping the Jones vs. Tua Tagovailoa matchup, showcasing the two former Alabama teammates, the game’s outcome will likely be determined by Miami’s ability to make Jones uncomfortable.
“I’d like to think we’re always trying to disguise and create a situation where it’s not easy for the quarterback. I’d like to think that. I think that’s always part of the game plan,” coach Brian Flores said, referring to Miami’s hybrid 3-4 defense, which primarily applies pressure through linebacker blitzes. “That player has the ball in his hands on every snap, so if you can disrupt that player, then you have a good chance of creating disruptive plays.”
This doesn’t have to be a five-sack performance from Emmanuel Ogbah and the rest of the defense. The bar isn’t set that high.
Half a dozen or more pressures and quarterback hits will be just fine because those types of plays are just as important as sacks, especially against a rookie who doesn’t have the athleticism of Cam Newton. Jones replaced the veteran starter after the Patriots released the former MVP to gift-wrap the starting job to their 2021 first-round pick.
It’ll be a while before we know if Jones is destined for greatness. But the early reviews on the improvements Miami should have made to their pressure packages — with the additions of Jaelan Phillips, Adam Butler and Brennan Scarlett — and the expected improvements from Andrew Van Ginkel, Jerome Baker, Zach Sieler, Christian Wilkins and Raekwon Davis will be delivered by Sunday night.
Let us hope it’s a spicy one.