Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Grades a mixed bag as win streak reaches 3
The Miami Dolphins appear to be hitting their stride.
The defense has tightened, and the offense seems to be executing at a respectable level with Tua Tagovailoa at the helm.
That’s the best way to explain how the Dolphins (4-7) delivered the team’s third-straight win with a 24-17 victory over the New York Jets.
The one concerning aspect about the team the past few weeks is that Miami has played to the caliber of its opponents. That is beneficial when they are facing a Super Bowl contender such as the Baltimore Ravens, but could be a negative when facing a disappointing team like the Jets.
Here is the South Florida Sun Sentinel’s report card, evaluating how the Dolphins performed against the Jets:
Passing game: B
Tagovailoa delivered his third 100-plus passer rating game of the seasons (of his seven games played in 2021), completing 27-of-33 passes for 273 yards with two touchdowns. If he didn’t throw an early interception, this performance would have been a contender for his best NFL game, because he was efficient on third downs and threw the longest pass of his career. It should also be pointed out that Sunday’s game was the second this season in which Miami’s offensive line didn’t give up a sack.
Running game: A
The Dolphins have remained committed to the run game for five weeks, but have seen little benefit from that commitment until Sunday, when Myles Gaskin gained 89 of the team’s 115 rushing yards. The Dolphins averaged 3.5 yards on 33 carries, but plenty of that has to do with the two second-half drives that not only produced 10 points, but ate up 14 minutes of game time, allowing the Dolphins to seal the win.
Defending the pass: C
In his first start of the season Joe Flacco looked like a decent NFL starter against Miami. The 14-year veteran completed 24-of-39 passes for 291 yards and threw two touchdown passes. He was sacked twice, but didn’t throw any interceptions. Jets rookie Elijah Moore, a speedster that the Dolphins don’t exactly have a cornerback to defend, put together a career best performance, catching 8 of 11 passes thrown his way for 141 yards, which included a 62-yard touchdown catch.
Defending the run: D
Jet rookie Michael Carter was carving up the Dolphins defense early in the game, gaining 63 yards on nine carries before leaving the game with an ankle injury. The Jets basically quit trying to run the ball in the second half, but still finished the game with 102 rushing yards on 18 carries. Allowing an opponent like the Jets who have struggled running the ball to average 5.7 yards per carry isn’t good and might become problematic for the Dolphins in the coming weeks.
Special teams: D
The Dolphins special teams unit continues to disappoint because the return game is nonexistent, and Jason Sanders continues to miss field goals. Jaylen Waddle handled the first returnable kickoff of the game as if he had no business being back there as a returner, gaining 16 yards. Jevon Holland presents little threat as a punt returner. At this point, the Dolphins might need to explore adding a return specialist to the team’s practice squad just in case.
Coaching: A
The Dolphins’ run-pass-option offense seems to be blossoming with Tagovailoa behind center. The Dolphins are having success producing extended drives that end with points. The offense is committing fewer penalties, which is a step in the right direction, because fewer drives are being stalled. Offenses seem to be catching up with Miami’s amoeba blitzing defense, so it would be wise for defensive coordinator Josh Boyer to switch some things up with his approach to pressuring opposing quarterbacks.
Stock up
Tight end Durham Smythe caught 4 of 5 passes thrown his way, contributing 37 receiving yards. He was also a force blocking on the line of scrimmage, helping Miami jump-start the run game. The 221 yards worth of receptions Smythe has produced on 20 catches has eclipsed the season-high (208 yards) he recorded last year, and his 11.1 average per reception this season is also his career best. This indicates that there could be more meat on the bone from Smythe when it comes to offensive production.
Stock down
Cornerback Byron Jones has had quite a second season with the Dolphins, one where his play is rarely noticed. But against the Jets it was clear Jones couldn’t handle the speed that Moore brought, and the 62-yard touchdown catch Moore delivered was Jones’ fault for getting beat at the line of scrimmage and diving to unsuccessfully knock down the pass. Jones, who has contributed 44 tackles, eight deflected passes and forced one fumble, must become more of a playmaker for this Dolphins defense to thrive.