Miami plans to be more physical
Dolphins looking for revenge in rematch
DAVIE — When last seen, the Miami Dolphins — who have won back-to-back games — seemed on the verge of exciting things.
They were aggressive. They were physical. The Dolphins (3-2) were everything they weren’t three weeks ago when they lost to today’s opponent, the surprising New York Jets (3-3).
“The first time we played them,” wide receiver Jarvis Landry said of that 20-6 loss to the Jets on Sept. 24, the game in which the Dolphins scored on the final play to avoid a shutout, “they got after us pretty good.”
This has been perhaps the biggest theme of the past week for the Dolphins, especially offensively — be the aggressor, don’t get pushed around by the Jets, again.
“Come out stronger,” running back Jay Ajayi said. “Start fast from the first quarter, really execute, and really just set the tone early.”
That’d mean duplicating what
they did in the second half of last week’s 20-17 victory at Atlanta.
The defense, one of two in the NFL to not allow more than 20 points in a game this season, held the Falcons scoreless in the last two quarters of the game.
The offense, which has been an anchor, averaging 10.3 points per game heading into the game against the Falcons, produced a gritty 20 second-half points to complete the rousing come-from-behind road victory. That was a huge surprise, and a huge confidence boost.
So now the Jets come to town.
“These guys handed it to us last time,” quarterback Jay Cutler said.
Miami is determined to maintain its aggressive mindset.
Offensively, that starts with running the ball effectively with Ajayi, who has been held to 67 yards in the past two games against the Jets, including 16 yards on 11 carries earlier this season.
“I think it’s pretty obvious that when our run game is having success, it really kind of helps everybody else out,” coach Adam Gase said. “It helps our play-action game, it helps our dropback game as well, because there’s that doubt that it’s not a pass. It could be a run.
“It slows the pass rush down a little bit and the games that we’ve struggled in have started there, where we haven’t been able to run the ball.”
Whether center Mike Pouncey (concussion) plays remains in question, but his presence could only help with the running game and pass protection.
In the passing game, wide receiver DeVante Parker, the most dynamic playmaker in the bunch, is expected to be out for the second consecutive week with an ankle injury.
But it’d help if Miami would catch the passes Cutler throws. The Dolphins have 10 drops the past two weeks. Those are drive-killers, and aggression killers.
Cutler downplayed the problem.
“Whether it’s lack of concentration or me putting the ball in a little bit different place for them,” he said, “it’ll come.”
But it’s a big deal to Gase, who is regarded as a passing-game guru.
Defensively, the Dolphins, who rank 11th in total defense (315.4 yards allowed per game), fourth against the run (80.4) and third in points per game (16.8), might be better than the first time they played the Jets. They have three new starters — middle linebacker Rey Maualuga, strongside linebacker Lawrence Timmons and cornerback Cordrea Tankersley — and each has an aggressive mentality.
Offense is the concern, the focus of that aggression the Dolphins have preached all week.
The Dolphins finished the Atlanta game scoring on their final four possessions (not including the one-play game-ending kneel-down play).
They were physical on those drives, converting third downs (5 of 9) and fourth downs (2 of 2). They only had three negativeyardage plays, the biggest going for a 2-yard loss.
The offensive linemen, even if they got beaten initially, fought to stay on the block — it’s what they call “the strain” — and eventually bought enough time for a Cutler throw or provided a crease for an Ajayi run.
That’s the attitude the Dolphins hope to carry into today’s game against the Jets.