Defense improved, but players can’t become content
Brian Flores and the Miami Dolphins defense have come a long way since their first season together a year ago.
The Flores era started with the Dolphins allowing Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and former New England Patriots star Tom Brady to seemingly score at will, and finishing the 2019 season dead last in points per game allowed (30.9), surrendering nearly 400 yards per game.
Now, the Dolphins (4-3) are now looking down at the rest of the NFL eight weeks into the 2020 season: Flores’ defense leads the NFL, allowing opposing teams to score just 18.6 points per game this season.
Don’t let that statistic fool you. Flores surely doesn’t want his players to buy into it for the wrong reasons.
The Dolphins defense still bends, ranking 20th with 376.0 yards per game allowed — including a season-high 471 yards of offense they gave up in Sunday’s 28-17 win over the Los Angeles Rams, which saw Miami rely on a punt return and nearly two fumble recoveries returned for touchdowns.
But the Dolphins defense certainly doesn’t break as much as it once did.
And that bodes well for the Dolphins, who sit second in the AFC East behind the Buffalo Bills, two spots out of a wild-card playoff spot at ninth in AFC standings, and will continue to acclimate rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa on offense in the final nine games this season.
“This morning, I’m very leery on statistics right now,” Flores said humbly on Monday. “I look at the stats from [Sunday’s] game and we gave up this many yards passing and this many yards rushing. When you look at it, it felt like we got dominated and I didn’t feel that way during the game.
“Look, this is a week-to-week league,” he continued. “We have to focus on improving today and focus getting better in practice this week, and not worry about the statistics. Just worry about the next play and the next practice. I
think hopefully our guys understand that.”
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 McVay and the Rams. Flores had success as a Patriots assistant against both coaches in Super Bowl LI and LIII, respectively.
The Dolphins’ Week 9 matchup 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 such as 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) and a 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 standout 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 allow 27.7% of opponents’ drives to end in a score, which ranks second only behind the
Ravens;
■ They have the second-best defense on third and fourth down, allowing teams to convert on just a third of their plays on third down and just 27.3% of plays on fourth down;
■ They are tied for second with 13 total takeaways (seven interceptions and six fumbles recovered), while their plus-4 turnover margin ranks fifth in the NFL;
■ Opposing quarterbacks have an 81.7 passer rating, which ranks fourth, and complete just 61.% of their passes, which ranks fifth;
■ The Dolphins are also fourth in the NFL with 40 passes defensed and fifth with 49 hits on quarterbacks.
“We still have a lot of work to do and we can be better,” safety Bobby McCain said.
“We try not to [focus] on statistics and worry about what people say about us and 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, who dropped 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.
Ogbah and 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 fourthhighest 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 a way to get Kyler Murray and [wide receiver DeAndre] 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.