A look at the impressive work of Williams, Hunt, Jackson, Van Ginkel. And Dolphins notes
Several Dolphins playing out the final year of their contracts continued to make a case for their value on Sunday. Among them:
▪ Linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel was again disruptive, with a sack, tackle for loss, a pass defended, a quarterback hit and eight pressures. Pro Football Focus ranks him eighth among all edge players this season.
Though he has had some good moments playing inside linebacker - a new position for him — this season, he remains most effective on the edge, where he filled in for Jaelan Phillips for the third time this season.
“Definitely a lot more comfortable [on the edge]; it’s more like riding a bike,” he said. “I’ve done it my whole career. It’s more natural. But learning inside, it’s starting to grow on me, learning the ins and outs of it and seeing the bigger picture.”
He’s playing 72 percent of Miami’s defensive snaps, compared with 29 percent last season.
After settling for a one-year deal for $2.6 million in March, is he hopeful of landing a bigger contract in the months ahead?
“Yeah, I think anytime you show you can play multiple roles and do exactly what’s asked, definitely teams are going to look at that and see my versatility,” he said.
Van Ginkel’s four sacks are tied for second most among edge players with that few pass-rush chances (111).
▪ It was no coincidence that the Dolphins’ run and pass blocking improved Sunday with center Connor Williams’ return after missing a game with a strained groin. PFF rates him the third-best center in football.
“He did a phenomenal job,” coach Mike McDaniel said. “He willed himself to play in this game. If you go by standard measurement of injury and timeline, he exceeded that, and it’s very impactful.
“He’s really taken a step in his game. One of the things that he does very well, that we’re kind of spoiled with, is his ability to anchor the pocket. That’s huge.”
▪ Right guard Robert Hunt, whose run blocking has been very good this season, yielded no pressures or sacks on 32 pass blocking chances on Sunday.
For the season, he has allowed three pressures and no sacks in 188 pass blocking opportunities — the fewest pressures yielded by any NFL guard who has played that much. PFF ranks him the ninth-best guard in football.
▪ Right tackle Austin Jackson, besides doing good work in the run game, didn’t allow a pressure or sack in 32 pass-blocking snaps. For the season, he has permitted only one sack and eight pressures in 189 pass blocking chances — easily the best work of his career.
THIS AND THAT
Running back Jeff Wilson Jr., who missed the first five games with two injuries, will resume practicing this week, his agent Drew Rosenhaus told WSVN Fox 7, for whom Rosenhaus does a weekly segment. The Dolphins have 21 days to place Wilson on the 53-man roster, a clock that starts the first day he practices.
Mike McDaniel was non-committal about whether Wilson would begin practicing this week, saying that decision will be made Tuesday.
▪ A week after playing Kader Kohou entirely on the boundary and Justin Bethel in the slot in three-cornerback packages, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio shifted Kohou inside in nickel packages and went back to Eli Apple on the outside in three-corner looks against the Giants.
Kohou allowed all five passes thrown against him to be caught, but for just 33 yards. Apple permitted six of eight targets against him to be caught for 67 yards.
Xavien Howard allowed four of six to be caught for 46 yards.
▪ A few notable defensive playing time decisions Sunday: For the second week in a row, Dolphins defensive tackle Da’Shawn Hand (26 snaps) played nearly as much as starter Raekwon Davis (30)...
All four starting defensive backs (Howard, Kohou, Jevon Holland and DeShon Elliott) played all 72 defensive snaps. So did linebacker Jerome Baker. Linebacker David Long Jr. played 66 snaps and Apple 65. Bethel played six….
Seven defensive players used on special teams didn’t play a single snap on defense: Brandon Jones, Elijah Campbell, Duke Riley, Cam Smith, Chase Winovich, Channing Tindall and Parry Nickerson.
▪ A few notable offensive playing time decisions Sunday: At running back, Raheem Mostert played 32 snaps, De’Von Achane 26. Achane played through a knee injury, which is now requiring further evaluation.
Third through fifth receiver snaps were allocated this way: 29 for Cedrick Wilson Jr., 20 for Braxton Berrios and 10 for Robbie Chosen…
Left guard Isaiah Wynn missed one snap when he left briefly with a neck injury before returning… Rookie running back Chris Brooks, playing ahead of inactive Salvon Ahmed, got seven offensive snaps.
▪ Tyreek Hill’s big numbers (eight catches, 181 yards and a touchdown) were achieved on just 25 snaps.
▪ Pro Football Focus’ five highest-graded Dolphins on offense Sunday, minimum 10 snaps apiece: Hill, tight end Julian Hill, Hunt, Achane and Cedrick Wilson Jr.
▪ PFF’s five highest-graded Dolphins on defense Sunday, minimum 10 snaps apiece: Christian Wilkins, Bradley Chubb, Hand, Van Ginkel and David Long Jr.
This story was originally published October 9, 2023 at 1:10 PM.
