Ramsey, Howard duo off to a great start; Ramsey’s thoughts. And Dolphins notes by position
All components of the Dolphins’ dynamic defensive backfield took the field for the first time in a game on Sunday, and the early returns were promising.
Six-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jalen Ramsey — lining up for the first time in a game with four-time Pro Bowl corner Xavien Howard and promising young safety Jevon Holland — played very well for the second game in a row after coming back from August knee surgery.
Ramsey permitted just 13 yards of receptions, with two catches in three targets against him, per Pro Football Focus.
In two games, Ramsey has now allowed just three of six targets to be caught, for 18 yards, with an interception — a 16.7 passer rating against.
Howard, who had missed the past two games with a strained groin, permitted just eight yards of receptions, with two completions in four targets against him.
Asked about playing with Howard for the first time, Ramsey told CBS 4: “It felt good. [That is something] me and X have talked about it and dreamed about. That energy was good; that vibe was good between us.
“It’s different for him and me. I’ve never played with somebody like him. We were able to bounce ideas and things off each other throughout the game. That was super cool. Getting to see him back in action and locking receivers up, that was good. That’s what this defense needs.”
And this is just the start, Ramsey said:
“It’s going to get even better,” he said. “Let’s keep it real. This is my second game. I’ve still got to get to where I want to be personally. X has been on and off injured a little bit. He has to get a little healthy as well. This was my first game being able to play with Xavien and Jevon.
“We have a long way to go. [But] this gives me a lot of optimism for this secondary. Not only this secondary, but this defense.”
The Dolphins defense limited the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs to 267 yards, two offensive touchdowns and just 3.9 yards per rushing attempt.
Holland did an effective job in coverage, limiting the player he was covering to three yards of receptions, on two passes against him.
Starting defensive backs Ramsey, Howard, Holland and De’Shon Elliott played all 60 defensive snaps.
Only two other defensive backs received snaps on defense; No. 3 cornerback Kader Kohou logged 39 snaps and cornerback/safety Nik Needham played six snaps.
Kohou was repeatedly targeted and allowed 8 of 9 passes to be caught for 89 yards and a TD, per PFF.
So Kohou was thrown at more times (nine) than Howard and Ramsey combined (seven) -- a strategy that some other teams likely will employ.
Defensive backs Justin Bethel, Elijah Campbell and Cam Smith played only on special teams.
“We’ve got to turn things up a notch, turn this team into, not a good team, a great team,” Ramsey said.
NOTES BY POSITION
▪ Linebackers/edge players: Emmanuel Ogbah didn’t play a defensive snap —- the first time that has happened, during his four years as a Dolphin, in a game that he was available to play.
Ogbah went from playing between 16 and 23 defensive snaps in each of Miami’s first six games to playing 6, 3 and 0 snaps in the past three games.
Jaelan Phillips played 51 of Miami’s 60 defensive snaps and Bradley Chubb played 49 and Andrew Van Ginkel 27.
At inside linebacker, Jerome Baker played all 60 snaps and David Long Jr. logged 46. Duke Riley didn’t play on defense.
▪ Defensive line: Christian Wilkins played 57 and Zach Sieler 56 of the 60 defensive snaps, while Raekwon Davis’ snap count (25) remained somewhat modest. Da’Shawn Hand played four snaps.
▪ Running back: Salvon Ahmed again played more than Jeff Wilson Jr. (19 to 11 offensive snaps), even though Wilson has been more productive.
Ahmed gained only 12 yards on five touches (three runs, two passes). Wilson gained 38 yards on five touches, most of those coming on 32 reception yards on three passes.
Since missing the first six games with multiple injuries, Wilson has seven carries for 29 yards (4.1 per carry). Ahmed has averaged just 2.9 yards per carry this season: 19 rushes for 55 yards.
Rookie running back De’Von Achane, averaging an eye-popping 12.1 yards on 38 carries, is eligible to come off injured reserve before Miami’s next game, at home Nov. 19 against Las Vegas.
Starter Raheem Mostert, who played 35 snaps, closed with 12 carries for 85 yards (7.1 per carry). Among running backs with at least 50 carries, Mostert entered Monday with the second-highest per carry average (5.6), behind the Jets’ Breece Hall (5.7).
▪ Wide receiver: Cedrick Wilson Jr. continues to receive the most snaps among the third through fifth receivers. He played 41 snaps on Sunday and caught a touchdown for a second game in a row. Braxton Berrios played 17 offensive snaps and Chase Claypool 14, with neither catching a pass.
▪ Offensive line: Robert Jones, who started at left guard, sustained a hyperextended left knee and was due to get an MRI on Monday. Jones missed the first six games with a right knee injury.
Jones played 49 snaps on Sunday; Liam Eichenberg played the 14 that Jones missed.
Lester Cotton, filling in for injured right guard Robert Hunt, permitted four quarterback pressures and allowed Kansas City’s only sack.
This story was originally published November 6, 2023 at 12:51 PM.
