Is this Dolphins offensive line good or not? Some feedback, things to consider. And notes
As Dolphins training camp moves into Day 3 on Friday, here’s a question that reasonable people seemingly could not agree on last season and probably cannot agree on now:
Is this offensive line good?
By the most elementary of measurements last season, the Dolphins’ offensive line was very good in 2023. Miami permitted 31 sacks (fourth fewest in the league), allowed 59 quarterback hits (fewest) and paved the way for a running game that averaged a league-best 5.1 yards per carry.
Tua Tagovailoa’s quick release clearly helped those pass protection numbers, and Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane deserve the lion’s share of credit for the impressive rushing numbers.
And yet advanced metrics tell something of a different story about the quality of the offensive line. ESPN’s pass block win rate metric —- reflecting the rate that offensive linemen sustain blocks for 2.5 seconds or longer — was 31st in the league at 49 percent.
On running plays of third-and-1 or third-or-2, Miami attempted only 14 rushing attempts (fewest in the league) and converted only eight; that 57.1 success percentage was 25th in the league on third-and-short rushing attempts.
The Dolphins converted only 5 of 11 rushing attempts on third-and-1; that 45.5 percentage was worst in the league, as PFF’s Ryan Smith noted.
So was their offensive line actually good or not? It depends on whether you put more stock in advanced metrics than traditional measurements, such as sacks or rushing average.
This season, the question is even more debatable because the line — from a personnel standpoint — is clearly worse than a year ago.
On the positive side, that line will be boosted by the eventual return of skilled pass protector Isaiah Wynn at left guard (he remains on the physically unable to perform list after his season-ending October quadriceps injury) and the addition of a highly regarded run blocker at center (Aaron Brewer).
But they’re worse in two regards:
1). Pass protection at center. Center Connor Williams was one of the best; Brewer, according to metrics sites, was one of the worst.
2). At right guard, where they have gone from a top-10 starter (Robert Hunt) to an unproven one in Jack Driscoll or Liam Eichenberg or perhaps, Robert Jones.
At the very least, the line needs to give Tagovailoa more than 2.5 seconds on plays that take time to develop.
Last season, Tagovailoa was third in QBR when he threw in 2.5 seconds or less. He was 15th when he needed more than 2.5 seconds to throw.
“This is an offense when they operated on time, which is to say unbelievably quickly, they were a buzz saw,” ESPN’s Mina Kimes said. “On throws of 2.5 seconds or less, Tua was by any measure one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. Anything outside of the quick game, the numbers started to dip, which we saw against better defenses. This raised the question of why is this a problem?
“It’s a complicated one. Some of it certainly is Tua, who has to play better under pressure. I would argue a bigger issue is one that has plagued this roster for a few years and that’s the offensive line.
“If the offensive line cannot protect Tua when they have to protect Tua for longer than 2.5 seconds, I don’t see them getting over the top.”
On the surface, it’s difficult to reconcile Kimes’ criticism considering the low sacks numbers and high per-carry average. And in the Dolphins’ defense, there’s one offensive line advanced metric where Miami was well above average: It was eighth in ESPN’s run block win rate at 72 percent; that metric “tells us the portion of plays in which a player won his block on designated run plays.”
But Kimes — who does her homework — addresses a viewpoint that’s not unusual: The line isn’t as good as it needs to be, despite the overall good work last season.
It will somehow need to be even better this season after losing a top-10 NFL guard (Hunt) and losing a center (Williams) that PFF said was the second-best center in football last season before his torn ACL in December.
PFF rates the Dolphins’ offensive line 18th in its preseason unit rankings, with this comment:
“Heavily aided by the system and Tua Tagovailoa’s quick release, the Dolphins’ offensive line got off to a strong start in 2023. Injuries soon hit hard, hindering the unit’s performance.
“The Dolphins lost Robert Hunt and Connor Williams from the middle of the offensive line this offseason and Terron Armstead’s durability is a question mark, preventing this group from being ranked any higher.”
THIS AND THAT
ESPN’s Sam Acho cited another issue that hurts this offense: Quality opponents “were rerouting receivers, [forcing Tagovailoa to] have to hold the ball a second longer. The way you slow down a fast paced team is to get your hands on them and slow them down.”
Miami must have answers for that.
▪ Emmanuel Ogbah, who has had sacks in both practices after re-signing with the Dolphins on Monday, told reporters: “Just having the conversation with Coach ‘Weav’ [defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver], the energy is different, the team morale is different. It’s just guys want to play for each other, guys are having fun again going out there.”
Safety Jevon Holland said Weaver “is a fun coach to play under. He really established an exciting culture and allows us a lot of room to just grow within it, so I’m enjoying myself a lot.... He allows us to be players, because he was once a player. He understands at some point you kind of just go out there and ball, and so I feel like that’s the main thing for us. We’re just allowed to go out there and make plays.”
Asked where the Dolphins are using him, he said: “I don’t have a specific spot, so I’m everywhere on the d-line or outside linebacker, so I’m just ready to play whatever that need is.”
This story was originally published July 25, 2024 at 4:09 PM.
