Dolphins explain decision to stick with Poyer. And coaches dish on 10 personnel issues
A 10-pack of Dolphins notes on a Thursday:
▪ The Dolphins have replaced three starters since the season began, but safety Jordan Poyer appears safe - at least for now.
Defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver said Thursday that Poyer will remain a starter even though he seemingly has struggled in coverage this season.
“I have the utmost faith in Jordan and Jevon [Holland], the way they work together, their connectivity,” Weaver said. “Poyer is certainly our starter.”
In Sunday’s win against Las Vegas, Poyer permitted all three targets in his coverage area to be caught for 52 yards and a touchdown. For the season, Poyer has permitted a 144.6 passer rating in his coverage area. That’s third worst among all safeties targeted at least 20 times, according to Pro Football Focus.
Poyer, the former Bills Pro Bowl safety who’s on a one-year deal with the Dolphins, also missed a tackle on a touchdown reception by Raiders tight end Brock Bowers.
PFF rated Poyer the Dolphins’ third-worst player on defense on Sunday, ahead of only starting edge players Tyus Bowser and Emmanuel Ogbah.
Overall, PFF rates Poyer 74th among 89 qualifying safeties this season.
“There are so many things he does getting people in the right position that he doesn’t get credit for,” Weaver said of Poyer. “There’s a cerebral part of the game at that position which is incredibly important and he has a graduate [degree] in that.”
Marcus Maye and Elijah Campbell are the backups at safety.
▪ With Kendall Fuller likely out another week with a concussion, the Dolphins continue to have an open competition for the No. 3 cornerback job behind Jalen Ramsey and Kader Kohou.
Against the Raiders, rookie Storm Duck played 36 defensive snaps and Cam Smith played 8. Duck and Smith have known each other since their mid teens, when they played in youth leagues and practiced in Columbia, S.C.
“He’s like my little brother,” Smith said, adding that the competition is making him better.
Smith has permitted 12 receptions in 15 targets this season but said “it’s not talent and speed” that’s hurting him. “It’s just technique.”
Weaver said the key for Smith is “mastering your technique and fundamentals while you learn the intricate details of the defense. When he’s had lapses it is because of technique and fundamental flaws. He can run, he’s got length, he’s a smart kid. All he needs is just reps. Where he learns from mistakes and doesn’t repeat those mistakes [that will help]. It’s a matter of getting him on the field as much as possible.”
▪ The Dolphins like how defensive tackle Benito Jones has emerged recently.
“Early in the season, when we were having some of our run [defense] issues, I told Benito, ‘I don’t care if you get zero sacks; I need you to grind those run [stops] out.”
Weaver cracked that “now he’s turned into Warren Sapp” with his impressive pass rushing against the Raiders, adding that with Jones, “there’s ability there to impact the run and pass game.”
▪ Patriots starting quarterback Drake Maye is coming off his second best game as a pro in last Sunday’s loss to the Rams: 29 for 39, 282 yards, two TDs, one interception and 100.6 rating.
Maye has gone 2-4 as a starter, with an 87.5 passer rating. His escapability has been an asset; he’s averaging 9.3 yards on 28 rushing attempts.
“He doesn’t lack confidence,” Weaver said. “Not me saying he’s Josh Allen but you have to approach him like Josh Allen a little bit, funnel him and contain his rush ability as much as you can.”
▪ Walker said inside linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. has given the Dolphins a “very calming influence” on the defense.
Walker has played generally well in three starts since replacing David Long, who was subsequently released and now is on Detroit’s practice squad.
“His overall confidence in the defense and schematics helps us,” Weaver said, noting that even in training camp, “Walk was dipping at David’s heels the entire time.”
When asked if former Bills starter Tyrel Dotson (who was claimed off waivers from Seattle) might play some defensive snaps, Weaver suggested the plan is for Walker and Jordyn Brooks to continue playing most or all the snaps at inside linebacker.
“I love TD, what he brings to this defense and the experience he has,” Weaver said. “You can only play two, maybe three backs, but I feel confident in the guys we have out there right now.”
▪ Rookie Jaylen Wright has just eight yards on his last 10 rushing attempts, over the past two games. Is this primarily the byproduct of poor blocking?
“A couple times there were some blocking things we could have executed better,” offensive coordinator Frank Smith said. “Sometimes there were loaded fronts. Overall, he’s been doing a great job.”
▪ The Dolphins love what they’ve generated offensively when Tua Tagovailoa rolls out.
When doing that against Las Vegas, he “showed awareness to where he was in the pocket,” Smith said. “You see the growth. That was a great moment for us to extend the play.”
He keeps improving at “knowing where I’m at in my progression and when to break the pocket, where are my people at,” Smith said.
▪Smith said right tackle Kendall Lamm, who is filling in for injured Austin Jackson for the remainder of the season, was “great” blocking Raiders All Pro edge player Maxx Crosby. “We were lucky when we got him here the first year,” Smith said.
▪ Channing Tindall, the Dolphins’ third-round pick in 2022, hasn’t played a single defensive snap this season but has logged 75 special teams snaps and continues to be active on game days as the team’s fifth inside linebacker.
On special teams, Tindall has played “really well last couple games,” special teams coordinator Danny Crossman said. “Happy with where Channing is right now.”
Though Tindall was a skilled pass rusher at Georgia, Weaver said Tindall isn’t big enough to play outside linebacker in the NFL.
▪ Offensive line coach Butch Barry was asked if Dolphins left guard Rob Jones earned the right to remain the starter when Isaiah Wynn comes off the physically unable to perform list in the next two weeks.
“Absolutely,” Barry said. “Great leader in the room, great on the field as far as our standard. He continues to work on his craft and get better. We’ve got to keep pushing him to get better.”
Wynn hasn’t played this season because of knee and quad injuries. He has been practicing for a week and the Dolphins have 14 remaining days to activate him.
This story was originally published November 21, 2024 at 12:17 PM.
