The problem Packers pose for Dolphins And McDaniel clarifies who’s in charge. And notes
The Dolphins have risen to sixth in the league in total defense; they’re allowing just 304.3 yards per game. Only the Eagles, Titans, Broncos, Chiefs and Texans are allowing fewer yards.
Miami is eighth in average passing yards relinquished per game, ninth in rushing yards permitted per game and 12th in scoring defense at 21.5 per games
But when the Dolphins and Packers meet Thursday night, the Green Bay offense will challenge the Dolphins in ways that perhaps only Buffalo has tested them this season.
The Packers are fifth in the league in yards per game (382.5) and eighth in points per game at 26.2. No Dolphins 2024 opponent, excluding Buffalo, scores more points, on average.
They have a dangerous quarterback in Jordan Love, who had 32 touchdowns and 11 interceptions last season and 18 TDs and 11 picks this season.
And they feature the NFL’s third-leading rusher in Josh Jacobs, who has 944 yards on 4.7 per carry.
“He has incredible short-area quickness,” Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver said Tuesday. “He runs angry. When you’re watching opposing backs, that’s what you’re looking for: How many yards do they get post contact? We obviously have to do a great job tackling him. You can’t just rely on any one guy to bring him down.
“We’ve got to try to get population to the ball; we’ve got to swarm-tackle this guy. Make sure we chase him down and not assume he’s down, because the second you do that he will break a tackle and run for 20. We’re constantly preaching to these guys the next two days, ‘let’s get as many Dolphins logos to the ball as we possibly can.’”
Love didn’t throw an interception in Sunday’s win against the 49ers after throwing at least one in pick in his first nine games this season. He also has four fumbles this season.
“Because he is so talented, has tremendous arm talent, can make every throw, is mobile enough to hurt you as well, I think when he gets in trouble, it’s because he is so confident in that ability and the playmakers around where he will try to extend some plays and make something extremely special happen,” Weaver said.
“While turnovers occur, there are also a bunch of times those work out in his favor.”
The Packers could be without receiver Romeo Doubs, who is dealing with a concussion. He has 34 catches for 483 yards this season.
THIS AND THAT
With Kendall Fuller set to miss a third consecutive game because of a concussion, the Dolphins are expected to again lean heavily on undrafted rookie Storm Duck as their No. 3 cornerback, behind Jalen Ramsey and Kader Kohou.
Duck has played very well; NFL quarterbacks have completed 9 of 15 targets against him, but for just 69 yards. That computes to a 71.3 passer rating in his coverage area, which is excellent.
“He’s consistent,” Weaver said. “He’s truly unflappable. It doesn’t matter what happens good or bad, he’s the same guy play in and play out. That dependability builds trust with his teammates, and that’s why he’s out there.”
During the past two games, Duck has played 85 defensive snaps and former second-round pick Cam Smith has played 24 defensive snaps. Smith had played a combined 97 through the previous three games before the wins against Las Vegas and New England.
Smith has a 121.8 passer rating in his coverage area this season (14 for 17, 145 yards and a touchdown).
▪ Weaver said there’s “nobody I want to make that run for more than Calais Campbell. It’s incredibly important to me” to make a Super Bowl run for Campbell. “We’re getting to November, December, where we are playing meaningful games.”
▪ When Tua Tagovailoa makes quick no-look pitches and passes, it’s not always by design.
“Some things are part of ballhandling,” offensive coordinator Frank Smith said. “Other things he adds his flavor to it. It comes through repetitions of where guys are at.”
▪ Offensive line coach Butch Barry has said that Isaiah Wynn, who was activated on Tuesday, will return as a backup, behind Robert Jones at left guard.
But the Dolphins are pleased to get Wynn back after missing 13 months due to quadriceps and knee injuries.
“Good to get him activated to the roster,” Smith said. “We will work through all those things as we go through it. It’s been a process to get him back to the roster to feel good about himself. A season, you never know what will happen. It’s making sure… we can get him back to speed for whatever contingency we have to hit along the way.”
▪ Running back Chris Brooks, who was released by the Dolphins with an injury settlement earlier this season, now plays for the Packers and has 17 carries for 64 yards this season (3.8 per carry).
WHO’S IN CHARGE?
So who’s in charge of the Dolphins’ roster?
Coach Mike McDaniel clarified that for the first time this week when asked whether he or general manager Chris Grier has final say on the 53-man roster.
Here’s how he answered:
“The great thing about Chris and I, is we don’t look at our fine print that often and that’s the biggest thing, is when we’re working together, it’s about getting the right answer; not who’s — so it doesn’t necessarily come up in that regard.
“We’re always just communicating and when we don’t agree on something and we work through it and I think by the letter of the law, Chris Grier is the man, but quite honestly, we tend to not even go down that road kind of like undercutting the relationship that we have just because we’re working together to try to get the right answer and we’re both on the same team.”
It’s generally believed that Grier does not give McDaniel a player on offense that he does not want.
This story was originally published November 26, 2024 at 12:27 PM.
