‘It’s critical.’ Why takeaways have led to Dolphins’ four-game win streak
There are many reasons the Miami Dolphins have put together a four-game winning streak.
The improved trench play from rookies on both sides of the ball – namely Jonah Savaiianaea, Kenneth Grant, Jordan Phillips and Zeek Biggers — certainly matters. So does the otherworldly stratosphere that running back De’Von Achane has reached. Tua Tagovailoa’s drop in turnovers during the past six games (four) in comparison to his first seven (10) also cannot be overlooked.
Still, all these factors pale in comparison to the real reason behind Miami’s turnaround: the takeaways.
“Any great defense is going to create turnovers, whether it’s forced fumbles, interceptions, sack fumbles,” safety Minkah Fitzpatrick said, adding that the defense has done “a really good job” at creating turnovers. “People always say, ‘Great defenses don’t play a whole lot of defense. You try and get three-and-outs, or you try and get the ball back to the offense.”
After Miami’s three interceptions led to a 34-10 victory against the New York Jets, it became clear that the Dolphins’ ability to create turnovers has been one of their biggest — if not best — asset during this streak. The Dolphins have recorded 10 takeaways since Week 10, the second-highest mark during that stretch. For context, Miami mustered just seven turnovers during the first nine games of the season.
“It’s critical,” coach Mike McDaniel said. “It’s brought up so often because it’s one of the very highest causations rather than a correlation.”
Added McDaniel: “You’re forcing third-and-5-pluses that’s where you’re able to unlock some rush patterns and do some different presentations that make it more difficult for offenses to convert. Then in those situations creating pass rush tied to coverage, the quarterback has to let go of the ball a little earlier than he’d like, so the route isn’t defined, and you have players in position to go and make those plays.”
As McDaniel alluded to, the takeaways occur as the result of players simply doing their job to put offenses in adverse positions. That this has happened more and more as of late can only be deemed the product of increased chemistry within the team — players such as Tyrel Dotson have repeatedly mentioned — but also more trust within the scheme. Also, it doesn’t hurt that the trio of rookie defensive tackles in Grant, Phillips and Biggers have seemingly taken a step forward.
“Everybody doing their one-eleventh,” Chop Robinson said, describing what the defense has done well during the win streak. “The D-line is doing their job, LBs doing their job, safeties doing their job, so I think just everybody just doing their own job and then it’s all falling together when everybody is doing what they need to be doing.”
The takeaways, of course, have obvious benefits.
“It’s a great thing for us of course on the defensive side, giving the ball back to our offense,” Robinson continued. “Giving the ball back to Tua and Achane and [Jaylen] Waddle, having those guys with the ball in their hands as many times as we can and giving it back in order to score points. It’s like, ‘Why not?’ When that happens, we’re excited to give them the ball back because we know that they’re going to make the best of it.”
The true test of Miami’s takeaway prowess will come Monday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Through 13 games, the Steelers have been somewhat in the middle when it comes to ball security. Although they are tied for the third-best turnover margin in the league with nine, that’s more so the result of their defense’s 23 takeaways. Meanwhile, the offense’s 14 giveaways ranks 11th, meaning that the Dolphins will have an opportunity to create turnovers in this highly anticipated, prime-time matchup.
