Miami Dolphins address a shortcoming that’s getting worse. And personnel, injury news
The Dolphins’ tepid running game achieved a new, ignominious nadir Sunday, when the Dolphins averaged just 1.9 yards per carry and produced 47 yards rushing against the NFL’s most porous run defense, a Houston unit that entered allowing 4.8 yards per attempt.
And this was even worse: Handoffs to running backs produced just 34 yards on 23 carries.
Dolphins offensive linemen were repeatedly beaten by Texans defenders in the running game. But was this entirely on the offensive line or could the running backs have done more?
“Our O-line, backs, receivers, tight ends need to do a better job of creating space,” Dolphins coach Brian Flores answered, while also crediting Houston. “The backs need to do a better job of running collectively as a run game. We’re playing against a very good run defense on Thursday” with Baltimore.
Gaskin managed just 34 yards on 20 carries in his 54 snaps Sunday and is now averaging just 3.6 per carry, well below his 4.1 average last season.
Salvon Ahmed had four rushes for 6 yards in his 14 snaps on Sunday and is averaging 2.6 per carry, down from 4.3 last season.
Patrick Laird played seven offensive snaps against Houston and didn’t have a touch.
Miami’s 75.1 rushing yards per game is worst in the league, and its 3.52 per-carry average is third worst.
Co-offensive coordinator George Godsey, asked whether the running backs could have created more out of any of their carries, declined to answer directly.
“Play calling can improve on a few of those decisions; running inside versus outside,” he said. “Collectively we’ve got to do a lot better. Hitting holes that are there. We have to do a lot better.”
Can Godsey in good conscience keep calling running plays on first down when they consistently produced 1 or 2 yards, no yards or lost yardage?
“If you don’t get any yards on first down, it puts you in a little more predictable situation,” he said. “It makes it harder. That’s where you saw some of the rush get to us.”
The Dolphins will face a stiffer run defense when the Baltimore Ravens visit Thursday. The Ravens allow 4.3 yards per attempt, which ranks only 23rd, but they have relinquished only 734 yards rushing, which is fourth best defensively in the NFL. The Texans have allowed 1,232 yards rushing, which is second-worst.
Flores and coordinators George Godsey (offense) and Josh Boyer (defense) addressed other issues during Monday Zoom sessions:
▪ Receiver Will Fuller remains out with a finger injury and won’t play Thursday. Flores had no update on quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s availability.
▪ Receiver Preston Williams will play Thursday after not playing against Houston. Flores said Williams was inactive partly because the Dolphins wanted to elevate Kirk Merritt to use him as a receiver and on special teams.
▪ Center Greg Mancz will miss Thursday’s game with an ankle injury; Austin Reiter will remain the starting center, with Michael Deiter still sidelined by a foot injury. Mancz played nine snaps Sunday before departing; Reiter played the final 66 offensive snaps.
Flores said the staff has discussed giving left tackle Greg Little some playing time.
▪ Flores likes how young safeties Jevon Holland and Brandon Jones are playing: “Both those young guys are doing some good things.”
The Dolphins like that they’re versatile enough to keep teams guessing.
“Are they blitzing? Are they playing coverage? Man or zone?” Flores said of what opponents must think to themselves. “It gives us flexibility defensively.”
▪ Flores said rookie third-rounder Hunter Long - who has played just 34 snaps all season, including 29 on offense - isn’t playing because “it’s a crowded tight end room. We think he’s going to be a solid player in this league, just waiting for his opportunity.”
▪ Godsey is impressed how Jaylen Waddle has been able to play multiple receiver positions: “Not just being a slot. We want to play him inside, outside, shifting him across formations. As a rookie, it’s a credit to him.”
▪ Godsey declined to say how much of the Dolphins’ playbook cannot be used this season because the offensive line generally cannot be trusted.
He said “plays that we designed that involve the quarterback holding the ball a little bit -- I’d like to erase those from the call sheet.”
▪ Asked if there’s anyone he has faced quite like Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, Boyer cited Michael Vick. “Kyler Murray is a good runner, Josh Allen is a good runner. We got our hands full this week, but we’re looking forward to the challenge.”
SNAP DECISIONS
▪ With DeVante Parker and Fuller sidelined, Mack Hollins started and played a season-high 60 offensive snaps. Among other receivers, Waddle played 65 of Miami’s 75 offensive snaps, Albert Wilson played 17, Merritt 11 and Isaiah Ford 4.
▪ With the Dolphins short-handed at receiver, Miami played a bunch of two tight end sets but again made Long inactive. Mike Gesicki logged 59 of Miami’s 75 offensive snaps, Durham Smythe 45, Adam Shaheen 36 and Cethan Carter 4.
▪ The transition to youth at safety continued, with Holland playing 68 of Miami’s 69 defensive snaps and Jones 65. Veteran Eric Rowe played 28.
▪ While cornerbacks Xavien Howard and Byron Jones were on the field for every defensive snap as usual, Nik Needham logged 44 snaps and Justin Coleman 14. Noah Igbinoghene was active but didn’t play a defensive snap.
▪ Jerome Baker, who had missed the previous game with a knee injury, played 68 of 69 defensive snaps and Andrew Van Ginkel played more than usual (51 defensive snaps). Among other linebackers, Elandon Roberts played 39 snaps, Jaelan Phillips 37, Brennan Scarlett 15, Duke Riley 7 and Sam Eguavoen 1.
Even though the Dolphins elevated Vince Biegel for the game — his second and final available elevation — he played only three snaps, all on special teams. Flores said he didn’t want to “burn” a Biegel elevation but needed to elevate him in case Baker — who was questionable — couldn’t play Sunday or was limited by the knee.
▪ Emmanuel Ogbah didn’t start for only the second time this season but produced 2.5 sacks. Ogbah played 53 snaps (most among Dolphins defensive linemen), followed by Adam Butler (40), Christian Wilkins (38), Raekwon Davis (31) and Zach Sieler (21).
This story was originally published November 8, 2021 at 1:11 PM.
