The reasons behind the Miami Dolphins’ improved play in the secondary and what metrics say
This is the tight-covering, ball-hawking, receiver-harassing defensive backfield that the Dolphins thought they would be getting this season, a group skilled and reliable enough to blanket receivers one-on-one while coaches unleash a parade of pass rushers and dial up a bunch of exotic blitzes.
During the first eight games, the Dolphins held only one quarterback (Buffalo’s Josh Allen) to a passer rating below 93, and Miami lost that game, 35-0.
New England’s Mac Jones had a 102.6 rating and 281 yards passing against the Dolphins; Las Vegas’ Derek Carr produced a 95.7 rating and 386 yards passing; Indianapolis’ Carson Wentz 115.1 and 228 yards; Tampa Bay’s Tom Brady 144.4 and 411 yards; Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence 93.4 and 319 yards; and Atlanta’s Matt Ryan 95.4 and 336 yards.
Allen had a 100.2 passer rating and 249 yards in Miami’s Halloween loss in Buffalo, but the Dolphins did a good job against Allen in the first half.
And since then, the Dolphins defensive backfield has delivered two gems, limiting Houston’s Tyrod Taylor to a 40.8 passer rating (240 yards passing, three interceptions, no touchdowns) and Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson to a 73.6 rating (238 yards, one touchdown, one interception).
The fact the Dolphins had four sacks in those past two games was no coincidence. A potent pass rush and tight coverage go hand in hand; when pass rushers get to the quarterback, that’s less time that defensive backs must hold up in coverage.
But as the pass rush has found its groove, several Dolphins defensive backs have raised their play.
Rookie safety Jevon Holland - who was allowing a 147.9 passer rating against through October (7 completions in 10 targets for 115 yards and two touchdowns), has permitted only one completion in four targets for 6 yards in two games since then (a 39.6 rating), putting him at 95.5 for the season.
Through October, new starting safety Brandon Jones had allowed all 10 passes thrown against him to be caught for 137 yards and no touchdowns, a 118.8 rating. Since then, he has allowed three completions in five attempts for a manageable 37 yards (82.9 passer rating against), while thriving as a blitzer.
The improvement of the safeties in coverage has been vital, because it has compensated for what Miami lost with Bobby McCain, who allowed a 27.5 passer rating in his coverage area last season but was cut in May and now starts for Washington.
Eric Rowe, who allowed a 76.9 passer rating last season, is at 119.2 this season but has forced fumbles each of the past two games. He played 44 snaps against Baltimore even though Holland and Jones played all 73.
Meanwhile, Pro Bowl cornerback Xavien Howard, who was allowed a 119 passer rating against several weeks into the season, has permitted only 60 yards combined during the past two weeks while holding Taylor and Jackson to a 85.4 passer rating in his target area. And his forced fumble and return for a touchdown was as big a play as any in the Dolphins’ win against Baltimore.
But Justin Coleman is the defensive back whose performance has taken the biggest jump. Through eight games, he allowed 18 of 21 passes in his coverage area to be caught for 212 yards, with no TDs or no INTs. That’s a 108.7 passer rating.
The past two games, he has allowed one of five to be caught for no yards, with two interceptions — equal to a 0 rating.
That brilliant work against Houston and Baltimore has dropped his passer rating against to 64.9 for the season, sixth among corners who have defended at least 20 passes.
Coleman entered this season with a solid 86.1 passer rating in his coverage area but yielded a 138 rating last year for Detroit.
“Justin has been focusing on his technique, doing a really good job in meetings,” cornerbacks coach Charles Burks said. “A lot of it is just getting comfortable in the scheme. He’s had experience with the scheme [in Detroit], but the environment is different around him. He’s playing with a lot of confidence, which is best thing he’s doing. He’s practicing confident.”
Still, there’s work to be done. Aside from Coleman, no other Dolphins cornerback has a passer rating against below 100. Nik Needham is best on the team at 100.7 (31 for 42 for 374 yards, no TDs and no interceptions).
Byron Jones is just behind Needham at 101.2 (40 for 59 for 443, two TDs, no interceptions).
Howard’s passer rating is much higher than expected at 108.2, largely because PFF said he has allowed seven touchdowns (compared to two interceptions). But his forced fumbles against New England and Baltimore were huge plays in those wins.
Safety Jason McCourty was at 114.6 before his season-ending foot injury.
NEWS NOTE
Dolphins defensive tackle Christian Wilkins and linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel were limited for a second consecutive day of practice on Friday and are listed as questionable for Sunday’s game at the New York Jets.
Wilkins, who missed Wednesday’s practice before returning on a limited basis on Thursday, is dealing with a quadriceps injury. Van Ginkel has a back injury.
Coach Brian Flores said he is hopeful both will play Sunday. Those are the only two players whose status for Sunday’s game is in question.
Receivers DeVante Parker and Will Fuller, running back Malcolm Brown and centers Michael Deiter and Greg Mancz remain on injured reserve but are eligible to return this season. Of those five, Fuller, Brown and Deiter are already eligible to return but aren’t ready physically to do so.
This story was originally published November 19, 2021 at 4:00 PM.
