Analysts, Dolphins discuss key change, why it’s working. And Dolphins make COVID change
In understanding why the Dolphins have gone from permitting 29.1 points and 406.9 yards per game in their first eight games to 11 points and 280.2 yards in the last five games, you start with the obvious:
An improved pass rush, better linebacker play, more stout work against the run, excellence from Xavien Howard and the growth of the young safeties.
But according to multiple players, don’t overlook a change in approach from coaches.
Asked the most important thing that defensive coordinator Josh Boyer has done to contribute to this ongoing five-game winning streak, defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah said this week:
“I’ll say giving the offenses different looks. That [starts in] practice, just giving our offense different looks just to see how they react to it. Coach Boyer, he’s done a great job disguising plays, all-out blitzes. We kind of went back to our old thing, but I’m glad he’s switching it up and giving offenses different looks, confusing them.”
Linebacker Jerome Baker said he agrees with Ogbah: “Josh is doing a great job of coming in and having a great game plan and just putting us in position to win.”
Everyone around the league has noticed.
“This defense is starting to change schemes on a weekly basis,” ESPN’s Marcus Spears said. “The emergence of Jaelan Phillips and Christian Wilkins getting after the passer, they’re able to morph into these game plans.”
Boyer did not reveal who had the idea to start disguising more and giving teams different looks, noting that decisions are made collectively and Brian Flores, who has a defensive background, is obviously involved.
Asked if this was a discussion that happened before the win streak started, outside linebackers coach Rob Leonard said: “Yes. The conversation always is how to try to confuse the front five, put pressure on the quarterback, how do we do that, early down, third down, starting with matchups and what’s best. Some of those things came up.”
For three years under Flores, the Dolphins have talked about the importance of their players being able to handle different roles. The benefit is two-fold: Versatility gives teams more options if there’s an injury, and having defensive players who can play in different positions makes it easier for teams to keep opponents guessing.
“In Flo’s defense, you can’t [play just one position] unless you’re an All-Pro,” safety Eric Rowe said. “You’ve got to be able to be between free, strong [safety], in the box, cover in the slot. You have to be able to do it all.”
That versatility has manifested itself in this win streak. A few examples: Baker, an inside linebacker by trade, helped flummox Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson by playing outside linebacker, something he has done more often — and generally well — in recent weeks.
The ability of safeties Jevon Holland and Brandon Jones to blitz effectively has left teams guessing where they will line up and what they will do on any play. Phillips’ ability to play as a hand-in-the-ground rusher or standup linebacker adds an extra dimension.
Boyer confirmed this week that he, Flores and general manager Chris Grier discussed the ability of Phillips and Holland to play different roles before drafting them.
“All those conversations occur,” Boyer said. “When you guys were here for training camp, you could see guys moving from spot to spot and trying to do different things with them. You see how much guys can handle, and there’s a progression. Our young guys have done a good job with that.”
Boyer said having a lot of players who can play different roles effectively helps with disguising.
“It starts with concept learning,” Boyer said. “We can do a lot of different things with guys in different spots. If they understand ‘I’m just this piece of the puzzle, even though last week I was this [but this week is different],’ it gives you an opportunity and presents some problems and issues for offenses as they’re breaking you down.
“It’s not just always this guy doing this, or if this guy is here, this is what it’s going to be. You try to put yourself in a situation where it’s not so obvious to what you’re doing. But at the same time, you also want to put players in positions where they’re comfortable and that takes a little bit of time.”
The Dolphins sent their safeties on blitzes more against Baltimore than any team in at least 15 years. Each game plan in this winning streak has had different nuances, but the ability to generate pressure has been a constant; Miami has 19 sacks in this win streak.
“Some of the stuff we’ve done is a little more familiar to our guys; some of it is not,” Boyer said. “We’re probably putting them in better position and they’re executing well. It’s a credit to them.”
ESPN’s Ryan Clark said it’s easier to play this style of defense “when you have a guy like Xavien Howard who can play any coverage because of his skills, and the other side you have Byron Jones and you have a safety like Jevon Holland, who really is a first-round pick. He’s a first-round talent.
“You can be so multiple in what you do. All we talk about is zero blitz, zero blitz [meaning no safeties in coverage], as if they go out 70 plays a game and that’s all they play. That’s not it.
“They are so multiple in the way they can drop from their blitz look into a zone. Or they can bring the zero blitz because of the way they can match up not only at corner but at the safety position. Some of those turnovers we saw last year are starting to happen again.”
DOLPHINS MAKE COVID CHANGE
As a precaution, the Dolphins, by choice, on Thursday became the latest team to transition into the NFL’s enhanced COVID-19 protocols, which means no in-person meetings.
The team is practicing in person, but team meetings are being held virtually.
At least seven teams have gone into enhanced protocols this week.
More than 100 NFL players have tested positive for COVID-19 this week, a record over a three day period.
Four Dolphins - running backs Myles Gaskin, Phillip Lindsay and Salvon Ahmed and safety Jevon Holland - are on the COVID-19 list and must produce two negative tests spaced 24 hours apart (by 4 p.m. Saturday) to be able to play on Sunday against the visiting New York Jets.
11:35 AM UPDATE: The Dolphins have placed receiver Jaylen Waddle on the COVID list. So that’s five Dolphins on the list.
Eighteen Cleveland and Washington players are in COVID protocol, but the league said it has not discussed postponing any games.
NFL chief medical officer Allen Sills said among players testing positive this week, about two-thirds have been asymptomatic while a third have mild cases. He said the Omicron variant has been detected among the positive COVID tests.
The NFL has encouraged all vaccinated players to get a booster shot, but the sides have not agreed to resume daily COVID tests for vaccinated players, who have been tested once a week for most of this season.
“We can’t apply 2020 solutions to the 2021 problems we’re having,” Sills said. “Testing is one of the tools that we have at our disposal, and it’s a very useful tool in certain areas,” Sills said. “But what testing doesn’t do is prevent transmission, and we’ve known that always. … What we’re trying to do is prevent spread within the facility and keep people from testing positive.”
This story was originally published December 16, 2021 at 11:24 AM.
