What data shows about how guard platoon worked out. And Dolphins news, nuggets by position
The Dolphins’ decision to weave Isaiah Wynn into the lineup, in a right guard platoon with former starter Liam Eichenberg, appeared to pay dividends in Sunday’s 29-17 win against San Francisco.
Pro Football Focus rated Eichenberg seventh and Wynn eighth among 19 players who appeared on offense for the Dolphins on Sunday.
On a day that the Dolphins shook out of their running game malaise and ran for 166 yards on 5.5 per carry, PFF rated Wynn Miami’s fourth-best player as a run blocker and had Eichenberg fifth in that metric. Terron Armstead was rated Miami’s best run blocker.
What’s more, the 33rd Team’s Kyle Crabbs shared this on social media:
The Dolphins averaged 4.8 yards per carry and 2.20 yards before contact per carry on their 15 rushing plays with Eichenberg at right guard. They averaged 6.3 yards and 4.8 yards before contact per carry with Wynn at right guard on the other 15 plays.
PFF rated Eichenberg sixth and Wynn ninth as pass blockers, among 10 players who pass blocked for the Dolphins on Sunday. Wynn allowed two pressures, Eichenberg none. But the entire line did good work as pass protectors, allowing no sacks.
Wynn started and played 34 snaps in his first NFL game action since sustaining a quadriceps injury in Week 7 last season. Eichenberg, who had started every game before Sunday, played 33 snaps.
PFF rated Armstead as Miami’s best offensive lineman on Sunday and center Aaron Brewer the worst. But the line played very well overall, not permitting a sack. Armstead and right tackle Kendall Lamm did not allow a pressure, impressive against a vaunted 49ers pass rush.
Left guard Robert Jones committed two holding penalties, which wiped out two first down gains, but didn’t allow a pressure.
Notes by position
▪ Quarterback: Tua Tagovailoa now stands eighth in the NFL in quarterback rating at 101.4, just ahead of Jayden Daniels and Josh Allen. He leads the league in completion percentage at 72.9, ahead of Jared Goff’s 71.4.
And this is encouraging heading into the final games of the season against 3-12 Cleveland and the 4-11 Jets: Against non-playoff teams this season, Tagovailoa has 12 touchdowns and no interceptions.
He has seven touchdowns and seven interceptions in five games against teams currently in playoff position.
▪ Running back: De’Von Achane’s 190 scrimmage yards Sunday (120 rushing, 70 receiving) were the second-most of his career, behind his 223 in the 70-20 demolition of Denver last season.
His 1340 scrimmage yards this season are second most by a Dolphins running back in a single season in the past decade, behind Jay Ajayi’s 1423 in 2016.
Achane also set the record for most receptions by a Dolphins running back in a single season. His 76 receptions this season (for 579 yards) top Terry Kirby’s record of 75 (for 874 yards) set in 1993. Those 76 receptions lead all NFL running backs this season.
Against the 49ers, Achane played 50 of 67 snaps, Raheem Mostert 21 and Jeff Wilson Jr. 7. Fullback Alec Ingold logged 25 snaps.
▪ Tight end: After setting the Dolphins’ single season record for yards receiving and receptions in a season by a tight end on Sunday, Jonnu Smith can complete the trifecta by setting the Dolphins TD reception record, which is within his grasp.
Smith has six touchdowns this season. Keith Jackson (1994) and Anthony Fasano (2008) hold the team’s tight end single-season record with seven receiving touchdowns.
On Sunday, Smith played 37 snaps, Julian Hill 31 and Durham Smythe 24. PFF rated Julian Hill Miami’s worst player on offense on Sunday.
▪ Receiver: With Jaylen Waddle sidelined, the Dolphins used rookie Malik Washington on 58 of Miami’s 67 offensive snaps.
Tyreek Hill played 56, River Cracraft 18 and Erik Ezukanma 7. Those were the only four receivers available on Sunday. Achane played a psuedo-receiver role at times.
▪ Defensive line: Zach Sieler’s sack gave him 8.5 for the season, most in the AFC despite missing two games with an orbital fracture. He has 18.5 sacks since the start of last season, tied with Nnamdi Madubuike for the most by a defensive tackle over that span.
Sieler played 54 of Miami’s 64 defensive snaps. Calais Campbell played 37, Benito Jones 33, Da’Shawn Hand 31 and Matt Dickerson 4.
▪ Inside linebacker: Jordyn Brooks played 50 snaps before leaving with knee and quadriceps injuries. But he returned in the final two minutes of the game and Mike McDaniel suggested there’s no structural damage. Duke Riley played the final 14 snaps at Brooks’ spot and allowed a touchdown pass.
Anthony Walker Jr. played 62 snaps at the other inside linebacker position. PFF rated him Miami’s worst player on defense on Sunday. He allowed all five passes thrown against him to be caught, for 86 yards.
Riley allowed both targets against him to be caught for 22 yards.
▪ Outside linebacker: Chop Robinson picked up another sack, and his six for the season are the fifth-most ever by a Dolphins rookie, behind Jaelan Phillips (8.5 in 2021), Bill Stanfill and Lorenzo Bromell (8 apiece) and A.J. Duhe (7).
Like Robinson, Marco Coleman had six sacks as a Dolphins rookie.
Robinson played 34 of the 64 defensive snaps on Sunday. Emmanuel Ogbah played 49, Quinton Bell 31 and Cam Goode 6 in his first game since a Week 18 knee injury last season.
▪ Safety: Though Jevon Holland missed two glaring tackles, PFF rated him Miami’s fourth best player on defense on Sunday. He allowed two of three targets to be caught, for 16 yards.
Jordan Poyer, who also missed a tackle, was ranked 13th of 20th. He allowed both passes to be caught against him for 14 yards.
Both played all 64 snaps, while Elijah Campbell -- who also missed a tackle -- logged 12.
▪ Cornerback: Kendall Fuller departed after 44 snaps with a knee injury; Storm Duck logged 13 the rest of the game and allowed both passes against him to be caught for 24 yards.
Jalen Ramsey played all 64 snaps, Kader Kohou 36 and Siran Neal two. Ramsey permitted four of six passes against him to be caught for 36 yards and a touchdown.
PFF rated Kohou as Miami’s best defender on Sunday, just ahead of Sieler and Bell. Kohou’s interception late thwarted the 49ers’ late drive, and he allowed only one completion in three targets (for three yards).
Fuller, before departing, permitted four completions in six targets for 52 yards.
This story was originally published December 23, 2024 at 10:47 AM.
