⚕️5 – Pass rush problems

Miami’s defense is an injury-riddled unit right now. Already without top pass rushers Bradley Chubb (Reserve-PUP) and Jaelen Phillips (Injured Reserve), the Dolphins could also be without their best interior defensive lineman, Zach Sieler, who fractured an orbital bone by his eye in practice last week. All the absences have seen Miami’s pass rush lose its effectiveness when it comes to affecting the opposing quarterback.

Through seven games, the Dolphins have managed just nine sacks, which ranks 31st in the league. They’re also 24th in quarterback knockdowns (18) and 27th in quarterback pressures (47).

“This time last year that had three edge rushers that were absolute game changers,” said Orlovsky in reference to Chubb, Phillips, and Andrew Van Ginkel, now in Minnesota. “None of them are there right now because of injury, and that’s been an issue.”

Wolfe felt the Dolphins’ inability to hem in a mobile quarterback last week was a major problem.

“One thing the Dolphins really struggled with was they couldn’t corral Kyler Murray,” said Wolfe.
“A lot of times where they had him right in their grip, and he would scramble around a little bit and extend plays and beat them. So, it wasn’t like the secondary was just getting sliced and diced quickly. It was one of those things where Kyler extended plays and made plays. And of course, Josh can do that better than, I think, any quarterback in the league, and so that presents another challenge for them. We know Josh has had a lot of success against Miami.”

Making matters worse, the Dolphins are a bit hobbled on the back end as well with nickel corner, Kader Kohou, rookie DB Storm Duck, and safety Jevon Holland all nursing injuries. Holland, arguably their most talented defensive back, suffered a knee injury in last week’s game and did not return. Kohou’s absence forced veteran Jalen Ramsey to play in the slot leaving inexperienced second-year CB Cam Smith outside.

“Both of those same corners are still injured,” said Wolfe of Kohou and Duck. “If you’ve got Jalen Ramsey in the slot, then that opens up an outside lane for someone to eat, so that, along with the lack of pass rush and just poor tackling for them, I think really was the story of the game. That defense had been carrying the team in Tua’s absence, trying to keep them afloat while he was out, but they did not show up last Sunday.”

Duck, Holland, and Kohou all did not practice on Wednesday.