MIAMI GARDENS — The numbers speak for themselves. The Miami Dolphins defense has zero turnovers, which is tied for last in the NFL, it ranks last in opposing quarterback passer rating (128.9), and 28th against the run (135.0 yards allowed per game).
Most of the blame here rests with the Dolphins’ defensive front seven. They’re supposed to be the disruptive force for the defense, which ranked No. 4 in the NFL last season. The front seven are the ones who have the talent to make plays that change or win games through stopping the run, getting sacks and causing turnovers.
“We’ve got to set the tone,” defensive tackle Zach Sieler said.
The Dolphins (0-3) took temporary pressure off coach Mike McDaniel in last week’s 31-21 closer-than-expected loss at Buffalo. But if the Dolphins lose to the winless New York Jets (0-3) on Monday night at Hard Rock Stadium, the calls for McDaniel to lose his job might get loud once again.
The easiest path for the Dolphins to soothe the fan anger is for the front seven, not the offense, to lead the way to a victory.
The front seven, led by Sieler, fellow defensive tackle Benito Jones, outside linebackers Jaelan Phillips, Bradley Chubb, Chop Robinson and Matthew Judon as well as inside linebackers Jordyn Brooks and Tyrel Dodson, had high expectations entering the season.
But they haven’t delivered. Their role is crucial because the Dolphins’ makeshift secondary was expected to be a concern entering the season. The front seven was supposed to be among the best in the league. Everyone is wondering when this crew is going to put up numbers.
“That’s kind of something that you have to fight against, is pressing and trying to do too much and trying to make a play outside of the scheme or outside of your own ability,” said Phillips, who doesn’t have a sack. “I think really the focus is not worrying about the numbers, not trying to make something happen when it’s not there, really trusting the scheme and just playing within the bounds of the defense.”
Coach Anthony Weaver made an impassioned plea for more violence (strictly in the football sense) from his defense on Friday. That was after explaining that progress, in this case, is a process.
“I think our defense, while it’d be very easy to sit here and say, ‘Yeah, we should pick up right where we left off from a year ago’ it’s an entirely new defense,” Weaver said.
“You have an entirely new group of safeties. Our three starting corners right now got here during training camp. Bradley Chubb did not play a year ago. Jaelan Phillips played three games. We have two new starting rookies on the defensive line, along with Sieler, and Jordyn Brooks and ‘T. Dot’ (Dodson), so we’re definitely going through some growing pains.”
The Dolphins rank last in points allowed, Weaver’s most valued statistics, at 32.3 points per game. And, yes, you guessed it, the front seven shoulders lots of that blame, too.
The Jets, led by quarterback Justin Fields, could push the Dolphins in that regard. They scored 32 points in a season-opening 34-32 loss to Pittsburgh and 27 points in last week’s 29-27 loss to Tampa Bay.
The Dolphins’ front seven must start by putting pressure on Fields, who is back after sustaining a concussion, and shutting down wide receiver Garrett Wilson (21 receptions, 229 yards, two touchdowns) and running back Breece Hall (38 carries, 157 yards, 4.1 yards per carry).
One problem within the front seven is rookie defensive tackle Kenneth Grant, the first-round pick who is valued for his run-stopping skills, is off to a slow start. But he’s not alone. Sieler, who is coming off back-to-back 10-sack seasons, hasn’t been effective against the pass or run.
Another issue is the Dolphins aren’t having success on first and second downs, which means they don’t face the advantageous third-and-long situations often enough to allow their pass rushers to go to work.
The Dolphins allow opponents to convert third downs into first down at 52.6 percent, second-worst in the NFL. That’s another issue that falls largely onto the front seven and its ability to change or win games.
The Dolphins rank 26th in total defense, allowing 370.3 yards per game. It’s not all the fault of the front seven, but that’s where the issues begin.
McDaniel said the No. 1 job for the front seven is easily identifiable.
“I think it’s something that is on their minds and ever-present and that’s playing connected football,’ McDaniel said. “Their best efforts have been the stuff that we’ve been really nailing down since Day 1 with alignments, assignments, communication and critical points of emphasis of setting the edge and knocking people back.”
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