2) If you were the opposing offensive or defensive coordinator, how would you attack Miami?
To attack Miami, I'd attack their linebackers in the air. Covering 10 yards laterally, allows the Dolphins linebackers Phillip Wheeler and Dannell Ellerbe to make plays on the ball or use their speed to get to the receiver and make a quick tackle for a minimal gain. Both Wheeler and Ellerbe play well in space. However, if they have to cover a tight end on a seam route over the middle or in the slot, they can't get there quickly enough and give up big plays to tight ends. Wheeler and Ellerbe have a night and day grades versus pass coverage with Wheeler a -6.5 grade and Wheeler a 1.0 according to Pro Football Focus.
Both Wheeler and Koa Misi (-1.2) are not great coverage linebackers. In addition, I'd get Spiller in space on screen passes. Since DC Kevin Coyle loves to disguise the blitz, with some careful guess work (which can be almost every defensive series lately) the screen pass will be available for Spiller. If you watch the tape from the Saints game, all the Saints did is watch the Dolphins over pursue and see Spiller run right through lanes created by blocks on the line backers. The Dolphins do not contain Spiller well historically and he usually gets away.
Lastly, I'd test Nolan Carroll and S Chris Clemons who does not cover as well as he should. Clemons makes tackles on the run, but doesn't make big interceptions and rarely wins the battle for the ball. I'd zero in on Carroll on a 9 route to Stevie Johnson or even Robert Woods. Both receivers will pose problems for Carroll who is overmatched against quicker receivers, but commits his share of pass interference and holding penalties.
3) How has Tannehill progressed this season so far?
Ryan Tannehill has made progress, but his three fumbles lost and six total and his inability to escape the pocket when he feels pressure have plagued him this season as well as the team. In the last game versus the Ravens, he didn't have his best game, but was in it until the end and the team seems to get that key stop and trust Tannehill with the ball in the closing minutes.
Since Tannehill was quite raw coming out of college with only 20 starts at QB, scouts had him pegged as a late first round pick or a second round pick. However, the Dolphins seem to have done the right thing in starting him all 16 games under the same offense and coach Mike Sherman from college. In addition, Zac Taylor, his quarterback coach and offensive assistant, has been a familiar face given Taylor was his coach at Texas A&M. The feeling on Tannehill's potential is that he should turn the corner and throw more touchdowns than interceptions.
How many touchdowns is the question and that might dictate where the Dolphins go after the season either playoffs or other options. After all, they are committed to Tannehill beyond this season contractually, but he did get what's called offset language, but a non-winning season certainly raises those doubts of whether or not he's ready to lead this team as the franchise quarterback. Surely, his character and his work ethic is there and now it's a matter of playing well on a consistent basis and leading this team to more wins than last season.
4) Why hasn't Miami been able to run the football well this year?
The Dolphins have clearly had issues running the ball. This season they are averaging 3.7 YPC versus the 4.0 YPC this time last year. Part of the problem lies squarely on the offensive line. The entire line has not performed well in games when the Dolphins have wanted to run the ball. John Jerry (-3.5) and Tyson Clabo (-5.2) have not blocked well on run plays and the only offensive lineman that has been issued a positive grade has been third year Center Mike Pouncey (1.5).
Pouncey seems to get to the second level on the rare explosive runs that Miami has had. To compensate for this lack of run power, the Dolphins as of recently have passed more than last season and that's showing up on the stat sheet with Ryan Tannehill eclipsing 300 yards this season 3 out of 5 games. Next, the Dolphins running backs Lamar Miller and Daniel Thomas can't seem run hard and put their foot in the ground.
On one occasion Miller has had a big run, versus the Falcons for 48 yards. Since then, Miller has been stopped on 3rd and short twice and Thomas has failed to run the stretch play to perfection. Complicating matters is the Dolphins reliance on a putting a tight end in the back field, Charles Clay since the Dolphins no longer have Tyson Clutts whom they cut after week 4.
No full back means the Dolphins are not planning on running up the middle as they have in year's past. The last reason is the Dolphins have trailed by large margins versus the Falcons, Saints, and the Ravens.
5) How has Mike Wallace been for you guys? Just by looking at his stats, it doesn't seem like he's stretching the field as he's averaging 12 YPC and just two 20+ receiving. Also, it seems like you guys have a decent number of secondary guys for your WRs, who should the Bills look out more for?
If you told me Mike Wallace would come away with a catch versus the Browns, I'd have told you you're crazy and should have your head examined. However, Wallace never played well versus Joe Hayden while in Pittsburgh and the fact that the game plan was to get Wallace his touches if possible, but Tannehill was not going to target Wallace with Hayden covering him especially if baited to throw to an un-open Wallace.
That being said, Wallace bounced back nicely versus the Colts in week 2 with 9 catches and 1 TD. Since then, Wallace has not been a consistent performer. Part of that is the fact that Wallace has significant drops in key situations and the fact that Ryan Tannehill and him have yet to have crisp and clear in game communication. Wallace wants the ball. Wallace wants to perform at a very high level.
However, Tannehill has a much better rapport with Brian Hartline who seems to catch everything that Tannehill throws, almost always. If I am a Bills fan, I worry because Wallace might be making some huge plays this Sunday and break out of his scoring slump, simply because the Bills secondary may not be able to keep up with a very hungry and motivated Wallace.
The best addition that GM Jeff Ireland could add to the Dolphins was relative unknown Brandon Gibson. However, Gibson has shown to be the 3rd down threat that he was brought in to be especially after Davone Bess was traded to Cleveland. What makes Gibson so good is his ability to sit down in coverage and make the catch and turn upfield. Gibson, although has yet to catch a TD is on pace for over 950 yards and has shown he can be quite productive. One little known receiver in the NFL is Rishard Matthews.
Matthews played at Nevada-Reno two years ago and was drafted in the 7th round by the Dolphins. Matthews is a big receiver that reminds me of Oronde Gadsden who made big plays for the Dolphins at the tail end of the Marino era. Matthews can catch the ball and run with it and break tackles. Most people won't want to admit this, but he was drafted after the Dolphins traded Brandon Marshall. It's interesting that the same type of guy (big body, even though he is 6 feet tall) was brought in and quite possibly the plan was to have quarterback Ryan Tannehill grow with a receiver from the same draft class.
Matthews brings another dimension in goal line situations for the Dolphins and out wide, he can shed the cornerback to get open and has great hands. Don't forget about the Dolphins tight ends and mainly Charles Clay. He's evolved to be a significant threat to teams especially when Miami goes 5 wide. He is a main threat in a goal line situation and is Ryan Tannehill's security blanket on third down.
6) How has Dion Jordan looked for you guys so far?
Dion Jordan (4.2 on PFF) is a beast that the Dolphins have yet to unleash consistently in games. He wreaks havoc on the blind side and can stand up in coverage. The Dolphins plan on using him more and more as the week progresses and undoubtedly, the game versus the Ravens was his coming out party. Just before the Dolphins defense made a big interception Jordan on the play before almost hauled in his own interception by jumping up and taking the ball out of the air, but ended up dropping the Flacco pass.
Late in the fourth quarter with the Dolphins needing a stop, inside the 5 yard line Jordan tugged on the Ravens' Joe Flacco's arm and sent the ball straight up into safety Reshard Jones' arms for a game tying pick six. Jones made the play, but Jordan's ability to re-direct the pass errantly was his greatest move this season. Even though Jordan would be more of a fit for a 3-4 defense, Ireland gambled and realized that the Dolphins needed to have a pass rush to stop more than one team in the NFL.
The Dolphins, in order to compete in the AFC East needed to have another difference maker in their arsenal of defensive ends. Everyone knows that Tom Brady hates getting sacked and thus the Dolphins needed another threat. Stopping Jordan takes two players which then translates to stopping Cameron Wake or Olivier Vernon who's been getting to the QB this season.
If Cam Wake heals from his knee injury, which the past week has allowed him to rest, look for Jordan to come up with a big play as the season wears on. Jordan is capable of making big plays versus Buffalo who've in the past had offensive line woes.
7) Besides the named players like Jordan, Wake and Wallace, who are some of the under the radar players fans should look out for?
The Dolphins defense features the best defensive line in the AFC. Other than Wake and rookie Dion Jordan, look out for Randy Starks and Jared Odrick. Starks and Odrick both bring pressure up the middle in certain situations. However, Odrick is capable of playing outside to power rush the tackle and guard and does get sacks. Next, Paul Soliai, Big Paul as we call him, has a knack for bringing middle pressure on every play and stuffs the run when called upon.
Look for those guys on the Dolphins D-line to keep the Bills running game at bay. On offense, there is a good chance that the Dolphins will use Lamar Miller a bit more. He's a faster and bigger version of Reggie Bush. However, Bush surprisingly was much better hitting the hole than Miller has. Lamar Miller could be the difference in this game if he plays better than expected.
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