Dolphins eye rebound from season-worst effort in run defense: ‘We know what we’re capable of’

Had the 2021 NFL play inactive been nether the 17-week, 16-game format, the Miami Dolphins, already dealing with elimination from the postseason, would’ve had to deed the offseason with the sour sensation of having their season-worst effort successful an country they pridefulness themselves in.

The Dolphins (8-8) struggled successful tally defence done the season’s archetypal 5 games, allowing 121 yards oregon much successful each outing. After that, they hadn’t surrendered that fig again connected the ground, keeping opponents astatine 102 rushing yards oregon less each clip out.

Until Sunday’s colossal letdown and 34-3 nonaccomplishment to the Tennessee Titans. Miami gave up a season-worst 198 rushing yards — arsenic the Titans played without prima moving backmost Derrick Henry.

Because determination is simply a 17th crippled this regular season, the Dolphins’ tally defence has 1 last accidental to rebound successful a 4:25 p.m. kickoff against the playoff-bound New England Patriots (10-6) astatine Hard Rock Stadium connected Sunday.

“We cognize what we’re susceptible of and what we’ve been doing for the bulk of the season,” said Miami antiaircraft tackle Christian Wilkins, who leads NFL antiaircraft linemen with 83 tackles this season. “That wasn’t it past week. We’ve got 1 much week to astatine slightest spell retired determination unneurotic arsenic a radical and person a small amusive and get different ace astatine it.”

Said linebacker Elandon Roberts: “We pridefulness ourselves connected being the champion tally defence successful the NFL, period. … We turned the page. We made the corrections, and 1 happening astir it: We got different accidental to spell backmost retired determination this Sunday and amusement everybody that we’re acceptable to go.”

So, the Dolphins dove into analyzing what went incorrect against the Titans earlier they suit up again versus different susceptible tally game. The Patriots, down moving backs Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson, are eighth successful the NFL, averaging 126.1 yards per crippled connected the ground.

“Some of it could beryllium a small spot scheme-related, wherever we’re trying to make antagonistic plays,” antiaircraft coordinator Josh Boyer said. “Some of it is them staying up of the chains and staying connected way and not being capable to truly get them into situations wherever they request to propulsion the ball. … Then, immoderate of it is conscionable fundamentals and techniques.”

Trying to get Titans shot carriers, namely D’Onta Foreman, who went for 132 yards and a touchdown, down successful the backfield by attacking up the tract defensively made it easier for the Titans to squeak by and get to the 2nd level of the Miami defense.

Dolphins antiaircraft enactment manager Austin Clark identified footwork, pad level and oculus subject arsenic the cardinal factors his players up beforehand request to hole aft reviewing the movie from Tennessee.

“Just everybody trying to spell retired determination and marque a play arsenic opposed to executing the antheral they’re aligned on, the method we’re asking them to bash and playing their gap,” Clark added.

When Titans backs gained steam crossed the enactment of scrimmage, determination were aggregate instances of mediocre angles taken successful the secondary, allowing runs that could’ve been contained wrong 10 yards to runs of 39 from Dontrell Hilliard oregon the 35-yard gallop and 21-yard touchdown from Foreman.

“You got to marque definite that your gait connected the shot bearer is the close pace, truthful you tin find that angle,” Miami antiaircraft backs manager Gerald Alexander said. “There are examples wherever that was done correctly. There was examples wherever we could’ve enactment ourselves successful amended position.”

The Dolphins were 4th successful the NFL successful tally defence during their seven-game winning streak. With a portion that takes pridefulness successful that area, Miami’s defence looks to erase a season-worst effort arsenic the lasting content — and close it quickly.

because it’s a copycat league and teams are going to usage what you conflict with to spell against you,” antiaircraft extremity Emmanuel Ogbah said. “We’ve conscionable got to enactment connected that other hard astatine practice.”