PHINMANIACS.COM
Menu

Game Recap: Miami Victorious, Yet Work to be Done

11/1/2020

0 Comments

 
By: Shawn Williams
The silver lining of having ALL of the attention focused on Tua Tagovailoa, was everyone’s failure to look towards the defense.  In the post-game presser, even Coach Flores seemed a little over the Tua talk.  Nearly every question about Tua, and the offense, was met with “it’s a team game”.
 
Look, as long as Tua is the starting Quarterback of the Dolphins, the lights will be clearly affixed overhead, and deservedly so.  Maybe that’s a good thing because with the way the defense played today it was almost like they were insulted.
 
For the past two weeks the national media, local beat writers, and Dolphins twitter have been all Tua all the time.  Despite the defense holding top ten numbers in numerous categories and  being top three in point differential, they were completely lost among the quarterback hype.  Then again, I write for, and love a team that’s never really in anyone’s brain space, so it’s easy to imagine people haven’t really been paying attention.  That apparently has changed, but possibly in more ways than one.  While Tua and the offense will continue to garner speculation and analysis, the defense has quietly become one of the best in the National Football League, and they’re going to get the respect they deserve.
 
On a day where the Dolphin’s coaches seemed to clearly have Tua’s training wheels in place, the defense had Rams QB Jared Goff completely rattled.
 
Credit Brian Flores and Defensive Coordinator Josh Boyer for scheming up one heck of a game plan.  The entire first half was mired in “zero blitzes” and game changing turnovers. Goff was under immediate pressure on most plays, leaving little time to read the defense.  Goff is much more effective on “roll outs” and “waggles”, and today there be no such opportunity.
 
Christian Wilkins got his first career interception around the 3:00 minute mark in the first quarter.  That turnover led to Tua’s first career touchdown pass, when he slung a ball through a tight window to DeVante Parker (who was fouled on the play) for a 3-yard score.
Picture
On the next Dolphins possession, Myles Gaskin fumbled after a vicious hit from Rams Safety Taylor Rapp.  That put the Rams on the Dolphins 7-yard line.  The Dolphins defense didn’t seem too phased by the disadvantage. They continued to bring the blitz, and Emmanuel Ogbah nailed Goff with a nasty hit, causing him to fumble. Linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, who previously dropped an interception, scooped the ball and took it 78-yards for a Dolphin touchdown.
 
After a following three-and-out, the Rams punted to Jakeem Grant, who returned it 68-yards for the score.
 
The next series it was an interception for Eric Rowe.
 
The Rams would turn the ball over one more time in the half, when Goff fumbled for a second time after taking a hit from Shaq Lawson.
 
Rams Coach Sean McVay wasn’t able to come up with a much better formula in the second half.  The Dolphins continued to bring pressure to an already flustered Goff, and despite a “garbage time” touchdown, the Rams never got close.
 
It was a lackluster debut for Tua Tagovailoa (12/22, 93 yds and 1 touchdown; 80.3 passer rating), however the Dolphin defense made a BIG statement. 
 
Dolphins got an important 28-17 victory over a tough Rams team.  They now sit at 4-3 (2nd place AFC East) and will prepare for a cross country tip to Arizona.  That game will take place next Sunday at 4:25 EST.

Please welcome Shawn Williams to PhinManiacs and please check him out on Twitter @swilliams3205
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Latest Dolphins News

    Story Archives

    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014


    RSS Feed

Picture
  • Home
  • REESE'S SENIOR BOWL PROSPECTS
  • Miami Dolphins Articles
  • PhinManiacs on YouTube
  • PhinManiac Phun
  • About Us
  • PhinManiacs PodCast Network
  • Player Profiles
  • Player Highlight Videos
  • PATCHVIBES
  • Home
  • REESE'S SENIOR BOWL PROSPECTS
  • Miami Dolphins Articles
  • PhinManiacs on YouTube
  • PhinManiac Phun
  • About Us
  • PhinManiacs PodCast Network
  • Player Profiles
  • Player Highlight Videos
  • PATCHVIBES