Half 2 of the post-Bears sport SI Fan Nation All Dolphins mailbag:

From Elliot Zovighian (@ElliotZovighian):

We now have but to see a 60-min effort from all 3 phases of the group. They are saying protection win championships. Is successful like this sustainable via the playoffs?

Hey Elliot, let’s be sincere, what number of groups in 2022 have had 60-minute efforts from all three phases? Not many, I might say. The underside line is the protection bailed out the offense a few instances this season and the offense led the best way a couple of instances as properly. While you say “successful like this,” I’m going to imagine you imply the final two video games in opposition to Detroit and Chicago, and the reply is, why not if the offense continues to provide prefer it did in these two video games? The issue is that it’s unrealistic to count on these type of performances in opposition to the higher defenses across the AFC, which is what the Dolphins will see within the playoffs, and which means the protection should step up prefer it did in opposition to New England or Pittsburgh, for instance.

From FinzZombie (@FinzZombie):

Will Byron Jones be again after the bye?

Hey there, I don’t have a clue, no one within the media has a clue, and I’m not even certain the Dolphins have a clue. It’s a thriller wrapped round an enigma … or one thing like that.

From Dave (@angryvet59):

There must be some concern with Sanders, proper? I do know there was some wind however Payments/Pats are coming with most likely worse climate.

Hey Dave, yeah, that’s a good suggestion, however the actuality is that Jason Sanders nonetheless is an efficient NFL kicker. He’s simply not anyplace the extent he reached in 2020 when that yr he really was higher than even Justin Tucker. There’s little distinction amongst NFL kickers, in my view, previous the elite guys like Tucker and Daniel Carlson, and Sanders is simply nearly as good as anyone within the pack. Sadly, once more, that’s a step again from the place he was two years in the past.

From Michael Gura (@MichaelGura4):

How concerned is OC Frank Smith in play design/scheme? Fairly certain McDaniel is the first play-caller, however what position does Smith fill? Is he OC in title solely?

Hey Michael, that’s an excellent query and I’m unsure I’m completely outfitted to reply. What I can inform you is the McDaniel certainly is the play-caller and that Smith completely is concerned within the scheme, although to what diploma I’m unsure.

From Stephen G. Smith (@StephenGSmith13):

The place did Ogbah go after he cashed his verify? Are they utilizing him otherwise…like in protection extra of the time?

Hey Stephen, after “cashed his verify” suggests his stage of effort has dropped, and I’m not shopping for that, despite the fact that it’s clear he’s not having a great season. I haven’t seen him drop again in protection, although I haven’t seen the analytics on that. He did take care of a again challenge a couple of weeks in the past, however that doesn’t clarify the shortage of manufacturing. However from what I do know of Ogbah after watching him since 2020, he’s not a slacker.

From Erik Viel (through electronic mail)::

Alain, how is it {that a} protection with a lot expertise can underperform to this stage? (The final 2 weeks have been significantly offensive). Do you suppose there must be a training change at defensive coordinator?

Hey Erik, sure, the previous two weeks had been tough, however what in regards to the Pittsburgh sport? Or what in regards to the opener in opposition to New England? And are we so certain about “a lot expertise” on protection? Particularly with Byron Jones having not performed all season? I at all times thought the Dolphins squeezed out so much from their defensive personnel the previous two years and now accidents have made issues worse. And, no, I don’t suppose there must be a change at defensive coordinator.

From Brandon Quinn (vai electronic mail):

Byron Jones scenario – this must be a contract factor, proper? With the restructure, he already received paid like $14 mil. And I consider the Dolphins might designate him a put up June 1 reduce in 2023 and solely pay him $4 mil. But when he performs and will get injured, 2023 wage turns into assured. So is Jones selecting to sit down out the yr, are the Phins holding him out a la Matt Ryan, or am I loopy? And fwiw the Van Ginkel “your boy” had zero disrespect behind it! Simply noticed you had been questioning his lack of snaps previous to the Chubb commerce. After his TD final week, he’s formally MY BOY! Stick with it – thanks!!

Hey Brandon, per overthecap.com, the Dolphins would owe a bit greater than $14 million in bonus cash with a post-June 1 reduce designation, however it will be unfold out and rely a bit extra $5 million in opposition to the cap subsequent whereas saving $14 million of cap area. I’m not completely certain of the precise construction of the contract, however I don’t suppose it’s out of the realm of chance that his continued absence is contract-related. And all good on the AVG entrance.

From Earl Gottfried (through electronic mail):

Hey Alain, the final 2 weeks the Dolphins squeak out a win in opposition to groups that ought to have been dominated “so known as straightforward a part of the schedule).” Why is the protection making different groups look so good? Tua did properly via many of the sport however his lengthy throws maintain developing quick even when he will get a giant wind-up. Are they taking too lengthy to develop or are Hill & Waddle simply outrunning his arm? Plus he could not put the Bears away (Fields seemed and performed like Lamar Jackson) within the 4th, particularly with the feeble throw to Smythe. Is his arm getting drained with all of the lengthy throws?

Hey Earl, lot to unpack right here, so we’ll go rapid-fire model. There’s no such factor as “ought to dominate,” actually. The Lions have a great offense and the Bears have been approaching currently offensively now that they noticed the sunshine and understand that possibly it will be a good suggestion to make use of Fields’ working capacity. So not shopping for this concept of the protection making different groups look good. They receives a commission too. Till the Chicago sport, Tua’s deep throws to Waddle had been on the cash, however they had been quick on today and I’m unsure why. With Hill, Tua has underthrown him all yr and I get the sensation he nonetheless hasn’t absolutely grasped simply how briskly Hill and the way early and much he has to throw in order that Hill doesn’t outrun it. And with the fourth-down go to Smythe, that was a matter of not setting his ft correctly. There additionally was a difficulty with Smythe turning his head away from Tua for a second to verify to see what was behind him and Tua saying after the sport he thought that Smythe wasn’t on the lookout for the ball on the time he was able to throw him, which made him short-arm it.

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FOR EVEN MORE COVERAGE ON THE MIAMI DOLPHINS, CHECK OUT SPORTS ILLUSTRATED’S MIAMI DOLPHINS PAGE ON SI.COM.

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From Michael McDonald (through electronic mail):

Hello Alain. Sorry prematurely for the lengthy query. I’m a McDaniel fan, however I’m involved with some sport administration points, particularly eschewing the sector objective when it’s apparent that taking the factors is the best name, and in addition time administration on the finish of the half. There have been many questionable choices, however listed below are a pair: The lackadaisical clock administration on the finish of the half in opposition to the Bears was maddening. The Steelers 4^th down name was a blatant mistake and never taking the FG nearly price the Dolphins the sport. In opposition to the Bears, there might have been an argument to go for it on 4^th down earlier than the Bears’ final drive, however the 3 factors would have pressured the Bears to attain a TD. If Sanders’ earlier miss was the difficulty there, handle it! Sometimes venturing into Brandon Staley land is OK, however I worry McDaniel typically wanders into the upside-down universe of Nathaniel Hackett.

Hey Mike, I’m with you on the clock administration on the finish of the primary half at Chicago and with you on the passed-up area objective in opposition to Pittsburgh. Had zero points with going for it on fourth down twice in opposition to the Bears given the circumstances on the time. However I haven’t seen something as egregious as what we’ve seen out of Denver and the general work has been excellent, so I’m keen to chop McDaniel some slack right here.

From John M (through electronic mail):

Thanks for the good reporting. Mike McDaniel was requested to maintain the defensive workers intact. Nonetheless, this D seems to be extra like final yr’s 7 sport shedding streak D than the 7 sport successful streak D. When will Mike be allowed to get his personal man?

Hey John, yeah, I’m not on board with that. And let’s additionally keep in mind that the 7-game successful streak coincided with a extremely gentle a part of the schedule when apart from Lamar Jackson (on a brief week), the opposing QBs the Dolphins confronted had been Tyrod Taylor in his first sport again after lacking a number of weeks, Joe Flacco, Cam Newton, Mike Glennon, Zach Wilson and Ian E book. I believe everyone is overreacting to the Detroit and Chicago video games as a result of I didn’t hear a lot complaining after the Pittsburgh sport. There even have been key accidents within the secondary, beginning with Byron Jones not taking part in all yr. These are elements. As to the fundamental premise of your query, I’m not aware about what was agreed upon between McDaniel and the Dolphins in the case of selecting his personal defensive workers.

From Robert Meyer (through electronic mail):

Hello Alain, first, let me thanks for the job you do masking the Dolphins. I’m a long-term FinFan, having grown up in Miami throughout the ’70s. I learn loads of Dolphins information and opinions, and truthfully, most of them have little or no worth (you realize what they are saying about opinions….) to me as a result of they do not appear to have the best mixture of precise soccer data and perspective. You do. You occur to be 1 of solely possibly 3 writers who I really feel give well-balanced and insightful opinions concerning Dolphins soccer, and I make it some extent to search for your articles to learn (just about each day :). So thanks! I’m at the moment seeing SO many opinions about Chubb — what he’ll deliver; how will it impression the D; and many others. So I wished to ask you to verify my considering on this: Byron Jones being out has had a cascading impact on your complete protection this season. Blitzing apart, having two lock-down corners creates extra time for the go rush to get to the opposing QB, by forcing him to go farther via his reads. Possibly solely one other second or two that he has to carry the ball, however that could be sufficient for guys like Phillips or Ogbah to get stress. The opposite facet of the equation can be true — when you’ve got a fearsome go rush with out blitzing, it makes the secondary look higher. Including Chubb looks like an ideal transfer in that it *ought to* elevate the play of not simply Phillips, but in addition guys like Xavien Howard and Jevon Holland. It isn’t nearly Chubb’s sack totals. My hope is that Byron Jones comes again from IR earlier than the final 3-4 video games of the season. If that occurs, I believe it is affordable to suppose the Fins might have a championship-caliber protection for the playoffs. Ideas?

Hey Robert, first off, thanks very a lot for the type phrases. They’re much appreciated. I agree with just about all the things you mentioned, although I might make these two factors: Along with giving Phillips and Chubb possibly that little additional time to get to the quarterback, having a wholesome Byron Jones would enable Josh Boyer the posh of deploying one other DB close to the road of scrimmage and calling extra zero blitzes, which had been so profitable for the Dolphins the previous two seasons. The opposite level is that I’m unsure I’d go so far as making the protection a “championship-caliber” protection with a wholesome Jones. However, if the offense produces the best way it did at Detroit and Chicago, it doesn’t essentially must be “championship-caliber” for the Dolphins to make a deep run within the playoffs.

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