Dolphins offensive strengths align with defensive weakness for Rams

How in the world will the Rams slow down the Dolphins passing attack?

The Miami Dolphins will be a much tougher out than their measly 2-6 record suggests, especially considering their offensive strengths matchup well with the weaknesses on defense for the Los Angeles Rams.

Miami excels at exploiting vulnerabilities

It’s difficult to know exactly who the Dolphins are offensively this season because of injuries at the QB position. Miami has turned to Skylar Thompson, Tim Boyle, and Tyler Huntley at times after Tua Tagovailoa was injured in the second game.

In the three games where Tua was healthy, Miami was mostly a pass heavy team on the surface. I’ll note further down how the straight run-pass numbers can be skewed because of a non-traditional usage of running backs in the passing game that act as an extension of the run game, but still, for a team led by a head coach known for his adept running concepts the Dolphins are more of an aerial assault group this season.

Whatever you don’t do well, Miami will identify that weakness and attack it over and over.

They are willing to hand the ball off more than 40 times. They’ve done so with their primary QB out and to lower the degree of difficulty for backup signal callers. If they need to air it out, they seem perfectly happy to lean on a high volume passing attack as well.

What are Rams potential weaknesses?

I wrote earlier this week that the Rams don’t have an answer at slot corner.

LA is between a rock and a hard place. Darious Williams, Cobie Durant, and Ahkello Witherspoon are clearly their three-best coverage players at corner—but none are suited to play inside at a high level. The other option is to move Quentin Lake into the slot from safety, but that could create challenges on the backend as Kamren Curl is better served playing closer to the line of scrimmage. Perhaps the emergence of Kamren Kinchens last week could convince LA to move Lake to the slot and have the rookie man the deep portions of the secondary.

Defensive snaps in slot:

Quentin Lake, DB: 148

Cobie Durant, CB: 95

Josh Wallace, CB: 78

Kamren Curl, DB: 44

Jaylen McCollough, DB: 29

How will the Dolphins attack?

Miami has four dangerous receiving options they can put in the slot, and the Rams might not have a good answer for any of them. We’ve seen Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle get behind defenses with ease, and they can turn the outlook of the game on a dime.

Offensive snaps in slot:

Jonnu Smith, TE: 104

Tyreek Hill, WR: 93

Jaylen Waddle, WR: 61

Braxton Barrios, WR: 47

De’Von Achane, RB: 45

On the surface, putting a TE in the slot doesn’t feel that lethal, but Smith is having a very productive season for a tight end and in spite of Miami’s quarterback struggles. He’s caught 30 passes for 302 yards and a score.

It’s a good thing for the Rams when Barrios is in the slot. He’s been targeted only four times through six games and has yet to catch a reception.

Achane is also a unique threat in the passing game and has hauled in three touchdowns through the air. The second-year RB is second to Hill in targets at 40 versus 55, though he leads the Dolphins in receptions at 37 and has accumulated 302 yards.

Where can Rams make up ground?

As dangerous as Achane is through the air, he’s one dimensional in the passing game and struggles in protection. When he’s on the field he’s likely to be a receiving threat (only eight pass blocking snaps this season), and that can be a tell for the Rams’ defense. Is it worth sending extra rushers when Achane is on the field, or can they leave defenders in coverage and speed up the QB’s clock with just four rushers?

Miami’s weak link has been their offensive line is recent years. This is a favorable matchup for Jared Verse, Braden Fiske, and company.

The guards and the right tackle will be the path of least resistance for LA’s rushers. RT Austin Jackson is buck average in protection this season according to Pro Football Focus (PFF). The guards, Robert Jones on the left and Liam Eichenberg on the right, have played a notch below Jackson so far this year.

Austin Jackson, RT: 15 pressures allowed; 3 sacks

Liam Eichenberg, RG: 11 pressures; 2 sacks

Robert Jones, LG: 9 pressures; 3 sacks

If the Rams’ pass rush can apply consistent pressure like they did last week against the Seattle Seahawks, LA can wreck Mike McDaniel’s game plan and minimize the damage Miami can do in the slot.