Playoff Hopes Rise And Falls With Dolphins Defense

When Suh and Wake dominate, the Dolphins defense rolls.

Suh & Wake are the superstars on the Dolphins defense, they must shine in Pittsburgh.

The Miami Dolphins are in the playoffs for the first time since 2008, but there are few in the football world that are giving them even the slightest chance to be anything more than a ‘one and done’ in the 2016 Playoffs.

Miami is the biggest underdog of the Wild Card Playoff weekend at -10 points.  Even though they beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in Miami in Week 6,  over 2 1 / 2 months ago, the Steelers are playing much better since then and are considered one of the top 3 teams in the AFC.

Pittsburgh is far more healthy this time when 6 starters were sidelined.

All three of the Steelers ‘Big Three’ on offense are healthy and licking their chops at getting revenge.

Running Back Le’Veon Bell is at full strength and has been arguably the best running back in the league amassing 835 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns over the last 6 games.

It also also appears Ben Roethlisberger has fully healed from his knee injury that he suffered while playing the Dolphins. He took off Week 17 to make sure he was as close to fully healed as he could get.

Miami is going to need to find a way to stop these two Super Stars along with shutting down All-Pro Wide Receiver Antonio Brown.

Considering that Miami’s has allowed a whopping 69 points and 985 yards over the last two games, it is clear why all the best pay per head bookie service sites are not giving Miami much of a chance in this upcoming Wild Card game: the Dolphins Defense, or lack thereof.

The old axiom has proven true for the most part: defense wins championship.

Coach Adam Gase has already called out his Dolphins defense, demanding that they must play better.

Yes, Miami is extremely banged up in the secondary and linebacking units; but, this is the NFL, and injuries are a part of the game. The reality is next man up must fill the void.

That could be the case with Byron Maxwell who missed Wednesday’s practice. His appearance or absence could swing the pendulum hard either way if the next man up doesn’t step up. Maxwell limited Brown in the first meeting, if he’s not in will either Howard or Lippett do the same?

Beyond all the gloom and doom, the Dolphins do have two superstars in Ndamukong Suh and Cameron Wake who will be the two most dominant defensive players on either team come Sunday.

They must shine with a dominating performance.

Suh must command double teams…and break them. In recent weeks, he has been moved out on occasion without the need of doubles. That can’t happen this week. Also, he needs to generate more pressure. But…

…this will be a lot easier if Jordan Phillips decides to play even a dozen snaps that meet up to his talent. You saw in the early 3rd against the Pats how Phillips can dominate when he wants to. The problem is, his want seems to not want to all that much. This game will be a big indicator on Phillips future. Questions on whether he’ll ever raise his motor to be anything more than a rotational player will likely get answered this week. If he can’t get up for this one, then it’s not a good sign that he will.

Then there is Wake.

Wake is getting his first Playoff game. This long, long awaited moment is finally here for him and his fans. Wake never gives less than a 110%, but this week, he must dig even deeper. Superstars can at times get into a place where their game elevates to a supernal level for a stretch. If Wake can seize this moment with that kind of elite game play, Miami will not be a one and done.

The question is will Suh and Wake reach that gear this week?

Tough defense will allow Miami to be patient with their running game.

Then there is Vance Jospeh.

He didn’t walk into a job with a defense burgeoning with talent. Then add to it the injuries, and the fact this is his first year as a D.C. But, his bag of tricks needs to expand this week and needs to have the fewest holes he has had this season.

I liked his hire nearly from the day he was hired. Watching his demeanor, I grew to liking him a lot. I think he is an excellent teacher, motivator, communicator and man of character. But, the natural learning curve of a position coach who moves to a coordinator for the first time has cost the team on occasion.

Miami can’t afford that his week…or slow starts on offense, but let’s stick to the defense.

I know I’m stating the obvious: Joseph must call the game of his career. But, when I say this, its not so much that he must have brilliantly timed calls that turn the game on its head, but he must eliminate poor calls and bring some new nuances to his scheme on occasion to spice up the vanilla ‘over shell-coverage’.

Roethlisberger is one of the best QB’s of this generation, and he has tape and an intimate experience against this ‘D’. Vanilla defense just won’t cut it this time, especially when and if the pressure wains.

Miami’s fortunes will rest on the shoulders of this Dolphins defense that has been a bit of a pariah of late. Will they rise with the tide of Playoff caliber football, or will Miami’s Post Season fortunes drown with their failure? Go Fins!!!