Surprising facet of game that Dolphins do best

Head coach Mike McDaniel, who wore many hats before being hired in Miami, including run-game coordinator for the 49ers, attributes their success to a hungry group of guys dedicated to following a scheme.

“I think that the run game is 11 different players,” McDaniel said, as per miamidolphins.com. “I never really look at the run game in general as one player. We have a large group of very good running backs, because that’s kind of the nature of the position at times.”

Mostert is the head of the pack right now with rookie sensation De’Von Achane out with a knee injury and Jeff Wilson, Jr. set to return from injured reserve in the next few weeks. As borne out, it has not mattered so far who gets the rock. Teams are so afraid of the Dolphins’ team speed and the big play downfield that safeties cannot cheat toward the line of scrimmage. 

Also, linebackers tend to fall back into coverage to defend crossing patterns. As a result, the offensive line sees fewer blitzes and can focus on getting a push in one-to-one matchups to open some cutback lanes for Dolphin rushers.

“The guys that we have in the running back room that I thought they did really good,” Tagovailoa said, as per southfloridatribune.com after the Dolphins 42-21 victory over the Carolina Panthers. “Raheem has been a great teammate. He’s a really, really good player. Very happy for him. I know the guys in the locker room are happy for him.”

The Dolphins are also happy to be No. 1 in the NFL with 181.8 rushing yards per game, which is a staggering 32 yards more on average than the second-place Philadelphia Eagles, who Miami plays this Sunday night. What’s even more impressive is that they have accomplished this for the most part without their best offensive lineman in Terron Armstead, who remains sidelined with a knee issue.

McDaniel employs a zone-blocking technique that couples with Tagovailoa’s adept ability to conceal his intent in the run-pass option until the last possible second. Tagovailoa has excelled at reading defenses, which allows holes to open up for Mostert et al with blockers, including WRs, downhill at the second level.

The O-line has put in some stellar work for this team. It has given Tagovailoa time in the pocket – surrendering six sacks in six games – and deserves a gigantic amount of credit for the Dolphins ground game proficiency.

“It’s a beautiful sight to see, man,” Hill said, as per the Palm Beach Post’s Joe Schad. “I know for Tua, whenever he drops back, he has no defenders in his face… Without those guys, there would be no ‘Cheetah’; there would be no ‘Penguin.’ We’d just be like another receiver in this league. So, offensive line, they’re doing a great job.”

The Miami Point Machine is a well-oiled nightmare for defenses trying to stop it. The team averages 37.7 points per game, a full touchdown ahead of the second-best team in the San Francisco 49ers, and 47.7 at home. While the Dolphins aerial display grabs the headlines for those lofty stats, it is the balance of having an explosive running game that will take this team far this coming January.