Five Dolphins X-Factors Down the Stretch

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The Miami Dolphins won their second game in a row in week 11, beating the Los Vegas Raiders at home in convincing fashion, 34-19. The Dolphins now sit at a 4-6 record with a seemingly manageable schedule the rest of the way, despite a more competitive than expected wild card race. As the Dolphins do attempt to gear up for this upcoming stretch run, they’ll need depth pieces to step up, injured players to make triumphant returns, young players to break out, and veterans to earn their keep. With that in mind, here are five crucial x-factors down the stretch who can singlehandedly change the course of the playoff race. 

 

Chop Robinson, EDGE 

The Dolphins first round pick is coming alive, folks. Over the last three weeks, Chop has been terrorizing opposing quarterbacks to the tune of two sacks, four quarterback hits, and 15 (!) total pressures, the rookie is finally getting home. That’s not to say he was bad before, his 18.1% pressure rate overall on the season ranks 8th in the NFL among defenders with at least 100 pass rush snaps. Over the last few weeks, however, he has started to finish, and that is exactly what the defense has needed. Prior to the last two weeks, in which the defense had strung together back to back outings of three sacks or more for the first time in 2024, the Dolphins as a team had only produced a meager ten sacks in their first eight games. This ranked them 31st in the NFL, ahead of only the Atlanta Falcons. With a stretch of games upcoming that includes the likes of C.J. Stroud, Jordan Love, and Brock Purdy, the Dolphins will need their rookie edge rusher to continue his midseason breakout if the defense is to be up for the challenge of earning a wild card spot. 

 

Kendall Lamm, OT 

With Austin Jackson having season ending knee surgery ahead of week ten’s Monday night matchup versus Los Angeles, Kendall Lamm was tapped to be the blindside protector for Tua Tagovailoa down the stretch for the remainder of the season. The result? Arguably the worst performance of the season for the Dolphins offensive line. The Rams defense was able to generate pressure on Tagovailoa with regularity to the tune of a pressure rate of 25.8%. In week 11, however, the tune was starkly different. Lamm matched up with the vaunted Maxx Crosby for much of the day, and while the Dolphins still were not able to generate much success in the running game, Crosby was only able to generate a pressure on three of his 37 pass rushing snaps, for a lowly pressure rate of 8.1%. Lamm is one of the better backup tackles the league has to offer, and the Dolphins will need him to play as such, especially with a schedule that sees Will Anderson IV, Myles Garrett and Nick Bosa the rest of the way. As important as Lamm is at the tackle spot, this next player is just as important inside, maybe even more. 

 

Isaiah Wynn, IOL 

The Miami Dolphins guard play in pass protection this year has been, in a word, bad. According to PFF (controversial, I know), the Dolphins guards have combined to generate a paltry 36 grade in pass blocking sets, that’s out of 100, by the way. Enter Isaiah Wynn, who was designated to return prior to the Dolphins week 11 matchup at home versus the Raiders, opening up his three week practice window. While he remains out versus the Patriots, it is likely that Dolphins fans will be seeing Wynn on the field sooner, rather than later. The benefits of this being two fold, firstly, he will bolster the interior pass blocking on a line that sorely needs a boost in that department. Secondly, ins tepping in at Left Guard, he opens the door for Robert Jones to jump to the right side, allowing him to go back to playing his better position, while also allowing for a true competition between him and Eichenberg at that spot, giving the Dolphins a quality backup along the inside in whoever loses said position battle. If Wynn is able to regain his form, an offensive line combination of Armstead-Wynn-Brewer-Jones/Eichenberg-Lamm may be the best group the Dolphins have trot out to date this season. 

 

Jevon Holland, S 

Jevon Holland wants to get paid this offseason. Jevon Holland, at this point, at least, has not done much to help his cause in the 2024 season, as he has struggled in coverage, to the tune of allowing a 117.3 passer rating in coverage to opposing offenses when being targeted this season, a career worst for the safety to date. Now, Holland has been hampered by injuries this season, but this is a defense that sorely needs him to be the playmaker who generated 9 turnovers across his first three seasons, as this is a Dolphins defense that, while being solid all season long, has occasionally struggled in creating those plays that can change the course of a game, if he is able to reclaim his former form, the defense could have yet another level to hit down the stretch, a pretty scary thought for opposing offenses considering that the defense has been a top 10 unit to this point. 

 

Jaylen Wright, RB 

The Dolphins offense is currently in the midst of somewhat of a changing of the guard. While Wright only has had five carries each over the last two games, and has struggled to get any traction with any of those carries, though one can argue one Alec Ingold could remedy these struggles, this was significant in what it is symbolic of and the trend that the offense is moving towards. Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel has used his running back stable almost like a pitching staff to this point, with De’Von Achane operating as the starter and a combination of Jaylen Wright and Raheem Mostert operating as the “closers”, backs who are more capable of providing the physical punishing runs in the fourth quarter to wear down defenses as the game winds down. This role will seemingly become much more important down the stretch as the Dolphins go on the road in tough conditions three times in their remaining eight games (at Green Bay, at Cleveland, at New York). This is exactly where Jaylen Wright fits in, Wright leads all Dolphins running backs with at least 40 carries in yards after contact per carry at 3.6. For context, Derrick Henry averages 3.8 yards after contact per carry. Obviously, this is not to say the 5’10”, 215 pound Wright will continue to run like the 6’2”, 240 pound Henry, but his tough running style will be critical to the Dolphins run game as they play these cold weather games on the road in November/December/January. 

With the Dolphins likely needing to win at least six of their remaining seven to keep pace in the AFC, each of these players (and more, of course) will be crucial to the playoff push. In the immediate, though, each of these players will be crucial on a week to week basis, starting with the upcoming week 12 home matchup with Drake Maye and the Patriots.

 

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Follow @EricWiedeke for Dolphins and Marlins content on the Five Reasons Sports Network.

The Dolphins' Jaelan Phillips has an Achilles tendon give out as he began to rush the passer in the second half against the Jets.

Pressure Point: Jaelan Phillips’ injury taints Dolphins’ win, renews turf complaints

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What should have been a feel-good win for the Miami Dolphins with a thorough trouncing of the rival Jets instead left a sickening aftertaste due to the loss of a defensive standout to an apparent serious leg injury.

The sight of Jaelan Phillips, who was blossoming into a dominant force as an edge player, being carted off the field after collapsing with an Achilles tendon injury without being engaged in contact turned a 34-13 win into a heartbreaker for the Dolphins on Friday at Met Life Stadium in the Meadowlands.

Until then the visual of the day was a spectacular 99-yard interception return by Dolphins safety Jevon Holland off a “Hail Mary” throw by the Jets’ Tim Boyle just before the end of the first half.

Curiously, it was 39 years to the day since the most infamous Hail Mary in the annals of Miami football. It was Nov. 23, 1984 that Boston College QB Doug Flutie uncorked a desperation heave that carried more than 60 yards and came down in the hands of his roommate Gerard Phelan with 6 seconds left to snatch victory from the Miami Hurricanes in a 45-41 thriller.

Flutie’s Miracle in Miami is often referred to as the “Hail Flutie”.

Jets flop with ‘Fail Mary’

Boyle’s ill-fated fling was quickly being referred to on social media as a “Fail Mary.” It was indicative of the failings of an inept Jets offense that has been reeling without direction since losing quarterback Aaron Rodgers to an Achilles injury in the season opener.

Rodgers’ injury occurred on the same Met Life Stadium artificial turf that been derided by players as a dangerous surface. There have been quite a few serious injuries attributed to the unforgiving surface there.

“It’s tough, especially playing on this turf,” Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert said after the game. “You saw what happened to Rodgers in the first game. We’ve got to do something about this turd. Obviously, it’s still a major problem. It just has to change.

“The reason why guys are against the [artificial] turf is there’s no give to the turf.”

Losing Phillips is a tough blow to a Dolphins defense that continued its resurgence with another dominant performance. The injury is devastating for Phillips who overcame injuries that nearly ended his football career in college.

Phillips’ injury stirs emotions

Before the injury, Phillips was having another outstanding game with four tackles, a sack, two quarterback hits, and three tackles for loss.

Later, Phillips tweeted: “Absolutely devastated, but I feel strength in knowing that this is all a part of God’s plan, and that I have an incredible team and support system around me. I’ll be back stronger than ever.”

Phillips, who the Dolphins drafted in the first round after one season at the University of Miami, has merged as a favorite not only of Dolphins fans but of teammates.

“He’s going to know that he’s loved and he’s missed, but we’re going to go out there and ball for him,” ~ Holland said in a TV interview immediately after the game.

Meanwhile, the signature play of the game was Holland picking off Boyle’s pass and weaving through through futile pursuit by the Jets. Vital because it followed Tua Tagovailoa throwing a pick-6 that cut the Miami lead to 10-6, putting the Jets back in the game despite managing only two first downs and 47 yards of total offense in the half.

Another Tua interception then set up Boyle’s ill-fated heave with 2 seconds remaining. Instead, Holland’s coast-to-coast dash made it 17-6 Miami at the intermission and the outcome was never in doubt after that.

“That was one of the best plays I’ve ever seen,” Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle said. “That was a crazy play that we needed.”

“That was very reminiscent of [hall-of-famer] Ed Reed,” coach Mike McDaniel said.

The Dolphins improved to 8-3 and are sitting pretty in the AFC East lead and as one of five three-loss teams in the conference.

Dolphins one of five three-loss teams in AFC

They were also 8-3 at this point last season before losing five in a row.

There is plenty of reason to feel better about their position right now. The next three weeks they face the 4-8 Commanders away, and the 3-7 Titans and the 4-7 Jets at home.

Miami’s fate in the regular season figures to be decided by the closing gauntlet of Cowboys, Ravens and Bills.

As in recent weeks, the Dolphins defense continued to impress more than the offense that was the talk of the NFL early in the season but has been erratic lately.

The defense had seven sacks and limited the struggling Jets offense to 2.9 yards per play.

Fins have things to fix on offense

Offensively, the turnovers were troubling and the health of the line continues to be a concern.

Star left tackle Terron Armstead left the game early with another injury. With backup Kendall Lamm also ailing, they had to call on the third choice of Kion Smith.

Nonetheless, I was glad to see McDaniel stick with the rushing game even though room to run was sparse against a tough Jets defense. The Dolphins averaged a mere 3.3 yards a carry in the first half. But they ended up with 167 yards and an average of 4.5, including two second-half touchdown by Mostert.

Most impressive was the 15-play, 92-yard drive that consumed nine minutes and put the game well out of reach at 27-6.

It must be a good sign that the Dolphins has progressed to where even lopsided wins get picked apart. But it’s tough to feel bad in any way about a rout of the hated Jets on the road.
Unfortunately, the injury to Phillips left a deep pain in the gut to the team and its fans.

Craig Davis has covered South Florida sports and teams, including the Dolphins, for four decades. Follow him on the site formerly known as Twitter @CraigDavisRuns.

World Series Game 4 shows why baseball is beautiful 

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No other sport has what baseball has.

Football is religion, basketball is popular and hockey is just intense but baseball is beautiful

Only baseball gives you that one moment where everything can go one way or the other. Think of a situation in the card game “war.” You reach a stalemate with two cards of equal value, so three come out on each side and it all depends on the next draw.

That’s baseball at it’s best. Game 4 of the World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Tampa Bay Rays had what makes any postseason event feel so amazing.

Stakes.

It’s the key to every meaningful moment in sports. Without stakes, the game just becomes background noise in your living room or sports bar.

With the Dodgers leading the Rays 7-6 at the bottom of the ninth, it was time to send their closer on the mound. Three outs and the Dodgers go up 3-1, one step closer to their elusive championship, something they haven’t achieved since 1988. The Rays need to come back and claim this game to tie the series.

Now the cards are being stacked.

That isn’t the only thing that is on the line in the ninth inning. Reputation is on the line as well. Kenley Jensen has been with the Dodgers for a decade and the closer for eight years. With 312 career saves and 936 strikeouts in 636 innings, he is considered one of the best in baseball. Yet even he has shown to be mortal, and because of his elite status, his blown saves get magnified. Last year, he let a career high save opportunities get away from him.

The stage was set with two outs and a runner on first base. The Rays had their best hitter at the plate, a rookie. Randy Arozarena has literally played only two months in the big leagues yet has become a legend by hitting a postseason record ninth home run earlier in the game.

Arozarena was called on to be the hero once more while Jensen was relied on to shut him down.

The objective was clear; hit a home run and win the game or get a hit and keep the inning alive for the next guy to have the opportunity to be the hero. Fail to reach base and the game is over.

These are stakes. This is now the part of the game where after all the cards have been drawn, this next card decides it all. Jensen threw nothing but sliders and cutters just trying to get the rookie to swing and miss; a strike looking, a foul ball, three straight balls, another foul ball. In between each of those pitches is the anticipation everyone feels, desperately trying to wish their preferred outcome into existence.

After all that, after spending one minute, which felt like one hour, waiting for the pitch on 3-2, the result was a walk. So now it falls on someone else. The result of that last at-bat could mean nothing or everything. It all depends on what happens next.

Ask yourself, where else in sports creates this kind of tension in between the action? You can find something close to this in football but that only comes with the momentum of the final drive or the last second field goal that is almost supposed to happen every time. Basketball free throws don’t come nearly close. Hockey has this in shootouts but those are only for the regular season.

Only in baseball where someone with the reputation and stature of Jensen could fall to someone like Brett Phillips, who is on his third team still looking to establish himself.

Prior to this game, Phillips was known only for having a unique laugh. He has played for three teams but has a .202 batting average in 153 career games over four seasons. His hometown Rays traded for him in the middle of this truncated season.

This was his sixth postseason game but only his third plate appearance. There is no way Jensen could not get this guy out. In any other sport, this would be a one-sided affair.

This is where the final cards are flipped.

Phillips hits a single to centerfield, scoring Kevin Kiermaier to tie the game. Dodgers outfielder Chris Taylor kicked the ball, and Arozarena was off to the races. Taylor threw the ball to first baseman Max Muncy, who relayed it to catcher Will Smith.

If Smith catches the ball, he would have Arozarena, who stumbled around third dead to rights and the game would be extended into extra innings. Instead, the ball bounced off of Smith’s glove and Arozarena slid into home plate to end the game.

Now Phillips is a hero for his hometown team. The series is tied and there is still a chance the Rays could win their first ever championship.

On the other side, this could be the moment that leads to the Dodgers losing their third World Series in four years.

This doesn’t happen in any other sport. That’s what makes baseball in the fall so beautiful.

Tampa Bay/Montreal experiment is not without precedent

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One of the topics of discussion during the first English Cinco Razones Podcast was the Tampa Bay Rays’ plan to play half of its home games in Montreal beginning in 2024.

The location sounds completely and idiotically random but considering the fact that the Expos left Montreal after the 2004 season to became the Washington Nationals and Olympic Stadium has remained intact for the use of the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League and the Montreal Impact of Major League Soccer.

The Toronto Blue jays also play exhibition games at Olympic Stadium just before Opening Day in recent years. Vlad Guerrero Jr., who’s father was the Expos last superstar, put his name on the map when he hit a walk-off home run against the St. Louis Cardinals in his old man’s stomping grounds.

So the fact that it’s the only other MLB ballpark that is without a team makes it understandable that it is the first place the Rays would look towards to as a vacation home. There aren’t that many other big league capacity facilities that are without a tenant.

This idea is not without precedent. Ironically, the Expos tried this in 2003-04 with Puerto Rico, playing 22 home games in Hiram Bithorn Stadium. Those were also the franchise’s last two years in Montreal. In 2003, the Expos started the season in San Juan for 11 games before their “home” home opener in Montreal on April 22 against the Arizona Diamondbacks. That game netted an attendance total of 36,879 but most of the games were below 10,000. The San Juan games ranged between 10,296-17,906.

Miami Marlins catching coach Brian Schneider began his playing career with the Expos during that time. From his experience, it seemed to be a successful experiment.

“The first year I really enjoyed it,” Schneider said. “The fans were awesome. They came out. It’s different playing there, playing the music, it was a different atmosphere so we had a good time.”

The attendance figures in Montreal were similar to what the Marlins are actually getting now but in a state of the art ballpark, which wasn’t the case with Olympic Stadium. They returned to San Juan in June for six games between two long road trips. As much as they were embraced as the home team in San Juan, it wasn’t the home of the Expos. The team played 22 game away from Montreal from May 25-June 20.

This was actually a competitive team in Montreal, despite being own, operated and neglected by Major League Baseball. The Expos entered September at 71-67 and still in the wild card race with the Florida Marlins. Their last series of the season was in San Juan and the Marlins took three of four games and went on to win the World Series. By that time the nostalgia of playing in Puerto Rico have worn off, once it was realized to be an extension of a long road trip.

“It got really tiring towards the end of the season down there because we were going back and forth,” Schneider said.

The Expos finished the 2003 season with an 83-79 record. With no Vlad Guerrero and no Javier Vazquez, the Expos finished 67-95 in their final season. The Expos started the 2004 season playing six games in San Juan, three games in Montreal and the rest on the road during the month of April and went 5-19. They spent the first and last week of May in Montreal but attendance never reached the 10,000 mark and even dipping as low as 3,609.

Montreal had only one homestand in June and July. The Expos returned to San Juan in July but only topped 10K once. The Expos finally had a normal final two months of the season, staying in Montreal instead of having to go back and forth. The Expos played their final home game against the Marlins and Carl Pavano, who debuted in Montreal but made his bones in Florida, got the win.

Interestingly so, the Puerto Rico experiment wasn’t a sign to the players that the Expos were eventually going to leave town. It wasn’t until their home finale that the relocation to Washington was announced.

“We actually had no idea that was going to happen,” Schneider said. “We know we made some trades, with the Bartolo Colon trade and getting rid of Cliff Lee and Grady Sizemore, they thought our team was getting dissolved. So we didn’t know if we were going to go to Washington or not. We didn’t even know if we were going to have a franchise in a couple years. We were just enjoying it and going down there (to Puerto Rico). We had no idea what was going to happen to the franchise.”

Jeffery Loria was actually the Expos’ last owner before selling it to MLB after the 2001 season and using that money to buy the Marlins off John Henry, who went from that to owning the Boston Red Sox. Contraction was on the table in 2002 around the time of the aforementioned trade for Colon, until the CBA put the kibosh on that idea until 2006. By then it wasn’t necessary.

The situations between what Schneider’s Expos went through with Puerto Rico and what Rays owner Stuart Sternberg plans to do in Montreal will be completely different. The Rays have been locked into a 30-year lease in Tropicana Field since their inaugural season. That ends in 2027, which would be three years going into this proposed plan.

Unlike the Puerto Rico prototype, the Rays reportedly plan to build a new open-air stadium in each city for less than the reported $1.2 billion cost of the Rangers’ new retractable-roof stadium in Arlington that is set to open in 2020. The plan in terms of scheduling seem to be to split the season in half, starting in Tampa Bay during the spring and Montreal during the summer. It’d be interesting to know how the playoffs would be divided up. The Rays could be the first team ever with homes field advantage.

Schneider said he’s happy for Montreal potentially getting a second chance at big league baseball and said if the city were to have a new ballpark downtown, it would be “a home run.”

However getting the Players Association to sign off on the idea seems to be the biggest complication. The union and MLB are already disagreeing over whether needing to have two “homes” falls under rules of the National Labor Relations Act. That might be what puts an end to it before it ever begins.