Another Tuesday has arrived and it is time to look back, probably for the last time, at the Dolphins rousing victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.
My partners at ProFootballFocus.com have passed along their best nuggets based on their tape study and metrics and I will add insight and opinion wherever I can.
Here we go:
OFFENSE
Daniel Thomas allowed one sack and three hurries in 11 pass blocking opportunities.
The Lamar Miller-Daniel Thomas timeshare is still close. Miller played 27 snaps to Thomas’ 24, but played exclusively on the game winning drive.
Salguero: Thomas is averaging 3.1 yards per carry so he is not exactly lighting it up running the ball. The reason he has value is because he pass blocks well, supposedly. Well, this was the second consecutive game he allowed a sack. So if he can't pass block well, either, where are we?
LT Jonathan Martin had his best pass blocking grade of the season (+2.3), allowing one sack and doing most of his work against Osi Umenyiora.
Salguero: As you know the Dolphins allowed five sacks on Sunday. But Miami's two tackles had their best days of the season. Tyson Clabo, who had given up three sacks in the first two games, did not yield a sack against his former team. He did yield a hit on QB Ryan Tannehill and a hurry. But all things considered, that's improvement.
LG Richie Incognito had his least productive day of the season. He yielded a sack and a quarterback hit. RG John Jerry, meanwhile, had his best game of the season. Yes, he also gave up a sack but for the first time in three games he comes away with a plus grade.
Tannehill only attempted two passes travelling 20-plus yards in the air.
Tannehill was 13-of-14 when blitzed, but also was sacked four times and threw an interception.
Tannehill targeted Asante Samuel just two times on Sunday.
Salguero: PFF has Tannehill rated No. 8 among QBs overall. But if you boil it down to just passing, which in my estimation is what QBs are about, the ratings improves to No. 4 overall behind Peyton Manning, Phillip Rivers and Matt Ryan. Are there issues? Sure. Tannehill is still holding the ball too long at times and that's perhaps one reason he's been sacked 14 times this year -- more than any other NFL quarterback.
Brandon Gibson caught at least one pass against each of Thomas DeCoud, William Moore, Robert McClain, Robert Alford, and Joplu Bartu.
Lamar Miller was matched up against DE Jonathan Massaquoi on the play where he dropped potential TD pass.
DEFENSE
DE Dion Jordan saw his first extensive action as a rookie. Rushing the passer on 20 out of 31 snaps, he tallied 4 hurries and a hit as the highest graded defender.
Salguero: PFF has Jordan rated the highest graded defender in the game -- for both teams.
OLB Philip Wheeler had rough afternoon with six missed tackles, repeatedly whiffing on Jason Snelling and Jacquizz Rodgers.
Salguero: The Dolphins missed 11 tackles this game. Safety Chris Clemons was the second-highest on the missed tackle scale with two missed tackle. MLB Dannell Ellerbe did not miss a tackle.
Wheeler was targeted nine times in pass coverage, giving up six catches for 68 yards and a touchdown.
Brent Grimes was targeted just two times by Matt Ryan.
Nolan Carroll struggled against Julio Jones, allowing 4 catches for 70 yards on 7 targets.
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