Miami Dolphins defensive recap Vs Jets week 9

This game had a lot of give and take and all the drama of a somewhat ugly game but a win is a win, final score Miami Dolphins 27 New York Jets 23.

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When a top rated run stopping Jets team plays a Miami Dolphins‘ team that has had success running the ball leading into the matchup meet sparks could fly. Add to that The Jets ranking last Vs the pass and both teams clawing to make it to 500 for the season and you can get this kind of game.

The Jets had looked Jelani Jenkins’ way on the first drive, he bent but did not break resulting with a Nick Folk 23 yard field goal, the first score of the game. Jenkins left the game with hand and head injuries (concussion protocol) this happened throughout the game and he was fitted with a soft cast for his hand. Even with the hand and head concerns he still managed to have 23 snaps which works out to 40% snaps played making 3 tackles. News after the game states he has a broken hand and plans to play the next game with it.

On the second drive the defense looked to have gotten better stopping the run until Andre Branch got called and momentum was lost, then soon after Matt Forte would scamper 31 yards for the first TD. That would be his only TD and longest run of the game along with 92 yards total running with just 6 yards receiving on only 2 targets.

Kiko Alonso stopped what would have been a big play for chunk yardage by playing through the hands of the WR breaking up a completion. He did the same to open the 2nd halve stopping a 3rd and 1 play. Not only is he all over making tackles, of which he had 5 tying Spencer Paysinger for the most in the game, he also showed great work in short to intermediate coverage.

How about Spencer Paysinger this game? He stepped it up tying for the most tackles and recovered a fumble. Known mostly for special teams play he actually had more time on defense than special teams this game with 31 snaps for 53% on defense to 14 snaps for 44% on special teams (he only had 1 snap on defense the last game). This increase in play may be due to Jelani Jenkins having to go in and out of the game so much. If this is the case it was an admirable job by Paysinger and Vance Joseph.

Cam Wake had 2 sacks one being a strip sack but the Jets did recover it, he also had 4 tackles, just straight out balling. The way he was gimpy after getting his last sack the previous game did draw some concern, however he showed no signs of lingering effects. The snap count that was planed for him is at 40, he had 39 this game and the 2 sacks puts him at 4.0 for the season the most on the team.

Profootballfocus had a top ten players of the week and Wake was listed sixth they posted the following

“Speaking of players with gas still left in the tank, Wake set about stamping his authority on the New York Jets in Miami’s win this week when it came to rushing the passer. Wake recorded a pair of sacks, plus three more hurries and another that was nullified by penalty on just 24 pass-rushing snaps. He showed the speed and burst that has been his hallmark over his career and proved that he is well deserving of a full-time role rather than the situational gig he had to open the season.”

Bobby McCain defended well in the end zone vs Enunwa for a change but the ball did look batted by Suh first. He would later allow a TD to Jalin Marshall giving them a 3 point lead with 5:42 left to play. This has been the case every game with McCain were he had to defend in the end zone he just keeps giving up touchdowns, there has to be other options for this scenario. Although he did have an interception in the end zone, it came with a caveat there was no other Jet’s player around when the ball fell right to him by some major malfunction.

While the defense did shine in areas like getting 2 turnovers on interceptions with Paysinger’s looking more legit than McCain’s gift and overall 3rd down conversions at 3-11 this game there were drives extended by penalties. Jordan Phillips had a roughing the passer keeping a late Jets’ drive alive. A holding call on Michael Thomas also kept a drive going after what would have been a 3rd down stop.

Kudos to the front office for acquiring Bacarri Rambo and the coaching staff for getting him up to speed on short notice. He played his first game as a Dolphin and played 35 snaps on defense for 60% of game snaps and even 9 snaps on special teams for 28%. He only made one tackle but all this playing time had to help fill a void from not having Reshad Jones.

Byron Maxwell was a marked man going into this game. The mark was put there by Brandon Marshall through the media by making claims of holding. There was a lot of holding, shoving and dirty play all coming from Marshall. Sheldon Richardson and Muhammad Wilkerson sat during the first quarter due to a “coach’s decision”, frankly Brandon Marshall should have been included at some point and not played 54 snaps for 93% on offense. Marshall had 6 receptions for 45 yards the longest being 15 yards.

Jets
First Downs 18
Rush-Yds-TDs 21-140-1
Cmp-Att-Yd-TD-INT 19-30-212-1-2
Sacked-Yards 3-20
Net Pass Yards 192
Total Yards 332
Fumbles-Lost 3-0
Turnovers 2
Penalties-Yards 10-77
Third Down Conv. 3-11
Fourth Down Conv. 0-0
Time of Possession 29:38

https://twitter.com/NFLUK/status/795350467824013312

A Ryan Fitzpatrick lateral for the 22-yard gain: this was unexpected and dangerous but it drove home a point early that the Jets were in this to win it.

Jordan Phillips drops into coverage, intercepts ball – and vaults a Jets player on his return to the Jets’ 14-yd line

Like the Bills the last game the Jets went to the wildcat late and failed badly. Didn’t they see the game tape?

There are still reinforcements coming, Chris Culliver wasn’t ready yet but one more week could change that out in California for the next stretch of games.