Defensive game preview vs. San Francisco
By Tyler Olson
Even though Ryan Tannehill made two touchdown drives when it counted it was the defense that truly won the game last Sunday in Los Angeles.
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A lot has been said about the Miami Dolphins defense this season. Their run defense isn’t any good. Their secondary doesn’t have a true number one corner. Kiko Alonso isn’t fit to play the middle linebacker position.
All of those accusations aren’t exactly false. In the first five weeks they were on the field – a lot. But the thing to remember is that they often get the job done.
The truth is the defense has played big when it needed to with exception to the end of the Seattle Seahawks game in week one. To be fair, though, they had to work overtime without actually going into overtime in Seattle.
This last Sunday was no different. Tannehill and the Dolphins offense couldn’t move the ball whatsoever against the Los Angeles Rams. It was the defense that held Los Angeles to just 10 points over the course of 60 minutes, giving Tannehill the opportunity to make a couple more plays down the stretch to win the game for Miami.
The defense is now set to take on an offense that averages 4.1 yards per rush and 6.5 yards per pass. Carlos Hyde is the obvious point of emphasis although he’s only averaging 3.8 yards a carry.
Colin Kaepernick is more a threat to run than he is to pass; only completing 53.1% of his passes, Kaepernick will be scrambling against the Miami front four all day. Although Jason Jones is out serving his suspension it sounds like Mario Williams will be back to assist the Dolphins pass rush.
It’ll be important to put a spy on Kaepernick more times than not throughout Sunday’s contest. If anything he’s a talented runner, gaining big chunks of yards when he does takes off.
Expect a big day from players like Cameron Wake, Ndamukong Suh, and Alonso this week.