Miami Dolphins Week 1 defensive preview v. the Tennessee Titans
By Shawn Digity
The Miami Dolphins first game is this Sunday, September 9 at 1 p.m. against the Tennessee Titans. What can Fins fans expect from the defense in their first game?
The preseason games are over, the 53-man rosters are set and the depth charts have been released. The Miami Dolphins are happy with all their defensive pieces and are ready to put them into action. Let’s preview the defense and see what Dolphins fans have to look forward to on Sunday.
The most notable group in the entire defense is the defensive end group. It consists of the “fine-wine” Cam Wake, who might be 36, but is showing no signs of slowing down or letting up; he’ll be fine and have another productive season. Let’s say 9 or 10 sacks.
On the other side, you have the first-year Dolphin Robert Quinn who was traded for earlier this year from the LA Rams. Both Quinn and Wake have impressive flexibility and bend and my best-case-scenario, pie-in-the-sky prediction is that both hit double-digit sacks. It’s lofty, but Quinn looked great during training camp and preseason and I’m certainly not going to underestimate Wake. Dream big.
As far as backups, there is the talented run-stuffer specialist in William Hayes and 2017 first-round pick Charles Harris. Both will see playing time, but I’m interested to see if Harris can show improvement in his role. He’s been somewhat of an afterthought so far this season, so I hope he can make the most of the snaps he gets.
The interior defensive line had some big shoes to fill after Ndamukong Suh’s departure, but promising sophomores, Davon Godchaux and Vincent Taylor, have stepped up and shown more flashes so far. The duo might be pegged as second-stringers at the moment, but I expect them to eventually turn a corner and at least see a few starts before the season ends.
The de facto starters, for now, are the former Lions DT Akeem Spence and 2015 second-rounder Jordan Phillips. Phillips has drawn the ire of many fans because of his underwhelming performances in prior seasons, but maybe being in a contract year will help light a fire. If that is taken into consideration, then Phillips could have his best season yet, otherwise, another subpar season could result in his exit.
The linebackers are mostly a young and unproven group. Raekwon McMillan and his former Ohio State Buckeye teammate, Jerome Baker, have both been named starters. McMillan is essentially in his rookie season since he lost his first year to a season-ending ACL injury in 2017. Jerome Baker, who will be the starting SAM, was quiet during training camp but exploded onto the scene during the preseason games. Kiko Alonso will be returning to his role as the weakside linebacker. He got a lot of grief last season but did well during the preseason this year. I expect him to have a better season.
The cornerback group featured one of the more interesting training camp battles as Torry McTyer, Cordrea Tankersley and Tony Lippett all fought for the starting position across from Xavien Howard. None of the three showed enough to warrant winning the position so it was given to Bobby McCain, who has traditionally been the team’s nickel. Since Lippett was cut and neither Tankersley nor McTyer made compelling arguments for the starting role, McCain might be the best bet, even if it means some growing pains as he adjusts.
The safety position is another group that I feel very comfortable with. Reshad Jones is a cornerstone on this defense and should play up to par this season. T.J. McDonald will be featured in the free safety role and I am excited and encouraged to see how well he performs in his first full season as a Dolphin. Of course, the big-ticket name is Minkah Fitzpatrick—the Dolphins first-round pick. He’s been lauded for his football intelligence and his versatility, so it will be fun to watch how he is used throughout the season, but his presence will be felt in one form or another.
The Dolphins will face some matchup problems with some of the Titans’ players. Delanie Walker has secretly been one of the better tight ends in the league and that has also been one of the Dolphin’s biggest weaknesses. I hope Alonso can even partially contain Walker.
Another problem area for the Dolphins defense could be the Titans’ rushing attack. Derrick Henry is slated as their starter and he could prove to be an issue since the Dolphins have had inconsistency with stopping running backs the last couple years. I’m curious to see how the defensive tackles handle him.
The Dolphins have also had trouble with the athletic, running quarterbacks in the past. Mariota could be a potential threat on the ground to scrape up some first downs or buy time for a pass attempt. Mariota was out last year when these teams met, but he rushed for 60 yards and a TD when they met in 2016. The defense allowed 235 rushing yards in the 30-17 Tennessee victory, so this is something to keep an eye on. (stats courtesy of ESPN.com).
Xavien Howard will match up with the Titan’s main target: Corey Davis. He was hamstrung by injuries in his rookie season but looks to make some noise this season. I have faith in “X” that he will continue to live up to his potential and shut down Davis, for the most part.
The Titans’ offensive line, which features big names like Taylor Lewan and Jack Conklin, could provide a pesky challenge for the Quinn-Wake duo and that could be the most fun matchup to watch. I look for these two units to trade punches all day but won’t feature a clearcut “winner”.