Miami Dolphins must find defensive answers this season
By Brian Miller
The Miami Dolphins knew there would be problems on the offensive side of the ball but the defense was supposed to be better.
After the dismantling last week by the Ravens, the Miami Dolphins need to find a solution on defense where nothing went right and no one stepped up.
Jerome Baker is the defacto leader on defense and his leadership will be tested moving forward. He may not have asked for the job but he needs to step into that role and lift the team on his shoulders. Verbally and physically.
Baker is surrounded by good talent. Young Minkah Fitzpatrick looked lost last Sunday and Christian Wilkins didn’t get much help from the Brian Flores system that is supposed to find unique and clever ways of getting to the quarterback. Not having quality defensive ends doesn’t help.
While the Dolphins struggled to get pressure of any kind on Lamar Jackson, former Dolphins defensive end Cameron Wake was adding two sack to his resume on his way to becoming the week one defensive player of the week.
After one week we simply don’t know what this defensive system is going to be or what they hope it becomes. One thing is for certain however, facing the Patriots and new addition Antonio Brown is not going to be easy for this defense.
Currently the Patriots are favored by a whopping 19 points which is fitting considering that Miami gave up 59 to the Ravens. Something has to click for these guys. Something in the film room or on the practice field.
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Who those players will be is a big question. Miami is relying on youth and inexperience hoping to identify players that can be built around and in the process hopefully finding enough players to keep next year.
This week will not be easy but New England is never easy. Despite the poor play of Tom Brady in Miami, many fans think another miracle may be in the offering but this team is far from being competitive and barring a complete turnaround, there won’t be a miracle in Miami this year.
To say that the Dolphins defense needs to keep it close is really saying nothing at all. The Patriots tend to jump out to big leads early but this offense isn’t built to score points quickly and some fans will point out that scoring any points is a problem. They would not be entirely wrong.
Flores faces his former team for the first time so it is hopeful that he has some idea of what the Patriots will throw at them and maybe he may come up with a plan to stop them, or at least a game plan that keeps it from looking as bad as it did last weeken.