Phin Phanatic
FanSided

Miami Dolphins run defense better be good because the schedule is brutal

By Brian Miller

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 10: Alvin Kamara #41 of the New Orleans Saints runs the ball against Danny Trevathan #59 and Barkevious Mingo #50 of the Chicago Bears during the fourth quarter in the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 10, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 10: Alvin Kamara #41 of the New Orleans Saints runs the ball against Danny Trevathan #59 and Barkevious Mingo #50 of the Chicago Bears during the fourth quarter in the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 10, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /
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On paper, the Miami Dolphins have a really good and favorable schedule but they better get their run defense in order if they want to make the playoffs.

Miami will face some really good running backs in 2021 as well as some of the more elite running backs in the league. We tend to stick to quarterback talk but a quarterback’s problems can be masked by an elite running back, something that Dolphins fans continue to debate now with the Miami roster.

Miami will face the following in 2021.

Alvin Kamara – 932 yards rushing

Saquon Barkley – Injured

Derrick Henry 2027 yards rushing

Josh Jacobs 1065 yards rushing

James Robinson – 1070 yards rushing

Jonathan Taylor – 1169 yards rushing

Ronald Jones, II – 978 yards rushing

J.K. Dobbins – 805 yards rushing

The Patriots use multiple backs and they will likely rely heavily on the running game early as well as the legs of Cam Newton.

The Dolphins have struggled over the years against the run but Miami believes they have added enough talent on defense to change that. They will need to. Miami’s 2021 schedule isn’t bad but they will need to force teams to beat them through the air and thus play to Miami’s strengths, pass defense.

If Miami can’t stop the above-mentioned runners, they will not find an easy path to victory. Miami doesn’t just give up close to 100 yards rushing they tend to give up way more than than that when they are playing poorly.

In 2020, the Dolphins gave up 217, 178, and 189 yards rushing in three of their games. They gave up over 100 yards rushing nine times last year total but also gave up 99, 98, and 94 yards rushing as well.

Miami’s lowest rushing game came against the Bengals when they gave up only 40 yards on the day. The next lowest totals were 72 and 78.

This year, the Dolphins will face some of the top rushers in the NFL and if the playoffs are in their expectations, and they should be, then stopping the rush will be the task that could define the Dolphins season and success.

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