3 sneaky underrated keys to victory for the Miami Dolphins vs. the Ravens
By Matt Serniak
The Miami Dolphins decided to bring the kitchen sink last year to contain Jackson. They’ll need that and some other appliances this time.
Make no mistake, Lamar Jackson, the coaches, and the rest of the Baltimore Ravens will be ready for the 0-blitz cover 0. The 0-blitz that put Jackson and the Ravens in a blender all night last November.
Cover Zero ear muffs for Ravens this week after what MIA did to them last year. Harbaugh said they’ve been working on it since offseason. The Dolphins are “the best at it” and “do it the most.”
— Morgan Adsit (@MorganAdsit) September 14, 2022
I love it. I love that the Miami Dolphins were in the heads of the Ravens and their coach John Harbaugh the entire offseason. It does however mean that the Ravens probably have a decent plan to combat that.
Last year against the Ravens, the Dolphin’s defense compiled four sacks, 1 INT, 11 QB pressures, two forced fumbles, a defensive TD, and one all-purpose assault on Lamar Jackson the likes he has never felt before. The Miami Dolphins broke Jackson and the Ravens that night, where I was in attendance to witness said assault.
I don’t think a performance like this is in the cards for the Dolphin’s defense. It’s not that I don’t think they’re capable. We saw them bully Mac Jones and the Patriots last week, I just think as John Harbaugh said, they’ve been thinking about what Miami did to them all off-season. That and the odds of the same plan working twice like that aren’t likely.
What does that mean? Do you fully just scrap the zero coverage, bringing pressure from all corners of the multi-verse approach that is the Dolphin’s defense swag and calling card? No, not at all. You stay true to yourself.
But what you do is have a Triple H swaying Seth Rollins to turn on The Shield level plan B ready to go if you need it. If that means more linebackers dropping into coverage, as long as it’s not Jaelan Phillips(foreshadowing) so be it. If it means more stunts and games by the defensive line, go for it. Just have some different wrinkles in place for when you need to use them.
This is what the really good coaches do. They win by any means necessary. This is a win by any means necessary type of game.
Regardless of what strategy the Dolphins use, having a guy on Lamar, at all times, seems like a must. I know that’s not exactly sneaky and may not jive well with this list but it needed to be said. Make the skill guys of the Ravens beat you. Not Lamar Jackson.
And dammit, cover the tight ends. We know Jackson is going there.