Tag Archive for: New York Jets

2022 NFL Draft Rumors

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It’s the largest smokescreens NFL teams put out year after year. Many NFL Teams moves are a mystery as news is intentionally leaked out by the organizations themselves, truth or not.

The odds and news have changed dramatically over the last days as this years NFL Draft is truly the most unpredictable in years.

Here are some of the 2022 NFL Draft rumors and notes:

Deebo Samuel

League source confirms Deebo Samuel is not being traded at this time, which means a draft day move is unlikely for many teams hoping to get an electric player.

Top 10 news

Jacksonville Jaguars

Georgia EDGE rusher Travon Walker is garnering a lot of hype lately and the oddsmakers are betting on the Bulldog product to be taken first overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

I’ve had Aidan Hutchinson in several mock drafts to Jacksonville, but with rumors coming out, it may not be far fetched.

Schematically, it favors Walker than Hutchinson as Walker can play outside linebacker, standup EDGE and as an interior lineman. This help out K’Lavon Chaisson and Foye Olukun, compared to Hutchinson who is a hand in the dirt rusher.

Detroit Lions

A Malik Willis pairing in Detroit is all about the future. Willis can learn behind Goff as he needs the most development of any quarterback in this years 2022 NFL Draft class.

General Manager Brad Holmes is “looking” at the quarterback position and it might not be with the second overall pick.

It may come down to Aidan Hutchinson or Travon Walker to beef up the defensive trenches.

However, how much longer does Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers have left to play, the same may be said about Kirk Cousins.

The Chicago Bears still need some pieces and Justin Fields is still developing, drafting Willis may pay off in the future.

Houston Texans

Derek Stingley Jr. and the Texans have had connections for a while due to his former DB coach part of the Texans Coaching staff.

If Houston is all in on Davis Mills, building the trenches would be a better option with the third overall pick in the NFL Draft. In the latest mocks and with some news coming out, the Texans do have two offensive tackles in mind: Evan Neal and Ikem Ekonwu.

It’s a deep defensive class towards the backend of the draft, especially for defenders. The 2022 NFL Draft rumors have the trading back from the 13th overall pick.

New York Jets

I’ve heard that Robert Saleh is not a big Travon Walker fan. Also, Kyle Hamilton fourth overall would not fit with what the Jets defense is looking to build.

Ikem Ekonwu is a favorite of Jets General Manager Joe Douglas. Having another offensive lineman fortifies the the line for Zach Wilson and we may see shades of his BYU playing days.

Gang green will look to load up on offense by pairing Wilson arm with a big body wide receiver in the likes of Drake London. Jameson Williams is a possibility with the tenth overall selection.

Head Coach Robert Saleh may want to get better in the trenches on defense. If Kayvon Thibodeaux falls, it may be a tossup between him and Jermaine Johnson.

New York Giants

The 2022 NFL Draft rumor mill has it that the Giants may look to trade back a few spots to gain more value.

While General Manager Joe Schoen has hinted that the offensive line is a priority, they may forgo passing on a lineman for more pressing needs. An EDGE rusher, a deep class overall, is very much in play. Especially the top three in Thibodeaux, Walker, and Johnson.

If the Giants are comfortable at fifth and seventh overall Evan Neal and Charles Cross are targets. Big Blue has a big decision to make after the draft if they want to keep Daniel Jones for a fifth year, which does not seem likely.

Carolina Panthers

Carolina is a weird team this year. Considering the fact that they are heavily interested in a quarterback this year, Sam Darnold is still “the guy”.

They have the sixth pick and their next is in the fourth round. I highgly expect Carolina to select a quarterback with the physical tools of Matt Corral. Kenny Pickett seems like the logical choice– have Matt Rhule and co. made a logical decision recently?

Atlanta Falcons

Expect Terry Fontenet and the Falcons to after several EDGE rushers hard. I’ve heard Kayvon Thibodeaux is a favorite but Jermaine Johnsons skillset is very hard to pass up on.

Atlanta could be a dark horse for Malik Willis if he were to fall to the eighth pick, even if Kayvon Thibodeaux is on the board.

Seattle Seahawks

Seattle just seems so perfect for Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner.

They’ll have to re-build their defense and Sauce brings the moxie and physical play style Carroll wants in his defense.

However, recent draft history has shown that the Seahawks routinely trade back to garner more picks later on to fill needs. Offensive line is another deep position group in this years class.

Notes

Philadelphia Eagles

Philadelphia is on the market for cornerbacks and Trent McDuffie has been mocked routinely. The 2022 NFL Draft rumor mill has Kaiir Elam as the third or fourth corner picked, I would not be shocked if Kaiir Elam is picked up by the Eagles with their second first round pick.

The Eagles are also on the marke for an EDGE rusher, George Karlaftis has been a mainstay in several recent mock drafts. Although, another wide receiver for Jalen Hurts would not hurt, a potential trade up for Jameson Williams may be in play. Garrett Wilson could also be on the board.

Kyle Hamilton

Hamilton seems to be one of the most polarizing players in this draft cycle as he can do it all on the defensive side of the ball.

The range he showed on tape didn’t match the speed he showed in workouts; shockingly, to NFL teams it may matter. However, teams within the top 10 have other pressing needs than a safety.

The Washington Commanders and Houston Texans have been heavily linked to Kyle Hamilton in the 2022 NFL Draft rumors.

Running back in Round 1?

A new saying goes that you do not ever take a running back in the first round, there are differing opinions.

There’s been a recent trend of running backs devalued in the first round; however, it is situationally based.

The 2022 NFL Draft rumors has the Buffalo Bills circling around Iowa State’s Breece Hall as the first running back taken off the board. Pair with a lethal aerial attack in Orchard Park, the Bills may well be on their way back to the AFC Championship game.

Miami Dolphins

It’s quiet in south beach, a bit too quiet. It’s been an aggressive off-season for the Miami Dolphins and General Manager Chris Grier.

Grier talked about finding the right time to be aggressive in the off-season and the NFL Draft is a part of it.

With Miami only having four picks in this years draft a move up to grab a player they really like is a good possibility to complete a piece on either side of the ball.

 

Hussam Patel is a Miami Dolphins contributor and Lead NFL Draft analyst at Five Reasons Sports Network, Director of Scouting at PhinManiacs and Editor at Dolphins ATB. Follow him on Twitter at @HussamPatel

 

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Goldie’s Week 10 Best Bets: Steelers, Bucs Roll

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Goldie:

All Time Record: 205-103          

Vs. Spread: 148-156-1

 

21-22 Season:  79-48               

Vs. Spread: 59-67-1

 

Week 9 Record : 7-6                 

Vs. Spread: 4-9

 

Guarantee All Time: 13-10       

21-22 Season: 4-5

 

Upset All Time: 12-10              

21-22 Season: 3-6

 

Crazy Uncle Jeff 

All Time: 29-7              

21-22 Season: 13-6       

Week 9: 0-2

 

Goldie’s Guarantee

Los Angeles Rams (7-2) @ San Francisco 49ers (3-5)

Vegas Picks: LAR -3.5

Goldie’s Take: Rams Win 34-21

The Rams were stunned on home field last week by a Derrick Henry-less Titans team. The Titans defense gave them all kinds of fits, as it was Stafford’s worst game as a Ram so far. On the other side, the Niners have been all kinds of bad this season, losing five out of their last six, the Niners have no continuity and no team identity. San Francisco is floundering and they don’t even own their first round pick. Things go from bad to worse for the Niners as the Rams should come into their home and steamroll them. Rams bounce back and coast to 8-2 in the Bay, while Niners continue to search for answers. I GuaRAMtee it!

 

Goldie’s UPSET of the Week

Cleveland Browns (5-4) @ New England Patriots (5-4)

Vegas Picks: NE -2.5

Goldie’s Take: Browns Win 24-23

Cleveland’s defense is finally healthy, and that’s the sole reason I’m picking them in this one. Yes, the Pats have kind of found their groove of late winning 3 out of their last 4, but they haven’t faced a defense as strong as Cleveland’s. Myles Garrett and that dangerous Cleveland front seven should make for a long and difficult day for Rookie Mac Jones. Also, Baker looked great last week in his first game post-OBJ. I’m a little concerned about the Browns without star Nick Chubb, but I still expect their defense to do enough to get them the UPSET in Foxboro. 

 

Crazy Uncle Jeff’s Lock of the Week: PIT -7.5

Detroit Lions (0-8) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (5-3)

Vegas Picks: PIT -7.5

Goldie’s Take: Steelers Win 27-20

After Jeffy’s first ever winless weekend, he looks to bounce back as he’s locking in his Pittsburgh -7.5 pick!  Oh the poor poor Lions. The more I look at the rest of their schedule the less faith I have in them to get a win. The bottom line is, this team just isn’t good at anything. There is no one positional unit where the Lions have a consistent advantage. When that’s the case it doesn’t matter how many kneecaps they plan to bite off, it doesn’t result in wins. Pitt gets their fifth straight win at home against the lowly Lions. LOCK IT IN!

 

Rest of Week 10:

 

New Orleans Saints (5-3) @ Tennessee Titans (7-2)

Vegas Picks: TEN -3

Goldie’s Take: Titans Win 24-17

Last week’s upset of the Rams proves that the Titans are capable of winning without Derrick Henry, and I only expect their offense to get better as they continue to adjust to life without Henry. However, the big story in that SNF game last week was actually the Titans defense. They held a high powered Rams offense to just 16 points (including a TD in garbage time). The Winston-less Saints are going to have a tough time moving the football on a stingy Tennessee D. Titans stay hot with another win. 

 

Buffalo Bills (5-3) @ New York Jets (2-6)

Vegas Picks: BUF -12.5

Goldie’s Take: Bills Win 33-20

Week 9 was one of the wackiest weeks that the NFL has seen in a long time, and the Bills losing to the Jags was a perfect example of that. Before last week’s anomaly, Josh Allen was playing at an elite MVP-like level. I believe things come back down to earth in this divisional matchup. Bills get back to their winning ways and cruise past the Mike White led Jets.

 

Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6) @ Indianapolis Colts (4-5) 

Vegas Picks: IND -10

Goldie’s Take: Colts Win 34-28

Say what you want about Carson Wentz and the Colts, but they have scored 30+ points in four straight contests. The Colts defense has stepped up big time with seven INTs in their past four games. Speaking of defenses stepping up… the Jags defense held the mighty Buffalo Bills to just six points last week. SIX! And the Bills had had the highest scoring offense in the league heading into last week. Who in the world saw that coming??? I don’t think the Jags defense can perform consistently like that, however expect T-Law and the Jags to keep this one close. Colts get the divisional win in a venue call!

 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-2) @ Washington Football Team (2-6)

Vegas Picks: TB -9.5

Goldie’s Take: Buccaneers Win 34-20

What happened to the so-called great defense Washington was supposed to have? After all of the offseason hype that they received, the No Names rank in the bottom five of the league in points allowed and passing yards allowed. Not to mention their offense has been a disaster this season. Now this week they’re challenged with facing a rested GOAT? (The Bucs had their bye last week.) Bucs cruise to victory in the nation’s capital. 

 

Atlanta Falcons (4-4) @ Dallas Cowboys (6-2)

Vegas Picks: DAL -8

Goldie’s Take: Cowboys Win 28-23

Expecting the Cowboys to put that ugly terrible performance they had last week behind them. I mean what was that?? After six consecutive weeks of high level football, they find themselves down 30-0 to an average Denver Broncos team. It was fluke. On the other side, Atlanta enters this one after a nice road upset in New Orleans. I think Atlanta is better than most give them credit but I still don’t expect them to pull off two road upsets in a row. Dallas takes care of business at home, How ‘Bout Dem Cowboys!

 

Carolina Panthers (4-5) @ Arizona Cardinals (8-1)

Vegas Picks: ARI -10.5

Goldie’s Take: Cardinals Win 38-27

We will have to wait at least one more week to see the return of Cam Newton in a Panthers uniform, until then backup QB PJ Walker will get the start. Too bad it’s against arguably the best team in football this season. It doesn’t matter what the league has thrown at them, the Cardinals have just found ways to win. Bottom line, they win games. This week at home against a backup QB led Panthers, expect that trend to continue. Arizona sails past big Cats to improve to 9-1. 

 

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Seattle Seahawks (3-5) @ Green Bay Packers (7-2)

Vegas Picks: GB -3.5

Goldie’s Take: Packers Win 31-30

Both of these squads get back their superstar quarterback’s this week in what has been widely considered the game of the week. Upset of the week committee took a long gander at this one, but in the end couldn’t pull the trigger to bet against Aaron at home. That being said, Russell and the Seahawks do their best work when the pressure is at its highest, and sitting at 3-5 they can definitely start to feel the heat. An upset wouldn’t shock me, but safer play is to pick Pack to win a tight one in Lambeau. 

 

Minnesota Vikings (3-5) @ Los Angeles Chargers (5-3)

Vegas Picks: LAC -3

Goldie’s Take: Chargers Win 32-24

Once again Kirk Cousins failed to perform under the bright lights as he was a non-factor in their overtime period against the Ravens last week. On the other hand, the Chargers finally got back to their winning ways with a hard fought win against the Eagles. Justin Herbert should have a field day against this subpar Minnesota defense, plus give me LA with the venue call!

 

Philadelphia Eagles (3-6) @ Denver Broncos (5-4)

Vegas Picks: DEN -1.5

Goldie’s Take: Eagles Win 27-23

The Broncos destroyed the Cowboys last week which nobody saw coming. However, trading their franchise cornerstone Von Miller shows where this team’s direction is truly headed. The Eagles, on the other hand, have bought into Jalen Hurts and are giving him the whole season to get better. The situation for Hurts and the Eagles is perfect. They’re allowing their team to get better and develop together, knowing that they have a slew of draft picks to help improve this team in the offseason. Eagles UPSET the Broncos in the mile high. 

 

Kansas City Chiefs (5-4) @ Las Vegas Raiders (5-3)

Vegas Picks: KC -2.5

Goldie’s Take: Raiders Win 31-28

The AFC West has not gone as everyone has expected through nine weeks, with the Chargers/Raiders at the top and the Chiefs sitting tied for last. However, things have changed and the Chiefs aren’t as high and mighty as they have been in recent memory. They’ve struggled everywhere this season, and a Primetime road date with the Raiders should be no easy task. On the flipside, amidst all of the chaos surrounding the Raiders this year, they have still found ways to win games. Derek Carr has been great, and their defense has been in the top half of the league. Give me Derek Carr and the Raiders in a venue call, and in an UPSET. Al Davis said it best, “Just Win Baby”

 

Dolphins win Jets

5 Takeaways from Dolphins Win Over the Jets

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The Miami Dolphins (7-4) rebounded from a tough loss last week with a resounding defensive effort against the New York Jets (0-11). The Dolphins defense stymied any offensive output from Sam Darnold and Co., romping their way to a 20-3 victory.  The win, coupled with key losses by other teams, propelled the Dolphins back into the AFC playoff picture.

Here’s a look at five takeaways from the Dolphins win over the Jets.

Dolphins Defense Dominant in Win Over Jets

The Dolphins defense returned to its dominant ways Sunday. Miami limited the Jets to just three points, 10 first downs and 260 total yards. In 25 possessions this season, the Dolphins held New York to just 0.12 points-per-possession.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the three total points allowed is the fewest by an NFL team in two meetings against the same opponent since 2009. The three points allowed is the second-fewest by the Dolphins against an AFC East opponent in one season. Miami shutout the Baltimore Colts in both games played against them in 1972.

Miami extended its takeaway-streak to 17 straight games, the NFL’s longest active streak. The Dolphins’ 19 takeaways this season are third-most in the league.

Miami improved its scoring defense to just 18.6 points-per-game this season, which is second-lowest in the NFL. And the Dolphins have the best third-down defense in the NFL after limiting the Jets to just 3-of-13 on third downs. Miami’s 32.8 third-down percentage allowed leads the league, and the Jets’ 10 first downs were tied for the second-fewest in a single game this season.

No QB Controversy

Much of the discourse leading up to this game surrounded which quarterback gave Miami the best opportunity to win. Tua Tagovailoa was coming off of his worst professional outing, but he’s yet to turn the ball over through four games played. Ryan Fitzpatrick, meanwhile, coughs up the ball at an average of once per game.

A thumb injury shelved Tagovailoa against the Jets, robbing the rookie of a bounce-back performance. Instead, Fitzpatrick helmed the offense. And although some argue for the veteran to replace the youngster, there was no Fitzmagic Sunday.

Sure, Fitzpatrick piled up yards (257), but he provided just two touchdowns against the league’s worst defense. He flashed his chemistry with DeVante Parker, who finished with eight catches and 119 yards, but little else. In the absence of Tagovailoa, the Dolphins offense did little to indicate the rookie was the problem.

After the game, Dolphins head coach Brian Flores voiced his support of Tagovailoa going forward.

“If he’s healthy, he’s the guy,” Flores said.

Flores couched the statement by saying: “We’ll see how he does in practice over the course of the week. He’s a tough kid. It was very close to him being able to go, but we have to make good decisions for him as well. We’ll see how he does over the course of this week in practice.”

If he can go, Tagovailoa will face a Bengals defense that allows 26.3 points-per-game and 253.7 passing yards-per-game.

Dolphins Rushing Attack Leaves Much to be Desired in Win Over Jets

While the Dolphins defense continued to shine, the offense’s lackluster rushing attack reared its ugly head as well. Miami’s ground game lacked rhythm and was largely absent in the second quarter. While some of that falls on offensive coordinator Chan Gailey, as well as the offensive line, what’s clear is Miami doesn’t have a difference-making running back.

The Dolphins split 22 carries among three running backs and watched the trio gain 94 yards but cough up two fumbles. Matt Breida and Patrick Laird both saw their chances limited after the third quarter miscues.

DeAndre Washington submitted the best performance of the three, gaining 49 yards on 13 carries. He also caught two passes for 11 yards. He may have earned himself a few more snaps moving forward, even with the eventual returns of both Myles Gaskin and Salvon Ahmed.

What’s become abundantly clear is that Miami needs a difference-maker in the backfield and that player is not currently on the roster. It’s particularly important to add one, considering one of Tagovailoa’s strengths is RPO. The “run” needs to be an option.

Xavien Howard, NFL’s Best Cornerback

Xavien Howard continued his All-Pro play, too. He nabbed his league-leading seventh interception, picking off Darnold in the fourth quarter. Howard matched his career-high with seven INTs and has five games to go. He became just the second cornerback in team history with multiple 7-plus interception seasons, joining Sam Madison (1998-1999).

Howard’s 19 interceptions since 2017 also pace the NFL. What’s incredible about Howard’s ball-hawking prowess is that he missed 16 games over that span. His career 0.37 interceptions-per-game is fourth-highest among players who made their debut in the Super Bowl era, per Elias Sports.

It’s not just interceptions, either. Howard broke up three other pass attempts, giving him 50 pass breakups for his career. He has 15 passes defensed this season, tied for second-most in the league and one behind the league leader.

Darnold was 3-for-10 for 37 yards and an interception when throwing at Howard. Opposing quarterbacks have just a 50.3 passer rating when testing Howard this season.

Dolphins Win Over the Jets Propels Team Back into AFC Playoff Picture

The Dolphins dominated the Jets to the tune of 44-3 this season. Those wins helped the Dolphins keep pace in the AFC. After Week 12, Miami remains just one game behind the Bills in the AFC East. With the win Sunday, coupled with keys losses by Indianapolis and Las Vegas, the Dolphins vaulted to the 6-seed in the conference.

Miami’s move up the standings comes thanks to a superior conference record (4-3) than both the Colts (3-4) and Ravens (4-4). But with five games to go, the Dolphins have a difficult task ahead.

The Dolphins will need to secure another win next week against the floundering Cincinnati Bengals (2-8-1). Minus Joe Burrow, this matchup has been robbed of its potential headline, but it remains as a must-win for Miami.  The final four games lack any easy opponents for the ‘Phins.

A win versus Cincy would put the Dolphins at 8-4 for the home stretch. Then comes the team’s stiffest test yet, a date with the defending Super Bowl Champs, the Kansas City Chiefs (10-1). After that, the Dolphins host New England (5-6), who could be playing for their playoff lives at that point.

What follows is another must-win: a road matchup with the Raiders (6-4). This could be a postseason play-in game. The regular season finale comes in Buffalo (8-3), and, considering the Bills have a stiff remaining schedule as well, it might very well be for the AFC East title.

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Tua Tagovailoa

5 Keys to Dolphins-Jets in Week 12

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The Miami Dolphins (6-4) enter Sunday’s Week 12 contest against the New York Jets (0-10) coming off a difficult loss in Denver. The Dolphins offense lacked rhythm and ultimately saw rookie QB Tua Tagovailoa pulled from the game. Miami’s defense couldn’t stop the run despite managing a pair of turnovers.

The Dolphins playoff hopes took a hit with the loss, but Miami can get back on track with a win over New York on Sunday.

Here’s a look at five keys for the Dolphins versus the Jets in Week 12.

Dolphins-Jets: O-Line Must Bounce Back

The Dolphins offense submitted an anemic performance last week. Tagovailoa was under siege from a Broncos defense that was missing its top pass rusher. Denver racked up six sacks and eight quarterback hits.

Rookie Solomon Kindley entered the game with a sore foot and exited in the second quarter. The line shuffled Jesse Davis to right guard at that point, but the play didn’t improve. Each lineman allowed pressures and sacks in what was the worst performance by the line all season.

They couldn’t protect their QB and couldn’t open holes for the running game. Miami managed just 56 rushing yards, one off the season low (55 against the LA Rams).

But not all of the blame lands on the linemen though. Tagovailoa held the ball too long on a number of occasions. He needs to be more decisive in the pocket and drive the ball to receivers that may not immediately seem open.

The line will have its hands full against a Jets defense that sends an extra rusher 30.9 percent of the time (10th-highest). Last week, Miami’s line struggled with stunts and twists, something they’ll need to sort out ahead of Sunday’s game

Get to Darnold

The Jets announced that Sam Darnold will start against the Dolphins. Darnold missed the last two games with an injured right shoulder. He also missed the game in Miami earlier this season.

The Dolphins defense will need to get back on track, a week after failing to sack the quarterback for the first time this season. And that’s the biggest difference for this defense.

In their six wins, the Dolphins piled up 133 quarterback pressures. In their four losses, just 46 pressures. The last time they played the Jets, Miami managed a season-high 29 pressures and three sacks.

Emmanuel Ogbah was a force against the Jets in Week 6, registering 10 pressures and two sacks against Joe Flacco. Both Flacco and Darnold struggle when pressured and are prone to mistakes. Darnold has thrown 34 interceptions in 32 games with the Jets and six this season in six games.

In four career games against the Dolphins, Darnold has four touchdowns and eight interceptions. He’s been sacked 11 times.

Dolphins-Jets: Get the Ball Downfield

Tagovailoa struggled in Denver despite not throwing an interception. Although he’s protected the ball well, Tagovailoa has yet to make very many plays down the field. Against the Broncos, he managed just 83 passing yards and 4.2 yards-per-attempt.

Too many of his throws are short. In three of his four starts, his yards-per-attempt has been under 7.0. After being pulled from last week’s game, Tagovailoa acknowledged his shortcomings and witnessed how Ryan Fitzpatrick nearly doubled his statistical output in a fraction of the plays. Some of that is play calling and situation, but the general point holds. Tagovailoa needs to challenge opposing secondaries with throws on target downfield.

Though Tagovailoa has been limited in practice this week with an injured thumb, this game against New York provides him the opportunity to take the next step in his development. The rookie has completed 61.9 percent of his passes for 602 yards and six touchdowns.

In Week 6 against the Jets, Fitzpatrick put up 191 passing yards and three touchdowns. He also threw two interceptions. If Fitzpatrick gets the nod in this one, he’ll lean on a stonier chemistry with DeVante Parker and Mike Gesicki, but he’ll need to take care of the football.

The Jets defense comes in after having allowed another rookie quarterback (Justin Herbert) to throw for 366 yards and three touchdowns. New York’s passing defense allows 288.3 yards-per-game (9th-most). The Jets start three rookies in their secondary and allow 30.2 points per game.

Stop the Run

The recent five-game win streak masked defensive deficiencies for the Dolphins. Although Miami sports one of the top secondaries in the league, the run defense has left much to be desired. The Dolphins surrendered a season-high 189 rushing yards and 5.7 yards-per-carry to Denver.

For the season, Miami’s run defense allows 4.8 yards-per-carry (27th) and 134.2 yards-per-game. The good thing is, the Jets don’t feature an overwhelming run game, but that’s mostly because they’ve been forced to pass. The Jets offense ranks 32nd in scoring (14.9 points-per-game) and total yards-per-game (268.6). Their 98.6 rushing yards-per-game rank 26th in the NFL.

The Dolphins welcomed back defensive tackle Christian Wilkins this week, which should help the run D. Wilkins missed the last two weeks while on the COVID list.

Dolphins-Jets: Next Man Up

Miami enters this Week 12 contest with a number of key injuries. The team has already listed recent starter at running back, Salvon Ahmed, as out. Kindley, too. Wide receiver and returner Jakeem Grant is listed as ‘questionable’ and Tagovailoa has been downgraded to ‘doubtful.’ Miami elevated QB Reid Sinnett from the practice squad.

Although Myles Gaskin, Miami’s leading rusher with 387 yards, returned to practice this week, he’s still on the injured reserve and would need to be activated before the game.

This uncertainty could affect the Dolphins pursuit of offensive consistency. The combination of youth and inexperience led to a number of difficulties last week. The team hopes to solve those issues against the Jets.

“Sometimes it’s protection, sometimes it’s holding the ball too long, sometimes it’s guys not getting open,” Chan Gailey said of the Dolphins difficulties in Denver. “I have to do a better job of calling plays where he doesn’t have to hold it.”

Rookie receiver Malcolm Perry, who saw 51 offensive snaps last week, could get more run if Grant’s out. Antonio Callaway, who played eight snaps and caught one pass versus Denver, could also see an uptick in opportunity. Recently acquired running back DeAndre Washington may also see more time should Gaskin remain unavailable. Washington’s played 14 snaps in two games, gaining five yards on two carries last week.

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Dolphins Win Jets

5 Takeaways from Dolphins Win Over the Jets

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The Miami Dolphins dominated the New York Jets on Sunday. The Dolphins 24-0 win stands as the team’s first shutout since 2014. Improving to 3-3 on the year marks the first time in the Brian Flores era that Miami has been at .500. With the Jets floundering to 0-6 under Miami’s former head coach Adam Gase, it becomes more clear with each passing week that the Dolphins have the right leader in Flores.

Here’s a look at five takeaways from the Dolphins win over the Jets.

Dolphins D Dominant in Win Over Jets

The Dolphins haven’t shut out an opponent since they blanked San Diego six seasons ago. They hadn’t shut out the Jets since the 1983 AFC Championship game. The defense’s domination delighted Dolphins fans as they shut down the purported “offensive guru” Gase.

Miami’s defense elevated its play on Sunday, limiting the Jets to 2-of-17 on third down tries. For the season, the Dolphins top the NFL in third-down defense, allowing just 31.3 percent of conversions. Miami stands fourth in scoring defense (18.8 points-per-game) and sixth in sacks (17).

In the win over the Jets, the Dolphins held Flacco to 148 net passing yards. Last week, the Dolphins surrendered just 128 net passing yards to San Francisco, making this effort the first since 2010 Miami has limited opponents to fewer than 150 net passing yards in consecutive games.

The defense kept the Jets to just 93 yards in the first half, allowing just five first downs and forcing six punts. This helped Miami build a 21-0 halftime lead.

Ogbah, a Great Investment

Among the other free agent additions for 2020, Emmanuel Ogbah’s name might have been an afterthought. But he’s become a force for this defense in the pass rush.

Ogbah recorded two sacks in the Dolphins win over the Jets. His effort stands as Miami’s first two-sack performance since Cam Wake and Akeem Spence both had a pair of sacks versus the Jets in November 2018. Ogbah’s now recorded five sacks this season, tied for second-most in the AFC. Sunday also saw him register six QB hurries and two more QB hits.

The Dolphins are getting the most out of their two-year, $15 million investment in Ogbah. He’s registered a sack in three straight games and at least half a sack in five straight. He’s just a half-sack shy of his career high (5.5)

Howard Returned to Form

Xavien Howard registered his fourth interception of the season after he picked off Joe Flacco in the second quarter. Howard has clearly returned to his 2018 ballhawking form after a knee injury limited him to just five games last season.

Sunday marked the fourth straight game with an interception for Howard. His four-game streak is the second-longest in team history, behind safety Dick Westmoreland (five straight games with an INT in 1967). Howard’s four picks this season are tied for most in the NFL and he’s ninth in pass-breakups (6). His 16 interceptions since December 2017 are the most in the NFL in that span. He’s made an interception in 11 of his 46 career games.

Adding Byron Jones aided this secondary and Howard specifically, but Howard has elevated his play in 2020. He’s held opposing quarterbacks to 12-of-26 passing (46.2 percent) with just one touchdown and four interceptions.

Gaskin, a Bell Cow?

Seemingly overlooked this offseason with the additions of Matt Breida and Jordan Howard, Myles Gaskin felt like the forgotten man amid all of the Le’Veon Bell chatter this week. Gaskin posted a video to social media of his highlights, then followed that with his best performance as a pro.

Gaskin gained a career-high 91 rushing yards on 18 carries (5.1 average). He added four receptions for 35 yards as well. His 126 all-purpose yards also set a new career-high for the second-year running back. The last time the Miami saw a running back total at least 126 scrimmage yards was Kenyan Drake’s 193 performance versus New England in December 2017. Gaskin’s 91 rushing yards are the most by a Dolphins RB since Kalen Ballage ran for 123 yards versus Minnesota in December 2018.

Gaskin’s emergence as a legitimate NFL starter belies his seventh-round pedigree. He continues to take a larger share of the running responsibilities, and his ability as a pass-catcher helps keep opposing defenses honest. Gaskin’s play has resulted in back-to-back healthy scratches for Jordan Howard.

Bye Week Comes After Dolphins Win Over Jets

The Miami Dolphins saw their scheduled shuffled by the NFL last week. In the wake of COVID-19 positives for the New England Patriots, the league changed the schedules for eight different teams. For the Dolphins, that meant they faced New York in Week 6 instead of Denver. It also means Week 7 becomes their bye, instead of Week 11.

The Bye comes at the right time for the Dolphins, as several veterans are hobbled. Linebacker Kyle Van Noy landed among the inactives after groin and foot injuries limited his participation in practice this week. During the game, linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel exited in the second quarter to be evaluated for a concussion. He did not return.

Linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill hurt his hand in the third quarter. In the fourth, wide receiver DeVante Parker (groin) and defensive tackle Raekwon Davis (shoulder) also sustained injuries. The early Bye affords these players a week of healing and rest ahead of an important stretch for the Dolphins.

Miami has a slate of six winnable game ahead of them, and they’ll need a 5-1 or 4-2 stretch to set themselves up for the playoffs. According to Tankathon.com, the Dolphins have the 10th-easiest remaining based on strength of schedule. They’ll need to bank wins here over the next few weeks, as their final four games see Miami play the Chiefs and the Patriots at home, then travel to Las Vegas and Buffalo to finish.

Dolphins Jets

5 Keys to Week 6: Dolphins vs Jets

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The Miami Dolphins return home to face their longtime rival, the New York Jets, who are winless and rudderless. Former Dolphins head coach Adam Gase finds himself on the hot seat after another disappointing start to a season and having alienated another star.

Meanwhile, Brian Flores, Miami’s current head coach, continues to foster a positive culture, built around communication and cohesion.

“It’s about having the right people, having the right cohesive group,” said Flores on a conference call on Wednesday. “It’s about communication. I think it’s about having good people who are team-first, selfless and want to do things for the greater good. People who are tough, who are smart, who are competitive, put the team first and people who love to do what they’re doing.”

Flores maintains the Dolphins are still building, but he’s laid a solid foundation. Something Gase never did in Miami.

Here’s a look at five keys to the Dolphins Week 6 matchup against the floundering New York Jets.

Dolphins v Jets: Get Points Early

The Dolphins stand at 2-3 and both of their wins can be characterized in the same way: Offense scored early. In those victories, Miami raced out to early 14-0 leads. Against both Jacksonville and San Francisco, the Dolphins controlled the pace early and forced the opposing offenses to become one dimensional in an effort to play catchup.

“We always talk about playing fast, starting fast. It’s something that we harp on, on a weekly basis,” Flores said earlier this week.

The Jets offense struggles to score. New York sits 32nd in points-per-game (15.0) and total points (75). They’re a minus-86 In point differential this season, which is staggeringly bad. That figure is 36 points greater than the next closest differential.

If the Dolphins can get on the board early and demoralize New York, there’s a good chance the Jets will quit on Gase and roll over. Gase may not leave Miami with his job.

Attack the Quarterback

In Miami’s two wins this season, they’ve tallied eight sacks and 19 quarterback hits. While they’ve struggled to contain mobile quarterbacks, Dolphins defenders have teed off against more stationary targets.

With 35-year-old Joe Flacco making the start for the Jets, the fear of a running quarterback is completely absent. Against San Francisco, the Dolphins brought pressure facing a hobbled Jimmy Garoppolo and his replacement, C.J. Beathard. Miami registered five sacks and eight pressures.

The defense should employ multiple fronts to make identifying the pressure difficult for the Jets’ offensive line. The return of Byron Jones last week saw Miami shift to more man-coverage, and certainly helped Xavien Howard, who picked up an interception in a third-straight game.

Miami needs to attack Flacco, especially considering the Jets have surrendered 15 sacks this season (8th-most).

Get Vertical on Offense

The Dolphins offense opened last week with a 47-yard connection from Ryan Fitzpatrick to Preston Williams. That set the tone for an offensive onslaught that tallied 43 points on the road. And facing a Jets defense that surrenders 265.6 passing-yards-per-game (8th-most), those opportunities should be there as well.

Last week, New York surrendered 380 passing yards to Arizona’s Kyler Murray. For the season, the Jets surrender a 100.2 passer rating and over eight yards-per-attempt. Their secondary allows over 70 percent of passes to be caught.

Last season against New York, Fitzpatrick completed three passes on throws of over 20 yards. Those three completions went for 72 yards and a touchdown. Against the 49ers, Fitzpatrick completed five throws of over 20 yards for 199 yards and two touchdowns.

Miami features big targets on the outside, including Williams, DeVante Parker and tight end Mike Gesicki. Those three dominated the Jets at home last season, combining for 15 catches, 224 yards and three touchdowns. Going vertical should open the running lanes for Myles Gaskin, who’s averaging just 3.9 yards-per-carry.

Finally Figure Out Flacco

Flacco remains undefeated in his career against the Dolphins. He sports a career 6-0 record versus Miami. He’s completed 72 percent of his attempts for 1,518 yards and 10 touchdowns. Flacco has thrown only three interceptions versus the Dolphins.

That said, all Flacco’s victories came while he quarterbacked the Baltimore Ravens. And this Jets roster is largely devoid of talent at this point.

Against the Cardinals, Flacco made his first start since Week 8 last season. He completed 18-of-33 passes for 195 yards and one touchdown. The Jets offense struggled on third down, where they converted only four of 13 tries. On the season, New York converts 34.7 percent of third down tries, the fifth-worst rate in the league this season. Meanwhile, the Dolphins allow just 38 percent of third down conversions, the seventh-best rate.

Miami’s secondary will need to key on Jamison Crowder, the Jets most dynamic offensive weapon. Crowder is primarily a slot receiver and currently leads the league with 111.7 yards-per-game.

Dolphins Need to Maintain Focus Against the Jets

The Dolphins enter this game as favorites for the first time in the Flores era. Miami hasn’t been favored in a game since December 2018 (21 games). They’re favored by more than a touchdown for the first time since November of 2016. As a team, the Dolphins haven’t won back-to-back games by double digits since 2015. That said, the Jets have lost each game this season by at least nine points.

This contest has all the making of a trap game. The Dolphins need a win to inject themselves into the playoff race. In addition to that, they’ll need to maintain focus against an opponent that wasn’t originally their scheduled one for this week.

The NFL’s changes seriously altered Miami’s schedule, but the players didn’t seem to care.

“It is what it is, it’s no big deal,” Gesicki said.

Howard voiced a similar sentiment. “It doesn’t matter which team is next. We just have to focus on the game plan.”

With the bye week now upcoming, Miami can’t have a letdown against the Jets. They’ll need to maintain their focus and discipline.

The Dolphins remain one of the league’s least penalized teams, having been flagged just 23 times for 195 yards through five games. The Jets, meanwhile, have committed 38 penalties for 365 yards, a characteristic consistent with Adam Gase teams.

Gase’s culture of alienating stars and blaming players has continued in New York. The Jets now turn to former Miami Hurricane and Dolphins, Frank Gore, who is starting to show his age with just 3.2 yards-per-carry in 2020, and rookie La’Mical Perine in the wake of Le’Veon Bell’s departure.

The Dolphins should handle their business here and win this ballgame. This starts a stretch of seven very winnable games for Miami. If they can emerge from this with a 5-2 of 6-1 record, they’ll be poised for a serious playoff push heading into a very difficult final four games in 2020.

Know Your Enemy: Previewing the 2020 New York Jets

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Fans of the Miami Dolphins are all too familiar with “Gang Green” What will the 2020 New York Jets have in store?

In the first installment of our Know Your Enemy series, we profiled the Buffalo Bills.

Now we take a look at a team on the fringes of decency, or free-fall depending on who you ask.

Head Coach: Adam Gase (30-34, 0-1)

2019 Record: 7-9 overall, 2-6 in AFC East

Key Arrivals:

WR Breshad Perriman

OG Greg Van Roten

C Connor McGovern

OT George Fant

CB Pierre Desir

QB David Fales

Key Departures:

WR Robby Anderson

OT Kelvin Beachum

OT Kelechi Osemele

CB Trumaine Johnson

Things Change…yet Stay the Same

The Jets were very active in free agency, adding several new faces mostly on offense.

A glimpse at the list above shows a near mirror image of replacements for those departing players.

Did they actually get better though?

The major addition was wide receiver Breshad Perriman who replaces Robby Anderson as their new deep threat.

 

Perriman joins New York after spending 2019 in Tampa Bay and signed a contract which could be worth up to 8M with incentives.

Anderson took a more lucrative deal (12M) in Carolina.

The Jets will be Perriman’s fourth team and the 26-year old will look to avoid the journeyman label in New York.

Perriman is the son of former Miami Hurricane great Brett Perriman, who has endured failing health in recent years.

Perriman is coming off his best season with career highs in receptions (36), yards (645), and touchdowns (6).

Anderson has been the more productive player so far in his career, it will be interesting if Perriman can take that leap this season.

Line Shuffling Continues

The Jets offense in 2019 was not good by any metric you choose.

31st in points per game (17.2).

31st in rushing yards per game (78.6)

32nd in yards per game (273.0).

29th in passing yards per game (194.4)

A lot of the problems start up front, and judging by the offseason transactions the Jets noticed that as well.

Sam Darnold made incremental progression between his rookie and sophomore campaigns.

The Jets are banking on continued growth from Darnold to improve the offensive production.

However he must receive better protection up front, the Jets ranked 29th in sacks allowed (52) and 27th in quarterback hits allowed (106) in 2019.

Adding Greg Van Roten and Connor McGovern to the interior offensive line may help, they both project as starters.

At tackle George Fant is also a likely candidate to start, he is raw in terms of refinement but has the athleticism to match up outside.

 

That athleticism should also help a stagnant running game as he can be a factor at the second level.

Fant can also get to the edge and with a patient runner like Le’Veon Bell the Jets can add some more diversity to their run looks.

Bell is looking to bounce back after a disappointing 2019 season, where he tied a career low with just three touchdowns.

A contract dispute cost Bell his 2018 campaign and he did not look the same last year despite playing in 15 games, his 3.2YPC were a career worst.

At age 28, Bell should still have some tread left and will need a bounce back season to help stabilize the Jets offense.

Despite the additions in free agency, the Jets are serious contenders to take an offensive tackle with the 11th overall pick.

Targets in play with pick 11 include tackles Mekhi Becton, Jedrick Wills, and Tristan Wirfs.

Questions Remain on Defense

The Jets have been known as more of a ground-and-pound, win with defense team over the last several years.

With an offense like theirs, that is one way to stay competitive.

Yet a closer look at the defensive side of the ball unveils some questions.

Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams did good work with an injury riddled group, especially up front.

New York ranked 7th overall in the NFL and second against the run, allowing just 86.9 yards per game and 3.34 yards per carry.

They did struggle generating any pass rush as they registered just 35 sacks last season.

The Jets were a middle of the pack defense in some aspects, ranking 16th in points allowed per game (22.4) and 17th in passing yards allowed per game (236.2).

Outside linebacker Jordan Jenkins led the Jets with eight sacks, while All-Pro strong safety Jamal Adams added six of his own.

Adams is the catalyst of the defense, with a bold personality that sometimes causes friction.

His play helps cover up some of the deficiencies for the Jets at the cornerback spot, New York managed just 12 interceptions in 2019.

Linebacker Neville Hewitt led the team with just two interceptions as no other Jet had more than one.

If teams can figure out the Jets run defense and open things up down the field, their chances improve significantly.

Will Strong Finish Carry Over?

The Jets went 6-2 over their final eight games after a 1-7 start, finishing with two impressive defensive wins against Pittsburgh (16-10) and Buffalo (13-6).

While those wins showed their formula can succeed temporarily, winning two games while scoring a total of 29 points cannot be sustained long term.

For the Jets to take the next step into playoff contention in what is now a wide open AFC East, they must improve mightily on offense.

It remains to be seen if Adam Gase is a viable head coach to lead them, and if Darnold is the answer at quarterback.

They trended up in the second half of 2019 and have a playoff caliber defense already.

Time will tell if they have enough pieces to contend for a spot in the 2020 NFL postseason.

 

Adam Gase’s burner account is nothing short of extraordinary

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Adam Gase, or someone close to him, has been defending the Jets on Twitter.

This certainly goes under the category of something you don’t hear about every day. New York Jets head coach Adam Gase has been in the media recently. In the latest installment of the Adam Gase extravaganza, a report came out Wednesday that he has never cared about the criticism of the fans. His go-to motto is “I’m rich as f—k.”

Now, there is speculation that he has his own Twitter burner account. In what has been circulating around the Internet, the burner account is under the username of @Wyattv18. Gase has a son named Wyatt, who is seven. It is not likely that those are his tweets, but with modern technology anything is possible. I’m willing to bet it is Gase himself or at least someone involved with the organization. This all seems like too elaborate a scheme for any fan to conjure up.

If you look at some of the tweets that have been screenshotted, whoever this is has been vehemently defending Gase from the beginning. The screenshot that we took only showed a retweet from the New York Jets main account. Since we got the picture, the account has nothing on its profile. Apparently, whoever runs the account is finally come onto the fact that it has been discovered.

I am totally not shocked by this at all. This is such a New York Jets move. As the Jets sit at 6-9 and third place in the AFC East, I can’t blame anybody from the New York Jets for having a burner account. They certainly have a right to defend themselves from the criticism. Nevertheless, whoever created it certainly doesn’t realize that this is a bad look.

Such is a day in the Twitterverse. Hopefully, we’ll never have to see the day where Miami Dolphins burner accounts are created. We have already dealt with Adam Gase once. As this season has proved, it would be in the best interest of the Dolphins to never deal with him again

Coach Flores and players on the Miami Dolphins voice frustration following loss to Jets

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In a game that meant little outside of draft position, Miami’s coach Brian Flores was fuming following Sunday’s 22-21 loss to the New York Jets.

Jets kicker Sam Ficken converted a game-winning field goal as time expired, but it was a play leading up to the kick that had Flores irate.

To make matters worst, the pass interference wasn’t called on the field, but was reviewed and reversed.

Flores didn’t want to answer questions about the call when speaking to the media. As we saw during the game, he was quite animated after discovering the no-call was reversed.

“It’s a tough call,” quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said. “We had guys step up. Pat Laird made some nice plays and Isaiah made some nice plays. Those are the things I try to focus on as the positives for us and the things we did well and maybe some of the things we could have done better. We obviously scratched and clawed our way back into that game and it would have been a nice one to win.”

Jason Sanders converted a franchise-record seven field goals in the loss. However, if Miami had found the end zone at least once, the call would’ve been a non-factor.

“I think we’re all disappointed,” Fitzpatrick added. “We’re just disappointed in losing the football game. There’s a lot of emotions that go into that.”

Nik Needham finished with four tackles, two passes defended and was in coverage for the game-changing call.

“Honestly it’s trash,” Needham said of the call. “We lost on a call. It’s trash. I’m not going to lie.”

Despite low expectations, it is clear that the Dolphins were never trying to “tank” the season away.

“Any loss is tough to swallow,” Flores said.  “So, this is no different than any other loss. They’re all tough to swallow. Our guys played hard and I’m proud of the way they work. It’s a tough one.”

 

 

Fitzpatrick, Parker, Gesicki tank-proof as Dolphins stun Eagles

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This seemed like the Dolphins’ ideal afternoon until the 2019 season mercifully ends.

Play hard. Play smart. Play close. Lose, while others among the NFL’s lowliest win — in this case, the Bengals and the Redskins.

Except for one thing.

Ryan Fitzpatrick, DeVante Parker, Mike Gesicki and Brian Flores didn’t oblige.

All four were outstanding in Miami’s come-from-behind 37-31 win against the sagging Philadelphia Eagles, part of the NFL’s worst division. The Dolphins, yes, the Dolphins, simply couldn’t stop scoring, with 23 unanswered in the second half. Without a running game, at least until tank commander Kallen Ballage left for Patrick Laird due to a leg injury, Fitzpatrick was nearly perfect in the second half, finishing 27 of 39 for  365 yards. Parker and Gesicki combined for 238 of those yards, manhandling their matchups, frequently high-pointing the ball, with Fitzpatrick completing 12 of 17 to them.

And the undrafted Laird, who should have been playing more the past few weeks, showed wiggle on the drive that put the Dolphins ahead late. They did this is front of a crowd that was roughly 70 percent Eagles fans, serenading them with “Fly Eagles Fly.”

And they did it with Flores flair, with the first year head coach taking every conceivable chance, a welcome change from most of his predecessors.

A deep completion to Parker for a touchdown on fourth down, and another fourth down conversion to Parker on the clinching drive.

One of the most creative trick plays you’ll ever see, as punter Matt Haack flipped to kicker Jason Sanders for a touchdown.

And so, now with the Jets, Giants and Bengals remaining on the schedule, the Dolphins could be headed for 6-10.

Think about that? 6-10! After the way this season started.

Maybe Tua will be available at No. 8.

Here’s the best from the account of our Josh @Houtz, serial videographer and Laird fanatic…..