I know it’s only the preseason, but if one thing has been consistent through three preseason games it’s been the Miami Dolphins run defense has looked pathetic. The last two games they have given up over 400 yards rushing alone. The defensive tackles are getting pushed around and our undersized linebackers are getting exposed.
When the Dolphins decided to part with Ndamukong Suh, they knew they were getting rid of a talented player, but they felt they had adequate players to help pick up the slack. However, after three preseason games, it’s becoming obvious our defensive tackles are becoming the weakness of that side of the ball and that’s the heart of your defense. The Dolphins are going to get exposed by physical football teams. And the strength of the Tennessee Titans, our opening day opponent, is being physical and running the football.
Jordan Philips, now entering his 4th year, has developed or become the force in the middle as they hoped when they drafted him in the 2nd round of the 2015 draft. Davon Godchaux and Vincent Taylor both in their 2nd seasons haven’t stepped up as the team had hoped. The team traded for Akeem Spence, but he hasn’t been an answer either. William Hayes has been injured most of training camp and he is a run stuffer on the line so maybe things get better when he returns, but that’s a lot to bank on. Other players must step up and become a force along the defensive line. Maybe this is an overreaction on my part because most defenses are being vanilla this time of year and don’t want to show a lot, but at the end of the day its football and you still have to line up man to man and win your one on one battles.
Nobody expects the Dolphins to do well this year and I like that going in with no expectations, but the Dolphins aren’t helping themselves. The team is going to have to make the best of what they have at defensive tackle. Next year’s draft is loaded with defensive tackles and Miami will be able to get someone, but I don’t want to look to next year. I want to see someone step up and dominate to put this nightmarish preseason behind us. If not, the Dolphins are going to be in for a long season on defense.
