The Miami Dolphins’ offensive line is going to continue to be a hot-button topic for followers of the franchise until the group definitively puts to bed the concerns about their ability to execute up front. And it is understandable as to why the group isn’t set to get any benefit of the doubt, given just how hard quality play has been to find up front for Miami. Week 1 was a promising peek into what can be, but ultimately the miscues and errors played a large role in Miami’s sub-300 yards of offense performance against the Patriots.
There were illegal men downfield, there was ill-timed holding penalties, there was an inexcusable false start during the 2-minute offense to close the first half. A lot of easily avoidable miscues; plus a 3.85 yards per carry average before you take inventory of the three kneeldowns Miami used to end the game.
But all in all, there was more good than bad. Liam Eichenberg played admirably while plugged in at left tackle. Solomon Kindley looked effective in creating push up front and was sufficient in protection. Center Michael Deiter flashed some athleticism and was, like Kindley and Eichenberg, sufficient.
Against the New England Patriots and their chaotic front seven, you could point to Miami’s play up front and find plenty of silver linings and slivers of hope. As a matter of fact, the Dolphins’ offensive line was credited in Pro Football Focus’ OL Pass Blocking Efficiency as the 15th most effective unit in pass protection in Week 1.
The group assigns eight total pressures to Miami’s offensive line, plus an additional one assigned to RB Myles Gaskin (not factored into the PBE metric). That’s not a bad day at the office.
But the Buffalo Bills will bring a different kind of challenge. Miami is plenty accustomed to seeing the twists and stunts and blitzes that the Patriots are known for thanks to Miami running a similar style of defense. Buffalo? They’re very much a smaller, quicker front — meaning Miami is going to have to find a way to contain the speed rushes of Jerry Hughes, Ed Oliver, Mario Addison and others. If the Dolphins’ pass protection unit can find some of the same efficiency as a middle of the road group against the speedy Bills front, it should serve as optimism that perhaps Miami’s OL group is versatile enough to take on all comes effectively and give this offense the opportunities it needs to create some big plays.
The narrative on this group is that it continues to be no good. But Week 1 against New England showed plenty to suggest otherwise could be true. Now comes the encore against a different group as a way to try to prove it.