Raiders coach Antonio Pierce says one of the most prolific offenses in NFL history comes to mind when he watches the Dolphins.
The Miami Dolphins offense is loaded with talent, but has underachieved for much of the 2024 season. After leading the NFL in offensive yardage a year ago, the Dolphins rank 20th in yards this season and 30th in points scored.
Las Vegas Raiders coach Antonio Pierce remains impressed with Miami’s offensive skill players, though. So much so, that he thinks the Dolphins offense is reminiscent of one of the greatest groups in NFL history: The Greatest Show on Turf.
“The Rams. On the turf,” Pierce said Friday when asked what offense comes to mind when he watches the Dolphins. “When they were rolling with Kurt Warner and [Torry] Holt and [Isaac] Bruce and Marshall Faulk. Even later on down the road, didn’t even matter if it was on grass, they were fast. Like it was on you right now. The speed is legit. You can’t mimic it. We’re doing the best we can in practice.
“But the good part about it like I said, we went against these guys last year and really felt the speed of [Tyreek] Hill and [Jaylen] Waddle and those guys over there. So we understand that, and we respect it. But at the at the end of the day, with speed you have put hands on them, right? Physicality needs to show up.”
The St. Louis Rams earned the Greatest Show on Turf nickname when they led the NFL in both scoring and offensive yardage for three consecutive seasons between 1999 and 2001. Warner, Faulk, and Bruce are all Hall of Famers and Holt has been a finalist for induction in each of the last five years.
Miami’s offense has proven capable of making big plays and putting up big numbers, but a comparison to the turn-of-the-century Rams may be praise that’s a little too lofty.
Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce drew a strong comparison between the Dolphins offense and that of the Rams ‘Greatest Show on Turf’.
Much has been made this week about the sheer speed the Dolphins possess on offense. With the likes Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Raheem Mostert, and De’Von Achane, they have elite speed. Or as Raiders DC Patrick Graham put it ‘they can run-run‘.
Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce played in the league for nine years from 2001-09. And when he was asked Friday what offense the Dolphins offense reminds him of, he made a strong comparison.
“The Rams. On the turf,” Pierce said referencing the St Louis Rams’ Greatest Show on Turf offense. “Like that was real. When they were rolling with Kurt Warner and [Tory] Holt and [Isaac] Bruce and Marshall Faulk. Even later on down the road, didn’t even matter if it was on grass, they were fast. Like it was on you right now. The speed is legit. You can’t mimic it. We’re doing the best we can in practice.
“But the good part about it like I said, we went against these guys last year and really felt the speed of Hill and Waddle and those guys over there. So we understand that, and we respect it. But at the at the end of the day, with speed you have put hands on them, right? Physicality needs to show up.”
It’s one thing to have to deal with great speed at receiver where the defense lines up their fastest players. It’s another thing to then also have to account for the running backs coming out of the backfield as well as making plays in the passing game.
De’Von Achane leads the team in rushing (457) and yards from scrimmage (774). He’s a legit game breaker whose career has been mired by injuries, including when the Raiders faced the Dolphins last season.
“Just dynamic. Everything’s explosive. Everything’s a big gain,” Pierce said of Achane. “Everything’s an explosive gain in the run game, the pass game, route-running. I think, obviously you look at the size, you think a smaller guy, but he runs like a big boy. He runs behind his pads, does a good job. He gets on you fast, and the arm tackles is not going to work with a player like this. You have to chest him up. You have to just put the body blows on him to slow him down throughout the game.”
That’s your Holt, Bruce, and Faulk comps right there. Tua Tagovailoa is a far cry from Kurt Warner, but with those weapons he may not have to be.
The Raiders know they will be dealing with serious speed vs the Dolphins week 11. They will set out to keep from getting burnt.
This season, the Raiders have seen a lot of opposing teams run away with games. With their trip to Miami this week, they will be trying to stop the Dolphins players from literally running away from them.
“One, you’ve got to be able to find a way to match up with their speed,” said Raiders DC Patrick Graham. “Whether it’s staying on top, whether it’s to run with them, you’ve got to figure out a way. There’s true speed out there on the field at a number of positions.”
The main focus in terms of speed will be wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Both of whom are established burners who are electric with or without the ball in their hands.
For the Raiders, it will be hoping that they have enough speed on defense to match up with them.
“There’s several guys that we got on the defense that can run,” Graham continued. “Now, I’m not saying I want to line up and do a foot race with anybody from Miami. These guys can run run. When I say true speed I mean true speed out there on the field. And it’s not limited to [Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle].
“So, for us as a defensive staff, we’ve got to figure out the best way to deploy the defense and try to keep this speed under control a little bit. Take away the space, staying on top, things of that nature. Jakorian [Bennett] in terms of Jakorian and Jack [Jones]. All of our defensive backs. We got guys that can run too, so it’s going to be a fun game in terms of just being able to challenge ourselves. I think that’s the big thing for the players. It’s a good challenge.”
When Graham mentions that the Dolphins’ speed is not limited to Hill and Waddle, he is thinking primarily of running back De’Von Achane and Raheem Mostert. And you could throw QB Tua Tagovailoa in there as well.
In other words, the Dolphins have many different ways they can beat you.
Al Davis was all about speed on both sides of the ball. But the classic Raiders were also all about hard nosed football. For the Raiders, if they can’t match their speed, they must outplay them in physicality.
“One thing Flo (Brian Flores) used to always say ‘You can’t ever forget about the physicality of this game,” Graham continued. “I don’t care how fast it looks, how much they try to make it — whether it’s run and shoot, whether it’s whatever they want to call the different offenses — NFL football is a physical game, especially as you start to move into November and you’re starting to ramp up into after Thanksgiving. You can’t ever forget the physicality of the game.”
So, it will be important for the Raiders to remind the Dolphins this is a physical game. However they need to do that.
Drew Brees joined ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown set and shared his experience in engaging hungry playmakers — like Michael Thomas:
Legendary former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees joined ESPN’s pregame set for Monday Night Countdown before kickoff between the Miami Dolphins and Los Angeles Rams, and a key point of discussion was the trouble offenses loaded with weapons like Miami experienced in spreading the ball around.
Tyreek Hill. Jaylen Waddle. De’Von Achane. Raheem Mostert and Jaylen Wright. Those are just some of the playmakers clamoring for touches. And Brees knows a thing or two about keeping his superstars happy. He and Michael Thomas made a lot of history together with the Saints, and he shared some insight into managing that relationship with a player who has drawn so much attention — both from opposing defenses and spectators on social media.
“Look you’re always thinking matchups. And you’re always thinking we’ve got a lot of mouths to feed, how are we going to get all these guys opportunities, especially early in the game,” Brees said on the pregame show. He pointed to how opening scripts would set up the defense to tip their hand and show who they’re focused on taking away, at which point he and the offense could counter.
It’s just an approach that took a lot of patience. Brees continued: “And a lot of times I’d come to the sideline after Drive 1, Drive 2, and I’d look at Mike Thomas and be like ‘Hey Mike T, stay patient. Alright? They’re going to be doubling you here for a while. Alright? Young bucks, alright, you guys are going to get the ball, you’re going to get the opportunities when we’re start to make them pay here, Mike T you’re going to get your opportunities.'”
Managing that relationship was something Derek Carr struggled with after taking the reins from Brees, which led to a messy divorce between Thomas and the Saints that has repeatedly spilled out onto social media. Thomas has joined dissatisfied fans in calling for Carr’s job, and when one of Brees’ co-hosts brought that up, he gamely laughed it off.
It’s a shame things have taken such a turn for Thomas and the Saints. But if teams like the Dolphins are going to get where Brees and New Orleans have gone (Miami hasn’t won a playoff game since before Brees was drafted by the San Diego Chargers way back in 2001), they’ll need to do more to follow in his footsteps. That’s true for Carr and the modern-day Saints, too.
Watch Titans’ cornerback L’Jarius Sneed trash-talk Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle on Monday Night Football in Week 4.
[lawrence-related id=151675,151668,151654]The Tennessee Titans went on the road and earned their first win of the 2024 season against the Miami Dolphins. The Titans were able to pull off the win largely due to the defense and Miami’s inability to get down the field without Tua Tagovailoa. How you get there doesn’t much matter, though, what matters is they got their first win.
In the process of getting that win, Titans’ cornerback L’Jarius Sneed faced off against Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Sneed played with Hill in Kansas City for a couple of years before Hill left in 2022, so the two know each other fairly well. Which is what makes the following video all the more entertaining as you can see Sneed trash talking both Hill and Waddle during the game.
47 seconds of Titans CB L’Jarius Sneed trash talking Dolphins WR’s Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
This video shows Sneed doing what he does best: getting under the skin of the players he’s defending. From “You know what time it is,” and “I’m here all night,” to “Both of y’all know what it is,” and “Get your weak ass up,” Sneed does whatever he can to get into the heads of his opponents.
It’s not malicious, despite his intention to get under the skin of his opponents. At the end of the video, he’s laughing with Waddle as he’s telling him to get up and Waddle says he slipped. Still, if he focused more on stopping his opponents than trying to get under their skin, his stat line would certainly look better, and the Titans would benefit more from that than any amount of trash-talk he could come up with.
Jaylen Waddle would give the Patriots’ passing game a spark.
The New England Patriots will take on a Miami Dolphins team that possesses several playmakers on both sides of the football on Sunday. With New England needing wide receiver help, Jaylen Waddle seems like the appropriate pick for this week’s Gimme Him.
Waddle burst onto the scene as a member of the Dolphins in 2021, and he has been a dynamic playmaker for the team ever since. He has 268 catches for 3,597 yards and 18 touchdowns throughout four seasons. He is on pace for another solid season with 17 catches for 212 yards in the first four games.
Those numbers would likely be even higher if quarterback Tua Tagovailoa wasn’t out with a head injury.
The Alabama product has shown his ability to stretch the field, averaging 12.5 yards per reception. He has averaged 13.4 yards per reception for his entire career.
He has also managed to have stellar performances against New England. In the last meeting between the two teams, he caught seven passes for 121 yards and a touchdown.
Waddle would give the Patriots a receiver that could stretch the field and make plays after the catch. In addition, he could provide New England with the kind of big-play ability the team has been searching for.
The Patriots have needed a top wide receiver for several years now, and Waddle would fit the bill. He has caught 85 percent of passes thrown his way this year, per statistics from Pro Football Reference.
This is all obviously hypothetical, but even still, Waddle has shown the ability to elevate the play of quarterbacks, most notably Tagovailoa. He would undoubtedly help Drake Maye in his development process and give Jacoby Brissett a top option to throw to.
Jaylen Waddle says he and the other Dolphins receivers have to find a way to get “extra open” for Tyler Huntley.
How exactly does an offense featuring Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and De’Von Achane go 10 consecutive quarters without scoring a touchdown? That’s what the Miami Dolphins are trying to solve and they’re running out of time to get an answer.
While the Dolphins finally ended their touchdown drought Monday night with a 1-yard Tyler Huntley rush, it was far too little, too late in a 31-12 loss against the Tennessee Titans.
With Tua Tagovailoa out of action, the Dolphins offense has vanished. But wide receiver Jaylen Waddle says the blame doesn’t fall entirely on the backup quarterbacks’ shoulders. The fifth-year receiver says he and the Dolphins playmakers need to be doing a lot more.
“Playmakers got to be playmakers. We’ve got to be better than good,” Waddle said after the loss. “When your starting quarterback is out, you have to be extra open to clear it up for the quarterback. [Huntley]’s new here, and we just got to go out there and make plays for him.”
Waddle finished Monday night with four receptions for 36 yards, somehow making him the leading receiver of the game. It was the third straight game he was held to four catches and less than 50 yards.
While quarterback issues are the primary reason for the lackluster production, Waddle didn’t do himself any favors by dropping a pass on the Dolphins’ first drive of the second half that would’ve picked up first down yardage and potentially more. One play later, the Miami offense was forced to punt.
Hill had opportunities to make big plays downfield too, but three deep throws to the receiver all fell incomplete with two underthrown and one overthrown. But just like Waddle, Hill also cost the team when he made a lackadaisical effort to pick up a dropped pass that was eventually ruled a lateral and a fumble that was recovered by the Titans.
It may be a while before the Dolphins are back to racking up offensive yardage the way they did in 2023. In the meantime, the team can’t afford its best playmakers to waste the few opportunities they get.
The Jacksonville Jaguars are off to a rough start to their 2024 campaign following an embarrassing defeat on the road against the Miami Dolphins, 20-17.
At one point, the Jaguars held leads of 14-0 in the first half and 17-7 in the second, leaving many to wonder what happened after such a great start to the game.
Jaguars Wire broke down the matchup’s All-22 film to digest Sunday’s events with better context, sharing its biggest takeaways below.
Defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen impressed in his first game with the Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen talks to the media ahead of the second day of an NFL football training camp practice session Thursday, July 25, 2024 at EverBank Stadium’s Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla.
One of the key matchups Sunday was Ryan Nielsen’s Jacksonville defense versus arguably the most explosive offense in football. One key concern was capping the big plays Miami has been known to produce throughout the last two seasons.
Despite Dolphins receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle producing crucial explosive plays late in the contest, Nielsen otherwise called in a great game. Jaguars defenders on all three levels of the field flew around the field but rarely appeared out of place outside of a couple of occasions.
One of the most impressive things from this unit is that it rarely got caught in Miami’s barrage of shifts and motions, staying disciplined and on task while forcing quarterback Tua Tagovailoa off his spot and forcing throws.
Jacksonville’s linebackers were stout in their run fits. According to Next Gen Stats, the run defense held Miami to just 69 yards of offense on 23 touches and negative 44 rushing yards over expected, the lowest since Week 9 of 2021.
Linebacker Foyesade Oluokun played terrific in coverage and against the run. He made an excellent play in the second quarter on fourth & short by shadowing double slants on the front side and nearly secured the interception.
Other defensive players such as safety Darnell Savage Jr. and defensive lineman Arik Armstead had quality performances.
Before leaving the game with an injury, star cornerback Tyson Campbell played with sound technique in press-man and zone shells. Rookie Jarrian Jones had a couple of one-on-ones with Hill and held his own.
Edge rusher Travon Walker’s season is off to a great start. He piled up two sacks in Week 1 with elite explosiveness, power at the point of contact, an impressive bull rush, and the rare athleticism he has been known for since he was drafted No. 1 overall in 2022.
Jacksonville’s first-half offense displayed a glimpse into the future…
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 08: Trevor Lawrence #16 and Brian Thomas Jr. #7 of the Jacksonville Jaguars celebrate after a touchdown during the second quarter against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on September 08, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
Sunday offered a peak into what the 2024 Jaguars offense could become under whoever is calling plays in Jacksonville, head coach Doug Pederson or offensive coordinator Press Taylor. There were more under-center, vertical passing concepts that opened up the offense to an extent. The operation seemed steadier and smoother.
Franchise signal-caller Trevor Lawrence had a quality first half, making a terrific throw seemingly every series. He had a couple of middle-of-the-field darts for big completions, including the beautiful bucket drop to rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. to go up 14-0 in the second quarter.
Lawrence did a great job using his eyes to manipulate second and third-level defenders while maintaining his progressions.
The Jaguars have the potential to field a consistently explosive offense. Second-string running back Tank Bigsby broke off a couple of nice runs. Thomas also looks as advertised as a deep threat, showing vertical separation almost consistently with subtle movements to create space and opportunities for Lawrence to make accurate, on-time throws.
Jacksonville could have continued to mash its foot on the gas and attack Miami’s secondary with vertical play-action attacks from under-center and route concepts to put its players in positions to succeed. As the score later showed, it didn’t.
…but the second-half offense offered a not-so-good blast from the past
Sep 8, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson looks on from the sideline against the Miami Dolphins during the first quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
As soon as the Jaguars’ offense took the field in the second half, there was an easy tell to the momentum swing that began to occur. What went from an explosive and dynamic first 30 minutes to a stale and conservative final 30.
Pederson or Taylor let their foot off the gas almost entirely, especially after running back Travis Etienne Jr. fumbled in the red zone.
The offense reversed back to what led to its demise late in the 2023 season. There were very few concepts that allowed Lawrence to attack the middle of the field and several play-action rollouts that only allowed for the short area of the gridiron to be attacked.
Thomas received no targets in the second half, a head-scratching reality considering his earlier production paired with Jacksonville’s late offensive stalls. The Jaguars offensive line largely held its own throughout the game, allowing Lawrence to navigate the pocket and reset his base when needed.
The lack of aggression from the offense was staggering and it allowed Miami to take the field for just enough plays, including the 80-yard touchdown by Hill, to stage a successful comeback.
There was also too much faith placed in the Jaguars’ rushing offense and defensive performance to secure the victory. This kind of approach has far too often put coaches at a disadvantage against explosive teams such as the Dolphins or Kansas City Chiefs.
Jacksonville will host the Cleveland Browns in the Jaguars‘ home opener this weekend. They have the offense and personnel to be an aggressive, explosive offense. If the Jaguars learn to keep mashing the gas pedal when up 10 or more points, this could be a potent team throughout the season.
3 keys to a #Bills victory vs. the #Dolphins in Week 2:
The Buffalo Bills will hope to add a win to their record in 2024 in Week 2. The team will visit the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on Thursday.
As usual, it will never be a walk in the park in the NFL. If the Bills (1-0) expect to beat the Dolphins (1-0), there will be a few key things Buffalo will have to focus on against Miami.
It will have to be a full-team effort, make no mistake. But these factors could weigh heavy on whether or not Buffalo leave Miami with a win or loss.
Here are three keys to the Bills pulling out a victory against the Dolphins:
Speed kills–Don’t let it
(USAT)
The Bills know how much speed the Dolphins offense has. At the top of the list are wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
Buffalo’s defense will be without nickel cornerback Taron Johnson (forearm) and Cam Lewis is likely to start again. Lewis filled in well in the opener against the Arizona Cardinals but this is a much bigger test. The new-look safety tandem of Taylor Rapp and Damar Hamlin have to be ready, too.
Start better
(Imagn)
While the Bills did comeback after going down 17-3 against the Cardinals… you do not want to be doing that every week. Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott has to correct that. Unfortunately, that was an issue going back to 2023 as well.
The Dolphins would be a much more difficult team to come back against if Buffalo goes into another 17-3 hole early.
Let Josh Cook
(Imagn)
Bills quarterback Josh Allen saves his best games for the Dolphins for whatever reason. Running back Jame Cook can cook any other time, but Allen should be the one doing so this week.
Allen is 10-2 in his career against the Dolphins and one of those losses includes a drop from former Bills tight end Charles Clay early in his career. The other involved sun-level heat on Buffalo’s sideline.
Furthermore, Allen averages 280 passing yards per game and over three scores in these outings. The Bills average 32.9 points-per-game as a team… just unleash Allen.
The Dolphins’ veteran leaders showed up when the team needed a lift Sunday.
The Miami Dolphins beat the Jacksonville Jaguars, 20-17, to open up their 2024 season in comeback fashion, thanks to timely plays from veterans across each phase of the game.
Despite being down in the fourth quarter, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa engineered his seventh career come-from-behind win and his ninth game-winning drive. Tyreek Hill scored his ninth Week 1 touchdown in as many seasons. Jaylen Waddle was sensational with five receptions for 109 yards on five targets.
Waddle and Hill became the seventh receiving duo in NFL history to each hit 100 yards in a single game seven times.
The Dolphins defense, namely safety Jevon Holland, stepped up when needed as well. Holland forced a fumble from running back Travis Etienne on the doorstep of the Dolphins end zone that resulted in a touchback when Kader Kohou dove on the loose ball. On the very next play, Tagovailoa hit Hill for the 80-yard score.
Elsewhere on the defensive side of the ball, Miami sacked Trevor Lawrence three times, including one by returning linebacker Jaelan Phillips. In front of an appreciative Hard Rock Stadium crowd, Phillips played in his first game since tearing his Achilles in November of last season. Edge rusher Emmanuel Ogbah and new Miami defensive lineman Calais Campbell brought down Lawrence as well.
“He’s special,” Campbell said of Phillips after the game. “For him to come back off a big injury like that, a lot of it is getting your confidence back, realizing that you’re still that guy.”
Miami head coach Mike McDaniel praised new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver telling reporters post-game, “he is who I thought he was. He stayed consistent.”
McDaniel added that he and Weaver are rather like-minded saying, “we talked last night and again this morning because Coach Weaver and I, we share the same philosophy on what your job is as a coach and really who ultimately makes the plays. The players do.”
Even special teams veterans shined Sunday with punter Jake Bailey putting together an excellent day with a net average of 48.8 yards on his four kicks. He also had a long of 57 yards, and landed a punt inside Jacksonville’s five.
“We don’t win that game without them,” McDaniels said. “I thought our special teams had a great game.”
The Dolphins were able to dig deep, and found a gritty victory. With their backs literally against their own endzone, the Holland forced fumble started what was essentially an instant 14-point swing.
While not a perfect victory, it was McDaniel’s third straight win to open a season. The Dolphins are now 7-1 in September during his tenure with a short week ahead before their Week 2 matchup.
McDaniel, Weaver, and the Dolphins will prep immediately for the Buffalo Bills. The early AFC East clash on primetime with pit two 1-0 teams against each other on Thursday Night Football.
