Top Things To Watch In The Dolphins-Raiders Game
Following a pair of extremely frustrating losses, the Miami Dolphins will travel across the Atlantic to face the Oakland Raiders this Sunday at Wembely Stadium in London, England. The last thing that the Dolphins want is to hold a 1-3 record heading into their bye week, but that's exactly the situation they are facing should they be unable to come away with a victory for the third consecutive week.
Through the first three games of the season the Dolphins have had similar issues week in and week out. While there have been areas that the team has done well, there are certain facets of the game that Miami needs to improve on if they want to get back on the winning side of things. Here are some of the top things to keep an eye on when the Dolphins play the Raiders this week.
Quarterback play
Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill hasn't had the best start to his 2014 season. Accuracy has been a big issue for the third-year QB and his pocket presence hasn't been much better. At a time when he should be focused on improving and getting on the same page as his receivers, Tannehill had to face an unnecessary distraction this week and had only his coach to blame. Joe Philbin's refusal to publicly commit to starting Tannehill this Sunday has created the wrong kind of buzz that stretches from reporters and fans all the way into the Dolphins locker room. Will Tannehill be able to cast all that aside and play a better game this weekend than he has all season? We'll find out soon enough.
Getting off to a better start
Through three games this season, the Dolphins have been one of the better second half teams in the NFL. That usually will lead to wins, except that Miami has been equally as bad during the first half. They've only scored one first half touchdown all season and that came during Week 1 against the New England Patriots when a blocked punt gave Miami the ball at the Pats 15 yard line. Since then, the Dolphins have scored exactly six first half points, trailing at halftime by 10, 9 and 11 points in their first three games. That is a trend that Dolphins players and coaches are very aware of and need to remedy as soon as possible.
Missed tackles
One of the biggest issues with Miami's defense last season has apparently carried over into 2014. The scheme that Dolphins defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle has been using will often leave players in a one-on-one tackling situation. When those tackles are not made, it generally leads to big gains and more first downs for whoever the Dolphins are playing against. Last week against Kansas City, missed tackles cost the Fins dearly and led to several Chiefs scores. Miami's defense is going up against a Raiders offense that has struggled so far this season so the opportunity is there to have a bounce-back performance.
Run game
A bright spot for the Dolphins this season has been their rushing attack. Currently ranked 7th in the league, averaging 137.3 yards per game, Miami has been able to move the ball well on the ground regardless of who is doing the carrying. Lamar Miller had a very good game last week against the Chiefs, rushing for 108 yards on just 15 attempts. The Dolphins should be able to continue their strong ground game against the Raiders this week as Oakland gives up an average of 158.7 rushing yards per game (only Jacksonville surrenders more).
Dropped passes
While Ryan Tannehill has struggled with his accuracy this season, his receivers haven't done a good job of helping him out. The Dolphins lead the NFL in dropped passes this season with 12, four more than the next team on the list. With quarterback play becoming an issue in Miami, the receivers have to do a better job of picking up their quarterback and making his life a little easier. It will also help keep the offense on the field longer, which is always a good thing.
Will Charles Clay finally show up?
Coming off of a breakout season in 2013, expectations were that Charles Clay could pick up where he left off as a major part of the Dolphins offense. So far this season that just hasn't been the case. Clay was limited during training camp and the preseason with an injured right knee and that issue has continued during the season, limiting his participation during practices week after week. Still, Clay insists that the injury isn't what's hampering his production (through three games he has 12 catches for 79 yards and no touchdowns). Will this be the week that 'big play Clay' makes his return?
Special teams
One of the biggest surprises in 2014 is the poor play of the Dolphins special teams unit. An area that has been a major strong point for Miami in recent years has taken a very sour turn so far this season. With the team dealing with injuries and suspensions, players who normally are on special teams have been thrust into bigger roles on the offense and defense. That has led to inexperienced and less talented players being used on special teams and the results haven't been pretty. As the Dolphins get their regulars back in the lineup, the special teams unit should get a boost.
Watch Miami take on the Oakland Raiders this Sunday at 1 p.m. on CBS4, your official Dolphins station!
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