Until starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa returns, the Dolphins (2-3) will continue to rely on the ground attack.
That can be inferred after coach Mike McDaniel ordered the ball to be run 41 times in the 15-10 victory against the New England Patriots on October 6 at Gillette Stadium.
“The offensive line and running backs – even though it takes all 11 players – have carried the team on their shoulders,” McDaniel said. “We have to continue to build on that foundation.”
Next Sunday (1 p.m.), the Dolphins will have a tough test against the Indianapolis Colts (3-3) at Lucas Oil Stadium.
These are the kind of games whose outcome will surely take on greater importance in December, during the fight for the wild cards to get into the playoffs.
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Despite the misfortune and the series of setbacks suffered in the first month of the regular season, the Dolphins are in second place in the NFL’s AFC East Division and their hopes remain alive.
All indications are that McDaniel will look to take advantage of the rushing skills of interim starting quarterback Tyler Huntley against the Colts. The free date proved to be providential. Huntley said it will give him more time to study the Miami squad’s complicated attacking system.
“Utilizing Huntley’s run is going to be key,” running back Raheem Mostert said. “Huntley is like Lamar Jackson [Baltimore Ravens QB]. He can pass or run the ball. I have high expectations and even more so with one more week that he is with us.”
Huntley was hired after Tua suffered a concussion in the third quarter of the team’s 31-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills in Game 2 at Hard Rock Stadium on Sept. 12.
The Dania Beach, Florida-born quarterback improved in the game against the Patriots after being released into the field after just one week of work in the loss to the Tennessee Titans.
A game earlier, Tua’s backup, Skykar Thompson, had been crushed in the ribs by the Seahawks in Seattle and had to be replaced by Tim Boyle.
The Dolphins’ quarterback emergency has been reflected in the fact that since the first quarter of their loss to the Buffalo Bills, more than three games ago, they have not been able to score a touchdown through the air.
The last touchdown in the air was a pass from Tua – before he left injured – to De’Von Achane. In the next two games, the Miami team scored two rushing touchdowns, one by Huntley and the other by Alec Ingold.
Achane suffered a concussion in the game against the Patriots and that gave Mostert a better chance, who was returning after three weeks without playing.
Huntley with more experience
Although Huntley said he now understands the complex mechanics of the Dolphins’ offense a bit more, McDaniel will look to combine the improved running game with Huntley’s rushing prowess.
“I feel more and more on the same page with my teammates and I think they feel the same way,” Huntley said. “We just have to avoid mistakes, judge our work, and create on the good things we do.”
McDaniel promised that everyone would work very hard to correct the mistakes they made, such as avoiding having their punts blocked, serving the ball well to the quarterback, not missing field goals, or committing penalties.
All of those mistakes were made by the Dolphins in their last game and put the team on the verge of suffering its fourth consecutive defeat. “Those errors – procedural things – we can control,” McDaniel confessed.
“And the first thing we did was talk about it with the absolute certainty that our job is to correct them. The most important thing for us is to look ahead, we still have a lot to do and we just have to keep working every day.”
Tua’s recovery
Meanwhile, the Dolphins are awaiting the progress of Tua’s recovery, who will be cleared to return to practice on October 23. The quarterback is currently on the injured list, which means he will not be able to play four games. He has already played three.
“Tagovailoa received encouraging feedback from a neurologist last week and is expected to return to play this season,” McDaniel said Monday, without saying whether the player would practice next week when he is fit to come off injured reserve.
“He’ll be looking at additional medical information this week,” McDaniel said. “It’s exciting that he thinks he’ll be playing football this year.”
According to sources, Tagovailoa has had no lingering symptoms since suffering the concussion on Sept. 12 against Buffalo. That has fueled hopes he could play Oct. 27 at home against Arizona, and that scenario remains very much in place.
If all goes well and the neurologists give him the all-clear regarding his health and McDaniel considers him athletically ready, Tua will be able to play against the Arizona Cardinals on October 27 at Hard Rock Stadium.
