Dolphins Bills Week 3 Preview

begins now. Let me check your pulse. If new intro, who this and what up? Dolphans and welcome to the drive time podcast, part of the Miami Dolphins podcast network, covering your team, your Miami Dolphins. How's it going, everybody? I am your host, Travis Ing Field, and on today's show, Thursday means the start of a new week in the national football league. steelers and browns tonight. We'll pick that game, but that's not why you're here. You're here for the breakdown.

Excuse me. Dolphins and bills, a clash of two to a nose squaring off here at hard rock stadium. We'll break it down position by position, tell you what's at stake and give you the three keys to victory and a whole heck of a lot more from the Baptist health studios inside the Baptist Health Training Complex. This is the drivetime podcast and here we go again. This is my third year with the team. The preview pods haven't

really changed all that much. I'm quite a fan of this format, as I don't think you'll find a preview that gives you more about each and every matchup out there. But I will say, having written the preamble on the bills, as we do weekly with the state of the opponent intro that we do on the podcast, that there's really not a lot that's changed for the Buffalo Bills. It's really just an update from the last time we played them.

So with that mind, let's do a quick rundown of things I've told you about this team for the last few years. They are incredibly admirable in their process of building developing a culture, hitting on draft picks, free agents,

veteran trades, you name it. They set that up by acquiring draft capital and moving off some veterans in that first year under Sean McDermott and Brandon Bean, and their arrival getting rid of guys like Ronald Darby, Marcel Darius, Sammy Watkins, trading off a lot of talent, but getting the right guys in that building for their culture and they assembled the bulk of this really good secondary we're gonna talk about here in just a second really in

one offseason by signing Micah Hyde and Jordan poyer and drafting Trey White, who will not be available this week he's on P U P but that secondary really drives what they do on defense. I asked to about that last year, about how tough poyer and hide make it, and he talked about how they can flip and rotate and totally change the post nap picture based upon your pre snap read. We'll get to that matchup in a moment. Then you take the quarterback and you develop him and

you start to surround him with premium talents. To fond digs. They had brought in Emmanuel Sanders, who was really good for them. Gabe Davis has taken that. Torch Isaiah Mackenzie's a beast, Dawson Knox, they draft Dion Dawkins up front, they signed Mitch Morris and Roger Saffold Upfront. Then comes that final step, the teams that are sort of in that favorites category where they do that thing where they go all in. I mentioned saffolds, a big get for them.

They get another great draft pick and James Cook and of course the big marquee name is von Miller. So that's where they are, where they've been and where they're going. You know about this team and they've come out of the gates red hot to really respond after that crushing playoff defeat a year ago. And all they've done is topple last year's super bowl winner and the one seed in the A F C playoffs a season ago by a combined score of seventy two to seventeen. A juggernaut

is blown in from the northeast. Let's actually go ahead and start here and hear from coach mcdaniel on preparing for the buffalo bills and that defense. And isn't more of a challenge with them coming off a shorter week and having one less day to see their game from the previous Sunday? If it's a new, uh, I don't know,

a coordinator or new head coach. Um, that's a bigger issue. Um, when when you have you know, I've been fortunate to be Um and NFL long enough to know exactly you know, Um really for all the way back from the Carolina Days, Um Coach uh, well really, and and coach Fraser. But they've they've both Um done a great job and so you kind of understand. You know, like any really good high level coaches, Um, they have a principality to them, a starting point, and then it's whether or not they're

doing little nuances within it, um points of emphasis. But you know, just like uh, you guys Um know that, uh, regardless if it works or not, you're gonna see outside zone. Um, you know, I know exactly. They're gonna Um play unbelievable, UH strenuous defense. They're gonna UM play hard and run to the ball, Um and they're gonna force you into mistakes because they can get home with their four man rush.

So Um that it. It wasn't it was. It's always good to see and you get um different you get a different perspective of where they're at, especially game two. But it didn't really put us behind Um just because there that defense in general. Um, it's kind of like you know what it is. That's what I appreciate so much about it is because they're not hiding from what

they are. Um, they say, you know, we're gonna take our guys and line up and we're gonna play the same type of same type of defense against every offensive structure, and our guys are, um, really good players that that play hard for each other and, you know, do something about it. It's what they kind of do. So Um it.

In this circumstance it wasn't that big deal. And before we really get cranking here, I think it's important to update you with the Wednesday injury report because there were several guys on it for the buffalo bills as well as the Miami Dolphins. But in terms of buffalo and putting this preview together, they had four players who d MP on Wednesday. Did not practice, Micah hide, Dane Jackson, Dawson Knox and Jordan Phillips, four very important players for them.

Gabe Davis, who missed last game with an ankle, was limited, so was Mitch Morse, who exited the last game at Oliver was as well. He also missed the previous game. Jordan poyer and Tim settle, who also missed the previous game, was we're all limited in Wednesday's pray this and then cornerback Cam Lewis and Linebacker Matt Mlano were full participants

for the Miami Dolphins. Five D MP's to Ron Armstead, Seethan, Carter Xaviing, Howard hunter long and then Melvin Ingram, also d MP, but he was a vet rest day for himself. Channing Tindall and Cedric Wilson were limited in practice, and then tight end Tanner Connor, Break Kwon Davis fullback Alec Ingold were all full participants in Wednesday's practice. The dolphins offense is how we start this thing off, with the quarterback position versus the safety position of the buffalo bills.

And the bills have been stifling opposing quarterbacks, very good quarterbacks for that matter, for a while now. So far this year stafford had five point nine yards per pass, one touchdown, three picks, was sacked seven times for a passer rating of sixty yeah, sixty three point one. Almost

got dyslexic there for a second. Ryan Tannehill, five point nine yards per attempt, no touchdowns, two picks, two sacks, thirty two point seven passer right in that place has always been in his house of horrors for most quarterbacks it is. What about last year passer rating against in one eighty three point nine, fifty nine point three. That was Jacoby Beru said, eighty point six, twenty three point four, seventy point nine, that was Mahomes, seventy point five, fifty

eight point two. That was to a, sixty nine point one, thirty three point four, Eighty six point seven, seventy one point five, eighty four, one, oh five point six. That was Brady, Fifty six point five, thirty one point four, eighty four point nine and sixty six. It's a lot of low numbers, guys. Only one over one hundred, in fact only one over ninety. That's only one over eighty four point nine. That that should tell you how good

this defense is. I think what you're going to need is a repeat from last week from Twa, in this sense that there were so many throws in that game where he moved defenders in the intermediate portion of the field and through with anticipation and accuracy into some very tight windows. It's a fascinating matchup for so many reasons, but perhaps none more than the fact that Miami is generating a ton of space right now. Next Gen has them as a top five separation creating offense through two games.

Excuse me, but buffalo also clamps thanks down themselves. They play fast and aggressive and it really permeates beyond those two safeties into that linebacker room. More on them shortly. So you have to be precise and I think if there's a week where you really can't afford to give the football away is this one. It's never a good thing, but the bill's outfit has the look of that chiefs operation where the only way you could pick them off was by winning a couple of by by a couple,

I should say, in the turnover department. So for two of that high level processing, identifying where poor and hide are at all times and making sure the post snap picture jives with your pre snap read, because they're gonna bat you. They will turn you over and, like I talked about in the ravens preview tips and overthrows, they tend to have a way of finding those free footballs.

Some data here. Micah Hide's replacement in the game on Monday night was Jakwon Johnson, a fourth year safety from the U. He has two eight career snaps in those four years. Twenty of his twenty two snaps this season came in that Monday night football game, replacing Micah hide. Just hasn't had to play a whole lot over his career because hide has been so reliable and with their base defense being their nickel package and one of the best slots in the game and two Ron Johnson. In fact,

they rarely come out of that package. He's played eight of the snaps this season. So you don't very often get three safety packages, big nickel, is what I'm saying. The other backup is Tamar Hamlin and he is in his second season where he's played a total of just seventy eight snaps. So again, hide employer, our mainstays. Beyond that, the depth is really untested. Just hasn't played that much. So Michael Hides a big name to look at this week on the injury report. But just how good are they?

I mean hide balls every year and ten year career pro football focus has him on the field for five thousand, one hundred and thirty one coverage snaps and just a smidge over three thousand yards allowed. We talked about one yard per coverage snap. Is a good place to be, not a math guy, but you get it. And then also consistently of force down around the line of scrimmage. Nineteen run stops a year ago, sixteen, fifteen, nineteen, seventeen.

It's consistent for him like that every year in that category, for a guy that largely plays in the post. But he also or this also speaks to his versatility, because he can come down there and stick his face in the fan against the running game. Jordan Poyer, it's more of the same. A career passer rating against of seventy five point nine. UH, he has one thousand. There's a space in my my notes here that I messed up on. One thousand five hundred eighty four yards against and three

thousand eight hundred and sixty five coverage snaps. So again, not a lot happening there for the opposing receivers that go up against him. His run stop numbers are crazy. Those are tackles within two yards of the line. Nineteen last year, thirty, thirty, one, three thirty the years prior and no. Yeah, they've combined for thirty five picks since their seventeen arrival. Before we get to our next matchup, let's go ahead and hear from coach again about Qb

one and the support of his teammates. Coming off of an a F C player of the week award for to a Tunga Byloa, he's done a great job, Um, handling all the stuff that he can control and not worrying about the stuffy can't and Um, I think all our entire team felt a little ownership too, because they all have they all have his back and if um as an organization, we'd allow it, you'd hear a ton more rants from players because they see him work each

and every day. Um. And like I said on Um whenever I talked to you guys last it was, I can't remember the day, Um that I don't think his teammates were totally surprised. They were just excited. Big Test, big matchup, big opportunity to keep it rolling for qb one. Moving on to the receivers and tight ends versus their cornerbacks, this is the matchup, I think that offense have to

get to. Ron Johnson is one of the five best nickels in the game, but trey whites on P U P and Dane Jackson, I don't think he'll play after that very scary hit on Sunday. We'll see. I just hope he's gonna be okay and I'm happy that it sounds like he is gonna be okay. But this means the bills if he were to miss the game. Top Two available perimeter cornerbacks in terms of snaps played this

season Arkayer Elam and Christian Benford, two rookies. When Dane Jackson exited the game on Monday, the bills went with the rookie duo on the perimeter of Elam and Benford. Those two battled all camp and the sixth rounder Benford actually starts the Games for this team, but first rounder ELAM comes in and out snaps him. So it's been

a bit of a platoon. But if Jackson can't go, they should both get the full game and I like to keep track of these every week because we know how shifty and quick and and dynamic tyreek and Jalen are. If you guys watched inside the NFL, there's a great clip of the Ravens Defenders talking about how hard it is to defend and guys that run the way they do. But I want to look at these numbers. Uh Kyer

Elam had a four, three ninety. so the straight line speeds fantastic, but a six, eight, three cones a notch above average in terms of the R A s scorecards. The shuttle and ten yards splits are a bit more average as well. So change a direction, explosion. Tyrek and Jalen really kind of shine in those areas. Christian Benford, his testing really showed his strength in terms of his imposing stature and physical play with seventeen bench reps at

six FT and a half with two eight pounds. But a seven, one, three cone, four, three, four shuttle are both significantly below average, and also that four or five, three forty for the long speed. Uh. And then Johnson, Tron Johnson inside had a six three R A S, and I love to use the numbers to support these ideas. Averages five, by the way, so just over average in

terms of the athletics scorecard. But I think this one doesn't really track because Johnson is incredibly instinctive and coverage and he plays way faster than he timed in every area. He did receive poor marks in terms of his grade on the three cone and shuttle time back at the combine. So the matchup in terms of matching the speed and quickness. It favors Miami, but we'll see how that plays out. The dolphins spacing and speed has really helped to US

excellent performance in that game go to another level. Some of those rips down the middle. Was a good job of pressing the safeties and coming off that stem, just as you flip your hips. But that can also generate a lack of patients where they begin to squat, and we saw what happens there. Just the way speed impacts defense and the way they have to prepare for it and the backs guys off. You've already seen it happen here. We've seen the problems that tyreek and Jayly can cause

for anybody. I have to imagine they'll have a good deal of help on those two. But then we also saw what the rest of this cast is capable with sensational touchdowns by Mike Gasicki and river cracraft, some clutch plays by Trent Surfield, Cedric Wilson before he got hurt, then obviously the backs in the passing game as well.

And not wait to see what mcdaniel comes up with, because this dolphin skill group is so deep but also obviously electrifying, with two guys leading the team and first and third in the NFL and receiving yards right now. to Ron Johnson is the straw that stirs that drink. He's good in both man and zone coverage and he can fit the run. Always keep your eye on seven and I would try to maybe facilitate matchups outside of

his area of coverage. Some numbers for them to Ron Johnson's seventy three coverage snaps this year, just fifty seven yards allowed, nine of twelve completions, no touchdowns, no picks and a pass breakup. Benford's played fifty eight coverage snaps and allowed seventy three yards. That's a little over one per coverage snap. The one guy on this team that has that stat five of eight, no touchdowns, no picks, one P bu. been really good for them. So is

ELAM forty one coverage snaps, forty yards allowed. Five of six, no touchdowns, no picks, one P bu. I mean again, across the board. This team has just been so tough through the first two games and coach talked about the performance of Jalen waddle and tyreek Hill and his desire for bald attribution. Let's go back to coach. I hadn't personally been around, UM, two players in the same position, group of that caliber. Um. I think you know, it's

the what, if you had to is exciting thought. Um. But then, more than anything, I tried not to get ahead of myself with any of it. You know, you're trying to acquire, Um, you're trying to get your hands on some talented players for Um, our quarterback to throw to, Um as well as to hand it to and Um, etcetera, etcetera. Um. But you Kinda I think it's important to put stuff in the player's hands and kind of see how they digest all the stuff and really how they Um, you know,

to kind of let your offensive scheme evolve. So, Um, I wouldn't say I would envision it. Um, and I probably didn't allow myself to hope that they they would be that productive on a given game. Um. But you know, the best thing about it is is, uh, I I don't think, if you ask them point blank if they're very happy with the game, I think they were happy with being able to make plays. Um, but you know, there's a lot of stuff for them to clean up,

especially in the first half. So while they were making plays, Um. You know, I that's not the final product of the vision. To me, I think. Um. I think the final product is uh is uh, you know, better execution with other things that where they're not at the point of attack, and then, Um, offensively, it would be everyone. Um. You know, I don't think you ever wanna uh go that extreme with targets. Um. I think the best Um your offense

can be is when you can distribute the ball. Um. Um. But shoot, I'M NOT gonna argue with hot, hot hands. So Um, I'm also not hardheaded that way. So I think we um there's a lot more to see from them for the for the rest of the course of the season. Um, but they also know that's on them to develop their game um within the offense, because I'm pretty sure every other defense um also took note and we'll have a plan um to to get in front of them as well. It's gonna be a long podcast today.

We have a very important game coming up and I'm excited for it. So we're gonna go ahead and take our first break and we'll come back and talk about the dolphins offensive line versus the bills defensive line and plenty more matchups to come. Here next on the drive time podcast, your host Travis Wingfield, brought to you by auto nation. Now where these dolphins and bills games went in the other direction the last couple of years and

they've added to that. Unit is on the offensive line versus the defensive line, to pass rush of the bills versus the pass pro for the Miami Dolphins. But the dolphins have also added to their pass pro and offensive lineabilities. Vaughan on Tehran is elite on elite, two of the best in the game going toe to toe in this matchup. Tehron has been everything you'd hoped he'd be through two games. Eighty eight pass blocking snaps, three pressures, not a single

qb hit. He's helping the inside post with enough athletic ability to get back to the edge and run guys around the ARC. Watch the job he does on the first tyreek touchdown. He squeezes inside then races back to get a shot on Justin Houston, to just keep him off of two in time for him to make that throw. Very,

very good. But Vaughan's also doing his thing too. Man Six pressures, two sacks, three qb hits and a variety of pass rush moves, that ghost move he pulled in the opener to dip under Joe, note, boom and then accelerate off that pivot foot. It's unreal. It's kind of equivalent to Jalen waddle and the way he generates space on that game winning touchdown with that pivot step and the reverse kind of spin out and the way he exploded out of that break. Vaughan is the pass rusher

version of that. That's the headliner. But wait, there's more. Vaughan has the six pressures. Boogie Basham who. If you guys listen to the draft episodes back in I was a huge fan of his game. He's got seven to lead the club at that position. Jordan Phillips has more inside. Greg Russeau has six of his own. They have waves, they've got scheme, they've got guys that can win head up. A J epiness as a pocket collapsing extraordinary in terms of his power and heavy hands with which he plays.

He's primarily been on the offense. Is Right, and Greg little is also powerful as hell with exceptional length. The matchups in this one are interesting, but I think little can go get that one if he plays like he did last Sunday. Rousseau and Basham are similar with their length and power. We talked about this last week. The styles that make fights types of matchups right with our offensive line and that Ravens big defensive line. It's not

far off here either. They're pretty big and and imposing. But you know, that stretch zone can possibly kind of have an impact that way too. The offense did do a really good job of mixing it up and using the run pass and play Platt, play blast, Pay Pat. I'm keeping it a play pass. We'll have to have that again this week. So Jordan Phillips, you guys know him. He's a menace in side man. He actually leads this

team with eight pressures. Like I mentioned, he loves to fire off the football in that one gap penetration style of defense up the field. He'll get in there quickly, but he also goes offsides a whole lot because of that style. It's a good matchup for Connor Williams, who's played really, really well so far this year. And then the guard play with Liam and rob kind of bleeds into our next position group here, since the bills linebackers just love to walk up in the a gaps and

they're so damn athletic and quick. So we move on to the running backs and linebackers, but with some variation here. Uh, that's true, very position in both these teams for the way they bleed into each other. But Buffalo will include Edmonds and Milano as rushers as much as any team. They are also a massive part of the run defense equation to come down there and run blitz. Lano did leave the game on Monday, but it looks like he

was a full participant in practice on Wednesday. But these two players are kind of like high employer and how

complimentary they are of each other. Mulano is an absolute technician with instincts that just kind of gives him a half step on most every person he goes up against, and then edmonds is just a better athlete than most of the guys he goes up against and akin to last week, I would think you need to try to do your best to give Edmunds a lot of eye candy to really work on manipulating his reads and getting

him out of position. If the dolphins can run the football effectively and in the way I think they're, we're destined to against the Ravens if not for the scoreboard kind of dictating they don't do that that, I think they might be able to provide the rest of the team with the opportunity to play a complimentary style of game that you need to be this buffalo bills team.

So I mentioned big rob and Liam and the offensive line portion, obviously, but they've pulled and let up into gaps as lead guys and it was really effective and they're hitting some nice second level blocks in that guard and that's why I wanted to discuss this matchup and here, because I think it's a big key here, not to mention the time that Edmunds and Milano spend down on the line, particularly as a gap rushers. It's why I

also believe having a center like Cornor Williams. A lot of you folks at their Oh apologies to this team for the way of moving car and center Connor Williams and center. He's been very dangn good and the football I q he possesses and the way he communicates things across that line. And as for running the Games, I've been so impressed with as for the running game, I should say I've been so impressed with chase and Raheem

in all phases, run game, pass pro pass game. PFF says one pressure allowed, combined a hurry with no Qb hits and just twelve pass pro reps. small sample but very good. Some numbers for Buffalo. EDMUNDS already has nine run stops. Milano has three. In coverage, Edmonds allowed seven of twelve completions, forty six yards, no touchdowns, no picks. Very good, and Milano four or six. Thirty nine yards, no touchdowns, one pick. They've allowed one passing touchdown this season.

That's why you keep seeing Zeros in those t he's allowed callumn and Milano last time around in the game in Miami, was so adept at buzzing too his hots and taking away that first read and, you know, really forcing the dolphins offensive line to protect longer and causing some of that pressure they got. The dolphins lead the League in priest NAP motion. That's one way to displace him, but it will also be on tour to do his

part with that. Let's go ahead and hear from two on the benefits of motion and how that can help us offense. Yeah, well, we get to see what kind of defensive what kind of defensive front. They run um

if they do adjust their fronts. With our motions, with our tight ends and then with our Um, you know, jet motions with Tyreek, Jalen and all our other guys in the back end, we get to see how they move within their coverages, Um, you know, and it's gonna be uh, it's gonna be a real good challenge for us this week because of how sound buffalo plays defensively. With those it's just such a fascinating matchup all the

way around. I can't wait for Sunday where, a few days out, I think we can score, but can we stop the bills from doing it? Let's find out. Dolphins defense are our safeties versus their quarterback. So no game, no team, no player is perfect, right, but the quarterback coming to town challenges you to be as close to perfect as you possibly can. Allow me to explain. The titans are a good defense. They're well coached, they have

talent at all three levels. Granted, they were down Landry Dupre and Fulton in that Monday night football game, but it's still a very good defense. Everything they threw at Josh Allen he had an answer for. It. was kind of mind numbing and I turned the chance. I went to the Eagles Vikings game. That one was boring too, and I think I wind up watching Rick and Morty or maybe the dolphins game again. But most teams began by playing too high against buffalo to prevent the deep stuff.

Opening drive, it's third nine. They go to man, which is a safety in each deep path of the field with man coverage underneath. And he goes and converts on the critical down with a scramble. Literally within that same series, same defense to man. All just splits the middle of the field between the two safeties with an absolute laser to Jamison crowder to move the sticks. I'm not gonna go through the whole thing, but the titans would pivot

to quarters. They assigned a mega call, which is man everywhere. He goes at one point on Stefon diggs. They eventually got to zero. It just didn't matter. They're a freight train on a mission right now after their quarterback nearly willed them to victory in that divisional round game last year and seemed to have picked up picked up right where they left off. You guys know the score. He's arguably the most physically gifted player the position has ever seen.

It's that crazy to say he can drill every throw and then some of the throws that maybe only Patrick Mahomes can make, like one of two. He'll scramble, he'll beat you with speed, he'll run you over and the most frustrating part of trying to defend him now is that he's really beginning to settle into just playing the position. And when I say that I mean he's willing to attack the vulnerabilities and just take what's there. We saw

it against the rams. Then they start to press and come up all of a sudden he exploits that soft but down the field. If there's one thing, one thing we've seen in the matchups down here against this quarterback, he has put the ball in harm's way a few times. That game could have been a different result if we just catch one or two balls off Kyle van noise hands are exhabing Howard's hands late in that game. If he does give you those chances, which seems to be

lessening with each week he plays. But if he does, you've got to make those plays. Last note here. Like most of the top quarterbacks, blitzing tends to invite better production and Allen's pretty much pretty much good in that department. Two versus the blitz. Fifty eight point five, six point two yards per tempt, twelve touchdowns, four picks. It's not terrible, but it's far off from his not blitz production of sixties. Seven percent seven point five yards per pass, thirty three

and eleven picks when not blitzed. But this year it really ramps up. Thirteen of nineteen for a buck, eighty and two touchdowns and note picks. His completion percentage is ten points lower, but he's averaging point eight more yards per pass and both of us interceptions are against non blitzes and also when he's not under pressure. So I'm not sure if there's much as to glean from that. If you blitz him, you just have to get home.

That's basically what it comes down to. As for our guys, it's not that far off from the Buffalo Pairing, although it's more of a trio here as we have eric row in the fold, the ability to disguise and flip and rotate and show blitzes and bluffs from every direction from any player anytime. Brandon, Javon and Eric have to be on their a game. They have to tackle well, they have to communicate well and the disguise needs to be good enough to fool him a couple of times

to get those potential turnover opportunities. It's a tall, tall order man. Last year in the game in Buffalo, where they had just ten points through three quarters, that's a game plan that was super effective. But the again, the margin for air is so razor thin, as we saw in that fourth quarter. Once he kind of got going, we went zero on thirteen snaps and it forced some in completions courtesy of some free runners and sped up operations. And you better get home because if you don't, they'll

be dancing in the end zone. Will come back on the other side here on the draft time podcast, brought to you by auto nation, and tell you about those guys that you're trying to keep from dancing in the end zones at hard rock stadium. Stay tuned. I hope I don't see a bunch of dances and blue jerseys

in the end zone. And one of the guys that it starts with, who's done at four times this year in two games, is Stefon Diggs, who's arguably the craftiest receiver in all of football, a premier route runner with exceptional change of direction, the mastery of footwork and landmarks and stemming and stacking and some of the most reliable hand you'll find in football. We talked in the quarterback portion about teams playing shells to keep things in front

of them. Diggs has only been targeted twice beyond twenty yards this year, and the results two catches, yards and two scores. This is why it's so critical to play smart, disciplined football for sixty minutes. They only need one shot to make you pay. He's been the most fit, shouldn't intermediate receiver through two weeks as well, catching five of

six targets for seventy yards and two touchdowns. The only place he hasn't caught a touchdowns underneath, where he's also caught thirteen of four teen balls for a Bucko one. So yeah, Alan two digs this season is two with to seventy and four TUDDIES. And we know what he's done in this building since becoming a Buffalo Bill. So how do you contain that guy? Well, I don't know what you do. I mean this year it just hasn't mattered that much. He caught two of three passes on

Ramsey for sixty three and a touchdown. No other Ram Force and completion in that game. He caught uh all three of his targets on Caleb Farley, all three on Roger McCreary last week and trade avery on both targets. His only forced in completion in that game was against safety and Monty Hooker. When was the last time Diggs didn't have a huge game? It's basically last like December, because it was January. He was balling too. We spent a lot of time on digs, but this group is

restocked and loaded again. Isaiah Mackenzie is a very nice feature. That opens up their horizontal stretch with some of the priests now motion stuff they do jet sweeps and drag routes and things of that nature. His speed can help create space and Ken Dorsey uses him so nicely in that role. He's a big part of the R P O zone read stuff they do where Josh has options. We'll see about Gabe Davis's availability. He was limited on Wednesday,

but he broke out in the playoffs last year. Then in week one was that dude again, despite missing week two. Last on Monday night he's a big target who can sink his hips and create separation, which is a nice combination to have for a big target like that. But he also makes tons of contested catches and he paces his routes really nicely. So patients and staying in that hip pocket and face where these DB IS gonna be a big deal. Dawson Knox is an effective inline blocker

and dynamic pass catcher. The potential matchup with he and Eric Rowe, I think, is a very good one. Then you still got Jake Cumro had a big game on Monday night as well. I think Kator Co, who's propensity to come up and make a tackle could really help ease some of the strain the bills put on you underneath,

and then whatever role that is with him. Also like his potential to match some of the jet sweep stuff and quick stuff to MC Kinsey, because he's shone well in that area and this is a good test for him. I think everyone's expectations of bounce back game for x, just because we know how good he is and how rare of a game like that was on Sunday for him. I'm curious to see the plan for how they want to cover these guys. You know, I wish I could

tell you what happens from a matchup perspective. Uh, we'll see. It's it's been not nick Needham's best games against the buffalo bills last year. Seven of eight for ninety four yards. Didn't play in the week two games, just two snaps. In the previous year. Eight of nine in those two games for a buck sixties, six and three touchdowns. I expect nick to bounce back and and kind of you know he's the kind of guy that bounces back from

that stuff. In it was a lot of man and digs just kept getting us all those crossing routes over and over again. The numbers say it was more mixed in terms of coverage last year and I think a lot of it depends on Davis's availability. Could be one of those situations where you go x on Gabe Davis and just try to get him out of the game and then bracket stefawn digs and see what happens from there with Knox and Kumero and Mackenzie and make the

backs beat you as well. It's IT'S A lot. It's a lot on their offensive line versus our defensive line. This is a key element too. Obviously the dolphins have done well to apply pressure on Alan the last few meetings, but he does tend to extend at some point and usually that's when teams pay the most. Buffalo has made some changes up front. We'll see about Roger Saffold and

Mitch Morrise's availability. The left guard and center were injured on Monday night and they were limited in practice on Wednesday. That replacements Greg Van Rotten and center at Center and Bobby Hart at left guard. He was suspended for throwing a punch in the game on Monday. But more saffold and Dawkins is arguably the best center, left guard, left

tackle Combo and football, particularly Dawkins. He's an all pro potential left tackle who can do some stuff we've talked about with Tehran in terms of ISO, slide protection, the ripple effect that he gives you. Morris is very interesting because, like we talked about with Connor Williams, we know Miami loves to blitz and run rush games up front. Getting that stuff communicated it's gonna be huge. So I'm really curious to see if Mitch Morris can play in this game.

Let's go ahead and see their numbers this season. Doc Gains, one pressure and no hits. I mentioned to Ron Armstead. It's basically the same production right now. SAFFOLD five pressures and one hit. The to filling options on their roster currently are two tackles, Tommy Doyle and David Kessenberry. Now kessonberry has played some guard, but they also have former dolphins center greg manse on their practice squad and Van Rotten played guard for the jets last year, so they

do have options. Morse one pressure and no hits. Of Van Rotten's nineteen snaps and one pressure, no hits. Ryan Bates, their right guard. Don't know much about his game. Five pressures, one sack and one hit allowed. And then Spencer Brown, the right tackle, was impressive as a rookie out of N I u last year. He's got that kind of road greater bully mentality, so I'd be curiously if you want to try to match that or go speed rush and get him with speed off the edge. He's allowed

two pressures of one sack and a hit. It's a good matchup there for Emmanuel Augubay. I think when he lines up in that primary left defensive end position. And then you have to mention Christian and Zach because they just continue to be so impressive. These guys do so well to control the point. I thought they did last week. Really it was just that one Lamar Jackson run in the ground game, but otherwise they were they were pretty much on it, especially in short yardage. Zack seeler's the

best shortyarage defensive Lineman in the NFL. I'll put my name on that. In a game like this and Buffalo, you know, they go forround fourth and short a lot, because why wouldn't they? They convert all the damn time. Getting more of that production could be a key from Miami fourth down stops or takeaway. So if they're gonna give you a chance, you gotta rise to the occasion.

Those guys, along with Ray Kwon Davis, against that interior and offensive line, could be a big deal for mine because if you can put pressure on Alan up the middle with some of the potential uncertainty about who's available inside for Buffalo, that could be a sneaky way to kind of disrupt their game plan. For this dolphins defense at running back in Linebacker, you know again there's so much carry over for all these positions. It's a big game.

From Miami's edge and outside linebackers. I think we have just having consistently one the one on one pass rush situations, and that's always the best way to topple a quarterback right. It's not blitz and when your pass rush with four man or three man rushes, hopefully we get some opportunities for Phillips, Melvin Ingram Van Ginkle Ogba and flowers as well. The bills are also deep at running back, man James Cook.

James Cook is explosive and an option in the passing game for then and then Devin singletary just keeps on producing and fending off additions who are coming in there for his job like a cook, like Zack Moss. He's shifty as hell. He's a smart, patient runner with a second gear. It's so crucial to get knocked back and

control the points of the land. And Roberts can do what he does best and go knock heads between the tackles and then freeing up Jerome Baker to use his speed to combat all the speed the bills have, as well as rush the quarterback, obviously against that interior mug up the a gaps, run games. Get quick pressure on Josh Allen. We saw in the first drive of that twenty season finale, the Byron Jones pick. That was good pressure on that drive. Get get that done a lot.

You could do a lot of that and we've also seen plenty of Duke Riley. Same idea here. I like Miami speed on defense and despite the Production Baltimore had last week, we did see that speed pop a few times. Just a big game for every position group. Man, we get two special teams here. UH, the bills don't punt. They put in three times this season and on one of them they recovered a muff. Thomas Moore stead has been exceptional, as you know, both with distance, hang time

and also a situational kicking. Sanders hasn't missed. Bass hasn't missed. Miami's D v O A and special teams in football outsiders thirty one sample sizes there. They went from ninth last week to thirty first this week after that kickoff return for a touchdown buffalo second. So they're good and special teams to what's at stake. You know I've been, I guess, Pooh pooing my own segment here through two

weeks and I'll still kind of do that. But Division Games, as coach told us, it's like the money ball at the end of the rack and three point contest at the NBA All star weekend. They do count for a little bit extra. Plus seven straight wins from Buffalo over Miami. It would be nice to exercise that demon here. We see them again in frigid buffalo in December in a game that I'm guessing we'll get flexed to Saturday night in the freezing cold and those in front of those

crazy fans. If you guys saw Monday night football, you know how hard is to play in that place, especially on primetime. But this is our home game. I wish it was hot. Our home field advantage with that raucous, loud dolphins crowd. A win gets you out of the gates at three Oh, with three wins over two one playoff teams. So what's at stake? A chance to get out of the gates atop the division, but nothing is going to be clenched or eliminated in week three. My

three keys of the game contain Josh Allen. If you can contain one element of his game, whether it's the arm or the legs. That goes a long way towards beating him, because they do get in trouble but he tends to rescue them because he's so Dang special. If you can consistently contain one area of his game, you have a chance also protect to a key number two

against this, this buffalo pass rush. Obviously you can't let what happened last year happened again, and if you can consistently get good pass pro I like our matchup on the perimeter. And then three, win the turnover battle. Man. You have to get, I think, plus two in this game because the bills don't punts. You have to turn them over. Try to get stops that way. Thursday night football. Tonight. I'm taking the steelers over the browns. Tomorrow is a

football Friday show. Joe Marino joins us to break down the buffalo bills further. Week three picks, College Foot Ball, week four games. I'm watching your mail, bad questions, audio from the assistant coaches. That's gonna be my time today, guys. Until next time, you all. Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcast. Leave us a rating, leave us a review. You can follow me on twitter

at Wingfield NFL. Follow the team at Miami Dolphins. Check out the fish tank podcast with seth and juice, as well as twitter spaces every Wednesday at eight o'clock on twitter DOT COM. Check out the Youtube Channel for media availabilities dolphins. Today there's some fish tank and drive time content up there as well. And, last but not least, MIAMI DOLPHINS DOT com. Until next time finds up caroline. Daddy's coming home.