Dolphins vs Rams
The Miami Dolphins are becoming a top unit in the NFL. Lets look at some of the things they did against the Rams in week 8
The Dolphins played the Rams and did some good things to beat the Rams.
Things to understand about the Rams offense:
1. Early downs they use a lot of jet motion and wide zone boot.
2. They run condensed sets the majority of the time.
3. They like to go empty and utilize the short passing game.
4. They don't have dynamic 1x1 wr. They excel more against zone coverages. Not the best route runners vs man.
The Dolphins basically did 4 things that stood out in my mind.
1. They played zone on early running downs against the Rams condensed look and played their bear look, some pro 6-1 stuff and a little 3-4 variation with 4i's and mostly cover 3. As the game went on they went more bear.
2. Also, on 1st down they bought some sam pressures because the Rams do like to run some wide zone boot on 1st down. They did this 4 times and on each time the Rams ran wide zone boot. Nice job scouting.
3. Vs. Empty they went to some double mug b looks and some 3 man mug looks and brought 6 and got home numerous occasions, They didn't think Kupp, Woods and Higbie could beat them in the passing game. They were right for the most part.
4. On passing downs they played a lot of snaps of man and brought pressure:
This forced the Rams to change their protection and get out of empty and go more 6 man and max protections
Empty Breakdown
rams vs mug cover 0 2/8. 11 yds , sack returned for td , interception, and a missed easy interception.
vs man free 2/3 for 31 yards
vs. cover 3. 2/4 for 23 yards with a hurry
vs 2 man (hole). 0/2 with 1 hurry
MAN TO MAN
Again the Rams went man on 15 snaps the whole game.
In addition to above the Rams got man on 7 snaps with single back.
The Dolphins went cover 0 - 7 times. The Rams were 4/7 for 42 yards 1 interception but were under duress quite often.
There were some other aspects but that's really the nuts and bolts of the situational football the Dolphins played
Lets look at the early downs.
So here is a first and 10.
Trips bunch right
Rams run boot off the wide zone
Dolphins bring the sam linebacker and play cover 3 on 1st down on 4 occasions
and each time the Rams ran wide zone naked boot.
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Sam comes unblocked
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Here's a 1st down in the 2nd quarter
In the 2nd half the Rams run wide zone boot to the 3x1 side but this time keep 2 guy in to block the
blitzing sam lb for the 4th time.
They run the dover route for 34 but its called back on a hold.
Next
Rams run a ton of jet motion and plays off it.
Dolphins stayed cover 3 vs it and played it straight.
Rams run wide zone and get 6 yards with a nice cut.
Back makes a good cut and gets 6 yards
Here are 3 clips of the Dolphins Bear front on early downs vs the Rams with cover 3
As you can see the Dolphins have a very solid run defense. They run three front with their bear, pro look and 4-2 defense and really shut the Rams down with a great game plan.
Dolphins vs Rams:
The Dolphins ran a 6 man pressure early in the game twice out of base personnel early in the game and the Rams checked to their quick passing game but get a pick later in the game by dropping the def lineman with the appearance of the same pressure.
6 man pressure- Man Coverage
The 1st example is man to man and bring 6. Teams will bring double mug looks and mug the a or b gap with the linebackers.
Here the Dolphins go double b gap look ? Why double B, you force a slide protection and the end comes free.
They ran this pressure the first 2 times in the Ram game. One incomplete, one interception.
After 2 times of running the double b mug look with 6 man pressure, still man but they drop 2 men into the passing lanes and get a pick. Lets explain
Here they run a slant and the Dolphins send 6 man pressure, straight man to man
The Rams try to hit the quick slant
So the next time, on 2nd and 2 they show the same look and drop 2 players underneath.
Its a Simulated 6 man pressure with 2 rat defenders
The Dolphins get smart and drop two players anticipating the short throw
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Rams Drop def lineman and LB as Rats
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Def Lineman gets the interception
Watch the 2 plays detailed above! |
Rams ball 3rd and 13
Dolphins go cover 3At half time the Rams make an adjustment in empty. they check release the tight end and rb. Here another double mug look but the Dolphins go cover 3
Rams are tentative, leads to a Dolphins sack as the mug look, sim pressure gives the Rams headaches
But the single high look should give away they are probably going to bail on 3rd and 13
Rams get the sack as the cover 3 bail technique gives the Rams problems
5 man pressure man free no rats underneath(rat is just someone playing underneath)
The last thing the Dolphins did was play single high man free vs Empty out of nickel.
They brought 5 man pressures and mixed it up with the pressure. Rams were 1/2 vs it in the first half for 17 yards.
Both situations were 3rd and long . 3rd and 9 and 3rd and 10
This was the coverage they ran on both empties. 2nd time they run a game out of 3-2 dime.
2nd quarter after a big turnover,, the Rams can possibly score but
Here is another big play,
Double Mug , send 6 straight cover 0
Dolphins get the sack, fumble and 78 yard td for touchdown(clip below)
CHANGED THE WHOLE COMPLEXION OF THE GAME.
14 POINT SWING. BECOMES 14-7 DOLPHINS
Below are 3 empty clips with cover 0
Its a 4 -2 double mug , blitz b, cover 0
In the 3rd quarter they run the same blitz and
easily could have had a pick 6. The cb drops the ball.
As discussed the Rams went man vs 1 back formations as well.
Here the Rams are in single back and the Dolphins bring 7. The rb should work lb to ss.
He blows it and gets Goff almost knocked out of the game and the Dolphins get an interception.
Rams cover 0 pressures
Here are some clips
In closing, The Dolphins had a great gameplan and really did a nice job defending the Rams and taking away what they do best.
