The Pittsburgh Steelers take on the Miami Dolphins this week and that means it is once again time to go behind enemy lines with Dolphins Wire for the inside scoop on this week’s opponent.
1-Do you believe the Dolphins front office is tanking the season? Same for the players?
There has definitely been pushback from coaches and players in Miami this season to the assertion that the team is tanking. And while rookie head coach Brian Flores has made some questionable moves in the first month of the season, it would be impossible to look over the effort level of his team in recent weeks and confidently say the player and coaches are trying to lose. The front office bit is more complicated, as yes — the team traded away prized left tackle Laremy Tunsil days before the season and Minkah Fitzpatrick after Week 2. But the decision to trade either player wasn’t something general manager Chris Grier said was initially in the cards. Houston called Grier for weeks, eventually bending to his every demand and then some with their trade offers. And regardless of what Minkah Fitzpatrick may say in hindsight, he forced his way out of Miami. The Dolphins made significant efforts with management and ownership to smooth things over, but he decided he did not want to be a part of things here in Miami and the Dolphins were forced to cut their losses.
2-What is the one area where you feel like the Dolphins have an edge over the Steelers this week?
There aren’t many places you’ll find a physical mismatch in Miami’s favor in this game. One compelling storyline that could give the Dolphins a jolt of energy would be the stakes of the game. The Dolphins have nothing to lose, they’ve shown increasingly aggressive tendencies in play-calling over the last few weeks. The Dolphins have gone for several 4th downs, they’ve called fake punts and field goals, they’ve kicked surprise onside kicks — the team is coaching with no fear because they know this is an evaluation season all around and with the team losing all hope of competing for the postseason, they’re leaving it all out on the field.
3-With such a down season who is a Miami player who deserves more credit this year?
Linebacker Raekwon McMillan has been a standout for the Dolphins. McMillan missed his rookie season with a knee injury suffered in the preseason and least year came alive in the second half of the season. Miami’s new coaching staff had to feel out how and where to use him over the first few games, but he’s been a stout presence in the box and is among the NFL’s best linebackers playing the run this season. He’s stout, tackles well and should be a good test for Steelers RB James Conner as the Steelers look to find continued life in the run game.
4-Fitzpatrick hasn’t fared well against the Steelers in the past. Do you think Miami will try to run the ball more this week?
The Dolphins had surprising success running the football against the Buffalo Bills last week — a match-up that on paper would have heavily favored the Bills. Miami’s offensive line is woefully thin and they continue to be forced into playing musical chairs with their starters due to injuries. RB Mark Walton has been a big catalyst for the Dolphins and Miami has found some creases for him via inside zone concepts, definitely expect that to be a staple of Miami’s offensive gameplan this week.
5-What is your prediction for the game?
I’d expect a more competitive game than the sportsbooks seem to anticipate. The Dolphins are a bunch that plays disciplined and hard — they just lack talent. There will be some opportunities for Miami to create some chunk plays with WRs DeVante Parker and Preston Williams coming alive on the outside, but with those shots, the Dolphins are likely to make a few mistakes. I don’t expect the Steelers to make mistakes in return — the Dolphins don’t have the pass rush firepower to stress QB Mason Rudolph and that will be the difference in the game. Dolphins – 13 Steelers – 24
