The Miami Dolphins are facing a road trip today to the unfriendly confines of Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, looking to notch their second win of the season after physically dominating the New York Jets in Week 9. And the Dolphins are suddenly facing an unknown task on defense this week, as Indianapolis’ third string quarterback at the beginning of the year, Brian Hoyer, will be the man to face the Dolphins in Week 10.
First, Andrew Luck retired. Now Jacoby Brissett has an MCL injury that will prevent him from playing in today’s game. And so the Dolphins have some uncertainty about what they’re going to see from the Colts offense — other than the sample size provided by last week’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Hoyer will probably result in a more conservative, tightly called plan on offense for Miami.
So who is the x-factor for the Miami Dolphins defense this week against the Colts offense?
Look for a big test from DL Christian Wilkins and Davon Godchaux. The Colts will most likely look to establish the line of scrimmage and lean on their run game with a back-up quarterback in the game — if the Colts are able to reset the line of scrimmage and create push up front against Miami’s interior, it will make for a long day for LBs Raekwon McMillan and Jerome Baker. Wilkins and Godchaux need big performances against the juggernaut that is Quenton Nelson, who the Colts drafted with a top-10 pick back in the 2018 NFL Draft.
He’s been one of the best two or three players from that draft class to this point, regardless of position. The trenches hold the keys to victory for the Dolphins’ defense this week — look for the young interior duo of Wilkins and Godchaux to be the x-factor defensively for the Dolphins.
