The Miami Dolphins’ best chance to solve one of their biggest defensive problems is currently off limits
The Miami Dolphins are currently facing a major defensive problem and their best hope to solve it is currently unavailable to play.
The Miami Dolphins‘ defense has made some notable strides over the course of the last two weeks. Miami’s defense ranks in the bottom half of the league in points and yards, but between their Week 3 & 4 games against the Kansas City Chiefs and Minnesota Vikings, they rank 13th in the NFL in defensive expected points added (EPA).
It’s a great start. And imagine how much better it can be if the Dolphins solve an all-too-familiar problem: trying to defend opposing tight ends. However bad you feel it may have been through the first four weeks of the season, it’s probably worse. And the Dolphins’ best hope to fix it is currently on the shelf.
Rookie safety Kyle Louis may be the Miami Dolphins’ best chance to solve their ongoing coverage issues against tight ends
Michael Mayer. George Kittle. Travis Kelce. TJ Hockenson. It’s a murderer’s row of good tight ends. And they’ve all got theirs against Miami. The Dolphins currently rank 30th in the NFL in yards allowed to tight ends per game this season (83.3). They’re dead last in yards per play (10.7). 93.5% of pass attempts targeting tight ends were completed over the team’s first four games and the 132.9 passer rating allowed when targeting tight ends measures 30th in the NFL.
I told you, it’s not good!
Here’s the good news: someone can help. And the bad news: he’s on injured reserve. Rookie defender Kyle Louis is tailor made for these opportunities. He’s a former college linebacker — so he brings a fair amount of physicality. But he runs like the wind and his best traits in college were all tied to coverage and playing in space. Would it be fair to expect Louis to lockdown the tight ends Miami’s played this month? No, of course not. But he’s got the skill set to grow into a meaningful coverage role in the middle of the field. If, of course, he can get back on it and fully healthy.
Louis suffered an MCL sprain against the San Francisco 49ers and went on injured reserve shortly after. That means he must at least two more weeks — this Sunday against the Bengals and the team’s Week 7 contest against the New York Jets. With a bye week sandwiched in between, perhaps that would give Louis a decent chance to start working his way back when his practice window opens.
Either way, Miami must find more answers to this problem. Especially on the heels of the showing Hockenson had against Miami on Sunday afternoon. Louis is probably their best chance — but let’s see what else they can cook up in the meantime.
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