Scooter & Hum: Day 628, Quasi-Quarantine: Dolphins-Panthers Game 12 Review

The Dolphins came up with an incredible defensive performance to secure its fourth straight win. Miami harassed Scam Newton, reminding people that he's no longer a viable NFL quarterback, and committed only five penalties on the game. The efficient performance and three-phase beating not only vaulted the 'Fins into fringe playoff contention, but served notice that some of its rookie are beginning to show out in a big way.

First-rounders Jaylen Waddle (137 yards and a touchdown, 87.5 Pro Football Focus grade) and Jaelan Phillips (three sacks, 90.0 PFF grade) were dominant, and second-rounders Jevon Holland (interception, 78.6 PFF grade) and Liam Eichenberg (one of the best games of his career) also made massive contributions. While the 'Fins are likely to run out of games on their playoff run, the development of some key youngsters is a strong sign for the future.

On to the authoritative recap ...

Offense

The Dolphins put up a modest 315 total yards and 22 first downs, but dominated time of possession (37:34 to 22:26), converted 6 of 14 third downs and both fourth-down attempts, and committed just a single turnover. Perhaps most importantly, Miami turned four red zone visits into three touchdowns.
Tua hit 27 of 31 passes for 230 yards, averaging 7.4 yards per toss and adding a touchdown. He took two sacks that cost the team field goals and ran four times for zero yards, but he was intensely accurate and his ball placement allowed Waddle and others to maximize yards after the catch.
Myles Gaskin (16) and Phillip Lindsay (12) combined for 28 carries, with Gaskin posting 49 yards and two touchdowns while adding three receiving yards on two catches. Lindsay was decisive, rushing for 42 yards and looking good in blitz pickups. Salvon Ahmed notched a nine-yard catch and five carries for 17 yards, with a long of 16, to help Miami eclipse 100 yards on the ground again. The Dolphins are doing just enough in the run game to keep defenses honest, and I expect Lindsay's snap count (15) to increase in coming weeks.
Waddle broke through in a big way in this one, reeling in nine of 10 targets for 137 yards and a score, with a long of 57 and a false start. He killed the Panthers on slants, giving the 'Fins a glimpse of the type of game-breaking speed they've been needing. Albert Wilson caught five of six targets, but for just 17 yards, and he also committed a false start and ran backwards to nullify a first down at one point. Isaiah Ford (one reception, 11 yards, in 12 snaps) and Preston Williams (one catch, four yards, in 23 snaps) rounded out the receiver production. The team is missing what DeVante Parker and Will Fuller potentially bring to the offense, but Miami continues to find a way to minimize reliance on the wide receivers.
That's because the Dolphins continue to feature tight ends. Durham Smythe got seven touches, reeling in five passes for 32 yards and adding two short-yardage runs that saw him take the snap from center. Mike Gesicki was quiet with three catches for 17 yards, and even rookie Hunter Long (24 snaps) made his first appearance in a while, though he wasn't targeted. Adam Shaheen did not make an appearance in this one due to injury.
It was another promising effort on the offensive line. While only averaging 2.8 yards per carry, Miami still managed some push in short-yardage situations, with the squad managing nine rushing first downs. The unit did allow 10 pressures, with Austin Jackson being overwhelmed a few times and getting whistled for two penalties (holding and false start), and Austin Reiter had an awful snap that led to a Carolina score. Jesse Davis recovered a Tua fumble on a sack that he allowed and Eichenberg was called for holding, but overall the unit seems to be finding some measure of consistency.

Defense

The stampeding Miami "D" held the Panthers under 200 yards and only 10 first downs, collecting three turnovers and five sacks. Frankly, it was one of the most thorough defensive performances I can remember seeing in recent history.
Off the edge, Phillips was a monster, notching three sacks among his four tackles and adding a pass breakup and four quarterback hits for good measure in just 28 snaps, though it 's fair to mention that at least two of his sacks were forced by teammates. Emmanuel Ogbah posted three tackles, a sack, a pass breakup, and a quarterback hit, and Andrew Van Ginkel was a menace, with two stops, a pass breakup that led to a pick, and four quarterback hits, having been robbed of at least half a sack along the way. The trio was borderline unblockable, harassing Carolina quarterbacks all game long.
On the interior, Christian Wilkins (31 snaps) led the way again with five tackles, a sack, and a quarterback hit, while Raekwon Davis added three tackles in 23 snaps. Zach Sieler (23 snaps) had two stops and a batted pass and Adam Butler (31 snaps) also contributed a batted pass and could have split Wilkins's sack. The snap allocation in this one felt more in line with the kind of balance Miami is hoping for in this rotation.
Jerome Baker and Elandon Roberts (21 snaps) each had three tackles and a stop for a loss from the linebacker position, with Duke Riley (30 snaps) recording three stops and the huge blocked punt. Sam Eguavoen (seven snaps) had a quarterback pressure in garbage time, while Vince Biegel was primarily used on special teams, seeing just a single snap from scrimmage.
At nickel, Eric Rowe led the defense in snaps (50) and had five tackles and a pass breakup; Nik Needham (38 snaps) had four stops, a pass breakup, and a late-game interception; and Justin Coleman (20 snaps) recorded a touchdown on Riley's blocked punt. All in all, a productive contest from this spot, which saw more action due to Brandon Jones's unavailability at safety.
On the boundaries, Xavien Howard had a solo tackle, a pass breakup, and a big interception, while Byron Jones had two stops and miscommunicated with "X" on the 64-yarder to D.J. Moore. Someone named Javaris Davis (10 snaps) had a pair of solo tackles and former first-rounder Noah Igbinoghene (10 snaps) also played in reserve duty with the game out of hand.
At safety, Holland had a relatively quiet day for the most part, with a solo stop and a pass breakup, but his early interception set the tone of the game. With Jones sidelined, the 'Fins relied on the nickel position much more, though Clayton Fejedelem (solo tackle in six snaps) and Sheldrick Redwine (solo stop in 10 snaps) got a few reps in the fourth quarter.

Special teams

Jason Sanders flubbed an extra point, though he did convert three other point-afters and hit both of his field goals, including a 46-yarder. His kickoffs also had great distance, though the miskick was further evidence that the operation is a bit off this season.
Michael Palardy had flat-out stellar game, putting all four of his punts -- all in the first half -- inside the 15-yard line. He averaged only 40.5 yards per kick, but his placements played a huge role in stymieing the Panthers offense.
There were no kickoff returns for either team, and Holland added two punt returns for 19 yards, including a long of 12. Waddle, however, took a big hit on his seven-yard punt return, lending further credence to the idea that he probably shouldn't be back there for those.

Momentum plays

A roughing-the-passer call on Carolina jumpstarted Miami's initial drive, and a 3rd & 11 dart from Tua to Waddle on a slant kept it rolling. However, a third-down sack and fumble lost 18 yards, pushing Miami out of field goal range.
A great Palardy punt pinned the Panthers at their own 5-yard line, and a big hit by Riley forced a third-down incompletion. On the next play, Riley blocked the punt, with Coleman grabbing it and being carried into the end zone for a 7-0 Dolphins lead.
On the ensuing possession, a third-down blitz didn't get home, allowing Newton to loft a deep one to D.J. Moore, aided by miscommunication between Jones and Howard. Three straight runs punched it in from there for Carolina to tie it at 7, with the third-down run seeing Newton being stopped before spinning out of it when Miami didn't wrap up.
Some nifty RPO work pushed the 'Fins into scoring territory, but once again, a third-down sack knocked them out of field goal range. Palardy came through again, however, with his punt being downed at the Panthers' 9-yard line.
Carolina managed a first down on the next drive, but Holland picked off Newton on a third-down throw, setting Miami up in enemy territory at the 47-yard line. However, Tua fumbled a third-down snap and had to fire incomplete forcing another Palardy punt.
Two plays later, Newton threw another horrible pass into impeccable coverage, with "X" intercepting and returning it all the way to the Panthers' 9-yard line.
After two plays gained nothing, Tua rifled a pass to Waddle between Carolina defenders on third down to stake Miami to the 14-7 advantage.
The 'Fins forced another three-and-out, with Waddle getting drilled on another indecisive punt return.
With Lindsay making a key block on a rusher, Tua found Waddle in stride on a slant, with the rookie wideout jetting 57 yards before being pushed out of bounds. On a 3rd & 1, Tua slid for the first down on a keeper, setting up Gaskin to punch it in on a Wildcat run, aided by a Williams block and despite being hit at the goal line. The extra point made it 21-7, giving Miami firm control of the contest.
After another Panthers three-and-out, back-to-back false starts on Wilson and Waddle turned a 3rd & 8 into a 3rd & 18, forcing another Palardy punt to be downed inside the 15-yard line.
Carolina managed a first down, but pressure from Phillips and Van Ginkel quickly led to another Panthers punt.
With little time left, Tua hit Gesicki twice for a first down, then found Waddle and Ford for another first. Another Waddle grab had Miami well-positioned at Carolina's 27-yard line, but a terrible shotgun snap was not recovered by Tua, which led to a Panthers recovery and stumble down the field before Ford finally made the tackle at the 'Fins' 24-yard line with no time left.
After intense lobbying by Panthers coach Matt Rhule, a second was added to the clock, allowing the visitors to hit a 41-yarder to make it 21-10 headed into halftime.
Roberts stuffed a third-down run on the Carolina drive to start the second half, but the Panthers successfully faked a punt to extend the possession. However, the Dolphins defense stiffened quickly, forcing a punt four plays later.
A 16-yard run by Ahmed off an option pitch by Tua on 3rd & 1 got the next drive rolling for the 'Fins. A Waddle third-down conversion kept things going, then a taunting penalty on the Panthers gave Miami a first down on what would have been a 3rd & 15 play. A couple of RPO hits to Smythe set up another Gaskin touchdown that saw him score untouched out of the Wildcat. Despite Sanders doinking the extra point off the left upright, the Dolphins surged ahead, 27-10.
A holding penalty nullified a long Carolina run on the following possession, and Wilkins pressure set up a Phillips sack. On the 3rd & 34 play, Butler batted a pass at the line, nearly leading to yet another pick. Holland muffed the ensuing punt, but recovered himself and put together a 12-yard return.
Taking over in Panthers territory, Miami turned to Lindsay for five straight runs. Ahmed converted a 4th & 1 play, but back-to-back penalties on Eichenberg (holding) and Jackson (false start) ruined a promising drive. Sanders redeemed himself with a 46-yard field goal, however, pushing the advantage to 30-10.
With Newton finally benched, Ogbah and Phillips sacks set up Van Ginkel to bat a pass while pressuring P.J. Walker, with Needham making a diving interception on the deflection.
On the next drive, Smythe went in motion, but stopped and took the snap from center, plunging ahead on second effort to convert a 4th & 1. He did it again two plays later to convert a 2nd & 1, but a Tua end zone throw to Ford fell incomplete when pass interference went uncalled. In conservative mode with less than 4 minutes remaining, the Dolphins ran it on 3rd & 9 to set up a Sanders 33-yarder for a 33-10 lead.
The 'Fins went with backups in the secondary to close out the game, and a 24-yard strike by Walker gave some life to Carolina on the next possession. The Panthers went on to convert a 4th & 2, but sacks by Phillips and Wilkins forced a throw out of the end zone on 4th & 22, allowing Tua to kneel on it twice to end the game.