Answering your questions on the Miami Dolphins' opening win over the Jaguars and their big Thursday night game vs. the Buffalo Bills:
What are the biggest and weakest part of our game in Week 1 (@TrulyEruption)?
Weakest part of the game was showing up at 2:30 p.m. for a 1 p.m. kickoff. Strongest part was what happened, especially defensively, once they did show up.
Are you more or less concerned by the O-line after this game? (Daniel Buchalter, @tankfortuaa):
About the same. There has been so much talk about Miami’s OL in recent years that it takes more than one game to move the needle much for me anymore, especially with the team not putting much draft capital into the three interior positions in recent years. Didn’t help that the Dolphins averaged just 3.2 yards per carry against the Jaguars and that Tua Tagovailoa, with 11 yards, was their leading rusher for a chunk of the game. He also was sacked three times. Kudos, though, for the line’s effectiveness later in the game, particularly when Jeff Wilson got the call.
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How is Anthony Weaver going to devise a scheme to contain Josh Allen Thursday night and what player(s) are key to such? (Stephen DeFilippis, @swdea7):
Allen is coming off an efficient but mild (for him) opener, throwing for 232 yards and two scores to beat Arizona 34-28. Allen spread the ball around, with five players having at least two catches. Interesting to note that like the Dolphins, the Bills had to overcome a 14-point hole at home. They did so by outscoring the Cardinals 31-11 down the stretch. More specifically, on the Weaver-Allen chess match: I’d pay attention to how the Dolphins rush Allen and discipline by the edge defenders (MLB David Long, too, if Allen decides to take one up the middle). Weaver was on the Ravens’ staff in 2022 when the Bills beat Baltimore 23-20. Allen threw for 213 yards and a score that day, but the thing that probably is stuck in Weaver’s mind is that Allen rushed for 70 yards and a TD. Anything close to that Thursday night and the Bills probably win.
We need another reliable receiver against Buffalo. Do you see them bringing up Erik Ezukanma from the PS given his size and versatility in the offense? (Bill, @TazD78):
Maybe not. Coaches favor Grant DuBose or he wouldn’t be on the active roster over Ezukanma. And at least last week, they opted to elevate Robbie Chosen and not Ezukanma. Neither DuBose nor Chosen played on special teams, either, so it can’t be a special teams issue. The one thing in Ezukanma’s favor, perhaps, is that neither receiver caught a pass vs. the Jaguars.
In your estimation, how does this year’s Dolphins team match up to Buffalo? (Ed Helinski, @MrEd315):
Better than last year. There are still some familiar names defensively (A.J. Epenesa, Ed Oliver, etc.) but Buffalo’s secondary took some hits. Damar Hamlin is a starting safety after some wondered if last season might be his last in a Bills uniform. The Cardinals put up 28 points on the Bills (although one TD was on a 96-yard kickoff return — who knew that was legal again?). Offensively, Allen doesn’t have the targets he used to.
Will we see rookie rb ? (Brad, @dolphinsgm2019):
Good one, Brad! Just when everybody was excited to see the NFL debut of fourth-round pick Jaylen Wright, it didn’t happen. Wright turned up not on the field, but the inactive list vs. the Jags. I’ll again point to special teams as a possible reason coaches went this way. Special teams coordinator Danny Crossman pointed out last week his units require 39 slots to be filled. Never thought of it that way, but it makes sense. But I’m just as eager to see what spark Wright can bring as everybody else. There are some parallels to last year when the Dolphins had De’Von Achane inactive in Week 1. He also had one carry in Week 2 before, well, you know the rest.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins mailbag: OL worries? Where's Erik Ezukanma? Jaylen Wright?
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