The Miami Dolphins open their 2024 campaign with a rare opportunity early against a playoff-contending team in the Jacksonville Jaguars at Hard Rock Stadium. Of course, the Jaguars were short of the postseason with a 9-8 record last year but made the playoffs the season prior. In reality, Duval County is trending toward a winning era in football.
Jacksonville could easily find themselves in the wildcard against the Dolphins by January of next year. This week one matchup will be a strong test for Miami and reveal the temperature of the Dolphins’ chances at Super Bowl contention. However, they’ll need to focus on some key factors from the Jaguars to make a strong argument to open the season.
Defending an Elite Pass Rush off the Edge Early
The Jacksonville pass rush is one — if not — the best in the AFC South. The defensive pressure that looms at the edge of the trenches includes defensive end Travon Walker and Pro-Bowler Josh Hines-Allen. Both players started in all 17 games and produced 10% of the Jaguars’ solo tackles in 2023.
To combat this All-NFL type of talent, Miami will need to stack up its offensive line with more blocking help. This can be done with the Dolphins depth at tight end with Durham Smythe, Julian Hill, and Jonnu Smith. All three tight ends have league experience and can be used as rotational pieces in run concepts to aid the offensive lineman.
Hill throughout training camp has been described as “the strongest tight end in the league,” by Smythe. If Miami head coach Mike McDaniel plans to use Smith and Smythe in the passing game, which he will, Hill would be the best option to be the second security blanket beside the o-line.
Miami Cornerbacks Will Be Tested Against Talented Wideout Room
The Jaguars wideout room is experienced with former Buffalo Bills wide receiver Gabe Davis and six-year veteran Christian Kirk headlining the group. Davis’ experience in particular against the Dolphins stretches over four seasons, playing twice a year against them as an AFC East opponent. The 6-foot-2-inch receiver has racked in 17 catches for 296 yards and four touchdowns all-time against Miami throughout his career.
Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey was ranked the sixth-best cornerback ahead of the 2024 season by Pro Football Focus. The Super Bowl LVI champion throughout his nine-year career has faced the best wideouts in the league, including Davis. Ramsey and Miami forced Davis to be ineffective with no receptions off of two targets in the Dolphins week 18 loss to the Bills last season.
On Miami’s team that season were cornerbacks Siran Neal and Kader Kohou. Both Dolphins veterans have the potential to switch between the nickel and cornerback positions under defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver. Weaver was known for creating a flexible defense with the Baltimore Ravens.
Miami’s personnel at cornerback this regular season were battle-tested throughout the preseason. One that broke out on the scene was cornerback Ethan Bonner, who etched himself onto the 53-man roster for his tight coverage against first-string receivers in camp. Besides one year of experience, Bonner doesn’t have a lot of in-game reps to boast.
The 24-year-old cornerback as a rotational piece will face his biggest in-game battle yet to open the season. Bonner, and other young cornerbacks like rookie Strom Duck, will most likely be placed as rotational second-string pieces on Sunday. Cornerbacks Kendall Fuller, Ramsey, Neal, and Kohou will be expected, however, to be assigned against Kirk and Davis.
Putting a Cap on Lawrence
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence can be a Swiss army knife type of player for the Jaguars offense. The franchise quarterback finished the 2023 season with an 88.5 passer rating, 4,016 passing yards, 21 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. On the ground, Lawrence ran for 339 yards — the second most on the team that year.
The 6-foot-6-inch quarterback versatility will be a factor for Jacksonville. The Dolphins in response will need to limit Lawrence’s opportunities in the passing game without blitzing the quarterback. A mobile quarterback could kill Miami’s defense in man-to-man coverage. Lawrence against this type of defense threw only one interception last season and had a league-high 66% completion rating.
The Dolphins best bet at defense will be to stick with a solid zone coverage plan against Lawrence. This potential plan would leave the man under center to read the field and allow Miami’s pass rush to break into the trenches in time. In order for the Dolphins to impact Lawrence, they’ll need to make it difficult in the secondary.
Attack the Secondary
The secondary is the weakest area on the Jaguars defense. Pro Football Focus ranked the group No. 29 across the NFL toward the regular season. Still, a lot is unknown about how this group will be impacted under new defensive coordinator Ryan Nielson. Nelson is joined as well by new additions from the offseason, such as former Green Bay Packer defensive back Darnell Savage.
Despite a shoulder injury from last season, Savage is poised to create an impact at nickel. Unfortunately for the five-year veteran, his production on the field hasn’t been the same since 2020, when he had a career-high 56 solo tackles and four interceptions. Frankly, it is too soon to tell if Savage’s impact will be immediate against Miami in week one. Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will need to be ready.
Miami’s first-string quarterback and its wide receiver room finished 2023 with over 4,000 yards through the air. This pattern may continue if Jacksonville’s secondary is off-put early on the road. Time will only tell as the Dolphins open the season against the Jaguars at 1 p.m. Sunday.
Main Photo: [Sam Navarro] – USA Today Sports
