MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — There’s a long list of reasons why the Miami Dolphins are 2-6 and playing a must-win game Monday against the Los Angeles Rams.
But you need to get to the second or third page of that list before you get to the offensive line — which is ironic, because that was the No. 1 concern for most on the outside entering the season.
The Dolphins’ much-maligned line has been quite good the last four weeks — and certainly better than expected.
Miami Dolphins’ Improved Offensive Line
Since Week 5, the Dolphins have rushed for 680 yards and four touchdowns on 137 carries (5 yards per attempt). And while the pass protection hasn’t been perfect — they’ve allowed seven sacks on 123 pass attempts during that stretch — it hasn’t been terrible.
On the season, they rank 10th in pressure rate (18.8%), fourth in hurries allowed (13), 10th in quarterback hits (21), and are 11th in yards gained rushing before contact (2.5). They’re 12th in pass-block win rate (63%) and 18th in run-block win rate (72%).
The Dolphins offense — particularly the offensive line — has been terrific today
316 total yards. 6.6 yards per play.
It’s good football. And it looks like how it’s supposed to. #GoFins pic.twitter.com/ee1GDDSLMj
— Big Will (@BigWillLevenson) November 3, 2024
How have they done it?
“I think overall, you can see the continuity and the growth showing in areas of things that we want to improve,” Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith said Friday.
“So I think that the guys really understanding how to play together and how to work together, our communication has been outstanding, as far as them getting connected. So, yeah, the last couple of weeks, we’ve been very pleased with how you’ve been playing.”
Unlike a year ago, when the Dolphins used a dozen or so different offensive line combinations, the same offensive line has been in place in seven of eight games: Terron Armstead at left tackle, Robert Jones at left guard, Aaron Brewer at center, Lian Eichenberg at right guard, and Austin Jackson at right tackle.
Having Armstead available every week after he missed significant time in his first two years with Miami has been a boon.
He will be in the lineup Monday night against the Los Angeles Rams.
Will his fellow bookend Austin Jackson? TBD.
Jackson missed practice Thursday with a knee injury. If he cannot go, expect Kendall Lamm to start. Patrick Paul started in place of Armstead against the Titans, the last time Miami’s O-line struggled (3.5 yards per carry, seven tackles for loss surrendered).
“When you have a career kind of like him, you get used to playing both sides,” Smith said. “That’s a luxury, especially when you have a veteran with that kind of experience.
“But ultimately, you just never know the way a season’s gonna play out. So like you, when you ask a guy to do one side, one side only and then you switch, sometimes it gets a little harder. But that’s the way our guys train.”