Key stats that mark improvement for Dolphins’ OL through 3 games

Kyle Crabbs
·2 min read

The Miami Dolphins’ offensive outlook for 2020 is looking up. The Dolphins, who are averaging 23.3 points per game through three games this season, are riding some sturdy play from Ryan Fitzpatrick, success from Miami’s top offensive weapons and some improved offensive line play thanks to four new starters on their offensive line. Sure, playing the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 3 helps — but the team’s big “stat padding” performance this season actually came last week in Week 2 against the Buffalo Bills.

The Dolphins’ rebuilt line is still a work in progress, let’s not get it twisted. There are some silly mistakes, some missed assignments and there are some unsustained blocks that loom as the difference between Miami converting their solid runs into explosive gains. But regardless, two key stats indicate that the Dolphins’ offensive line is indeed on the up.

Which statistics show the biggest jump? Yards per carry and sack percentage.

2019 yards per carry: 3.3 (31st in NFL)
2020 yards per carry: 3.8 (24th in NFL)

2019 sack percentage: 8.6%
2020 sack percentage: 4.9%

3.8 yards per carry isn’t exactly setting the world on fire, but the Dolphins’ production on the ground game is drastically skewed by some struggles in the short-yardage situations. RB Jordan Howard has logged 16 carries for 12 yards (and three scores this season), but Myles Gaskin and Matt Breida both average 4.0 yards per carry or higher.

The Dolphins’ passing game is helped by Chan Gailey’s new offense, but never the less Ryan Fitzpatrick is definitely under less duress this season and spending less time running for his life in the Dolphins’ pocket. As a matter of fact, Miami is actually doing well to provide a pocket as needed, even as Miami has been forced in the first two games to play from behind and chase the game.

More good news for Miami comes next week — Miami’s Week 4 opponent is the Seattle Seahawks. Defending Russell Wilson will be a headache, but the Seattle pass rush isn’t one of the most feared ones you’ll find across the league. Seattle has three sacks in their first two games and two of the three have come from safety Jamal Adams.