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Week 11: Team Loss As Bills Playoff Hopes Dashed
Defense struggles while offensive red zone woes continue.
by Steve Saslow
Here are our position by position grades:
Quarterback:
Kyle Orton struggled again as he failed to find the end zone. He finished 22 of 39 for just 193 yards and just wasn't on his game for a second straight week.
Grade D: The QB situation is the most depressing thing about this team.
Running Backs:
Boobie Dixon had 35 yards on 10 carries and two catches for 13 yards.
Bryce Brown struggled running the football with just 14 yards on six carries but made plays in the passing game with seven catches for 57 yards.
Grade C-: Couldn't overcome the loss of Jackson and Spiller.
Receivers:
Sammy Watkins seemed to be slowed by his groin injury as he caught only three passes in seven targets for 32 yards.
Robert Woods caught only two passes for 15 yards and continues to not be a big playmakers.
Chris Hogan had a career high 7 catches for 74 yards and seemed to be the best offensive weapon.
Mike Williams was active and was thrown to once in the end zone but it was knocked down at the line.
Scott Chandler was targeted three times and had one pass go through his hands and didn't catch a pass on the night.
Grade D: The unit struggled once again.
Offensive Line:
Eric Wood was called for a holding penalty.
Kraig Urbik continues to solidify the offensive line.
Grade B+: Played their best game of the year but still couldn't help the running game enough.
Defensive Line:
Mario Williams got a sack late in the first half to help thwart a Miami drive and another on the first Miami possession of the third quarter. He lost containment on a long run in the third quarter that led to a Miami touchdown. He finished with 3½ sacks in all and five tackles.
Jerry Hughes had tremendous pressure leading to a sack on Miami's first series. Forced a Tannehill fumble on their second series.
Marcell Dareus called for offsides on Miami's first series and finished with two tackles.
Kyle Williams had another quiet game but did have five tackles, one for loss.
Stefan Charles got the first sack of the game on the opening Miami series.
Manny Lawson got some extra playing time rotating in at both end spots. He missed a tackle in the backfield.
Corbin Bryant was in on a sack.
Grade A: The unit continues to shine with five sacks.
Linebackers:
Brandon Spikes hits Lamar Miller for two yard loss on 1st series carry.
Nigel Bradham forced a fumble on the free kick following the safety. He was quiet on defense with four tackles.
Preston Brown was in on five tackles.
Grade C: Quiet game from this unit.
Secondary:
Stephon Gilmore was called for a costly illegal contact penalty that gave Miami a first down late in the first half on a 3rd and 14 incompletion. He was then called for an atrocious pass interference call in the fourth quarter when he had perfect coverage.
Leodis McKelvin missed a tackle on a 32 yard run by Lamar Miller and then left the game with an ankle injury.
Corey Graham broke up a third quarter pass to Hartline that was almost an interception. He couldn't keep Chris Clay from getting a first down on a third down completion in the third quarter.
Nickell Robey made a great open field tackle on a swing pass on the first series and another on Clay in the third quarter. Recovered a fumble on the free kick.
Aaron Williams got over to have good coverage on a long incompletion to Mike Wallace.
Duke Williams recovered Tannehill's second quarter fumble.
Da'Norris Searcy was faked out on a scramble by Tannehill.
Grade C: Not a great game from this unit.
Special Teams:
Colton Schmidt had two punts for 74 yards in total.
Dan Carpenter hit three of four field goal attempts and was booed loudly by his fans of his former team.
Robert Woods had an 11 yard punt return.
Bryce Brown returned kicks and took the first one back to the 18 yard line. He also had a 32 yard return and a 25 yard return.
Coverage Units gave up just 47 yards on two kickoff returns and forced the fumble on the free kick after the safety.
Grade C: Carpenter is money but his miss was at a tough spot would have tied the game in the fourth quarter.
Coaching:
Doug Marrone his conservative play call hit an all-time low when he punted on 4th and 6 from the Miami 49 down by 10 in the fourth quarter. Pathetic.
Nathaniel Hackett continues to have no answers in the red zone. Curious call pitching the ball out to Brown on a 3rd and 1 play early in the 2nd half. They were running well up the middle on 3rd and 1 in the first half including three conversions on their second field goal drive.
Jim Schwartz saw his unit struggle most of the game.
Grade F: Another disappointing loss.
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NFL.com Gamebook
Dolphins Game Preview
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