After having Week 8 off, the Miami Dolphins returned to the practice field on Tuesday. After their last two games, some people might consider the team back in the playoff hunt at 3-4. But the players are just concerned with this week’s task, defeating the New York Jets.
“The most important thing is just focusing on the game at hand, which is the (New York) Jets,” said Ndamukong Suh. “I think to be … we would understand the implications and things of that nature, but the biggest thing we’ve got to do — which we’ve done the last two weeks before the bye week – was focus on the game that we had at hand, take care of business and everything will fall in place where we want it to be.”
If the Dolphins are going to make the playoffs, they must improve in a few key areas. Despite winning their last two games against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Buffalo Bills (held both teams to a combined 195 yards rushing), the Dolphins still rank 30th in rushing yards allowed per game as they are giving up an average of 135.6.
The positive stat for Miami is during their last two games, they held two of the best running backs in the NFL in Le’Veon Bell and LeSean McCoy to well under their season average. Bell rushed for 53 yards on 10 carries against the Dolphins in Week 6. While McCoy was dealing with a hamstring injury (rushed for 11 yards on eight carries), the Dolphins held the Bills to only 67 yards on the ground as a team.
With games against the Jets, San Diego Chargers and Los Angeles Rams, the Dolphins will need to continue to put an emphasis on stopping the running game, since all three teams like to run the ball to take pressure off their passing game.
Despite their roller coaster season, Suh said he isn’t worried about his or the Dolphins midseason grade at this point.
“It’s not important to make a grade midway through the year,” Suh said. “It’s about what you can do each and every week to be successful and find ways to help this team win.”
Another area that will likely need to improve is the Dolphins points per game. Miami has averaged 29 points per game in their last two games, but the team is still averaging 20.9 points per game and that ranks 21st in points per game.
Dolphins head coach Adam Gase said he thinks those numbers had a lot to do with team’s early season struggles.
We were so bad early,” Gase said. “The last two weeks have been different. You have 25-plus first downs the last two games, it makes a big difference. We went through some growing pains. We had some things happen that obviously, we wanted to be better at what we were doing (and) we weren’t. So, we made improvements, we’ve made changes.”
If Miami were to average 29 points per game, that would currently rank second in the NFL to the Atlanta Falcons, who average 32.8 points per game. That would certainly take a lot of pressure off of their defense.
Dion Sims still in the concussion protocol. Earl Mitchell practiced on Tuesday.
The good news for the Dolphins is tight end Dion Sims practice on Tuesday for the first time in weeks after suffering a concussion in the team’s 30-24 Week 3 victory against the Cleveland Browns. The bad news is Sims remains in the concussion protocol.
Sims must pass all five phases of the concussion protocol before he can play. Sims also suffered a concussion last season, which kept him out for a month. First-string tight end Jordan Cameron has also been out with a concussion, which he received during the Browns game as well. Playing in Sims and Cameron’s place have been MarQuis Gray and Dominique Jones.
Defensive tackle Earl Mitchell practice on Tuesday as he has been dealing with a calf injury that has been bothering him since the preseason. Mitchell was placed on injured reserve after he reaggravated the injury after the Dolphins 12-10 loss at Seattle in Week 1.
While Mitchell can practice, he cannot play for at least another two weeks.
“We just tried to get him going,” Gase said. “I don’t remember the last time he practiced. You don’t throw him out there and say, ‘Hey, take every rep at practice.’”
Miami will likely ease Mitchell back once he can return. Although the team has done a much better job stopping the run recently, Mitchell will give the Dolphins more depth at defensive tackle.
Twitter: @antwanstaley
More stories you might like
NFL Week 10: Miami Dolphins vs. Detroit Lions
The Fantasy Greek’s Fantasy Football Player of the Week: Peyton Manning
Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill won’t play against the Pittsburgh Steelers unless something ‘changes drastically’ 
Mike Pouncey: “This is the biggest game of the year.”
Miami Dolphins Twitter Mailbag for 8-19-2006
