5 Things I Think I Think About The Miami Dolphins After Week 5

Welp, another week, another loss. Sure, a seven-point loss to the Bengals wasn’t particularly encouraging (although let’s be honest, that score was closer than many of us predicted). But there are still some developments to discuss. Some are positive. Some are disappointing. Some are the same. Here are five things I find myself thinking about after Week 5.

The defense is better than people give it credit for.

When you’re 0-5 and coming off a four-touchdown torching by Joe Burrow, nobody wants to hear about defensive rankings. But hear me out: This unit is statistically better than people think.

The Dolphins enter Week 6 ranked 15th in passing defense, 16th in rush defense, and 17th in total defense. They are also tied for sixth in yards allowed per carry (3.7).

Now, before we start organizing a ticker tape parade down Flagler Street, this unit also has obvious problems. They are 24th in points allowed, 27th in takeaways, and near the bottom of the league in third-down defense. Also, amazingly, they only played one game in which they recorded at least one sack. The lack of defensive pressure is a serious problem. But considering how young this roster is, the defense has shown signs that it can be part of the foundation going forward.

Could Ollie Gordon be the answer at running back?

OK, pitchforks down, folks. I’m not saying Ollie Gordon is better than De’Von Achane. But: Is it possible that he is better suited for the offense now? Let’s go to the box score:

It’s obviously a small sample size, but Gordon Fisher has 236 yards rushing and 3 touchdowns on 47 attempts (5.0 yards per carry). Achane averaged 3.7 yards per carry on 34 carries, with 49 receiving yards, and no touchdowns.

One possibility: Achane is a lightning bolt that thrives on speed, angles and going laterally. That running style works best on the perimeter and second level blocking upfield. Gordon is a 225-pound bowling ball* who likes to lower his shoulder and get north-south. If you told me that Gordon’s physical style was easier and less complicated for this young offensive line to block, I would have believed you.

This is something to think about.

*I say “225-pound bowling ball” with affection. I’m a big fan of Ollie Gordon.

Lots of self-inflicted wounds.

The Dolphins don’t need an opponent to make life difficult. They do a good job themselves.

The special teams disaster continued with an 81-yard punt return against Cincinnati to start the game. Three plays later the Bengals are in the end zone. Next play, Jaylen Wright intercepts the kickoff (which he recovers and returns, but that’s not the point — It Takes No Talent to catch a kickoff!). Later, we get a 25-yard penalty for kicking the ball out of the landing zone. The landing zone is 20 yards long and 53 1/2 yards wide. That’s over 1,000 square yards! How big do we have to make the landing zone so Riley Patterson can kick it?! And this is only the first quarter — I don’t even get into strip sacks or missed extra points later in the game.

For every takeaway the Dolphins defense has gotten this season, the offense has given up two. Add in penalties (7 in the Bengals game!), missed assignments and blown coverages, and it’s hard for any rebuilding team to overcome that kind of weekly injury.

I know, it’s part of the growth process for a very young team. Suffice it to say, Miami makes things more difficult than they need to be.

OK, well, let’s talk about Malik Willis.

The numbers are not good. On the season, Willis is 24th in the league in completions, 32nd in completion percentage, 25th in passing yards, 29th in passing touchdowns, 33rd in yards per attempt (reminder, there are still 32 teams) and 31st in passer rating. Even if you factor in his good (but could be better) rushing performance, that’s still not great.

That said, I have no interest in benching him.

This season is all about analysis. Willis is a relatively inexperienced quarterback playing behind a young offensive line, which is without De’Von Achane and leading receiver Caleb Douglas. Obviously the offense isn’t clicking, some of that falls on Willis, but that includes rookie receivers who aren’t where they should be.

None of that accounted for what was easily Willis’ worst game of the season. Against the Bengals he missed open receivers, passed on check-down options, took (another) unnecessary sack by going out of bounds behind the line of scrimmage and turned the ball over three times. Perhaps most concerning, it was the third straight game in which he put the ball on the ground.

The part that worries me isn’t the bad game as much as the repeated mistakes. That’s why I play with him. The Dolphins need to know exactly what they have over the next 12 games, if Willis can be someone to build around. But if the same issues persist, the conversation won’t be if Miami drafts a quarterback in 2027. That would be too early.

The Dolphins may have a foundation to build on.

Quarterback position aside: Maybe it’s just me, but it seems like the identity of this team is starting to emerge:

Sure, it’s an 0-5 team. But they’re playing good teams close, they’re getting significant snaps for young players, and they’re finding more than a few pieces worth building around. That’s not a winning season, but maybe it’s the start of a foundation.