Miami Dolphins Pass Rush Looking Like Bright Spot During Dark Stretch

Looking at the Miami Dolphins’ latest loss against the Green Bay Packers, it’s easy to focus on the Packers’ game-winning drive. Watching the drive was painful, as Miami couldn’t overcome baffling coaching decisions, and key players were confused in the waning moments of the game.

But hidden behind the disappointing final score were a lot of positive signs for the Miami Dolphins. Regardless of Miami's record and some of the discouraging outcomes this season, there has been one area of play that has been elite for the franchise.

The Dolphins’ defensive line has been tremendous in 2014, specifically the pass rush. As much as former general manager Jeff Ireland is maligned, he was able to accomplish one feat before he was replaced, and that was building a deep, vicious group of pass-rushers. With some additions by new general manager Dennis Hickey, the defensive line has improved even more.

By diving into the film and the advanced statistics that Pro Football Focus (subscription required) provides, we will get an accurate idea of just how good the Dolphins’ pass rush has been this season. With second-year edge-rusher Dion Jordan returning from his suspension after Miami’s Week 7 game against Chicago, we can expect the group to only improve, sans injuries.

Let’s start with Miami’s defensive ends and then jump into how well the defensive tackles have played this season.

Defensive Ends

Imagine knowing nothing about football, and then being told to watch the Miami Dolphins’ defense and look for the best player. Without question, the response will be defensive end Cameron Wake. Not only is Wake the Dolphins’ best player, but he could be the best 4-3 defensive end in the NFL.

Wake is the prototypical defensive end, using his blend of incredible flexibility, strength, awareness and quickness off the line of scrimmage. He is a natural left defensive end, which means that he is lined up against the right tackle. This fact doesn’t devalue Wake’s play; this position merely complements his game more than being on the opposite side.

A lot of offense run the football to their right, behind the right guard and tackle. That Wake must be able to anchor, to have the strength needed to set the edge against the run. Wake is solid in those areas, which makes him more than a one-trick player. His ability to play the run balances his otherworldly ability to create pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

NFL Game Rewind

As seen in the screenshot above, Wake gets to the corner of right tackle Bryan Bulaga’s kick slide before Bulaga can get back to guard Wake’s path, and Wake has too much leverage to be stopped. Wake’s ability to explode off the line is rare, and it’s a featured asset in many of his 55 career sacks. Few right tackles are able to compensate for the athletic mismatch Wake presents, let alone right tackles, who are often less agile and more powerful than their opponents.

On Wake’s sack on Aaron Rodgers, he shows his flexibility, as he wraps around the tackle. His natural ability to bend is the gold standard amongst all NFL defensive ends today. Being able to bend around the edge is critical because it’s nearly impossible to defense as an offensive lineman. As seen in the screenshot below, Bulaga tries to wrap his arm around Wake to slow him. He simply lacks the agility and burst needed to defend Wake.

NFL Game Rewind

With all respect to other 4-3 pass rushers, Wake is the crème de la crème of defensive ends in the league. He must be accounted for on every play, and is often double-teamed. Wake is PFF’s top 4-3 defensive end this season, grading at a positive 16.7 in pass-rushing situations. Wake only has 3.5 sacks on the season, but disruption is production, even if the statistics don’t reflect it.

PFF charts quarterback hits, pressures and hurries in addition to traditional stats, and this information is very valuable. Wake’s seven quarterback hits and 12 hurries equal 19 additional pressures on top of his sacks, which is third in the league, per PFF. His dominance as a pass-rusher is fueling a renaissance season for Wake, who struggled in 2013 due to multiple injuries.

On the other side of Wake is Olivier Vernon, who notched 11.5 sacks last season. Like Wake, Vernon is feeling the love from PFF, which ranks him seventh among NFL defensive ends (5.1). That grade would be higher if Vernon did not have a negative penalty grade of minus-2.0—in fact he would be fifth in the league if the penalty grade was removed from the equation.

What separates him from Wake, and what makes him a tremendous complementary player, is Vernon’s evolution into an above-average run defender. Wake is solid setting the edge, but Vernon has surpassed him in that area. We’re just focusing on his pass-rush abilities right now, but his development in defending the run is praiseworthy.

As a pass-rusher, Vernon uses a variety of moves to beat his blocker. He is a great athlete, but facing left tackles, he has had to add a swim move and a powerful rip move to get to the inside shoulder of the tackle. Of course, there are times where he's effective just by running around his blocker.

NFL Game Rewind

In the above video, Vernon’s speed rush is devastating, and it led to a sack on Rodgers. Like Wake, Vernon generates great speed quickly, and has the bend in his hips to turn the corner when the lineman overcommits and loses his balance. Vernon has 3.5 sacks, but has also recorded six hits and eight hurries on opposing quarterbacks this year, per PFF.

He has been a major emergence for the Dolphins, who drafted him as a raw prospect in 2012.

Defensive Tackles

A name that doesn’t get nearly enough attention nationally is the Dolphins’ best defensive tackle, Jared Odrick. The former defensive end and first-round pick plays a vast majority of his snaps inside, as a 3-technique tackle. Just judging off his tape and numbers, saying he’s a top-five 3-technique in the entire league isn’t a stretch.

Odrick has good speed but plays with tremendous leverage inside. His ability to put guards on skates right back into the face of the quarterback doesn’t show up in his raw stats but is incredibly valuable. Odrick often gets to exploit single blockers because of his teammates, and he’s been taking advantage of the opportunity this year and last.

NFL Game Rewind

According to PFF, Odrick is the eight-highest graded tackle this year, with three quarterback hits and another six hurries. But Odrick is also skilled at creating lanes for pass-rushing teammates such as Earl Mitchell and Randy Starks, as well. The quarterback reacting to Odricks’ penetration often leaves Mitchell and Starks in great position to get a cleanup sack. 

At the 1-technique is Mitchell, the former Houston Texan, whom GM Hickey wisely signed for an under-market deal. He’s primarily a run-stuffing tackle, but he is recognized for often occupying two blockers. As a two-gapping tackle, Mitchell makes everyone’s life easier by opening big lanes for Miami linebackers to crash. Mitchell does much of the dirty work, but his four quarterback hurries are also noteworthy for a player in his role.

Finally, the Dolphins have Randy Starks, who rotates in the game on passing downs. Starks had a great 2013 season, totaling 30 quarterback hurries, per PFF. In just 164 snaps this year, he’s already created pressure or a sack on 6.5 plays. For a part-time player, that’s impressive. Miami has the ability to count on Starks in crunch time with his experience and quickness inside.

Alan Diaz/Associated Press

At 30 years old, Starks is still an effective rotational player. His lofty 2013 finish as PFF’s seventh-best defensive tackle isn’t likely to be replicated, but Miami’s third defensive tackle is better than most other teams' second-best tackle.

The Rest

Derrick Shelby has been reinstated to play for the Dolphins, according to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk, and he’s another key rotational piece for Miami. Shelby can play defensive end and tackle, allowing Miami to rest their talented starters. His contributions on the field have been solid in just 127 snaps, producing three quarterback hurries and two sacks, according to PFF.

Miami is also getting Dion Jordan and Chris McCain back from suspension and injury, respectively. We’ll touch on Jordan’s impact on the defense as his return nears, but we know McCain has the potential to be an impact player when he’s given the chance. Being young players, they’ll be given only limited opportunities to log snaps, but both are uber-talented and should be in the long-term plans of the organization.

Outside of knocking off New England in the season opener, Miami hasn’t had a 2014 filled with much triumph. But they still might be able to rally from their 2-3 start and challenge for a playoff bid. Their elite pass rush is going to keep them in nearly all football games this season and should be enjoyed on a weekly basis.

It’s not often we see such a collection of talent at one time at a position. Miami has three or more backups that could easily start for other teams across the league. If nothing else, sit back and watch this Sunday as the defensive line feasts once again on an offensive line that cannot wait until the game is over.

All stats used are from Pro Football Focus' Premium Stats (subscription required) or sports-reference.com. All contract information is courtesy of Spotrac.com.

Ian Wharton is a Miami Dolphins Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report, contributor for Optimum Scouting and analyst for FinDepth. 

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