New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins: Mike Onwenu, J.C. Jackson Among 3 to Watch
The New England Patriots will attempt to make their mark in the win column for the second straight week on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Hard Rock Stadium.
This Week 8 matchup will mark the second, and final meeting between the two AFC East rivals. The Patriots suffered a hard-luck 24-17 Week 2 loss at Gillette Stadium. As such, the team will attempt to avoid a series sweep for the third straight season.
Though many Patriots players are expected to garner some attention during Sunday’s matchup, here are three players that might raise an eyebrow when the Pats take the field against the Dolphins.
Michael Onwenu, with a Side of Sidy Sow
For perhaps the first time this season, the Patriots offensive line succeeded in keeping quarterback Mac Jones clean and comfortable for the majority of his pass attempts in their Week 7 victory over the Buffalo Bills. Much of the line's success has been credited to Michael Onwenu's reassignment to the right tackle position. The Michigan product is a massive lineman with excellent length, making him a smart fit for the outside. Against Buffalo, Onwenu demonstrated a consistent and impressive ability to overwhelm defenders when blocking for the run, while anchoring well to protecting the passer. As such, Jones was not subject to a sack from his right side. Should he once again get the start on the right side, Onwenu will likely draw the task of keeping edge rusher Bradley Chubb (who had one sack and six pressures in Week 2;) with the chance of seeing some time against linebackers Jaelen Phillips and Andrew Van Ginkel. as well.
While Onwenu's performance is deserved of its praise, Sidy Sow showed a prowess far more advanced than his rookie experience at right guard. At 6-5, 330-pounds, Sow used his size, strength and high football IQ to earn an 86.4 Pro Football Focus grade against the Bills, the second among all guards in Week 7. His ability to handle stunts and twists gives him the chance to be a significant factor in this game. With defensive end Christian Wilkins' preference to align over the right guard, Sow will be well-tested in Week 8.
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J.C. Jackson
While he may not have rejoined the Patriots until Week 5, Sunday will not be the first time Jackson faces Miami's offense. As a member of the Los Angeles Chargers, Jackson had a roller coaster of a game in the Dolphins' 36-34 victory. The 27-year-old struggled for much of the day. Jackson committed an egregious DPI at the end of the first half to give Miami a free three points, then all-but negated his pick in the end zone by being tackled at the 4-yard line while attempting to return it. Needless to say, he will be looking to write a different narrative against the Dolphins this week.
When playing at his best, Jackson is still one of the NFL's most talented ball-hawking perimeter cornerbacks. His size (6-1, 198 pounds) provides him the ability to attack the ball at its highest point and fight through contact — making him an ideal candidate to draw coverage against Dolphins' receiver Jaylen Waddle. However, his speed and short-area burst may help him limit the damage typically caused by Miami's top receiver Tyreek Hill. Still, he will have to limit contact with his targets down the field or run the risk of being flagged for penalties — an issue with which he has struggled throughout his career. Nevertheless, Jackson's presence on the field should provide a lockdown presence on ate least one of Miami's main targets.
Anfernee Jennings
With linebacker Josh Uche out with an ankle/toe injury — and perhaps being preserved for a potential trade — the Patriots are likely to turn to Anfernee Jennings to help anchor their corps of linebackers. During last week's matchup with Buffalo, the Pats won their battles up front and were surprisingly effective in keeping quarterback Josh Allen out of rhythm and off balance for much of the day. The Pats used big nickel packages featuring Jennings at outside linebacker. The Alabama product contributed six tackles, one of which went for a loss.
At his best, Jennings is a stout run-defender who adequately sets the edge and is an adept tackler. He has also developed into a stout pass-rusher, due to his underrated mix of quickness, change-of-direction ability, power and instincts. Jennings’ most prominent strengths are, perhaps, his toughness and tenacity. Ultimately, Jennings faces a tall task to be what the Patriots need most against a potentially explosive Miami offense — an impact player in the middle of their defense who can provide the type of sideline-to-sideline coverage needed to neutralize the high-speed receivers, running backs and quarterbacks. Still, his performance against the Bills should give New England some added confidence in him heading into this matchup against their AFC East rivals.
