Tracking Tyreek: Patriots’ Plan For Defending Dolphins?
FOXBORO — After holding a versatile, and potentially-explosive Philadelphia Eagles offense to 251 total yards in their 25-20 season-opening loss last Sunday, the New England Patriots may face arguably their toughest offensive test in Week 2.
The Pats are set to welcome the Miami Dolphins and their high-octane offense to the friendly confines of Gillette Stadium for an 8:20 p.m. ET kickoff on Sunday night. The Fins enter this matchup feeling their scoring swagger. Quarterback Tua Tagovaiola threw for 466 yards and three touchdowns in a 36-34 come-from-behind win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Yet, the show plausibly belonged to Miami receiver Tyreek Hill who caught 11 passes for 215 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Fellow wideout Jaylen Waddle added four catches for 78 yards.
Needless to say, New Engand will have its proverbial hands full with attempting to contain Miami's offense – a point not lost on Patriots coach Bill Belichick.
"Offensively, obviously a very, very explosive group – The quarterback’s played very well, and he’s had tremendous production over the last couple of years, led the league in a lot of different categories passing the ball," Belichick told reporters on Wednesday. "So, they’ve got a really efficient guy running the offense. [Jaylen] Waddle, and then Tyreek [Hill] ... they’re a pretty well-balanced team."
Hill's blazing speed and field-savvy in Dolphins' coach Mike McDaniel's motion schemes make him particularly difficult to defend. However, Belichick and the Pats defensive brain trust have held him largely in check since he torched the Patriots for 142 yards and three touchdowns in October 2018 as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs. However, since joining the Dolphins in 2022, Hill has compiled only 149 yards on 12 catches in two games against the Patriots.
Despite finding some success (94 yards) against the Pats zone defense in Week 1 last season, New England held Hill to only 55 yards in Week 17. While Tagovailoa and Hill thrived in gaining yards against New England's single-high looks in last year's season-opener, the Pats adjusted to using split-safeties in their second meeting to much greater success.
The key element in marginally disrupting Hill's rhythm has been the presence of veteran cornerback Jonathan Jones, who is expected to draw primary duties again on Sunday night. Because McDaniel's scheme relies heavily on zone blocking, stretch runs, and play-action passes, Jones' speed and physicality will be crucial in any attempts to slow the veteran receiver. Though it may be a daunting task, Jones is prepared to put his best foot forward.
“You just try to be physical,” Jones said on Wednesday when asked about covering Hill. “Hit him when you can, slow him down and try to match speed with speed. That’s your best bet.”
Greg M. Cooper/Associated Press
Still, New England cannot afford to singularize its efforts on Hill. Waddle has been an even tougher match for the Pats, having logged 16 catches for 209 yards and three touchdowns in four career games against them. With Jones, and a split-safety rotation of Kyle Dugger, Jabrill Peppers and Adrian Phillips providing double-coverage on Hill, Waddle should see more speed slot alignments. As such, he may draw the attention of Myles Bryant, with an assist from fellow speedster Marcus Jones. Of course, rookie Christian Gonzalez may draw the unenviable task of covering Waddle, if the Patriots deploy some man coverage, as well.
In the final analysis, neither Hill, nor Waddle may provide as potent of an individual challenge as McDaniel's collective use of motion. Albeit at its best when Hill is the primary man in motion, Belichick is keenly aware of the numerous ways (and by extension, players) in which Miami is able to inflict damage to an opponent's defense.
"They use motion in a lot of different ways," Belichick said. "Yeah, of course, it changes the formations, makes defenses adjust, and then sometimes they use motion as an advantage to run certain plays, and sometimes they use it as a decoy to run the play that compliments the play that they use the motion for."
Accordingly, it will take a collective team effort to keep the Dolphins offensive attack manageable in Week 2 — from the front seven to the defensive backfield. Even with a multi-talented quarterback, and speedy run game, Belichick understands the importance of keeping Miami's primary weapons in front of his defense at all times.
"If you pressure, you better get there, because when those guys [Hill, Waddle] get the ball and there’s not many people around them, you’re looking at a lot of yardage," Belichick added. "So, when you start bringing a lot of people, you better get there, because there’s going to be a lot of space behind you if they get the ball, and they’re both very good with the ball in their hands."
