WEBVTT - Potential for Offensive Breakthrough and Unrivaled Effort 0:00:01.600 --> 0:00:05.160 You were listening to the Miami Dolphins podcast Network. This 0:00:05.360 --> 0:00:08.399 is Drive Time with Travis Wheatfield. Back to throw to 0:00:08.520 --> 0:00:15.840 a looking gipsla wade open touchdop cleric call. Un believable. 0:00:16.200 --> 0:00:19.120 Just flew by for a second time. Don't know where 0:00:19.160 --> 0:00:22.599 he was going right away? Hit that man. I want 0:00:22.640 --> 0:00:25.880 to help you soon up on his way. Wattle waddle 0:00:26.160 --> 0:00:29.960 to a shotgut back to throw looking SUPs up fires too. 0:00:30.960 --> 0:00:36.800 It's waddle, It's six touchdown pass to Drive Time with 0:00:36.960 --> 0:00:41.080 Travis Winfield begins. Now let me check your pulse if 0:00:44.680 --> 0:00:49.040 what is up? Dolph fans and welcome to the Drivetime podcast, 0:00:49.440 --> 0:00:53.080 part of the Miami Dolphins podcast Network, covering your team, 0:00:53.200 --> 0:00:57.480 your Miami Dolphins. How's it going everybody? I am your host, 0:00:57.600 --> 0:01:00.800 Travis Wingfield. And on today's show, it is midweek and 0:01:00.880 --> 0:01:03.880 that means we turn the page to the Detroit Lions. 0:01:03.920 --> 0:01:06.880 Will do that with head coach Mike McDaniel and quarterback 0:01:06.920 --> 0:01:09.120 to a Tongue of Valoa at the podium at their 0:01:09.120 --> 0:01:13.280 Wednesday media availabilities. Plus five big picture things I think, 0:01:13.360 --> 0:01:17.560 including some sound from Hall of Famer Larry Sonka from 0:01:17.600 --> 0:01:20.720 the Baptist Health Studios inside the Baptist Health Training Complex. 0:01:20.800 --> 0:01:31.400 This is the drive. So these big picture Thoughts Takeaways 0:01:31.800 --> 0:01:34.880 podcast get a little bit easier the more the sample 0:01:34.959 --> 0:01:37.600 size builds for us here over the course of the season. 0:01:37.920 --> 0:01:40.800 And I'm really enjoying it as an ever so slight 0:01:40.959 --> 0:01:46.240 departure from your typical daily topical podcast because it gives 0:01:46.240 --> 0:01:49.160 me a chance to step back a little bit and 0:01:49.200 --> 0:01:52.360 think about just that the big picture. Let's go ahead 0:01:52.360 --> 0:01:55.640 and get first to the first part. I should say 0:01:55.680 --> 0:01:58.920 of the five things I think through seven weeks, and 0:01:59.000 --> 0:02:03.000 number one thing, I think that the offense is really 0:02:03.200 --> 0:02:06.000 really close. And I want to make this twofold one 0:02:06.120 --> 0:02:08.840 with the passing game and one with the run game. 0:02:09.200 --> 0:02:11.200 And I think the best way to mention the run 0:02:11.280 --> 0:02:13.720 game is to go to a Hall of Famer who 0:02:13.760 --> 0:02:17.680 just a few days after the fiftieth anniversary celebration of 0:02:17.720 --> 0:02:20.760 the undefeated season, and a few days before that, I 0:02:20.800 --> 0:02:24.160 should say, we had Larry Sonka on the Twitter space 0:02:24.240 --> 0:02:27.000 with me, Seth and o J from the fish Tank podcast, 0:02:27.000 --> 0:02:29.880 part of the Myvy Dolphins podcast network, on our weekly 0:02:29.960 --> 0:02:33.560 Wednesday Twitter spaces, and son had all kinds of knowledge 0:02:33.560 --> 0:02:35.560 for us. First of all, if you have not heard 0:02:35.560 --> 0:02:38.280 it It's recorded up on my Twitter timeline. You're gonna 0:02:38.280 --> 0:02:40.040 have to scroll through a bunch of tweets to find it, 0:02:40.040 --> 0:02:42.720 but it was last Wednesday. Go check that out and 0:02:42.760 --> 0:02:45.639 you'll hear some great stories from Song about the seventy 0:02:45.639 --> 0:02:49.000 two team, about modern football, about how they watch these 0:02:49.080 --> 0:02:52.600 undefeated teams make their runs late into the season together 0:02:52.639 --> 0:02:54.880 and have fun. Like there was so much cool stuff. 0:02:54.919 --> 0:02:57.640 The best part of the entire thing, to me was 0:02:57.680 --> 0:03:00.760 the fans. We had asked him questions and just hearing 0:03:00.760 --> 0:03:03.720 the excitement and their voices and the reaction on Twitter 0:03:03.800 --> 0:03:06.200 was freaking awesome. But you guys know that I had 0:03:06.200 --> 0:03:08.799 to ask Song, Hey, let's talk about the current team. Uh, 0:03:08.880 --> 0:03:11.960 tell me what you see in this running game. Here's 0:03:11.960 --> 0:03:17.760 a legend. It shows signs, not necessarily signs of brute 0:03:18.080 --> 0:03:20.720 style third and one smash you in the face cent 0:03:21.440 --> 0:03:25.720 not that, but it shows signs of communication between the 0:03:25.800 --> 0:03:30.680 lineman backfield. In other words, the guy that's carrying the 0:03:30.720 --> 0:03:34.880 ball understands what is offensive, blind how they're going to attack. 0:03:34.920 --> 0:03:37.720 He understands the calls that are paid in the middlesecond 0:03:37.800 --> 0:03:40.360 between the time the ball is about to be snapped 0:03:40.880 --> 0:03:44.280 and he erupts the theme. In other words, he understands 0:03:44.360 --> 0:03:46.160 what they're going to do and he isn't going to 0:03:46.200 --> 0:03:48.680 collide with his office the belidman. He's going to fit 0:03:48.760 --> 0:03:51.600 into the gap, however small it is, or or know 0:03:51.640 --> 0:03:53.520 where the hole is going to be if there is 0:03:53.560 --> 0:03:58.040 a hole. That kind of understanding and communication starts to 0:03:58.080 --> 0:03:59.960 show up when you see that in a game. Most 0:04:00.160 --> 0:04:02.800 fans don't see that from up on the fort yard line, 0:04:03.920 --> 0:04:05.680 don't have the angle and you have to look forward 0:04:05.720 --> 0:04:08.440 on the people a and they don't get that. But 0:04:08.560 --> 0:04:11.040 they do understand when a guy throws it, a guy catches, 0:04:11.240 --> 0:04:15.240 But the intricate parts of the running game that don't 0:04:15.240 --> 0:04:18.000 see unless you're a next player watching it. You know, 0:04:18.080 --> 0:04:20.960 I feel good about it because I'm starting to see 0:04:21.000 --> 0:04:24.040 some of that communication between the guy carrying the ball 0:04:24.080 --> 0:04:27.760 on a short yardage situation and his offensive blindman. He's 0:04:27.800 --> 0:04:30.840 not running into them, he's running into the gap in 0:04:30.880 --> 0:04:34.719 between them, and it starts to show that there's some communication, 0:04:34.839 --> 0:04:37.800 that there's been some discipline on that there's been talk 0:04:37.880 --> 0:04:40.680 about it, they've studied it, and they're starting to understand 0:04:40.720 --> 0:04:44.919 that offensive back has a responsibility to know how his 0:04:45.080 --> 0:04:47.039 men in front of him, is WindMan in front of 0:04:47.080 --> 0:04:49.720 him are going to block that play? And if he 0:04:49.760 --> 0:04:52.520 knows it as fast as they know it, or perhaps 0:04:52.560 --> 0:04:56.360 even faster, it makes a difference at the point of impact. 0:04:57.480 --> 0:05:00.479 I mean, didn't soun kind of call his shot out there? 0:05:00.480 --> 0:05:03.239 Our second best yardage output in the run game this season. 0:05:03.240 --> 0:05:06.000 We average four point one one yards a clip, whereheem 0:05:06.120 --> 0:05:08.520 was just under five yards of the clip, and according 0:05:08.520 --> 0:05:11.960 to Pro Football Focus, it was our most yards before contact, 0:05:12.080 --> 0:05:15.160 which again speaks to what Sonka said about guys hitting 0:05:15.200 --> 0:05:17.960 the holes with conviction. It was our second most ten 0:05:18.040 --> 0:05:20.240 plus yard runs in a game this season and the 0:05:20.279 --> 0:05:23.120 second most first downs we achieved via the ground game 0:05:23.600 --> 0:05:26.719 this season. Then there's the passing game, which we used 0:05:26.760 --> 0:05:31.080 Mike McDaniel's audio four on Tuesday as he kind of 0:05:31.200 --> 0:05:33.360 told us where he thinks some things can be tweaked 0:05:33.360 --> 0:05:36.400 and fine tune. But from my statistical standpoint, I think 0:05:36.400 --> 0:05:40.279 the proof comes from the offense in general, through the 0:05:40.360 --> 0:05:43.080 yards per play aspect, and watching the game back on Sunday. 0:05:43.360 --> 0:05:45.920 You know, it feels like every second or third play 0:05:46.000 --> 0:05:47.720 is like a fifteen plus yard game, doesn't it, Like, 0:05:47.720 --> 0:05:49.960 go watch the broadcast again. It felt like the Dolphins 0:05:50.000 --> 0:05:52.560 just went up and down the field. And you know, 0:05:52.600 --> 0:05:54.600 I watched the game live, I see the tape on 0:05:54.640 --> 0:05:56.560 the AL twenty two, then I watched the broadcast later 0:05:56.560 --> 0:05:58.400 in the week, and I think that if you remove 0:05:58.440 --> 0:06:01.599 the scoreboard from watching the game, you would have thought 0:06:01.600 --> 0:06:03.680 to yourself, Man, Miami is probably winning this game by 0:06:03.680 --> 0:06:07.080 a lot of points right now. And of course we 0:06:07.120 --> 0:06:09.120 know better than that, and we also know better than 0:06:09.200 --> 0:06:12.600 to say that anything besides the scoreboard matters. But for 0:06:12.640 --> 0:06:15.880 the sake of evaluation and trying to project future outcomes, 0:06:15.880 --> 0:06:18.120 which is what we like doing here, or what you know, 0:06:18.200 --> 0:06:20.920 all analysis is is trying to project what might happen 0:06:20.960 --> 0:06:22.919 in the future and also trying to see what you 0:06:22.960 --> 0:06:25.080 do well, what's working, what you can count on as 0:06:25.120 --> 0:06:28.320 team identities and strengths. To me, the ability to chew 0:06:28.400 --> 0:06:31.920 up yardage and chunk yardage at a high clip, it's there. 0:06:31.920 --> 0:06:34.000 That's why your quarterback is number one right now in 0:06:34.080 --> 0:06:36.120 yards per passed in the NFL. And then you see 0:06:36.160 --> 0:06:39.880 the outside zone run really really getting better each and 0:06:40.040 --> 0:06:43.120 every week, and off of that, man, things can become 0:06:43.160 --> 0:06:46.599 even more difficult to deal with for opposing defenses. You're 0:06:46.640 --> 0:06:50.520 already seeing defenses play this offense with the most respect 0:06:50.560 --> 0:06:53.039 in the league in terms of speed and the coverage 0:06:53.080 --> 0:06:55.760 to protect against that speed. Only the Buffalo Bills have 0:06:55.800 --> 0:06:58.680 faced a higher rate of two high pre snap looks. 0:06:58.880 --> 0:07:01.680 That's two safeties high in the structure. The league average 0:07:01.680 --> 0:07:03.800 of two high looks this year on first and second 0:07:03.839 --> 0:07:06.840 downs is thirty four point two percent. That's way up 0:07:06.839 --> 0:07:10.800 from previous years. From Miami, two hundred and thirty six 0:07:10.880 --> 0:07:12.920 of the four dred and twenty four plays on offense 0:07:12.920 --> 0:07:15.720 have come against two high looks. That is fifty six 0:07:16.160 --> 0:07:20.320 percent over the average. It's amazing what happens when you 0:07:20.360 --> 0:07:23.920 have two elite four three speed receivers. As a result, 0:07:24.000 --> 0:07:25.640 that opens up the middle of the field. It's a 0:07:25.680 --> 0:07:28.320 big reason why Miami right now has one hundred plays 0:07:28.320 --> 0:07:30.720 of ten plus yards. One fourth of our plays go 0:07:30.800 --> 0:07:33.320 for ten plus. Think about that, tied for third in 0:07:33.360 --> 0:07:37.320 the NFL. They've also got thirty plays of twenty plus 0:07:37.400 --> 0:07:39.880 yards that's tied for seventh most. And when you really 0:07:39.920 --> 0:07:43.000 pare it down, the twenty six completions of twenty plus 0:07:43.000 --> 0:07:45.560 our third most behind the Chiefs and Patriots. It's kind 0:07:45.560 --> 0:07:49.280 of interesting. Shoehorn there, and the Bills have one less 0:07:49.280 --> 0:07:52.080 at twenty six. So Miami has more twenty plus yard 0:07:52.080 --> 0:07:54.440 complations in the Buffalo Bills, but they've played one less game. 0:07:54.640 --> 0:07:57.720 I digress, and then the three pass plays of fifty 0:07:57.720 --> 0:08:00.440 plus yards for your Miami Dolphins is tied for third 0:08:00.480 --> 0:08:03.240 most in the NFL. Four is the league leads. You're 0:08:03.280 --> 0:08:06.520 one away from having a share of the league lead, 0:08:06.920 --> 0:08:09.160 and the vast majority of those are those intermediate too 0:08:09.160 --> 0:08:11.480 deep shots. Like you know, usually intermediate means ten to 0:08:11.560 --> 0:08:14.400 nineteen yards deepest twenty plus, but that fifteen to twenty 0:08:14.440 --> 0:08:17.480 five yard range the throat to surefield. A lot of 0:08:17.480 --> 0:08:20.680 those throws a tyrek and waddle. Their speed is helping 0:08:20.800 --> 0:08:23.840 create space in the middle of the football field, especially 0:08:23.840 --> 0:08:26.320 when you get your ground game cranking in the way 0:08:26.360 --> 0:08:28.640 that Miami had it working on Sunday night with those 0:08:28.720 --> 0:08:31.840 seven eight twelve yard chunks. I mean pretty much felt 0:08:31.880 --> 0:08:34.120 like the run game was either eight yards or like 0:08:34.160 --> 0:08:35.800 a loss in that game, which is why I thought 0:08:35.800 --> 0:08:37.600 the average kind of dipped down below what the actual 0:08:37.600 --> 0:08:41.520 production was, because not only do you remove the safeties 0:08:41.559 --> 0:08:44.199 from dropping down with that run game, but you then 0:08:44.240 --> 0:08:47.280 widen the backers and create more space and force the 0:08:47.320 --> 0:08:49.920 defense to defend more blades of grass. And we discussed 0:08:49.920 --> 0:08:53.040 that on Tuesday, right like how To's ability to look 0:08:53.080 --> 0:08:55.760 backers off and use his eyes and shoulders and hips 0:08:55.760 --> 0:08:58.440 and feet and body position to clear those windows and 0:08:58.440 --> 0:09:00.800 clear space for himself. And the run game does the 0:09:00.840 --> 0:09:03.679 exact same thing when you can successfully hit those runs 0:09:03.720 --> 0:09:07.560 off tackle, like we routinely did running behind Armstead and 0:09:07.559 --> 0:09:10.440 Shell in that game on Sunday. So I think the 0:09:10.520 --> 0:09:13.560 offense has shown it's pretty adept at creating those chunk 0:09:13.640 --> 0:09:16.080 games already. And then you look at red zone and 0:09:16.160 --> 0:09:19.240 goal to go efficiency, currently fifth in the NFL with 0:09:19.320 --> 0:09:22.520 a sixty five percent red zone efficiency and market scoring touchdowns, 0:09:22.720 --> 0:09:25.800 and currently third on goal to go efficiency at eight 0:09:25.920 --> 0:09:28.679 eight point nine percent. That's been a superpower of two 0:09:28.679 --> 0:09:31.199 a tongue of by Lows in his career, and man, 0:09:31.200 --> 0:09:32.720 when we get the ball into the ten year oldline, 0:09:32.760 --> 0:09:35.000 we pretty much knock it in for a touchdown. That's 0:09:35.000 --> 0:09:36.560 been the case for two of going back to his 0:09:36.640 --> 0:09:39.520 rookie season. So you ask, well, why the hell are 0:09:39.559 --> 0:09:42.080 we not scoring more points? Why are we nineteen in 0:09:42.080 --> 0:09:44.640 the NFL? And points? That's the part that is up 0:09:44.640 --> 0:09:46.280 to the coaching staff to figure out and for the 0:09:46.280 --> 0:09:48.959 players to get corrected on the field. My entire point is, 0:09:49.000 --> 0:09:50.880 I think we have the right people to make it happen. 0:09:51.240 --> 0:09:54.080 And if you want to look at historically, while the 0:09:54.120 --> 0:09:56.800 Dolphins ranked nineteenth and points per game, there's six point 0:09:56.840 --> 0:09:59.440 one yards per play is tied for fourth right now 0:09:59.440 --> 0:10:02.680 in the NFL, actually it's sixth because the fractions. But 0:10:02.960 --> 0:10:05.000 if you look at Pro Football Reference, six point one 0:10:05.120 --> 0:10:07.760 they round up around down is tied for fourth. So 0:10:07.760 --> 0:10:10.360 it's a top five yards per play offense. Of the 0:10:10.440 --> 0:10:13.920 other four teams rinding up the top five and offensive efficiency, 0:10:14.080 --> 0:10:16.720 Miami's points per game mark is the biggest outlier. Twenty 0:10:16.720 --> 0:10:20.040 one points per game is four points per contest, shy 0:10:20.160 --> 0:10:22.800 of the Saints, who also average six point one points 0:10:22.800 --> 0:10:25.600 per game. Think about that over seven games, four points 0:10:25.600 --> 0:10:28.960 per game, that's twenty eight points. That's four touchdowns. Seattle 0:10:29.080 --> 0:10:31.480 is third with six point three yards per play and 0:10:31.520 --> 0:10:34.000 they average twenty six point one per game. And then 0:10:34.000 --> 0:10:37.080 the top two offenses, Kansas City and Buffalo both average 0:10:37.120 --> 0:10:39.760 thirty points per game. Between those two sides, or give 0:10:39.800 --> 0:10:42.960 or take Buffalo's I think at twenty nine point eight 0:10:42.960 --> 0:10:45.959 and Casey is like thirty point four. So yeah, I 0:10:46.200 --> 0:10:49.439 took some liberties there in uh in assuming and rounding. 0:10:49.800 --> 0:10:51.880 All of this is to say the historically the points 0:10:51.920 --> 0:10:54.520 typically catch up to the yards per play metric. The 0:10:54.640 --> 0:10:57.120 last team to finish in the top five and yards 0:10:57.120 --> 0:10:59.760 per play and average fewer than twenty five points per 0:10:59.800 --> 0:11:02.680 game game you have to go back to team and 0:11:02.720 --> 0:11:05.240 the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and they were only at twenty 0:11:05.240 --> 0:11:07.600 four points per game. So Miami still a ways off 0:11:07.640 --> 0:11:10.040 from that. It's up to the Dolphins to clean up 0:11:10.040 --> 0:11:13.320 the misques and execute in those critical situations. But the 0:11:13.360 --> 0:11:16.160 ability to move the ball is clearly present and something 0:11:16.200 --> 0:11:18.439 has to give on this stat I think it'll be 0:11:18.640 --> 0:11:21.000 the points catching up to the yards per play and 0:11:21.040 --> 0:11:24.520 not vice versa. That's a long thing. I think to 0:11:24.600 --> 0:11:26.200 kick it off here, let's go ahead and do number 0:11:26.200 --> 0:11:28.760 two before the first break. Number two is a pair 0:11:28.800 --> 0:11:31.720 of in season additions have been two of the most valuable. 0:11:32.400 --> 0:11:34.720 I think this offseason was an absolute feather in the 0:11:34.760 --> 0:11:37.520 cap of Chris Career and the Dolphins front office. I mean, 0:11:37.640 --> 0:11:40.280 Armstead has been tremendous. Tyreek leads the league in catches 0:11:40.320 --> 0:11:43.120 and receiving yards. Connor Williams has been, for my money, 0:11:43.200 --> 0:11:45.319 if not the very best center, one of the top 0:11:45.440 --> 0:11:48.120 three centers in the NFL. Where he most is really 0:11:48.120 --> 0:11:50.360 getting rolling right now at four point five yards of rush. 0:11:50.400 --> 0:11:54.080 Melvin Ingram one defensive player of September. What else? Keion 0:11:54.200 --> 0:11:55.520 Cross and stepped in and gave you a lot of 0:11:55.520 --> 0:11:57.480 good reps at corner when he was healthy. Not to 0:11:57.520 --> 0:11:59.160 mention the impact of a U d F A like 0:11:59.240 --> 0:12:02.800 kater cohu alec Ingold is a key cog on offense. 0:12:02.800 --> 0:12:05.040 Trent Sherfield makes a big play every week, a great 0:12:05.080 --> 0:12:08.480 blocker outside. Thomas Morestead has been great at flipping the field. 0:12:08.600 --> 0:12:11.000 Am I forgetting any like it's been a guy after 0:12:11.000 --> 0:12:12.760 a guy that we've brought in here and he's had 0:12:12.800 --> 0:12:16.720 a big impact. But how about Brandon Shell and Justin Bethel. 0:12:16.840 --> 0:12:19.960 First with Bethel, his value was already incredibly apparent on 0:12:20.000 --> 0:12:23.600 special teams, beating the jammers, getting downfield to down those 0:12:23.640 --> 0:12:26.200 ponds or wrap up returnment before they can even get going. 0:12:26.679 --> 0:12:28.680 But then for him to step in on defense and 0:12:28.720 --> 0:12:31.360 play such a damn good game last week after a 0:12:31.480 --> 0:12:33.959 really good showing and a smaller sample size against the 0:12:34.080 --> 0:12:37.080 Vikings the Sunday prior. I mean this guy is handling 0:12:37.400 --> 0:12:40.000 three way goes from the slot all alone and picking 0:12:40.000 --> 0:12:41.839 off the pass on a slot fade, one of the 0:12:41.880 --> 0:12:44.280 toughest routes to defending football to the boundary short side 0:12:44.280 --> 0:12:46.520 of the field. A guy who's fitting the run fearlessly 0:12:46.840 --> 0:12:50.000 by sticking his face right in the fan, taking on blockers, 0:12:50.160 --> 0:12:52.440 stringing out the run game, getting off blocks in the 0:12:52.440 --> 0:12:54.760 screen game, and thought in the quick passing game. He's 0:12:54.760 --> 0:12:58.760 been an absolute ace and a big time addition on 0:12:58.840 --> 0:13:01.640 both defense and special teams. And he got here September 0:13:01.720 --> 0:13:04.560 one big time. Then how about Brandon Shell brought in 0:13:04.559 --> 0:13:07.120 on the practice squad, gets his feet underneath him in 0:13:07.120 --> 0:13:09.960 the program and the building gets a call up and 0:13:10.080 --> 0:13:12.199 shows out left tackle didn't really work out, but the 0:13:12.280 --> 0:13:15.040 right tackle position he gives you the versatility. He's been 0:13:15.080 --> 0:13:17.760 fantastic the last two weeks at right tackle against Pittsburgh 0:13:17.760 --> 0:13:21.319 in Minnesota with just four pressures on pass blocking snaps. 0:13:21.520 --> 0:13:24.880 That's just a hair under ninety six for pass blocking efficiency. 0:13:25.120 --> 0:13:27.280 It's a great number for your tackle. Just one of 0:13:27.320 --> 0:13:29.840 those pressures is a QB hit two. So keeping his 0:13:29.920 --> 0:13:34.800 quarterback clean on of his past blocking snaps. Every year 0:13:34.840 --> 0:13:36.880 around the league, you'll see a couple of these. Last year, 0:13:37.640 --> 0:13:40.320 Russeul Douglas made the Pro Bowl after getting cut from 0:13:40.320 --> 0:13:43.240 the Eagles going over to the Packers. It's early, but 0:13:43.320 --> 0:13:46.400 the returns on Shell and Bethel have already been fantastic. 0:13:46.600 --> 0:13:48.640 And when you consider that they were street free agents 0:13:48.679 --> 0:13:50.840 and brought in here mid season, the fact that they 0:13:50.880 --> 0:13:53.800 impacted one game is enough that that is that is 0:13:53.840 --> 0:13:56.640 proof in the pudding that those were valuable additions. There 0:13:56.640 --> 0:13:59.240 are already two games into this two good games from 0:13:59.240 --> 0:14:01.240 both these guys, and they're giving you a big boost 0:14:01.280 --> 0:14:03.079 at two spots where you need it because you've had 0:14:03.080 --> 0:14:06.200 some injury issues on the offensive line and at the 0:14:06.240 --> 0:14:08.600 cornerback position. Let's go ahead and take our first break 0:14:08.640 --> 0:14:10.679 and come back and finish up with the three things 0:14:10.760 --> 0:14:12.840 I think heading into week eight, one and two in 0:14:12.840 --> 0:14:14.880 the books, three through five coming your way next on 0:14:14.920 --> 0:14:17.840 the Draft Time Podcast, your host Travis Wingfield, brought to 0:14:17.840 --> 0:14:29.880 you by Auto Nation. Back here on the Drive Time Podcast, 0:14:30.000 --> 0:14:34.560 Wednesday edition, October the Oh Ship. My birthday is coming 0:14:34.640 --> 0:14:37.000 up on Friday. I forget it every year, and this 0:14:37.080 --> 0:14:38.480 year it's even more so because I don't want to 0:14:38.480 --> 0:14:41.440 turn thirty five. But I digress number three. The third 0:14:41.480 --> 0:14:44.000 thing I think, big picture wise, in the middle of 0:14:44.080 --> 0:14:48.200 week number eight, how many game changing plays and big 0:14:48.240 --> 0:14:51.360 time games can that draft class make for us? Because 0:14:51.400 --> 0:14:53.600 it feels like a lot, and it's been a while 0:14:53.640 --> 0:14:55.840 since we did this. I like taking you know, every 0:14:55.840 --> 0:14:57.840 four games are so looking back at the off season 0:14:57.960 --> 0:15:00.480 or draft classes and frankly, you you can do this. 0:15:00.560 --> 0:15:03.320 The last few classes before that to has been awesome. 0:15:03.360 --> 0:15:07.000 Twenty nineteen was a good class. Team was a fantastic class. 0:15:07.000 --> 0:15:09.520 Typically it's three years before you start to kind of 0:15:09.560 --> 0:15:13.240 make your nearly final conclusions. I don't think we should 0:15:13.240 --> 0:15:16.440 ever finalize conclusions on players ever ever. But you have 0:15:16.480 --> 0:15:19.400 a good idea three years in, and man, I think 0:15:19.440 --> 0:15:21.160 you have to feel pretty good about what you have 0:15:21.240 --> 0:15:24.480 with your first three picks. One. This is shaping up 0:15:24.520 --> 0:15:27.560 those three picks to be an all time draft class. 0:15:27.560 --> 0:15:30.440 Three players who are starting to look like not just 0:15:30.600 --> 0:15:33.720 three starters at three key positions of three premium spots 0:15:33.720 --> 0:15:36.600 and guys that play fifty plus snaps every single game. 0:15:38.400 --> 0:15:39.680 Guys that are starting to look like some of the 0:15:39.680 --> 0:15:42.680 best players at their respective positions in the entire NFL. 0:15:42.720 --> 0:15:44.680 Do you understand how rare that is to get one 0:15:44.720 --> 0:15:47.880 of those guys in the draft class, much less potentially three. 0:15:48.120 --> 0:15:49.920 Jalen Waddle the six pick in the draft. We also 0:15:49.960 --> 0:15:51.720 got a first round pick by trading back for him, 0:15:51.760 --> 0:15:53.320 by the way, and I'm really glad they went up 0:15:53.360 --> 0:15:55.520 to get him because he is a top five receiver. 0:15:55.800 --> 0:15:58.520 He's fourth in the NFL and receiving six one yards 0:15:58.520 --> 0:16:01.080 through seven games. That's eight point seven yards per game, 0:16:01.120 --> 0:16:03.400 which is fifth in the NFL, the same rank as 0:16:03.440 --> 0:16:06.080 his eight teen point three yards per reception. His eleven 0:16:06.120 --> 0:16:08.680 point five yards per target is sixth best. His twenty 0:16:08.720 --> 0:16:11.880 seven first downs are eighth most, sixth most among wide receivers, 0:16:12.040 --> 0:16:14.360 and he's tied for twelve with three touchdowns. He has 0:16:14.360 --> 0:16:17.000 two hundred and seventy yards after the catch, that's sixth 0:16:17.040 --> 0:16:20.000 most in the NFL. His two point six nine nice 0:16:20.280 --> 0:16:24.160 yards per route ran is fourth behind Tyreek Hill, Stefon Diggs, 0:16:24.320 --> 0:16:26.840 and Justin Jefferson other guys in that top ten of 0:16:26.880 --> 0:16:28.600 that stat which I think is one of the best 0:16:28.600 --> 0:16:31.440 measurements of who's performing the highest year after year. Like 0:16:31.480 --> 0:16:33.560 go look at top ten yards per target every year, 0:16:33.640 --> 0:16:36.040 you're gonna see ten guys that you would say top 0:16:36.080 --> 0:16:39.720 ten receivers in the NFL. Well, Tyreek, Stavon Dig, Justin Jefferson, Jillin, 0:16:39.760 --> 0:16:42.760 waddle A J. Brown, Cooper Cup, Alman ross A Brown. 0:16:43.120 --> 0:16:46.320 Really really good company there. Jillen Phillips. He currently ranks 0:16:46.360 --> 0:16:49.800 thirteen among edges a PFF stat and classification for edge 0:16:49.800 --> 0:16:52.160 although he plays all over the defense and pressures with 0:16:52.200 --> 0:16:54.720 twenty five and run stops and fit with fifteen, so 0:16:54.880 --> 0:16:58.520 top thirteen edge player right now. Across the two most 0:16:58.560 --> 0:17:01.840 important stats for pass rushing and run defense, he was 0:17:01.920 --> 0:17:05.920 number ten among outside linebackers and defensive ends and ESPNS 0:17:05.960 --> 0:17:09.680 run stop win rate entering week seven. He will enter 0:17:09.720 --> 0:17:12.800 week eight at number five at thirty six percent. He's 0:17:12.840 --> 0:17:16.480 drawing double teams, he's rushing the edge, inside outside, playing 0:17:16.480 --> 0:17:19.840 the run, he's playing coverage. And his effort. Man, when 0:17:19.840 --> 0:17:21.960 you get the type of effort with the athlete that 0:17:22.000 --> 0:17:24.119 he is. We all remember that Pro day where he 0:17:24.200 --> 0:17:28.560 just tested like an absolute robot. It's gonna be hard 0:17:28.600 --> 0:17:31.359 to not be productive. Phillips looking every bit the part 0:17:31.359 --> 0:17:34.760 of a first round pick, and then some and then 0:17:34.760 --> 0:17:36.800 you might have your best one in the top of 0:17:36.800 --> 0:17:39.359 the second round with Javon Holland. Only eleven players have 0:17:39.440 --> 0:17:41.160 more than two picks this year, so he's right there, 0:17:41.200 --> 0:17:43.880 tied for twelve with a bunch of other guys with interceptions. 0:17:44.119 --> 0:17:46.280 We know he was number two among all safeties last 0:17:46.359 --> 0:17:49.520 year and quarterback pressures behind only Brandon Jones. This year, 0:17:49.560 --> 0:17:51.840 he only has three pressures, but he's only come on 0:17:51.880 --> 0:17:55.560 the pass rush eleven times. Two of those produced sacks. 0:17:55.800 --> 0:17:59.120 I mean, what is that sack rate when you come 0:17:59.119 --> 0:18:02.199 on a pass rush and he has one force fumble 0:18:02.520 --> 0:18:05.680 that basically was you know, every point the Buffalo game 0:18:05.720 --> 0:18:07.359 was valuable, but that was a touchdown basically that he 0:18:07.400 --> 0:18:09.480 put on the board and that big one over Buffalo. 0:18:09.720 --> 0:18:12.040 The coverage numbers say he's been targeted eight times with 0:18:12.080 --> 0:18:14.639 four completions for forty five yards. But I think that 0:18:14.800 --> 0:18:17.080 staff given where he plays in this defense right now, 0:18:17.080 --> 0:18:19.600 playing deep into the post almost every snap, I think 0:18:19.640 --> 0:18:23.000 this stat tells the story better. Opposing quarterbacks are throwing 0:18:23.000 --> 0:18:25.400 the ball twenty plus eight yards on us this year 0:18:25.440 --> 0:18:29.159 at this clip, eleven for twenty eight What is that? 0:18:30.160 --> 0:18:33.879 You might cald clear her out stand by music? Who's 0:18:33.880 --> 0:18:40.040 got it for me? For four? Seventeen yards, a couple 0:18:40.040 --> 0:18:42.120 of the big plays that obviously come from the deep passes, 0:18:42.400 --> 0:18:45.320 one touchdown, three picks, and a passer rating of fifty 0:18:45.400 --> 0:18:48.200 nine point three. That's a team stat. But we say 0:18:48.320 --> 0:18:50.520 on the film review each week he's closing off those 0:18:50.520 --> 0:18:53.560 deep routes, timing up his post nap rotation, and really 0:18:53.560 --> 0:18:56.080 closing off a lot of those downfield lanes. And Durham 0:18:56.119 --> 0:18:58.320 Smith told us in camp this past summer that you 0:18:58.359 --> 0:19:00.840 can see Javon play both his role ole but also 0:19:00.880 --> 0:19:03.240 expand his role on a given play and be in 0:19:03.240 --> 0:19:04.800 a position that he never should have been able to 0:19:04.800 --> 0:19:06.760 get to in the first place. That is the ultimate 0:19:06.800 --> 0:19:09.439 compliment so Minko Fitzpatrick did in that game on Sunday Night. 0:19:09.440 --> 0:19:11.479 It's what ed Rey did for years of the Baltimore Ravens, 0:19:11.720 --> 0:19:15.000 plus his leadership, the communication of the defense. It's rare 0:19:15.080 --> 0:19:18.480 to land those traits. And a player who's only played 0:19:18.480 --> 0:19:21.080 twenty three career games Chavon halland looks pretty special. That 0:19:21.760 --> 0:19:25.080 one draft class looks awfully awfully rare right now. The 0:19:25.160 --> 0:19:27.240 thing I think number four is the effort is off 0:19:27.280 --> 0:19:29.440 the charts for the Miami Dolphins. After seeing the game 0:19:29.480 --> 0:19:32.119 live watching the tape seeing the broadcast version, I always 0:19:32.200 --> 0:19:35.560 learned something new along the way. During the broadcast rewatch, 0:19:36.080 --> 0:19:39.359 Collinsworth talked about their conversations they had with Mike McDaniel 0:19:39.359 --> 0:19:42.280 and the pre production meeting that broadcast teams have with 0:19:42.359 --> 0:19:45.119 each head coach each week, and collins Worth mentioned a 0:19:45.160 --> 0:19:48.240 conversation about Tyree Hill and his impact and beyond the 0:19:48.280 --> 0:19:50.680 fact that he's the leading receiver in the NFL right now, 0:19:51.040 --> 0:19:55.200