Credit the Miami Dolphins’ offensive linemen above anyone else. They’re a humble, hard-working group that aren’t looking to collect flowers at this point or issue any “I told you so” proclamations.
“We just do what we do on a weekly basis,” reserve left tackle Kion Smith said.
They’ve been impressive while doing that.
They were the most doubted, most unsettled, most heavily scrutinized unit on the team entering the season.
And then, week by week, they continued getting the job done.
They protected quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, they blew open holes for the run game, they excelled with multiple personnel groupings, and they quietly and meticulously did everything that was asked of them.
As that was happening, I classified them as good enough, or mentally tough, or amazingly resilient, terms that come just short of good.
Despite known quantities being replaced by unknown quantities there’s only one conclusion I can settle on at this point: these guys are good.
Miami started the game with Jackson, right guard Robert Hunt, center Liam Eichenberg, left guard Lester Cotton and left tackle Kendall Lamm.
But midway through the second quarter, Lamm (abdomen) and Hunt (hamstring) were injured. That meant Miami fielded an offensive line of left tackle Kion Smith, left guard Robert Jones, Eichenberg at center, Cotton at right guard and Jackson at right tackle.
Lamm returned, Hunt didn’t.
So for the entire second half, starting left tackle Terron Armstead (back, ankle, knee), a Pro Bowl selection last season, starting center Connor Williams (groin), and Hunt, the top three offensive linemen, were all sidelined. And left guard Isaiah Wynn (knee), another injured starter, went down last week in Philadelphia.
Armstead has missed six games and Williams has missed four. They were regarded as Miami’s top two offensive linemen entering the season.
Yet somehow this offensive line entered Sunday’s game having only allowed 10 sacks, which was tied for second-fewest in the league. They represented themselves well against the Patriots by only allowing two sacks.
On top of that, although Miami only rushed for 78 yards on 26 carries against New England, the Dolphins also entered Sunday’s game as the league’s leading rushing team at 162.3 yards per game.
And you know Miami had the league’s best passing offense (300 yards per game), led the NFL in total offense (462.3 ypg) and scoring (34.3 points per game). Plus, wide receiver Tyreek Hill has 1,006 yards receiving, more than halfway to his personal goal of a NFL-record 2,000 yards.
The offensive line makes much of that possible.
“Hat goes off to (offensive line coach) Butch Barry and (offensive coordinator) Frank Smith and the whole group because nobody panicked,” McDaniel said. “We were prepared for the moment.
“That’s what I’ve been saying from preseason on is we were very fortunate to have really good players and some depth at the position. I have a lot of faith in those guys. They’ll only get better with more reps.”
Apparently, that’s the case.
Well, that’s been the case to this point.
And there’s no reason to think it won’t continue for the rest of the season.
“This is a violent game,” Lamm said. “From an offensive line perspective you’ve got to know we’re in car crashes non stop, all day long, so eventually something’s going to shake and something might happen.
“But it’s just a credit to our room and the people that are in it. That’s how I see it.”
After eight games, there’s no other way to see it.
Tip your hat to Miami’s offensive guys. They’ve proven that they’re good.
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa throws against the New England Patriots during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill catches a touchdown pass against the New England Patriots during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill catches a touchdown pass against the New England Patriots during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Fans cheer as the Miami Dolphins take on the New England Patriots at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa hands the ball off to running back Raheem Mostert against the New England Patriots during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert runs with the ball against the New England Patriots during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Fans cheer as the Miami Dolphins take on the New England Patriots at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa runs with the ball against the New England Patriots during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa runs with the ball against the New England Patriots during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa gestures after running with the ball against the New England Patriots during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Fans cheer as the Miami Dolphins take on the New England Patriots at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey intercepts a pass against the New England Patriots during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey runs with the ball after intercepting a pass against the New England Patriots during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey celebrates after intercepting a pass against the New England Patriots during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa looks to throw against the New England Patriots during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr. catches a touchdown pass against the New England Patriots during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr. celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the New England Patriots during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr. celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the New England Patriots during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa before a play against the New England Patriots during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle runs into the end zone for a touchdown against the New England Patriots during the second half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the New England Patriots during the second half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle celebrates with teammate Tyreek Hill after scoring a touchdown against the New England Patriots during the second half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa walks off the field after beating the New England Patriots at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
