Vikings at Dolphins Depth Chart Preview 2022
The Vikings have started off the 2022 season on the right foot, and now get a Dolphins team starting a 7th round rookie at QB. Will they need a fourth straight 4th quarter comeback to win this one, or are we allowed to finally blow someone out?
Injury Report
Vikings
RB Mattison - Questionable
OLB Wonnum - Questionable
Dolphins
LT Armstead - Questionable
QB Bridgewater - Questionable
RB Mostert - Questionable
TE Smythe - Questionable
S Campbell - Questionable
CB Kohou - Doubtful
QB Tagovailoa - Out
Line: Vikings -3 (54% of bets on Vikings)
Super Simulator's Calculated Line: Vikings -5.5
*My Thoughts*
Mike McDaniel was a surprise hire for the Dolphins, as he wasn’t expected to be landing a head coaching job quite yet, but from the roster construction of the offense, it is apparent that ownership wanted a piece of the Shanahan 49ers offense pie. The result has been more pass-happy, but in the short span when Tagovailoa was healthy, it looked solid. They are already down to their 3rd string QB, Skylar Thompson, a 7th rounder who had a phenomenal preseason that caught some attention. He’ll have to try and channel his inner Gardner Minshew, as the track record for late round QBs doing anything good in their rookie season is bleak.
They sifted through a group of running backs and ended up with Raheem Mostert, who of course was part of the 49ers Super Bowl run a few years back. The 30 year old (on his 8th stint on a roster!) has become the bellcow the past two weeks. He’s still speedy and effective when healthy, but he’s made of glass. They also signed Chase Edmonds, who specializes as a pass catching RB, but they’ve not using him in that capacity very often. They couldn’t get Kyle Jusczyzk, but instead got a lesser version in Alec Ingold, of whom is now the third highest paid FB.
The Dolphins have sunk a ton of capital into WR, spending two 1sts to land Jaylen Waddle last year and shipped a bunch of picks and money into Tyreek Hill. The investment has appeared to work before the QB injuries occurred – Waddle and Hill are both dangerous deep threats but are also both well-suited for short and intermediate targets. They’ve hogged a large percent of the target share, enough to where their other investments aren’t even being used. They gave Cowboys Cedrick Wilson $8M a year, but he’s barely contributed. Most egregiously, TE Mike Gesicki was given the franchise tag after combining for 1400+ yards the past two years, and now they’re using him as a blocker first and throwing to him 2.5 times a game… despite the fact that he’s best used as a big slot receiver.
Miami had the worst OL in football by a country mile last year, but they’ve made improvements. Terron Armstead’s injury status is tantamount, as the Dolphins aren’t even carrying a backup tackle. The situation at RT is dire – Austin Jackson is on the IR, meaning that Greg Little is playing. Little starting should be considered a DEFCON 1 as he is sub-Rashod Hill/Dakota Dozier graded by PFF. The interior has been mostly fixed, with free agent Connor Williams patching the center position, and Robert Hunt is starting to play like a top 10 guard. Unfortunately, Liam Eichenberg isn’t faring well at LG after flopping at LT last year.
Defensively, the Dolphins have been a mixed bag, shutting down the Bills but also getting pulverized by the Ravens and Jets. Their unit looks like a 3-4 system on paper, but going by the DL snap rates, they seem to be more of a 4-3 defense. They paid their top pass rusher Emmanuel Ogbah this offseason, but he’s off to a slower start so far. They have plenty of depth here despite what the depth chart looks like, as they use Phillips and Ingram as pass rushers and aren’t 4-3 OLBs. Ingram has been the most effective but is seemingly relegated to a part-time role. PFF loves the run-stuffers. Sieler, who’s built like a 3-4 DE, has come out of nowhere and is suddenly an elite run stuffer. Wilkins broke out last year and has become a standout 3 tech, but he does stuff the run better than rush the QB. Raekwon Davis may be insanely buff, but hasn’t received good grades. Their primary LBs are Jerome Baker and Elandon Roberts, who are fine tacklers but both can be beat in coverage, especially Roberts who has a 36.7 coverage grade.
The secondary was advertised as a strength, but injuries have sapped its potential. Xavien Howard should play but hasn’t been the same dealing with an injury, and their other stud CB Byron Jones is on the IR. Needham has been a perfectly average CB who has been playing more snaps than usual. Kohou has been a standout UDFA slot CB, but he won’t play, meaning that 1st rounder Igbinoghene should start. Needless to say being in Year 3, he has been a big disappointment, but he’s also barely played. Jevon Holland didn’t get enough credit as a fantastic safety as just a 3rd round rookie last year, but the other spot has been a problem with Rowe getting hurt (and not being all that good to begin with) and his replacement Jones grading very poorly.
Prediction: Dolphins 23, Vikings 19
Yes, I’m predicting the upset and a loss to a 3rd string QB! The Dolphins have won their last 8 home games in a row and the Vikings have struggled against a couple of skeleton crews the past couple weeks. Away teams seem to struggle with the heat, and even Belichick’s Patriots have a 9-14 record playing in Miami. I think Miami’s defense will shut down our offense in the second half, allowing for Thompson to conduct a 4th quarter comeback to lead to an unlikely victory.
Alright, thoughts?
Injury Report
Vikings
RB Mattison - Questionable
OLB Wonnum - Questionable
Dolphins
LT Armstead - Questionable
QB Bridgewater - Questionable
RB Mostert - Questionable
TE Smythe - Questionable
S Campbell - Questionable
CB Kohou - Doubtful
QB Tagovailoa - Out
Line: Vikings -3 (54% of bets on Vikings)
Super Simulator's Calculated Line: Vikings -5.5
*My Thoughts*
Mike McDaniel was a surprise hire for the Dolphins, as he wasn’t expected to be landing a head coaching job quite yet, but from the roster construction of the offense, it is apparent that ownership wanted a piece of the Shanahan 49ers offense pie. The result has been more pass-happy, but in the short span when Tagovailoa was healthy, it looked solid. They are already down to their 3rd string QB, Skylar Thompson, a 7th rounder who had a phenomenal preseason that caught some attention. He’ll have to try and channel his inner Gardner Minshew, as the track record for late round QBs doing anything good in their rookie season is bleak.
They sifted through a group of running backs and ended up with Raheem Mostert, who of course was part of the 49ers Super Bowl run a few years back. The 30 year old (on his 8th stint on a roster!) has become the bellcow the past two weeks. He’s still speedy and effective when healthy, but he’s made of glass. They also signed Chase Edmonds, who specializes as a pass catching RB, but they’ve not using him in that capacity very often. They couldn’t get Kyle Jusczyzk, but instead got a lesser version in Alec Ingold, of whom is now the third highest paid FB.
The Dolphins have sunk a ton of capital into WR, spending two 1sts to land Jaylen Waddle last year and shipped a bunch of picks and money into Tyreek Hill. The investment has appeared to work before the QB injuries occurred – Waddle and Hill are both dangerous deep threats but are also both well-suited for short and intermediate targets. They’ve hogged a large percent of the target share, enough to where their other investments aren’t even being used. They gave Cowboys Cedrick Wilson $8M a year, but he’s barely contributed. Most egregiously, TE Mike Gesicki was given the franchise tag after combining for 1400+ yards the past two years, and now they’re using him as a blocker first and throwing to him 2.5 times a game… despite the fact that he’s best used as a big slot receiver.
Miami had the worst OL in football by a country mile last year, but they’ve made improvements. Terron Armstead’s injury status is tantamount, as the Dolphins aren’t even carrying a backup tackle. The situation at RT is dire – Austin Jackson is on the IR, meaning that Greg Little is playing. Little starting should be considered a DEFCON 1 as he is sub-Rashod Hill/Dakota Dozier graded by PFF. The interior has been mostly fixed, with free agent Connor Williams patching the center position, and Robert Hunt is starting to play like a top 10 guard. Unfortunately, Liam Eichenberg isn’t faring well at LG after flopping at LT last year.
Defensively, the Dolphins have been a mixed bag, shutting down the Bills but also getting pulverized by the Ravens and Jets. Their unit looks like a 3-4 system on paper, but going by the DL snap rates, they seem to be more of a 4-3 defense. They paid their top pass rusher Emmanuel Ogbah this offseason, but he’s off to a slower start so far. They have plenty of depth here despite what the depth chart looks like, as they use Phillips and Ingram as pass rushers and aren’t 4-3 OLBs. Ingram has been the most effective but is seemingly relegated to a part-time role. PFF loves the run-stuffers. Sieler, who’s built like a 3-4 DE, has come out of nowhere and is suddenly an elite run stuffer. Wilkins broke out last year and has become a standout 3 tech, but he does stuff the run better than rush the QB. Raekwon Davis may be insanely buff, but hasn’t received good grades. Their primary LBs are Jerome Baker and Elandon Roberts, who are fine tacklers but both can be beat in coverage, especially Roberts who has a 36.7 coverage grade.
The secondary was advertised as a strength, but injuries have sapped its potential. Xavien Howard should play but hasn’t been the same dealing with an injury, and their other stud CB Byron Jones is on the IR. Needham has been a perfectly average CB who has been playing more snaps than usual. Kohou has been a standout UDFA slot CB, but he won’t play, meaning that 1st rounder Igbinoghene should start. Needless to say being in Year 3, he has been a big disappointment, but he’s also barely played. Jevon Holland didn’t get enough credit as a fantastic safety as just a 3rd round rookie last year, but the other spot has been a problem with Rowe getting hurt (and not being all that good to begin with) and his replacement Jones grading very poorly.
Prediction: Dolphins 23, Vikings 19
Yes, I’m predicting the upset and a loss to a 3rd string QB! The Dolphins have won their last 8 home games in a row and the Vikings have struggled against a couple of skeleton crews the past couple weeks. Away teams seem to struggle with the heat, and even Belichick’s Patriots have a 9-14 record playing in Miami. I think Miami’s defense will shut down our offense in the second half, allowing for Thompson to conduct a 4th quarter comeback to lead to an unlikely victory.
Alright, thoughts?
