PERSONNEL NEWS

Strategy And Personnel

The Sports Xchange

November 08, 2018 at 1:32 am.

PLAYER NOTES

–LB Kiko Alonso has 83 sacks, which ranks second in the NFL this season. He has also intercepted three passes and forced three fumbles.

–P Matt Haack leads the NFL this season with 26 punts inside the 20. He had seven punts inside the 20 last week against the Jets, the most by any punter in the league this year.

–WR/RS Jakeem Grant leads the NFL this season with 680 yards on punts/kickoffs. His two touchdowns on kick/punt returns also lead the NFL. Grant, though, was limited this week due to an Achilles tendon issue.

–LT Laremy Tunsil is having perhaps the best year of anyone on Miami’s beleaguered offensive line. Tunsil, for example, allowed 32 pressures last year. This season, he is on pace to allow just 18 pressures.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: fS Reshad Jones pulled himself out of last week’s game against the New York Jets despite not being injured. The circumstances as to why Jones did this are still unclear, at least to the public. But Dolphins head coach Adam Gase said he and Jones are now “on the same page.” Jones, who made the Pro Bowl in 2015 and 2017, will play against the Packers, according to Gase.

GAME PLAN: The Dolphins held the Jets without a touchdown last week, but the challenge against the Packers on Sunday will be much tougher. The Dolphins’ defense may struggle to contain the Green Bay passing game. Offensively, Miami’s beat-up offensive line allowed four sacks last week, and the unit failed to open holes or get anyone into the end zone. Miami’s offense will likely have to play much better this week to keep up with Aaron Rodgers and the Packers.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH

–Dolphins DB Minkah Fitzpatrick vs. Packers QB Aaron Rodgers. Fitzpatrick is a rookie, and Rodgers, a Super Bowl MVP and a six-time Pro Bowl selection, will surely find him. But Fitzpatrick, a first-round pick from Alabama, hasn’t been fazed by anything this season. Don’t be surprised if he is up to the challenge.

–Dolphins Ts Laremy Tunsil and Ja’Wuan James vs. Packers OLB Clay Matthews. Miami will have a challenge keeping Matthews out of their backfield. Matthews, 32, has 82.5 career sacks, including 7.5 last year and 2.5 this season. Matthews also has seven QB hits this season. Meanwhile, Tunsil and James are both battling knee injuries and missed parts of last week’s game.