Miami Dolphins defense must limit Stefon Diggs, Josh Allen
MIAMI GARDENS – You don’t know whether Dolphins defensive coordinator Vic Fangio was being serious or utilizing gamesmanship. Fangio was asked if the Dolphins might shadow a wide receiver with a cornerback, such as the Dolphins did last year with Pro Bowl cornerback Xavien Howard on Stefon Diggs, Buffalo’s Pro Bowl wide receiver.
“I don’t think with our team right now it’s something that we would do,” Fangio said. “But it could be down the line.”
When the Dolphins (3-0) visit Buffalo (2-1) in Sunday’s AFC East showdown, they’ll have decisions to make about whether to shadow Diggs and whether to put a “spy,” a player who shadows his every move, on Bills Pro Bowl quarterback Josh Allen.
The priority is Allen, who crushes the Dolphins when he plays at home.
In six games against the Dolphins at Highmark Stadium, Allen is 128 of 198 passing (64.6%) for 1,555 yards, 17 touchdowns and four interceptions. He has 37 carries for 282 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 7.6 yards per carry.
“He’s a handful to play against,” Fangio said. “I don’t think there’s any one way to play him. That’s kind of the definition of a great quarterback. There is no one way to play him or everybody would do it.
“And he’s tough to handle and (because) you’ve always got to defend two plays — the play they call in the huddle and the play he can create on the run. And they utilize the (run-pass option) game, too, which he’s good at. So he’s a tough assignment.”
Allen (five touchdowns, four interceptions, 90.3 passer rating) hasn’t been especially good passing so far this season.
However, he’s completed 72.7% of his passes, third in the league (Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is fifth at 71.3%), and he’s rushed for 89 yards on 12 carries, an impressive 7.4 yards per carry.
In the past, the Dolphins have used players such as linebacker Jerome Baker and safety Jevon Holland to “spy” on Allen, who is dangerous with his feet and well as his arm.
Holland appears on his way to a Pro Bowl with a team-best 33 tackles, which is tied for fifth in the NFL, and three forced fumbles.
But Allen, one of the NFL’s toughest quarterbacks to tackle at 6-foot-5, 237 pounds, is an accomplished runner who creates headaches for defenses.
Allen has averaged more than seven carries per game each of the past two seasons, but so far this year he’s only averaging four carries per game. In last week’s 37-3 victory over Washington, Allen even slid a couple of times to avoid punishing hits, much to the delight of coach Sean McDermott.
One thing to keep in mind, however, is Allen already has two fumbles this season, one of which he’s lost. Holland is aware of Allen’s propensity for turnovers.
“Sometimes he holds the ball out there a little bit…If the ball flashes, we’re going to try to knock the ball out,” Holland said. “That’s the goal, try to get the ball back.”
Diggs is the first player in NFL history to record at least 100 receptions and 1,2000 receiving yards in each of his first three seasons with a team.
So far this year he has 25 receptions for 279 yards and one touchdown.
The Dolphins have defended him well at Highmark Stadium. In his four home games with Buffalo against the Dolphins, Diggs has 24 receptions for 290 yards and one touchdown.
Pro Bowl cornerback Xavien Howard has shadowed Diggs in the past, but Fangio made it sound like that’s not an option Sunday.
“It comes down to both corners, because both corners have to flip,” he said. “Some guys just don’t like flipping. They want to stay on their side, they want to stay in their home. There are other guys where it doesn’t matter, they don’t care.”
Whatever the Dolphins decide, history has shown Allen must be the defensive priority. The Dolphins haven’t had much success limiting Allen at Highmark Stadium. Coach Mike McDaniel said the Dolphins’ defense this week isn’t about shadowing Diggs or putting a spy on Allen.
“I think it’s more about having a complete defense and doing what you’re good at, but applying it to that specific team,” he said, “which is what we’re trying to do this week.”
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