When Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins and his offensive line take the field against the Miami Dolphins defense in the season opener, they will be facing one of the NFL’s most revered defensive tackle in Ndamukong Suh. The four-time Pro Bowler was so sought after when he became a free agent that he commanded a “quarterback-like” contract of $59 million guaranteed over six years with a $25.5 million signing bonus and $985,000 base salary. If he plays out the entire six-year deal, he stands to make $114.375 million total. That’s how much the Dolphins wanted him.
Facing him will be no easy task for the Redskins offensive unit and it will require some clever game-planning, design and play-calling on the part of Washington’s coaching staff. Not only must they contend with Suh, they are dealing with the complete package when it comes to Miami’s 4-3 defensive front.
Fellow Pro Bowler Cameron Wake is one of Suh’s partners-in-crime along the line. Wake has 61 career regular season sacks, ranked 22nd in the league. Why? Because he comes off of the ball like a shot and has the balance and flexibility to get around the tackles before they know what’s happening.
Defensive tackle Earl Mitchell, going into his sixth year in the league, is in his second year with Miami and fits better into Miami defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle’s 4-3 system than the one he came from in Houston with the Texans. He is quick off the snap (he ran a 4.75-second 40 at 296 lbs. at the Combine), is deceptively strong and a great compliment to Suh.
Opposite Wake on the end is going to be Olivier Vernon. The 2012 third-round draft pick out of “The U” is strong, fast and athletic and has 21.5 career sacks. Not bad when one is working beside another sack machine (Wake has 63 career sacks). He’s as versatile as they come, able to work from multiple stances, hand in the dirt or not. During his time with the Dolphins he has been asked to defend the run, rush the passer AND drop back into coverage from his spot on the line.
While the Dolphins’ secondary has been called “suspect,” cornerback and eight-year veteran Brent Grimes is a three-time Pro Bowler. He and six-year vet Brice McCain have a combined 30 interceptions and four touchdowns.
While Dolphins safety Walt Aikens is only in his second year, fellow safety Reshad Jones has 10 career INTs and was named to Pro Football Focus’ 2012 All-Pro 2nd Team. There is talent in the secondary.
Miami was not happy with their 2014 defensive unit and upgraded it with the addition of Suh. So far, he has been a good addition to the squad according to scouts and the other players on the defense have rallied to the cause of being more physical.
Redskins head coach Jay Gruden is going to have to add some protection for the young right side of his offensive line. Suh – who would normally line up across the strong side of a line – will no doubt spend his time picking on right tackle Morgan Moses and right guard Brandon Scherff perhaps even when running backs or tight ends are added there to help. Gruden is going to have to keep this Miami off balance with deception and movement and it will be imperative that Cousins recognize blitz and can put his guys in the right position to help.
“I think that’s a big point of emphasis that [running backs] Coach [Randy] Jordan makes with those guys,” offensive coordinator Sean McVay said about available protections against Suh & Co. “Certainly the more game film that you get the better chance you have to evaluate. On a daily basis when we do put the pads on, we always try to get running backs and linebackers going against each other in blitz protection drills. I think with the three backs that we’re counting on with Alfred [Morris], Matt [Jones] and Chris Thompson, all those guys have showed encouraging signs. Hopefully they’ll step up to the challenge if they’re using protection situations.”
As Gruden said the other day, no matter how they scheme and plan and even execute in terms of Cousins and extra protections against blitzes, at some point Scherff, Moses, center Kory Lichtensteiger, left guard Shawn Lauvao and left tackle Trent Williams are just going to have to go up against Suh and his buddies mano a mano and handle their business. This is going to be a great test for this offensive line and for Cousins. Hopefully they will get the running game going and will throw the ball down the field; using the compliment of really good pass catchers on the roster.