Dolphins challenge this young player. And the terrible quandary facing coaches on Sunday

The Bills present all sorts of riddles and conundrums for the Dolphins, and here’s another that seems particularly problematic on Sunday in Buffalo:

With the Dolphins’ front seven unable to sack the quarterback nearly enough so far this season, do the Dolphins blitz a quarterback who has torched the blitz?

This season, Buffalo’s Josh Allen has eight touchdowns, no interceptions and a 125.5 passer rating on 76 passing attempts when blitzed, compared to a 98.3 rating when not blitzed.

With the Dolphins playing without defensive lineman Zach Sieler (who could miss his second game in a row), and with outside linebackers Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb out with knee injuries, defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver has begun to blitz more recently.

After rushing defensive backs just 25 times in the first five games, Weaver blitzed defensive backs 11 times against Indianapolis and nine last Sunday against Arizona. None of those blitzes produced a single sack, though Jalen Ramsey had five pressures on his 11 blitzes.

But blitzing Allen comes with major risks. The Dolphins must somehow generate a pass rush with a group of outside linebackers who have produced just three of the team’s AFC-low nine sacks: two by Emmanuel Ogbah and one by Phillips, who’s out for the remainder of the season.

Only the Atlanta Falcons have fewer sacks than the Dolphins. And the Dolphins have just 12 sacks against Buffalo in their past seven games.

Speaking on his group of edge players (Chop Robinson, Ogbah, Tyus Bowser, Quinton Bell and Mo Kamara), Weaver said: “I have faith in guys on the roster. We have younger players with Chop and Kamara, [who] we are trying to get on the field. Ogbah is giving us everything he has. Bowser is working his butt off.”

Kamara was a healthy scratch against Arizona after producing two pressures on seven pass rush chances in his regular season debut against the Colts.

Asked why Bell was active instead, Weaver said: “We all want to see Mo on the field. Who’s responsible for that is Mo. Other decisions factor into that — special teams, injuries at other positions. Because of that, he has [been] the odd man out. I have challenged him [with] where he can add value so we no longer have to have that discussion about him.”

So should the Dolphins blitz Allen?

“I never attack any game plan the same,” Weaver said. “Couple weeks ago, when we sent people with [Colts quarterback] Anthony Richardson it was with intent because with a young quarterback, [we were] giving him things he hadn’t seen.”

Weaver, incidentally, said Ogbah is playing through a tear in his bicep.

THIS AND THAT

▪ The Dolphins apparently won’t use a spy on Allen. Weaver said he doesn’t believe in using a spy “because a lot of times a quarterback scrambles and [the spy] still doesn’t get him and then you are playing with 10. I hate wasting the extra defender.”

▪ Why was Cam Smith - and not Jalen Ramsey — covering Marvin Harrison Jr. late in Sunday’s loss?

“It’s not as easy to move in and out of personnel groups, particularly in that situation,” Weaver said. “To get our best 11 on the field, we thought Cam was one of our best 11.

“To have him learn multiple spots in the amount of time he has been out there [since coming off injured reserve] would be a disservice to him. We could say, ‘Cam, slide inside when playing man.’ But [in] zone, that makes it very difficult for him. That’s opening up a whole can of worms.”

▪ Though McDaniel hasn’t publicly ruled out Sieler for Sunday’s 1 p.m. game, he hasn’t practiced this week. Weaver declined to make a prognosis but said: “I’m a much better coach when he’s on the field. There have been prayers sent out from the Weaver family.”

▪ Linebacker David Long Jr., rated by Pro Football Focus as one of the league’s best run-stuffing linebackers last season, is rated 81st and last overall among all inside linebackers this season.

He “has been battling nicks and bumps all season,” Weaver said. “From a health standpoint, he has been ultimate warrior for sure.”

▪ Offensive coordinator Frank Smith, on receiver River Cracraft’s impending return:

“He’s a guy that’s going to go about his business the right way. He’s been very reliable and dependable and made plays. We will be excited to add him to the mix when we’re able to bring him back.”

He must be activated in the next 20 days in order to play this season.

▪ In the first game without Braxton Berrios (who’s out for the season with a knee injury), Dee Eskridge had one kickoff return for 35 yards and Malik Washington had two punt returns for 25 yards.

So will the Dolphins move forward with that combo? Special teams coordinator Danny Crossman responded: “I’m really happy how both those guys performed. The roster and play time will always be a fluid situation.”

Cracraft hasn’t returned a punt in a regular season game since 2020, but Crossman said he will continue to work on returns in practice.