Terron Armstead Changes The Dolphins Ceiling
Photo Credit: Jim Rassol via USA TODAY Sports
Terron Armstead has finally come back to practice. The Miami Dolphins’ starting left tackle was a limited participant on Wednesday with back, ankle, and knee injuries, and head coach Mike McDaniel said there’s an expectation to give him more work as the week progresses before Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos.
Terron Armstead will practice today and have an uptick in pads for Thursday's drills, according to coach Mike McDaniel.
— David Furones (@DavidFurones_) September 20, 2023
You might think that, starting 2-0, Armstead isn’t as important for the Dolphins as he was last year. And, in fact, the emergence of Kendall Lamm has been imperative to allow a hot start. However, Armstead is a truly elite player, and if he’s able to get back on the field, the ceiling of the Dolphins’ offense can be even higher.
Through two weeks, the Dolphins are 19th in pass-block win rate and 12th in run-block win rate. In total, it’s a classic, average offensive line. But consider the numbers from last year, and you will see how much impact the left tackle can have.
In 2022, the Dolphins had a 42.7 pass-blocking grade according to PFF, with a 46.1% pressure percentage allowed when Terron Armstead wasn’t on the field. When he played, the numbers improved dramatically: 67.2 pass-blocking grade and 22.9% pressure percentage allowed.
The improvement may not be as big this year because Lamm has played well. He’s 10th among tackles in pass-block win rate and has a solid 66.7 PFF grade. But having Armstead back allows McDaniel to protect other areas of the offensive line, and the unit can become a real net positive for the team.
Unfortunately for the Dolphins, Armstead has handled multiple injuries throughout his NFL career. The left tackle has never started every game in a single season, and that’s ultimately why the New Orleans Saints let him hit free agency last year, which allowed the Dolphins to get him on the open market. In his first year as a Dolphin, in 2022, Armstead had multiple injury issues, but was still able to remain active for 13 games.
It’s yet to be known how many games he will play in 2023. That’s why it’s imperative for the Dolphins to have a viable alternative. However, Armstead can still be extremely valuable when he is on the field. The coaching staff knows it’s essential to have a long-term plan to have him active when it matters the most by the end of the regular season and for the playoffs.
Next Sunday, the Dolphins are expected to have a matchup advantage versus the Denver Broncos’ defensive front. The opponent is 27th in pass-rush win rate and 24th in run-stop win rate over the first two weeks of the season. That bodes well for Miami even if Armstead is not available. But if he is, there is a chance for a really dominant performance.
Additionally, it’s relevant for the Dolphins to have a high-ceiling offensive line in place for the rest of the season. Beyond this week, the team’s schedule presents games against the Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, New York Jets, Washington Commanders, and Dallas Cowboys, all teams with strong defensive fronts. Keeping Tua Tagovailoa clean and healthy is decisive for the Dolphins outcome this year.
The upcoming game will feature some familiar concepts for Armstead, who played his entire NFL career for the New Orleans Saints under the Sean Payton offensive system. When that’s the case, sometimes there may be a concern about fit and scheme. But that’s not been a problem for the Dolphins for multiple reasons.
First, the left tackle is an elite player with the ability to transcend schemes. And, just as the Saints did, the Dolphins also have a good schematic approach and a system that eases the burden on offensive linemen. Moreover, Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith worked with Armstead in New Orleans, where he was an assistant offensive line coach between 2010 and 2014. Smith knows the areas of the game in which Armstead is more effective and knows how to extract the most out of him.
The Miami Dolphins have an extremely talented roster. Tua Tagovailoa has been one of the best one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL since last year, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle form arguably the best wide receiver duo in the league, and Vic Fangio’s defense is expected to stymie big plays from their opponents — especially when star cornerback Jalen Ramsey is back. The offensive line might be seen as the weak link of the team, but Terron Armstead has the athleticism to transform the entire unit, and put the whole teams ceiling on a different level.
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