Chiefs Focused on Disrupting Miami Dolphins' Offensive Rhythm, Tua Tagovailoa's Timing
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The Miami Dolphins have already touched down in Germany, but the Chiefs are still in Kansas City, discussing how to limit Miami's touchdowns on Sunday.
During the Chiefs' Wednesday press conferences at the team's practice facility, two members of the Chiefs defense pointed out one specific focus KC will have for Miami's high-octane offense, captained by quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and starring former Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill.
Defensive end Charles Omenihu was asked about the Dolphins' precise offense and how Miami has been occasionally slowed by pressuring Tagovailoa, who was sacked four times in Miami's 48-20 loss to the Buffalo Bills and three times in their 31-17 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Omenihu debuted the words of the day: "rhythm" and "timing."
"Their offense is big on rhythm, so when you give negative plays on first down, it kind of throws them off rhythm, in my opinion," Omenihu said. "When the offense is how they are, they are very big rhythm-based, get-out-on-time kind of deal, when you throw it off, I think that gives a chance for the defense to kind of dictate how things are gonna go."
Omenihu was also asked specifically what he has seen from Tagovailoa, and he had an immediate answer.
"Quick passes," Omenihu said. "Quick passes. Like I said, he's a rhythm, to me, a rhythm and timing type of guy, and then obviously he has two guys that can stretch the defense. But I think that's from college, that's how he was. Timing, accurate, for sure he's an accurate player, and then he can throw the deep ball. He's a good quarterback, for sure."
While Omenihu and the Chiefs' pass-rushers will be trying to pressure Tagovailoa, linebacker Drue Tranquill put the focus on how he and the Chiefs' secondary can give KC's pass rush a chance to get home.
Tranquill was asked about the best way to get to Tagovailoa, and he went with some of the same keywords as Omenihu.
"Well, he gets the ball out quick, he's good with his decision-making, I think it's going to be rush and coverage working together," Tranquill said. "If we just give him quick, rhythm throws, the D-line's never gonna have a chance to get there. He's got one of the quickest releases in the NFL, statistically, and so we're gonna have to have good coverage on the back end and make it a one-dimensional game. If they're allowed to run the ball and set up their play action, it's gonna be tough. But if we can get ahead, if we can get three-and-outs, get [Patrick Mahomes] the ball and create a one-dimensional game where he's gotta drop back, we'll have a better shot."
