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The Miami Dolphins face the perfect opponent in the Rams to open up the passing game

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MIAMI GARDENS – Here we tell you that Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle contributing to the Miami Dolphins' recent running game success is commendable and significant.

“Put on the movie,” Tua Tagovailoa said this week.

And he's right. The film shows Tyreek and Tua going to town on running plays.

“Team football,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said this week.

And here we are telling you that the Dolphins aren't paying the 5-foot-10 Hill and the 5-foot-10 Waddle nearly $175 million in contracts to run the block.

Last season, Hill and Waddle combined for 30 catches for 25 yards.

This season, Hill and Waddle have combined for five catches for 25 yards.

There are reasons for that – most notably Tua’s absence from the lineup for four games.

And McDaniel has rightly committed to improving the game over the last four weeks.

But everything has to evolve on Sunday.

It's time to lead the Rams' pass defense to carnage.

The Dolphins need to take advantage of the Rams' terrible pass defense

Los Angeles is the worst team in the NFL, allowing 8.5 yards per pass attempt.

Drive the ball down the field for big plays this week.

Los Angeles is sixth-worst in the NFL with 15 passing touchdowns allowed.

And Los Angeles has the ninth-worst opposing passer rating in the NFL.

Drive the ball down the field for big plays this week.

If necessary, prove that you are capable of winning a shootout.

Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins should score big on Monday night

If it takes 30 points to win on Monday Night Football, then go for it.

If it takes 34 or 40 points to win on Monday Night Football, then go for it.

This is the week for Tua, with two weeks of high gear to, as Dan Marino says, pick a man and let him fly.

Tua explained what was going on.

“With the plays we were given, we just play whatever is called,” Tua said. “If Mike calls for a shooting play and we control it, that’s exactly what the play means to us. So it's not like we didn't try to stretch the ball down the field. That's just the defensive performance.” It shows us, and then there are a few things in the film that look like, 'Man, I could have beaten that person,' but sometimes it's not in our progression, what we talked about and as we would read it.”

Send Tyreek and Jaylen to the depths this week.

And on to Tyreek and Jaylen – repeated.

Trust this offensive line to hold up against a Rams defense without Aaron Donald. This isn't Your Daddy's Rams D.

This defense can be exploited. Go out and light it, Tua, Tyreek and Jaylen.

Light it up, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle

As Tyreek says, “Strike Up The Band!”

Waddle finally scored a touchdown last week, but it was a half-hearted Waddle.

It's hard to tell if he waddled at all.

Make the Dolphins' touchdown celebrations great again starting this week, on a national stage near Hollywood.

Miami's identity on offense has changed this season, and not in entirely terrible ways.

“In team football, you have to understand that when you're playing on a double team, you have a teammate who is crucial to your success,” McDaniel said, adding that it wasn't as if Tua completely missed a throw to Hill or is off in rhythm and timing.

It's a good thing De'Von Achane, Raheem Mostert, Jaylen Wright, Jonnu Smith and Odell Beckham, Jr. are all Miami X-factors, on the ground and in the air in Los Angeles.

It's great that everyone has bought into this approach, which is about finding every path to victory and blocking everyone.

The Miami Dolphins' Chop Robinson, Tua Tagovailoa and De'Von Achane are the focus of The Tape Don't Lie

Dolphins: Make deep passing plays great again

But for the Dolphins to get going here, we're going to have to have flashbacks to the good old days of, well, last season, when Tyreek and Jaylen had receptions of 78, 69, 64, 60, 60, 54, 53, 50. 47, 47, 42 and 41 yards.

Open it. Let it fly.

We understand it. There are many double teams and double floors.

It's not easy to get the ball to Tyreek and Jaylen when each player has two defenders and two other players are in deep midfield.

But find a way against a vulnerable Rams unit.

Long rides are great.

But long passing plays are essential – to make this offense look like it should.

Monday gameDolphins at Rams8:15 p.m., ESPN

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Joe Schad is a journalist who covers the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at [email protected] and follow him on Instagram and on X @shadjoe. Sign up for Joe's free weekly Dolphins Pulse newsletter. Support our work by subscribing today.

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