clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Pro Football Focus Previews Texans-Dolphins

The Houston Texans are set to face one of the other big disappointments of the early 2015 NFL season in the Miami Dolphins this week. Take a look at PFF's preview and analysis before the Texans and Dolphins take the field in Miami on Sunday afternoon.

If you buy something from an SB Nation link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

Hasn't been a good year from the former Aggie.
Hasn't been a good year from the former Aggie.
Steve Flynn-USA TODAY Sports

Pro Football Focus has their preview of the Texans' upcoming game against the Dolphins. What strikes you from the analysis below?

Texans Overview:

· Here’s our game analysis for last week’s win against the Jaguars.

· What a difference a week makes, as Brian Hoyer posted the best rating of the season by a Texans quarterback with a +5.0 rating. Hoyer is tied for 9th overall in the league with Tyrod Taylor at +6.4 amongst QBs with at least 25% of the snaps.

· DeAndre Hopkins now finds himself as a Top 5 wide receiver (+11.0 overall rating), leading the league with 90 targets and 727 yards.

· Meanwhile, the rest of Houston’s receivers are all negatively graded, highlighted by Keith Mumphery with a -5.6 rating on his 201 snaps.

· Houston’s Chris Clark is a Top-10 rated tackle (+7.2 overall), with a +4.6 run block and a +1.6 pass block rating on his 244 snaps.

· J.J. Watt is by far the best 3-4 defensive end with a +23.6 overall rating. Watt has recorded 22 stops, 16 QB hurries, 10 QB hits and four sacks.

· Watch this video breaking down Watt’s performance, which was one of the best in Week 6.

· Jared Crick continues to be the worst-rated 3-4 defensive end at -11.2 overall, highlighted by a -7.1 pass rush rating and a -5.4 run defense rating.

· Arian Foster (+0.7 overall) has been better catching out of the backfield (+2.6 pass rating) than the typical rushing attack (-2.2 rush rating).

We've touched on it before, but warrants mention again and again. Rick Smith's decision to ship a 2016 seventh-round pick to Denver for Chris Clark toward the tail end of training camp has been a simply magnificent move. Can you imagine Houston's offensive line without Clark?

Dolphins Overview:

· Here’s a look back at Miami’s Week Six win over the Tennessee Titans.

· Read all about how Cameron Wake led a bounce back for the Dolphins last week, picking up four sacks. Wake (+6.8 overall) is a clear pass rush specialist with a +11.7 pass rush rating, but a -3.9 run defense rating.

· It’s been a step back for Ryan Tannehill after finishing last season with a +9.2 rating (15th in the league). This year he’s tied with Sam Bradford for 23rd with a -3.6 rating, although last week was his best performance to date with a +5.3 rating.

· Miami possesses two of the worst guards in the league as left guard Dallas Thomas (-16.4 overall) ranks 78th on 337 snaps while Jamil Douglas (-16.9 overall) ranks 79th on 268 snaps.

· The Dolphins have a pair of solid receiver in Jarvis Landry (+5.2 overall, including +3.8 rushing) on 296 snaps, while Rishard Matthews has a +2.7 overall rating on 243 snaps.

· Ndamukong Suh (+14.3 overall) ranks as the sixth best defensive or nose tackle in the league, including fourth with a +9.4 pass rush rating.

· Miami has a pair of cornerbacks at either end of the spectrum. Brent Grimes (281 snaps) has registered a +5.7 overall rating, good for 12th best in the league, while Brice McCain (290 snaps) has a -5.0 overall rating, good for 96th best in the league (minimum of 25% of the snaps).

If ever there was a week that Houston should rectify the problems it's had in the interior of its defense, it would seem this week, with "two of the worst guards in the league," should be it.

Texans vs Dolphins coverage
The Phinsider