Dolphins’ Pass Rush Rejoice: Chargers Down To 4th and 5th String O-Line

The Miami Dolphins need all the help they can get after starting the season 1-4 and allowing a bad Carolina Panthers football team to mount a fourth quarter comeback last week. Seems like the help will arrive in the form of a weakened offensive line for their Week 6 opponent, the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Chargers injury report released today confirms that the team will be without former top-ten draft pick, Joe Alt, at offensive tackle. Additionally, third string tackle Trey Pipkins has also had his injury designation downgraded to out. This means the Chargers will be rolling with their fourth and fifth string offensive tackles as they make the long road trip to Miami.

“Per The Athletic’s Daniel Popper, Austin Deculus will once again start at left tackle while Bobby Hart will start on the right side,” writes team blogger Michael Peterson.

In a similar situation last week, Justin Herbert was sacked four times and Trey Lance went down for a fifth as the Chargers were uncompetitive in a second straight loss after starting the season 3-0.

The Dolphins start with an advantage as they look to pull off the upset at 3.5 point home underdogs.


Miami’s Pass Rush Should Step Up

Coming into the season, all eyes were on this Miami Dolphins pass rush to carry a short handed defense to relvancy. Playing in front of a secondary that was riddled with question marks, fans expected this front four to be a reckoning crew when healthy.

Well, in five healthy games the Dolphins have been able to produce 11 sacks. Not bad, but not where it needed to be. Coming off a three sack performance last week, SI’s Alaina Poupart says it’s now or never for the front four.

“The Dolphins absolutely should dominate in the passing game,” Poupart began. “The Chargers offensive line is a mess right now. And the Dolphins absolutely, positively have to take advantage of it. It’s that simple.”


Dolphins Likely To Pull Off The Upset

Not listed on this Los Angeles Chargers injury report are star running backs Najee Harris and Omarion Hampton. Well, that is because they were placed on the injured reserve earlier this week.

So let me get this straight, the Chargers are coming to South Beach without their starting tackle, their second string tackle, or their third string tackle. Their starting back is hurt, their back up back is hurt. Kimani Vidal and Hassan Haskins will be carrying the rock for the Bolts?

And they are still favored by more than a field goal?

I’ve been watching football a long time. I understand that a good quarterback can make a lot of wrongs right. But if you can’t run the ball to tire out an outstanding pass rush, and you can’t block that pass rush because everybody in your offensive line room is hurt, I’m having trouble imagining a path to victory for these Chargers.

The Phins have had their troubles, but since Week 1 they haven’t gone a single week without scoring atleast 21 points. I think 21 is enough to get the job on Sunday.

I’m siding with the Miami Dolphins (+180 on the moneyline) to pull off the upset handily.

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