Willie Gay Jr.

OLB · Miami Dolphins vs Kansas City Chiefs · 27 graded snaps

Replacement

Willie Gay Jr. anchored the edge effectively against the run and contributed on special teams, but breakdown plays against tight end Noah Gray limited him to a 66.8 grade.

Willie Gay Jr. film grade: 67: share card

Run defense6615Coverage608Special teams674

The full breakdown

Gay's 66.8 grade reflected a solid afternoon setting the perimeter on run defense alongside clean work as a return blocker. His run defense peaked on crucial downs, highlighted by setting a hard edge against Travis Kelce on a fourth-and-short stop (Q2 06:15) and containing outside sweeps (Q4 01:48). However, his grade was weighed down by two negative reps against Noah Gray: failing to shed Gray on a 10-yard touchdown run (Q1 12:57) and biting on play-action flow to surrender a 24-yard throwback completion (Q4 13:47).

Strengths

Setting a firm edge on runs
Kickoff return blocking
High-effort pursuit

Weaknesses

Shedding alley blocks
Play-action discipline

Plays that moved the grade

+0.5Q2 06:15, 4th & 1Set a hard edge against Travis Kelce to funnel an inside zone run inward for no gain and a turnover on downs.
-0.5Q1 12:57, 3rd & 1Failed to shed a block from Noah Gray in the alley, allowing a 10-yard rushing touchdown.
-0.5Q4 13:47, 1st & 10Bit on run flow during play-action, yielding a 24-yard throwback reception before recovering to make the tackle.

Every graded snap · 9 wins or losses, 18 routine

-0.5Q1 12:57 · 3 & 1 · Run defenseMet by Noah Gray in the alley and cannot shed in time to plug the hole.
+0.5Q2 12:58 · Special teamsDelivers a solid initial block to help wall off the interior coverage.
+0.5Q2 08:11 · 1 & 10 · Run defenseScrapes laterally through traffic and makes the primary tackle on Johnson after a 7-yard gain.
+0.5Q2 07:35 · 2 & 3 · CoverageReads the play quickly and flies in to assist Sieler on the tackle immediately at the catch point.
+0.5Q2 06:15 · 4 & 1 · Run defenseSets a hard edge against Travis Kelce, keeping the run funnelled inside to the linebackers.
+0.5Q3 10:01 · 1 & 10 · Run defenseSets a hard physical edge against the tight end block, forcing the run to slow down and stay contained.
-0.5Q4 13:47 · 1 & 10 · CoverageBites on the flow and loses his throwback assignment initially, though shows high motor to hustle back across the field and tackle Gray at the 8-yard line.

Willie Gay Jr.'s season grades →