I am pleased to announce another change in the evolution of Dolphin Shout.
Unlike other changes we've done recently, though, this will have almost no effect on the site. It is more of a formality that I feel is necessary.
I started Dolphin Shout two and a half years ago with the hope of having a blog where I could share my thoughts and discuss with a few like-minded people. Since then it has grown into more than I could have imagined. I want to thank all of you guys for making Dolphin Shout what it is now. I know I say this kind of frequently, but you guys are the reason Dolphin Shout is what it is today.
And before I announce the change I want to say a special thank you to my writers: Gary, Patrick, and Kenny. You guys are the ones who keep Dolphin Shout running, and you're responsible for the tremendous growth of the site.
So what's the change? Well, it's pretty simple, actually.
Dolphin Shout is no longer a 'Miami Dolphins Blog'. Dolphin Shout is now a 'Miami Dolphins Community'. We will still have the same blog. We'll have the same forums. Everything will stay the same except for how we refer to the site.
I told you it was minor, but it was still important to me that we made this change. Dolphin Shout has become much more than just a blog. We're a community now. Sure, we still have the blog and forum, but that isn't what defines us. What defines us is the community that we've created, the friends we've made, and the discussion that we engage in.
Any site can have a blog. Not many can have a community.
So thank you to everyone who has helped make Dolphin Shout the awesome place it is today. Here's to many more years.
Miami Dolphins Exploit Jets Poor Coaching
Tony Sparano’s coaching weakness became obvious when the Dolphins dismantled the Jets on Sunday. His complete inability to adapt to the unexpected was apparent when Miami added a wrinkle to its pressure package. The same lack of adaptability that led to his dismissal as the head coach of the Dolphins, left the Jets offense sputtering and unable to make the corrections needed to right the ship.
The Jets suffer from the same uncreative approach that has become passé in the NFL. Professional football games can no longer be dictated by power offense and brute force defense. The Miami Dolphins showed a corner blitz package for the first time this season, Tony Sparano and the Jets were unable to respond.
It was a brilliant move by the Dolphins to bring something completely different to the table. Jimmy Wilson and Nolan Carroll performed the blitzes to perfection and it was evident Mark Sanchez was unaware of the break down in protection. Sparano on the sideline going over reams of pictures with Sanchez trying to understand, made it easy to see why the Dolphins could not adjust last season with Sparano at the helm.
Football cannot be played in a vacuum, it is a series of adjustments made as the opposition shows his hand. This new perspective as the opponent playing against Sparano, confirmed his inability to adjust. It is what Ricky Williams meant when he said Sparano is a “micro-manager.” Taking a rigid approach to a game plan leads to failure when the plan does not work and there is no room for adjustment. Watching Sparano try to diagnose the Dolphins blitz left the impression there was nothing to fall back on if the original plan did not work.
The entire Jets staff was unprepared for the attacking Dolphins game plan. Mike Westhoff was stunned by an early on-sides kick and assumed Miami had played the one unexpected card they had in the deck, little did Westhoff know, the deck was loaded!
Tim Tebow was added as the personal protector to the punter because he enabled the Jets options like the fake they ran successfully against Miami in the last meeting. There was little consideration taken to the fact Tebow has never truly had to block anyone in his football career. Instead of worrying about what Tebow may do, Miami exploited his inexperience. It was genius coaching from the mind frame of aggression.
Leading 20-0 surely Miami would not try anything fancy against a kicker who had not missed a field goal this season. Again Westhoff, Ryan and Sparano failed to recognize Miami’s aggressive game plan, 20-0 was not enough. Following the game, Westhoff admitted it was the worst game he coached in his 40 years in the NFL. The blocked field goal added to the frustration that may have changed to momentum had the kick been successful.
The Jets had the misconception that talking a good game and making veiled threats to injure another team’s playmakers is enough to make opponents play timid. Ryan and his crew are like the bully gang in the schoolyard, most of what they do is talk. When the real fighting starts it's the heart of the dog that wins out over empty words. The great Gods of football seem to bounce the ball in the right direction for the underdog Dolphins, so maybe there is something to Reggie Bush's backhanded statement about karma, it comes around...
Ryan, Sparano and Westhoff have built a reputation of being tough guys, playing a hard hitting brand of football, but being smart is not part of the equation. Punch a team in the mouth, take out the rookie QB on the second drive and watch them crumble. Most times it will work, but not when a team, coming off a bye week has doubled the preparation all the way to the backup QB. Matt Moore never missed a beat.
Miami heard about the “hot sauce” and the “head hunters,” but it was all talk. A violent straight arm early by Reggie Bush showed which heads should be on a swivel. All the way through to Richey Incognito waving bye-bye to a bench that was wishing it was as empty as the stadium. The biggest game in a season nearly half over and the Jets were no-shows, their actions did not back their words.
Rex Ryan never told his players talk was cheap, Tony Sparano had no answers for the corner blitz and Mike Westhoff forgot Tim Tebow is a quarterback not a punt protector. The Dolphins clearly outplayed the Jets, but this was a coaching victory. Joe Philbin, Mike Sherman, Kevin Coyle and Darren Rizzi put together a flawless game plan and the players executed it to perfection.
No need for the Dolphins to talk about the win, Mike Westhoff said it best, “that's as bad as it’s been in my entire career.” Westhoff was speaking for the entire Jets coaching staff who know they were demoralized by a superior staff and a team that would not be denied.
Hello NFL, welcome the Miami Dolphins to the playoff hunt!
The Jets suffer from the same uncreative approach that has become passé in the NFL. Professional football games can no longer be dictated by power offense and brute force defense. The Miami Dolphins showed a corner blitz package for the first time this season, Tony Sparano and the Jets were unable to respond.
It was a brilliant move by the Dolphins to bring something completely different to the table. Jimmy Wilson and Nolan Carroll performed the blitzes to perfection and it was evident Mark Sanchez was unaware of the break down in protection. Sparano on the sideline going over reams of pictures with Sanchez trying to understand, made it easy to see why the Dolphins could not adjust last season with Sparano at the helm.
Football cannot be played in a vacuum, it is a series of adjustments made as the opposition shows his hand. This new perspective as the opponent playing against Sparano, confirmed his inability to adjust. It is what Ricky Williams meant when he said Sparano is a “micro-manager.” Taking a rigid approach to a game plan leads to failure when the plan does not work and there is no room for adjustment. Watching Sparano try to diagnose the Dolphins blitz left the impression there was nothing to fall back on if the original plan did not work.
The entire Jets staff was unprepared for the attacking Dolphins game plan. Mike Westhoff was stunned by an early on-sides kick and assumed Miami had played the one unexpected card they had in the deck, little did Westhoff know, the deck was loaded!
Tim Tebow was added as the personal protector to the punter because he enabled the Jets options like the fake they ran successfully against Miami in the last meeting. There was little consideration taken to the fact Tebow has never truly had to block anyone in his football career. Instead of worrying about what Tebow may do, Miami exploited his inexperience. It was genius coaching from the mind frame of aggression.
Leading 20-0 surely Miami would not try anything fancy against a kicker who had not missed a field goal this season. Again Westhoff, Ryan and Sparano failed to recognize Miami’s aggressive game plan, 20-0 was not enough. Following the game, Westhoff admitted it was the worst game he coached in his 40 years in the NFL. The blocked field goal added to the frustration that may have changed to momentum had the kick been successful.
The Jets had the misconception that talking a good game and making veiled threats to injure another team’s playmakers is enough to make opponents play timid. Ryan and his crew are like the bully gang in the schoolyard, most of what they do is talk. When the real fighting starts it's the heart of the dog that wins out over empty words. The great Gods of football seem to bounce the ball in the right direction for the underdog Dolphins, so maybe there is something to Reggie Bush's backhanded statement about karma, it comes around...
Ryan, Sparano and Westhoff have built a reputation of being tough guys, playing a hard hitting brand of football, but being smart is not part of the equation. Punch a team in the mouth, take out the rookie QB on the second drive and watch them crumble. Most times it will work, but not when a team, coming off a bye week has doubled the preparation all the way to the backup QB. Matt Moore never missed a beat.
Miami heard about the “hot sauce” and the “head hunters,” but it was all talk. A violent straight arm early by Reggie Bush showed which heads should be on a swivel. All the way through to Richey Incognito waving bye-bye to a bench that was wishing it was as empty as the stadium. The biggest game in a season nearly half over and the Jets were no-shows, their actions did not back their words.
Rex Ryan never told his players talk was cheap, Tony Sparano had no answers for the corner blitz and Mike Westhoff forgot Tim Tebow is a quarterback not a punt protector. The Dolphins clearly outplayed the Jets, but this was a coaching victory. Joe Philbin, Mike Sherman, Kevin Coyle and Darren Rizzi put together a flawless game plan and the players executed it to perfection.
No need for the Dolphins to talk about the win, Mike Westhoff said it best, “that's as bad as it’s been in my entire career.” Westhoff was speaking for the entire Jets coaching staff who know they were demoralized by a superior staff and a team that would not be denied.
Hello NFL, welcome the Miami Dolphins to the playoff hunt!
Miami Dolphins Earn BIG Win
I'm not sure if the Dolphins will have a bigger win this year than what they had today against the Jets. A win against the Jets always seems so satisfying, but this one seemed particularly satisfying. Maybe it's because it was against the hated Jets. It seems to be more than that, though. It's almost as if it says the Miami Dolphins have arrived. Many here have talked about this game being a turning point, and maybe it was. I sure hope it is.
The stat sheet says the Jets played better than we did. They had the ball for 3 minutes more than we did, 130 more yards of offense, and ran 20 more plays. Where they really failed was in the red zone (going one for four) and in special teams play.
The Dolphins, on the other hand, were two of three in the red zone and played the best special teams play I have seen in a long time. The special teams seemed to do everything right from an onside kick recovery, blocked punt for a TD, and a blocked field goal attempt. Even Dan Carpenter got in on the act with no misses. Brandon Fields also had a great day. The Jets had a long field the entire day, and the Dolphins defense turned up the heat once the Jets got close. The Jets were lucky the score was where it was. It could have been much worse for them.
A special Dolphin Shout out goes to Matt Moore and Jimmy Wilson. Wilson seemed to be everywhere. What more can you say about "the mad bomber" Matt Moore? I think he has ice water running through his veins.
I don't know what this win will mean to the national media, but you know something? I really don't care. I know what it means to me, and I guess that is all that really matters isn't it?
The stat sheet says the Jets played better than we did. They had the ball for 3 minutes more than we did, 130 more yards of offense, and ran 20 more plays. Where they really failed was in the red zone (going one for four) and in special teams play.
The Dolphins, on the other hand, were two of three in the red zone and played the best special teams play I have seen in a long time. The special teams seemed to do everything right from an onside kick recovery, blocked punt for a TD, and a blocked field goal attempt. Even Dan Carpenter got in on the act with no misses. Brandon Fields also had a great day. The Jets had a long field the entire day, and the Dolphins defense turned up the heat once the Jets got close. The Jets were lucky the score was where it was. It could have been much worse for them.
A special Dolphin Shout out goes to Matt Moore and Jimmy Wilson. Wilson seemed to be everywhere. What more can you say about "the mad bomber" Matt Moore? I think he has ice water running through his veins.
I don't know what this win will mean to the national media, but you know something? I really don't care. I know what it means to me, and I guess that is all that really matters isn't it?
Miami Dolphins at New York Jets Live Game Chat
Here we are. After all the trash talking it's finally time to see the Dolphins whoop up on the Jets.
Click here to watch the game live. Don't download any video player. You do not need any download to watch the game.
Click here to listen to the game live.
Click here to watch the game live. Don't download any video player. You do not need any download to watch the game.
Click here to listen to the game live.
Jets Intentionally Injuring Impact Players
Week 14 – 2010: Nolan Carroll
Intentionally tripped, on the sideline while covering a punt.
Jets coach Sal Alosi admits intentionally tripping…
Week 6 – 2011: Reggie Bush
Right arm hanging at his side with neck injury.
Leaves game after being pulled from the pile…
Week 17 – 2011: Davone Bess
Sprained MCL.
Bart Scott hits in the knee…
Week 3 – 2012: Reggie Bush
Bruised knee.
LaRon Landry claims hit intended to take out…
Roger Goodell can fine the Saints and suspend their head coach, force their DC into retirement, but if he thinks there needs to be a bounty for teams to intentionally try to injury players, he’s sadly mistaken. The New York Jets target impact players on the opposition every week and because there are no cash bonuses involved the targeting is not labeled "bounty," but playing with the intent to injure is no different than a bounty program.
Against the Dolphins, the Jets have either caused an impact player to leave the game or made blatantly dirty moves, even from the coaching staff. It is no coincidence that either Reggie Bush or Davone Bess has been injured against the Jets in each of the last 3 meetings. To think players like Richie Incognito are not aware of this trend would be equally gullible. The Dolphins do not play with the intent to injure, but when the opponent has a history of hurting the best players on their team it would be foolish not send an early message.
An eye for an eye justice is known by the Latin Lex Talionis.
No one in Miami is claiming the goal of taking out any Jet player, but when Incognito is on record as saying he has hostile intentions, it is probably a good bet for the Jets to pay attention. The Dolphins understand the Jets are a dirty football team, the history doesn’t need to be researched, it’s evident in the scars on their knees.
The problem with playing dirty is the idea of taking away a man’s livelihood in an already short-lived profession. Players that would normally not get drawn into making cheap shots or late hits can be pulled across the line when their livelihoods are threatened. The Dolphins know the only way to combat dirty play is to play with extreme aggression within the rules. This is the approach the Dolphins must take to neutralize the contemptible play of the Jets.
Lex Talionis
Most of the transgressions have come with Rex Ryan as the coach, but when it continues with Tony Sparano, integrity comes into question. Perhaps Sparano can blame Jeff Ireland or Stephen Ross for his firing in Miami or maybe he can justify himself by being all in with the team that hired him, but to condone such actions speaks volumes for his lack of honor. The players he once coached recognize this and will take special pleasure in making sure he has a bad day.
It is foolish to antagonize an opponent and is the reason most good coaches place a muzzle over the mouths of their volatile players. Rex Ryan has failed to do this and now his own players are leaking out, there is intent to injure.
The NFL need not get involved in this matter, Richie, Jake, Mike, Cameron and Karlos among an entire team are ready to deal with it the way it should be dealt with. It is little wonder Bush was unconcerned about Darrelle Revis.
Lex Talionis
Nothing to see here commissioner, you have your hands full with the mess you made in New Orleans. The Dolphins will handle the dirty work. The rest of the league will turn a blind eye, perhaps even applaud because they have no doubt seen their own playmakers targeted by the same unscrupulous play.
Watch out New York, the boys from Miami are not happy and the nothing will create change faster than losing in the NFL. We got your number…
Lex Talionis
Intentionally tripped, on the sideline while covering a punt.
Jets coach Sal Alosi admits intentionally tripping…
Week 6 – 2011: Reggie Bush
Right arm hanging at his side with neck injury.
Leaves game after being pulled from the pile…
Week 17 – 2011: Davone Bess
Sprained MCL.
Bart Scott hits in the knee…
Week 3 – 2012: Reggie Bush
Bruised knee.
LaRon Landry claims hit intended to take out…
Roger Goodell can fine the Saints and suspend their head coach, force their DC into retirement, but if he thinks there needs to be a bounty for teams to intentionally try to injury players, he’s sadly mistaken. The New York Jets target impact players on the opposition every week and because there are no cash bonuses involved the targeting is not labeled "bounty," but playing with the intent to injure is no different than a bounty program.
Against the Dolphins, the Jets have either caused an impact player to leave the game or made blatantly dirty moves, even from the coaching staff. It is no coincidence that either Reggie Bush or Davone Bess has been injured against the Jets in each of the last 3 meetings. To think players like Richie Incognito are not aware of this trend would be equally gullible. The Dolphins do not play with the intent to injure, but when the opponent has a history of hurting the best players on their team it would be foolish not send an early message.
An eye for an eye justice is known by the Latin Lex Talionis.
No one in Miami is claiming the goal of taking out any Jet player, but when Incognito is on record as saying he has hostile intentions, it is probably a good bet for the Jets to pay attention. The Dolphins understand the Jets are a dirty football team, the history doesn’t need to be researched, it’s evident in the scars on their knees.
The problem with playing dirty is the idea of taking away a man’s livelihood in an already short-lived profession. Players that would normally not get drawn into making cheap shots or late hits can be pulled across the line when their livelihoods are threatened. The Dolphins know the only way to combat dirty play is to play with extreme aggression within the rules. This is the approach the Dolphins must take to neutralize the contemptible play of the Jets.
Lex Talionis
Most of the transgressions have come with Rex Ryan as the coach, but when it continues with Tony Sparano, integrity comes into question. Perhaps Sparano can blame Jeff Ireland or Stephen Ross for his firing in Miami or maybe he can justify himself by being all in with the team that hired him, but to condone such actions speaks volumes for his lack of honor. The players he once coached recognize this and will take special pleasure in making sure he has a bad day.
It is foolish to antagonize an opponent and is the reason most good coaches place a muzzle over the mouths of their volatile players. Rex Ryan has failed to do this and now his own players are leaking out, there is intent to injure.
The NFL need not get involved in this matter, Richie, Jake, Mike, Cameron and Karlos among an entire team are ready to deal with it the way it should be dealt with. It is little wonder Bush was unconcerned about Darrelle Revis.
Lex Talionis
Nothing to see here commissioner, you have your hands full with the mess you made in New Orleans. The Dolphins will handle the dirty work. The rest of the league will turn a blind eye, perhaps even applaud because they have no doubt seen their own playmakers targeted by the same unscrupulous play.
Watch out New York, the boys from Miami are not happy and the nothing will create change faster than losing in the NFL. We got your number…
Lex Talionis
Jets Add More 'Hot Sauce' to Matchup with Miami Dolphins
In case you weren't aware, the Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets are rivals.
Before their Week 3 matchup Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan said that Reggie Bush would get a little "hot sauce" during their game. Ryan didn't elaborate on that comment (and he actually apologized for the comment this week), but Reggie was convinced that his "hot sauce" comment meant they would be targeting him and trying to injure him, which is exactly what happened. Bush left the game late in the 2nd quarter after a knee injury suffered while running up the middle.
That was pretty much all of the drama of that game. This weekend's game, on the other hand, has a little extra to it. Jets Safety LaRon Landry said the following on Wednesday:
Landry then continued to stir people up a little on twitter. All you guys need to know is that he's a punk who likes taking pictures of himself in front of his bathroom mirror after his daily dose of steroids.
I will enjoy it when the Dolphins beat up on his mediocre defense.
Landry, in his usual classiness started clapping as soon as he saw Bush on the ground clutching his knee. Here's a picture for proof. I've circled him so you know who he is:
So here's to rivals week and beating the bed-wetters up in New York. Screw all that hippie stuff (sorry Patrick). I want Miami to lay it on the Jets this weekend.
Thanks for stopping by. Email me at paul@dolphinshout.com. I'm also on twitter @PaulDSmythe.
Here's to having a team with a future at QB instead of one that is sabotaging theirs.
Before their Week 3 matchup Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan said that Reggie Bush would get a little "hot sauce" during their game. Ryan didn't elaborate on that comment (and he actually apologized for the comment this week), but Reggie was convinced that his "hot sauce" comment meant they would be targeting him and trying to injure him, which is exactly what happened. Bush left the game late in the 2nd quarter after a knee injury suffered while running up the middle.
That was pretty much all of the drama of that game. This weekend's game, on the other hand, has a little extra to it. Jets Safety LaRon Landry said the following on Wednesday:
"He will remember that hit. Every time he sees me, he will remember that hit"I believe that Landry is talking about the play where Bush was injured. I went back and watched that play multiple times, and I do not think that it was Landry who injured him. Sure, he was probably trying to, but Landry didn't deal the hit that hurt Reggie.
Landry then continued to stir people up a little on twitter. All you guys need to know is that he's a punk who likes taking pictures of himself in front of his bathroom mirror after his daily dose of steroids.
 |
| That's cute |
Landry, in his usual classiness started clapping as soon as he saw Bush on the ground clutching his knee. Here's a picture for proof. I've circled him so you know who he is:
So here's to rivals week and beating the bed-wetters up in New York. Screw all that hippie stuff (sorry Patrick). I want Miami to lay it on the Jets this weekend.
Thanks for stopping by. Email me at paul@dolphinshout.com. I'm also on twitter @PaulDSmythe.
Here's to having a team with a future at QB instead of one that is sabotaging theirs.
Miami Dolphins Ready for Jets Week
There is a fine line between passion and hate… The emotion that enables the concise thoughts associated with passion is only slightly detached from the enraged hasty decisions of hate. In the case of a football game between the Dolphins and the Jets, it is easy to cross the line. Where the passion for victory flows like a spring, the poison of hate erupts like a geyser and many times leads to defeat.
Every week in the NFL is important, with only 16 chances any loss could be the difference between the playoffs and an extended vacation. Teams come out flat for critical games and it leaves fans wondering how this could happen, the answer is in the disparity between passion and hate. The Dolphins do not like the Jets, but using hate to motivate will only lead to expending energy that if reserved, is the key to victory.
Sun Tzu wrote, “When we demonize opponents, we undermine our chances of success by attracting supporters who are looking for someone to hate rather than a goal to support. The character of these supporters will lead us inevitably into a costly conflict. Positions built on philosophies of enmity are inherently weak. Positions built on mutual rewards are inherently strong.”
Instead of getting even, Sun Tzu teaches us to "get odd," that is to distinguish ourselves from others by standing out and doing things that are unexpected. This is the direction the Dolphins must follow. The team must not get caught up in the loathing the fans have for the opponent, but follow the passion of a well thought out game plan two weeks in preparation. The Jets are desperate, and they will be seeking revenge for their own lack of success and that vengeance will lead them down the hole of hate.
The nature of rivalries ignites the fans from both teams but the vitriol in the stands must not boil over on to the field. Vehemence in the form of executing a game plan is more powerful than penalties rooted in anger. This is the culture Joe Philbin must instill in the Dolphins, coldblooded implementation of the unexpected, like a machine marching down the field impervious to distractions off the gridiron.
The media darling Jets are pulling in the ranks as losing heats up their self made spotlight. The hated Dolphins are the target and this is the advantage Miami must exploit because, “philosophies of enmity are inherently weak.” The problem with antipathy is the same as blowing air on the coals of a fire, the fire will roar until the coals are spent and then there is no longer fuel to burn. By forcing the Jets to become the team playing with rage, we force them to expend energy that should be used in the course of playing the game; instead it is spent on their own anger.
The Dolphins must demonstrate the cold passion of a winner, using emotion as a vehicle of strength in the context of a football game. Leave the ranting and raving to the Jets and their insufferable fans. Through perseverance, precision and passion the Miami Dolphins will walk out of the New Jersey with dignity, and the Jets will be left facing the odium of the media and fans.
The bus with the precision Philbin machine will roll out of the meadowlands victorious.
Waving Bye Bye now, enjoy the press conferences, we have a division to win…
Every week in the NFL is important, with only 16 chances any loss could be the difference between the playoffs and an extended vacation. Teams come out flat for critical games and it leaves fans wondering how this could happen, the answer is in the disparity between passion and hate. The Dolphins do not like the Jets, but using hate to motivate will only lead to expending energy that if reserved, is the key to victory.
Sun Tzu wrote, “When we demonize opponents, we undermine our chances of success by attracting supporters who are looking for someone to hate rather than a goal to support. The character of these supporters will lead us inevitably into a costly conflict. Positions built on philosophies of enmity are inherently weak. Positions built on mutual rewards are inherently strong.”
Instead of getting even, Sun Tzu teaches us to "get odd," that is to distinguish ourselves from others by standing out and doing things that are unexpected. This is the direction the Dolphins must follow. The team must not get caught up in the loathing the fans have for the opponent, but follow the passion of a well thought out game plan two weeks in preparation. The Jets are desperate, and they will be seeking revenge for their own lack of success and that vengeance will lead them down the hole of hate.
The nature of rivalries ignites the fans from both teams but the vitriol in the stands must not boil over on to the field. Vehemence in the form of executing a game plan is more powerful than penalties rooted in anger. This is the culture Joe Philbin must instill in the Dolphins, coldblooded implementation of the unexpected, like a machine marching down the field impervious to distractions off the gridiron.
The media darling Jets are pulling in the ranks as losing heats up their self made spotlight. The hated Dolphins are the target and this is the advantage Miami must exploit because, “philosophies of enmity are inherently weak.” The problem with antipathy is the same as blowing air on the coals of a fire, the fire will roar until the coals are spent and then there is no longer fuel to burn. By forcing the Jets to become the team playing with rage, we force them to expend energy that should be used in the course of playing the game; instead it is spent on their own anger.
The Dolphins must demonstrate the cold passion of a winner, using emotion as a vehicle of strength in the context of a football game. Leave the ranting and raving to the Jets and their insufferable fans. Through perseverance, precision and passion the Miami Dolphins will walk out of the New Jersey with dignity, and the Jets will be left facing the odium of the media and fans.
The bus with the precision Philbin machine will roll out of the meadowlands victorious.
Waving Bye Bye now, enjoy the press conferences, we have a division to win…
Breaking Down Miami Dolphin QB Ryan Tannehill
Many times the intangible talents of a quarterback are the difference between a winner and a loser. In the previous article, those intangibles brought forth a confirmation that Ryan Tannehill had already risen to the vaunted status of “Franchise Quarterback.” It was only a year ago, the same tag was placed on Mark Sanchez in New York, but in six games, Sanchez has lost much of the luster that was generously heaped upon him.
While the intangible “it” factor is an absolute must for an NFL quarterback, it cannot sustain that quarterback over the long term without the tangible performance indicators to back it up. The intangibles will win games in critical moments. The tangibles will win games on a consistent and long term basis. For these reasons, a “Franchise Quarterback” should not only have the “it” factor, but he must also have the numbers behind “it.”
It’s obvious to all Dolphin fans that Ryan Tannehill has the “it” factor, the intangible qualities that make one QB standout from others. As a rookie, the talents of Tannehill have not been seen in Miami since number 13 took over in 1983. Marino had the same intangible flair, but by his second season, he had shown the tangible qualities that would sustain the Miami Dolphins for the next 16 years.
Overall, the numbers do not lie, the following stats are all courtesy of ESPN… How the numbers are derived is not as relevant as the names on the list. Notice the names in red below, they are all the Super Bowl winning QBs still playing in the NFL. The players ranked 2-4 are multiple winners and it is probably a consensus opinion that Rodgers and Brees will end the season much higher than they are currently ranked. At number 17, Ryan Tannehill is an average NFL QB. Notice where the aforementioned Sanchez resides in the ranking…
While the intangible “it” factor is an absolute must for an NFL quarterback, it cannot sustain that quarterback over the long term without the tangible performance indicators to back it up. The intangibles will win games in critical moments. The tangibles will win games on a consistent and long term basis. For these reasons, a “Franchise Quarterback” should not only have the “it” factor, but he must also have the numbers behind “it.”
It’s obvious to all Dolphin fans that Ryan Tannehill has the “it” factor, the intangible qualities that make one QB standout from others. As a rookie, the talents of Tannehill have not been seen in Miami since number 13 took over in 1983. Marino had the same intangible flair, but by his second season, he had shown the tangible qualities that would sustain the Miami Dolphins for the next 16 years.
Overall, the numbers do not lie, the following stats are all courtesy of ESPN… How the numbers are derived is not as relevant as the names on the list. Notice the names in red below, they are all the Super Bowl winning QBs still playing in the NFL. The players ranked 2-4 are multiple winners and it is probably a consensus opinion that Rodgers and Brees will end the season much higher than they are currently ranked. At number 17, Ryan Tannehill is an average NFL QB. Notice where the aforementioned Sanchez resides in the ranking…
Since Miami has a bye week it is a good time to use statistics to see the areas where Ryan Tannehill has done well and where he will need to improve if the rest of the NFL is going agree, the “franchise” tag is appropriate. Breaking down Tannehill’s passing performance by opponent, wins and losses, yardage, and quarter, the good and not so good can be identified and the Dolphin coaches can understand the areas of weakness that need improvement. What follows are Tannehill’s current total stats, the chart for Eli Manning is included for comparison.
The final column on this chart is in the old QB rating formula. A rating above 90 is considered good using this method. The numbers are higher for Manning across board. Tannehill is a rookie and a comparison with a veteran like Manning is not meant as criticism, it is shown as an indication of where Tannehill must go in the quest for Franchise QB status. The Following charts Tannehill’s performance against the teams Miami has played this year.
What immediately jumps out on the chart is how dependent the Dolphins are on Tannehill playing a good game. In every win, his rating is above 90.
Overall, Miami played poorly against the Rams, but the defense kept them out of the endzone and it should come as no surprise that Tannehill had his best statistical game of the season. The slightest mistake by Tannehill in this game would have been the difference. A performance like this against any other opponent except perhaps Houston and Miami would have won. It means, even though he is a rookie, as Ryan Tannehill goes, so go the Miami Dolphins. The following are the stats by yardage splits.
As a note, ESPN has not yet updated Tannehill’s stats for week 6, so the data is a week old. The chart shows the effect of the West Coast Offensive style, the majority of the passes are 20 yards or less and the most prevalent are 10 yards or less. As the passes get longer, the level of difficulty gets higher and that is what separates the Franchise QBs from the rest of the pack. The Franchise QBs are consistently accurate at every yardage. Notice the same chart for Eli manning.
The consistency is nearly identical and even gets better with the longer throws. This may be more of Manning having a better understanding of reading defenses and knowing when to throw the deeper pass. Notice the affect TDs have on the rating, scoring is what wins football games and separates Franchise QBs from the rest. To reiterate, Tannehill’s a rookie, the charts are meant to teach, not to criticize. The next chart shows Tannehill’s passing splits by quarter.
This chart shows Tannehill is better at the beginning and end of games than in the middle. It could be an anomaly, but it seems to point out another inconsistency that will affect the outcome of games. By allowing teams opportunities to get back into games or put games out of reach, such as what happened against Houston.
As the team prepares for the final 10 games of the season these are the indicators of what Tannehill needs to work on. Other teams will be looking at these statistics and will alter their defenses to take advantage. If the shorter passes are more consistently completed and longer ones not, then teams will continue to creep toward the box without the fear of plays being made behind them. This may already have been noticed as teams are shutting down the run with 8 in the box and blitzing more often. There will need to be deeper plays to push safeties back out of the box or Miami will become very easy to defend.
It’s a learning experience for the rookie, but by knowing the deficiencies and working through them, he can get to the level of Franchise Quarterback.
A level not seen in Miami since number 13 retired 13 years ago...
Ryan Tannehill's Development Has Been Wonderfully Handled
I feel like I can say the following statement about Miami Dolphins rookie QB Ryan Tannehill with absolute confidence, and I doubt that I will get much resistance to it:
Tannehill's college head coach, Mike Sherman, was hired as Miami's offensive coordinator, and he brought more than just a knowledge of Tannehill's strengths and weaknesses with him. He also brought the same offense that Tannehill had been running for two years and implemented it with the Dolphins. Tannehill came in already knowing 75% of the playbook, which was huge because he didn't have to spend a ton of time learning the plays. Adjusting to the speed of the NFL was a lot easier because he was able to just play football and didn't have to think too hard about what he needed to do.
Hiring Joe Philbin as the Dolphins head coach also turned out to be a great move. Philbin has firsthand experience developing an elite quarterback. He was the offensive coordinator of the Green Bay Packers for much of Aaron Rodgers career, so he knows what a franchise quarterback is supposed to look like. I can't say exactly how much Philbin has been a part of the Ryan Tannehill's development, but I suspect that he's played an important role.
Whether you like Miami's front office or not, you have to applaud them for the moves they've made this offseason. I understand that Jeff Ireland isn't the most popular guy in Miami, but we should give him some credit for what he's been able to put together.
Heck, one of Ireland's best moves was trading away practically nothing in return for Reggie Bush. Reggie has been instrumental in Tannehill's development. Miami was able to lean on Bush for the first few weeks while Tannehill got his bearings.
All in all, the Miami Dolphins have done an awesome job turning Tannehill into an NFL quarterback. We're witnessing the young rookie develop right in front of our eyes, and I don't think there are many people who saw him coming along this quickly. The way he handles pressure is incredible, and he has been fun to watch.
Now, I always try my best not to overreact. I feel like I am usually pretty good at thinking situations through and looking at the whole picture before I jump to conclusions. So, know that what I am saying has been well thought out. I'm not quite sure whether or not I will get resistance to this statement, so here it goes:
I believe that Ryan Tannehill will be the Miami Dolphins quarterback for the next 10-15 years. I believe that he is the infamous franchise quarterback that we have been waiting so long for. It's been 4,658 days since Marino's last snap, and we now can finally stop searching. Tannehill is the answer. Will he be the next Marino? I doubt it, but he can still be something pretty special. I'm looking forward to watching him for years to come, and I don't think I'm the only one.
That's all I've got for today. Thanks for stopping by. Email me at paul@dolphinshout.com. I'm also on twitter @PaulDSmythe.
Ryan Tannehill will be a much better quarterback than Chad Henne ever was.
Like I said, I doubt I will get much resistance with that statement. I believe that Tannehill has the potential to be so much more than Chad Henne ever could be. That's not a knock on Henne, either. Henne was a good quarterback. He was never great, but he was always pretty good.
Tannehill has already shown incredible development after just six games. His confidence, decision-making, and poise in the pocket are so much better now compared to Week 1 against the Texans, and the thing is that he didn't even look bad against Houston. I was extremely encouraged by what I saw then, so I'm ecstatic at what I am seeing now. He looks like an experienced veteran at times commanding the offense, not a rookie who's only played in a little more than a third of an NFL season.
Ryan Tannehill's rapid development up to this point can be attributed to two things, and the first is Tannehill himself. He has a ton of ability, and his willingness to work hard has helped him get to where he is now. It would be a mistake on my part to act like he isn't a huge reason for his own success.
The other reason for his development, which is the whole point of this article, is the ability of the Miami Dolphins as a whole to surround Tannehill with the right people and to put him in the right offensive system. He's been surrounded with everything he needs to succeed. During the draft he was viewed as a guy who, because of his only starting two seasons in college as a QB, would need a few years to develop before he'd be ready to start in the NFL, but every problem that was supposed to come as a result of Tannehill's inexperience was canceled out by Miami's ability to surround him with the proper people and system.
Instead of starting his NFL career at a disadvantage he was able to start at an advantage with plenty of help and support.
The other reason for his development, which is the whole point of this article, is the ability of the Miami Dolphins as a whole to surround Tannehill with the right people and to put him in the right offensive system. He's been surrounded with everything he needs to succeed. During the draft he was viewed as a guy who, because of his only starting two seasons in college as a QB, would need a few years to develop before he'd be ready to start in the NFL, but every problem that was supposed to come as a result of Tannehill's inexperience was canceled out by Miami's ability to surround him with the proper people and system.
Instead of starting his NFL career at a disadvantage he was able to start at an advantage with plenty of help and support.
Tannehill's college head coach, Mike Sherman, was hired as Miami's offensive coordinator, and he brought more than just a knowledge of Tannehill's strengths and weaknesses with him. He also brought the same offense that Tannehill had been running for two years and implemented it with the Dolphins. Tannehill came in already knowing 75% of the playbook, which was huge because he didn't have to spend a ton of time learning the plays. Adjusting to the speed of the NFL was a lot easier because he was able to just play football and didn't have to think too hard about what he needed to do.
Hiring Joe Philbin as the Dolphins head coach also turned out to be a great move. Philbin has firsthand experience developing an elite quarterback. He was the offensive coordinator of the Green Bay Packers for much of Aaron Rodgers career, so he knows what a franchise quarterback is supposed to look like. I can't say exactly how much Philbin has been a part of the Ryan Tannehill's development, but I suspect that he's played an important role.
Whether you like Miami's front office or not, you have to applaud them for the moves they've made this offseason. I understand that Jeff Ireland isn't the most popular guy in Miami, but we should give him some credit for what he's been able to put together.
Heck, one of Ireland's best moves was trading away practically nothing in return for Reggie Bush. Reggie has been instrumental in Tannehill's development. Miami was able to lean on Bush for the first few weeks while Tannehill got his bearings.
All in all, the Miami Dolphins have done an awesome job turning Tannehill into an NFL quarterback. We're witnessing the young rookie develop right in front of our eyes, and I don't think there are many people who saw him coming along this quickly. The way he handles pressure is incredible, and he has been fun to watch.
Now, I always try my best not to overreact. I feel like I am usually pretty good at thinking situations through and looking at the whole picture before I jump to conclusions. So, know that what I am saying has been well thought out. I'm not quite sure whether or not I will get resistance to this statement, so here it goes:
I believe that Ryan Tannehill will be the Miami Dolphins quarterback for the next 10-15 years. I believe that he is the infamous franchise quarterback that we have been waiting so long for. It's been 4,658 days since Marino's last snap, and we now can finally stop searching. Tannehill is the answer. Will he be the next Marino? I doubt it, but he can still be something pretty special. I'm looking forward to watching him for years to come, and I don't think I'm the only one.
That's all I've got for today. Thanks for stopping by. Email me at paul@dolphinshout.com. I'm also on twitter @PaulDSmythe.
The No-Names Return for the Miami Dolphins
The 3-3 Miami Dolphins are a 500 team for the first time since December 19, 2010. The Dolphins were 7-7 prior to finishing the 2010 season 7-9 and beginning 2011 with seven straight losses. Three consecutive losing seasons has left Miami out of contention for the playoffs and completely overlooked by the media. When picking teams during the pregame self-aggrandized four-letter network show, the Dolphins are not mentioned, as if the entire season is a continuous bye.
The fastest three minutes in football is void of Miami’s existence and when choosing the officials to call the games, the crew with the worst grade is sent to Miami. Even dregs like Solomon Wilcox commentate the games. There’s no pretty boy Brady or Sexy Rexy and his lap dog Tim Tebow, no Payton Manning or Drew Brees, no fancy monikered RG3s, not even a dog-fighting financier or a Ray Lewis walking away from murder. Miami simply gets no love...
These are the no-name Dolphins.
The team has fought their way to an even record prior to the bye week and the NFL is completely unaware of it. The Dolphins are in a four-way tie atop the AFC East, but their name is at the bottom of the list. There’s no logic, there’s no alphabetical sequence, there’s no statistical basis, and it’s as if an editor threw them in because the writer forgot they were in the division.
When rookie QB Ryan Tannehill won two of his first five games and threw for 1,200 yards, the stat didn’t appear until it was used a week later to describe Andrew Luck. No one in the league knows who Brian Hartline is except perhaps the fact that he is white makes him stand out like a smile in a room full of darkness. Reggie Bush is the only name on the team after the trades of Brandon Marshall and Vontae Davis and most NFL fans outside of Miami thought he retired when he gave back his Heisman Trophy.
These are the no-name Dolphins.
Here’s a message to the NFL, the Miami Dolphins are taking it personal, they aren’t flying under the radar, they are flying straight into it like a stealth bomber ready to ruin some team’s day. The reason for the team’s recent success is exactly what the media does not see; there are no darlings in Miami. The Dolphins do not need a star or a sideshow because this is a team. Losing Marshall and Davis did not hurt; it elevated the play of the rest of the team because they know the team is greater than any individual.
The Dolphins have a bye week to rest and by the time they take the field again on October 28th in New York, the hype machine will be in full force as the calamity Jets take the field. For Miami, it will be a pivotal game. The Dolphins have not had a winning record since November 28, 2010 and to accomplish it against the rival Jets, would bring back some life to a fading Miami fan-base.
The Dolphins need Ryan Tannehill to continue on his current path toward franchise quarterback status. They need some help at WR and perhaps after the bye, Jabar Gaffney will be ready to play. Reggie Bush, Jake Long and Rickard Marshall will have time to heal. The media will all be riding on the Jets and Miami will sneak up and drop a bomb on the parade. A win in New York will place Miami back on the map. It will take much longer to gain national respect, but the signs are positive.
These are the no-name Dolphins.
After two overtime losses and constant questions on whether Miami knew how to win football games, two straight close wins, put an end to that notion. To level the playing field, The Rams lost because of their kicker was on the short end of the kick this time. The officiating will even out as well if the Dolphins continue to win and begin to play against teams with national relevance.
Take a breath this week, but buckle up from then on Miami fans. The stealth Dolphins are coming and many unfortunate teams are going to be caught wondering how they lost to a team of unknown's. It all starts in New York by beating the hated Jets. Miami will rise again...
These are the no-name Dolphins.
The fastest three minutes in football is void of Miami’s existence and when choosing the officials to call the games, the crew with the worst grade is sent to Miami. Even dregs like Solomon Wilcox commentate the games. There’s no pretty boy Brady or Sexy Rexy and his lap dog Tim Tebow, no Payton Manning or Drew Brees, no fancy monikered RG3s, not even a dog-fighting financier or a Ray Lewis walking away from murder. Miami simply gets no love...
These are the no-name Dolphins.
The team has fought their way to an even record prior to the bye week and the NFL is completely unaware of it. The Dolphins are in a four-way tie atop the AFC East, but their name is at the bottom of the list. There’s no logic, there’s no alphabetical sequence, there’s no statistical basis, and it’s as if an editor threw them in because the writer forgot they were in the division.
When rookie QB Ryan Tannehill won two of his first five games and threw for 1,200 yards, the stat didn’t appear until it was used a week later to describe Andrew Luck. No one in the league knows who Brian Hartline is except perhaps the fact that he is white makes him stand out like a smile in a room full of darkness. Reggie Bush is the only name on the team after the trades of Brandon Marshall and Vontae Davis and most NFL fans outside of Miami thought he retired when he gave back his Heisman Trophy.
These are the no-name Dolphins.
Here’s a message to the NFL, the Miami Dolphins are taking it personal, they aren’t flying under the radar, they are flying straight into it like a stealth bomber ready to ruin some team’s day. The reason for the team’s recent success is exactly what the media does not see; there are no darlings in Miami. The Dolphins do not need a star or a sideshow because this is a team. Losing Marshall and Davis did not hurt; it elevated the play of the rest of the team because they know the team is greater than any individual.
The Dolphins have a bye week to rest and by the time they take the field again on October 28th in New York, the hype machine will be in full force as the calamity Jets take the field. For Miami, it will be a pivotal game. The Dolphins have not had a winning record since November 28, 2010 and to accomplish it against the rival Jets, would bring back some life to a fading Miami fan-base.
The Dolphins need Ryan Tannehill to continue on his current path toward franchise quarterback status. They need some help at WR and perhaps after the bye, Jabar Gaffney will be ready to play. Reggie Bush, Jake Long and Rickard Marshall will have time to heal. The media will all be riding on the Jets and Miami will sneak up and drop a bomb on the parade. A win in New York will place Miami back on the map. It will take much longer to gain national respect, but the signs are positive.
These are the no-name Dolphins.
After two overtime losses and constant questions on whether Miami knew how to win football games, two straight close wins, put an end to that notion. To level the playing field, The Rams lost because of their kicker was on the short end of the kick this time. The officiating will even out as well if the Dolphins continue to win and begin to play against teams with national relevance.
Take a breath this week, but buckle up from then on Miami fans. The stealth Dolphins are coming and many unfortunate teams are going to be caught wondering how they lost to a team of unknown's. It all starts in New York by beating the hated Jets. Miami will rise again...
These are the no-name Dolphins.
Miami Dolphins Defeat St. Louis Rams 17-14
This time it would be their kicker who cost them the game. The Miami Dolphins finally had luck (and wind) on their side on Sunday as they beat the St. Louis Rams 17-14. Rams rookie kicker Greg Zuerlein missed three field goals, the most important being a 66-yard attempt as time expired that would have sent the game into overtime.
Dolphins rookie QB Ryan Tannehill threw for 185 yards, completing 21 of 29 attempts and 2 TDs. This was Tannehill's first career game with 2 or more passing TDs.
Surprisingly, the Rams dominated the running game on both sides of the ball. Miami only ran for 19 yards, while St. Louis ran for 162. The Rams actually dominated the Dolphins in practically every statistical category except for turnovers and touchdowns. St. Louis had 462 yards of combined offense. Miami only had 192.
Miami's defense gave up a lot of yards, but they were consistently able to hold the Rams to field goals. St. Louis' lone touchdown came in the fourth quarter on a sneak by Rams QB Sam Bradford a half-inch away from the goal line, and even then the Dolphins almost stopped him.
This game had an interesting little side story to it. Jeff Fisher, Head Coach of the Rams, was courted by both the Dolphins and Rams this offseason for their head coach positions. Fisher ended up choosing St. Louis, which makes this victory even more satisfying.
Stay tuned. We've got some good content coming at you this week.
Thanks for stopping by. Email me at paul@dolphinshout.com. I'm on twitter @PaulDSmythe.
Dolphins rookie QB Ryan Tannehill threw for 185 yards, completing 21 of 29 attempts and 2 TDs. This was Tannehill's first career game with 2 or more passing TDs.
Surprisingly, the Rams dominated the running game on both sides of the ball. Miami only ran for 19 yards, while St. Louis ran for 162. The Rams actually dominated the Dolphins in practically every statistical category except for turnovers and touchdowns. St. Louis had 462 yards of combined offense. Miami only had 192.
Miami's defense gave up a lot of yards, but they were consistently able to hold the Rams to field goals. St. Louis' lone touchdown came in the fourth quarter on a sneak by Rams QB Sam Bradford a half-inch away from the goal line, and even then the Dolphins almost stopped him.
This game had an interesting little side story to it. Jeff Fisher, Head Coach of the Rams, was courted by both the Dolphins and Rams this offseason for their head coach positions. Fisher ended up choosing St. Louis, which makes this victory even more satisfying.
Stay tuned. We've got some good content coming at you this week.
Thanks for stopping by. Email me at paul@dolphinshout.com. I'm on twitter @PaulDSmythe.
Miami Dolphins vs. St. Louis Rams Live Game Chat
A win today would put the Dolphins at .500 going into the bye week.
Click here to watch the game online.
Click here to watch the game online.
Miami Dolphins vs. St. Louis Rams Pre Game Report
The St. Louis Rams come to town this week, and I noticed an interesting stat. The Rams play better at home than they do at away games. I guess we could say that about every team couldn't we? With the Rams that stat really sticks out. They also don't play well on natural turf. I would have to say they are indoor team that doesn't play well outside in the elements. This will also be their first game against an AFC opponent.
Bradford, for example, really struggles away from home. His yards per game goes down 70 yards, and he has only thrown one TD with a QB rating of 66.7 so far this year. Compare this to his home game stats and it is like night and day. At home he has six TDs and a QB rating of 90.9. He has five interceptions for the year, three at home and two on the road. His QB rating on grass is 39.2 and on turf it is 94.0. He's been sacked 15 times.
Sam Bradford has a completion percentage of 57 % for 1022 yards. Steven Jackson is their leading rusher with 271 yards on 77 carries. Danny Amendola is their leading wide receiver with 32 receptions for 395 yards. Although they are playing better than they did last year nothing really stands out for them, but winning three games against NFC opponents does say something about them.
Defensively they are led by James Laurinaitis with 39 tackles and Cortland Finnegan, who is second on the team in tackles and has three interceptions. It seems odd to me that a corner back would be second on their team in tackles, I could understand if a safety was the second leading tackler but a corner back? I don t get it. They have recorded eight interceptions, one fumble recovery, and 15 sacks.
Their kicker is light years better than ours he hasn't missed this year. He has nine field goals over 40 yards and four over 50 yards, with a long of 60 yards (can we work a trade for him with Carpenter?). Their punter is also averaging 49.5 yards with a net average of 41.2. They have not returned a KO or punt for a TD this year.
This is a big game for them, and they must be viewing us as a winnable game. Their next three games are against the Packers, Patriots, and the 49ers, so they need this game.
It's been a looong time since I have said this, but we are a better team than they are. This week it is them that are up against us! They don't play very well on natural turf, and they don't play as well on the road as they do at home. On paper we are much better than they are, but no one has ever won a game on paper. They are playing in Miami, and for those that don't know it is HOT down here. The Rams don't have many factors in their favor.
I have, however, been around long enough to know nothing I have written means a thing once the game begins. We still must go out and win the game. Turnovers at the wrong time, bads call, and missed field goals have doomed the Dolphins for too many years. This team is turning that trend around. It's time for them to win the games they should win, and this is one of those games.
Bradford, for example, really struggles away from home. His yards per game goes down 70 yards, and he has only thrown one TD with a QB rating of 66.7 so far this year. Compare this to his home game stats and it is like night and day. At home he has six TDs and a QB rating of 90.9. He has five interceptions for the year, three at home and two on the road. His QB rating on grass is 39.2 and on turf it is 94.0. He's been sacked 15 times.
Sam Bradford has a completion percentage of 57 % for 1022 yards. Steven Jackson is their leading rusher with 271 yards on 77 carries. Danny Amendola is their leading wide receiver with 32 receptions for 395 yards. Although they are playing better than they did last year nothing really stands out for them, but winning three games against NFC opponents does say something about them.
Defensively they are led by James Laurinaitis with 39 tackles and Cortland Finnegan, who is second on the team in tackles and has three interceptions. It seems odd to me that a corner back would be second on their team in tackles, I could understand if a safety was the second leading tackler but a corner back? I don t get it. They have recorded eight interceptions, one fumble recovery, and 15 sacks.
Their kicker is light years better than ours he hasn't missed this year. He has nine field goals over 40 yards and four over 50 yards, with a long of 60 yards (can we work a trade for him with Carpenter?). Their punter is also averaging 49.5 yards with a net average of 41.2. They have not returned a KO or punt for a TD this year.
This is a big game for them, and they must be viewing us as a winnable game. Their next three games are against the Packers, Patriots, and the 49ers, so they need this game.
It's been a looong time since I have said this, but we are a better team than they are. This week it is them that are up against us! They don't play very well on natural turf, and they don't play as well on the road as they do at home. On paper we are much better than they are, but no one has ever won a game on paper. They are playing in Miami, and for those that don't know it is HOT down here. The Rams don't have many factors in their favor.
I have, however, been around long enough to know nothing I have written means a thing once the game begins. We still must go out and win the game. Turnovers at the wrong time, bads call, and missed field goals have doomed the Dolphins for too many years. This team is turning that trend around. It's time for them to win the games they should win, and this is one of those games.
You Tell Me: Are the Miami Dolphins Playoff Contenders?
I was debating what I wanted to do with this post, but I think this will end up being fun.
What I want to know is: do you think the Miami Dolphins are good enough to be a playoff contender this year?
Currently the Dolphins are at 2-3. The Pittsburgh Steelers hold the last wild card spot at 2-2 after a bye last week. On paper Miami looks like they have a shot at it. What I want to know is if you guys think that they have a legitimate chance in reality.
Let me know what you think. Email me at paul@dolphinshout.com. I'm on twitter @PaulDSmythe.
Winning Feels Good for the Miami Dolphins
Adversity defines you as a team. The ability to fight through the bad calls, the bad plays, penalties,
fumbles, interceptions, weather, or, as we saw this past week, just
plain lousy officiating. Winning in spite of those situations is
what shows you what you are made of. Every team in the NFL has those troubles I just spoke of. How they react to those situations
is what distinguishes them from the pack.
In the past the Dolphins have not
handled those situations well at all. A fumble or an interception
would change the entire outcome of a game. This week we saw a
team that had everything stacked against them. An officiating crew
that was so bias it reminded me of the NBA officials (pure
blatant cheating is what I would call it). We had 2 fumbles that
could not have been much worse than what we saw. One for Jorvorskie Lane
at the Bengals 5 yard line, and one close to the red zone in the
Dolphins end of the field. We saw another missed field goal attempt
that gave the Bengals great field position, but you know what? None of
that mattered.
How many times have you seen in these
pages, and in the comment fields, the words “if”? If we didn't turn the ball over we would have won that game. If we had made
that field goal we would have won that game. If the referee's
wouldn't have blown that call we would have won that game. IF IF IF. I'm tired of seeing the word “if”,
and I'm tired of using the word “if” myself. I want to see the
word “did”, as in we “did” see the team do something to stop us
from using the word “if". This week we saw that. We “did”
beat the Bengals. We “did” not let the game get out of hand
because of our mistakes. This week we “did” execute enough plays
to win, and “IF” had nothing to do with it.
Joe Philbin, along with the draft picks
this year, is the reason Dolphin fans, and myself in particular, are
feeling good about where this team is headed. It seems that we
finally have a plan in place and the Dolphins are working the plan.
We no longer are floating in the ocean without a rudder. Our direction has been defined in Ryan Tannehill. The players and us
fans finally have someone we can identify with as a leader in Ryan
Tannehill. I don't know where it will lead or how Ryan will
progress, but for this time and moment I'm going to go with the flow,
and it damn sure feels good.
Dolphins Defeat the Bengals 17-13
The Miami Dolphins put two consecutive overtime defeats behind them and pulled out a 17 to 13 victory over the Bengals in Cincinnati.
The Dolphins overcame several questionable calls early in the game to win, when safety Reshad Jones intercepted Andy Dalton at midfield with 1:22 left. Ryan Tannehill completed 65.4 percent of his passes, threw for 223 yards and had a respectable 92.3 passer rating.
It was not the prettiest game for Miami as the offense again struggled to put the Bengals away in the fourth quarter. The Miami defense however was up to the challenge causing three turnovers including the game sealing interception. “We still didn’t end it the way we wanted to end it on offense. The defense bailed us out,” said Brian Hartline.
The Dolphins overcame an early turnover when Reshad Jones had a Bengals punt hit him in the back. The ball looked to have been recovered out of bounds but was upheld upon review. Plays like the third down on the Bengals’ first series of the third quarter when Randy Starks put his hands up and the ball somehow ended up in them, rescued Miami. The offense converted the INT into a TD when Reggie Bush scampered 13 yards for a 14-6 lead.
Kevin Burnett may have said it best after the game, “the last couple games came down to turnovers, the key thing was, we didn’t turn the ball over when it mattered, and we got them when it mattered. It don’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out.”
Ryan Tannehill managed to have a “clean game,” as Dan Marino said afterward. He was sacked only two times and the 65.4% completion percentage and 92.3 passer rating were the best of his young career. “He’s showing a lot of maturity,” Reggie Bush said, “making the right reads and the right checks to get us in positions to win.”
The secondary held up well in the absence of Richard Marshall. Nolan Carroll stepped in and did not miss a beat. Sean Smith limited AJ Green to nine catches for 65 yards, but gave up another fade for a TD. The Dolphins intercepted Andy Dalton twice, while holding him to 234 yards and a 63.5 rating.
It wasn’t prettiest game, but the Dolphins will take it. The resiliency Joe Philbin has talked about was evident as Miami broke the string of overtime defeats. The Dolphins are poised for a showdown with Jeff Fisher and the Saint Louis Rams next week in Miami.
The Dolphins overcame several questionable calls early in the game to win, when safety Reshad Jones intercepted Andy Dalton at midfield with 1:22 left. Ryan Tannehill completed 65.4 percent of his passes, threw for 223 yards and had a respectable 92.3 passer rating.
It was not the prettiest game for Miami as the offense again struggled to put the Bengals away in the fourth quarter. The Miami defense however was up to the challenge causing three turnovers including the game sealing interception. “We still didn’t end it the way we wanted to end it on offense. The defense bailed us out,” said Brian Hartline.
The Dolphins overcame an early turnover when Reshad Jones had a Bengals punt hit him in the back. The ball looked to have been recovered out of bounds but was upheld upon review. Plays like the third down on the Bengals’ first series of the third quarter when Randy Starks put his hands up and the ball somehow ended up in them, rescued Miami. The offense converted the INT into a TD when Reggie Bush scampered 13 yards for a 14-6 lead.
Kevin Burnett may have said it best after the game, “the last couple games came down to turnovers, the key thing was, we didn’t turn the ball over when it mattered, and we got them when it mattered. It don’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out.”
Ryan Tannehill managed to have a “clean game,” as Dan Marino said afterward. He was sacked only two times and the 65.4% completion percentage and 92.3 passer rating were the best of his young career. “He’s showing a lot of maturity,” Reggie Bush said, “making the right reads and the right checks to get us in positions to win.”
The secondary held up well in the absence of Richard Marshall. Nolan Carroll stepped in and did not miss a beat. Sean Smith limited AJ Green to nine catches for 65 yards, but gave up another fade for a TD. The Dolphins intercepted Andy Dalton twice, while holding him to 234 yards and a 63.5 rating.
It wasn’t prettiest game, but the Dolphins will take it. The resiliency Joe Philbin has talked about was evident as Miami broke the string of overtime defeats. The Dolphins are poised for a showdown with Jeff Fisher and the Saint Louis Rams next week in Miami.
Miami Dolphins Pregame Look See
This week's game against the Bengals should be another tough go for the Dolphins, but Ryan Tannehill will
give us hope. Don't expect another 400 yard performance, but we seem
to be able to convert some of those 3rd and hopeless
situations because of him. That in itself is a positive, unlike the
past.
So let's get to it. The Bengals have
Andy Dalton who has a touch over 1100 yards passing, 8 TDs, 4 INTs,
and a QB rating of 103.0. That's pretty good folks. Their rookie receiver Mohamed Sanu even has 1 TD pass from the wildcat that went for 73 yards.
Their wide receivers are led by AJ
Green who has accumulated 428 yards on 27 catches and 3 TDs. AJ
towers over the other receivers. He has nearly twice as many catches
and yards as his nearest teammate. Their other big target is
Jermaine Gresham, their TE. He has 1 TD for 22 yards,
so Dalton may look for him in the end zone when they are inside our 30.
Their rushing game is pretty much a one
man show. They have the law firm of BenJarvus Green-Ellis, who has 282
yards on 82 carries for a 3.5 yard average and 2 TDs, which is pretty pedestrian if you ask me. He also has 3 fumbles to date. He definitely left his Patriots mystique back in New England when it
comes to coughing up the ball. Hopefully the Dolphins can jar one
loose from him. Don't count on that happening the Dolphin just don't
do those types of things. Cedric Peerman has only 5 carries for 71
yards for a whopping 14.2 yard average.
Defensively they have 7 players with
double digit tackles, 17 sacks, and only 1 interception. Geno Atkins
leads their team in sacks with 5 followed closely by Michael Johnson
with 4 sacks. The Bengals have really been getting to the QB so far.
What is strange about those stats is they only have one pass
interception to show for that, which leads me to think the opposing QBs
are having time in the pocket. No picks equals very little pressure even though they have 17 sacks.
Special Teams. Their place kicker has
not missed this year. He is 7 for 7 (make a note on that Mr. Carpenter). Their punter has put 9 of his 17 punts inside the 20. Adam "Pacman" Jones has returned a punt for a TD. Over all they
have a good special team, but we will get an opportunity to
return their one and only kickoff.
The Bengals are giving up 234 yards a
game through the air and 131 rushing yards a game for an average of
a big 5.3 yards a carry. They are ranked 19th in team
defense, 2 spots below ourselves.
Cincinnati is tied for their division
lead with the Ravens with the Steelers 1 game back, and they're on a 3 game
winning streak. None of that is good for us. I don't like to see us playing teams that are on a roll.
Our best chance to win this game is to
contain AJ Green and Andy Dalton. We can't allow their pass rush to
sack Tannehill, and we have to make them go the length of the field to score. Doing those few things will greatly enhance our
chances of winning. We should be able to move the ball on them. Our
problem will be ourselves. We seem to be putting things together,
but our mistakes are killing us. Last week Sean Smith made a play
when it mattered. If we can get more plays like that we can beat the
Bengals.
Can Philbin and Tannehill Make Miami Relevant?
There is little debating, success in the NFL comes from the marriage of a head coach and QB. Given all things equal or close in the competition between Matt Moore and Ryan Tannehill, the logical selection was the rookie. Joe Philbin is well aware of this coach - QB connection, just like Tony Sparano knew he was in trouble when Chad Henne proved incapable of being an NFL starter after Chad Pennington could not stay healthy.
Philbin also knows three years is probably all he has to show there is potential for greatness in Miami or he will follow Sparano’s footsteps out the door. It’s almost like this season is a free pass and Philbin knows, what he develops now will carry him later. Perhaps for these reasons, he made critical decisions now without worrying about the results this year.
Two plays… A missed 48 yard field goal and poor coverage on a fourth down 10-yard TD pass are the difference between 1-3 and 3-1. There were a lot of great plays leading up to the ultimate coup de grâce as the Dolphins jumped on their own swords and allowed the Jets and Cardinals to squeeze out victories. The silver lining is, Miami outplayed both teams and is poised to overcome the mistakes in route to a transformation every Dolphin fan can sense, if not yet see.
Some of the numbers do not equate to the confidence emanating from the Miami locker room, with a 66.4 passer rating, Ryan Tannehill is the 31st rated QB in the NFL. But the team has rallied around the rookie with the number 1 rated rushing defense, the top rated receiver and the 6th rated rusher. A closer look shows the numbers don’t lie and the confidence is justified. Miami is ranked 9th in total offense and 17th in total defense.
The rookie has only 2 TDs with 6 INTs and is still feeling his way in the NFL, but the optimism comes from Ryan Tannehill’s ability to recognize his mistakes and rapidly correct them. The best example of this is when the Houston Texans timed up his release and batted balls down like they were using ping pong paddles. Since then, Tannehill has had no significant reoccurrence and has found passing lanes with the help of his offensive line.
The common stat circling the media is the 306 yards passing Tannehill threw while under pressure against the Cardinals. The poise is there, but the attempt to rescue plays when the blocking scheme breaks down has led to compounding errors. If these issues are as rapidly assimilated and rectified as the batted balls, the wins will begin to accumulate.
The need for scoring will be paramount as offenses begin to attack Miami’s Achilles Heel in the secondary. Richard Marshall and Nolan Carroll have both spent more time in the training room this week than on the practice field. The number 1 rated rushing defense is a product of great play by the front seven, but also is an indication of teams exploiting Miami’s 30th rated pass defense.
Trading Vontae Davis may now seem like a mistake, but the voice of Mike Singletary lashing out at Vontae’s brother Vernon, reverberates in Joe Philbin’s decision. “I would rather play with 10 people and get penalized all the way until we've got to do something else. Rather than play with 11 when I know that right now, that person is not sold out to be a part of this team. It is more about them than it is about the team.”
“Cannot play with them… Cannot win with them… Cannot coach with them… Can't do it…”
Philbin made the decision, he could not coach Vontae. Davis may come round like his brother, but it was Singletary who paid the price and Philbin was not going to allow his team to be brought down before he had a chance to build it in his image. Teams will attempt to exploit the Miami secondary and there are not a lot of options for the Dolphins except perhaps to match scoring, until new bodies are acquired next season.
Without the poor example of Vontae Davis, Sean Smith finally had the breakout game Dolphin coaches have been waiting for. Smith will be tested for the remainder of the season and it will make him understand that games can be lost by getting beat on any single play. Smith could not celebrate a two interception performance when one missed coverage ultimately lost the cardinal game for Miami. This is an upside for the Dolphins, Smith was not reaching his potential and part of that was the backseat he had taken to the underachieving Vontae Davis.
The strategy this season must move toward a pressure defense, with press coverage on the corners and an assortment of blitz packages designed to force 3 step drops and create turnovers. The pressure must lead to QB hits and sacks, or there will be a potential for big plays. Points by the Dolphins also helps to make opposing offenses one dimensional, but unfortunately they will be forced to play into Miami’s weakness in the secondary. The Dolphins could be in-line for some shootouts.
The Dolphins are a work in progress, playing at high level for a coach and QB the team is rallying around. They are not ready for primetime, they are a few players away, but the expectations are always high in Miami. The joy may not come in victories for Dolphin fans as much as it will come from watching the growth of a rookie coach and a rookie QB as they begin the journey.
The feeling is definitely different than in past attempts, this is no Cam Cameron – Trent Green, Nick Saban – Daunte Culpepper or Tony Sparano – Chad Henne relationship, Philbin and Tannehil have the feel of something special. Fans have a front row seat to watch what could quite possibly be the return to prominence of the Miami Dolphins.
Buckle-up Fin Fans, this is going to be fun to watch…
Philbin also knows three years is probably all he has to show there is potential for greatness in Miami or he will follow Sparano’s footsteps out the door. It’s almost like this season is a free pass and Philbin knows, what he develops now will carry him later. Perhaps for these reasons, he made critical decisions now without worrying about the results this year.
Two plays… A missed 48 yard field goal and poor coverage on a fourth down 10-yard TD pass are the difference between 1-3 and 3-1. There were a lot of great plays leading up to the ultimate coup de grâce as the Dolphins jumped on their own swords and allowed the Jets and Cardinals to squeeze out victories. The silver lining is, Miami outplayed both teams and is poised to overcome the mistakes in route to a transformation every Dolphin fan can sense, if not yet see.
Some of the numbers do not equate to the confidence emanating from the Miami locker room, with a 66.4 passer rating, Ryan Tannehill is the 31st rated QB in the NFL. But the team has rallied around the rookie with the number 1 rated rushing defense, the top rated receiver and the 6th rated rusher. A closer look shows the numbers don’t lie and the confidence is justified. Miami is ranked 9th in total offense and 17th in total defense.
The rookie has only 2 TDs with 6 INTs and is still feeling his way in the NFL, but the optimism comes from Ryan Tannehill’s ability to recognize his mistakes and rapidly correct them. The best example of this is when the Houston Texans timed up his release and batted balls down like they were using ping pong paddles. Since then, Tannehill has had no significant reoccurrence and has found passing lanes with the help of his offensive line.
The common stat circling the media is the 306 yards passing Tannehill threw while under pressure against the Cardinals. The poise is there, but the attempt to rescue plays when the blocking scheme breaks down has led to compounding errors. If these issues are as rapidly assimilated and rectified as the batted balls, the wins will begin to accumulate.
The need for scoring will be paramount as offenses begin to attack Miami’s Achilles Heel in the secondary. Richard Marshall and Nolan Carroll have both spent more time in the training room this week than on the practice field. The number 1 rated rushing defense is a product of great play by the front seven, but also is an indication of teams exploiting Miami’s 30th rated pass defense.
Trading Vontae Davis may now seem like a mistake, but the voice of Mike Singletary lashing out at Vontae’s brother Vernon, reverberates in Joe Philbin’s decision. “I would rather play with 10 people and get penalized all the way until we've got to do something else. Rather than play with 11 when I know that right now, that person is not sold out to be a part of this team. It is more about them than it is about the team.”
“Cannot play with them… Cannot win with them… Cannot coach with them… Can't do it…”
Philbin made the decision, he could not coach Vontae. Davis may come round like his brother, but it was Singletary who paid the price and Philbin was not going to allow his team to be brought down before he had a chance to build it in his image. Teams will attempt to exploit the Miami secondary and there are not a lot of options for the Dolphins except perhaps to match scoring, until new bodies are acquired next season.
Without the poor example of Vontae Davis, Sean Smith finally had the breakout game Dolphin coaches have been waiting for. Smith will be tested for the remainder of the season and it will make him understand that games can be lost by getting beat on any single play. Smith could not celebrate a two interception performance when one missed coverage ultimately lost the cardinal game for Miami. This is an upside for the Dolphins, Smith was not reaching his potential and part of that was the backseat he had taken to the underachieving Vontae Davis.
The strategy this season must move toward a pressure defense, with press coverage on the corners and an assortment of blitz packages designed to force 3 step drops and create turnovers. The pressure must lead to QB hits and sacks, or there will be a potential for big plays. Points by the Dolphins also helps to make opposing offenses one dimensional, but unfortunately they will be forced to play into Miami’s weakness in the secondary. The Dolphins could be in-line for some shootouts.
The Dolphins are a work in progress, playing at high level for a coach and QB the team is rallying around. They are not ready for primetime, they are a few players away, but the expectations are always high in Miami. The joy may not come in victories for Dolphin fans as much as it will come from watching the growth of a rookie coach and a rookie QB as they begin the journey.
The feeling is definitely different than in past attempts, this is no Cam Cameron – Trent Green, Nick Saban – Daunte Culpepper or Tony Sparano – Chad Henne relationship, Philbin and Tannehil have the feel of something special. Fans have a front row seat to watch what could quite possibly be the return to prominence of the Miami Dolphins.
Buckle-up Fin Fans, this is going to be fun to watch…
Miami Dolphins: The Best Worst Team!
Going back to last year and the final 9 games the Miami Dolphins went 6-3, and no one wanted to see us on their schedule. Even though it is one year later, and the Dolphins are once again getting bogged down with losses, I don't think anyone wants to face us this year either.
The Dolphins are a dangerous team. No our record doesn't show it, that's for sure. We continue to lose games that we should be winning, but no matter our record we do a lot of things well.
We have the sixth leading rusher in Reggie Bush, we have the first WR in Brian Hartline, and Ryan Tannehill is only 304 yards behind Drew Brees (the passing leader), and this is only his 4th game. Cameron Wake is 6th in sacks. Sean Smith is tied for seventh in interceptions along with a host of other players. Miami is first in rushing defense. So as you can see, we do have some pieces of the puzzle.
For the life of me I don't understand how we only have one win so far. We have beat the hell out of three teams so far, and we only have that one win to show for it. Some will say the QB is to blame for it (Patrick). Others can look to our to awful pass defense ranked 30th in the NFL. Still others will lay it at the feet of the special teams, and Carpenter in particular.
I feel it's a little bit of all of those reasons. Mainly though I think it has more to do with not knowing how to win. It's the little things like Thigpen allowing the ball to hit the ground on a punt and losing field position because of that. It's the play in the end zone last week when Richard Marshall fell asleep on the final defensive play of regulation (how you let a guy run a simple out for a TD is beyond me). It's the missed make-able field goals by Carpenter and some dropped or fumbled passes as we have seen with Armstrong and Naanee. It's the lack of a pass rush, and the lack of pass protection at the big moments in a game.
What ever it is it those moments that add up to losing. Until we can learn to stop making those mistakes and replace them with defining plays when it counts teams will continue to beat us, and at the same time hate to play us.
The Dolphins are a dangerous team. No our record doesn't show it, that's for sure. We continue to lose games that we should be winning, but no matter our record we do a lot of things well.
We have the sixth leading rusher in Reggie Bush, we have the first WR in Brian Hartline, and Ryan Tannehill is only 304 yards behind Drew Brees (the passing leader), and this is only his 4th game. Cameron Wake is 6th in sacks. Sean Smith is tied for seventh in interceptions along with a host of other players. Miami is first in rushing defense. So as you can see, we do have some pieces of the puzzle.
For the life of me I don't understand how we only have one win so far. We have beat the hell out of three teams so far, and we only have that one win to show for it. Some will say the QB is to blame for it (Patrick). Others can look to our to awful pass defense ranked 30th in the NFL. Still others will lay it at the feet of the special teams, and Carpenter in particular.
I feel it's a little bit of all of those reasons. Mainly though I think it has more to do with not knowing how to win. It's the little things like Thigpen allowing the ball to hit the ground on a punt and losing field position because of that. It's the play in the end zone last week when Richard Marshall fell asleep on the final defensive play of regulation (how you let a guy run a simple out for a TD is beyond me). It's the missed make-able field goals by Carpenter and some dropped or fumbled passes as we have seen with Armstrong and Naanee. It's the lack of a pass rush, and the lack of pass protection at the big moments in a game.
What ever it is it those moments that add up to losing. Until we can learn to stop making those mistakes and replace them with defining plays when it counts teams will continue to beat us, and at the same time hate to play us.
Losing Trend Continues for Tannehill and The Dolphins
Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach, Raheem Morris had a famous quote for critics that showed the Bucs statistically were not performing well, “stats are for losers!” Morris was probably right, even though the team had started 4-2 last season, dwelling on statistics does not lead to wins on the football field. After 10 straight losses led to his firing, he probably wishes he had listened a little more closely.
Obviously a QB performs better in a win, than in a loss. The quandary in measuring statistical greatness in quarterbacks is whether individual performance numbers are more important than wins or losses. Dolphin fans have seen some of the greatest quarterback play in NFL history in a man named Dan Marino. What Dolphin fans did not celebrate were Super Bowl victories during Marino’s tenure.
Comparing any QB to Dan Marino, especially a rookie is not only wrong, but foolish, Marino is in the hall of fame and Ryan Tannehill can only dream of reaching those lofty standards. The point is, great stats can get a QB into the hall of fame, but wins get a QB a Super Bowl ring. Folks in Miami have seen admirable QB play, but after 40 years, the thirst for a Super Bowl victory is like finding an oasis after a long trek through the Arizona dessert.
The relevance of these statistical references to the Miami Dolphins comes when trying to understand whether Ryan Tannehill can lead the Dolphins to victory in closely contested football games. Take a moment to consider the following chart breaking down the results of how Ryan Tannehill performed in wins and losses at Texas A&M in 2011.
The chart shows a breakdown of all the Texas A&M wins and losses in 2011. Excluding Baylor, the 25 average point differential in the winning games came against mostly inferior opponents. The -5.5 differential in losses is telling, excluding the Oklahoma game, A&M lost every other game by an average of 2.8 points. An average of less than a field goal from a 12-1 record.
Mike Sherman is personally well aware of these numbers. It's a trend that continues with the Dolphins and must be addressed and rectified before Tannehill, and in turn the Dolphins can win these close games. Unfortunately the numbers do not lie and will follow Tannehill until he learns from his mistakes.
Poor execution by Tannehill on a pitch play to Reggie Bush early in the fourth quarter killed a promising drive. Tannehill missed Bush on the toss, resulting in a loss of 9 yards. With an opportunity to put Arizona away later in the fourth quarter, the Cards blitzed and according to Tannehill, “we had a little miscommunication up front...”
Richie Incognito missed the blitzer, but it is Tannehill who called the protection and he did not make the proper call. He got sacked and stripped of the ball, with a free blitzer running in his face, he did not tuck the ball, and in fact he never really tried. Cardinals then converted the turnover into the game-tying touchdown drive in regulation.
The game could still have been won through these mistakes, but the interception in overtime was the back breaker. Tannehill again had a free blitzer, but instead of eating the ball and taking a sack, he chose to throw the ball up for grabs. These are the kind of plays that are the difference between winning and losing. These are the kind of plays that define great QBs and guys who have great stats. Taking a sack and punting is sometimes the right choice.
The whispers of poor play calling by not running the ball on 2nd and eight insinuate Ryan Tannehill is incapable of leading the team to victory. Tannehill needs to learn how to win and for that to happen, he has to be put in a position to make the crucial plays. The play calling on the fumble was done to place the ball in the hands of the guy who needs to be the leader of this team.
Tannehill failed, and now his coach is being questioned, and teammates like Reggie Bush lament, “It’s very frustrating when you’re prepared for a team, you know what they’re going to do, and you still let them do it, great teams find ways to win games. Great teams don’t allow those things to happen. Obviously, we’re not there yet.”
Joe Philbin said it best in his press conference today, "This isn't a profession for the faint of heart. We have to accept responsibility for where we are at and still have faith and confidence that we're going to improve on a weekly basis." It’s sometimes easy to forget, Ryan Tannehill is a rookie. His play is better than any rookie on the Dolphins since 1983, but he still has a lot to learn.
To take the next step in his and the Dolphins evolution, Tannehill must understand, sometimes a sack is not a bad thing, sometimes a sack is the right thing. The golfers out there know what it feels like to hit a bad shot and then compound it by trying to be a hero on the next. After calling the wrong protection, do not compound the error by fluttering a pass in the process of taking a hit. Punt and depend on teammates to do their job.
If the Dolphins have any chance for a successful season Tannehill must learn, turnovers are always bad. Do not compound errors by trying to make plays when none are available. Teams begin stoking up the pressure as the games come to a close. It is up to Ryan Tannehill to find ways to win these close games, or the Miami Dolphin's season will end like Texas A&M's season.
What could have been, had the Dolphins come away with victories in close games...
Obviously a QB performs better in a win, than in a loss. The quandary in measuring statistical greatness in quarterbacks is whether individual performance numbers are more important than wins or losses. Dolphin fans have seen some of the greatest quarterback play in NFL history in a man named Dan Marino. What Dolphin fans did not celebrate were Super Bowl victories during Marino’s tenure.
Comparing any QB to Dan Marino, especially a rookie is not only wrong, but foolish, Marino is in the hall of fame and Ryan Tannehill can only dream of reaching those lofty standards. The point is, great stats can get a QB into the hall of fame, but wins get a QB a Super Bowl ring. Folks in Miami have seen admirable QB play, but after 40 years, the thirst for a Super Bowl victory is like finding an oasis after a long trek through the Arizona dessert.
The relevance of these statistical references to the Miami Dolphins comes when trying to understand whether Ryan Tannehill can lead the Dolphins to victory in closely contested football games. Take a moment to consider the following chart breaking down the results of how Ryan Tannehill performed in wins and losses at Texas A&M in 2011.
Mike Sherman is personally well aware of these numbers. It's a trend that continues with the Dolphins and must be addressed and rectified before Tannehill, and in turn the Dolphins can win these close games. Unfortunately the numbers do not lie and will follow Tannehill until he learns from his mistakes.
Poor execution by Tannehill on a pitch play to Reggie Bush early in the fourth quarter killed a promising drive. Tannehill missed Bush on the toss, resulting in a loss of 9 yards. With an opportunity to put Arizona away later in the fourth quarter, the Cards blitzed and according to Tannehill, “we had a little miscommunication up front...”
Richie Incognito missed the blitzer, but it is Tannehill who called the protection and he did not make the proper call. He got sacked and stripped of the ball, with a free blitzer running in his face, he did not tuck the ball, and in fact he never really tried. Cardinals then converted the turnover into the game-tying touchdown drive in regulation.
The game could still have been won through these mistakes, but the interception in overtime was the back breaker. Tannehill again had a free blitzer, but instead of eating the ball and taking a sack, he chose to throw the ball up for grabs. These are the kind of plays that are the difference between winning and losing. These are the kind of plays that define great QBs and guys who have great stats. Taking a sack and punting is sometimes the right choice.
The whispers of poor play calling by not running the ball on 2nd and eight insinuate Ryan Tannehill is incapable of leading the team to victory. Tannehill needs to learn how to win and for that to happen, he has to be put in a position to make the crucial plays. The play calling on the fumble was done to place the ball in the hands of the guy who needs to be the leader of this team.
Tannehill failed, and now his coach is being questioned, and teammates like Reggie Bush lament, “It’s very frustrating when you’re prepared for a team, you know what they’re going to do, and you still let them do it, great teams find ways to win games. Great teams don’t allow those things to happen. Obviously, we’re not there yet.”
Joe Philbin said it best in his press conference today, "This isn't a profession for the faint of heart. We have to accept responsibility for where we are at and still have faith and confidence that we're going to improve on a weekly basis." It’s sometimes easy to forget, Ryan Tannehill is a rookie. His play is better than any rookie on the Dolphins since 1983, but he still has a lot to learn.
To take the next step in his and the Dolphins evolution, Tannehill must understand, sometimes a sack is not a bad thing, sometimes a sack is the right thing. The golfers out there know what it feels like to hit a bad shot and then compound it by trying to be a hero on the next. After calling the wrong protection, do not compound the error by fluttering a pass in the process of taking a hit. Punt and depend on teammates to do their job.
If the Dolphins have any chance for a successful season Tannehill must learn, turnovers are always bad. Do not compound errors by trying to make plays when none are available. Teams begin stoking up the pressure as the games come to a close. It is up to Ryan Tannehill to find ways to win these close games, or the Miami Dolphin's season will end like Texas A&M's season.
What could have been, had the Dolphins come away with victories in close games...
Ryan Tannehill Falls Short of Rookie Record as Miami Dolphins Lose in Overtime
Miami Dolphins rookie QB Ryan Tannehill threw for a career-high 431 passing yards, 1 TD, and 2 INTs as the Dolphins fell to the Arizona Cardinals 21-24 in overtime.
Tannehill was one yard short of tying the rookie QB record of most passing yards of 432 set by Cam Newton last season. Dolphins receiver Brian Hartline set a Dolphins franchise record with 253 receiving yards and a touchdown. The previous record was held by Chris Chambers with 238 yards.
I have long been a doubter of Brian Hartline, and I have no choice but to take back everything that I have ever said about him. He was everywhere, and you have to believe that he is helping Ryan Tannehill's development tremendously. Hartline now leads the NFL in receiving yards, and I'm pretty sure that he's up near the top in receptions, too.
Dolphins kicker Dan Carpenter missed yet another field goal this week. No, we can't pin this entire loss on him, but that field goal turned out to be crucial because both teams were tied at the end of regulation. We cannot afford to continue missing field goals like this, which is why I think it's time that we get rid of Carpenter (if we can find an adequate replacement, of course). He was a big reason Miami lost in two straight games, and if he had just done his job who knows what position the Dolphins would be in right now.
Miami's defensive line didn't have any problems getting pressure this week. They sacked Kevin Kolb 8 times on Sunday. Cameron Wake had 4.5 sacks after not getting a single sack through the first three weeks. I think we can safely say that Wake isn't having any troubles this year. I actually predicted that Wake would get a minimum of two sacks on twitter, but I didn't see this coming. Wake was incredibly dominant, and the pressure he got was extremely helpful on defense. We didn't get the win this week, but if Wake and the rest of the Dolphins defensive line is able to play close to that level then we should be fine.
Turnovers hurt the Dolphins this week. Tannehill threw two picks and lost a fumble. His first one can be chalked up as Brian Hartline's fault. Hartline slipped and the ball went right into the defender's hands. I know I talked Brian Hartline up earlier, but I do have to say this. I've noticed that Hartline tends to slip an abnormal amount of times when he is on a comeback route. I'm not saying that he's a bad receiver, because obviously he's a pretty darn good one. I'm just saying that he needs to work on it. Tannehill's other interception was in overtime, and he was being hit as he threw the ball. I won't give him much fault for that one either.
Legedu freaking Naanee finally got his first catch of the season, but wouldn't you know he fumbled it as soon as he gained possession and the Cardinals returned it to Miami's three yard line. Thankfully Sean Smith was able to come up with the interception after getting away with a pass interference no-call. Naanee has been an extreme disappointment, and I can't help but think his time in Miami will come to a close after this season (maybe sooner).
This is the second week where I felt like the Dolphins were the better team in a losing effort. Turnovers and the missed FG were really what bit us in the butt in the end.
I am extremely encouraged by the young Ryan Tannehill's performance. He was dangerous this week, and you can really see that how much he is developing. I think that I might go back and watch him in the Texans game just to see how different he looks now compared to then. The more I watch the more I'm convinced that he is finally the quarterback we've been yearning for all this time.
Thanks for stopping by. Email me at paul@dolphinshout.com. I'm on twitter @PaulDSmythe.
Kenny put up a play by play in the forums. Click here to check it out.
Kenny put up a play by play in the forums. Click here to check it out.
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