Riding a six game winning streak, the Miami Dolphins came
crashing down to reality in Baltimore getting trounced by the Ravens 38-6. From the
opening kick, the Ravens proved much more worthy of a playoff spot than the flailing Dolphins. The middle of the Miami defense was dissected like a high school
frog by Joe Flacco and whichever receiver he chose.
The Miami Dolphin linebackers were out of position the
entire day as Flacco completed pass after pass to open receivers. Ryan
Tannehill made bad decisions and seemed to be telegraphing his run/pass option leaving
the Ravens a step ahead of the Dolphins in nearly every situation. The
patchwork Miami offensive line was clearly over matched and the vaunted
defensive line could not slow Flacco and the Raven’s passing game.
It was a miserable game for the Dolphins, one that showed
where this team resides in the playoff picture. On the outside looking in. With
four games remaining Miami’s post season hopes are still alive, but the cleanup
crew after this game will be very busy. In a familiar theme, injuries on the
offensive line betrayed the hopes of Miami Dolphin fans. Pro bowl tackle
Brandon Albert and center Mike Pouncey watched their teammates struggle.
Adam Gase has his hands full this week as Miami begins
another December looking undermanned against playoff caliber teams. Miami must
get better quickly at home against the Arizona Cardinals before entering a
three game AFC East season finale. At 7-5 Miami enters the final quarter of the
season hanging on to playoff hopes. This team has outplayed expectations and
yet the dismal performance in Baltimore rings hollow, like some know-it-all spewing,
“I told you so” all over the Dolphin faithful.
Is it time to backpedal on where this team belongs in the
big picture? Should Miami fans brace themselves for the inevitable December crash?
This is the same team that leaped overwhelming hurdles at 1-4.
Adam Gase must find a way to right a ship that nearly capsized in
Baltimore harbor. Offensive line play clearly seems to be the determining
factor for Ryan Tannehill, the running game and even the Miami defense.
When the Dolphins run the football, every other facet of
their game plan seems to follow. Given time, Tannehill can pass the ball as
well as any QB in the league. Given rest, the defense plays fast and loose, but
converting only 4 of 13 on 3rd down derailed the necessity of keeping Joe
Flacco off the field.
Baltimore found a soft spot in the middle of the Miami
defense and Vance Joseph never found an answer. It is about this time of the
season that exposes the weaknesses of inferior teams in the NFL and Miami may
have been exposed. Linebackers biting on play action left gaping holes for TE
seam routes that Flacco exploited at will. Kiko Alonso played the game
with a cast on his wrist, leaving Mike Hull and Neville Hewitt desperately trying to
fill the void when he left the field. They proved unable to keep up with Pitta
and Dixon.
The Dolphins must now exit the season much as they entered,
with questions on the offensive line and at linebacker. Pouncey and Albert
returning to the lineup could solve the line issues, but there are no pro
bowlers healing in the wings at linebacker. The Dolphin defense can expect to
see this same formula for the rest of the season and must find a way to sure up
the middle.
Dolphin fans must temper their expectations with the reality
that healthy horses are required over the long 16 game season. Only an
off-season influx of talent at linebacker can solve the weakness on defense.
Decisions must be made on the offensive line where availability may become the
one ability Miami must reconcile with.
It should be interesting to see if Adam Gase and “leaders”
in the locker room can squeeze four more games out of a team that relies as
much on emotion as talent to win. As the playoffs approach, the teams with
talent and emotion begin to proliferate the playoff brackets. Miami may find a
place in the race, but this team seems a few pieces short of playing in
January.
