Miami Dolphins at Texans Week 8 Game Chat

To find a stream of the game, click here.

Lifeless Dolphin Defense Leads Defeat

Yawn...

Sorry guys, I'm not going to show up this week.

I'm tired, my typing fingers are sore, my butt's dragging from sitting in this chair.

I couldn't figure out how the old New England defensive coordinator could possibly lead his offense in the exact same manner as his former boss.

I'm not going to wonder why no wrinkles were devised to stop  the dissection of the Miami secondary.

I'm just going to leave the massive "A" hole gaps in my wide nine even after it's been completely exploited.

But really, I'm tired, I get paid zero to be a fan and so why should I show any more passion than the players on the field?

I'll just take this article off...

Maybe I'll take the rest of the season off...

Maybe I'll keep insisting I can make a winner out same quarterback that has never won.

Maybe I'll keep running dive plays to Gore on first down so I can go three and out on the first possession of the game, that'll set the tempo perfectly.

Maybe I can continue not scoring a first possession touchdown for the 19th straight game. The defenses will forget about Gore and the dive play sooner or later.

Maybe the opponent will play a wide nine and leave the "A" gaps wide open on the first possession like Miami does. Come on, there's bound to be another team so stubborn it will continue failing 18 straight times and still run the same plays.

Yawn...

I feel like my team's gaping "A" holes...

Exploited...

Miami Dolphins vs Lions Week 7 Game Chat

Find a stream of the game here.

Brock Osweiler Leads Miami to a Wild Victory in OT

The Miami Dolphins came up big with a wild win against the Chicago Bears.

There was a collective groan and the echo of, "careful what you wish for," when Ryan Tannehill was ruled out for the game. It was his 21st missed game in the last three years. Brock Osweiler meanwhile, is certainly no Jay Cutler, but since leaving Denver with a huge free agent contract to play in Houston, he has been unable to regain the magic, until Sunday.

After exchanging punts, Osweiler and the Dolphins put together a 54-yard drive that culminated in a touchdown pass to newly signed tight end Nick O'Leary. O'Leary is a local Palm Beach native, who also happens to be the grandson of golf legend, Jack Nicholas. O'Leary did Jack proud, playing a very fine football game for his hometown team.

On the ensuing drive, the Bears seemed to find their stride and went for it on 4th and 1. It wasn't to be, as Miami's premier defender Reshad Jones, sniffed out the screen and shut down the Bears. Plays like this demonstrate why Miami is not the same team without Jones on the field. His presence lifts the entire defense.

After punting back and forth, the Bears got it going again with a 74-yard drive to the Miami 1 yard line. Just when it seemed Chicago would tie the game Robert Quinn stripped Howard and the ever-present Kiko Alonso jumped on the loose ball. Miami had stuffed the Bears again.

Miami began driving the football again, moving 64 yards in 11-plays when Brock Osweiler took a shot down field to Devante Parker. Parker failed to protect his QB, leading to an Osweiler INT without Parker even attempting to make a play on the ball. Miami went into half time leading 7-0. The play may have been the final straw for Parker, who did not play another down.

On the heels of that disparaging play, the second half started disastrous for the Miami Dolphins. The Bears scored in three plays. Osweiler proceeded to telegraph an awful interception trying to find Albert Wilson on the sideline. In one play, the Bears scored again, erasing the tie to lead 14-7. It was easily Osweiler's worst play of the game.

Miami drove 43-yards in 8 plays but settled for a field goal to pull within 14-10. Three plays later, the Bears cut through the Miami defense like a hot knife through butter and scored again. With the score now 21-10, the Dolphins looked shell-shocked and it seemed the rout was on.

Miami did not cave as expected and drove the ball 68-yards in 11 plays, giving the defense a much needed rest. Osweiler did not seem bothered by much of anything and team followed his leadership. Unfortunately, the Dolphins were unable to convert the touchdown and settled for a field goal to end the third quarter, down 21-13.

The bears began the fourth quarter by driving all the way to the Miami 3 yard line when the magic began to happen. TJ McDonald stepped in front of a Trubisky pass in the endzone and the Dolphin defense breathed new life into the entire team.

The Dolphins worked the field for six plays when Osweiler flipped a short pass to Albert Wilson. Wilson shredded the Bears secondary leaving would be tacklers clutching nothing but air. 43-yards later, Wilson danced into the endzone leaving the Dolphins down by 2 points.

Adam Gase, decide to ride the train out and went for two. Osweiler was chased from the pocket. On a typical non-call for Miami, Danny Amendola was pushed to the ground. Unfazed, Osweiler kept the play alive long enough to throw a rope to Kenny Stills in the back of the endzone and Miami had completed the comeback to tie the game at 21.

The Bears again took control of the Miami defense, immediately driving 75-yards in 11 plays, while eating nearly 6 minutes off the game clock to take back the lead 28-21.

Albert Wilson would have none of that and in one play, raced through the entire vaunted Chicago defense, 75-yards into the endzone and Miami had tied the game at 28 in less than 30 seconds.

Miami could not convert after Kiko Alonso forced a fumble recovered by Howard and went 3 and out. With only 34-seconds left, deep in their own territory, Chicago opted to take the game into overtime.

Miami won the toss and promptly rode the horse named Frank Gore all the way to the one yard line. Then disaster struck, Kenyon Drake took a handoff and bounced right heading for the winning TD when the ball was popped loose. Drake lost the handle and hung his head in despair as the Bears drove down for the winning field goal.

But the great Gods would have none of it and former Dolphin Cody Parkey promptly missed the game winning field goal, wide right...

Osweiler one more time took the reigns, getting the ball three straight times to a redeemed Kenyon Drake for a total of 22-yards. A quick throw to Amendola for 6 yards positioned Miami at the 29 yard line. Osweiler spiked the ball with only 3 seconds left before the game would end in a tie.

After a Chicago icing, rookie kicker Jason Sanders stepped up and knocked through the game winning 47-yard field goal as time expired. All over Miami fandom pandemonium exploded. The Dolphins had miraculously gutted out an incredible victory after two straight agonizing losses.

For the much maligned Brock Oweiler, the victory was sweet. For Kenyon Drake, what could have been a confidence destroying fumble was washed away with the savory flavor of victory. The Miami defense showed again that this unit is moving toward something special.

Coach Adam Gase stuck with his team and never allowed them to think victory was impossible. We're left to ponder the future of Ryan Tannehill, but allow that to rest while the sweet scent of this win resonates in the hearts of Miami fans everywhere. :) :) :)

Miami Dolphins vs Bears Week 6 Game Chat

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Ryan Tannehill leads another Miami Dolphin loss..

I'm not even going to write about the game. Fifty articles out there will give you the play by play. There are many things I could say, including how the referees destroyed Miami's momentum coming out of the half by throwing horrible flags, but l'm just going to get down to the root of it...

Will the Miami Dolphins ever win the Super Bowl with Ryan Tannehill at QB?

Is this the legacy of Adam Gase?

Does he follow Joe Philbin as one of Tannehill's fired coaches?

Did Adam Gase see this quarterback performance coming?

Does this poor performance by his quarterback register with Adam Gase, or will he blame other players?

Is Gase getting played a fool... Tannehill has all the things you want in a QB. He has arm strength, he has mobility, he's smart, he's a team guy, he's tough, but he's missing perhaps the most critical component, he doesn't win big games. He doesn't even show up in big games.

He never will...

He doesn't play well when the team really needs him to play well. When the team is looking for a leader to be "that guy" Tannehill shrinks in the moment.

Point the finger, go ahead... Tunsil down... Half the Offensive Line down... Parker wussing again... The officials killed the momentum, go ahead point the finger...

Go ahead and make whatever excuse you want Adam Gase, but answer the damn question...

Will the Miami Dolphins ever win the Super Bowl with Ryan Tannehill at QB?

Answer the question Tannenbaum...

Answer the question Ross...

Allow this fan to answer for you...

The Miami dolphins will never win the Super Bowl with Ryan Tannehill at QB.

And so, another season is over...

Another season over...

Week five...

Another season...

Over!

Time for Miami Dolphin Soul Searching

Obviously, the Miami Dolphins did not show up against the New England Patriots. Addressing this problem by declaring Ryan Tannehill sucks on every social media forum has no value. This team has talented players and the coaching staff is very good. There is no denying, one Patriot player is better than any on the Dolphins roster, the QB.

Not recognizing the QB as the key, is simply stubborn ignorance. At this point, it makes little difference, it cannot change this season. Tannehill can be good when everything goes right; he is not good when obstacles present themselves. These obstacles are not as apparent as most would think. Tempo dictates NFL football, when things go good, they tend to go very good and when things go bad, they tend to go very bad.

The Miami Dolphins knew beyond any doubt, the officiating of this game would be lopsided. It is particularly important at the beginning of the game when the tempo and nuances are set in motion. Here are some examples of how the officiating can dictate early critical drives.

On the initial drive, the Miami offense is moving then, offensive holding on Kilgore at 50 effectively stuffs the drive, forcing a punt. Miami is off the field without establishing momentum.

NE gets the ball and the Miami defense is playing well. A Brady incompletion should stop the drive, but a highly questionable defensive holding by Howard gives NE an automatic first down. Brady remains on the field and is able to establish his rhythm.

The defense still managed to hold NE to a field goal, but the tempo was dictated by two calls. By the end of the game, those calls get fluffed off as whinny Miami fans complaining about officials.

We're missing the point...

Adam Gase and his staff have to understand what they are playing against. In New England against Coach Batman and Wonder Boy, the refs are going to call the game slanted.

There is only one way to combat slanted officials at the beginning of games. Miami needs to quit starting every game with tippy-toe trap runs and dinky bubble screens and go for the dagger, early and often. The officials can call holding on any trap play or bubble screen, there is bound to be some ticky tack holding if they choose to call it.

On the flip side, the NFL loves big plays! Whatever makes it to ESPN and brings fans to the game, that's what they want. Whether anyone chooses to believe it or not, those flags are a little more reluctant on home runs than they are on bubble screens.

There's another reason to come out boldly, they are going to call these penalties anyway why not while making a chunk play? If the flag stays in the pocket, bingo! There's the tempo! Even if it doesn't work the defense will be on its heels.

They will be backing out of the box instead of running into it, again, the tempo is set.

The Dolphins played right into the Patriot's game plan. The officials are going to dictate the game, but when they call back huge plays, everyone notices. When they're stopping the bubble screen offense, no one cares.

Enough said...

The Miami Dolphins must address a very simple question...

Are they capable of winning the Super Bowl with Ryan Tannehill at QB?

Take some time… Saver the question, let it resonate because that's why you play the game, to win the Super Bowl...

Are the Dolphins capable of winning the Super Bowl with Ryan Tannehill at QB?

Before the New England game, big plays masked Miami's greatest offensive problem in recent years, 3rd down conversions. Miami is currently ranked 27th in the league. In 2017 Miami was dead last, 2016 - 21st, 2015 - 30th... Playoff teams rank at the top of this list, not at the bottom. There are two main reasons why a team ranks poorly.

Number one is penalties that leave the team in untenable down and distance.

Number two is poor QB play under pressure.

Against New England on the biggest stage, Ryan Tannehill did not show up?

Sure, Adam Gase has some answering to do because he's the coach, but he's not the guy out there on the field. Tannehill is not the leader Gase has been spouting about for three weeks while his team pulled out games against marginal opponents.

Miami came back against the Raiders by Tannehill throwing two 1-yard passes...

The QB stats were a complete folly and the guy up in New England knew his team was not going to get beat by 1-yard passes.

Miami spent 2nd and 4th round picks at TE. Are those players still on the team? Are they just bad picks? It seems that if the Dolphins don’t score on a big play, they can barely move the ball. Of the 10 drives with Tannehill on the field, seven ended in punts, two in turnovers and the other ran out the first half.

None of those 10 drives lasted more than five plays...

For some levity so we understand I'm not only picking on Tannehill, the Dolphins defense gave up scoring drives of 74, 67, 22, 85, 59 and 90 yards. The Patriots converted 10 of 15 third downs. They out-gained the Dolphins 449-172. They controlled the ball for more than 36 minutes and ran 75 plays.

“I didn’t see this coming,” a dejected Adam Gase said afterward.

Painfully I must admit, I did see this coming. I saw it coming because I answered the question above actually a few years ago, but the knee injuries pushed the reality further into the future, which is now.

I like Ryan Tannehill. He is a fine man and a very talented quarterback. He simply doesn't carry his team when the stakes depend on him being that guy.

Adam Gase believes if the system is run well enough, Tannehill does not need to be that guy. He could be right, if he had Ray Lewis or Derrick Brooks, Jon Lynch and Warren Sapp, but he doesn't.

Let's be clear, the season is not over, in fact Miami can get a lot better if they learn from this game. So what are the lessons?

Ryan Tannehill is never going to be a great quarterback. This means the team around him must execute with perfect precision if the Miami Dolphins hope to be a contending team...

Miami must understand, the officials are an opponent every week, particularly early in the game. They cannot allow the officials to dictate the early tempo. They must force flags on huge highlight plays because if the flags are going to fly away, Miami may as well be taking shots down the field.

The dinky bubble screens and trap runs have been exposed. Miami must invent a different game plan each week that is not so easily predictable. It's the NFL, no matter how well a team executes, if the other team knows the plays, they will win.

Please stop saying Cameron Wake is a special player... Lost in all the Tannehill talk is the other disappearing Miami star, Wake. He plays against the right tackle, he's had Suh and now Quinn to take away double teams, and he still doesn't get it done.

Like Tannehill, Wake does not show up in big games and he was absent again against New England. If these are the leaders of the Miami Dolphins, well maybe they should follow Suh, Landry and Pouncey out the door because on the biggest stage, they disappeared...

Someone once said, "Ryan Tannehill is just good enough to get you fired..."

Are you listening Adam Gase?