Debacle is a mild word for this abysmal performance…
40-0
Let me type that again: 40-0
There it is. How much more can be said without getting sucked into the same vortex that sank the Miami Dolphins? What is it with the Ravens? It seems Miami always saves the worst for Baltimore, but it was more than that, the Dolphins were exposed.
An article earlier this week explained Miami’s O-Line deficiency when facing a 3-4 defense, it was starkly apparent on Thursday night. Mike Pouncey cannot block big strong nose tackles one-on-one and consequently, he needs help. The moment one of the guards slides over to help Pouncey, the “A” gap opens like a can of Busch Beer. Free running blitzers attacked Matt Moore or Jay Ajayi with the same whooshing sound.
It may have been the sound of the air coming out of Miami’s season…
Mike Pouncey might be a really good technician. He might be really good at making line calls. He might be really good at sealing a zone, but he cannot block one-on-one. Was Adam Gase making a case to explain to himself why Miami needs a better center? Gase called the same running play into the “A” gap on first down, after first down, after first down. I know all the experts proclaim Pouncey as the best Miami offensive lineman. I guess I’m just too stupid to know I’m too stupid and Pouncey is really good.
As casual fans, we’re not capable of understanding the subtle nuances. I’m sure Adam Gase will proclaim Mike Pouncey played, “an outstanding game last night.” Sorry Adam, Pouncey was pathetic. I know, I’m just too stupid to know I’m too stupid.
These excuses, intangibles or nuances we fans don't understand will mean nothing to next nine teams the Miami Dolphins play. As Gase is fond of saying, “The film don’t lie.” Every team playing Miami will sign a couple 350 pound nose tackles to attack the weakness, Mike Pouncey.
Was this a pre-season game? It certainly seemed as if Gase was working off a play sheet with
only 3 plays. Ajayi into the middle of the line, Ajayi into the middle
of the line, Ajayi into the middle of the line. By the time Matt Moore
dropped back to pass, the entire stadium was pinning their ears back and
whooshing through the “A” gap. Damien Williams couldn’t decide which free
runner to block and just whiffed on them all.
Miami had no answer to the Ravens. Zone blocking doesn’t work against a 3-4 defense with three large defensive tackles coming straight ahead and blitzing LBs swarming behind. Adam Gase looked as lost as his team, calling play after play straight into the defense. A few screen passes were attempted but telegraphed to the point where the Ravens zipped past Pouncey before Matt Moore could even catch the snap.
That was the “0” part of the score, what happened on the 40 side was easier to understand when two Matt Moore pick sixes are included.
The defense started okay and kept Miami in the game, but the short week and a complete lack of offense caught up to them. By the third quarter, the defense was spent… Frustration became apparent about the time Kiko Alonso decapitated Joe Flacco. He didn’t hit the QB with his helmet, but the blow was brutal and started a melee. The image of Flacco rising loopy from the ground, raising his finger and calling the parking lot attendant, was classic.
The chippy play continued until punk QB Ryan Mallett, who replaced Flacco, learned a quick lesson about bating an angry Ndamukong Suh. Suh lifted him off the ground by his neck and stared him down. The fear in Mallett’s eyes was palpable and from then on the game was a matter of getting it done.
Burke’s defensive coaching was as questionable as Gases offensive offense. The Ravens pulled a play from tony Sparano’s book and lined up unbalanced with two tackles on one side and a TE on the other. Burke did not respond until the fourth quarter. The Miami defense did not adjust and Baltimore ran the play again and again and again.
Thank you NFL for taking another swipe at the Miami Dolphins. After scheduling the team to travel 14,000 miles in three weeks, Miami also had to endure an away game on Thursday night. It was completely obvious, Miami was not prepared to play this game. The long week ahead is the only redeeming factor in a season now minus a bye week.
40-0
Let that resonate… 40-0
It will be interesting to see how Miami responds. This season, by all accounts, was over before it started and somehow the Dolphins are still alive. It’s just a single game in a long season…
We R Not Normal
Miami will be back.
Showing posts with label Jay Ajayi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jay Ajayi. Show all posts
Miami's Majestical Dolphins Dispel NY's Jets
Adam Gase' Miami Dolphins are 13 - 4 over the teams last 17 regular season games. Those 13 wins started with a double-digit dousing of the 2016 Steelers. The Dolphins have won 13 consecutive games that Jay Ajayi had 18 or more attempts in while also continuing their franchise record streak of 12 consecutive victories by one score or less.
2017's Dolphins have been cloaked with curses cast upon them over the seasons entirety. (Tannehill, Irma, PPD, Timmons, 16,000 miles traveled by game three, at NY & London debacles, OL Coach Forester), and all of that took place on a weekly basis before game five.
The sky has been falling on Miami since the pre-season.
Not once have they ever cried wolf,
they just Huff & Puff & Blow Down one distraction after another.
Gase flicks the inconveniences from his shoulder as he states. ""We'll move forward, and do our thing"".
What is Miami's thing?
Start slow, and finish fast against all odds?
Week one Dolphin home opener cancelled.
Game one at LA's home opener took 9 unanswered late game Dolphin points for the 19 - 17 W.
A 16 - 10 Victory Versus the Titans came via the games only fourth quarter score, a Dolphin Touchdown.
Miami tapped their counter-spell-less magic wand 20 times over the final 21 minutes to beat the (home team and coming off a bye) Atlanta Falcons 20 - 17.
And today in hosting the New York Jets. While trailing 14 - 28 with 11:21 remaining on the game clock. The Miami Dolphins scored 17 unanswered points for the 31 - 28 VICTORY OF GLORY!
Today's "inconveniences" included a disasterously sloppy field, a few highly productive offensive plays negated by the starting centers handkerchiefs drawn, and a couple brainfarts on what should/would have been early game defining defensive third down stops.
Oh Yea.
While trailing 21 - 14, and with the Dolphins driving on the opening third quarter series. Quarterback Jay Cutler (sternum/ribs), & Left Tackle Laremy Tunsil (knee) were forced from the game on back to back plays.
Adam Gase
Flick the inconvenient crap from your shoulder, move forward, and win against all self destructing odds.
New York opened the game with a 75 yard drive resulting in a (29 yard TD pass) that Miami matched on their opening series. The Cutler to Landry four yard connection was the Dolphins first offensive touchdown in the first half of a game this season, (let-alone in the first quarter of a game). The Jets had another 75 yard drive in the second quarter (result an 18 yard TD pass) that the home team answered after covering 70 yards of their own. Tight-End Anthony Fasano's four yard reception from Cutler tied the game at 14 - 14.
On Miami's next possession from their own three yard line Cutler had a ball batted up and intercepted at the LOS. NY's offense walked it in for the 21 - 14 halftime lead.
To open the third quarter, Cutler drove Miami to it's 45 when on first and 10 he went down upon a vicious hit and incompletion. A defensive holding penalty gave the Dolphins an automatic first down. Adam (Prince Charming) Gase had a backup date for the ball, and the slipper fit Matt Moore. Though he went three & out to finish that particular possession.
On the fifth play of Miam's next offensive series Moore threw an interception at the Dolphins 45 yard line. Seven plays later the jets scored on a 9 yard touchdown pass for a 28 - 14 lead with less than 2 third quarter minutes remaining.
Miami followed with a four & out 6 seconds into the fourth quarter.
Adam Gase had an idea for a motivating Dolphin Tee-Shirt design last year that Cam Wake saw and approved of. Gase broke the T's out this past week of practice, and it says.
""We Are Not Normal""!!
At this point of the game with (14:45) remaining. The Dolphins Defense did the norm, and allowed the Jets just 13 more offensive plays on 5 possessions.
Wake conjured up 2.5 sacks while Suh had the .5 to total 3 sacks, Terrance Fede recovered a fumble, and Bobby McCain pulled a rabbit out of the hat of NYQB McCown.
Meanwhile.
Matt Moore shook off the tightness of hibernation, and drove the Dolphins to 17 unanswered slight of hand points in the final eleven minutes.
After the Dolphin D forced a three & out for minus 6 yards, Miami took control at NY's 42. Four plays later Moore hit Kenny Stills for a 28 yard TOUCHDOWN to pull within 21 - 28.
Another Defensive three & out for minus 10 yards gave Miami the ball at their own 45. Six plays later Matt Moore hit Kenny Stills again. This time they did it twice from three yards out (though the first was nullified via a bogus OPI handkerchief). The second was good for the game tying score of 28 - 28.
Four more Jets along with seven more Dolphins offensive plays resulted in two punts, and gave NY the ball at their own 15 yard line with 47 game seconds left to tick away till overtime.
On first and 10 a mystical unicorn breached from beneath the quagmire of turf and propelled Bobby McCain from nowhere and into his own zone for the game clinching interception. It was just Miami's second pick for the year, but it was also the second consecutive game clinching ""Pick Of Destiny"" as Kicker Cody Parkey nailed the slippery 39 yard, 31 - 28 game winning fairy-tale.
NY passed for 180 yards on 27 attempts, and ran for 92 on 22 totes for 16 total first downs. Their D forced two turnovers, and had three sacks.
Miami quarterbacks completed 25 of 37 for 304 yards. Jay Ajayi (23/51) got his (18-plus game winning carries) while the team produced just 53 rushing yards on 25 attempts as the Dolphins totaled 25 first downs.
Cutler went 12 of 16, 138 yards, 2 TD, 1 Int for a 114.1 QBR
Moore was 13 - 21, 188, 2 TD, 1 Int for a 102.9 QBR
Landry had 7 receptions for 93 with a TD.
Stills converted 6 for 85 with two TD's.
Fasano caught 3 for 25 with a TD.
Miami had 76 penalty yards which was 48 fewer than NY's, and the Dolphins won the Time Of Possession battle by nearly four minutes.
At 3 - 2 Miami's average output was 12.?? points per game. With today's 31 the average has been up'd to 15.?? per.
2017's Dolphins have won three in a row and are 4 - 2 after six games played.
""We Are Not Normal""
Four Days Till Miami Visits Baltimore on Thursday Night Football..
GOFINS!!!
2017's Dolphins have been cloaked with curses cast upon them over the seasons entirety. (Tannehill, Irma, PPD, Timmons, 16,000 miles traveled by game three, at NY & London debacles, OL Coach Forester), and all of that took place on a weekly basis before game five.
The sky has been falling on Miami since the pre-season.
Not once have they ever cried wolf,
they just Huff & Puff & Blow Down one distraction after another.
Gase flicks the inconveniences from his shoulder as he states. ""We'll move forward, and do our thing"".
What is Miami's thing?
Start slow, and finish fast against all odds?
Week one Dolphin home opener cancelled.
Game one at LA's home opener took 9 unanswered late game Dolphin points for the 19 - 17 W.
A 16 - 10 Victory Versus the Titans came via the games only fourth quarter score, a Dolphin Touchdown.
Miami tapped their counter-spell-less magic wand 20 times over the final 21 minutes to beat the (home team and coming off a bye) Atlanta Falcons 20 - 17.
And today in hosting the New York Jets. While trailing 14 - 28 with 11:21 remaining on the game clock. The Miami Dolphins scored 17 unanswered points for the 31 - 28 VICTORY OF GLORY!
Today's "inconveniences" included a disasterously sloppy field, a few highly productive offensive plays negated by the starting centers handkerchiefs drawn, and a couple brainfarts on what should/would have been early game defining defensive third down stops.
Oh Yea.
While trailing 21 - 14, and with the Dolphins driving on the opening third quarter series. Quarterback Jay Cutler (sternum/ribs), & Left Tackle Laremy Tunsil (knee) were forced from the game on back to back plays.
Adam Gase
Flick the inconvenient crap from your shoulder, move forward, and win against all self destructing odds.
New York opened the game with a 75 yard drive resulting in a (29 yard TD pass) that Miami matched on their opening series. The Cutler to Landry four yard connection was the Dolphins first offensive touchdown in the first half of a game this season, (let-alone in the first quarter of a game). The Jets had another 75 yard drive in the second quarter (result an 18 yard TD pass) that the home team answered after covering 70 yards of their own. Tight-End Anthony Fasano's four yard reception from Cutler tied the game at 14 - 14.
On Miami's next possession from their own three yard line Cutler had a ball batted up and intercepted at the LOS. NY's offense walked it in for the 21 - 14 halftime lead.
To open the third quarter, Cutler drove Miami to it's 45 when on first and 10 he went down upon a vicious hit and incompletion. A defensive holding penalty gave the Dolphins an automatic first down. Adam (Prince Charming) Gase had a backup date for the ball, and the slipper fit Matt Moore. Though he went three & out to finish that particular possession.
On the fifth play of Miam's next offensive series Moore threw an interception at the Dolphins 45 yard line. Seven plays later the jets scored on a 9 yard touchdown pass for a 28 - 14 lead with less than 2 third quarter minutes remaining.
Miami followed with a four & out 6 seconds into the fourth quarter.
Adam Gase had an idea for a motivating Dolphin Tee-Shirt design last year that Cam Wake saw and approved of. Gase broke the T's out this past week of practice, and it says.
""We Are Not Normal""!!
At this point of the game with (14:45) remaining. The Dolphins Defense did the norm, and allowed the Jets just 13 more offensive plays on 5 possessions.
Wake conjured up 2.5 sacks while Suh had the .5 to total 3 sacks, Terrance Fede recovered a fumble, and Bobby McCain pulled a rabbit out of the hat of NYQB McCown.
Meanwhile.
Matt Moore shook off the tightness of hibernation, and drove the Dolphins to 17 unanswered slight of hand points in the final eleven minutes.
After the Dolphin D forced a three & out for minus 6 yards, Miami took control at NY's 42. Four plays later Moore hit Kenny Stills for a 28 yard TOUCHDOWN to pull within 21 - 28.
Another Defensive three & out for minus 10 yards gave Miami the ball at their own 45. Six plays later Matt Moore hit Kenny Stills again. This time they did it twice from three yards out (though the first was nullified via a bogus OPI handkerchief). The second was good for the game tying score of 28 - 28.
Four more Jets along with seven more Dolphins offensive plays resulted in two punts, and gave NY the ball at their own 15 yard line with 47 game seconds left to tick away till overtime.
On first and 10 a mystical unicorn breached from beneath the quagmire of turf and propelled Bobby McCain from nowhere and into his own zone for the game clinching interception. It was just Miami's second pick for the year, but it was also the second consecutive game clinching ""Pick Of Destiny"" as Kicker Cody Parkey nailed the slippery 39 yard, 31 - 28 game winning fairy-tale.
NY passed for 180 yards on 27 attempts, and ran for 92 on 22 totes for 16 total first downs. Their D forced two turnovers, and had three sacks.
Miami quarterbacks completed 25 of 37 for 304 yards. Jay Ajayi (23/51) got his (18-plus game winning carries) while the team produced just 53 rushing yards on 25 attempts as the Dolphins totaled 25 first downs.
Cutler went 12 of 16, 138 yards, 2 TD, 1 Int for a 114.1 QBR
Moore was 13 - 21, 188, 2 TD, 1 Int for a 102.9 QBR
Landry had 7 receptions for 93 with a TD.
Stills converted 6 for 85 with two TD's.
Fasano caught 3 for 25 with a TD.
Miami had 76 penalty yards which was 48 fewer than NY's, and the Dolphins won the Time Of Possession battle by nearly four minutes.
At 3 - 2 Miami's average output was 12.?? points per game. With today's 31 the average has been up'd to 15.?? per.
2017's Dolphins have won three in a row and are 4 - 2 after six games played.
""We Are Not Normal""
Four Days Till Miami Visits Baltimore on Thursday Night Football..
GOFINS!!!
The Miami Dolphins: A Tale of Two Halves
The Miami Dolphins spotted the Atlanta Falcons 17 points in a lackluster first half that looked like the Dolphins were ready to implode. Mike Pouncey ominously headed toward the tunnel just before intermission with a concussion. Jay Cutler refused to set his feet, dancing around imaginary rushers before unloading short or off-target. These Dolphins were the first team in 13 years not to score a touchdown in the first quarter of 5 consecutive games to start the season.
The chants of, “we want Moore,” could be heard all the way from Miami. Subjected all week to every cocaine snorting meme imaginable, the only people who still believed were in that locker room at halftime. A 15-play, 75-yard, 8 minute drive to start the third quarter sparked the comeback. Jay Cutler finally found his legs, maneuvering up and out of the pocket, then firing to Kenny Stills in the end zone for an 11-yard touchdown. The Dolphins had scored! The Dolphins had a pulse and it seemed that’s all they needed.
The defense, which had played well despite giving up 17 first half points, smelled blood in the water and promptly forced a three an out. Then divine invention set the stage…
Atlanta punter Matt Bosher shanked a 26-yard kick giving the Dolphins possession on their own 49. Two Falcons penalties: a 26-yard pass interference penalty on a deep pass to Jakeem Grant and a late hit on Jay Cutler, that negated a Deion Jones interception, changed the momentum of the game. Cutler floated a pass to Jarvis Landry for an easy seven-yard touchdown. “I was wide open,” Landry said. “No one can guard me. Great play design from coach.” The score was 17-14 Atlanta, but the magic was with Miami.
On Atlanta’s next possession, a Falcons holding penalty followed by a Cam Wake sack brought punter Matt Bosher back on the field. The snap seemed to bounce off the up man or perhaps it was a mishandled fake, but either way, Bosher never got the punt off and Miami took over on its own 48. Gase seized the moment, calling for a nine-yard pass to Landry on 4th and 2 before Cody Parkey nailed a 49-yard field goal with 8:39 left, to tie the game.
Newly acquired William Hayes dropped Tevin Coleman for two yards, and then a loss of eight on consecutive runs. Matty Ice had that far away “how did we give up a 28-3 lead” look in his eyes as Dolphin defenders pummeled him on nearly every play. After a Falcons punt, Jay Ajayi ripped off two 18-yard runs, Cutler hit Landry for 10 yards on a third and nine, and Parkey hit a 38-yard field goal with 2:30 to go for a 20-17 Miami lead. After 20 unanswered second half points the Dolphins would not be denied!
The Falcons drove from their own 13 to the Dolphins 26, it looked like the game was heading for overtime or a last minute Atlanta victory when Rashad Jones did his thing. Rookie Cordrea Tankersley had great coverage on tight end Austin Hooper, when he reached in, deflecting a well thrown pass. Jones “kind of cheated a little bit backside and I kept my eyes on the ball” grabbing it at the Dolphins 6 for an interception to win the game.
The victory was one to savoir for the Miami Dolphins. Postponing their first game and giving up their bye week to Hurricane Irma, going in consecutive weeks to LA, NY and London, then dealing with a coach’s snorting fiasco, brought out the true character of this team. These guys don’t quit, they don’t make excuses and they should never be counted out of a ballgame.
Jay Ajayi rushed for 130 yards on 26 carries. Jay Cutler, threw for just 151 yards but was victimized by five more drops (three by Landry, two by Ajayi). Cutler looked gun shy and confused in the first half, but something clicked after intermission and he orchestrated four scoring drives in the final 28 minutes. His 76.7 rating was not as bad as the numbers would imply, but it was a tale of two halves.
The Miami defense dominated the second half, allowing just 106 yards.
With the Jets coming to town, Miami, left for dead several weeks ago, is 3-2. The second half performance against Atlanta is the type of comeback that changes a season. Jay Cutler is streaky, but clearly we have not seen him reach his peak and that bodes well for Miami. The loss of Pouncey somehow focused the offensive line and perhaps the off practice days for Pouncey are hindering, more than helping.
This Miami defense is going to lose the Dolphins another defensive coordinator, after the season, if this performance continues. The DL is the best collection of players for the Dolphins in many years and perhaps one of the best in the NFL. Maualuga and Timmons have solidified a weak linebacker corps and the two young corners are playing lights out. The thought of TJ McDonald returning at safety in a few weeks may be giving OC’s nightmares.
As Miami finds its offensive stride, this team has nowhere to go but up!
The chants of, “we want Moore,” could be heard all the way from Miami. Subjected all week to every cocaine snorting meme imaginable, the only people who still believed were in that locker room at halftime. A 15-play, 75-yard, 8 minute drive to start the third quarter sparked the comeback. Jay Cutler finally found his legs, maneuvering up and out of the pocket, then firing to Kenny Stills in the end zone for an 11-yard touchdown. The Dolphins had scored! The Dolphins had a pulse and it seemed that’s all they needed.
The defense, which had played well despite giving up 17 first half points, smelled blood in the water and promptly forced a three an out. Then divine invention set the stage…
Atlanta punter Matt Bosher shanked a 26-yard kick giving the Dolphins possession on their own 49. Two Falcons penalties: a 26-yard pass interference penalty on a deep pass to Jakeem Grant and a late hit on Jay Cutler, that negated a Deion Jones interception, changed the momentum of the game. Cutler floated a pass to Jarvis Landry for an easy seven-yard touchdown. “I was wide open,” Landry said. “No one can guard me. Great play design from coach.” The score was 17-14 Atlanta, but the magic was with Miami.
On Atlanta’s next possession, a Falcons holding penalty followed by a Cam Wake sack brought punter Matt Bosher back on the field. The snap seemed to bounce off the up man or perhaps it was a mishandled fake, but either way, Bosher never got the punt off and Miami took over on its own 48. Gase seized the moment, calling for a nine-yard pass to Landry on 4th and 2 before Cody Parkey nailed a 49-yard field goal with 8:39 left, to tie the game.
Newly acquired William Hayes dropped Tevin Coleman for two yards, and then a loss of eight on consecutive runs. Matty Ice had that far away “how did we give up a 28-3 lead” look in his eyes as Dolphin defenders pummeled him on nearly every play. After a Falcons punt, Jay Ajayi ripped off two 18-yard runs, Cutler hit Landry for 10 yards on a third and nine, and Parkey hit a 38-yard field goal with 2:30 to go for a 20-17 Miami lead. After 20 unanswered second half points the Dolphins would not be denied!
The Falcons drove from their own 13 to the Dolphins 26, it looked like the game was heading for overtime or a last minute Atlanta victory when Rashad Jones did his thing. Rookie Cordrea Tankersley had great coverage on tight end Austin Hooper, when he reached in, deflecting a well thrown pass. Jones “kind of cheated a little bit backside and I kept my eyes on the ball” grabbing it at the Dolphins 6 for an interception to win the game.
The victory was one to savoir for the Miami Dolphins. Postponing their first game and giving up their bye week to Hurricane Irma, going in consecutive weeks to LA, NY and London, then dealing with a coach’s snorting fiasco, brought out the true character of this team. These guys don’t quit, they don’t make excuses and they should never be counted out of a ballgame.
Jay Ajayi rushed for 130 yards on 26 carries. Jay Cutler, threw for just 151 yards but was victimized by five more drops (three by Landry, two by Ajayi). Cutler looked gun shy and confused in the first half, but something clicked after intermission and he orchestrated four scoring drives in the final 28 minutes. His 76.7 rating was not as bad as the numbers would imply, but it was a tale of two halves.
The Miami defense dominated the second half, allowing just 106 yards.
With the Jets coming to town, Miami, left for dead several weeks ago, is 3-2. The second half performance against Atlanta is the type of comeback that changes a season. Jay Cutler is streaky, but clearly we have not seen him reach his peak and that bodes well for Miami. The loss of Pouncey somehow focused the offensive line and perhaps the off practice days for Pouncey are hindering, more than helping.
This Miami defense is going to lose the Dolphins another defensive coordinator, after the season, if this performance continues. The DL is the best collection of players for the Dolphins in many years and perhaps one of the best in the NFL. Maualuga and Timmons have solidified a weak linebacker corps and the two young corners are playing lights out. The thought of TJ McDonald returning at safety in a few weeks may be giving OC’s nightmares.
As Miami finds its offensive stride, this team has nowhere to go but up!
Miami Dolphins Defense Takes W Versus Titans
The Football Gods, and leagues referees must have coagulated to agree this past week that Miami's Dolphins were due some benefit of a doubt. Miami is behind schedule as they had played one fewer game than the league has. In one fewer games (4) than the rest of the league, the Dolphins have already traveled 16,000 miles which eclipses more miles than 14 other NFL teams will travel over the seasons entirety.
After losing their week one home opening opportunity to hurricane Irma. Miami played their first home game of the season at Hard Rock Stadium today and left the building with a 2 - 2 record.
They were fortunate in that the Titans were without their all-around, highly skilled franchise quarterback Marcus Mariotta. Was it fate, or a gift from the higher powers? Those with the black & white stripes also appeared to be offering up some aqua & orange transfusions to the beached mammals.
Whatever the reasons why Miami's Dolphins got a few breaks this week?
They surely were overdue! They lost their quarterback just before the season's start, and have had plenty of flags and/or errant/missed calls go against them thus far in 2017. Let-alone what has become the rearranged schedule with the most (by far) frequent flier miles and having a wound licking bye week erased from the season's hour glass.
Whatever.
It is what it is, and the Dolphins must overcome. Today they did.
The Defense that now sports a line backing trio of Lawrence Timmons, Rey Maualuga, and Kiko Alonso shut down the Titans for 188 total yards with 19 tackles on 58 plays, along with a Kiko forced fumble and a sack. They held the visitors highly productive running back duo (DeMarco Murry & Derrick Henry) to 69 rush yards on 20 attempts. 188 - 69 is what Tennessee accrued through the air (119 yards).
Miami's Defense of Aqua & Orange blood sacked Matt Cassell 6 times via (Branch x two, Suh, Alonso, Wake/RJones .5, and rookie first round pick Charles Harris logged his first career NFL sack). The D also forced two fumbles that Rashad Jones recovered with one of them being returned for a touchdown and 10 - 0 first quarter home team lead.
Rookie DT Davon Godchaux forced the first fumble on the Titans third possession that #20 recovered at the visitors 42. Miami's O (cough, cough excuse me) drove the ball 19 yards for a 40 yard field goal and 3 - 0 advantage.
This is where things get sticky.
The Titans first play from their 25 goes for 11 rushing yards with another 5 being added due to defensive holding. The next play is a 59 yard touchdown bomb to the tight end. Fortunately the second tight end is ticky-tacked for offensive pass interference which nullifies the go ahead visitors score.
Two plays later on 2nd & 20 from the Titans own 31. Those of black & white stripes must have been playing Marco-Polo or been distracted by the ghost of Joe Robbie as they never (blew a whistle), ruled the play incomplete, or a fumble, or a recovery, or a defensive touchdown. They themselves had no idea of what took place until watching the mandatory (on a potential score) review. ""They never ruled a touchdown"", but upon review they gave Miami/Rashad Jones the touchdown.
It was an odd bang, bang play that seemed like Jones didn't pick up the stationary ball until 10 seconds after Alonso sacked and or caused the ball to be fumbled (nearly 10 yards forward) as Cassell's hand was simultaneously attempting to move forward from the cocked to firing position. The whistle never being blown was key, and likely the only reason Miami was awarded the score rather than just possession of the ball. It was odd, because the Dolphins are rarely offered oxygen and 14 point swings from those in black & white stripes. But Hey, we'll take it, the defense deserved this W, and that play resulting in a 10 - 0 first quarter lead didn't hurt!!
Tennessee scored 3 first half points, and tied the game at ten with their initial third quarter possession. The Titans were penalized 11 times for 77 yards and won the time of possession battle by 30 seconds. The Dolphins committed 5 penalties for 23 yards. Both teams had two turnovers.
DeVante Parker left the game early, wanted to return, but staff decided to live for another day.
Miami's only offensive possession that led to a touchdown came from the Dolphins 42 yard line with 29 seconds remaining in the third quarter, and ended 1:18 into the fourth quarter when Jay Cutler hit Jarvis Landry from six yards out. 16 - 10 Miami as the missed extra point turned the games remainder into a series of rectal exercise reps.
The Dolphins D was Da'Chit!
The Dolphins O was Da'Stench!
The Dolphins D held the Titans to 188 total yards.
The Dolphins O (cough, cough excuse me) accumulated 178 total yards with 100 coming via the ground games 31 attempts.
And it's not the quarterback who was relentlessly harassed the entire game and or all season every bit as much as Miami harassed today's opposing quarterback Matt Cassell with six sacks. Cutler avoided all but one sack.
Miami's offensive line has been horrible this season if not the last 15 years. Ajayi's getting hit upon the hand-off. Cutler at the snap is being forced into water bug mode sliding from one ripple to the next wave, and into the tsunami before managing to thankfully rid himself of that for which others playfully try to kill.
BA where are you, are you in shape, wanna come out of retirement and play the seasons remainder? We won 9 of our last 11 last year with you Tunsil, Pouncey, Bushrod, & James!
This past Thursday Defensive coordinator Matt Burke was asked if he'd agree that the defense played well enough to win the previous two games.
He adamantly replied ""no, we lost. The defense missed plenty of advantageous opportunities to flip the field and help out the offense. We aren't gonna play that game in my room, we win and lose as a team""!!
Today the Dolphins defense made the game changing play's that won if not helped the offense and team to win.
Miami is 2 - 2, and the defense will need to continue to play their best ball.
The offensive line needs to figure things out quick, or the Dolphins are gonna need the higher powers to continue to be of aqua & orange plasma.
In the batters circle stands what should be the defending World Champion Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons were 3 - 0 before suffering a home loss last week. They (conveniently) had their bye (what's that) this week and will have been sleeping in their own beds for three weeks by the time the struggling Dolphin offense comes to town.
C'MON O-LINE
GO FINS!!
After losing their week one home opening opportunity to hurricane Irma. Miami played their first home game of the season at Hard Rock Stadium today and left the building with a 2 - 2 record.
They were fortunate in that the Titans were without their all-around, highly skilled franchise quarterback Marcus Mariotta. Was it fate, or a gift from the higher powers? Those with the black & white stripes also appeared to be offering up some aqua & orange transfusions to the beached mammals.
Whatever the reasons why Miami's Dolphins got a few breaks this week?
They surely were overdue! They lost their quarterback just before the season's start, and have had plenty of flags and/or errant/missed calls go against them thus far in 2017. Let-alone what has become the rearranged schedule with the most (by far) frequent flier miles and having a wound licking bye week erased from the season's hour glass.
Whatever.
It is what it is, and the Dolphins must overcome. Today they did.
The Defense that now sports a line backing trio of Lawrence Timmons, Rey Maualuga, and Kiko Alonso shut down the Titans for 188 total yards with 19 tackles on 58 plays, along with a Kiko forced fumble and a sack. They held the visitors highly productive running back duo (DeMarco Murry & Derrick Henry) to 69 rush yards on 20 attempts. 188 - 69 is what Tennessee accrued through the air (119 yards).
Miami's Defense of Aqua & Orange blood sacked Matt Cassell 6 times via (Branch x two, Suh, Alonso, Wake/RJones .5, and rookie first round pick Charles Harris logged his first career NFL sack). The D also forced two fumbles that Rashad Jones recovered with one of them being returned for a touchdown and 10 - 0 first quarter home team lead.
Rookie DT Davon Godchaux forced the first fumble on the Titans third possession that #20 recovered at the visitors 42. Miami's O (cough, cough excuse me) drove the ball 19 yards for a 40 yard field goal and 3 - 0 advantage.
This is where things get sticky.
The Titans first play from their 25 goes for 11 rushing yards with another 5 being added due to defensive holding. The next play is a 59 yard touchdown bomb to the tight end. Fortunately the second tight end is ticky-tacked for offensive pass interference which nullifies the go ahead visitors score.
Two plays later on 2nd & 20 from the Titans own 31. Those of black & white stripes must have been playing Marco-Polo or been distracted by the ghost of Joe Robbie as they never (blew a whistle), ruled the play incomplete, or a fumble, or a recovery, or a defensive touchdown. They themselves had no idea of what took place until watching the mandatory (on a potential score) review. ""They never ruled a touchdown"", but upon review they gave Miami/Rashad Jones the touchdown.
It was an odd bang, bang play that seemed like Jones didn't pick up the stationary ball until 10 seconds after Alonso sacked and or caused the ball to be fumbled (nearly 10 yards forward) as Cassell's hand was simultaneously attempting to move forward from the cocked to firing position. The whistle never being blown was key, and likely the only reason Miami was awarded the score rather than just possession of the ball. It was odd, because the Dolphins are rarely offered oxygen and 14 point swings from those in black & white stripes. But Hey, we'll take it, the defense deserved this W, and that play resulting in a 10 - 0 first quarter lead didn't hurt!!
Tennessee scored 3 first half points, and tied the game at ten with their initial third quarter possession. The Titans were penalized 11 times for 77 yards and won the time of possession battle by 30 seconds. The Dolphins committed 5 penalties for 23 yards. Both teams had two turnovers.
DeVante Parker left the game early, wanted to return, but staff decided to live for another day.
Miami's only offensive possession that led to a touchdown came from the Dolphins 42 yard line with 29 seconds remaining in the third quarter, and ended 1:18 into the fourth quarter when Jay Cutler hit Jarvis Landry from six yards out. 16 - 10 Miami as the missed extra point turned the games remainder into a series of rectal exercise reps.
The Dolphins D was Da'Chit!
The Dolphins O was Da'Stench!
The Dolphins D held the Titans to 188 total yards.
The Dolphins O (cough, cough excuse me) accumulated 178 total yards with 100 coming via the ground games 31 attempts.
And it's not the quarterback who was relentlessly harassed the entire game and or all season every bit as much as Miami harassed today's opposing quarterback Matt Cassell with six sacks. Cutler avoided all but one sack.
Miami's offensive line has been horrible this season if not the last 15 years. Ajayi's getting hit upon the hand-off. Cutler at the snap is being forced into water bug mode sliding from one ripple to the next wave, and into the tsunami before managing to thankfully rid himself of that for which others playfully try to kill.
BA where are you, are you in shape, wanna come out of retirement and play the seasons remainder? We won 9 of our last 11 last year with you Tunsil, Pouncey, Bushrod, & James!
This past Thursday Defensive coordinator Matt Burke was asked if he'd agree that the defense played well enough to win the previous two games.
He adamantly replied ""no, we lost. The defense missed plenty of advantageous opportunities to flip the field and help out the offense. We aren't gonna play that game in my room, we win and lose as a team""!!
Today the Dolphins defense made the game changing play's that won if not helped the offense and team to win.
Miami is 2 - 2, and the defense will need to continue to play their best ball.
The offensive line needs to figure things out quick, or the Dolphins are gonna need the higher powers to continue to be of aqua & orange plasma.
In the batters circle stands what should be the defending World Champion Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons were 3 - 0 before suffering a home loss last week. They (conveniently) had their bye (what's that) this week and will have been sleeping in their own beds for three weeks by the time the struggling Dolphin offense comes to town.
C'MON O-LINE
GO FINS!!
Jet Net Suffocates Dolphins
Where does one begin?
Being one that focuses on the promising acts of every given day and/or The Miami Dolphins and/or NFL football. I guess the entire NFL displaying unity in an Americans right to Freedom Of Speech is worth mentioning!
Besides that.
Favored AFC projected playoff
teams such as Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Denver, and Oakland lost to what were suggested to be inferior teams.
As far as the second Sunday of the 2017 Miami Dolphins.
The above is about all that went right!
It started out innocent enough.
The first few minutes went well as Miami's D forced an opening series three and out with the aid of a Cameron Wake sack. Andre Branch logged a sack on the third defensive series, and that (for the day) was about all that was worth mentioning defensively.
The Dolphins first offensive play was a nice Kenny Stills scoop for a first down while the oppositions challenge failed. On the second play Miami's Jay Ajayi took an upper cut to the family jewels. Though he returned shortly thereafter for the games remainder, it seemed as though the entire team gasped for air from then on.
Miami's second defensive series began with back to back to back encroachment penalties and ended with a shanked field goal attempt. The Dolphins second offensive series began with back to back to back offensive line illegal procedure penalties while racing against the playclock which obviously led to one of numerous three & outs for the visiting team.
Midway into the second quarter the home team with 143 yards scored the first 3 points of the game. The Dolphins had 40 yards of offense to that point, 10 coming from Ajayi on 7 attempts. On Miami's next touch of the ball, Cutler (whom was swarmed relentlessly throughout the day) took a big sack. The Dolphins now have 30 total yards on the day as a third down attempt is dropped beyond the first down marker. Cutler is 3 of 6 for 23 yards.
BOOM!!!
Team green burns All-Terrain Verner for a 69 yard TD and a 10 - 0 visitors defecit at the half.
Ok, Ok, it's Ok, Miami's Dolphins are down by ten and they're a second half team, everythings Ok.
Right?
Wrong!
It gets no prettier folks, and becomes one of the most frustrating Dolphin game since the 1 - 15 season of 2007.
Miami opens the third quarter with another three & out. To this point they have seven ""touches"" of the ball that result in seven punts with just three first downs and the previously noted 30 to 40 yards of total offense.
The home opening team and Dolphin divisional rival drive their opening third quarter series for a touchdown and 17 - 0 lead.
The Dolphins become so desperate to make something happen early in the third quarter upon yet another three & out, and attempt a fake punt that results in the punter throwing an interception at the 50 yard line.
It's sooo bad that on NY's next series first down play they actually gain seven yards on an incompletion. Someone's head was up their A, as the following snap came without a zebra or Adam Gase blink of an eye. Upon a completed throwing motion the QB's arm was fully extended forward, as the ball released from his fingertips a Dolphin defender simotaneously tipped the ball, the ball went 20 feet high hit the ground rolled forward for seven yards and the QB recovered it for a seven yard gain. WTF? Another NY field goal and 20 - 0 score.
Hey Hey Yippy!
As the third quarter final second ticks off the clock,
The Miami Dolphins cross the 50 yard line for the first time.
Four down territory.
Miami drives to the 20 and has a fourth down back of the end zone pass fall incomplete.
Hey Hey Yippy!
Three ""touches of the ball"" later Jay Cutler hits DeVante Parker (great catch) for a four yard TOUCHDOWN as the game ends. 20 - 7. Right?
Wrong!
Dolphins miss the extra one point attempt,
and lose in a devastating manner 20 - 6.
In thirteen fewer minutes of possession the Dolphins actually ended up with as many first downs as the home team, and ran 4 more plays. Unfortunately, they went 1 of 12 on third and 0 for 3 on fourth downs while very few plays for Miami moved the ball forward, and just one resulted in points!
After two devestating road losses the 0 - 2 Jets came to play and weren't about to let their loud home opening crowd down. The Dolphins could do no right, T'was quite frustrating indeed!!!
Miami 225. NYJ 336 total yards.
Cutler 26 of 44 for 220 with a TD & a needless dagger of a pick,
(nothing but grass in front of you, run two more yards for the first down).
Parker 8 receptions for 76 with a TD.
((( JAY AJAYI ELEVEN ATTEMPTS FOR SIXTEEN YARDS )))
London Dolphins versus the Wembley Saints next Sunday at 9 : 30 am EST !!!
GOFINS!!!
Being one that focuses on the promising acts of every given day and/or The Miami Dolphins and/or NFL football. I guess the entire NFL displaying unity in an Americans right to Freedom Of Speech is worth mentioning!
Besides that.
Favored AFC projected playoff
teams such as Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Denver, and Oakland lost to what were suggested to be inferior teams.
As far as the second Sunday of the 2017 Miami Dolphins.
The above is about all that went right!
It started out innocent enough.
The first few minutes went well as Miami's D forced an opening series three and out with the aid of a Cameron Wake sack. Andre Branch logged a sack on the third defensive series, and that (for the day) was about all that was worth mentioning defensively.
The Dolphins first offensive play was a nice Kenny Stills scoop for a first down while the oppositions challenge failed. On the second play Miami's Jay Ajayi took an upper cut to the family jewels. Though he returned shortly thereafter for the games remainder, it seemed as though the entire team gasped for air from then on.
Miami's second defensive series began with back to back to back encroachment penalties and ended with a shanked field goal attempt. The Dolphins second offensive series began with back to back to back offensive line illegal procedure penalties while racing against the playclock which obviously led to one of numerous three & outs for the visiting team.
Midway into the second quarter the home team with 143 yards scored the first 3 points of the game. The Dolphins had 40 yards of offense to that point, 10 coming from Ajayi on 7 attempts. On Miami's next touch of the ball, Cutler (whom was swarmed relentlessly throughout the day) took a big sack. The Dolphins now have 30 total yards on the day as a third down attempt is dropped beyond the first down marker. Cutler is 3 of 6 for 23 yards.
BOOM!!!
Team green burns All-Terrain Verner for a 69 yard TD and a 10 - 0 visitors defecit at the half.
Ok, Ok, it's Ok, Miami's Dolphins are down by ten and they're a second half team, everythings Ok.
Right?
Wrong!
It gets no prettier folks, and becomes one of the most frustrating Dolphin game since the 1 - 15 season of 2007.
Miami opens the third quarter with another three & out. To this point they have seven ""touches"" of the ball that result in seven punts with just three first downs and the previously noted 30 to 40 yards of total offense.
The home opening team and Dolphin divisional rival drive their opening third quarter series for a touchdown and 17 - 0 lead.
The Dolphins become so desperate to make something happen early in the third quarter upon yet another three & out, and attempt a fake punt that results in the punter throwing an interception at the 50 yard line.
It's sooo bad that on NY's next series first down play they actually gain seven yards on an incompletion. Someone's head was up their A, as the following snap came without a zebra or Adam Gase blink of an eye. Upon a completed throwing motion the QB's arm was fully extended forward, as the ball released from his fingertips a Dolphin defender simotaneously tipped the ball, the ball went 20 feet high hit the ground rolled forward for seven yards and the QB recovered it for a seven yard gain. WTF? Another NY field goal and 20 - 0 score.
Hey Hey Yippy!
As the third quarter final second ticks off the clock,
The Miami Dolphins cross the 50 yard line for the first time.
Four down territory.
Miami drives to the 20 and has a fourth down back of the end zone pass fall incomplete.
Hey Hey Yippy!
Three ""touches of the ball"" later Jay Cutler hits DeVante Parker (great catch) for a four yard TOUCHDOWN as the game ends. 20 - 7. Right?
Wrong!
Dolphins miss the extra one point attempt,
and lose in a devastating manner 20 - 6.
In thirteen fewer minutes of possession the Dolphins actually ended up with as many first downs as the home team, and ran 4 more plays. Unfortunately, they went 1 of 12 on third and 0 for 3 on fourth downs while very few plays for Miami moved the ball forward, and just one resulted in points!
After two devestating road losses the 0 - 2 Jets came to play and weren't about to let their loud home opening crowd down. The Dolphins could do no right, T'was quite frustrating indeed!!!
Miami 225. NYJ 336 total yards.
Cutler 26 of 44 for 220 with a TD & a needless dagger of a pick,
(nothing but grass in front of you, run two more yards for the first down).
Parker 8 receptions for 76 with a TD.
((( JAY AJAYI ELEVEN ATTEMPTS FOR SIXTEEN YARDS )))
London Dolphins versus the Wembley Saints next Sunday at 9 : 30 am EST !!!
GOFINS!!!
Miami Dolphins Survive Close Victory in LA
The Miami Dolphins breathed a collective sigh of relief when the Chargers last second field goal attempt sailed wide right. The events leading up to Miami’s first game, which should have been the second, were made even more bizarre with the disappearance of linebacker Lawrence Timmons. The curse befalling the Miami Dolphins over the last 40 years was clawing and screaming to get out of the bag, but this team marched on, refusing to succumb.
The demons floating over to the Charger’s sideline following the harrowing 19-17 victory should evince Miami Dolphin fans that something special is happening. Victories in these coin-flip games seem to follow a mystical winning force more elusive than a hurricane’s landfall. These Dolphins had seen it all before even strapping it up against the Chargers. From losing their starting QB, to opening week being cancelled, landing in LA a week early to evade Irma…
Timmons going AWOL was met with a shrug. Sorry Lawrence, your drama was but a single drop in a very large bucket. A bucket that has seen enough adversity to fill it way past half full. A great disturbance in the Force has awakened the Miami Dolphins, somehow they believe they will arrive on the winning side of these close games. In the last twenty years 46.12% of all the NFL regular season games were decided by 7 or less points.
When nearly 50% of all games are won by a touchdown or less, there had better be some karma working in the right direction. The difference between a 10-6 playoff team and a team home watching at 9-7, is a victory in one of these games. One win in a soccer stadium in LA against a team that missed two field goals. A puff of wind from the Great Gods of Football pushing the ball just wide right enough for Miami to fly home celebrating. All bad thoughts thwarted by a puff of the hurricane wind Miami conveniently brought with them to LA.
This football article has essentially nothing to do with football, because the Dolphins played like they hadn’t seen a field in two weeks. Jay Cutler’s QB rating was over 100 because he didn’t make any mistakes. 19 points were enough to save a defense that didn’t look to be firing on all cylinders. There were moments when Miami looked good, but mostly they looked like a team playing their first game with a new QB.
The silver lining may be playing the Jets and Saints prior to beginning a grueling schedule without a bye week. Miami needs to win the 7 point games, these are the games that build on themselves. These are games that embed the confidence required to win them. Like a biblical verse, close wins, beget close wins, beget close wins until poise becomes contagious and wining is expected, not hoped for. Slowly, the bad karma fades, replaced by a winning force that is no longer mystical.
On the football side, a disappointing performance by Lawrence Timmons in the pre-season or a domestic issue may have led to his departure. His disappearance leaves a huge void at the position Miami can least afford to lose. The Dolphins started Chase Allen over Mike Hull, a decision that indicates the undrafted rookie has climbed the depth chart at lightning speed. These Miami coaches have remained steadfast at placing the best performing players on the field. Is it possible Allen has displaced Timmons?
The only thing pretty about this victory is the check mark in the win column. The secondary looked vulnerable. While the defensive line did a great job holding the Chargers to 44 yards rushing, they recorded only 1 sack. Phillip Rivers threw for 323 yards with no INTs and 1 TD. Jay Ajayi reeled off 122 tough yards on 28 carries as Miami used the running game to slow down the Charger pass rush. This was a very clean game, with no turnovers by either team.
It came down to new Miami place kicker Cody Parkey making all 4 of his field goal attempts while the Charger’s Younghoe Koo made only 1 of 3 attempts. One would think growing up with a name like Younghoe would make one impervious to pressure, but that was not case. Parkey’s 54 yarder proved to be the game winner when Koo missed from 44 yards to end the game.
Looking back at the end of the season, the only thing that will matter is the win. Timmons will be a footnote in Miami history, as will Irma and these Dolphins will grow from yet another close victory. Jay Cutler has a game under his belt and all those detractors wishing for the barrage of INTs will have to wait another week. Jay now understands that his team is resilient enough to win games that may have eluded him in the past.
May the Force be with you Jay!
Bring on the Jets!
The demons floating over to the Charger’s sideline following the harrowing 19-17 victory should evince Miami Dolphin fans that something special is happening. Victories in these coin-flip games seem to follow a mystical winning force more elusive than a hurricane’s landfall. These Dolphins had seen it all before even strapping it up against the Chargers. From losing their starting QB, to opening week being cancelled, landing in LA a week early to evade Irma…
Timmons going AWOL was met with a shrug. Sorry Lawrence, your drama was but a single drop in a very large bucket. A bucket that has seen enough adversity to fill it way past half full. A great disturbance in the Force has awakened the Miami Dolphins, somehow they believe they will arrive on the winning side of these close games. In the last twenty years 46.12% of all the NFL regular season games were decided by 7 or less points.
When nearly 50% of all games are won by a touchdown or less, there had better be some karma working in the right direction. The difference between a 10-6 playoff team and a team home watching at 9-7, is a victory in one of these games. One win in a soccer stadium in LA against a team that missed two field goals. A puff of wind from the Great Gods of Football pushing the ball just wide right enough for Miami to fly home celebrating. All bad thoughts thwarted by a puff of the hurricane wind Miami conveniently brought with them to LA.
This football article has essentially nothing to do with football, because the Dolphins played like they hadn’t seen a field in two weeks. Jay Cutler’s QB rating was over 100 because he didn’t make any mistakes. 19 points were enough to save a defense that didn’t look to be firing on all cylinders. There were moments when Miami looked good, but mostly they looked like a team playing their first game with a new QB.
The silver lining may be playing the Jets and Saints prior to beginning a grueling schedule without a bye week. Miami needs to win the 7 point games, these are the games that build on themselves. These are games that embed the confidence required to win them. Like a biblical verse, close wins, beget close wins, beget close wins until poise becomes contagious and wining is expected, not hoped for. Slowly, the bad karma fades, replaced by a winning force that is no longer mystical.
On the football side, a disappointing performance by Lawrence Timmons in the pre-season or a domestic issue may have led to his departure. His disappearance leaves a huge void at the position Miami can least afford to lose. The Dolphins started Chase Allen over Mike Hull, a decision that indicates the undrafted rookie has climbed the depth chart at lightning speed. These Miami coaches have remained steadfast at placing the best performing players on the field. Is it possible Allen has displaced Timmons?
The only thing pretty about this victory is the check mark in the win column. The secondary looked vulnerable. While the defensive line did a great job holding the Chargers to 44 yards rushing, they recorded only 1 sack. Phillip Rivers threw for 323 yards with no INTs and 1 TD. Jay Ajayi reeled off 122 tough yards on 28 carries as Miami used the running game to slow down the Charger pass rush. This was a very clean game, with no turnovers by either team.
It came down to new Miami place kicker Cody Parkey making all 4 of his field goal attempts while the Charger’s Younghoe Koo made only 1 of 3 attempts. One would think growing up with a name like Younghoe would make one impervious to pressure, but that was not case. Parkey’s 54 yarder proved to be the game winner when Koo missed from 44 yards to end the game.
Looking back at the end of the season, the only thing that will matter is the win. Timmons will be a footnote in Miami history, as will Irma and these Dolphins will grow from yet another close victory. Jay Cutler has a game under his belt and all those detractors wishing for the barrage of INTs will have to wait another week. Jay now understands that his team is resilient enough to win games that may have eluded him in the past.
May the Force be with you Jay!
Bring on the Jets!
The Dolphin Defense Flounders as Jay Cutler Shines
The
sense coming into the third preseason game was the Miami defense would
need to carry the team until the offense found its swagger. Jay Cutler
needed time to shake off the rust and find a rhythm with his receivers.
The opposite proved true, Adam Gase’s offense quickly adjusted to
Cutler’s quick release and carved up the Eagles secondary, while the
Miami defense struggled mightily.
Jay Ajayi slashed and bruised his way through the Philadelphia defense for nearly 6-yards a carry and even Mike Pouncey walked away smiling. The Cutler signing looked almost prophetic as Matt Moore threw two ugly interceptions, one resulting in a pick six. With the Dolphins threatening to score, Moore tossed a rookie INT into two defenders with no Miami player close enough to contest.
If anything, the 38-31 loss to the Eagles seemed to vindicate Adam Gase’s decision to pull Jay Cutler out of retirement for one last shot at something special. The offensive line mostly held its own with Mike Pouncey out of bubble wrap for the first time this preseason. An ugly missed block by left tackle Laremy Tunsil caused Cutler’s only bad play, a strip sack-fumble leading to an Eagle TD. Both Tunsil and right tackle Ja’Wuan James looked slow and unprepared for live game action.
21 dynamic points with Jay Cutler at the helm, showed the Miami offense did not miss a beat without Ryan Tannehill. In fact, Cutler was noticeably more at ease in Gase’s offense after only 18 days in Miami, than Tannehill had been in a full season. With the playbook relegated to only a few pages, it should be quite interesting to see the transformation with a full arsenal on display. Cutler seemed particularly eager to find DeVante Parker in one on one situations and their 72 yard hook-up was a teaser of things to come.
The Miami defense on the other hand did not look much different than where it left off ranked 30th in the NFL last season. There were a couple of bursts in the first quarter, including a tipped ball interception that saw 340 pound Jordan Phillips rumble to the 2 yard line, but overall, the defense was not good. Byron Maxwell lost interest in coverage resulting in a 50 yard TD completion to Alshon Jeffery. Bobby McCain was caught flat footed on multiple occasions and hopefully Reshad Jones was simply rusty because his tackling was pathetic.
Key defensive free agent acquisition Lawrence Timmons looked incredibly slow reacting at the point of attack. The step Timmons was rumored to have lost, did not come from his feet, but rather in his inability to recognize the play before being blocked out of it. It was not a good sign for Miami, when Timmons looked lost for much of the evening. For whatever reason, Kiko Alonso and Ndamukong Suh did not appear to be interested in the game as their names were rarely called.
Playing T. J. McDonald at safety seemed counter-productive when the player will be lost to suspension for the first 8 games of the season. Obviously, Nate Allen was nursing some vague injury, but aside from Xavien Howard, the Miami secondary had trouble in staying with Eagle receivers the entire night. With blown coverages all over the field and missed tackles, Matt Burke’s defense looked a long way from being ready to open the season in two weeks.
Before reading too deeply into negative reactions, this was a preseason game and for the defense, it certainly looked the part. There is work to be done all over the defense, from the line play, to linebacker positionings and in the secondary. The positive is the plethora of opportunities Miami coaches will have to teach from the many mistakes.
In all, the Miami Dolphins can safely place the loss of Ryan Tannehill behind them in the mental preparation for the season. Jay Cutler is going to be just fine and may even be the NFL’s biggest surprise. The concentration should now be centered on getting the offensive line playing together, healthy and in sync.
On the defensive side, there simply must be more intensity. In this game, there were a few moments of true dominance, but far too often poor execution led to costly chucks of yardage and touch downs.
Suh’s name was not called, Alonso’s name was not called, Jones’ and Maxwell’s names were called for all the wrong reasons. If these guys are joining Cameron Wake as the money players on this defense, then they’re going to have to strap it up and bring some conviction. After spending two days practicing against the Eagles, Lawrence Timmons' lack of anticipation should be a huge concern.
It’s a preseason game, and drawing too many conclusions from these games is a mistake…
The Dolphins now have a very good read on what they need to sure up over the next two weeks.
They can do that with a comforting sigh knowing the loss of Ryan Tannehill will have little or no impact on the season’s outcome.
Welcome to Miami Jay Cutler!
Jay Ajayi slashed and bruised his way through the Philadelphia defense for nearly 6-yards a carry and even Mike Pouncey walked away smiling. The Cutler signing looked almost prophetic as Matt Moore threw two ugly interceptions, one resulting in a pick six. With the Dolphins threatening to score, Moore tossed a rookie INT into two defenders with no Miami player close enough to contest.
If anything, the 38-31 loss to the Eagles seemed to vindicate Adam Gase’s decision to pull Jay Cutler out of retirement for one last shot at something special. The offensive line mostly held its own with Mike Pouncey out of bubble wrap for the first time this preseason. An ugly missed block by left tackle Laremy Tunsil caused Cutler’s only bad play, a strip sack-fumble leading to an Eagle TD. Both Tunsil and right tackle Ja’Wuan James looked slow and unprepared for live game action.
21 dynamic points with Jay Cutler at the helm, showed the Miami offense did not miss a beat without Ryan Tannehill. In fact, Cutler was noticeably more at ease in Gase’s offense after only 18 days in Miami, than Tannehill had been in a full season. With the playbook relegated to only a few pages, it should be quite interesting to see the transformation with a full arsenal on display. Cutler seemed particularly eager to find DeVante Parker in one on one situations and their 72 yard hook-up was a teaser of things to come.
The Miami defense on the other hand did not look much different than where it left off ranked 30th in the NFL last season. There were a couple of bursts in the first quarter, including a tipped ball interception that saw 340 pound Jordan Phillips rumble to the 2 yard line, but overall, the defense was not good. Byron Maxwell lost interest in coverage resulting in a 50 yard TD completion to Alshon Jeffery. Bobby McCain was caught flat footed on multiple occasions and hopefully Reshad Jones was simply rusty because his tackling was pathetic.
Key defensive free agent acquisition Lawrence Timmons looked incredibly slow reacting at the point of attack. The step Timmons was rumored to have lost, did not come from his feet, but rather in his inability to recognize the play before being blocked out of it. It was not a good sign for Miami, when Timmons looked lost for much of the evening. For whatever reason, Kiko Alonso and Ndamukong Suh did not appear to be interested in the game as their names were rarely called.
Playing T. J. McDonald at safety seemed counter-productive when the player will be lost to suspension for the first 8 games of the season. Obviously, Nate Allen was nursing some vague injury, but aside from Xavien Howard, the Miami secondary had trouble in staying with Eagle receivers the entire night. With blown coverages all over the field and missed tackles, Matt Burke’s defense looked a long way from being ready to open the season in two weeks.
Before reading too deeply into negative reactions, this was a preseason game and for the defense, it certainly looked the part. There is work to be done all over the defense, from the line play, to linebacker positionings and in the secondary. The positive is the plethora of opportunities Miami coaches will have to teach from the many mistakes.
In all, the Miami Dolphins can safely place the loss of Ryan Tannehill behind them in the mental preparation for the season. Jay Cutler is going to be just fine and may even be the NFL’s biggest surprise. The concentration should now be centered on getting the offensive line playing together, healthy and in sync.
On the defensive side, there simply must be more intensity. In this game, there were a few moments of true dominance, but far too often poor execution led to costly chucks of yardage and touch downs.
Suh’s name was not called, Alonso’s name was not called, Jones’ and Maxwell’s names were called for all the wrong reasons. If these guys are joining Cameron Wake as the money players on this defense, then they’re going to have to strap it up and bring some conviction. After spending two days practicing against the Eagles, Lawrence Timmons' lack of anticipation should be a huge concern.
It’s a preseason game, and drawing too many conclusions from these games is a mistake…
The Dolphins now have a very good read on what they need to sure up over the next two weeks.
They can do that with a comforting sigh knowing the loss of Ryan Tannehill will have little or no impact on the season’s outcome.
Welcome to Miami Jay Cutler!
The Dolphin Defense Flounders as Jay Cutler Shines
The sense coming into the third preseason game was the Miami defense would need to carry the team until the offense found its swagger. Jay Cutler needed time to shake off the rust and find a rhythm with his receivers. The opposite proved true, Adam Gase’s offense quickly adjusted to Cutler’s quick release and carved up the Eagles secondary, while the Miami defense struggled mightily.
Jay Ajayi slashed and bruised his way through the Philadelphia defense for nearly 6-yards a carry and even Mike Pouncey walked away smiling. The Cutler signing looked almost prophetic as Matt Moore threw two ugly interceptions, one resulting in a pick six. With the Dolphins threatening to score, Moore tossed a rookie INT into two defenders with no Miami player close enough to contest.
If anything, the 38-31 loss to the Eagles seemed to vindicate Adam Gase’s decision to pull Jay Cutler out of retirement for one last shot at something special. The offensive line mostly held its own with Mike Pouncey out of bubble wrap for the first time this preseason. An ugly missed block by left tackle Laremy Tunsil caused Cutler’s only bad play, a strip sack-fumble leading to an Eagle TD. Both Tunsil and right tackle Ja’Wuan James looked slow and unprepared for live game action.
21 dynamic points with Jay Cutler at the helm, showed the Miami offense did not miss a beat without Ryan Tannehill. In fact, Cutler was noticeably more at ease in Gase’s offense after only 18 days in Miami, than Tannehill had been in a full season. With the playbook relegated to only a few pages, it should be quite interesting to see the transformation with a full arsenal on display. Cutler seemed particularly eager to find DeVante Parker in one on one situations and their 72 yard hook-up was a teaser of things to come.
The Miami defense on the other hand did not look much different than where it left off ranked 30th in the NFL last season. There were a couple of bursts in the first quarter, including a tipped ball interception that saw 340 pound Jordan Phillips rumble to the 2 yard line, but overall, the defense was not good. Byron Maxwell lost interest in coverage resulting in a 50 yard TD completion to Alshon Jeffery. Bobby McCain was caught flat footed on multiple occasions and hopefully Reshad Jones was simply rusty because his tackling was pathetic.
Key defensive free agent acquisition Lawrence Timmons looked incredibly slow reacting at the point of attack. The step Timmons was rumored to have lost, did not come from his feet, but rather in his inability to recognize the play before being blocked out of it. It was not a good sign for Miami, when Timmons looked lost for much of the evening. For whatever reason, Kiko Alonso and Ndamukong Suh did not appear to be interested in the game as their names were rarely called.
Playing T. J. McDonald at safety seemed counter-productive when the player will be lost to suspension for the first 8 games of the season. Obviously, Nate Allen was nursing some vague injury, but aside from Xavien Howard, the Miami secondary had trouble in staying with Eagle receivers the entire night. With blown coverages all over the field and missed tackles, Matt Burke’s defense looked a long way from being ready to open the season in two weeks.
Before reading too deeply into negative reactions, this was a preseason game and for the defense, it certainly looked the part. There is work to be done all over the defense, from the line play, to linebacker positionings and in the secondary. The positive is the plethora of opportunities Miami coaches will have to teach from the many mistakes.
In all, the Miami Dolphins can safely place the loss of Ryan Tannehill behind them in the mental preparation for the season. Jay Cutler is going to be just fine and may even be the NFL’s biggest surprise. The concentration should now be centered on getting the offensive line playing together, healthy and in sync.
On the defensive side, there simply must be more intensity. In this game, there were a few moments of true dominance, but far too often poor execution led to costly chucks of yardage and touch downs.
Suh’s name was not called, Alonso’s name was not called, Jones’ and Maxwell’s names were called for all the wrong reasons. If these guys are joining Cameron Wake as the money players on this defense, then they’re going to have to strap it up and bring some conviction. After spending two days practicing against the Eagles, Lawrence Timmons' lack of anticipation should be a huge concern.
It’s a preseason game, and drawing too many conclusions from these games is a mistake…
The Dolphins now have a very good read on what they need to sure up over the next two weeks.
They can do that with a comforting sigh knowing the loss of Ryan Tannehill will have little or no impact on the season’s outcome.
Welcome to Miami Jay Cutler!
Jay Ajayi slashed and bruised his way through the Philadelphia defense for nearly 6-yards a carry and even Mike Pouncey walked away smiling. The Cutler signing looked almost prophetic as Matt Moore threw two ugly interceptions, one resulting in a pick six. With the Dolphins threatening to score, Moore tossed a rookie INT into two defenders with no Miami player close enough to contest.
If anything, the 38-31 loss to the Eagles seemed to vindicate Adam Gase’s decision to pull Jay Cutler out of retirement for one last shot at something special. The offensive line mostly held its own with Mike Pouncey out of bubble wrap for the first time this preseason. An ugly missed block by left tackle Laremy Tunsil caused Cutler’s only bad play, a strip sack-fumble leading to an Eagle TD. Both Tunsil and right tackle Ja’Wuan James looked slow and unprepared for live game action.
21 dynamic points with Jay Cutler at the helm, showed the Miami offense did not miss a beat without Ryan Tannehill. In fact, Cutler was noticeably more at ease in Gase’s offense after only 18 days in Miami, than Tannehill had been in a full season. With the playbook relegated to only a few pages, it should be quite interesting to see the transformation with a full arsenal on display. Cutler seemed particularly eager to find DeVante Parker in one on one situations and their 72 yard hook-up was a teaser of things to come.
The Miami defense on the other hand did not look much different than where it left off ranked 30th in the NFL last season. There were a couple of bursts in the first quarter, including a tipped ball interception that saw 340 pound Jordan Phillips rumble to the 2 yard line, but overall, the defense was not good. Byron Maxwell lost interest in coverage resulting in a 50 yard TD completion to Alshon Jeffery. Bobby McCain was caught flat footed on multiple occasions and hopefully Reshad Jones was simply rusty because his tackling was pathetic.
Key defensive free agent acquisition Lawrence Timmons looked incredibly slow reacting at the point of attack. The step Timmons was rumored to have lost, did not come from his feet, but rather in his inability to recognize the play before being blocked out of it. It was not a good sign for Miami, when Timmons looked lost for much of the evening. For whatever reason, Kiko Alonso and Ndamukong Suh did not appear to be interested in the game as their names were rarely called.
Playing T. J. McDonald at safety seemed counter-productive when the player will be lost to suspension for the first 8 games of the season. Obviously, Nate Allen was nursing some vague injury, but aside from Xavien Howard, the Miami secondary had trouble in staying with Eagle receivers the entire night. With blown coverages all over the field and missed tackles, Matt Burke’s defense looked a long way from being ready to open the season in two weeks.
Before reading too deeply into negative reactions, this was a preseason game and for the defense, it certainly looked the part. There is work to be done all over the defense, from the line play, to linebacker positionings and in the secondary. The positive is the plethora of opportunities Miami coaches will have to teach from the many mistakes.
In all, the Miami Dolphins can safely place the loss of Ryan Tannehill behind them in the mental preparation for the season. Jay Cutler is going to be just fine and may even be the NFL’s biggest surprise. The concentration should now be centered on getting the offensive line playing together, healthy and in sync.
On the defensive side, there simply must be more intensity. In this game, there were a few moments of true dominance, but far too often poor execution led to costly chucks of yardage and touch downs.
Suh’s name was not called, Alonso’s name was not called, Jones’ and Maxwell’s names were called for all the wrong reasons. If these guys are joining Cameron Wake as the money players on this defense, then they’re going to have to strap it up and bring some conviction. After spending two days practicing against the Eagles, Lawrence Timmons' lack of anticipation should be a huge concern.
It’s a preseason game, and drawing too many conclusions from these games is a mistake…
The Dolphins now have a very good read on what they need to sure up over the next two weeks.
They can do that with a comforting sigh knowing the loss of Ryan Tannehill will have little or no impact on the season’s outcome.
Welcome to Miami Jay Cutler!
The Miami Dolphins Welcome the Adam Gase Era
Miami Dolphin faithful sense a brighter future heading into this offseason after reaching the playoffs in 2016. Rookie coach Adam Gase brought intensity and a completely different mindset to a team that seemed destined for perpetual mediocrity. An improbable playoff run after a 1-4 start was exacerbated by a rash of injuries and yet this Miami team marched on, showcasing Gase’s ability to inspire players. The “next-man-up” cliché carried Miami in contrast to previous squads that wilted when injuries sideline multiple starters.
Pro bowl players Reshad Jones and Mike Pouncey spent most of the season watching from the sidelines on Injured Reserve. Starting safety Isa Abdul-Quddus, tight end Jordan Cameron and outside linebacker Koa Misi, joined the pro bowlers on IR. Starting CBs, Xavien Howard and Byron Maxwell, LB Jelani Jenkins, DT Earl Mitchell missed much of the season nursing injuries. Starting OL Branden Albert and Laremy Tunsil missed multiple games and Arian Foster simply quit. In other seasons, under different leadership, this team would have folded.
Adam Gase set the tone early by leaving Jay Ajayi in Miami while the team traveled to Seattle for an opening season loss. Gase had named Arian Foster the starter, Ajayi was unhappy and felt he deserved the job. The Dolphins lost to Seattle by a mere two points and Foster rushed for only 36 yards. Ajayi had let his teammates down by making his personal ambition of starting more important than his commitment to the team. The Dolphins may have lost the game, but the message was clear, no player was larger than the sum of the whole. The teaching moment paid off as Ajayi went on to have three 200+ yard games and ran hard the entire season.
A 30-17 week five home debacle to the Tennessee Titans found the 1-4 Dolphins staring down another losing season. Branden Albert (virus) and Laremy Tunsil (ankle) did not suit up and the Titans sacked quarterback Ryan Tannehill six times, repeatedly planting him on his backside. Needing to send the message loud and clear, Adam Gase made what seemed like a rash decision. Gase cut offensive lineman Dallas Thomas, Billy Turner and Jamil Douglas along with RB Isaiah Pead.
Gase did not care about draft status or contract value, he was simply tired of players who did not have the sense of urgency to prepare themselves to play football at the highest level. The image of Dallas Thomas being pushed into the backfield and pancaked, while Tannehill ran for his life was etched so lucidly into Gase’s mind that he simply had enough. He knew not cutting these players would send the message that being unprepared and unaccountable was acceptable. It was not and Adam Gase decided he would rather coach committed journeymen than undisciplined, uninspired draft picks.
Some of the players in the stunned locker room looked on with trepidation. Gase opened the door for the players with the proper mindset to step up and begin leading his team. Their coach was one hundred percent committed to his craft and he expected the same commitment from his players. If they were not in it to win it, he would escort them out the door to place where common folk work their entire lives for less money than the yearly NFL minimum salary. Complacency does not happen overnight and resorting to drastic measures is sometimes what it takes to instill change. At that point, Gase was unsure he would win another game the entire season, but he was certain his players knew what was expected of them.
On October 16th, the mighty Pittsburg Steelers traveled to sunny Miami expecting to encounter a terrible 1-4 team that barely defeated the hapless Cleveland Browns. The Dolphins appeared from the outside as a team in complete disarray after cutting players five weeks into the season. Arian Foster had missed the previous three games after injuring his groin and hamstring in Miami's Week 2 loss at New England. Foster was set returned in Week 6, but this time Jay Ajayi would not be denied. The Steelers could not have prepared for the buzz-saw spinning in Miami.
With Branden Albert and Laremy Tunsil healthy, Mike Pouncey was finally in command of the entire starting offensive line. Leading 8-3 in the first quarter, perhaps the Steelers peeked ahead to the New England Patriots. The expected cruise to an easy victory was derailed by an all-out ground assault from the Miami Dolphins. 204 Jay Ajayi yards left no doubt in Adam Gase’s mind that Arian Foster would not return to the starting lineup. The Dolphins buried the Steelers 30-15, Arian Foster retired and Miami’s rise to the NFL playoffs had begun.
Over the next five weeks the Dolphins repeatedly found ways to win close football games. The Dolphins beat the Bills when Ajayi again eclipsed the 200 yard mark and the Dolphin offense scored 22 points in the final 15:18 winning 28-25. Following the bye week Miami defeated the Jets 27-23 when Kenyan Drake scored untouched on a 96-yard kickoff return to seal the victory. The comforts of home paid dividends for the Dolphins who slept in their own beds for five straight weeks including the bye. A 1-4 record prior to the Pittsburgh game was now suddenly 4-4 and Miami was peaking its head above water for the first time since 2008.
The five week home stand was rudely awakened with the Dolphins heading to the West Coast for consecutive weeks against the Chargers and the Rams. The Chargers seemed to be cruising until the defense intercepted four Philip Rivers’ passes in the fourth quarter. The take away barrage turned into victory when Kiko Alonso jumped in front of Tyrell Williams and outraced the Chargers 60 yards to the end zone with 1:01 left to give the Dolphins a wild 31-24 win. A late acrobatic TD pass from Tannehill to Parker gave Miami a 14-10 victory over the Los Angeles Rams.
The 6-4 Dolphins returned home riding a 5-game winning streak. The defense slumped into cruise control leading 31-14 in the fourth quarter against the 49ers and nearly allowed San Francisco to tie the game. Ndamukong Suh and Kiko Alonso ended the contest by stopping the much maligned Colin Kaepernick at the 2 yard-line as time expired. Winners of 6 straight games, owning a 7-4 record the Dolphins had won with a devastating ground game, they won with a kickoff return, they won with an interception return, they won on a beautiful sideline throw and catch and they won on a last ditch defensive stand. This Miami team was making huge plays to win the close games that had eluded them in past seasons.
The 2016 Miami Dolphins were indeed in good hands with rookie coach Adam Gase, but they had faced 5 consecutive opponents that would not be playing in the NFL post season. With the Baltimore Ravens looming, Miami was going to face its first real test since Pittsburgh in the beginning of their miraculous rise. Needless to say, the Dolphins didn’t show up that day, the Ravens punked Miami 38-6. Multiple injuries began to take their toll and with the Arizona Cardinals coming to town, it looked like Miami’s improbably run was about to end. At this point a two game skid would leave the Dolphins outside the NFL playoff picture.
The rain in Miami did not stop the entire game slowing the desert dwelling Cardinals’ offense to a crawl, while Ryan Tannehill threw three TDs in perhaps his best performance of the season. That all changed on one devastating late and low hit when quarterback Ryan Tannehill was lost for the season to a knee injury. The injury swapped the momentum and an easy Dolphin victory was suddenly in jeopardy as Matt Moore entered the game after watching for what seemed like forever. Moore showed the true grit this team had displayed all season and marched Miami to a last second field goal and a 26-23 Dolphins win.
With 8 wins under their belt, and a losing season behind them, even with a back-up QB, the Dolphins promptly hammered the rival Jets 34-13. 34 more points the following week in Buffalo proved too much for the Bills in a 34-31 Miami win. In consecutive weeks the Dolphins had swept the rival Jets and Bills leading to the firing of Rex Ryan in Buffalo. Casting away Ryan and his brother was perhaps one of the more satisfying consequences of the entire season. Miami had grand illusions in the final week against the powerhouse Patriots, but it was not to be. The Dolphins limped out of Hard Rock Stadium on the wrong end of a lopsided 35-14 defeat.
An improbable 10-6 record and playing in the post season for the first time in eight years greeted the Miami faithful to begin 2017. With revenge on their mind a healthy Pittsburgh team trounced the ailing Miami Dolphins 30-12 ending an implausible season in the first round of the playoffs. The final two weeks against the two of the best teams in the NFL showed the fledgling Dolphins how far they have to travel to reach Steven Ross’s goal of winning a Super Bowl.
Articles will be written about how Miami can take a step closer to being a perennial NFL contender. Pundits will point out all the deficiencies of this team, but here and now, the Miami Dolphins have far surpassed expectations. Adam Gase is no longer a rookie, he showed a mental savvy and calmness that far exceeds his age and experience. Watching this coach on the sidelines during games is a case study on maintaining composure at the height of chaos. Gase’s demeanor was so steady it could not help but rub off on his players. Even the infuriatingly lopsided officiating had little effect on the coach. He knew, any outburst by him would lead to further flag tossing.
The season is over, there will be no Lombardi Trophy aborning the case 45 years after Don Shula hoisted the last one. The truth is, during the regular season Miami was actually outscored 380 to 363 points. There are many reasons to think this season was more of an anomaly than a stepping stone. The axiom, “you are what your record says you are,” is a moniker that goes both ways, because winning is the object of the game. Statistics may, in the long run, show the sustenance behind sustained success and yet winners find way to win.
Today we celebrate winning, we celebrate a successful season, we celebrate the immergence of a new coach and new era in Miami Dolphin history. Whether it takes coach Gase 3 or 5 more years to reach the pinnacle of his profession, we can smile at the prospect that the 20 year search for a successor to Don Shula has ended. In the cyclical nature of history, we are witnessing the beginning of a new dynasty in Miami.
Welcome Adam Gase, we look forward to being part of your legacy.
Pro bowl players Reshad Jones and Mike Pouncey spent most of the season watching from the sidelines on Injured Reserve. Starting safety Isa Abdul-Quddus, tight end Jordan Cameron and outside linebacker Koa Misi, joined the pro bowlers on IR. Starting CBs, Xavien Howard and Byron Maxwell, LB Jelani Jenkins, DT Earl Mitchell missed much of the season nursing injuries. Starting OL Branden Albert and Laremy Tunsil missed multiple games and Arian Foster simply quit. In other seasons, under different leadership, this team would have folded.
Adam Gase set the tone early by leaving Jay Ajayi in Miami while the team traveled to Seattle for an opening season loss. Gase had named Arian Foster the starter, Ajayi was unhappy and felt he deserved the job. The Dolphins lost to Seattle by a mere two points and Foster rushed for only 36 yards. Ajayi had let his teammates down by making his personal ambition of starting more important than his commitment to the team. The Dolphins may have lost the game, but the message was clear, no player was larger than the sum of the whole. The teaching moment paid off as Ajayi went on to have three 200+ yard games and ran hard the entire season.
A 30-17 week five home debacle to the Tennessee Titans found the 1-4 Dolphins staring down another losing season. Branden Albert (virus) and Laremy Tunsil (ankle) did not suit up and the Titans sacked quarterback Ryan Tannehill six times, repeatedly planting him on his backside. Needing to send the message loud and clear, Adam Gase made what seemed like a rash decision. Gase cut offensive lineman Dallas Thomas, Billy Turner and Jamil Douglas along with RB Isaiah Pead.
Gase did not care about draft status or contract value, he was simply tired of players who did not have the sense of urgency to prepare themselves to play football at the highest level. The image of Dallas Thomas being pushed into the backfield and pancaked, while Tannehill ran for his life was etched so lucidly into Gase’s mind that he simply had enough. He knew not cutting these players would send the message that being unprepared and unaccountable was acceptable. It was not and Adam Gase decided he would rather coach committed journeymen than undisciplined, uninspired draft picks.
Some of the players in the stunned locker room looked on with trepidation. Gase opened the door for the players with the proper mindset to step up and begin leading his team. Their coach was one hundred percent committed to his craft and he expected the same commitment from his players. If they were not in it to win it, he would escort them out the door to place where common folk work their entire lives for less money than the yearly NFL minimum salary. Complacency does not happen overnight and resorting to drastic measures is sometimes what it takes to instill change. At that point, Gase was unsure he would win another game the entire season, but he was certain his players knew what was expected of them.
On October 16th, the mighty Pittsburg Steelers traveled to sunny Miami expecting to encounter a terrible 1-4 team that barely defeated the hapless Cleveland Browns. The Dolphins appeared from the outside as a team in complete disarray after cutting players five weeks into the season. Arian Foster had missed the previous three games after injuring his groin and hamstring in Miami's Week 2 loss at New England. Foster was set returned in Week 6, but this time Jay Ajayi would not be denied. The Steelers could not have prepared for the buzz-saw spinning in Miami.
With Branden Albert and Laremy Tunsil healthy, Mike Pouncey was finally in command of the entire starting offensive line. Leading 8-3 in the first quarter, perhaps the Steelers peeked ahead to the New England Patriots. The expected cruise to an easy victory was derailed by an all-out ground assault from the Miami Dolphins. 204 Jay Ajayi yards left no doubt in Adam Gase’s mind that Arian Foster would not return to the starting lineup. The Dolphins buried the Steelers 30-15, Arian Foster retired and Miami’s rise to the NFL playoffs had begun.
Over the next five weeks the Dolphins repeatedly found ways to win close football games. The Dolphins beat the Bills when Ajayi again eclipsed the 200 yard mark and the Dolphin offense scored 22 points in the final 15:18 winning 28-25. Following the bye week Miami defeated the Jets 27-23 when Kenyan Drake scored untouched on a 96-yard kickoff return to seal the victory. The comforts of home paid dividends for the Dolphins who slept in their own beds for five straight weeks including the bye. A 1-4 record prior to the Pittsburgh game was now suddenly 4-4 and Miami was peaking its head above water for the first time since 2008.
The five week home stand was rudely awakened with the Dolphins heading to the West Coast for consecutive weeks against the Chargers and the Rams. The Chargers seemed to be cruising until the defense intercepted four Philip Rivers’ passes in the fourth quarter. The take away barrage turned into victory when Kiko Alonso jumped in front of Tyrell Williams and outraced the Chargers 60 yards to the end zone with 1:01 left to give the Dolphins a wild 31-24 win. A late acrobatic TD pass from Tannehill to Parker gave Miami a 14-10 victory over the Los Angeles Rams.
The 6-4 Dolphins returned home riding a 5-game winning streak. The defense slumped into cruise control leading 31-14 in the fourth quarter against the 49ers and nearly allowed San Francisco to tie the game. Ndamukong Suh and Kiko Alonso ended the contest by stopping the much maligned Colin Kaepernick at the 2 yard-line as time expired. Winners of 6 straight games, owning a 7-4 record the Dolphins had won with a devastating ground game, they won with a kickoff return, they won with an interception return, they won on a beautiful sideline throw and catch and they won on a last ditch defensive stand. This Miami team was making huge plays to win the close games that had eluded them in past seasons.
The 2016 Miami Dolphins were indeed in good hands with rookie coach Adam Gase, but they had faced 5 consecutive opponents that would not be playing in the NFL post season. With the Baltimore Ravens looming, Miami was going to face its first real test since Pittsburgh in the beginning of their miraculous rise. Needless to say, the Dolphins didn’t show up that day, the Ravens punked Miami 38-6. Multiple injuries began to take their toll and with the Arizona Cardinals coming to town, it looked like Miami’s improbably run was about to end. At this point a two game skid would leave the Dolphins outside the NFL playoff picture.
The rain in Miami did not stop the entire game slowing the desert dwelling Cardinals’ offense to a crawl, while Ryan Tannehill threw three TDs in perhaps his best performance of the season. That all changed on one devastating late and low hit when quarterback Ryan Tannehill was lost for the season to a knee injury. The injury swapped the momentum and an easy Dolphin victory was suddenly in jeopardy as Matt Moore entered the game after watching for what seemed like forever. Moore showed the true grit this team had displayed all season and marched Miami to a last second field goal and a 26-23 Dolphins win.
With 8 wins under their belt, and a losing season behind them, even with a back-up QB, the Dolphins promptly hammered the rival Jets 34-13. 34 more points the following week in Buffalo proved too much for the Bills in a 34-31 Miami win. In consecutive weeks the Dolphins had swept the rival Jets and Bills leading to the firing of Rex Ryan in Buffalo. Casting away Ryan and his brother was perhaps one of the more satisfying consequences of the entire season. Miami had grand illusions in the final week against the powerhouse Patriots, but it was not to be. The Dolphins limped out of Hard Rock Stadium on the wrong end of a lopsided 35-14 defeat.
An improbable 10-6 record and playing in the post season for the first time in eight years greeted the Miami faithful to begin 2017. With revenge on their mind a healthy Pittsburgh team trounced the ailing Miami Dolphins 30-12 ending an implausible season in the first round of the playoffs. The final two weeks against the two of the best teams in the NFL showed the fledgling Dolphins how far they have to travel to reach Steven Ross’s goal of winning a Super Bowl.
Articles will be written about how Miami can take a step closer to being a perennial NFL contender. Pundits will point out all the deficiencies of this team, but here and now, the Miami Dolphins have far surpassed expectations. Adam Gase is no longer a rookie, he showed a mental savvy and calmness that far exceeds his age and experience. Watching this coach on the sidelines during games is a case study on maintaining composure at the height of chaos. Gase’s demeanor was so steady it could not help but rub off on his players. Even the infuriatingly lopsided officiating had little effect on the coach. He knew, any outburst by him would lead to further flag tossing.
The season is over, there will be no Lombardi Trophy aborning the case 45 years after Don Shula hoisted the last one. The truth is, during the regular season Miami was actually outscored 380 to 363 points. There are many reasons to think this season was more of an anomaly than a stepping stone. The axiom, “you are what your record says you are,” is a moniker that goes both ways, because winning is the object of the game. Statistics may, in the long run, show the sustenance behind sustained success and yet winners find way to win.
Today we celebrate winning, we celebrate a successful season, we celebrate the immergence of a new coach and new era in Miami Dolphin history. Whether it takes coach Gase 3 or 5 more years to reach the pinnacle of his profession, we can smile at the prospect that the 20 year search for a successor to Don Shula has ended. In the cyclical nature of history, we are witnessing the beginning of a new dynasty in Miami.
Welcome Adam Gase, we look forward to being part of your legacy.
The Miami Dolphins Will Not Accept Losing
The 1-4 Miami Dolphins posed little threat to Pittsburgh Steelers in week 6 of the NFL season. A 30-15 loss sent the Steelers home dejected and started a season altering resurgence in Miami. The Steelers learned an important lesson that day; never underestimate an NFL opponent. It won’t happen again as Miami heads to Pittsburgh for its first playoff appearance in 8 seasons.
The Steelers enter the post-season healthier than ever, while Miami limps in without its starting QB, center, both safeties, a cornerback, two linebackers and a TE. With nearly half of the Dolphins starting lineup watching from the sidelines, a miracle in Pittsburgh seems highly unlikely. Losing in week 6 to these Miami Dolphins only adds fuel to the Steeler fire.
Steeler fans are already lining up after game party favorites in expectation of a blowout victory. The ten point spread in Las Vegas is viewed as an easy bet for the Pittsburgh faithful. The weather is certain to be cold and blustery in Western Pennsylvania. Having the good fortune of playing the hapless Browns in week 17, the Steelers rested their stars in anticipation of the massacre.
In Miami, rookie coach Adam Gase and his patchwork Dolphins can only simmer watching the media bashing their right to be here at all. Miami is clearly on the wrong side of the NFL attrition game. The injury list grew until the next man up, like Bacarri Rambo, are players not even on an NFL roster when the season began…
The silence in Miami fandom is deafening. Where other post season fans have dreams of Super Bowl sugarplums, Miami fans hope the battered team will at least put up a gallant fight. It makes no sense to play the fool with false bravado and unrealistic expectations. In some circles, the playoff run is considered a hindrance to the future in terms of draft status. These circumstances echo the sentiment surrounding Miami in week 6 when another losing season loomed.
Perhaps week 6 was an anomaly, but 200+ Jay Ajayi rushing yards were not, as the feat was duplicated twice more during the season. The game plan should be simple, run the ball, control the clock and keep the defense off the field. When the defense is on the field, harass Ben Roethlisberger and do not miss tackles. Saying Miami has no chance is too much pessimism, yet the only folks truly believing in the Dolphins are smoldering players and coaches in the Miami locker room.
Even a crushing defeat will not blemish the luster of Adam Gase’s rookie season. It could be said, the Dolphins have little to lose, but this mentality is completely unacceptable to Adam Gase. He understands football is a game of emotion as much as skill. Going into a game lacking the emotion required to win undermines everything he has fought to change in Miami.
The Steelers waltzed into Miami week 6 thinking "easy win" and went home with their tail between their legs. Miami going into Pittsburgh thinking "acceptable loss" is not the mentality of a team looking to rise from the NFL ashes. Ask Tony Sparano how quickly fortunes can change from one season to the next. Making the playoffs is nice, hooray team, Gigggity Gigggity, but this is the beginning, not the end. Adam Gase will not make a career off a single playoff appearance and none of these players are going to the Hall-Of-Fame if losing is acceptable.
Stand tall Miami Dolphin fans! The Dolphins are not going to Pittsburgh expecting to lose. This is not a throw away game even if there are plenty of excuses. Adam Gase coached players understand, excuses are the justification of losers. Winners find a way to pull victory from the jaws of defeat and it starts long before the opening kickoff. It starts by staring down the mental obstacles challenging that inner desire to succeed.
Losing is not acceptable… Inevitably it will happen, but as the coach, losing is a unique opportunity to witness a player’s desire to succeed. When all the cards are stacked against you, winners rise. The Dolphins will show up in Pittsburgh, not with the mentality they have nothing to lose, but knowing…
Losers will not last long with Adam Gase in Miami...
Losing is not acceptable.
The Steelers enter the post-season healthier than ever, while Miami limps in without its starting QB, center, both safeties, a cornerback, two linebackers and a TE. With nearly half of the Dolphins starting lineup watching from the sidelines, a miracle in Pittsburgh seems highly unlikely. Losing in week 6 to these Miami Dolphins only adds fuel to the Steeler fire.
Steeler fans are already lining up after game party favorites in expectation of a blowout victory. The ten point spread in Las Vegas is viewed as an easy bet for the Pittsburgh faithful. The weather is certain to be cold and blustery in Western Pennsylvania. Having the good fortune of playing the hapless Browns in week 17, the Steelers rested their stars in anticipation of the massacre.
In Miami, rookie coach Adam Gase and his patchwork Dolphins can only simmer watching the media bashing their right to be here at all. Miami is clearly on the wrong side of the NFL attrition game. The injury list grew until the next man up, like Bacarri Rambo, are players not even on an NFL roster when the season began…
The silence in Miami fandom is deafening. Where other post season fans have dreams of Super Bowl sugarplums, Miami fans hope the battered team will at least put up a gallant fight. It makes no sense to play the fool with false bravado and unrealistic expectations. In some circles, the playoff run is considered a hindrance to the future in terms of draft status. These circumstances echo the sentiment surrounding Miami in week 6 when another losing season loomed.
Perhaps week 6 was an anomaly, but 200+ Jay Ajayi rushing yards were not, as the feat was duplicated twice more during the season. The game plan should be simple, run the ball, control the clock and keep the defense off the field. When the defense is on the field, harass Ben Roethlisberger and do not miss tackles. Saying Miami has no chance is too much pessimism, yet the only folks truly believing in the Dolphins are smoldering players and coaches in the Miami locker room.
Even a crushing defeat will not blemish the luster of Adam Gase’s rookie season. It could be said, the Dolphins have little to lose, but this mentality is completely unacceptable to Adam Gase. He understands football is a game of emotion as much as skill. Going into a game lacking the emotion required to win undermines everything he has fought to change in Miami.
The Steelers waltzed into Miami week 6 thinking "easy win" and went home with their tail between their legs. Miami going into Pittsburgh thinking "acceptable loss" is not the mentality of a team looking to rise from the NFL ashes. Ask Tony Sparano how quickly fortunes can change from one season to the next. Making the playoffs is nice, hooray team, Gigggity Gigggity, but this is the beginning, not the end. Adam Gase will not make a career off a single playoff appearance and none of these players are going to the Hall-Of-Fame if losing is acceptable.
Stand tall Miami Dolphin fans! The Dolphins are not going to Pittsburgh expecting to lose. This is not a throw away game even if there are plenty of excuses. Adam Gase coached players understand, excuses are the justification of losers. Winners find a way to pull victory from the jaws of defeat and it starts long before the opening kickoff. It starts by staring down the mental obstacles challenging that inner desire to succeed.
Losing is not acceptable… Inevitably it will happen, but as the coach, losing is a unique opportunity to witness a player’s desire to succeed. When all the cards are stacked against you, winners rise. The Dolphins will show up in Pittsburgh, not with the mentality they have nothing to lose, but knowing…
Losers will not last long with Adam Gase in Miami...
Losing is not acceptable.
7 - 4 Miami Dolphins Stake Claim over 49'ers
The DOLPHINS have (found a way) to dig themselves from three feet under at 1 - 4 to three games over 500. with their sixth successive WIN!! Not since Satan's 2005 Dolphins had Miami found victory on six consecutive weeks! (That's eleven years folks and 6 or 7 head coaches ago) including interims!
Miami's 2008 Dolphins were 5 - 5 before winning the final six which would suggest that they weren't 7 - 4 at any point. They obviously finished 6 games over 500 while everything that could go right went right in leading the league with the fewest penalties, turnovers, and having zero injuries (not even a hangnail) for that under talented teams season.
It can be recalled that many Dolphin fans wished that they hadn't done so well after the previous 1 - 15 season of 2007 while being correct in stating that particular teams era needed a few more years of high draft picks to become true contenders.
Seems as though that the Dolphins have had to scratch and claw their way to just below 500. every week and or year since 2008. Other than perhaps a fast start of 3 - 0 (that I can't recall), I don't know when the last time was that Miami was three games over 500. especially at this point of any particular season. They weren't three games over 500. until their thirteenth game of 2008, and again, it has seemed as though that they haven't been back to anywhere near such until finding their way to 7 - 4 today.
It has been a tough eleven (plus) years. It's been a tough season with five of the last six straight wins coming against top ranked defenses. The Dolphins started this current six game streak when for the first time of 2016 the intended starting offensive line actually started and played together in four victories over the Steelers, Bills, Jets, and Chargers. Miami hadn't won the next game after beating the Jets in some 31 attempts!
During the game and the practice week after the win at San Diego the Dolphins suffered the triple threat loss of starting offensive lineman Brandon Albert, Laremy Tunsil, and Mike Pouncey.
Though having one, two, or three intended starting offensive lineman not play is nothing new for Miami! The preferred starting five have played together in just 12 of the last 43 games while winning eleven of those contest. What is new! Is that over the last two games they have played with 3/5ths of their FAB-FIVE in street clothes and still found a way to victory while clearing two more hurdles beyond 500.
7 - 4!
It's been a tough eight to eleven (plus) years!
It's been a tough season for us fans to fathom!
Chasing 500. from the beginning to the end of seasons, and falling short in a multitude of critical season shifting opportunities every year. You kinda get used to expecting the worst!
I must admit (being the eternal optimist that I'm known to be).
It didn't feel right today, I didn't feel comfortable even when leading 31 - 14. Maybe due to pre game distractions that prohibited personal winning streak rituals, or even getting into the proper game attire? Maybe due to being called away during every San Francisco drive for a score? Maybe because I desired sooo baddd to be three games over 500. rather than just one, and potentially be letdown (like in years past) in yet another golden opportunity lost?
Miami executed quite a few great plays versus the 49'ers today with a few other extraordinary plays that missed by dust particles of fitting within the grid.
The San Francisco quarterback (though he threw a pick to Kiko Alonso), matched Tannehill with three touchdown passes. He also (by himself) outshined (with 113 yards rushing on 10 carries) the Dolphins entire running game of 95 yards led by Jay Ajayi's 18 attempts for 45 yards with a touchdown. Both quarterbacks were sacked twice.
Rookie receiver Leonte Carroo caught his first career touchdown, tight end Dion Sims caught his first of the season, and Kenny Stills scored again. Devante Parker made a handful of spectacular catches along with a couple that didn't quite fit inside the lines, but spectacular non the less!
Kiko's interception and a fumble recovery were his third and fourth converted turnovers in the last three games, and he finished off the San Francisco quarterback at the one yard line which kept him from scoring the tying touchdown as time expired with the scoreboard shimmering a golden Miami 31 - SF 24.
The/Your Miami Dolphins have dug their way out from a 1 - 4 bottomless pit to the AFC's six seed (as of today)! If the postseason began next week, your Dolphins would be playing!
They've been in win or go home mode for the last six games and have come out on top to earn 7 - 4, ever so slightly ahead of the wildcard pack.
It just so happens that today was not the end of the regular season. Never the less, next weeks game at Baltimore's (upper tier defense) is ever so important as both teams are in win the next game, if not playoff or bust mode!
Yeeee Haaaa, six straight DOLPHIN WINS, 7 - 4, and presently in the playoffs. Someone fill that grave we climbed out of with the nuggets we've accrued!!
Get Well Very Soon BA, MP, & Tunsil!!
JUST WIN FINS!!
GOFINS!!!
Miami's 2008 Dolphins were 5 - 5 before winning the final six which would suggest that they weren't 7 - 4 at any point. They obviously finished 6 games over 500 while everything that could go right went right in leading the league with the fewest penalties, turnovers, and having zero injuries (not even a hangnail) for that under talented teams season.
It can be recalled that many Dolphin fans wished that they hadn't done so well after the previous 1 - 15 season of 2007 while being correct in stating that particular teams era needed a few more years of high draft picks to become true contenders.
Seems as though that the Dolphins have had to scratch and claw their way to just below 500. every week and or year since 2008. Other than perhaps a fast start of 3 - 0 (that I can't recall), I don't know when the last time was that Miami was three games over 500. especially at this point of any particular season. They weren't three games over 500. until their thirteenth game of 2008, and again, it has seemed as though that they haven't been back to anywhere near such until finding their way to 7 - 4 today.
It has been a tough eleven (plus) years. It's been a tough season with five of the last six straight wins coming against top ranked defenses. The Dolphins started this current six game streak when for the first time of 2016 the intended starting offensive line actually started and played together in four victories over the Steelers, Bills, Jets, and Chargers. Miami hadn't won the next game after beating the Jets in some 31 attempts!
During the game and the practice week after the win at San Diego the Dolphins suffered the triple threat loss of starting offensive lineman Brandon Albert, Laremy Tunsil, and Mike Pouncey.
Though having one, two, or three intended starting offensive lineman not play is nothing new for Miami! The preferred starting five have played together in just 12 of the last 43 games while winning eleven of those contest. What is new! Is that over the last two games they have played with 3/5ths of their FAB-FIVE in street clothes and still found a way to victory while clearing two more hurdles beyond 500.
7 - 4!
It's been a tough eight to eleven (plus) years!
It's been a tough season for us fans to fathom!
Chasing 500. from the beginning to the end of seasons, and falling short in a multitude of critical season shifting opportunities every year. You kinda get used to expecting the worst!
I must admit (being the eternal optimist that I'm known to be).
It didn't feel right today, I didn't feel comfortable even when leading 31 - 14. Maybe due to pre game distractions that prohibited personal winning streak rituals, or even getting into the proper game attire? Maybe due to being called away during every San Francisco drive for a score? Maybe because I desired sooo baddd to be three games over 500. rather than just one, and potentially be letdown (like in years past) in yet another golden opportunity lost?
Miami executed quite a few great plays versus the 49'ers today with a few other extraordinary plays that missed by dust particles of fitting within the grid.
The San Francisco quarterback (though he threw a pick to Kiko Alonso), matched Tannehill with three touchdown passes. He also (by himself) outshined (with 113 yards rushing on 10 carries) the Dolphins entire running game of 95 yards led by Jay Ajayi's 18 attempts for 45 yards with a touchdown. Both quarterbacks were sacked twice.
Rookie receiver Leonte Carroo caught his first career touchdown, tight end Dion Sims caught his first of the season, and Kenny Stills scored again. Devante Parker made a handful of spectacular catches along with a couple that didn't quite fit inside the lines, but spectacular non the less!
Kiko's interception and a fumble recovery were his third and fourth converted turnovers in the last three games, and he finished off the San Francisco quarterback at the one yard line which kept him from scoring the tying touchdown as time expired with the scoreboard shimmering a golden Miami 31 - SF 24.
The/Your Miami Dolphins have dug their way out from a 1 - 4 bottomless pit to the AFC's six seed (as of today)! If the postseason began next week, your Dolphins would be playing!
They've been in win or go home mode for the last six games and have come out on top to earn 7 - 4, ever so slightly ahead of the wildcard pack.
It just so happens that today was not the end of the regular season. Never the less, next weeks game at Baltimore's (upper tier defense) is ever so important as both teams are in win the next game, if not playoff or bust mode!
Yeeee Haaaa, six straight DOLPHIN WINS, 7 - 4, and presently in the playoffs. Someone fill that grave we climbed out of with the nuggets we've accrued!!
Get Well Very Soon BA, MP, & Tunsil!!
JUST WIN FINS!!
GOFINS!!!
6 - 4 DOLPHINS Butt Rams for Fifth Straight WIN
The Miami Dolphins last five game winning streak closed the regular season schedule of 2008. In today's tenth game of 2016 Adam Gase' Dolphins have learned (against all odds) how to fight to the end for a fifth successive VICTORY!
It wasn't pretty offensively by any means, (well other than the final four minutes)!
Both the Rams and Dolphins for various reasons went the conservative route on a rainy southern California day.
The Rams because of a rookie quarterback (Jared Goff 17 of 31 for 134). The home teams star running back Todd Gurley had 20 attempts for 76 while the team on 28 carries totaled 102 rushing yards.
Miami because inactive/injured left tackle Brandon Albert was replaced by rookie Laramy Tunsil while the usual starting left guard Tunsil was relieved by Kraig Urbik, and Anthony Steen started at center in place of Mike (Hipless) Pouncey. Today's starting left tackle Tunsil (shoulder) went down in the second quarter, for the remainder of the game the left tackle position was manned by backup right tackle Sam Young. Jay Ajayi compiled 77 yards on 16 carries while the team had 19 attempts for 98 total on the ground.
Slipping, sliding, dripping, dropping, penalty altering, conservative calling, and exceptional defenses kept both offenses in neutral. It was a spirited, scrappy defensive battle with numerous fights throughout the day.
The Rams quarterback and the number one overall pick of the 2016 draft Jared Goff never got his team to the redzone while being sacked just once (Wake). Ryan Tannehill was no better with a 34 yard endzone interception (potentially with the aid of an uncalled defensive pushoff) two minutes into the third quarter, just 60-some total passing yards into the fourth quarter, four sacks and zero redzone trips. (Well "no better" until the last four minutes).
Goff drove his team 44 yards to the Dolphin 24 on their second possession when 2015 top draft pick running back Todd Gurley went that same 24 yards for the Rams 0 - 7 lead. Goff took them 49 yards to the Miami 28 for a field goal with 1:40 left in the third quarter and a 0 - 10 LA advantage that stood until the games 56th minute.
Ryan Tannehill (24 of 34 for 174 with an interception) threw two touchdowns in the games final 4:13. The first was of ten yards when he hit Jarvis Landry at the five, forward motion appeared stopped when the offensive line in question formed a scrum with Landry as the ball versus the Rams defensive entirety. Landry's feet were off the ground for the remaining five yards as the offensive line literally carried him to the touchdown and 7 - 10 deficit. His second was a rifeled 9 yard thing of beauty to Devante Parker with 36 games seconds to go, and the 14 - 10 VICTORY!
Miami lost the penalty and time of possession battles again, but once again times five, they beat a top notch defense. For those that care only about W's. The Dolphins have given you nothing to frown about since early October!
The/Your 2016 Miami Dolphins have WON FIVE STRAIGHT GAMES, and are sitting somewhat pretty at 6 - 4.
GOFINS!!!
It wasn't pretty offensively by any means, (well other than the final four minutes)!
Both the Rams and Dolphins for various reasons went the conservative route on a rainy southern California day.
The Rams because of a rookie quarterback (Jared Goff 17 of 31 for 134). The home teams star running back Todd Gurley had 20 attempts for 76 while the team on 28 carries totaled 102 rushing yards.
Miami because inactive/injured left tackle Brandon Albert was replaced by rookie Laramy Tunsil while the usual starting left guard Tunsil was relieved by Kraig Urbik, and Anthony Steen started at center in place of Mike (Hipless) Pouncey. Today's starting left tackle Tunsil (shoulder) went down in the second quarter, for the remainder of the game the left tackle position was manned by backup right tackle Sam Young. Jay Ajayi compiled 77 yards on 16 carries while the team had 19 attempts for 98 total on the ground.
Slipping, sliding, dripping, dropping, penalty altering, conservative calling, and exceptional defenses kept both offenses in neutral. It was a spirited, scrappy defensive battle with numerous fights throughout the day.
The Rams quarterback and the number one overall pick of the 2016 draft Jared Goff never got his team to the redzone while being sacked just once (Wake). Ryan Tannehill was no better with a 34 yard endzone interception (potentially with the aid of an uncalled defensive pushoff) two minutes into the third quarter, just 60-some total passing yards into the fourth quarter, four sacks and zero redzone trips. (Well "no better" until the last four minutes).
Goff drove his team 44 yards to the Dolphin 24 on their second possession when 2015 top draft pick running back Todd Gurley went that same 24 yards for the Rams 0 - 7 lead. Goff took them 49 yards to the Miami 28 for a field goal with 1:40 left in the third quarter and a 0 - 10 LA advantage that stood until the games 56th minute.
Ryan Tannehill (24 of 34 for 174 with an interception) threw two touchdowns in the games final 4:13. The first was of ten yards when he hit Jarvis Landry at the five, forward motion appeared stopped when the offensive line in question formed a scrum with Landry as the ball versus the Rams defensive entirety. Landry's feet were off the ground for the remaining five yards as the offensive line literally carried him to the touchdown and 7 - 10 deficit. His second was a rifeled 9 yard thing of beauty to Devante Parker with 36 games seconds to go, and the 14 - 10 VICTORY!
Miami lost the penalty and time of possession battles again, but once again times five, they beat a top notch defense. For those that care only about W's. The Dolphins have given you nothing to frown about since early October!
The/Your 2016 Miami Dolphins have WON FIVE STRAIGHT GAMES, and are sitting somewhat pretty at 6 - 4.
GOFINS!!!
Miami Dolphin Coach Adam Gase is Winning Back Fans
As a jaded and cautious Miami Dolphin fan, witnessing the rise of the five-second-QB's status to game manager has been invigorating and delightful. The running game took the burden of the offense off the QB’s shoulders and the Giggggity Jay train is rolling downhill. The QB making timely plays at the end, cemented the Buffalo victory. So, while serving my derogatory QB comments with a heaping helping of sarcasm, I'll give credit where credit is due, Tannehill played a very nice couple of games.
My whole problem here is reconciling with this feeling of déjà vu... After so many exasperating years, I am no longer gullible enough to jump directly on the Giggggity Jay train. I'm going to need a season of games before I'm out of the woods and begin thinking this team has finally turned the corner. The run through Wannstedt to Philbin haunts my brain like a reoccurring nightmare. The thought of impending glory has me panting like a greyhound chasing the rabbit, only to find it stuffed with sawdust.
Two weeks does not a season make… During those two weeks Adam Gase completely changed his offensive approach from primarily a throwing mentality to a complete emphasis on the running game. We saw the OL pave the way for the Giggggity Jay train and it really speaks to a coach who knows which stable holds his thoroughbreds. Memories of Csonka, Kiick and Morris occasionally filter through the ugly noise of the past forty years, but lost among those daydreams are names like Kooch, Langer and Little, the true backbone of the last Miami Dolphin team to win a Super Bowl.
Prior to the season, after hiring Adam Gase, we were assaulted with suggestions this coach was not in vogue with the “modern” system approach. “He would take his’n and beat your’n, and take your’n and beat his’n.” There can be no greater compliment than to recognize him for doing exactly that. It seems a simple premise, build a scheme around the strength of your best players. All too often, coaches enter the arena trying to force players into a system leading to epic failure. Joe Philbin couldn’t even recognize who his best players were, let alone put them in position for success.
Remaining cautious, we cannot anoint Adam Gase in vintage 72 throwback coaching robes, nor sanctify him at the altar of Shula. We can only look at the data and see there is a clear and logical thought process at work. It’s unlikely Shula would have allowed Laremy Tunsil to “rest” his twisted ankle after falling in the shower. But perhaps there was a method to throwing the laziest underachieving lineman into a fray they were completely incapable of performing.
“The tape don’t lie,” and the tape of the offensive, offensive line play against the Cincinnati Bengals raised the ire of every self-respecting Miami Dolphin fan. Could it be Adam Gase used this fervor to override his GM? Did he use the tape to justify cutting three players he determined were undermining his attempts to raise his team’s level of play? Witnessing brilliant ruthlessness under the guise of recorded truth is not a guise at all, it’s called chutzpah, audacity, big cojones and it resonates through a testosterone laden locker-room like a Mike Tyson uppercut.
The experienced pessimist acknowledges the past as the surest indicator of the future. Forty odd years without a title and thirty without an appearance should be enough past to indicate any future. Still the bone dangles in front of our salivating mouths just out of reach and we chomp at the slightest inching forward.
We see you Mr. Gase, and accordingly you have raised the suspicious eye of your competition. Your team is now a glowing blip, firmly positioned on your opponent’s radar screens. The hell-bent-for-leather running game will become as one-dimensional and predictable as the passing attack it supplanted, leaving the ball right back in the hands of your five-second-QB. “The wheels on the bus go around and round, round and round…”
How you avoid the bus will determine your future and that of your QB. To the amateur observer it may seem this offensive line strength could bare more fruit with the understanding of those five precious seconds. The argument of whether the actual time is five seconds is meaningless when knowing five seconds will turn any QB into a star. The key may not be Payton Manning-like quickness of wit, it might reside in simply providing enough time for the QB you have.
It all goes back to your’n and his’n… Know thyself, know thy enemy… When the line of scrimmage becomes crowded, space opens behind it. How to make those five precious seconds available will be the next challenge when the running attack is stifled. I am personally looking forward to how Mr. Gase overcomes his next obstacle.
You know what you have to work with Coach Gase, I’m anticipating how you apply the talent and avoid becoming a system guy. Things are indeed looking up in Miami as the feeling of déjà vu subsides...
My whole problem here is reconciling with this feeling of déjà vu... After so many exasperating years, I am no longer gullible enough to jump directly on the Giggggity Jay train. I'm going to need a season of games before I'm out of the woods and begin thinking this team has finally turned the corner. The run through Wannstedt to Philbin haunts my brain like a reoccurring nightmare. The thought of impending glory has me panting like a greyhound chasing the rabbit, only to find it stuffed with sawdust.
Two weeks does not a season make… During those two weeks Adam Gase completely changed his offensive approach from primarily a throwing mentality to a complete emphasis on the running game. We saw the OL pave the way for the Giggggity Jay train and it really speaks to a coach who knows which stable holds his thoroughbreds. Memories of Csonka, Kiick and Morris occasionally filter through the ugly noise of the past forty years, but lost among those daydreams are names like Kooch, Langer and Little, the true backbone of the last Miami Dolphin team to win a Super Bowl.
Prior to the season, after hiring Adam Gase, we were assaulted with suggestions this coach was not in vogue with the “modern” system approach. “He would take his’n and beat your’n, and take your’n and beat his’n.” There can be no greater compliment than to recognize him for doing exactly that. It seems a simple premise, build a scheme around the strength of your best players. All too often, coaches enter the arena trying to force players into a system leading to epic failure. Joe Philbin couldn’t even recognize who his best players were, let alone put them in position for success.
Remaining cautious, we cannot anoint Adam Gase in vintage 72 throwback coaching robes, nor sanctify him at the altar of Shula. We can only look at the data and see there is a clear and logical thought process at work. It’s unlikely Shula would have allowed Laremy Tunsil to “rest” his twisted ankle after falling in the shower. But perhaps there was a method to throwing the laziest underachieving lineman into a fray they were completely incapable of performing.
“The tape don’t lie,” and the tape of the offensive, offensive line play against the Cincinnati Bengals raised the ire of every self-respecting Miami Dolphin fan. Could it be Adam Gase used this fervor to override his GM? Did he use the tape to justify cutting three players he determined were undermining his attempts to raise his team’s level of play? Witnessing brilliant ruthlessness under the guise of recorded truth is not a guise at all, it’s called chutzpah, audacity, big cojones and it resonates through a testosterone laden locker-room like a Mike Tyson uppercut.
The experienced pessimist acknowledges the past as the surest indicator of the future. Forty odd years without a title and thirty without an appearance should be enough past to indicate any future. Still the bone dangles in front of our salivating mouths just out of reach and we chomp at the slightest inching forward.
We see you Mr. Gase, and accordingly you have raised the suspicious eye of your competition. Your team is now a glowing blip, firmly positioned on your opponent’s radar screens. The hell-bent-for-leather running game will become as one-dimensional and predictable as the passing attack it supplanted, leaving the ball right back in the hands of your five-second-QB. “The wheels on the bus go around and round, round and round…”
How you avoid the bus will determine your future and that of your QB. To the amateur observer it may seem this offensive line strength could bare more fruit with the understanding of those five precious seconds. The argument of whether the actual time is five seconds is meaningless when knowing five seconds will turn any QB into a star. The key may not be Payton Manning-like quickness of wit, it might reside in simply providing enough time for the QB you have.
It all goes back to your’n and his’n… Know thyself, know thy enemy… When the line of scrimmage becomes crowded, space opens behind it. How to make those five precious seconds available will be the next challenge when the running attack is stifled. I am personally looking forward to how Mr. Gase overcomes his next obstacle.
You know what you have to work with Coach Gase, I’m anticipating how you apply the talent and avoid becoming a system guy. Things are indeed looking up in Miami as the feeling of déjà vu subsides...
Miami Dolphins Jay (Train) Ajayi Steamrolls Buffalo for 214 yard VICTORY
For a second consecutive week Earl Campbell, I mean OJ Simpson, I mean Ricky Williams, I mean Jay Ajayi ran wild for 200 plus yards versus stout rushing defenses. Those other guys are just the only other running back names in the history of the league that have eclipsed the 200 yard milestone on consecutive weeks. For a second straight week the Dolphin defense shut down highly explosive running teams that were the AFC's talk of town before being introduced to a Miami Dolphin TEAM that has suddenly found their identity. For a second consecutive week The Miami Dolphins produced nearly 500 yards, and just shy of 200 more yards than the highly touted, and rolling opposition. Due to penalties and special teams mishaps that provided the Bills with short field scoring opportunities, Miami trailed by eleven with one third quarter minute remaining. Fourteen minutes and 22 unanswered points later the Dolphins led by eleven just before the fourth quarters two minute warning. That 22nd unanswered point was the result of a 67 yard Ryan Tannehill touchdown pass to Kenny Stills. For a second consecutive week Miami held possession of the ball for nearly 15 minutes longer than both Pittsburgh and Buffalo. For a second consecutive week THE MIAMI DOLPHINS WON!!!
Obvious Decision for Miami Dolphin Coach Adam Gase
Adam Gase said it better than any frustrated fan ever could, “Obviously he missed a couple of things early. When things start going bad, you want him to find that one throw where he can spring us loose.” Welcome to Miami Adam Gase. Man love and confidence building directed at the fifth year five-second-QB is not going to change the obvious. Sorry coach, nothing to see here…
“Obviously,” has become one of Gase’s favorite words. Obviously, high paid corner Byron Maxwell played poorly enough to find himself sitting on the bench in favor of a converted wide receiver. Obviously, Jay Ajayi has shown enough childish behavior to ride on the pine in favor of an undrafted free agent. Obviously, first round offensive tackle Ja’Waun James has earned of the coach’s disdain enough to get pulled for a guard that can’t sniff the field otherwise.
Obviously, this QB needs five seconds to have a chance at finding a receiver and then the results are questionable. The five-second-QB threw a 74-yard TD pass on the offense’s second play. He then completed 2 more passes the entire first have. After that single play, Miami went three-and-out five times and failed to make a one yard fourth down conversion. That was it, the entire first half in two sentences.
Obviously, other players on this team are not giving the effort coach Gase expects, but there must be a huge blind spot for his enigmatic five-second-QB. In the game of football, the most impactful position on the field resides behind the center. It’s a team sport the pundits will remind us. Defense wins championships! These truisms are undeniable, but a team still needs a player behind center that can make the one play necessary to positively change the rhythm of a game.
Obviously, a matador’s cape is a feint used to keep the bull’s horns from goring his body. As the bull goes rushing past, the crowd responds, “OLE!” The bull finds himself out in the open field while the matador steps away unharmed. This is the Miami Dolphin offensive line after the five-second-QB misses open receivers all over the field.
OLE! Don’t hurt me, get the five-second-QB, OLE! Maybe one hit will do it. OLE!
Obviously, this team will not play for five-second-QB.
Obviously, if coach Gase wants to remain an NFL head coach for long he’d better make the one decision his predecessors failed to make. Bench the five-second-QB…
Obviously, coach, it’s the only decision that makes sense. Bench the five-second-QB…
Obviously, if it doesn’t happen immediately, there is no need for Miami Dolphin fans to tune in for the rest of the season. After four torturous seasons…
Obviously, there’s only one conclusion.
Bench the five-second-QB…
“Obviously,” has become one of Gase’s favorite words. Obviously, high paid corner Byron Maxwell played poorly enough to find himself sitting on the bench in favor of a converted wide receiver. Obviously, Jay Ajayi has shown enough childish behavior to ride on the pine in favor of an undrafted free agent. Obviously, first round offensive tackle Ja’Waun James has earned of the coach’s disdain enough to get pulled for a guard that can’t sniff the field otherwise.
Obviously, this QB needs five seconds to have a chance at finding a receiver and then the results are questionable. The five-second-QB threw a 74-yard TD pass on the offense’s second play. He then completed 2 more passes the entire first have. After that single play, Miami went three-and-out five times and failed to make a one yard fourth down conversion. That was it, the entire first half in two sentences.
Obviously, other players on this team are not giving the effort coach Gase expects, but there must be a huge blind spot for his enigmatic five-second-QB. In the game of football, the most impactful position on the field resides behind the center. It’s a team sport the pundits will remind us. Defense wins championships! These truisms are undeniable, but a team still needs a player behind center that can make the one play necessary to positively change the rhythm of a game.
Obviously, a matador’s cape is a feint used to keep the bull’s horns from goring his body. As the bull goes rushing past, the crowd responds, “OLE!” The bull finds himself out in the open field while the matador steps away unharmed. This is the Miami Dolphin offensive line after the five-second-QB misses open receivers all over the field.
OLE! Don’t hurt me, get the five-second-QB, OLE! Maybe one hit will do it. OLE!
Obviously, this team will not play for five-second-QB.
Obviously, if coach Gase wants to remain an NFL head coach for long he’d better make the one decision his predecessors failed to make. Bench the five-second-QB…
Obviously, coach, it’s the only decision that makes sense. Bench the five-second-QB…
Obviously, if it doesn’t happen immediately, there is no need for Miami Dolphin fans to tune in for the rest of the season. After four torturous seasons…
Obviously, there’s only one conclusion.
Bench the five-second-QB…
Obvious Decision for Miami Dolphin Coach Adam Gase
Adam Gase said it better than any frustrated fan ever could, “Obviously he missed a couple of things early. When things start going bad, you want him to find that one throw where he can spring us loose.” Welcome to Miami Adam Gase. Man love and confidence building directed at the fifth year five-second-QB is not going to change the obvious. Sorry coach, nothing to see here…
“Obviously,” has become one of Gase’s favorite words. Obviously, high paid corner Byron Maxwell played poorly enough to find himself sitting on the bench in favor of a converted wide receiver. Obviously, Jay Ajayi has shown enough childish behavior to ride on the pine in favor of an undrafted free agent. Obviously, first round offensive tackle Ja’Waun James has earned of the coach’s disdain enough to get pulled for a guard that can’t sniff the field otherwise.
Obviously, this QB needs five seconds to have a chance at finding a receiver and then the results are questionable. The five-second-QB threw a 74-yard TD pass on the offense’s second play. He then completed 2 more passes the entire first have. After that single play, Miami went three-and-out five times and failed to make a one yard fourth down conversion. That was it, the entire first half in two sentences.
Obviously, other players on this team are not giving the effort coach Gase expects, but there must be a huge blind spot for his enigmatic five-second-QB. In the game of football, the most impactful position on the field resides behind the center. It’s a team sport the pundits will remind us. Defense wins championships! These truisms are undeniable, but a team still needs a player behind center that can make the one play necessary to positively change the rhythm of a game.
Obviously, a matador’s cape is a feint used to keep the bull’s horns from goring his body. As the bull goes rushing past, the crowd responds, “OLE!” The bull finds himself out in the open field while the matador steps away unharmed. This is the Miami Dolphin offensive line after the five-second-QB misses open receivers all over the field.
OLE! Don’t hurt me, get the five-second-QB, OLE! Maybe one hit will do it. OLE!
Obviously, this team will not play for five-second-QB.
Obviously, if coach Gase wants to remain an NFL head coach for long he’d better make the one decision his predecessors failed to make. Bench the five-second-QB…
Obviously, coach, it’s the only decision that makes sense. Bench the five-second-QB…
Obviously, if it doesn’t happen immediately, there is no need for Miami Dolphin fans to tune in for the rest of the season. After four torturous seasons…
Obviously, there’s only one conclusion.
Bench the five-second-QB…
“Obviously,” has become one of Gase’s favorite words. Obviously, high paid corner Byron Maxwell played poorly enough to find himself sitting on the bench in favor of a converted wide receiver. Obviously, Jay Ajayi has shown enough childish behavior to ride on the pine in favor of an undrafted free agent. Obviously, first round offensive tackle Ja’Waun James has earned of the coach’s disdain enough to get pulled for a guard that can’t sniff the field otherwise.
Obviously, this QB needs five seconds to have a chance at finding a receiver and then the results are questionable. The five-second-QB threw a 74-yard TD pass on the offense’s second play. He then completed 2 more passes the entire first have. After that single play, Miami went three-and-out five times and failed to make a one yard fourth down conversion. That was it, the entire first half in two sentences.
Obviously, other players on this team are not giving the effort coach Gase expects, but there must be a huge blind spot for his enigmatic five-second-QB. In the game of football, the most impactful position on the field resides behind the center. It’s a team sport the pundits will remind us. Defense wins championships! These truisms are undeniable, but a team still needs a player behind center that can make the one play necessary to positively change the rhythm of a game.
Obviously, a matador’s cape is a feint used to keep the bull’s horns from goring his body. As the bull goes rushing past, the crowd responds, “OLE!” The bull finds himself out in the open field while the matador steps away unharmed. This is the Miami Dolphin offensive line after the five-second-QB misses open receivers all over the field.
OLE! Don’t hurt me, get the five-second-QB, OLE! Maybe one hit will do it. OLE!
Obviously, this team will not play for five-second-QB.
Obviously, if coach Gase wants to remain an NFL head coach for long he’d better make the one decision his predecessors failed to make. Bench the five-second-QB…
Obviously, coach, it’s the only decision that makes sense. Bench the five-second-QB…
Obviously, if it doesn’t happen immediately, there is no need for Miami Dolphin fans to tune in for the rest of the season. After four torturous seasons…
Obviously, there’s only one conclusion.
Bench the five-second-QB…
The Reality of the Miami Dolphins
I chucked while reading an article by Andy Cohen at miaimdolphins.com. It was like listening to John Lennon imagining the greatness of the Miami dolphin rushing attack. “Imagine if Arian Foster can fully recover from a torn Achilles and regain the form he once had. Imagine if Jay Ajayi makes the quantum leap from his first to his second season as many predict that he will. Imagine if rookie Kenyan Drake can provide the same bolt of electricity he did at Alabama?”
The axiom, ‘availability is an ability’ seems to allude the Miami Dolphin personnel department, no matter who resides at the helm. Earth to Miami, reality is constructed from the word real… Arian Foster is less than a year removed from a torn Achilles tendon. Jay Ajayi is nursing a bruised knee bone after putting on pads for the first time (not to mention his fall in the draft due to injury concerns) and Drake has some nagging injury to go along with the litany of injuries that derailed his college career.
About this time, you’re pounding little heart is screaming at the Negative Nancy writing this article. “He’s shattering my illusion!”
Reality is a wicked little bastard…
Ever notice how we’re allowed to write bastard, but we’re not allowed to write bitch? Oops, I did it! I wrote a politically incorrect word, bitch…
Isn’t that what this is all about? It’s politically correct to write about Miami’s potentially great stable of running backs, with the preface, “if they can stay healthy.” Heaven forbid we delve into reality, because it seems cruel to burst anyone’s happy little bubble prematurely. No, let’s run with this deception right up until reality lands like a cinder block on our cozy wittle heads.
How about let’s just go with the idea perhaps Adam Gase was just not that impressed with Lamar Miller. Isn’t the Miller situation another instance of bitching? The offensive coordinator and head coach just wanted the QB they hated to throw all the time and didn’t hand off to Miller? Please, listen to yourselves…
According to all the bitching, it wasn’t Tannehill audibling out of the running plays. He wasn’t allowed… Is it too early to call bullshit on the entire mess Philbin created?
Is bullshit another politically incorrect word?
Miami is a laughing stock because the entire organization was full of bullshit…
Boss Ross couldn’t admit he made a colossal mistake hiring people like Philbin because rich guys don’t make such terrible mistakes, bullshit!
How long has Andy Cohen been writing for miamidolphins.com? Unfortunately, I’m old enough to know and for the last decade of dismal performances, he’s been writing the same delusional bullshit.
Sorry Andy, nothing personal, I’m just bitching.
This is how a team gets to where Miami is, by believing in their own bitching and bullshit.
How about we start over, it does look like Adam Gase has the potential to be a good coach, but he won’t last if the front office, fans and the press continue to live in the land of misfit bullshit and bitching.
They didn’t run Lamar Miller because he was afraid of contact… He was afraid of contact at UM, it was nothing new. I got nothing against Miller, he got paid and he still has two knees that function. Ajayi and Drake want the payday and Foster wants one more chance to cash in. There’s that reality thing again, how we hate the real thing!
“Ain’t nothing like the real thing baby... Bullshit!”
The whole politically correct society has crept up on our game and our consciousness like bitching and bullshit on a downhill roll. Two huge men crashing head first into each other, bashing helmets, oh my… That’s bullshit, we need to be bitching about that right now.
Whoa, in one sentence I changed bitching and bullshit from forbidden to politically correct…
Bashing and bitching and bullshit, oh my!
You see, Tannehill was actually changing the plays… Miller didn’t like to run between the tackles, when Tannehill checked to the open “A” gap Miller hesitated. That’s why he wasn’t allowed to change the calls anymore.
Call it bullshit, but that’s why Tannehill is still here and Miller is not. Philbin never corrected the problem. When Philbin was gone, Man Campbell started sitting Miller. Campbell didn’t go for the bitching and bullshit and neither should we.
The reality is, Miami couldn’t fix all the problems the team was facing. In light of what I just wrote, they were not going to pay Lamar Miller. Olivier Vernon was on a defensive line that began the season with Wake and Suh taking the brunt of the double teams. Vernon may have been a decent player, but he was never worth the dollars the Giants threw at him.
We all know the bullshit with Brent Grimes’ wife’s constant bitching. Whether it was a career decline or a product of her in his ear, Grimes was not the player he had been.
I don’t need to go into the mess Philbin made by not jettisoning the bitch, Jonathan Martin. If we still had Richie, I doubt we’d have the problems at guard, but that’s bullshit under the bridge.
The reality is, RB, CB, OL and DL were in bad shape and there was not going to be enough talent or cash available to fix them all. Miami should be commended for not making the mistake of trying too hard to sign a single star. They let the chips fall where they may and got the best they could.
Mario Williams fell to them and honestly, if Vernon is ever as good as Williams I’ll be surprised. The best offensive lineman in the draft fell to them. Fixing two out of four in one off-season is not bad and they didn’t stretch too far except for perhaps Drake.
The Dolphins head into the season and the reality is, injuries are going to hurt the running game and the DBs are going to get torched…
See, even with all the bitching and bullshit, reality was not all that hard...
The axiom, ‘availability is an ability’ seems to allude the Miami Dolphin personnel department, no matter who resides at the helm. Earth to Miami, reality is constructed from the word real… Arian Foster is less than a year removed from a torn Achilles tendon. Jay Ajayi is nursing a bruised knee bone after putting on pads for the first time (not to mention his fall in the draft due to injury concerns) and Drake has some nagging injury to go along with the litany of injuries that derailed his college career.
About this time, you’re pounding little heart is screaming at the Negative Nancy writing this article. “He’s shattering my illusion!”
Reality is a wicked little bastard…
Ever notice how we’re allowed to write bastard, but we’re not allowed to write bitch? Oops, I did it! I wrote a politically incorrect word, bitch…
Isn’t that what this is all about? It’s politically correct to write about Miami’s potentially great stable of running backs, with the preface, “if they can stay healthy.” Heaven forbid we delve into reality, because it seems cruel to burst anyone’s happy little bubble prematurely. No, let’s run with this deception right up until reality lands like a cinder block on our cozy wittle heads.
How about let’s just go with the idea perhaps Adam Gase was just not that impressed with Lamar Miller. Isn’t the Miller situation another instance of bitching? The offensive coordinator and head coach just wanted the QB they hated to throw all the time and didn’t hand off to Miller? Please, listen to yourselves…
According to all the bitching, it wasn’t Tannehill audibling out of the running plays. He wasn’t allowed… Is it too early to call bullshit on the entire mess Philbin created?
Is bullshit another politically incorrect word?
Miami is a laughing stock because the entire organization was full of bullshit…
Boss Ross couldn’t admit he made a colossal mistake hiring people like Philbin because rich guys don’t make such terrible mistakes, bullshit!
How long has Andy Cohen been writing for miamidolphins.com? Unfortunately, I’m old enough to know and for the last decade of dismal performances, he’s been writing the same delusional bullshit.
Sorry Andy, nothing personal, I’m just bitching.
This is how a team gets to where Miami is, by believing in their own bitching and bullshit.
How about we start over, it does look like Adam Gase has the potential to be a good coach, but he won’t last if the front office, fans and the press continue to live in the land of misfit bullshit and bitching.
They didn’t run Lamar Miller because he was afraid of contact… He was afraid of contact at UM, it was nothing new. I got nothing against Miller, he got paid and he still has two knees that function. Ajayi and Drake want the payday and Foster wants one more chance to cash in. There’s that reality thing again, how we hate the real thing!
“Ain’t nothing like the real thing baby... Bullshit!”
The whole politically correct society has crept up on our game and our consciousness like bitching and bullshit on a downhill roll. Two huge men crashing head first into each other, bashing helmets, oh my… That’s bullshit, we need to be bitching about that right now.
Whoa, in one sentence I changed bitching and bullshit from forbidden to politically correct…
Bashing and bitching and bullshit, oh my!
You see, Tannehill was actually changing the plays… Miller didn’t like to run between the tackles, when Tannehill checked to the open “A” gap Miller hesitated. That’s why he wasn’t allowed to change the calls anymore.
Call it bullshit, but that’s why Tannehill is still here and Miller is not. Philbin never corrected the problem. When Philbin was gone, Man Campbell started sitting Miller. Campbell didn’t go for the bitching and bullshit and neither should we.
The reality is, Miami couldn’t fix all the problems the team was facing. In light of what I just wrote, they were not going to pay Lamar Miller. Olivier Vernon was on a defensive line that began the season with Wake and Suh taking the brunt of the double teams. Vernon may have been a decent player, but he was never worth the dollars the Giants threw at him.
We all know the bullshit with Brent Grimes’ wife’s constant bitching. Whether it was a career decline or a product of her in his ear, Grimes was not the player he had been.
I don’t need to go into the mess Philbin made by not jettisoning the bitch, Jonathan Martin. If we still had Richie, I doubt we’d have the problems at guard, but that’s bullshit under the bridge.
The reality is, RB, CB, OL and DL were in bad shape and there was not going to be enough talent or cash available to fix them all. Miami should be commended for not making the mistake of trying too hard to sign a single star. They let the chips fall where they may and got the best they could.
Mario Williams fell to them and honestly, if Vernon is ever as good as Williams I’ll be surprised. The best offensive lineman in the draft fell to them. Fixing two out of four in one off-season is not bad and they didn’t stretch too far except for perhaps Drake.
The Dolphins head into the season and the reality is, injuries are going to hurt the running game and the DBs are going to get torched…
See, even with all the bitching and bullshit, reality was not all that hard...
Miami Dolphins Add Do-It-All Veteran Running Back Arian Foster
The Dolphins core tailback tandem of second year man Jay Ajayi and rookie Kenyan Drake became a viable NFL threesome today with the addition of a proven do-it-all veteran in Arian Foster.
Foster has accrued 6,472 rushing yards with a 4.5 career average and 54 touchdowns in seven seasons while in three of those years he participated in eight or fewer games. As a receiver out of the backfield he's covered 2,268 yards with 14 touchdowns.
Arian a 2009 Houston Texan un-drafted rookie with 6 games played became superstar material in 2010, 11, 12, and 2014. Foster played in just eight 2013, and four 2015 games due to injury. His most recent injury (achilles) came in week seven of 2015 versus the Miami franchise at which he now resides.
Miami signed 6-1, 227 Arian Foster (30 in August) to a one year deal at 1.5 million with another 2 million worth of incentives on the table. At his best he's a proven threat in every phase of the game and will easily earn such incentives. At the very least he offers proven veteran leadership! Along with the leadership aspect. Foster (once 100% healthy while working out for the Dolphins on numerous occasions during the process) has the superior skill-sets and all-around game which didn't exist in the (break glass in case of emergency) scenario of Damian Williams, Daniel Thomas, or Isaiah Pead.
Training Camp begins in TEN DAYS on July 28th.
The Miami Dolphins will play 2016's first pre-season game at the N.Y. Giants 15 days later on August 12th.
HERE WE GO DOLPHINS, HERE WE GO !!!
WOOOOO-HOOOO-GIGGGITTTY, GOFINS !!!
Foster has accrued 6,472 rushing yards with a 4.5 career average and 54 touchdowns in seven seasons while in three of those years he participated in eight or fewer games. As a receiver out of the backfield he's covered 2,268 yards with 14 touchdowns.
Arian a 2009 Houston Texan un-drafted rookie with 6 games played became superstar material in 2010, 11, 12, and 2014. Foster played in just eight 2013, and four 2015 games due to injury. His most recent injury (achilles) came in week seven of 2015 versus the Miami franchise at which he now resides.
Miami signed 6-1, 227 Arian Foster (30 in August) to a one year deal at 1.5 million with another 2 million worth of incentives on the table. At his best he's a proven threat in every phase of the game and will easily earn such incentives. At the very least he offers proven veteran leadership! Along with the leadership aspect. Foster (once 100% healthy while working out for the Dolphins on numerous occasions during the process) has the superior skill-sets and all-around game which didn't exist in the (break glass in case of emergency) scenario of Damian Williams, Daniel Thomas, or Isaiah Pead.
Training Camp begins in TEN DAYS on July 28th.
The Miami Dolphins will play 2016's first pre-season game at the N.Y. Giants 15 days later on August 12th.
HERE WE GO DOLPHINS, HERE WE GO !!!
WOOOOO-HOOOO-GIGGGITTTY, GOFINS !!!
And So The Ball Bounces For The 2015 Miami Dolphins
In the year 1967 a second year Miami Dolphins expansion team defense allowed 31 touchdown passes in a fourteen game season. The 2015 Miami Dolphins defense matched that 48 year old low mark in fourteen games this season, and with two games remaining they will inevitably become the worst pass defense in franchise history.
The Dolphins traveled to San Diego for their fourteenth game of the season as an uninvited guest to a Chargers fair-well party. San Diego's Chargers have resided there since 1961 and are now the leading candidate to move to Los Angeles for the 2016 season. This was quite possibly the last game that they'll ever play for their home town fans as their two remaining games are on the road, and they came to play for those that have supported them for 54 years.
They hadn't scored a touchdown in 22 offensive possessions and/or three weeks. Enter the Miami Dolphins. San Diego scores on their first 12 play possession of 86 yards with a twenty yard pass to the mini-me-esqe Danny Woodhead. They managed a field goal on their fourth possession. They had tabulated zero rushing touchdowns since week one until their 5th possession against Miami when Danny Woodhead scored from two yards out. Their team hadn't rushed for over 100 yards in eleven weeks until the 140 against the Dolphins. On their sixth possession Danny Woodhead struck again with a touchdown reception from 9 yards out for a 23 - Zipp halftime lead. Woodhead wasn't done as Miami's Dolphins allowed him a third touchdown reception in the second half to go along with his second quarter rush for 6 points.
On the Chargers third possession with a 6 - 0 lead 27 seconds into the second quarter the Dolphins defense actually made a play that a typical 2015 Miami bounce upended. San Diego ball at their own 41, 2nd down and eight to go. Phillip Rivers heaves a 52 yard bomb that the Dolphins tip-drilled into the hands of Rashad Jones for an interception at the Miami 7 yard line. Jones returns the ball 49 yards and fumbles into the hands of the quarterback who hasn't moved since releasing the ball. A Dolphin interception and return of 49 yards turns into a three yard gain and a first down for San Diego of which they managed the previously mentioned field goal. Time and again, that's just the way that the balls have bounced for the 2015 Miami Dolphins!
Miami's offense was no better as they ran just 31 plays on their first eight possessions that resulted in 7 punts and the end of the first half. The Dolphins just this week had released reserve offensive lineman Jeff Linkenbach who knows all of the Miami offensive signals as well as formations, and the Chargers picked him up. One would think that Linkenbach called all the Charger defensive plays because they somehow managed to have the right guy in the right place in every Dolphin offensive instance. But then again. That's just how the balls have bounced for the 2015 Miami Dolphins!
The visitors entered the game with just seven active offensive lineman, and Dolphin Left Tackle Brandon Albert left the game (never to return) due to injury in the first quarter. The Dolphin guards were pressed into the tackle positions, got eaten alive, and Miami didn't score until they were inside the last two minutes of the third quarter when rookie running back Jay Ajayi scored his first NFL touchdown from 12 yards out. Miami Center Mike Pouncey left the game due to injury during that 3rd quarter Jay Ajayi touchdown drive. The Dolphins managed just their second score of the day inside the last two minutes of the game with a Ryan Tannehill one yard touchdown run as the final score ended up being 30 - 14 for the home team.
With a Detroit Lions Monday Night win. The Dolphins will move up into the 7th overall pick of the 2016 draft while they are within one game of a potential third overall pick, and two games within a potential first overall pick. The Dolphins will be going to all lengths in listening for potential draftee options.
In a whisper. Psst, Pssst, hey Dolphin can you hear me? Pssst, there's always next year!
So left tackle Brandon Albert missed 99% of the seasons first four games, and it took him a few weeks to get up to speed. At just about that same mid-season point right tackle Ju'Waun James went down and has yet to return. So in truth. The Dolphins haven't had their true starting offensive line on the field together but for just a few games of what is a 16 game season, and their offensive line depth is absolutely atrocious!
Albert is injured yet again, to what extent is not known but something drastic has to take place in order to fix this offensive line atrocity. Albert is scheduled to receive 10 plus million dollars for his 2016 services, and Miami has a minimal amount of cap space presently available towards next season. Depending on the severity of his most recent injury! Perhaps it's time to cut ties with the often injured reason for offensive line shuffling, non-cohesion, and ineptitude?
If they are to go offensive line with the first pick? It's gotta be Notre Dames Jr. tackle Ronnie Stanley who could instantly start at left tackle (minus Albert), or at left guard until Albert is truly done. He'd be a great pick for those who have zero faith in Dallas Thomas at guard because Stanley could play guard until Albert is done, and D. Thomas as well as rookie guard Jamil Douglas (who like Thomas couldn't play tackle if his life depended on it) would instantly become two with some sort of viable guard depth.
There are other early first round tackle options, but the guy ranked ahead of Stanley (Jr. Laremy Tunsel of Ole-Miss) has an injury history that most wouldn't want to hear the fans scream about, and the third likely option (Sr. Taylor Decker of Ohio St) is extremely tall and has trouble getting under the defender but is very good otherwise.
There are a couple really good linebacker options to be had with the first round, top ten pick, and Notre Dames outside linebacker Jaylon Smith is the only one to fiercely pursue as he's the most ready for the NFL! Another OLB Myles Jack of UCLA is also very special but as a Dolphin fan who's seen too many injured draft picks come our way, he is to be avoided because he's recovering from November meniscus surgery. Alabama's ILB Reggie Ragland could potentially be a first pick option for Miami, but he's not quite as special as Bama's previous first round inside linebacker CJ Mosley.
Seeing that the 2015 Miami defense will have allowed the most touchdown passes in franchise history! There are two corner backs among others that the Dolphins could surely use with their first pick in Vernon Hargreaves the third of Florida, and Jalen Ramsey out of Florida State. Meanwhile. At this present moment, Brent Grimes 2016 services will cost 9.5 million smacks in the face! As will tight end Jordan Cameron!
And of course (minus the dismissal of Brandon Albert) and/or the absolute need of a starting left tackle. The conchs absolute first choice (if available at the Dolphins pick however unlikely that is) would be Ohio States defensive end and pass rusher extraordinaire Joey Bosa who without missing a beat would be the immediate replacement of Cam Wake!
Cam Wake will be 34 come January and nearing 35 by the time he's able (if ever) to return from an torn achilles injury which will surely minimize his explosion abilities. He (like Brandon Albert) is fading into obscurity, aging quickly, often injured, and scheduled to be paid 10 million 2016 dollars for his services of which Wake's won't be available until late next season.
If Free Agent Olivier Vernon gets away? And perhaps even if he doesn't.
Miami has to do whatever in the world it takes to land Joey Bosa!
Bosa AND Vernon together (for the next decade) would be as good as o15 was supposed to be at rushing the quarterback while minimizing the possibility of breaking (in back to back seasons) the franchise record of touchdown passes allowed! Defensive Ends Quinton Coples and Dion Jordan are contracted to 7.75 and 6.2 million for 2016.
Miami should cut both Albert and Wake (if not the whole lot'of'em) in order to open up at least 20 plus million of cap space, but they can't feasibly cut both and leave themselves in dire need of both a first round left tackle and a trouble making to the oppositions quarterback defensive end! The Dolphins need multiple bodies of legitimate depth at offensive line (if Albert is kept), starters if he isn't. They're corner back play has been extremely questionable if not totally absent. They could use a stud first round linebacker, while with the current predicament of Cam Wake and free agent status of Olivier Vernon they absolutely need Joey Bosa! At quarterback despite what some might think about Ryan Tannehill, he is by far the last and/or least of their immediate concerns!
What are the Miami Dolphins to do?
Trade their first round pick for an experienced head coach?
Don't put it past owner Stephen Ross!
That's just how the balls have bounced for the 2015 Miami Dolphins!!
Thanks for your time, and as always we look forward to your angle of view : )) !!
GOFINS???
MERRY CHRISTMAS, and/or HAPPY HOLIDAY'S TO ALL !!!
The Dolphins traveled to San Diego for their fourteenth game of the season as an uninvited guest to a Chargers fair-well party. San Diego's Chargers have resided there since 1961 and are now the leading candidate to move to Los Angeles for the 2016 season. This was quite possibly the last game that they'll ever play for their home town fans as their two remaining games are on the road, and they came to play for those that have supported them for 54 years.
They hadn't scored a touchdown in 22 offensive possessions and/or three weeks. Enter the Miami Dolphins. San Diego scores on their first 12 play possession of 86 yards with a twenty yard pass to the mini-me-esqe Danny Woodhead. They managed a field goal on their fourth possession. They had tabulated zero rushing touchdowns since week one until their 5th possession against Miami when Danny Woodhead scored from two yards out. Their team hadn't rushed for over 100 yards in eleven weeks until the 140 against the Dolphins. On their sixth possession Danny Woodhead struck again with a touchdown reception from 9 yards out for a 23 - Zipp halftime lead. Woodhead wasn't done as Miami's Dolphins allowed him a third touchdown reception in the second half to go along with his second quarter rush for 6 points.
On the Chargers third possession with a 6 - 0 lead 27 seconds into the second quarter the Dolphins defense actually made a play that a typical 2015 Miami bounce upended. San Diego ball at their own 41, 2nd down and eight to go. Phillip Rivers heaves a 52 yard bomb that the Dolphins tip-drilled into the hands of Rashad Jones for an interception at the Miami 7 yard line. Jones returns the ball 49 yards and fumbles into the hands of the quarterback who hasn't moved since releasing the ball. A Dolphin interception and return of 49 yards turns into a three yard gain and a first down for San Diego of which they managed the previously mentioned field goal. Time and again, that's just the way that the balls have bounced for the 2015 Miami Dolphins!
Miami's offense was no better as they ran just 31 plays on their first eight possessions that resulted in 7 punts and the end of the first half. The Dolphins just this week had released reserve offensive lineman Jeff Linkenbach who knows all of the Miami offensive signals as well as formations, and the Chargers picked him up. One would think that Linkenbach called all the Charger defensive plays because they somehow managed to have the right guy in the right place in every Dolphin offensive instance. But then again. That's just how the balls have bounced for the 2015 Miami Dolphins!
The visitors entered the game with just seven active offensive lineman, and Dolphin Left Tackle Brandon Albert left the game (never to return) due to injury in the first quarter. The Dolphin guards were pressed into the tackle positions, got eaten alive, and Miami didn't score until they were inside the last two minutes of the third quarter when rookie running back Jay Ajayi scored his first NFL touchdown from 12 yards out. Miami Center Mike Pouncey left the game due to injury during that 3rd quarter Jay Ajayi touchdown drive. The Dolphins managed just their second score of the day inside the last two minutes of the game with a Ryan Tannehill one yard touchdown run as the final score ended up being 30 - 14 for the home team.
With a Detroit Lions Monday Night win. The Dolphins will move up into the 7th overall pick of the 2016 draft while they are within one game of a potential third overall pick, and two games within a potential first overall pick. The Dolphins will be going to all lengths in listening for potential draftee options.
So left tackle Brandon Albert missed 99% of the seasons first four games, and it took him a few weeks to get up to speed. At just about that same mid-season point right tackle Ju'Waun James went down and has yet to return. So in truth. The Dolphins haven't had their true starting offensive line on the field together but for just a few games of what is a 16 game season, and their offensive line depth is absolutely atrocious!
Albert is injured yet again, to what extent is not known but something drastic has to take place in order to fix this offensive line atrocity. Albert is scheduled to receive 10 plus million dollars for his 2016 services, and Miami has a minimal amount of cap space presently available towards next season. Depending on the severity of his most recent injury! Perhaps it's time to cut ties with the often injured reason for offensive line shuffling, non-cohesion, and ineptitude?
If they are to go offensive line with the first pick? It's gotta be Notre Dames Jr. tackle Ronnie Stanley who could instantly start at left tackle (minus Albert), or at left guard until Albert is truly done. He'd be a great pick for those who have zero faith in Dallas Thomas at guard because Stanley could play guard until Albert is done, and D. Thomas as well as rookie guard Jamil Douglas (who like Thomas couldn't play tackle if his life depended on it) would instantly become two with some sort of viable guard depth.
There are other early first round tackle options, but the guy ranked ahead of Stanley (Jr. Laremy Tunsel of Ole-Miss) has an injury history that most wouldn't want to hear the fans scream about, and the third likely option (Sr. Taylor Decker of Ohio St) is extremely tall and has trouble getting under the defender but is very good otherwise.
There are a couple really good linebacker options to be had with the first round, top ten pick, and Notre Dames outside linebacker Jaylon Smith is the only one to fiercely pursue as he's the most ready for the NFL! Another OLB Myles Jack of UCLA is also very special but as a Dolphin fan who's seen too many injured draft picks come our way, he is to be avoided because he's recovering from November meniscus surgery. Alabama's ILB Reggie Ragland could potentially be a first pick option for Miami, but he's not quite as special as Bama's previous first round inside linebacker CJ Mosley.
Seeing that the 2015 Miami defense will have allowed the most touchdown passes in franchise history! There are two corner backs among others that the Dolphins could surely use with their first pick in Vernon Hargreaves the third of Florida, and Jalen Ramsey out of Florida State. Meanwhile. At this present moment, Brent Grimes 2016 services will cost 9.5 million smacks in the face! As will tight end Jordan Cameron!
And of course (minus the dismissal of Brandon Albert) and/or the absolute need of a starting left tackle. The conchs absolute first choice (if available at the Dolphins pick however unlikely that is) would be Ohio States defensive end and pass rusher extraordinaire Joey Bosa who without missing a beat would be the immediate replacement of Cam Wake!
Cam Wake will be 34 come January and nearing 35 by the time he's able (if ever) to return from an torn achilles injury which will surely minimize his explosion abilities. He (like Brandon Albert) is fading into obscurity, aging quickly, often injured, and scheduled to be paid 10 million 2016 dollars for his services of which Wake's won't be available until late next season.
If Free Agent Olivier Vernon gets away? And perhaps even if he doesn't.
Miami has to do whatever in the world it takes to land Joey Bosa!
Bosa AND Vernon together (for the next decade) would be as good as o15 was supposed to be at rushing the quarterback while minimizing the possibility of breaking (in back to back seasons) the franchise record of touchdown passes allowed! Defensive Ends Quinton Coples and Dion Jordan are contracted to 7.75 and 6.2 million for 2016.
Miami should cut both Albert and Wake (if not the whole lot'of'em) in order to open up at least 20 plus million of cap space, but they can't feasibly cut both and leave themselves in dire need of both a first round left tackle and a trouble making to the oppositions quarterback defensive end! The Dolphins need multiple bodies of legitimate depth at offensive line (if Albert is kept), starters if he isn't. They're corner back play has been extremely questionable if not totally absent. They could use a stud first round linebacker, while with the current predicament of Cam Wake and free agent status of Olivier Vernon they absolutely need Joey Bosa! At quarterback despite what some might think about Ryan Tannehill, he is by far the last and/or least of their immediate concerns!
What are the Miami Dolphins to do?
Trade their first round pick for an experienced head coach?
Don't put it past owner Stephen Ross!
That's just how the balls have bounced for the 2015 Miami Dolphins!!
Thanks for your time, and as always we look forward to your angle of view : )) !!
GOFINS???
MERRY CHRISTMAS, and/or HAPPY HOLIDAY'S TO ALL !!!
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