Pretty interesting article from Andy Cohen on the Dolphins website.
We are at the three-quarter pole of the season. The sample size is now a dozen games and with it comes a real sense of what these Dolphins are all about. The questions of August have long ago disappeared. We know the strengths. We know the weaknesses. We understand the personality of this team.
With only four Sundays left in the regular season, with a 7-5 record and undeniable indicators of the progress this team has made, let’s take a quick ride through the season and, at least from my rearview mirror, the 10 most telling storylines to date.
1. The emergence of quarterback Ryan Tannehill: It’s got to start with this. Everything else pales in comparison. I wasn’t sure after September. But I feel a whole lot better now. Tannehill has improved the way we hoped he would. His accuracy. His numbers. His consistency. His entire game. It was almost as if a massive switch went on in London, the fourth game of the season. Now, if he can just complete a few deep balls.
2. The re-built offensive line: The general belief heading into the season was that the Dolphins would go as far as the offensive line allowed them to. While the 28 sacks are still not where they want to be, the fact that this line has withstood injuries and all those changes, the fact that rookie tackle Ja’Wuan James has proven to be the real deal, has to be viewed as encouraging.
3. The struggles of the rushing defense: This is a storyline that only became evident over the past two games. Did the Broncos and Jets truly expose a major flaw in this defense? You look at the numbers and they are alarming. Why, the Jets had more than 200 yards rushing at halftime. If the Dolphins don’t reverse this trend in a hurry, December will not be a kind month.
4. Finishing what they started: The Dolphins lost close games to the Packers, Lions and Broncos and, in each instance, had the lead heading into the fourth quarter. You had to wonder whether this was a trend that wouldn’t go away. But it did go away against the Jets as the Dolphins came back from a 13-3 deficit with a strong fourth quarter. Whether that’s a sign of things to come will be one of the major storylines moving forward.
5. A surprise attack from Jelani Jenkins: Of all the step-up stories on this team, this may be the most significant. Dannell Ellerbe goes down early in the season with a knee injury and who knew what to expect? Who knew that Jenkins would lead this team in tackles and would prove versatile enough to be an every down player? I hesitate to think where this defense would be today without Jenkins. All he did against the Jets was register 16 tackles.
6. Doing it the hard way: There have been no easy touchdowns for this offense. In fact, it’s downright remarkable that you have a 7-5 team whose longest touchdown, pass or run, has covered just 21 yards. But that’s where they are. That’s who they are. I don’t believe the Dolphins can survive the final month without raising that number, at least to some degree. There are too many playmakers on this offense to settle for that.
7. An improved running game: Who knew that when Knowshon Moreno went down early in the season that the rushing attack wouldn’t go down with him? But Lamar Miller has clearly improved his game and the Dolphins have been among the league’s top 10 rushing teams most of the season. Because of it, this offense has a real sense of balance.
8. The impact of a rookie receiver: Jarvis Landry has a chance to have the best rookie season of any receiver in team history. Yes, he’s been that good. Not only does Landry lead the team in receptions, he has done a solid job on kick returns and seems to relish the spotlight. This is a second-round pick that nobody will regret.
9. A secondary strength: When all four starters are healthy, this is the most talented secondary the Dolphins have had in a while. With Brent Grimes having perhaps his best season, with Cortland Finnegan showing he has plenty left, with Louis Delmas proving to be an excellent free agent pick-up and with Reshad Jones on a tackling and big play tear, this secondary has won some games (Jacksonville) and has kept the Dolphins in others.
10. The next man up: Before the season began, I was telling people that this is by far the deepest of Joe Philbin’s three teams. Sure looks that way now. Branden Albert goes down at left tackle and Ja’Wuan James steps in. Moreno goes down and there’s Miller. Ellerbe goes down and there’s Jenkins. Look around the roster. Look what Dion Sims has done in place of Charles Clay. Look how the defensive line is two-deep in talent. Without this storyline, there would be no 7-5.
http://www.miamidolphins.com/news/a...12-Games/13894874-2f32-44ed-803a-4a5573a0365f
We are at the three-quarter pole of the season. The sample size is now a dozen games and with it comes a real sense of what these Dolphins are all about. The questions of August have long ago disappeared. We know the strengths. We know the weaknesses. We understand the personality of this team.
With only four Sundays left in the regular season, with a 7-5 record and undeniable indicators of the progress this team has made, let’s take a quick ride through the season and, at least from my rearview mirror, the 10 most telling storylines to date.
1. The emergence of quarterback Ryan Tannehill: It’s got to start with this. Everything else pales in comparison. I wasn’t sure after September. But I feel a whole lot better now. Tannehill has improved the way we hoped he would. His accuracy. His numbers. His consistency. His entire game. It was almost as if a massive switch went on in London, the fourth game of the season. Now, if he can just complete a few deep balls.
2. The re-built offensive line: The general belief heading into the season was that the Dolphins would go as far as the offensive line allowed them to. While the 28 sacks are still not where they want to be, the fact that this line has withstood injuries and all those changes, the fact that rookie tackle Ja’Wuan James has proven to be the real deal, has to be viewed as encouraging.
3. The struggles of the rushing defense: This is a storyline that only became evident over the past two games. Did the Broncos and Jets truly expose a major flaw in this defense? You look at the numbers and they are alarming. Why, the Jets had more than 200 yards rushing at halftime. If the Dolphins don’t reverse this trend in a hurry, December will not be a kind month.
4. Finishing what they started: The Dolphins lost close games to the Packers, Lions and Broncos and, in each instance, had the lead heading into the fourth quarter. You had to wonder whether this was a trend that wouldn’t go away. But it did go away against the Jets as the Dolphins came back from a 13-3 deficit with a strong fourth quarter. Whether that’s a sign of things to come will be one of the major storylines moving forward.
5. A surprise attack from Jelani Jenkins: Of all the step-up stories on this team, this may be the most significant. Dannell Ellerbe goes down early in the season with a knee injury and who knew what to expect? Who knew that Jenkins would lead this team in tackles and would prove versatile enough to be an every down player? I hesitate to think where this defense would be today without Jenkins. All he did against the Jets was register 16 tackles.
6. Doing it the hard way: There have been no easy touchdowns for this offense. In fact, it’s downright remarkable that you have a 7-5 team whose longest touchdown, pass or run, has covered just 21 yards. But that’s where they are. That’s who they are. I don’t believe the Dolphins can survive the final month without raising that number, at least to some degree. There are too many playmakers on this offense to settle for that.
7. An improved running game: Who knew that when Knowshon Moreno went down early in the season that the rushing attack wouldn’t go down with him? But Lamar Miller has clearly improved his game and the Dolphins have been among the league’s top 10 rushing teams most of the season. Because of it, this offense has a real sense of balance.
8. The impact of a rookie receiver: Jarvis Landry has a chance to have the best rookie season of any receiver in team history. Yes, he’s been that good. Not only does Landry lead the team in receptions, he has done a solid job on kick returns and seems to relish the spotlight. This is a second-round pick that nobody will regret.
9. A secondary strength: When all four starters are healthy, this is the most talented secondary the Dolphins have had in a while. With Brent Grimes having perhaps his best season, with Cortland Finnegan showing he has plenty left, with Louis Delmas proving to be an excellent free agent pick-up and with Reshad Jones on a tackling and big play tear, this secondary has won some games (Jacksonville) and has kept the Dolphins in others.
10. The next man up: Before the season began, I was telling people that this is by far the deepest of Joe Philbin’s three teams. Sure looks that way now. Branden Albert goes down at left tackle and Ja’Wuan James steps in. Moreno goes down and there’s Miller. Ellerbe goes down and there’s Jenkins. Look around the roster. Look what Dion Sims has done in place of Charles Clay. Look how the defensive line is two-deep in talent. Without this storyline, there would be no 7-5.
http://www.miamidolphins.com/news/a...12-Games/13894874-2f32-44ed-803a-4a5573a0365f
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