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Anatomy of a Turnaround: Ranking the Reasons

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Anatomy of a Turnaround: Ranking the Reasons

Stellar defense, mistake-free (almost) offense and a favorable schedule all have contributed to the Miami Dolphins five-game winning streak following their 1-7 start
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We’re continuing our breakdown of the remarkable Miami Dolphins turnaround from 1-7 to 5-7 with a ranking of the top 10 reasons.

It’s probably a safe assumption that not everybody is going to agree with this ranking, but here we go nonetheless.

1. THE DEFENSE​

As we explained in Part 1, the Dolphins are allowing opponents an average of exactly 11 points during their winning streak, an average that would currently rank first in the NFL over the full season. Four of the five victories came with the Dolphins holding their opponents to 9 or 10 points, with the other a 24-17 decision against the New York Jets. It’s very simple, it’s been defense first for the Dolphins.

2. COMPLEMENTARY FOOTBALL​

This is a term that’s way too often thrown around, but it completely applies here and it’s also a compliment (pun intended) to the offense for helping the defense do its thing. The offense hasn’t put up big numbers during the winning streak — the Dolphins’ two best outings in terms of yardage came in losses against Atlanta and Jacksonville and there were two games under 300 total yards during the streak — but it has done a great job (in the past four games) of playing mistake-free football and coming up with clutch drives when needed, the latest example being the game-sealing field goal drive against the Giants.

Click on the linky for the rest of the article. :ffic:
 
Defense:
- health - X and BJones were not truly healthy first half. And without that, no way to play the aggresive schemes we favor.
- Jevon Holland - really anchoring that back end, took him about half the year to get to where he is now
- JP - applying more consistent pressure now

Offense:
- Tua getting healthy
- OC figuring out how to make better use of what they've got -- specifically how best to mask the Ol issues and still score enough

Really 60% of it was health, 40% inexperience (coaching and players). I really think if Tua, X and BJones had stayed healthy we'd be 2-3 games ahead rn
 
Flores has had his defense lead the way since the 2nd half of 2019. It been the slow starts in all three seasons that have hurt Miami.

The defense when clicking on all cylinders is one of the top defenses in 2 crucial areas. 1) Points Allowed and 2) Third Down Defense. This has allowed them to climb out of dreadful starts to the season.

The turnovers have once again, began to multiple. Which we all know is not a given, from season to season. Its become a staple of Miami's defendive effort, since Flores arrived.

It took some time but the younger players which includes both rookies have seemingly begun to play without thinking, they're instinctively playing, now, which makes all the difference. Van Ginkle has become productive as a starter. It took some time but he's making plays now. They've moved Baker to a more suitable role as an OLB and Blitzer. And found roles for guys like Ego and others in packages to take advantage of their skills.

But the biggest change has been going back to a more man coverage scheme on third down. Which suits the players much better.

Defense leads the way. Its unfortunate it took a 1-7 start before it all kicked in and clamped down.

As for the offense, it all starts with Tua, who's made plays, in spite of the line playing in front of him. Touch and Accuracy has proven to be Miami's recipe for success on offense. He's demonstrated efficiency under rather less then stellar profomances around him.
 
I agree with everyone’s praise of the defense, but if Jacoby is starting these games we are not on a 5 game winning streak. Defense has been a big part of the success, but Tua and the offensive coaching staff are making a putrid offense look about average. No way Tua should be #3 on this list.
 
isaacjunk said:
Defense:
- health - X and BJones were not truly healthy first half. And without that, no way to play the aggresive schemes we favor.
- Jevon Holland - really anchoring that back end, took him about half the year to get to where he is now
- JP - applying more consistent pressure now

Offense:
- Tua getting healthy
- OC figuring out how to make better use of what they've got -- specifically how best to mask the Ol issues and still score enough

Really 60% of it was health, 40% inexperience (coaching and players). I really think if Tua, X and BJones had stayed healthy we'd be 2-3 games ahead rn
Click to expand...
I’d say if they were healthy we’d be 9-4 minimum right now…fighting for the bye. I believe we would’ve split with Buffalo and beaten Atlanta and Jax…maybe even Indy/Vegas. But if this season going down the tubes leads to a brighter 2022, I’m good. Miami’s baseline is improving.
 
srdnaty said:
I agree with everyone’s praise of the defense, but if Jacoby is starting these games we are not on a 5 game winning streak. Defense has been a big part of the success, but Tua and the offensive coaching staff are making a putrid offense look about average. No way Tua should be #3 on this list.
Click to expand...

Definitely agree we'd have no win streak without Tua back. It's not been extraordinary but the offense has been capable in key moments, sustained drives fairly often, and still making the odd big play too.
 
srdnaty said:
I agree with everyone’s praise of the defense, but if Jacoby is starting these games we are not on a 5 game winning streak. Defense has been a big part of the success, but Tua and the offensive coaching staff are making a putrid offense look about average. No way Tua should be #3 on this list.
Click to expand...
The defense gave up game winning drives to Atlanta and Jacksonville. Two games Miami wins, if the defense was playing as well as it is now.
 
For some god unknown reason we were playing some kind of weak ass zone scheme on D early in the season. We got back to the aggressive D we had to finish last year and started winning again.

The trade deadline passing also helped remove a distraction.
 
let see if it is really turned around. in 2006 we started 1-6 and got to 5-6 and back in playoff chatter. Then fell apart. They need to finish with 9 or 10 wins to say they really turned it around. I would prefer 10 and playoffs of course.
 
-=DolfanDave=- said:
1. Flo pulled his head out of his ***
2. Relatively weak schedule
Click to expand...
Flores waited until the season was half over before breaking out the "real" defense that had some success last year. With a weak, low-scoring offense that has no o-line or running game, the team needed that defense earlier in the season. But, it was a bit too late as they had lost too many games already. Miami lost 7 games because of poor playcalling and game management, a pathetic o-line and running game resulting in an inability to score a lot of points, and a defense that played scared and way too conservative during the first half of the season which led to allowing winning drives by bad teams.

IMO, winning a few games against mostly bad teams only because Flores FINALLY changed the style of defense is not a turnaround. Nothing has really changed; the offense still sucks and struggles to score, and the running game is still the worst in the league. Some may say that the o-line play has improved but I disagree. IMO the o-line still sucks, but Tua has slowly improved his ability to avoid the sack and get rid of the ball quickly. If the line was actually playing better, then we'd see Tua have more time in the pocket without being under pressure and the WRs getting open deep, but that's a rarity. All of his deep completions have been mostly due to blown coverages by the defense. Now if the offense started scoring 30-40 points per game and could run the ball effectively, then I'd call that a turnaround.
 
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