Hayden Fox Assessment: W8

[Hayden Fox]

Positives

• Running game got 4.6 per rush.
  
  
• Devante Parker was outstanding. He was Miami’s best player tonight. 134 total yards on 6 receptions.
  
  
• Kenyan Drake with 95 total yards and 2 TD’s.
  
  
• Danny Amendola’s TD pass to Drake. Nice trickeration and execution.
  
  
• Pass protection was good from the offensive line. They made some adjustments from some pressures early on, but the tackles especially did well as the game went on.
  
  
• Xavien Howard played very well. People will run of the yard and TD total of Nuke Hopkins, but really not many of those yards game against Howard and the one TD he had great coverage. The problem was Deshaun Watson made a perfect throw and Hopkins made a great catch.
  
  
• Jason Sanders made his kicks and had quality kickoffs.
  
  
• Zero issue with the onside kick.
  

Negatives

• -1 Turnover Differential.
  
  
• 3rd down on offense...weak again...4-13.
  
  
• Brock Osweiler. He was not very effective tonight. 21/37, 241 yards with a pick. His QBR was 65.3. He missed on a deep throw to Parker that would have gone for a TD. Also, he had chance to run for positive yards...albeit not for long gains...but chose to toss the ball away. Not a great night.
  
  
• Red Zone defense was bad. Houston was 4-4 in the red area.
  
  
• 3rd down defense...Houston was 6-12 on 3rd down.
  
  
• 7.8 per play for Houston.
  
  
• Gave up 5.4 per rush...188 total yards.
  
  
• 11.9 per pass yielded by the defense.
  
  
• No sacks by the defense against a QB that had been getting drilled by other defenses. The Texans line was known as one of the worst. Unacceptable.
  
  
• The pass defense was atrocious. Watson was 16/20, 239 yards and 5 TD’s. He had more TD’s than incompletions.
  
  
• The defense was awful in a sudden change situation after the Osweiler interception.
  
  
• Terrible complimentary football. Whenever the offense scored, the defense immediately gave up seven points. Simply awful response after the Amendola TD throw by the defense. Momentum came back to Miami and the Texans yanked the “mo” right back.
  
  
• The defense gave up an easy score after halftime.
  
  
• Could not cover a TE.
  
  
• Missed tackles galore.
  
  
• Bobby McCain was not good. He might not be healthy. Not much good happening for him.
  
  
• Penalty on the opening kickoff.
  
  
• Hated the 4th down call on the opening drive. I loved going for it. Should have been a run and not the pass play that was called.
  
  
• I would have gone for it and not tried the Sanders FG on 4th and 3 in the 4th quarter.
  
  
• The officiating was embarrassing for the NFL. They kicked enough calls that they evened out for both teams. Bad look for the NFL on a big stage.
  
  
• Colleen Wolfe is dreadful. Not sure how she has that spot on the pregame show.
  

Overall Assessment

• Matt Burke is doing a terrible job. Miami is not devoid of talent on defense. Perhaps changes need to be made in spots and some players are not playing up to expectations. That said, look at the numbers. It is beyond awful. I am running out of adjectives. How are there so many breakdowns of wide open receivers? Or RB’s running for long gains like it is a high school football game? Or noner TE’s scoring TD’s versus his defense. He is doing a completely bad job. How do the same issues keep happening over and over again? That is coaching.
  
  
• All that being said...Burke is not getting fired in season. Move on. Will. Not. Happen.
  
  
• I like Bobby McCain. He tries. He cares. He is still hurt. He is lagging behind opponents. Not sure what to do with him at this point in the season.
  
  
• I would re-enter Cordrea Tankersley outside. Let him press and see if he can bounce back.
  
  
• From there, this team needs to play for DB’s on 3rd down for the simple reason they are the deepest group in terms of talent on the defensive side of the ball. Also, whatever Burke is doing right not is failing. Time for new strategies.
  
  
• How many no-name TE’s score easy TD’s in the Red Zone versus Burke? Seriously.
  
  
• Bottom line for the defense. For them to have any effectiveness, they need to take the ball away and stiffen in the Red Zone and force FG’s. That is there only chance for this group to have a winning performance. The past two weeks...no turnovers created and awful Red Zone defense. All of that mixes together to a disaster for this defense.
  
  
• Why was the media calling this a revenge game for Lamar Miller? He left via free agency and Miami still offered him good money. He is the guy that left South Florida.
  
  
• Can Miami have a home game on a Thursday night once sometime soon?
  
  
• The trade deadline is coming and I have a boring, unpopular opinion: Miami should sit it out. First, they do not have much to sell? Cam Wake? Maybe. He has been disappointing, but could help a team. However, he is not fetching anything more than a 5th round pick. Robert Quinn? I hold on to him. Reshad Jones? Too much money. Parker? I am not sure Miami can part from him with the health at receiver and the importance to eventually start to assess Ryan Tannehill. I think he stays. Ja'wuan James? I just do not see a lot of situations to sell. On the other hand, I am not coughing up picks in trades. Where would you start? DT? CB? LB? DE? OL? I would rather give Wesley Johnson a shot at LG than trade for a guy. We shall see, but I am not giving up “chips” to help the team in 2019.
  
  
• Not popular right now (I get it), but I still believe in Adam Gase. He is good coach. He is a good leader. He is smart. He is aggressive. He has had a ton of crap roll downhill on him the past two years. Gase is trying to stem the tide. No question, he has ton of work to do. However, the organization should continue to allow him to figure it out. He is the best coach they have had in many years. Adam Gase will be fine.
  
  
• Miami is a mess right now on defense. A complete mess more accurately. However, because of good work in September, Miami is still 4-4. They are still in this. A home game is next with the Jets who are already banged up for the game. Miami has them at home and face a must win game. However, if they can straighten things out and get to 5-4, with a bye following a trip to Green Bay, Miami still has chance to fix their season. Not done yet.
  

 

[Geordie]

The onside kick made zero sense dude, I get trying to catch them off guard but the risk wasn't worth the reward with your D playing as badly as it was. Stupid. I still like Gase too but my patience is running thin, 4th and half a yard and you throw the ball, sticking with a clueless excuse for a D co-ordinator, being overly loyal to players unworthy of it and overly impatient with ones with genuine talent that we are sorely missing, come on man.

 

[DANTODUPER]

Thanks Hayden. But honestly the season Is OVER. We dont have the DC, the QB and the front 7 needed to be competitive. We lost our best offensive weapon (Wilson) for the season, we lost our best and only run stopping DE (Hayes), our best pass blocker (Sitton). Neither Tannehill or Osweiler are average NFL QBs, and until we have an average QB, we will have a hard time time scoring points. Last time we had a capabble one was Pennington. And it was the last time our offense was alive. We cant stop the run since three seasons ago and our 2016 record was the result of playing bad bad teams. Gase has not shown anything that tells me he Is a keeper. To be honest the only reason for hope would be to trade Tannehill, fire Burke, bench McMillan, put TJ shadowing TEs, McCain in the Nickel, Fitz at FS and sign FA that can help the front 7 with the run, like Langford. But Gase Is stuborn and will keep Burke, so there Is no hope for this season. Sorry.

 

[AEGBRG]

• Matt Burke is doing a terrible job. Miami is not devoid of talent on defense. Perhaps changes need to be made in spots and some players are not playing up to expectations. That said, look at the numbers. It is beyond awful. I am running out of adjectives. How are there so many breakdowns of wide open receivers? Or RB’s running for long gains like it is a high school football game? Or noner TE’s scoring TD’s versus his defense. He is doing a completely bad job. How do the same issues keep happening over and over again? That is coaching.

• All that being said...Burke is not getting fired in season. Move on. Will. Not. Happen.

So you are suddenly the team spokesman? Please do not speak in absolutes when you have no clue on whether Burke will be canned or not during the season.

Not popular right now (I get it), but I still believe in Adam Gase. He is good coach. He is a good leader. He is smart. He is aggressive. He has had a ton of crap roll downhill on him the past two years. Gase is trying to stem the tide. No question, he has ton of work to do. However, the organization should continue to allow him to figure it out. He is the best coach they have had in many years. Adam Gase will be fine.

Please elaborate how Adam Gase is a good coach, leader and smart? What makes him a good coach? In what ways is he a good leader? Smart? Please point to me by his play-calling and the team's offensive statistics that show him to be "smart." Remember, offense is his supposed specialty.

Aggressive ? Are you serious? Have you missed the first half of just about every single Miami Dolphins football game Gase has coached? Did you miss the 3rd and 10 run call against Detroit on their end of the field last week? Did you not see Gase called for a FG down 15 with 11 min left in the game tonight?

If you are going to droll over Gase on him being a good coach, at least provide some evidence.

 

[Miami 13]

Agree with most but sorry you’re flat out wrong about Gase. He has to go.

 

[Third Eye]

Positives

• Running game got 4.6 per rush.
  
  
• Devante Parker was outstanding. He was Miami’s best player tonight. 134 total yards on 6 receptions.
  
  
• Kenyan Drake with 95 total yards and 2 TD’s.
  
  
• Danny Amendola’s TD pass to Drake. Nice trickeration and execution.
  
  
• Pass protection was good from the offensive line. They made some adjustments from some pressures early on, but the tackles especially did well as the game went on.
  
  
• Xavien Howard played very well. People will run of the yard and TD total of Nuke Hopkins, but really not many of those yards game against Howard and the one TD he had great coverage. The problem was Deshaun Watson made a perfect throw and Hopkins made a great catch.
  
  
• Jason Sanders made his kicks and had quality kickoffs.
  
  
• Zero issue with the onside kick.

Negatives

• -1 Turnover Differential.
  
  
• 3rd down on offense...weak again...4-13.
  
  
• Brock Osweiler. He was not very effective tonight. 21/37, 241 yards with a pick. His QBR was 65.3. He missed on a deep throw to Parker that would have gone for a TD. Also, he had chance to run for positive yards...albeit not for long gains...but chose to toss the ball away. Not a great night.
  
  
• Red Zone defense was bad. Houston was 4-4 in the red area.
  
  
• 3rd down defense...Houston was 6-12 on 3rd down.
  
  
• 7.8 per play for Houston.
  
  
• Gave up 5.4 per rush...188 total yards.
  
  
• 11.9 per pass yielded by the defense.
  
  
• No sacks by the defense against a QB that had been getting drilled by other defenses. The Texans line was known as one of the worst. Unacceptable.
  
  
• The pass defense was atrocious. Watson was 16/20, 239 yards and 5 TD’s. He had more TD’s than incompletions.
  
  
• The defense was awful in a sudden change situation after the Osweiler interception.
  
  
• Terrible complimentary football. Whenever the offense scored, the defense immediately gave up seven points. Simply awful response after the Amendola TD throw by the defense. Momentum came back to Miami and the Texans yanked the “mo” right back.
  
  
• The defense gave up an easy score after halftime.
  
  
• Could not cover a TE.
  
  
• Missed tackles galore.
  
  
• Bobby McCain was not good. He might not be healthy. Not much good happening for him.
  
  
• Penalty on the opening kickoff.
  
  
• Hated the 4th down call on the opening drive. I loved going for it. Should have been a run and not the pass play that was called.
  
  
• I would have gone for it and not tried the Sanders FG on 4th and 3 in the 4th quarter.
  
  
• The officiating was embarrassing for the NFL. They kicked enough calls that they evened out for both teams. Bad look for the NFL on a big stage.
  
  
• Colleen Wolfe is dreadful. Not sure how she has that spot on the pregame show.

Overall Assessment

• Matt Burke is doing a terrible job. Miami is not devoid of talent on defense. Perhaps changes need to be made in spots and some players are not playing up to expectations. That said, look at the numbers. It is beyond awful. I am running out of adjectives. How are there so many breakdowns of wide open receivers? Or RB’s running for long gains like it is a high school football game? Or noner TE’s scoring TD’s versus his defense. He is doing a completely bad job. How do the same issues keep happening over and over again? That is coaching.
  
  
• All that being said...Burke is not getting fired in season. Move on. Will. Not. Happen.
  
  
• I like Bobby McCain. He tries. He cares. He is still hurt. He is lagging behind opponents. Not sure what to do with him at this point in the season.
  
  
• I would re-enter Cordrea Tankersley outside. Let him press and see if he can bounce back.
  
  
• From there, this team needs to play for DB’s on 3rd down for the simple reason they are the deepest group in terms of talent on the defensive side of the ball. Also, whatever Burke is doing right not is failing. Time for new strategies.
  
  
• How many no-name TE’s score easy TD’s in the Red Zone versus Burke? Seriously.
  
  
• Bottom line for the defense. For them to have any effectiveness, they need to take the ball away and stiffen in the Red Zone and force FG’s. That is there only chance for this group to have a winning performance. The past two weeks...no turnovers created and awful Red Zone defense. All of that mixes together to a disaster for this defense.
  
  
• Why was the media calling this a revenge game for Lamar Miller? He left via free agency and Miami still offered him good money. He is the guy that left South Florida.
  
  
• Can Miami have a home game on a Thursday night once sometime soon?
  
  
• The trade deadline is coming and I have a boring, unpopular opinion: Miami should sit it out. First, they do not have much to sell? Cam Wake? Maybe. He has been disappointing, but could help a team. However, he is not fetching anything more than a 5th round pick. Robert Quinn? I hold on to him. Reshad Jones? Too much money. Parker? I am not sure Miami can part from him with the health at receiver and the importance to eventually start to assess Ryan Tannehill. I think he stays. Ja'wuan James? I just do not see a lot of situations to sell. On the other hand, I am not coughing up picks in trades. Where would you start? DT? CB? LB? DE? OL? I would rather give Wesley Johnson a shot at LG than trade for a guy. We shall see, but I am not giving up “chips” to help the team in 2019.
  
  
• Not popular right now (I get it), but I still believe in Adam Gase. He is good coach. He is a good leader. He is smart. He is aggressive. He has had a ton of crap roll downhill on him the past two years. Gase is trying to stem the tide. No question, he has ton of work to do. However, the organization should continue to allow him to figure it out. He is the best coach they have had in many years. Adam Gase will be fine.
  
  
• Miami is a mess right now on defense. A complete mess more accurately. However, because of good work in September, Miami is still 4-4. They are still in this. A home game is next with the Jets who are already banged up for the game. Miami has them at home and face a must win game. However, if they can straighten things out and get to 5-4, with a bye following a trip to Green Bay, Miami still has chance to fix their season. Not done yet.

I wish you would’ve started the post with your steadfast belief in Gase. It would’ve spared the rest of the time needed to read this to get to the punchline.

All jokes aside, it is obvious Gase is not a leader of men. He almost removes himself from the game to act like some sort of mastermind savant of offense with his laminated play sheets. You know, the play sheets that usually blow up in his face. I’d love to have a bootleg copy of the section titled “3rd/4th and 1”. We could see all the plays he has as options such as “lack of misdirection and pass protection rollout to an overmanned side of the formation and into the mouth of a top DE in the league. On two. Ready. Break”

Gase is a fraud. Believe me I’ve been watching this sport and been involved in coaching it for a long time. Gase inspires no one to play beyond their means. He appears insecure and with good reason. He has to go.

 

[kellyh3034]

I have no problem with the onside kick. He had to try something. The D is terrible and I see what he as trying to do. It didn't work out but if it did people would have liked it. Burke is terrible but he probably wont get fired. Gase needs to rock the boat like he did when he shipped Jay out. Fire Burke.

 

[BSQ]

Firing Burke is the correct reaction to his utter failure on the defensive side off the ball. Hayden is right, the breakdowns we're seeing remind me of a High School defense. These are men being paid millions of dollars to be in the right place making the right plays. Our last line of defense is a total joke because it's so easy to get past it. I would scrap the Wide 9 right away. I would stop with all the screwing around in the defensive backfield. Players are being asked to do too much. I'd let Minkah Fitzpatrick be the Safety he's supposed to be. I'd pair him with Jones, he'd be in on every snap. I'd find snaps for McDonald but not at MK's expense. Put McCain in the slot where he's a good player. Why do we keep screwing around? I get that Tank and McTyer aren't the greatest so help them out schematically. I'd rather watch Tank has a tough day than watch everybody have a tough day. The DC has crapped the bed, show him the door. Bring in an experienced defensive football coach to remake the defense. We have talent. The right guy could fix things quickly.

 

[roy_miami]

Please elaborate how Adam Gase is a good coach, leader and smart? What makes him a good coach? In what ways is he a good leader? Smart? Please point to me by his play-calling and the team's offensive statistics that show him to be "smart." Remember, offense is his supposed specialty.

Aggressive ? Are you serious? Have you missed the first half of just about every single Miami Dolphins football game Gase has coached? Did you miss the 3rd and 10 run call against Detroit on their end of the field last week? Did you not see Gase called for a FG down 15 with 11 min left in the game tonight?

If you are going to droll over Gase on him being a good coach, at least provide some evidence.

Because this team is NEVER flat to start games, thats why!!!!!

 

[.....]

Thanks Hayden. Why I might not agree with all your points, I appreciate you doing this every week.

All I can say is, this defense better do a 180 fast, or this team is going to struggle to win another game. They were bailed out by some timely takeaways early in the year, but without those, this defense is horrid.

 

[tommyp]

I have no problem with the onside kick. He had to try something. The D is terrible and I see what he as trying to do. It didn't work out but if it did people would have liked it. Burke is terrible but he probably wont get fired. Gase needs to rock the boat like he did when he shipped Jay out. Fire Burke.

Christ, with this Defense you might as well ONSIDE KICK EVERYTIME....... what's the difference if they give up a 50 yard drive or a 75 yard drive.. i'm kidding of course (sort of)

 

[Adam Strange]

This game critique is hilarious. The first two sections are analytical, objective, factual, and reasonable.

Then, before he wrote the overall assessment section, it’s as if the Dolphins sent hired goons to break into HF’s house, tie him down, and inject aqua kool-aid right into his arm. It’s as if he’s high as a kite when he writes his assessment.

 

[BahamaFinFan78]

I wish you would’ve started the post with your steadfast belief in Gase. It would’ve spared the rest of the time needed to read this to get to the punchline.

All jokes aside, it is obvious Gase is not a leader of men. He almost removes himself from the game to act like some sort of mastermind savant of offense with his laminated play sheets. You know, the play sheets that usually blow up in his face. I’d love to have a bootleg copy of the section titled “3rd/4th and 1”. We could see all the plays he has as options such as “lack of misdirection and pass protection rollout to an overmanned side of the formation and into the mouth of a top DE in the league. On two. Ready. Break”

Gase is a fraud. Believe me I’ve been watching this sport and been involved in coaching it for a long time. Gase inspires no one to play beyond their means. He appears insecure and with good reason. He has to go.

To me, this is one of the most important signs of a good head coach. This is why I liked Campball

 

[Jimi]

The onside kick made zero sense dude, I get trying to catch them off guard but the risk wasn't worth the reward with your D playing as badly as it was. Stupid. I still like Gase too but my patience is running thin, 4th and half a yard and you throw the ball, sticking with a clueless excuse for a D co-ordinator, being overly loyal to players unworthy of it and overly impatient with ones with genuine talent that we are sorely missing, come on man.

The defense playing so bad is exactly why I think it was a good call. They were gonna get gashed for a TD whether the drive started on the 25 or 50.

 

[Hayden Fox]

The onside kick made zero sense dude, I get trying to catch them off guard but the risk wasn't worth the reward with your D playing as badly as it was. Stupid. I still like Gase too but my patience is running thin, 4th and half a yard and you throw the ball, sticking with a clueless excuse for a D co-ordinator, being overly loyal to players unworthy of it and overly impatient with ones with genuine talent that we are sorely missing, come on man.

Sure and in one play Houston would have been at midfield after a Miller run or Watson throw. Almost had to do it.