Hayden Fox's Musings on a Tuesday Night

[Hayden Fox]

I bring up some random thoughts to be discussed. Selfishly, it is therapy, but most of all I enjoy the give and take.

* I do not think Joe Philbin will ever be an answer for the Dolphins as head coach. He is not a leader. He gives little to no intellectual advantage on game day. Most of all, his teams are awful at finishing games…let's not forget that there is still the issue of how his team starts games.

* With that said, I do not want to start over. I think between Philbin and Dennis Hickey they picked some fine players through free agency and the draft. I would like to see the continued building of the roster. A new coach would likely gut many parts of the roster he did not see fit. I am so tired of starting over. This team can compete with any team in the league and with more talent who knows what it can accomplish. However, a team's head coach is essential and the most successful teams typically have a "difference maker" on the sideline. That is why I feel like I am football purgatory with this current Dolphins team.

* Ryan Tannehill WILL BE the starting QB for the Dolphins in 2015. Unless he has a major injury (will discuss later in this piece) or he totally melts down, RT comes back under center. He has done better each year. Does he make you throw random things on game day sometimes? Yep. However, he is young and improving. Here is the next point for those that do not agree: Where are going to find an upgrade over him? Free agency? Brian Hoyer? He does not get out of Cleveland and is he that much of an upgrade if at all? Sam Bradford? I like him, but how can you double down on him with his injury history. Trade for Jay Cutler? Please. Plus, if some of these players are in the market, teams that are starved for QB's will throw crazy money at middle tier players. A team will overpay for a veteran signal caller. How about the draft? We can debate the merits of some of the kids coming out and we will leading up to the draft. However, they will all end up going much earlier than Miami is picking. Teams like the Bucs, Titans and Jets cannot pass on a potential QB answer. Like it or not, the market will state that the Fins cannot do better than Ryan Tannehill in 2015.

* That brings me to my next point regarding coaching. If Philbin is axed, does the team really put Ryan Tannehill in a third offense in as many years? With that said, Bill Lazor sticking around, if he cannot find a promotion somewhere, is essential. I have been impressed with Lazor. He is a leader. He is demanding. He take responsibility for shortcomings. He is bright. He has worked for legendary coaches. He would be on my shortlist to replace Joe Philbin. If he is not hired as the new coach, I would look to aggressively to keep him on just so RT is not in a brand new system in 2015.

* I am also gun-shy letting Lazor leave. In 2012, I made no bones that I thought Mike McCoy was the best choice for Miami. However, to be fair, I also stated that the best I had seen Miami play football since the 2008 season was under Todd Bowles. Bowles was steady, bright and supposedly understood personnel well. As time has gone on, we have seen Todd Bowles kill it in Arizona. Perhaps, the best candidate Miami had in 2012 was actually coaching the team. I do not want to let the next potential star coach get away.

* Dallas Thomas at RT scares the crap out of me. I am on record of wanting to see Nate Garner go out there. He played RT against Buffalo in 2012 and the team happened to have won that game. How Thomas keeps emerging as an answer to the questions that arise with this line is simply amazing to me.

* If Jason Fox cannot go in and play RT in this spot at this point, why did he make this roster out of camp?

* Mike Pouncey needs to play Center. I do not see anything special with him at RG. Allow him to move to the position where he will play at the highest level for the team.

* Billy Turner's development has to be pushed forward. He was a great pick, but has had some injury issues that held him back. However, the last few weeks he has practiced without many issues and has been a healthy scratch. Turner has experience at both tackle positions in college and has worked inside while with the Fins. Turner would make mistakes, but he is country strong and is athletic. He was a quick learner in Mobile last year. Who is to say the same can not happen here? A frustrating part of Philbin's tenure has been him "holding younger players back". We screamed for more of Lamar Miller his rookie year. If not for injuries at LB, Jelani Jenkins would never had a shot. Rishard Matthews was buried until injuries forced him into more of role last year. We are seeing it now with Dion Jordan. The kid is a SLB….but the staff is so stubborn with his position. How long did it take to have them start using RT's legs to help move the ball? I truly hope that Turner is just too green and not that they are timid to play the former small school star.

* I am seriously concerned Ryan Tannehill will be injured in the coming weeks. First, Miami plays nasty D-lines the rest of the season. Secondly, the line's musical chairs routine are well chronicled. People can question all kinds of things about Tannehill, but not his toughness. That toughness is getting pushed to the limits. Seeing him go out for extended period would really make the season bottom out. Here is hoping RT stays in upright and healthy.

* Jamar Taylor playing scares me almost as much as Thomas. I loved the pick in the draft and I am ready to admit I failed big time with my assessment of him coming out of Boise State.

* Over the year, I have been a broken record stating that the "NFL is Red Zone League". It frustrates Hayden Fox to no end to see the stat that the Fins have the second most Red Zone "visits", but have the fifth worse TD%.

* I have a gut feeling that this game will look like the Bears @ Dolphins on 11/18/10. If you do not remember, the Fins got a hard earned win vs a physical Titans team the Sunday before. However, they had a slew of injuries and the Bears game was on a short week. The team could not cope. I believe Richie Incognito played Center and there were multiple snap issues. I hope I am wrong, but I am not sure how to move the ball when you are whipped at the LOS.

* The team has to have a ton of 2 TE sets. Make their edge rushers slow down some and have to bow around the TE a bit. Unbalanced lines and an extra lineman have to be in the mix too.

* With all of this being said, IF, IF, IF Miami can win Thursday, they'd be 6-4 with five wins in the AFC…here is where I get crazy: I think the Colts beat the Pats Sunday night. If that occurs Miami is only ONE game out of first place in the AFC East. One does not have to be reminded that Miami has a game in hand versus the Pats. BTW, the Lions visit the Pats the following week and then NE goes to Lambeau for a date with Aaron Rodgers.

With all the brutal injuries and speculation hovering about, everything Miami wants to accomplish is still in front of them. However, for any of it to matter, the Fins have to get a home win versus the Bills Thursday night.


Thanks for your time. I appreciate you reading and letting me air out some thoughts. You have no idea how therapeutic Finheaven can be sometimes.

Fins Up!

 

[Austin Tatious]

Good point on Jason Fox. He's a veteran and he's played in the league. How bad is he, and if he's bad, why did we put him on the roster. There's an opportunity cost there where someone else who has use or potential could be on the roster.

We could have drafted Seantrel Henderson too. Steal in the 7th.

 

[royalshank]

Agree about Bowles. He went 2-1 with only loss against NE. And he impressed me in that game in that we were up 17-0 w half a minute left in first half and he was aggressive and trying for more points. He knew the lead wouldn't hold unlike Morono who would have been taking a knee there.

Our two too FA signings done for the year is so unfortunate. Makes me sick. Agree on how this staff fails to develop young talent quick enough. Philbin blows. I really like Lazor and if firing Philbin means losing Lazir then I want Philbin back. Ugh.

Bills had a very physical game too. I have a feeling this gane will be less physical by both teams as they are exhausted. It's like when two hockey teams throw a ton of hits one night, and then they play the next night and it's a pure finesse game. I wouldn't be surprised if this game is higher scoring than most think.

 

[Unchained 07]

I share your concern about Tannehill getting hurt with this O-line. Fingers crossed against Buffalo. At least the team (what's left of it) will have extra recovery time after the Thursday night game to get ready for the Donkeys.

 

[spiketex]

Hayden - watch the video of Stephen Ross presenting the game ball to Joe after the San Diego game. That doesn't look like an owner eager to fire his Head Coach when he talks about the best Dolphin performance since he has owned the team. I saw an owner filled with pride (and that was less than 2 weeks ago).
Every week you say how badly Joe coaches the team but the reality is that we are very close to being a good team. There is more talent on the roster than at any time in the past 15 years and the young players continue to improve. After losing to Green Bay we came back hard and I expect the same on Thursday night. Don't be so pessimistic, we are going to have some good wins this year.

 

[LANGER72]

I agree with almost everything you said.
I agree that keeping Lazor is the best option. If Philbin is let go Lazor will probably bolt unless he is promoted to head coach.
The best option is probably the status quo and like you said, continue to build the roster that will be "philbin proof". In other words, what ever goofy decisions he makes will be over come by talent.
I would bring back Incognito for the remainder of 2014. Let him return to the fold and resurrect his career. The whole "bully" BS was just a bunch of PC crap. He can help us right now.
We need guards. He is the best available.
Turner should be playing LT after the Buffalo game. James should go back to RT.
This team can compete with any team in the league. We have improved greatly since last year. Another year should get us closer.

 

[1972fins]

We are at home and that should help.

 

[DolFan in NE]

The Red Zone TD% is the most alarming. If this team was middle of the pack on the stat they'd have 7 wins at this point. That's going to be the fatal flaw overall.

 

[LDaniel7]

Red Zone failures are because of two things:

1. Utter lack of Red Zone playmakers -- NO REAL TE and Brian Hartline as your complement to Wallace. Which is to say, Zero.
2. Poor OL play, overall.

Well, I'll make it three:

3. A handful of poor decisions by RT.

LD

 

[Finlawyer]

The team has come together and played with toughness and determination at times. Philbin will probably keep his job next year so that Tannehill can further develop under Lazor. Hickey had an amazing off season and the team has assembled or discovered talent (some of which it already had). Hickey drafted well although the TE from Georgia in the 5th round was a wasted pick.

For the remainder of this season, to have any hope of making the post-season, we must be able to run the ball and keep the defenses guessing to give RT more time in the passing game. We must get much more from Hartline than a quick slant. Our defense is carrying the team right now. We are beat up on offense and losing Albert is going to present huge challenges. We will be drafting OL, LB, RB, TE, WR, and CB next draft. We need speed and durability.

We will jettison "finesse" players after this year.

 

[roy_miami]

I'm coming to see the Ravens game in December. A loss Thursday means I'll be paying thousands of dollars to see a glorified preseason game. We better ****ing beat those ****suckers!!!!!

 

[northnj dolfan]

Always enjoy reading your stuff.
Fins need to knock Orton's head off,a must win game.
Fins up!!!!!!! Man do I hate the Jills

 

[kellyh3034]

Mike Pouncey has looked out of place. No fire in his game. Taylor played like trash the last game. I hope he can get better because if not it's going to be a long day for the defense. Keep Wheeler off the field. If you noticed he's in the right spot, right time, but never makes the play. Always bad angles. It's like he's afraid to make the tackle. Brings me back to Coyle. Too much talent on that defense to play any kind of soft zone. Attack. Always attack. It's what Bowles does in Arizona. It works if you got good corners. Well at least one great and one half-way decent corner Finnegan. I always think the the rookie Walt A. should get more playing time. Every time he's in there he makes a play.

 

[AL R]

It's not just Lazor, really don't want to lose some of the other coaches either. Hope we stay the course, beacause not a fan of constant change, the majority of the good teams have stability. The other side of the argument is look what happened with the Cardinals, so it can be done. I probably lean to the side of prove to me you can't do it and maybe are on the too patient side so guess my viewpoint is a little bias. Considering where we are at this point and the state of the team and injuries, probably going to be yet again another 8-8, 9-7 type year which will lead to Ross being on the fence IMO.

 

[Despacio]

Philbin will go 9-7 and will be retained to keep Lazor/Coyle/Hickey together for one more year. 7-9,8-8,9-7. 10-6?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---------- Post added at 01:10 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:08 AM ----------

I'm coming to see the Ravens game in December. A loss Thursday means I'll be paying thousands of dollars to see a glorified preseason game. We better ****ing beat those ****suckers!!!!!

Lol, I'm in the same boat. All the way from Tucson, AZ. That game better be relevant damn it!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk