Monday Buzz: Philbin, Coyle, Lazor address issues

[gafin]

Twenty Dolphins tidbits, including notable comments this afternoon from Joe Philbin, Bill Lazor and Kevin Coyle:

### The big personnel move of the week will be Dion Jordan’s return from a six-game drug suspension, which was really two suspensions merged into one extended absence.

The Dolphins, who will need to make room for Jordan on the 53-man roster, haven’t been able to interact with him in person. The Dolphins didn’t practice Monday but Jordan will rejoin team activities on Tuesday.

"We will have to get him on the field and start working with him, see where he’s at,” Philbin said. “It’s great to have him back. But we have to take it one game at a time.”

Will incorporating him be difficult because the Dolphins are deep at defensive end?

“It won’t be tough,” defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle said. “You have good players, you find ways to utilize him. He’s a very talented guy.”

Coyle expects Jordan to return in very good physical condition. “I envision he’ll be in good shape. Dion can run all day. We’ve never had issues with him being in shape,” Coyle said.

### More on Jordan, from Coyle: “I am very close with Dion. We will speak with him. We’ve had some sit down conversations in the past and will continue to do that not just with Dion but with all the players.

That’s one thing we pride ourselves on as coaches; it’s not just a work relationship. We try to do the best job we can to give them guidance, to mentor them. These are young guys. Some of [the coaches] are old guys. Some of the things we’ve been associated with can help them.”

Jordan has been receiving treatment for a substance-abuse issue.

### Philbin indicated that the decision to de-activate receiver Brandon Gibson and guard Shelley Smith, two former starters, on Sunday had nothing to do with injury and was simply a case of playing the best 46.

It wasn’t surprising in Smith’s case, because the Dolphins keep only two backup offensive linemen active on game days, and Nate Garner and Dallas Thomas offer more position versatility than Smith.

It was surprising in Gibson’s case because the Dolphins instead kept active receiver Damian Williams, who --- according to nfl.com’s account of the game --- did not play a snap, not even on special teams.

### How well has Ryan Tannehill played since he became angry when Joe Philbin declined to publicly name him the starter before the Oakland game?

Over his past three games, Tannehill has completed 72 percent of his passes (68 for 94) for 799 yards, six touchdowns and three picks --- equating to an excellent 105.7 passer rating. He also has 132 yards rushing over those three games.

### On Sunday, Tannehill set a career high in passer rating at 123.6, barely eclipsing the 123.2 against Jacksonville as a rookie.

“There are some specific signs of him getting better,” Lazor said. “There are some specific signs of him maybe not taking the next step. I saw anticipation improve. I saw some good pocket presence. I think the guy is getting better. I’m excited about where he can go.”

### The read option continues to be an asset for Miami’s offense, with Tannehill gaining 48 yards on six carries against Chicago.

“Every single day, he gets better at it,” Lazor said. “He’s confident in it. It helped us win the game.”

### According to NFL.com, Tannehill became the third player in history with at least 275 passing yards, at least 45 rushing yards, and a completion percentage of 78 percent or higher in a single game.

### Even though the Dolphins scored 27 points --- eclipsing their season average by 2 ½ - neither Philbin nor Lazor was content.

Philbin said the Dolphins should have scored more points and he “didn’t feel like it had to be that close at the end of the game. There are explosive plays on offense we have to make more of.”

Lazor said: “I was very disappointed with a lot of the play yesterday.”

### Philbin warned that Sunday’s opponent, Jacksonville, not only “beat a good Cleveland team, 24-6” but has been stout defensively the past three games.

### On Sunday, Jelani Jenkins played all 53 defensive snaps and Koa Misi 38, but Philip Wheeler just 11.

Why? Coyle said Chicago “came in with a lot of three receiver groups, so we didn’t play as much base defense as we sometimes do.”

The defensive package that the Dolphins used for much of the game featured a lineup with two linebackers and an extra defensive back. Michael Thomas (26 snaps) got many of those extra defensive back snaps.

Coyle said that package also explains why Jared Odrick (50 snaps) played much more than Randy Starks (25) and Earl Mitchell (18).

### Philbin said “the one thing that’s encouraging to me is we’re practicing better. We’re not spending a lot of extra time on the field. We’re not repeating plays.”

### Even though the Dolphins allowed four sacks, “there were pictures in the film where our pocket protection was as good as it has been all year against a team with a very good pass rush,” Philbin said.

According to Pro Football Focus (which doesn’t always grade plays the same as the Dolphins do), Branden Albert and Mike Pouncey were responsible for two of the sacks and Tannehill for the other two (for holding the ball too long).

### The Dolphins’ depth has improved to the point where two former starters (Smith and Gibson) couldn’t even get on the active roster on game day, former third-round pick Will Davis has gone from the No. 3 cornerback to not playing at all on defense Sunday. Also, Coyle will need to be creative to find snaps for Dion Jordan.

“It helps,” Philbin said of the added depth. “It creates more competition. It seems to be we’re healthier than we’ve been in a while.”

Because the Dolphins have a good number of playmakers, Lazor said “It’s hard to be happy and feel everyone gets enough balls. There’s never enough.”

### Coyle loves how his secondary played against Chicago’s dangerous group of receivers and tight ends.

“Our little guys did a good job against their big guys,” Coyle said, referring to how well cornerbacks Brent Grimes and Cortland Finnegan played despite a significant size disadvantage against Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery.

Also, “having Reshad Jones back there has been a boost,” Coyle said. “He broke on the football, made plays on the ball, had an interception. He brings a real confidence to the group back there. He’s back to playing as good as he’s played since we’ve been here. Michael Thomas stepped in there and made some plays. Jamar made plays. Everyone contributed.”

### Lazor, on tight end Charles Clay, who had four catches for 58 yards and a touchdown Sunday: “The more I am around him, the more skills I see he has. When he works at something, he tends to look natural at it. We’re better when he gets the football.”

### Lazor said one key to Mike Wallace’s success is he “has practiced really well. He’s playing aggressively. Some of his red zone touchdowns, we’ve seen him go up in contested plays and get the ball. In the red zone, it’s going to be contested catches.”

### The Dolphins have risen to 12th in the league in offense (fifth rushing, 22nd passing) and are sixth in first downs per game.

Defensively, Miami is fourth overall in yardage allowed per game (10th rushing, fourth passing). What’s more, the Dolphins are first in both yards allowed per play and passing yards allowed per play.

Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sports-buzz/#storylink=cpy

 

[finfan54]

I dont know...I still think Philbin needs to go....lol

 

[Anvil35]

I liked this for all the fire Philbin yappers, and he should get mounds of credit for lighting the fire under the kid - Hopefully it translates throughout season and playoffs...

How well has Ryan Tannehill played since he became angry when Joe Philbin declined to publicly name him the starter before the Oakland game?

Over his past three games, Tannehill has completed 72 percent of his passes (68 for 94) for 799 yards, six touchdowns and three picks --- equating to an excellent 105.7 passer rating. He also has 132 yards rushing over those three games.

 

[TKAllDay]

Go fins!

 

[Mike13]

I liked this for all the fire Philbin yappers, and he should get mounds of credit for lighting the fire under the kid - Hopefully it translates throughout season and playoffs...

How well has Ryan Tannehill played since he became angry when Joe Philbin declined to publicly name him the starter before the Oakland game?

Over his past three games, Tannehill has completed 72 percent of his passes (68 for 94) for 799 yards, six touchdowns and three picks --- equating to an excellent 105.7 passer rating. He also has 132 yards rushing over those three games.

Its not a motivational tactic when Philbin admitted as such he shouldnt have caused that distraction.

 

[whizafriz]

The coaching staff CAN make it work, they just have to not lose sight of what makes this specific roster talented, and use that talent wisely and often.

A trend I'm noticing is the coaches are starting to play the right players now, some perhaps through injuries, but some through earning the playtime.

Landry is making plays, and correctly getting the nod at starting.
Dion Sims now is getting some action game to game and putting his blocking, and under-the-radar receiving to use.
Daniel Thomas is running less carries but making the most of them, compared to running the majority and getting out-hustled with few good plays.
which now leaves Miller to correctly get more carries so he can break through with his excellent burst once he hits a hole enough times.
Jelani Jenkins is getting the nod in all kinds of situations, and he's been dynamite.

Hopefully as Coyle said, it won't be tough to utilize Dion Jordan into the mix. I think he's going to help a lot once he's back to game-speed.