One Man's Humble Opinion: The Problem with the Offense

[<O>]

Gase’s problem... Tannehill hurt and he goes outside the team for Cutler. Need a TE and he goes outside the team (Julius) and doesn’t play Gray, LB gets hurt and tries to go to Maualuga. I think this causes the guys that are on the team and put in the hard work to feel unmotivated.

And there you have it in my opinion. Right from the fingertips of another member here, as I was skimming the forum this morning, thinking just the same thing he was.

The primary problem with the offense is that it's driven by a one-year "mercenary" who had no previous history with the team, and who can be viewed as simply cashing a very large one-year paycheck.

Contrast that with New England, where Tom Brady takes regular pay cuts, and functions as the long-time leader in the locker room, a veritable extension of Bill Belichick among the players.

That sort of player leadership inspires the rest of the team to give 110% effort to be a New England Patriot.

We have the opposite situation here. Jay Cutler comes out of nowhere, refuses the Dolphins' initial salary offer and threatens to remain a broadcaster in "cat-and-mouse" fashion, and eventually signs for a year at $10M.

This is a guy who has no history with the team (again contrast that with Brady), and who in all likelihood will be on it no longer than a single season. He's a fly-by-night guy.

Adam Gase says he doesn't know what's causing the offensive ineptitude. When a guy who knows Xs and Os and his players like the back of his hand doesn't know why this is happening, we have to delve into locker room dynamics to find the cause in my opinion.

I'd have to say it's just that little bit of extra effort you get from each and every player, when he knows he's part of a winning culture in which players make sacrifices (again think Brady) for the good of the team.

With the Dolphins, that little bit of extra effort by every player has been replaced by a little bit less effort by every player, and that will get you beaten handily in a league with this much physical parity among teams.

That's the difference between being inspired and competitive, and being flat.

And make no mistake, the Dolphins have been mighty flat.

I predict that Matt Moore will be inserted at QB in short order, and the team will respond with a marked resurgence of energy and competitiveness.

Moore is likewise a guy who may be here only this year, but he has a long history with the team, he led it to the playoffs at the end of last year, and he has a vested interest in his fellow players and the team's well-being.

With Moore as their leader at QB, the players will respond.

 

[C l u t c H 385]

Should've signed Kaep.

 

[royalshank]

I completely agree w this. In hindsight we should have kept Fales, let Moore start (in the eyes of the players, he EARNED it) as he for the team into the playoffs w 3 out of 4 outstanding performances. He took a head shot that may have knocked guys like Pat White out of the NFL for good - missed one play and came back in. It's why we paid him a lot of money back when RT was still developing. He's proven he can win games in the NFL. His career starting record is probably better than Cutler's (too lazy to look it up and it doesn't really matter). It would have been the right thing to do by the team. Back up your "take care of our own guys" talk w actions. I think this post is right on. Everyone is doing a little less.

 

[fansinceGWilson]

I completely agree w this. In hindsight we should have kept Fales, let Moore start (in the eyes of the players, he EARNED it) as he for the team into the playoffs w 3 out of 4 outstanding performances. He took a head shot that may have knocked guys like Pat White out of the NFL for good - missed one play and came back in. It's why we paid him a lot of money back when RT was still developing. He's proven he can win games in the NFL. His career starting record is probably better than Cutler's (too lazy to look it up and it doesn't really matter). It would have been the right thing to do by the team. Back up your "take care of our own guys" talk w actions. I think this post is right on. Everyone is doing a little less.

I agree Cutler isn't playing well, and, if only to find a spark, MM should get a shot. That said, Cutler is one of a FEW problems and changing QB alone won't get it.

 

[VBCheeseGrater]

Yeah i think you are right. At first i didnt like cutler signing, wanted to see Moore get a chance, then warmed up to it in camp. Obviously now its just bad.

Last two games have me wondering if its legal for a QB to line up under center in a wheelchair.

 

[MD]

Since the beginning of 2016 Jay Cutler has started 8 games. Not one of those starts has resulted in more than 20 points. The 5th game last year is when he was hurt. The Bears scored 23 but Hoyer threw 2 TDs.

 

[artdnj]

Yeah i think you are right. At first i didnt like cutler signing, wanted to see Moore get a chance, then warmed up to it in camp. Obviously now its just bad.

Last two games have me wondering if its legal for a QB to line up under center in a wheelchair.

Sad thing is he isn't damaged physically but maybe mentally checked out.

 

[Bob512]

The real question is "what do we do now".

This coach is in a position of having to bench his $10 Million dollar signing and start the back up that has been there the entire time.

He needs to do something quickly, or he will lose this team. You can see the frustration building with the players over the last couple of weeks.

 

[russianbear]

This a pretty thoughtful opinion. I thought Cutler would bring more to the table with his arm talent and familiarity with the offense...but you are seeing too many wasted plays....we aren't going to win on talent alone, we are going to need more effort and unity from this team, and benching Cutler may be a smart move in getting that back.

 

[Daytona Fin]

Cutler and Thomas were brought in because of their history with our teams coach. Pats bring in mercenaries every year too. I think we need to stop comparing ourselves to the Pats. There will never be another team like the Pats, similar to there will never be another 70's Dolphins. Poor drafts have resulted in our need for mercenaries.

 

[J. David Wannyheimer]

There's no one problem.

- Starting QB got hurt - biggest problem
- LT got traded and was replaced by the LG. Now LT and LG spots are worse - problem
- Coach moving away from the running game + deep throws formula that worked during win streak last year - problem

Those are the areas where we got worse. Then you throw in the fact that we have nothing at the TE position again, that our receiving corps is a little overrated (Good, but overrated), and all of the insane stuff that's going on with the team after the hurricane / Timmons... and yeah, that's a lot of problems.

 

[hoops]

I'm going home to watch that tape but there's 3 guys who are only playing for a pay check already. One of em we already benched the other 2 play on offense.

And it starts with that sorry ass qb. He's numero uno

 

[lurking]

I'm going home to watch that tape but there's 3 guys who are only playing for a pay check already. One of em we already benched the other 2 play on offense.

And it starts with that sorry *** qb. He's numero uno

I'm sorry but he's the turd that came out of that sorry ***....

 

[Billk78]

I'm going home to watch that tape but there's 3 guys who are only playing for a pay check already. One of em we already benched the other 2 play on offense.

And it starts with that sorry *** qb. He's numero uno

Maxwell, Cutler, Julius Thomas? Could we throw Pouncey in there too?

Julius Thomas looks like he spent his whole paycheck at Denny's

 

[royalshank]

Maxwell, Cutler, Julius Thomas? Could we throw Pouncey in there too?

Julius Thomas looks like he spent his whole paycheck at Denny's

He is huge. Wow.