keithjackson
junkyard dolphin
Miami has a knack for making a team look really bad. Chicago appeared outwitted and outmatched in all facets of this game where their best player was the turf. They resembled the Raiders' aftershocks by imploding on themselves afterwards. Upcoming coaches beware! The Dolphins are forging an identity of dominance when their cylinders are firing; the defense relentlessly minimizes yardage, and the offense makes you defend the whole field. To be critical though, when a team plays as poorly as we made the Bears look, the results should reflect more of a butt-whooping.
It's nearly impossible to gain yards against the Dolphins' defense (#1 in lowest yards/play against, #1 yards/pass attempt, #10 rush yard/attempt). The biggest reason is the improvement in tackling, a Philbin emphasis this year. Koa Misi and Jelani Jenkins are so much better than Wheeler and Ellerbe; the linebacking unit combined for ONE missed tackle this week. However, the secondary really deserves the praise this week because it turns out monstrous WRs aren't the weakness of this defense after all. Cortland Finnegan gets the defensive game ball for playing his brains out, getting in Marshall's way and into his head, defending passes, and forcing a fumble (and a fight). Reshad Jones also proved he's an pivotal playmaker on this team, and perhaps the best player we have on the back end. Its also time to realize we have a top five secondary (just look at the stats: #1 ypa, #1 ypc, #5 aya, #4 ypg, #7 completion %). The most important quandry now is whether or not Jamar Taylor is an upgrade to Jimmy Wilson. This week? Unclear. But if he blossoms, this defense will win games. Jay Cutler is a good quarterback, and we turned him into Mr. Hyde. Quarterbacks AND coaches should beware of the Dolphins.
What an eye-opening week for the offense! Clever, well-oiled, and doing new things, the offense won this game. The game ball on offense goes to Ryan Tannehill, who played the best half of football by any QB all season. 94% accuracy in the first half? His new running facet is electric. I only saw two or three questionable decisions all game. (Wallace continues to enhance his role on this team and score touchdowns. Brian Hartline was on the field for EVERY offensive snap, and was a big contributor to the win. Lamar Miller is surprisingly a better running inside than outside. Daniel Thomas had a much better game than his stats suggest, losing 6 yards on a turf related slip.) Miami's offensive performance on first and second downs was practically undefendable. We had 30 plays this week on first down: 15 went for 5+ yards, 7 of them went 10+, and we averaged 5.6 yards per first down play. In fact, we earned 16 of our 24 first downs on "1st &" or "2nd &" opportunities, and scored TDs on three others. (Of our 69 plays, only 11 were third downs.) Ryan only threw three incompletions on first down, but he truly excelled on second down throwing for 13/14 126 yards 2 TDs. Because of this, the Dolphins only had one 3-and-out against the Bears, which is fast becoming part of their identity (7 all year, 9.6% #1 in the NFL.)
Dreadful on third down, we are an entirely different team. This week (4/11) we allowed two sacks, reminiscent of 2013. More disastrous, third down shot us in the foot repeatedly: Q2 at CHI 25, Ryan was sacked (-7) and Sturgis misses a 50y FG; at CHI 33, Ryan is sacked (-8) to take us out of FG range; Q4 Ryan gets flagged for Intentional Grounding at CHI 9 and Sturgis is blocked; even at CHI 1 our offensive prowess cannot gain a single yard. Miami has nine drives, the first stalls, five result in scores, and three get into scoring position and blow it. (Not to mention the penalty that turned Miller's TD into a FG.) This game should have been over in the second quarter, but we continue to leave 6-17 points on the field week after week. These botched opportunities are eventually going to undermine us. Ultimately, the Dolphins biggest weakness right now is a lack of a killer instinct on offense AND defense. Going back to last week, we didn't have the killer instinct to stop Rodgers in the fourth quarter. It felt like the end of last season where the perfect storm of screw ups must happen ( like not recovering a fumble, allowing a huge 4th down, and falling for a fake spike.) Even this week we saw the Bears able to get into scoring position on their last two drives. This defense needs a goal line stand from this defense. There's a cultural reason we are the #4 overall defense, but the #15 scoring defense. If this team can improve offensively on third down, and close out games on defense, they will make the playoffs. Heck, they'll win the Super Bowl.
Other Notables Continuing to struggle on Special Teams, Fields and Sturgis both looked like they need to be replaced. Luckily Landry continues his pro bowl pace as a returner. The coverage looked good for a change until a late return to midfield. Hopefully, Dion Jordan can fortify one of the team's worst units. Still, we continue to enjoy the best field position in the NFL. I didn't think it was feasible to keep it up, but the Dolphins started yet another drive in the opponents redzone, due to a Cam Wake hat trick, bringing the total to 8. That 11% rate is #1 in the NFL by a mile; #2 is only 3.66% (28 teams only have 2 or less). We start 19.18% of drives in the opponents' territory (#1)! Mike Pouncey had his second sub par game at guard, and even said himself that he's had to adjust to the difference in footwork. At some point you have to question whether he is a good fit there and what is the net value of his lineup. He mostly recovered from a rocky start, so perhaps he deserves one more chance against the Jags. Last year, I never would've guessed Fields and Pouncey would go from best in the unit to weakest link - such is today's NFL.
Penalties reared their ugly head for the first this season, which is very atypical for a Philbin team. However, five were on offense, and I think it shows that there's still a learning curve under Bill Lazor. This is the first week Ryan ever looked like he was controlling a game. And the WRs have started to figure it out too after a few weeks of the dropsies. Even the coaches really are doing a great job of adapting to figure out how to best put this team in the position to succeed. The deep balls aren't working? Stop throwing them and send Wallace on other routes. Lamar is dropping passes in the flat? Gone. Charles Clay needs to touch the ball more? Get him involved early. Jarvis is better than Brandon? Inactive. We are starting games from behind? Stop deferring the kickoff. Ryan plays better when he is running? Employ the read option with more keeps and the Bears will surrender! I don't know if I've ever seen a Dolphin team be so flexible about catering to its strengths. Even on defense this week, Phillip Wheeler saw his snaps reduced to 11, which seems way too sensible to have actually happened! When this team plays well, they can beat anybody. And it's getting better. Don't look but the Dolphins have averaged 29 points for and 19 against since Tannehill was challenged. So much seems to rest on Ryan's shoulders, but if the Bear's game is any indication, his comfort level is finally skyrocketing and he will be coming at you throwing and running.
The whole NFL better beware.
It's nearly impossible to gain yards against the Dolphins' defense (#1 in lowest yards/play against, #1 yards/pass attempt, #10 rush yard/attempt). The biggest reason is the improvement in tackling, a Philbin emphasis this year. Koa Misi and Jelani Jenkins are so much better than Wheeler and Ellerbe; the linebacking unit combined for ONE missed tackle this week. However, the secondary really deserves the praise this week because it turns out monstrous WRs aren't the weakness of this defense after all. Cortland Finnegan gets the defensive game ball for playing his brains out, getting in Marshall's way and into his head, defending passes, and forcing a fumble (and a fight). Reshad Jones also proved he's an pivotal playmaker on this team, and perhaps the best player we have on the back end. Its also time to realize we have a top five secondary (just look at the stats: #1 ypa, #1 ypc, #5 aya, #4 ypg, #7 completion %). The most important quandry now is whether or not Jamar Taylor is an upgrade to Jimmy Wilson. This week? Unclear. But if he blossoms, this defense will win games. Jay Cutler is a good quarterback, and we turned him into Mr. Hyde. Quarterbacks AND coaches should beware of the Dolphins.
What an eye-opening week for the offense! Clever, well-oiled, and doing new things, the offense won this game. The game ball on offense goes to Ryan Tannehill, who played the best half of football by any QB all season. 94% accuracy in the first half? His new running facet is electric. I only saw two or three questionable decisions all game. (Wallace continues to enhance his role on this team and score touchdowns. Brian Hartline was on the field for EVERY offensive snap, and was a big contributor to the win. Lamar Miller is surprisingly a better running inside than outside. Daniel Thomas had a much better game than his stats suggest, losing 6 yards on a turf related slip.) Miami's offensive performance on first and second downs was practically undefendable. We had 30 plays this week on first down: 15 went for 5+ yards, 7 of them went 10+, and we averaged 5.6 yards per first down play. In fact, we earned 16 of our 24 first downs on "1st &" or "2nd &" opportunities, and scored TDs on three others. (Of our 69 plays, only 11 were third downs.) Ryan only threw three incompletions on first down, but he truly excelled on second down throwing for 13/14 126 yards 2 TDs. Because of this, the Dolphins only had one 3-and-out against the Bears, which is fast becoming part of their identity (7 all year, 9.6% #1 in the NFL.)
Dreadful on third down, we are an entirely different team. This week (4/11) we allowed two sacks, reminiscent of 2013. More disastrous, third down shot us in the foot repeatedly: Q2 at CHI 25, Ryan was sacked (-7) and Sturgis misses a 50y FG; at CHI 33, Ryan is sacked (-8) to take us out of FG range; Q4 Ryan gets flagged for Intentional Grounding at CHI 9 and Sturgis is blocked; even at CHI 1 our offensive prowess cannot gain a single yard. Miami has nine drives, the first stalls, five result in scores, and three get into scoring position and blow it. (Not to mention the penalty that turned Miller's TD into a FG.) This game should have been over in the second quarter, but we continue to leave 6-17 points on the field week after week. These botched opportunities are eventually going to undermine us. Ultimately, the Dolphins biggest weakness right now is a lack of a killer instinct on offense AND defense. Going back to last week, we didn't have the killer instinct to stop Rodgers in the fourth quarter. It felt like the end of last season where the perfect storm of screw ups must happen ( like not recovering a fumble, allowing a huge 4th down, and falling for a fake spike.) Even this week we saw the Bears able to get into scoring position on their last two drives. This defense needs a goal line stand from this defense. There's a cultural reason we are the #4 overall defense, but the #15 scoring defense. If this team can improve offensively on third down, and close out games on defense, they will make the playoffs. Heck, they'll win the Super Bowl.
Other Notables Continuing to struggle on Special Teams, Fields and Sturgis both looked like they need to be replaced. Luckily Landry continues his pro bowl pace as a returner. The coverage looked good for a change until a late return to midfield. Hopefully, Dion Jordan can fortify one of the team's worst units. Still, we continue to enjoy the best field position in the NFL. I didn't think it was feasible to keep it up, but the Dolphins started yet another drive in the opponents redzone, due to a Cam Wake hat trick, bringing the total to 8. That 11% rate is #1 in the NFL by a mile; #2 is only 3.66% (28 teams only have 2 or less). We start 19.18% of drives in the opponents' territory (#1)! Mike Pouncey had his second sub par game at guard, and even said himself that he's had to adjust to the difference in footwork. At some point you have to question whether he is a good fit there and what is the net value of his lineup. He mostly recovered from a rocky start, so perhaps he deserves one more chance against the Jags. Last year, I never would've guessed Fields and Pouncey would go from best in the unit to weakest link - such is today's NFL.
Penalties reared their ugly head for the first this season, which is very atypical for a Philbin team. However, five were on offense, and I think it shows that there's still a learning curve under Bill Lazor. This is the first week Ryan ever looked like he was controlling a game. And the WRs have started to figure it out too after a few weeks of the dropsies. Even the coaches really are doing a great job of adapting to figure out how to best put this team in the position to succeed. The deep balls aren't working? Stop throwing them and send Wallace on other routes. Lamar is dropping passes in the flat? Gone. Charles Clay needs to touch the ball more? Get him involved early. Jarvis is better than Brandon? Inactive. We are starting games from behind? Stop deferring the kickoff. Ryan plays better when he is running? Employ the read option with more keeps and the Bears will surrender! I don't know if I've ever seen a Dolphin team be so flexible about catering to its strengths. Even on defense this week, Phillip Wheeler saw his snaps reduced to 11, which seems way too sensible to have actually happened! When this team plays well, they can beat anybody. And it's getting better. Don't look but the Dolphins have averaged 29 points for and 19 against since Tannehill was challenged. So much seems to rest on Ryan's shoulders, but if the Bear's game is any indication, his comfort level is finally skyrocketing and he will be coming at you throwing and running.
The whole NFL better beware.
