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- Apr 29, 2003
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This is a bad team. It's difficult to put one's finger on the precise problems, but there is something about this team that reminds me of several other Dolphin teams. I'll list several "culprits" with what I think is the most significant last. Then, add some perspective on the team.
Culprits:
1) QB Play - early on it was Daunte. Now Joey has had some good plays but still makes some significant mistakes. His second INT was a really bad play.
2) OL Play - much improved on Sunday, but the Jets have been at the bottom of the league as far as front 7 play is concerned. So, an average line should have done that. However, early on against mediocre teams, the OL was horrific (Buffalo, Tenn, Houston).
3) OC - I give Mularkey a D-. Several factors have not been his fault, but he has run a largely unimaginative offense - both passing and running. The play calling on the 4th and 1 and on a 3rd and 2 (where we pitched it and got slammed in the backfield), both in the 1st half, was awful.
4) Defense - the defense has been decent as far as not giving up a lot of points. However, they have not played any real high powered offenses. But, the most disturbing features here are two points: a) they are not producing a significant # of turnovers (in Sunday's game the Off gave up 3, the defense produced ZERO ... making Miami -3 for the season. Bad news); b) they are giving up some big plays at critical times each game. There is a breakdown.
5) Finally, it seems that this team will do some good things on both offense and defense - the D will get a couple of 3 and outs, the offense will start to move the ball - and then something breaks down. The offense just does not seem capable of making not just a big play, but the standard, drive sustaining plays. Especially on 3rd down. Yesterday there were several key points in the 1st half where they just imploded:
>>Chambers has a pass hit him in the #'s and he pops it up so it's intercepted. This just cannot happen to a #1 wideout. The INT didn't hurt the D, but it did end a potential drive. Drive Killed.
>> Hagan's drop on 3rd down along the sideline. First, the pass was not a great one, as he was wide open and it was behind him. However, he easily got both hands on the ball and never should drop a pass like that. Drive Killed.
>> On a 3rd and 2, around the our own 40 yard line, Mularkey calls a funky, but easily readable pitch to Morris who gets slammed for a loss. The Defense was up close b/c of the potential to run the ball and he had no shot. That was a ridiculous call in that situation. Drive Killed.
>> Hagan cuts too short on 3rd down and catches a pass close to the 1st down marker, but just short. He needed to go a half step deeper on the route. Mistake 1. Then, the mark was clearly a bad one and Saban should have thrown the flag on it. He may still have been short, but only by an inch or two, rather than half a yard, and a QB sneak would have gotten the job done. Mistake 2. They go for it on 4th and 1 and the blocking was mediocre at best, the call was not a great one, and Brown made a mistake in the way he attacked the hole. Mistakes 3, 4, 5. Drive Killed.
There's more, of course, but that should suffice. Four drives killed when the offense was showing some promise of moving the ball in the 1st half. This has been typical of the entire season. The Dolphins 3rd down offense in the 1st half of games has been atrocious! It's both bad coaching and bad playing.
There is just something about this team that is not clicking. It goes to both coaching (instilling an intensity and mentality that gets the job done) and players being prepared and having a belief that they will get the job done.
When you look at this team compared to the other good teams in the league, there is little doubt that talentwise (forget the coaching for a moment) - the team is in the bottom half of the league. Fans tend to be myopic and look at the potential - but, this team's talent on both O and D is below #16 in the league.
Bottom line - this team does not have the talent right now to compete consistently and win - and the coaching has not been as good this year as it was last year.
I've been a supporter of Nick Saban. And, will be patient for another year or two. Keep in mind, after Bill Belichick's first five seasons as a head coach, he was 8 games under .500 and had one winning season.
1991 Cleveland BROWNS Bill Belichick 6-10 – 3rd place AFC Central
1992 Cleveland BROWNS Bill Belichick 7-9 – 3rd place AFC Central
1993 Cleveland BROWNS Bill Belichick 7-9 – 3rd place AFC Central
1994 Cleveland BROWNS Bill Belichick 11-5 1-1 2nd place AFC Central
1995 Cleveland BROWNS Bill Belichick 5-11 – 4th place AFC Central
So, there is potential. And, there is some potential with some of the younger players. But, the coaching needs to improve dramatically and they need to do a better job of bringing in solid talent. I do believe that Saban needs to move out of the SEC as far as his scouting and selection of players. He needs to let Meuller do his job and have more say so in the draft.
It may also mean trading some good older players to playoff calibre teams (e.g., Jason Taylor) for some draft choices. That won't go over well with most fans here, and it doesn't with me. But, he and Chambers are probably the only guys with legit trade value at this point. As weak overall as the WR corps is, I would not want to trade Chambers. The defense needs to continue to be overhauled for the future.
The Dolphins also needed to be willing to trade down last year and accumulate draft picks. Jason Allen (or a player of that calibre - or even better) would have been available 10-12 choices lower. Even if they did not get "market" value for the 16th pick, they should have traded down and accumulated some future picks. Saban needs to do this. Belichick and the Pats have done a great job with this method and the more picks you have the better chance you have of hitting winners - and you lessen the "hurt" when a player in rounds 1-3 does not come through for you. If you have six picks in the 1st four rounds, you can afford for two or even three of them to bust. But, you can't afford that if you have only 3 picks in the 1st four rounds!
Culprits:
1) QB Play - early on it was Daunte. Now Joey has had some good plays but still makes some significant mistakes. His second INT was a really bad play.
2) OL Play - much improved on Sunday, but the Jets have been at the bottom of the league as far as front 7 play is concerned. So, an average line should have done that. However, early on against mediocre teams, the OL was horrific (Buffalo, Tenn, Houston).
3) OC - I give Mularkey a D-. Several factors have not been his fault, but he has run a largely unimaginative offense - both passing and running. The play calling on the 4th and 1 and on a 3rd and 2 (where we pitched it and got slammed in the backfield), both in the 1st half, was awful.
4) Defense - the defense has been decent as far as not giving up a lot of points. However, they have not played any real high powered offenses. But, the most disturbing features here are two points: a) they are not producing a significant # of turnovers (in Sunday's game the Off gave up 3, the defense produced ZERO ... making Miami -3 for the season. Bad news); b) they are giving up some big plays at critical times each game. There is a breakdown.
5) Finally, it seems that this team will do some good things on both offense and defense - the D will get a couple of 3 and outs, the offense will start to move the ball - and then something breaks down. The offense just does not seem capable of making not just a big play, but the standard, drive sustaining plays. Especially on 3rd down. Yesterday there were several key points in the 1st half where they just imploded:
>>Chambers has a pass hit him in the #'s and he pops it up so it's intercepted. This just cannot happen to a #1 wideout. The INT didn't hurt the D, but it did end a potential drive. Drive Killed.
>> Hagan's drop on 3rd down along the sideline. First, the pass was not a great one, as he was wide open and it was behind him. However, he easily got both hands on the ball and never should drop a pass like that. Drive Killed.
>> On a 3rd and 2, around the our own 40 yard line, Mularkey calls a funky, but easily readable pitch to Morris who gets slammed for a loss. The Defense was up close b/c of the potential to run the ball and he had no shot. That was a ridiculous call in that situation. Drive Killed.
>> Hagan cuts too short on 3rd down and catches a pass close to the 1st down marker, but just short. He needed to go a half step deeper on the route. Mistake 1. Then, the mark was clearly a bad one and Saban should have thrown the flag on it. He may still have been short, but only by an inch or two, rather than half a yard, and a QB sneak would have gotten the job done. Mistake 2. They go for it on 4th and 1 and the blocking was mediocre at best, the call was not a great one, and Brown made a mistake in the way he attacked the hole. Mistakes 3, 4, 5. Drive Killed.
There's more, of course, but that should suffice. Four drives killed when the offense was showing some promise of moving the ball in the 1st half. This has been typical of the entire season. The Dolphins 3rd down offense in the 1st half of games has been atrocious! It's both bad coaching and bad playing.
There is just something about this team that is not clicking. It goes to both coaching (instilling an intensity and mentality that gets the job done) and players being prepared and having a belief that they will get the job done.
When you look at this team compared to the other good teams in the league, there is little doubt that talentwise (forget the coaching for a moment) - the team is in the bottom half of the league. Fans tend to be myopic and look at the potential - but, this team's talent on both O and D is below #16 in the league.
Bottom line - this team does not have the talent right now to compete consistently and win - and the coaching has not been as good this year as it was last year.
I've been a supporter of Nick Saban. And, will be patient for another year or two. Keep in mind, after Bill Belichick's first five seasons as a head coach, he was 8 games under .500 and had one winning season.
1991 Cleveland BROWNS Bill Belichick 6-10 – 3rd place AFC Central
1992 Cleveland BROWNS Bill Belichick 7-9 – 3rd place AFC Central
1993 Cleveland BROWNS Bill Belichick 7-9 – 3rd place AFC Central
1994 Cleveland BROWNS Bill Belichick 11-5 1-1 2nd place AFC Central
1995 Cleveland BROWNS Bill Belichick 5-11 – 4th place AFC Central
So, there is potential. And, there is some potential with some of the younger players. But, the coaching needs to improve dramatically and they need to do a better job of bringing in solid talent. I do believe that Saban needs to move out of the SEC as far as his scouting and selection of players. He needs to let Meuller do his job and have more say so in the draft.
It may also mean trading some good older players to playoff calibre teams (e.g., Jason Taylor) for some draft choices. That won't go over well with most fans here, and it doesn't with me. But, he and Chambers are probably the only guys with legit trade value at this point. As weak overall as the WR corps is, I would not want to trade Chambers. The defense needs to continue to be overhauled for the future.
The Dolphins also needed to be willing to trade down last year and accumulate draft picks. Jason Allen (or a player of that calibre - or even better) would have been available 10-12 choices lower. Even if they did not get "market" value for the 16th pick, they should have traded down and accumulated some future picks. Saban needs to do this. Belichick and the Pats have done a great job with this method and the more picks you have the better chance you have of hitting winners - and you lessen the "hurt" when a player in rounds 1-3 does not come through for you. If you have six picks in the 1st four rounds, you can afford for two or even three of them to bust. But, you can't afford that if you have only 3 picks in the 1st four rounds!
