Some thoughts after rewatching the game...

[royalshank]

It's always interesting to re-watch a game after the suspense factor has been removed. While I don't think we played great, I don't think we played as bad as many of us thought while watching in real time. Here's a few things I saw both + and - :

- Tannehill played pretty good. Yes, he threw two picks and one was a pick 6. He also had several long plays down the field including the big play to Landry in OT. No way he makes that play his first 2 years - it's a sack in 2012-2013, perhaps even 2014. ****, it's probably a sack last year! Through 3 games we are seeing a guy who looks like a legit NFL QB. Yes it's helping that he's getting time to throw - only sacked 1x in last 2 games but he's also gotten better at reading defenses and managing the game. The new offense is going to continue to get better as the year goes on.

- About that new offense. We have linemen go out and new guys come in and you don't really notice. Remember when a starter would go out in the past and the next man up would give up like 3 sacks per play? That's not happening and that is coaching and system related. Urbick did a nice job filling in for Steen as did Billy Turner.

- The run game was ok. It cracked 100 yards. It's improving slowly.

- I'm not sure Wake was offsides on the sack/fumble. Officiating gifted that TD to Cleveland. The D made a huge play and it got wiped out by a questionable call. Same thing w the Jones play. Either of those calls goes our way we'd be viewing things a bit differently.

- Maxwell did not play terrible. He had some outstanding breakups. He also gave up some easy completions. I cannot figure out why VJ puts him in off coverage so much. He's not good at it. He is very good in press. Need to get this guy playing to his strengths more.

- our run D stinks. It flat out blows. I do not see this improving unfortunately. We will be gashed all season.

- R Jones is a stud. He had some major league tackles and hits on run plays or in the open field to prevent big gains. Pay the man. Lock him up for another 3 years.

- Cam Wake was a beast. Really had 2 strip sacks and he also drew 2 holdings. Loved it.

My my biggest issue is how we let Cleveland gimmic us w Prior at QB and our inability to expose Kessler. The kid completed too many balls on us for a rookie playing in an emergency situation. That said, the D only gave up 1 TD and that was on the drive where Wake got called offsides on the strip sack. I'll take 1 TD against every week.

I know we all wanted a blowout. Baltimore wanted a blowout against the Browns last week too but had to come from behind in a close one.

Finally, I don't care if Jamar Taylor made the 1st good play of his career today. He still sucks and he got caught playing with his dick on the long pass to Landry in OT that iced the game.

Thats my $0.02 though it might not only be worth 2 Mexican pesos.

 

[J. David Wannyheimer]

Good post.

I don't think Tannehill had a good game, but he wasn't terrible like some are making him out to be. There were good plays in there and we had 311 net passing yards on 39 attempts and the yards came on downfield passing, so even if the QB did not have a great game, the passing game was still effective.

100% agreed on the Wake offsides. I think we got hosed and I believe you can challenge that call, though I'm not 100% on that. The other play where I felt like the Browns caught such a huge break was on that strip sack where we recovered and ran back the TD. That was clearly a fumble and I was upset that Gase did not challenge it. Might be the only time I will wish Joe had been our coach; he would have at least thrown the red flag.

 

[Aqua and Orange]

Nice writeup.

Happy to see a calm, reasoned assessment. I certainly hope you are right and this team isn't as bad as it looked because at first glance I didn't see much good out there.

 

[Dolph N.Fan]

Eww you rewatchedthat cesspool of a game?

 

[gregorygrant83]

I had to watch it again too. I figured if I watched the two loses two or three times I had to watch this one at least twice. I noticed James got injured two series before the strip sack and looked shakey from that point on.

 

[J. David Wannyheimer]

I had to watch it again too. I figured if I watched the two loses two or three times I had to watch this one at least twice. I noticed James got injured two series before the strip sack and looked shakey from that point on.

I saw that as well, surprised that wasn't noticed.

 

[Lilseb93]

I could be wrong, but it seems like we play it very safe on defense. It seems like we play the corners really far from the WRs. I can understand that because Miami may not trust the secondary with man coverage on a blitz but it allows teams to slowly drive up and down the field on them. Combine that with the run defense being terrible and it's a recipe for a bad defense.

 

[Goonies]

We will be lucky to win 4 games this yr. this team is really bad and tannehill is proving to. Ot be the answer. Look at rookie wentz, that kid looks like a qb. Tannehill looks awkward playing qb. I said this yrs ago he will be the top backup qb in the nfl once he's done in Miami.

 

[rudys119]

I could be wrong, but it seems like we play it very safe on defense. It seems like we play the corners really far from the WRs. I can understand that because Miami may not trust the secondary with man coverage on a blitz but it allows teams to slowly drive up and down the field on them. Combine that with the run defense being terrible and it's a recipe for a bad defense.

I would think the opposite on a blitz especially you would want to have the corners up close. If you are bringing heat the qb is going to be looking at dumping it off really quick. That huge cushion is perfect for that. Conversely you play off because you are worried about getting beat deep, well if the blitz gets there quickly then there wont be time for the qb to wait for the deep play to develop. Just do what EVERY team does to us have the box stacked, dare them to throw it deep while sitting on all the underneath and runs.

 

[Valbon8]

Good write-up. I am honestly getting sick of the trips WR sets. Those seem so ineffective and there is no spacing, just a cluster. Spread em out Gase.

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[Lilseb93]

I would think the opposite on a blitz especially you would want to have the corners up close. If you are bringing heat the qb is going to be looking at dumping it off really quick. That huge cushion is perfect for that. Conversely you play off because you are worried about getting beat deep, well if the blitz gets there quickly then there wont be time for the qb to wait for the deep play to develop. Just do what EVERY team does to us have the box stacked, dare them to throw it deep while sitting on all the underneath and runs.

Yah I don't understand why we are giving teams a cushion whether we're blitzing or playing the deep ball. I'd rather get burned deep than watch a team march up and down the field and wear the defense out.

 

[gregorygrant83]

Good write-up. I am honestly getting sick of the trips WR sets. Those seem so ineffective and there is no spacing, just a cluster. Spread em out Gase.

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I'm still waiting for trips left, tight end right with Jakem Grant. Run Parker deep, Landry on a post and then have Grant and the tight both running shallow drags. Grant's going to beat the corner everrytime and will eventually pop out of the short side of that formation for a big gain. Colts run a similar play with Hilton weekly.

 

[rudys119]

I'm still waiting for trips left, tight end right with Jakem Grant. Run Parker deep, Landry on a post and then have Grant and the tight both running shallow drags. Grant's going to beat the corner everrytime and will eventually pop out of the short side of that formation for a big gain. Colts run a similar play with Hilton weekly.

I'm still waiting for them to do ANYTHING with Grant. Wk 1 of preseason he was the lone bright spot on the team and ever since then they wont let him touch the field on offense. Even in preseason they didnt give him any more snaps after being pretty much the player of the game on offense. I know he essentially plays the same position as Landry but again even in preseason with no Landry after he had that great game they would only let him out on special teams while other players that were obviously only going to get cut were getting reps

 

[Awsi Dooger]

Some observations:

* I've bet on hundreds and hundreds of field goal attempts in man to man situations, whether they would be right of center or left of center. Same handful of guys. Obviously it's a specialized interest. We all know the angles and mechanics of the kickers, and how that translates to which side they will err. I'd say only 5 or 6 times has the tilt been so obviously inept that we laughed and waved off the wager before the kick was ever struck. That final attempt today would have definitely qualified. I almost jumped off the couch in disbelief. Parkey was lined up so poorly that he had to miss left. Suddenly I wasn't worried at all. Sure, he did his shuffle step alignment but it wasn't close to proper. Unless he pushed the ball badly he was going to fail.

I knew I would hear from my friends within minutes. Sure enough, a text and email:

"Did you see that from Parkey?"

"I'm sure you saw that."

* One of those friends who is up to date on seemingly every team told me that the Browns coaches wanted to sign Robbie Gould on Friday but the moneyball front office geeks overruled them and preferred a cheaper kicker in Parkey. That decision keeps the Dolphin season alive instead of extermination in September. Many thanks.

* The Dolphins don't stand out from the league in any particular area except that field goal defense. Amazing. I can't figure out what to call it. I was tinkering with KAP or Kick Angle Persuasion. Regardless, long live the trend.

* Tannehill provides plenty in both directions every week. As I've posted, I don't find it mildly entertaining or interesting. Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow signifying nothing. The only play that disappointed was 3rd and short with 9 minutes remaining. We ran a zone read look and the right defensive end crashed inside immediately. Tannehill could have kept the ball and cruised around the left side for a huge gain deep into Browns territory. Parker on that side had taken the cornerback deep inside and head turned away. We had the lead and could have put the game away with a touchdown. Instead Tannehill robotically handed the ball to Drake or whoever it was. Play was crushed. I screamed. Tannehill has to be more aware. Early in the game Tannehill did hold the ball and was confronted quickly, sooner than he expected. I've noticed he wants that first carry to be easy and free. If it doesn't unfold that way he's more cautious subsequently

* Actually Tannehill's YPA has improved so I can't ignore that. He does have a strange way of manipulating those numbers via situation. For example, the final seconds of the first half were ridiculous. That flanker screen to the left was a worthless play. We were fortunate it was blown up and incomplete, since we lacked a time out. Then that final play with 5 seconds remaining either has to be a flash sideline dart to get out of bounds in time for a very long field goal, or more normally a bomb into the end zone. Roll the dice on touchdown or interception. What are we afraid of, quarterback rating taking a hit? To throw it underneath for a meaningless 28 yard gain was beyond annoying, even if Landry whined for the ball via pitch. Lotsa luck on that.

* I had no idea Broddy-Calhoun was on the Browns roster or even in the league. Last season with the Gophers he stood out as markedly inferior to his teammate Eric Murray. Once we burned Broddy-Calhoun with Parker in the end zone I expected it to be a game long treat. How did we manage to never explore that again, and even allow Broddy-Calhoun to make a starring play? After that first quarter touchdown pass Tannehill was underneath and ineffective for a quarter and a half. We should be throwing aggressive downfield on every possession.

* Parker is going to be a frustration. He is such a long strider and runs routes with his head down that it does seem like he isn't fully giving it his all. Omar Kelly has the right idea but doesn't express it properly. Parker doesn't have anything close to the suddenness or adaptability of a Dez Bryant, for example. Parker excels in some roles but can't be counted on for everything. He's a mismatch chess piece a few times per game. I remember being so bored while watching him every play from the stands in that bowl rout of the Canes in Orlando a few years ago. I expected a rare athlete but it wasn't that way at all. I posted about that here.

* I have to commend our opponent for that victory. Hue Jackson was hot and cold like Tannehill. For instance, I don't think we had any clue how to stop or slow Terrelle Pryor on the read option looks, especially if a pass component was included. Yet Cleveland did it so seldom. Yes, please trot Kessler out there again. Many thanks. Then it would be 2nd or 3rd and short so frequently after a gashing running play and I'm worried they can run it smack down the field. But here's a shotgun look and a pass. Hey, well done. After Tannehill's fumble in the final seconds I was sure they would use a power look for opportunity of 5-6 more yards, or even a touchdown gash. They had a timeout. Kessler kneels on the ball and intentionally surrenders a few years. Priceless and hilarious. No, your kicker won't have any trouble with those extra yards, and decreasing likelihood of success. Then the Browns not only volunteer to kick the ball in overtime but they continue to throw the ball from inside their own 20 despite gaining 8 yards on a first down running play. Exceptional. Our crowd may not have been into the game but the opposing coaching staff is like a 12th man

* The good news is that the defense figures to uptick next week at Cincinnati. Two bad weeks and now a bounce in the energized direction. Fortunately our second downer game was against an opponent just bad enough, injured enough, and stupid enough to allow an escape. I'm not going to apologize.

 

[gregorygrant83]

In Hue Jackson's defense for throwing the ball after gaining 8 yards on first down, they did complete the third down pass to Pryor for a first down. The after getting sacked on first down they had a holding penalty on second down and the drive was dead and you knew Miami would get decent position. I say the drive was dead, but I was worried about Miami getting a silly five yard penalty for holding and giving the Browns an automatic first down.