I agree with this. I'm very surprised and disappointed. In fact, it's the only reason I ventured to this site at this hour, instead of waiting until 3 AM the morning after the game, per my norm.
I was confident there would already be a thread along these lines, and I wanted to have some input.
Normally NFL teams have predictable upticks and downticks, based on situational influence. Those situational trends generally override or at worst neutralize any matchup disadvantage. Not with these Dolphins. The theoretical uptick situations don't produce any noticeable rise in energy. It's beyond sickening. Today was like a game long trance. Contrast to the Philbin Dolphins, who did generally march with the situational trends, and often won by double digit ferocious margin when everything aligned.
This team is one fluke field goal kicker injury from winless and mocked as most inept in the league.
I still don't know what happened with the offensive line. Weren't Pouncey and Albert slated to return and Tunsil healthy? I never would have picked Miami to win knowing the Turnstile Twins would start on the left side. Still, that one area of the team doesn't begin to excuse the overall lack of intensity.
Gase doesn't help matters by standing there like a calculus nerd. I supported him. I wanted youth. So far I'm never certain he actually watched the previous play as opposed to meddling with his play sheet. His timeout strategy is far worse than Philbin's. For example, when we trailed 30-17 and stopped the Titans on a first down run for a 2 yard loss with 4 minutes remaining, our time out should have come right there. Instead, Gase waited another play. That is inexcusable. I'm not sure he understands the related situational math. No chance Philbin makes that mistake. Down by 2 scores you have to preserve time and margin for error, i.e. the potential for the opponent to screw up on 2nd and/or 3rd down and hand you additional time. Instead we allowed 40 seconds to tick away.
Some personnel thoughts:
* The Canes are flawed but they had huge energy last night before being worn down, and that energy translated to the stands. I'm convinced this Dolphin base simply doesn't believe in Tannehill anymore, and therefore the crowd can't fake it. Not for long anyway. They show up expecting exactly what they've seen for 4+ seasons.
* Parker is boring to watch from the stands. But if he does one thing well you have to attempt it at least 3 times per game. That beautiful deep sideline throw today was the first time all season we have allowed Tannehill to throw the 35-45 yard passes that he executed so well last season.
* What happened to the intermediate darts? In previous years we'd instantly steal 10 or 12 yards with a curl or back shoulder to the sideline. Those play calls started the drive. Now we use telegraphed runs or little dump offs.
* Many of the Tannehill apologists have also been Billy Turner apologists. I don't mind that we see Turner exposed also. The Dolphins should have higher aspirations than Billy Turner, as I posted prior to that draft. His mistakes at left tackle now are identical to the ones that caused Senior Bowl coaches to scream at him throughout a televised practice. Turner is too narrow, plays too high, is slow to adjust, and he doesn't even have enough pride to get into decent shape.
* Those new defensive linemen all look the same. Too damn slight. I know their names but mostly I think of 50, 94 and 98 as a pushover blend. 94 obviously is the huge letdown. Then I had to laugh when I was returning from Winn Dixie an hour ago and Big O said that Gase announced they built the defense to protect the lead. That's where those 50, 94 and 98 frames come into play. I guess it's system fit brainstorming again, just like our narrow mobile offensive linemen.
* The punter continues to amaze. We get stuck deep on our own end and the announcer tips good field position for the opponent. Not so fast. Here comes 57 yards. Darr does level off late in the game, for some reason. I don't care. It's probably a short meaningless sample.
* Reshad Jones should never be stationed deep middle. It accomplishes nothing. He freezes and his instincts are terrible. Let him cover somebody directly. There was an example of that late in the game.
*Props to Ajayi. He's running with ferocity. I'm not a fan of making him a full time starter but no question it's light years from preseason.
* I guess Jakeem Grant is only dangerous from scrimmage in the opening exhibition game every year. Otherwise the opponents have simply figured it out. He would be twisted into pieces. I had to doubletake when a Dolphin player actually finished a long return like that. He didn't realize the tradition is to wander around in the open field and get caught, a la Ronnie Brown and Lamar Miller. Lots of luck on that Usain Bolt 40 meter challenge. That's more adjuster garbage. When Bolt ran 9.58 he was out of the blocks fine. Heck, he got a great start in the Olympic 100 semi this year. Not as sharp in the final.
* Next week with all the Steeler fans making the trip, and Dolphin fans discouraged, won't sound like a true home game. Gase needs to find a way to motivate. No evidence so far.
