Well after seven games I feel we can definitely say we have a pretty good read on this team. Below is my opinion and would love to hear yours.
1. Tannehill, your progressions and defensive scheme recognitions have gotten much better. You know this offense inside and out. It's gonna be great to watch you perfect it. You no longer eye bang your #1 receiver and you take the time to stand in the pocket and try to deliver the ball to the open receiver by going through your progressions. You have all of the tools to become a franchise QB but you do need to have a better sense of when to protect the football. I'm not just talking about taking sacks, I can live with those, but you gotta do a better job protecting the football once you are pressured, use TWO HANDS. Also we need to see better eye manipulation with the safeties, this will become one of your greatest tricks when throwing deep to Wallace, and when you do, stop underthrowing him. Trust his speed. He will get there. Last, we gotta have better game management smarts from you. You always make the correct call schematically, but sometimes at the ends of games you gotta do what ultimately gives you a better chance to win.
2. RB's you have gotten a lot better as this season has gone on. Your pass protection has picked up and both of you are running hard. You are about what I expected to be at this point in the season.
3. WR's you have performed about how I had expected as well. Hartline and Gibson were both on the way for career #'s again when Gibson got hurt. Both have great chemistry with Tannehill in this offense as they base their craft on precise routes. Wallace, you gotta do a better job of running your routes according to defensive leverage. There's a reason why every throw is a bit off, it's because you are in the wrong spot. I realize that this offense is new to you but I expected you to catch on a bit faster. Tanny has got to do a better job of flinging it deep for you but you have to do a better job at knowing when to sit and move through the zones. It will come just keep working at it. Matthews time to step up, I'm expecting a lot from you. This offense should be tailor made to your skills as well, hope to see you don't disappoint.
4. TE's what a pleasant surprise you have been. Yes, Keller going down really hurt but Clay has really stepped up his game. No one could have predicted the production from Clay after Keller's injury. Egnew, you have done a much better job blocking and have even caught a few important passes, nice progression. Sims, as expected you have been a good blocker when called upon. Not a bad catch either.
5. OL, interior you have played pretty much to your expected level. Tackels, WTF is going on, your ****tyness is the main reason this team has the loses it does. Through the first 6 games you were atrocious, you didn't even deserve to be on an NFL roster. Big Mac, as much as I hate to admit it, you were sorely needed. The T's as a whole played better last week and I was actually thinking we can live with Big Mac and Martin. Then the Big Weirdo flips out. WTF dude, if you can't handle a little **** talk from your teammates maybe this game isn't for you. EVERYONE gets called out when they play bad, if you don't want the extra attention, then don't play bad. Football is not for the mentally weak. Clabo, you should just be a garbage man and show yourself to the curb before the next pickup because you are trash. But now you have to start again, ****! This group will definitely be this season's Achilles heal.
6. D-line is playing well as expected. Odrick you deserve the probowl and Soliai you have played to your expectations. Randy Starks however you are not earning yourself a big pay day. Better pick is up because as it looks now Soliai will be the one returning. Wake, if your aren't healthy don't play. OV, you have stepped up you game this offseason. Jordan, you have some amazing ability, I just wish the coaches would let you use it more, SMH that with Wake not in the game you don't get more PT. Amazing job covering Gronk last week. I alluded to it in the past that you could be the great TE neutralizer the Fins have been searching for and safe to say that search is probably over.
7. LB's you need to play better, way to many missed tackles and even worse play recognitions. Ellerbe, I know you are a bit banged up and I have faith you will produce once healthy, but Wheeler, you suck. Major screw up in the offseason to sign him and release Burnett. Wheeler's inability to read and diagnose the run is terrible and one of the main reasons the Fins allow so many red zone rushing TD's. He's a hell of an athlete but he just doesn't have any football instincts. Misi, you have played well and earned yourself a contract extension. Keep it up.
8. CB's Patterson and Grimes have played well and are a great fit for this zone scheme. Clemons, you are who we thought you were. Jones, you better start earning your money, because right now you are not playing to what your contracts states your worth. Carroll and Wilson you have both had your moments both good and bad. You have been in the league long enough where I need to see more consistency from the two of you. Rooks, I know you were injured but can you please give the coaches a reason to put you on the field?
9. Philbin, you better get your game plan/management under control. The first three games of the season you where the better head coach, better adjustments, better use of time outs, putting players in a better chance to succeed, but these last 4 games, I've seen none of that. That needs to change. You need a win big time or the seat is going to start warming up.
10. Sherman, WTF. You have a 2'nd year QB. Start acting like it and that he's not a 10 year vet. Support him better with the run, hell it doesn't even have to be super productive, but when a defense has to respect the chance there will be a run it will make it much easier on the young QB as well as a shaky o-line. Don't put the important end of game decisions in your young QB's hand. When it's at the end of the game don't give him the option to switch from a run to a pass play or call the play based on the D's formation. He, rightfully so, has it drilled into his head, to always pick the best play vs. the defensive allignment, but sometimes it's better to just run the ball. Also, be more creative with your play calling when the D is applying pressure by blitzing. I need to see more inside screens to the RB's and TE's and well as more outside WR screens to Wallace. If our o-line can't stop anybody during pass rush situations at least call a play that has a better chance to succeed than a 5 step drop with timing routes. Plus those play calls will slow down the pass rush as well.
11. Coyle, you've done a pretty damn good job this season calling games. You're defense has been screwed quite a few times with drive extending penalties. I just wish your D was better at defending the run but with Wheeler in there I don't know if that's possible. It will also help your D a ton when Wake gets back.
ST's: Field's you are once again the most reliable person on the team. Sturgis, you made some big FG's early in the year but as of late have been REALLY shaky, better start to produce or it will be a short NFL career for you.
So there is it my season review so far to date. Next offseason I see 2 T's and a G brought in via FA and the draft (even when Cogs is retained), a middle LB and probably another late round RB and S. Possibly a new OC if Sherman can't start doing a better job of reacting to what the defense is doing during the game. So let me here what you think.
1. Tannehill, your progressions and defensive scheme recognitions have gotten much better. You know this offense inside and out. It's gonna be great to watch you perfect it. You no longer eye bang your #1 receiver and you take the time to stand in the pocket and try to deliver the ball to the open receiver by going through your progressions. You have all of the tools to become a franchise QB but you do need to have a better sense of when to protect the football. I'm not just talking about taking sacks, I can live with those, but you gotta do a better job protecting the football once you are pressured, use TWO HANDS. Also we need to see better eye manipulation with the safeties, this will become one of your greatest tricks when throwing deep to Wallace, and when you do, stop underthrowing him. Trust his speed. He will get there. Last, we gotta have better game management smarts from you. You always make the correct call schematically, but sometimes at the ends of games you gotta do what ultimately gives you a better chance to win.
2. RB's you have gotten a lot better as this season has gone on. Your pass protection has picked up and both of you are running hard. You are about what I expected to be at this point in the season.
3. WR's you have performed about how I had expected as well. Hartline and Gibson were both on the way for career #'s again when Gibson got hurt. Both have great chemistry with Tannehill in this offense as they base their craft on precise routes. Wallace, you gotta do a better job of running your routes according to defensive leverage. There's a reason why every throw is a bit off, it's because you are in the wrong spot. I realize that this offense is new to you but I expected you to catch on a bit faster. Tanny has got to do a better job of flinging it deep for you but you have to do a better job at knowing when to sit and move through the zones. It will come just keep working at it. Matthews time to step up, I'm expecting a lot from you. This offense should be tailor made to your skills as well, hope to see you don't disappoint.
4. TE's what a pleasant surprise you have been. Yes, Keller going down really hurt but Clay has really stepped up his game. No one could have predicted the production from Clay after Keller's injury. Egnew, you have done a much better job blocking and have even caught a few important passes, nice progression. Sims, as expected you have been a good blocker when called upon. Not a bad catch either.
5. OL, interior you have played pretty much to your expected level. Tackels, WTF is going on, your ****tyness is the main reason this team has the loses it does. Through the first 6 games you were atrocious, you didn't even deserve to be on an NFL roster. Big Mac, as much as I hate to admit it, you were sorely needed. The T's as a whole played better last week and I was actually thinking we can live with Big Mac and Martin. Then the Big Weirdo flips out. WTF dude, if you can't handle a little **** talk from your teammates maybe this game isn't for you. EVERYONE gets called out when they play bad, if you don't want the extra attention, then don't play bad. Football is not for the mentally weak. Clabo, you should just be a garbage man and show yourself to the curb before the next pickup because you are trash. But now you have to start again, ****! This group will definitely be this season's Achilles heal.
6. D-line is playing well as expected. Odrick you deserve the probowl and Soliai you have played to your expectations. Randy Starks however you are not earning yourself a big pay day. Better pick is up because as it looks now Soliai will be the one returning. Wake, if your aren't healthy don't play. OV, you have stepped up you game this offseason. Jordan, you have some amazing ability, I just wish the coaches would let you use it more, SMH that with Wake not in the game you don't get more PT. Amazing job covering Gronk last week. I alluded to it in the past that you could be the great TE neutralizer the Fins have been searching for and safe to say that search is probably over.
7. LB's you need to play better, way to many missed tackles and even worse play recognitions. Ellerbe, I know you are a bit banged up and I have faith you will produce once healthy, but Wheeler, you suck. Major screw up in the offseason to sign him and release Burnett. Wheeler's inability to read and diagnose the run is terrible and one of the main reasons the Fins allow so many red zone rushing TD's. He's a hell of an athlete but he just doesn't have any football instincts. Misi, you have played well and earned yourself a contract extension. Keep it up.
8. CB's Patterson and Grimes have played well and are a great fit for this zone scheme. Clemons, you are who we thought you were. Jones, you better start earning your money, because right now you are not playing to what your contracts states your worth. Carroll and Wilson you have both had your moments both good and bad. You have been in the league long enough where I need to see more consistency from the two of you. Rooks, I know you were injured but can you please give the coaches a reason to put you on the field?
9. Philbin, you better get your game plan/management under control. The first three games of the season you where the better head coach, better adjustments, better use of time outs, putting players in a better chance to succeed, but these last 4 games, I've seen none of that. That needs to change. You need a win big time or the seat is going to start warming up.
10. Sherman, WTF. You have a 2'nd year QB. Start acting like it and that he's not a 10 year vet. Support him better with the run, hell it doesn't even have to be super productive, but when a defense has to respect the chance there will be a run it will make it much easier on the young QB as well as a shaky o-line. Don't put the important end of game decisions in your young QB's hand. When it's at the end of the game don't give him the option to switch from a run to a pass play or call the play based on the D's formation. He, rightfully so, has it drilled into his head, to always pick the best play vs. the defensive allignment, but sometimes it's better to just run the ball. Also, be more creative with your play calling when the D is applying pressure by blitzing. I need to see more inside screens to the RB's and TE's and well as more outside WR screens to Wallace. If our o-line can't stop anybody during pass rush situations at least call a play that has a better chance to succeed than a 5 step drop with timing routes. Plus those play calls will slow down the pass rush as well.
11. Coyle, you've done a pretty damn good job this season calling games. You're defense has been screwed quite a few times with drive extending penalties. I just wish your D was better at defending the run but with Wheeler in there I don't know if that's possible. It will also help your D a ton when Wake gets back.
ST's: Field's you are once again the most reliable person on the team. Sturgis, you made some big FG's early in the year but as of late have been REALLY shaky, better start to produce or it will be a short NFL career for you.
So there is it my season review so far to date. Next offseason I see 2 T's and a G brought in via FA and the draft (even when Cogs is retained), a middle LB and probably another late round RB and S. Possibly a new OC if Sherman can't start doing a better job of reacting to what the defense is doing during the game. So let me here what you think.
