Let's face it, Who would have thought at this point we'd be playing meaningful games this late in the season? If you really did predict that, then give yourself a pat in the back. Myself, I was cautiously optimistic, as I have been every time a new coach steps in. My feelings..OUR feelings have been burned so many times by these past coaches it was hard to not get excited again. There was something about Gase though, his youthful energy, his no nonsense to problems he knew he had. He had growing pains thats for damn sure. All coaches go through growing pains, especially when you don't have enough talent on the team but yet seem to milk every ounce of every player. The verdict is yet to be seen on this Gase Coach guy, But I love the guy! He takes on the problems straight up and will also say it like it is. Where as past coaches knew what the problems were but danced away around them telling everyone its ok and plainly not making moves where its so effin obvious to make them.
But not Gase...
A few examples to look at on why this team is successful
#1 Tannehills development
Many of you still seem to fight the urge and still believe that Tannehill is still not the answer at QB. You want to know why some of you say that? Its because a QB is measured on style points. Style points such as the Tom Bradys, The Aaron Rodgers, The Derek Carrs? You judge him because he doesn't play as an elite QB. I can be fine with great QB that doesnt need to be a Tom Brady. Those are a needle in a haystack finds that we may never have. But we do have a QB who this year proved to be that 4th qtr qb. Yes, he hasn't constantly played at a high level like an elite QB, but he HAS BEEN WINNING. The guy has been sacked so many times and still is able to walk away, piss blood and walks away. Look just this past weekend we all thought he tore his ACL/MCL, and behold that dude just sprain it. This guy is one tough SOB!! He has proven he can win in 4th qtr comebacks. More time with Gase will improve that. He was on track to have the best statistical year of his career before his injury happened. Gase is here to stay long term and with long term comes consistent playbook. The more Tanny will learn the better he will become.
#2 Adversity and the Challenge to Respond
There is where the cautiously optimistic falls in play. At 1-4 and barely beating the Browns, we all knew Miami had a long list of problems. No talent on the team, no identity, no killer instinct. This team had nothing going for themselves. The game vs the Titans we just realized at that time that this team is ways a long away from being a contender. We couldn't stop the run, we couldn't maintain drives, couldn't run the ball. We couldn't do diddly squat! IT was the lowest point of the season. Tannehill was blasted from all over the place and the O-Line gave up so many sacks. We were a dead fish on a hook.
But then something happen, out of the blue the Gase did something that us fans have been clamoring for the past years that management do. They cut the dead weight! IMOP that sent a message to players. You don't do you job, you will get CUT! PLAIN AND SIMPLE. This I feel lit a fire in their @$$es!!! This is where Gase is miles ahead of the Joe Philbins, The Cam Camerons etc. That same team that was coached by Joe Philbin, would have NOT HAD the balls to cut those players. He would have kept playing them insisting there was nothing wrong out of PURE EGO! But Gase lined up the troops and had them ready to go play the next game. At 1-4 this team would have caved in with any other coach the Dolphins had. They would have packed it in and called it quits. Not Gase though, he had them ready and they played their butts off to beat the Steelers with a heavy dose of the run game and Ryan Tannehil making the KEY THROWS. Please note that! KEY THROWS. They responded back to get a win streak going and getting the players to believe they can win any game and expectations to go into a game and winning it, not being QUEASY and hoping to win! The adversity to come back from 1-4 and be in a playoff conversation is a huge reason why this team is successful.
#3 Winning the close games
If you are like me then you must have had so many near heart attacks! With the way these games have been going, Gase coached the players to be a closeout team. I can't remember how many times Miami would lose these types of games. It would leave fans to look back and reflect in the past season how many of those close games we could have won and how the outcome would have been different. Not this year! Miami has learned how to close out those teams in the 4th qtr. And what gem its been for Miami to experience these types of situations! This builds character and instills the culture of winning. There was a post here on Finheaven a couple weeks back saying MIAMI HAS NOT BLOWN OUT ANYONE. My response to that? Who cares! Winning is winning. How many times have Patriots won close games? They don't blow teams out ALL THE TIME, yes some but not ALL THE TIME. You wouldn't be saying that if we had a TOM BRADY. Again this goes back to the style points people expect out of a QB. QB gets the job done and comes through when needed.
#4 Hitting a brick wall and coming back down to earth after a loss during the long win streak
Yes, it had to happen sometime. IF you thought Miami was on track to win out out then you must be high on some devils lettuce! The game vs Baltimore was a gut check time. We were out played, out coached, out-everything! The past Dolphins teams would come out flat the following week after a game like that. But again, Gase had the players ready and they responded with a win under heavy rain conditions, HEY HEY HEY, A WIN IS A WIN! Miami bounced back and got a win and that bodes well with the culture. Going out there and winning every game. Miami responded back and played well to win the game. Again, Miami with the closeout win in close games. Good teams win close games!
#5 (This is yet to be determined but if it plays out which I think it will) Matt Moore leading the team to the playoffs.
Under the crazy circumstances that this team went through to be where they are at right now. This is the ultimate team response to adversity and challenge Gase puts the players in. Next man up. In my opinion RIGHT NOW..this has been a very successful season and puts us in a prime position for the future with Gase. BUT...BUT...IF Gase can somehow get Matt Moore to play well and send Miami to the playoffs, Then right there folks is the cherry on the cake. You lose your QB, and insert a backup and still you manage to win games. THAT IS GREAT COACHING!!! That is a similar Patriots way with their QB issue earlier this season. But if Gase can help Matt Moore help this team reach the playoffs. Then truly we have a coach who CAN COACH. A coach who game plans, a coach is light years ahead of any other queasy coaches we have had.
There you have it. My top 5 reasons(4 at this point) that Miami has had a successful season and something to build on towards next year
Imagine if Miami wins the Superbowl, how crazy of a Cinderella story that would make out to be.....
FINS UP!
But not Gase...
A few examples to look at on why this team is successful
#1 Tannehills development
Many of you still seem to fight the urge and still believe that Tannehill is still not the answer at QB. You want to know why some of you say that? Its because a QB is measured on style points. Style points such as the Tom Bradys, The Aaron Rodgers, The Derek Carrs? You judge him because he doesn't play as an elite QB. I can be fine with great QB that doesnt need to be a Tom Brady. Those are a needle in a haystack finds that we may never have. But we do have a QB who this year proved to be that 4th qtr qb. Yes, he hasn't constantly played at a high level like an elite QB, but he HAS BEEN WINNING. The guy has been sacked so many times and still is able to walk away, piss blood and walks away. Look just this past weekend we all thought he tore his ACL/MCL, and behold that dude just sprain it. This guy is one tough SOB!! He has proven he can win in 4th qtr comebacks. More time with Gase will improve that. He was on track to have the best statistical year of his career before his injury happened. Gase is here to stay long term and with long term comes consistent playbook. The more Tanny will learn the better he will become.
#2 Adversity and the Challenge to Respond
There is where the cautiously optimistic falls in play. At 1-4 and barely beating the Browns, we all knew Miami had a long list of problems. No talent on the team, no identity, no killer instinct. This team had nothing going for themselves. The game vs the Titans we just realized at that time that this team is ways a long away from being a contender. We couldn't stop the run, we couldn't maintain drives, couldn't run the ball. We couldn't do diddly squat! IT was the lowest point of the season. Tannehill was blasted from all over the place and the O-Line gave up so many sacks. We were a dead fish on a hook.
But then something happen, out of the blue the Gase did something that us fans have been clamoring for the past years that management do. They cut the dead weight! IMOP that sent a message to players. You don't do you job, you will get CUT! PLAIN AND SIMPLE. This I feel lit a fire in their @$$es!!! This is where Gase is miles ahead of the Joe Philbins, The Cam Camerons etc. That same team that was coached by Joe Philbin, would have NOT HAD the balls to cut those players. He would have kept playing them insisting there was nothing wrong out of PURE EGO! But Gase lined up the troops and had them ready to go play the next game. At 1-4 this team would have caved in with any other coach the Dolphins had. They would have packed it in and called it quits. Not Gase though, he had them ready and they played their butts off to beat the Steelers with a heavy dose of the run game and Ryan Tannehil making the KEY THROWS. Please note that! KEY THROWS. They responded back to get a win streak going and getting the players to believe they can win any game and expectations to go into a game and winning it, not being QUEASY and hoping to win! The adversity to come back from 1-4 and be in a playoff conversation is a huge reason why this team is successful.
#3 Winning the close games
If you are like me then you must have had so many near heart attacks! With the way these games have been going, Gase coached the players to be a closeout team. I can't remember how many times Miami would lose these types of games. It would leave fans to look back and reflect in the past season how many of those close games we could have won and how the outcome would have been different. Not this year! Miami has learned how to close out those teams in the 4th qtr. And what gem its been for Miami to experience these types of situations! This builds character and instills the culture of winning. There was a post here on Finheaven a couple weeks back saying MIAMI HAS NOT BLOWN OUT ANYONE. My response to that? Who cares! Winning is winning. How many times have Patriots won close games? They don't blow teams out ALL THE TIME, yes some but not ALL THE TIME. You wouldn't be saying that if we had a TOM BRADY. Again this goes back to the style points people expect out of a QB. QB gets the job done and comes through when needed.
#4 Hitting a brick wall and coming back down to earth after a loss during the long win streak
Yes, it had to happen sometime. IF you thought Miami was on track to win out out then you must be high on some devils lettuce! The game vs Baltimore was a gut check time. We were out played, out coached, out-everything! The past Dolphins teams would come out flat the following week after a game like that. But again, Gase had the players ready and they responded with a win under heavy rain conditions, HEY HEY HEY, A WIN IS A WIN! Miami bounced back and got a win and that bodes well with the culture. Going out there and winning every game. Miami responded back and played well to win the game. Again, Miami with the closeout win in close games. Good teams win close games!
#5 (This is yet to be determined but if it plays out which I think it will) Matt Moore leading the team to the playoffs.
Under the crazy circumstances that this team went through to be where they are at right now. This is the ultimate team response to adversity and challenge Gase puts the players in. Next man up. In my opinion RIGHT NOW..this has been a very successful season and puts us in a prime position for the future with Gase. BUT...BUT...IF Gase can somehow get Matt Moore to play well and send Miami to the playoffs, Then right there folks is the cherry on the cake. You lose your QB, and insert a backup and still you manage to win games. THAT IS GREAT COACHING!!! That is a similar Patriots way with their QB issue earlier this season. But if Gase can help Matt Moore help this team reach the playoffs. Then truly we have a coach who CAN COACH. A coach who game plans, a coach is light years ahead of any other queasy coaches we have had.
There you have it. My top 5 reasons(4 at this point) that Miami has had a successful season and something to build on towards next year
Imagine if Miami wins the Superbowl, how crazy of a Cinderella story that would make out to be.....
FINS UP!
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