2017 Dolphins: On the Right Track
- Thread starter sodenj5
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The depressing reality of your team's future though, that probably does. Hey, maybe Tannehill finally figures it out next season! He was a WR in college so he's a little behind on the development curve.
C'mon, man -- one Pats' loss in over 2 months and this is how you cope?
Where abouts in RI are you? I'll buy you a beer and offer you a big, warm-felt embrace.
Drake was a beast, sure, I'm really surprised to see a lack of plaudits handed out to just how good stuffing the B was, on shutting down New England ACE (strong side, so Thuney/Mason) blocks, plus McClain, to a lesser extent Howard, not to mention ultimately shutting down Cooks who I thought would absolutely go off given the positional shifts that took place prior to tonight. That was as impressive of a performance as I've seen in years in that respect. Color me impressed with this team tonight, should've won going away by double digits. Much respect to you guys tonight, hope you all enjoy this win tremendously, earned and then some.
Not sure why you feel the need to crap on this team in their thread. They just smoked the Pats and deserve credit. There are plenty of reasons for Dolphins fans to be excited about the direction of their team going forward.
What a strange year this team has had. Looked like a Super Bowl contender tonight. Obviously, that’s not been the case for most of the season.
Appreciate the props, fellas. It's been a disappointing season, for sure; but as a fan, you find hope in the flashes, especially when you have a very young head coach and defensive coordinator, in addition to many young players you're looking to see the team develop and continue to build with. I really don't think anyone ever tops BB as a HC in my lifetime -- but many forget he started off 6-10, 7-9. 7-9, 11-5. 5-11, and 5-11.
I definitely have optimism going forward for the remainder of this season -- but especially Gase's 3rd season, as well as the return of Tannehill.
I bet Tannehill would have gotten open against Xavien Howard tonight. Unlike Cooks.
All kidding aside, I'm looking forward to seeing the All-22 of this game later this week. I really expected Cooks to draw McCain once it is announced he'd start on the outside. Guys like #14 have torched Howard this season. The jump he's made the last couple games has been unreal, but the talent was never questioned. I'm really hoping he balls-out for the last 3 games.
I heard something similar prior to this season. Probably in one of your breathlessly optimistic training camp posts.
4 INTs in 2 games. He panicked on the Cooks phantom DPI and really had time to get his head around. That’s Thomas and Cooks completely erased in back to back weeks. Very impressive. If these young guys keep blossoming, Miami’s future is bright.
Agreed. Also, I think Burke needed these last 2 games as much as Howard. His stock's up as a DC after the defensive unit struggled, at times, throughout the season. Of course, his evaluation was largely complicated with how poor the offense was for the majority of the season.
Kenyan Drake has completely changed this offense. What he did to Elandon Roberts at WR, Ajayi can’t do. What he did to Patrick Chung, putting him in the spin cycle 1-on-1 and breaking a huge run cutting back, Ajayi couldn’t do. He gives Gase a dimension that was lacking severely. He only needs a crease and he can rip off a 20, 30, 40 Yard run. He also continues to lay big blocks in pass protection.
He has special ability. I held my breath when he was down for a minute in the third.
He has special ability. I held my breath when he was down for a minute in the third.
Let's cut out this type of posts after a big win by an in-division rival.
This isn't a game thread nor a game ball/goat thread.
Miami needs to add another guy like him. There's a reason NE's Burk', Lewis, and White cause problems for defenses. Having to account for RB as dual threats is a major stress for opposing defenses.
So just to confirm, trolling by opposing teams' fans is totally kosher in game threads?
That's definitely not my style, but for other Fins fans who choose to, I'll just say:
- Hey, it's a game thread. The rules are looser. It's a bit like that one opponent fan chirping in the Pats' bar, for a little fun.
- We're a minority group here! We have one thread. It's our sanctuary, so to speak. I certainly don't mind a little trash talk leading up to our division games or some outside fan analysis, but clear trolling this thread isn't close to throwing jabs in a game thread, in my opinion.
- And if you were honest, you'd admit that having a Miami community thread on here adds to the quality of the website. Who wants a site neutered by group-think?
Your team's probably playing in the Super Bowl. Our team is 6-7 and hasn't won a Super Bow since ... shit, I don't even remember.
I mean, really? As a Pats' fan, I'd be sleeping like a baby already.
Agreed, pdaj. Sometimes it's not the merits/content of the post but its time and place.
Time to move on.
Time to move on.
I get that completely.
Just so you're aware, I've appreciated the way you've moderated this forum, as it applies to this thread. My experience as a Dolphins' poster on here has improved every season, especially over the last 1-2 years because of it.
We must not forget that all, er, most of us are still linked by Red Sox fandom.
Alright, time to continue this Super Bowl celebration offline!
Goodness, you beat the hell out of us tonight.
Always one game a year we look like absolute shit. Miami just beat us.
Congrats Miami fans on the board.
Always one game a year we look like absolute shit. Miami just beat us.
Congrats Miami fans on the board.
Kudos to a fired up Dolphins team that played very well. I was impressed with Drake and Howard. Holding the Pats to zero third down conversions for most of the game. Did the Pats convert a third down at all? I stopped watching the game with six minutes left.
"Holding" the Pats to zero third down conversions is absolutely the correct verb choice.
The snapshot doesn't tell the story a gif of the whole play would. Alas, I have not such skills. If you lay hands on a receiver without looking back at the ball, you get called, no matter the hand fighting in the moments prior—such is my understanding. Do you dispute that Howard played Ty Law c. 2001 D on Cooks all night long—largely with impunity? If you do dispute the characterization, I won't waste any more of my time.
Howard gets flagged plenty. He played within the rules that the officials were allowing. Nothing seemed egregious to me.
Good thing you’re out here to police the mean streets of the Patriots game threads. Is it trolling when a fan of the opposing team posts in the game thread, or is it trolling when a white knight comes into someone else’s thread to be a hero? Take a hard look in the mirror.
I'll disagree with you on the definition of egregious and leave it at that. Congrats, the generally healthier (Tannehill excepted) and more motivated team won—not a shocker.
MOD NOTE:
The next post that I consider to be trolling (or even near it) to this thread will get that poster a nice little bye-week off from BBtL.
The next post that I consider to be trolling (or even near it) to this thread will get that poster a nice little bye-week off from BBtL.
Moving on to Buffalo:
Buffalo may start Joe Webb. Tyrod at this point is still considered day to day, and even if he starts, I have to believe his mobility will be greatly compromised. He would obviously be a better option than Webb, but he wouldn’t be as dangerous as he normally would.
That obviously means the focus will be heavily on controlling McCoy. I feel somewhat confident in Miami’s ability to reduce Benjamin’s impact. Charles Clay may be an issue, but he hasn’t looked great since coming back from his knee injury.
Miami at times has risen to the occasion and shut down a few top running games this season. This week will have to be one of those weeks as well.
Buffalo may start Joe Webb. Tyrod at this point is still considered day to day, and even if he starts, I have to believe his mobility will be greatly compromised. He would obviously be a better option than Webb, but he wouldn’t be as dangerous as he normally would.
That obviously means the focus will be heavily on controlling McCoy. I feel somewhat confident in Miami’s ability to reduce Benjamin’s impact. Charles Clay may be an issue, but he hasn’t looked great since coming back from his knee injury.
Miami at times has risen to the occasion and shut down a few top running games this season. This week will have to be one of those weeks as well.
Tyrod's owned the Fins in his short career. The domination first started in the "emergency starter" role, and then continued once he claimed the job. He and McCoy together present problems in the run game, and Tyrod always seems to connect on one deep TD score to whoever's running the 9. At least Sammy Watkins has moved on, as the few games he didn't miss due to injury tended to be monster games vs. Miami. But regardless of who's over center (i.e. McCown, Fitzpatrick), I think the key to this one will be whether or not the Fins' offense can continue their roll of competency.
At this point, I think Miami's defense is playing well enough to get stops, force a turnover or 2, and keep "us" in the game, especially against a relatively mediocre offense. However, a game of many 3-and-outs on offense and a continuous short field for the Bills will spell its usual trouble. I expect Buffalo to test Cutler with a lot of pressure.
(Funny note: I wish Gase would start Moore against Buffalo, spot-start Cutler vs KC, and then let Moore do his thing again vs the Bills. For whatever reason, Moore seems to match up better vs. certain teams.)
On a more serious note, I'm interested to see how this defense handles McCoy this year. One-cut, downhill runners have presented Miami's defense with the most trouble this year, while speedier rushers who look to run off tackle often have had less success. I think this is due to Miami's increased speed on the back end. This is also supposed to be a designed benefit of the Wide-9.
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Miami has played better on defense the last few weeks with TJ McDonald in the lineup. The last few games, he and Reshad have seemed to really click on the back end, and he’s made a few big stops for loss as a blitzer. Having he and Reshad back there effectively gives them 4 or 5 LBs on the field vs. the run.
The honus will be on the DEs to set the edge and don’t let Shady get outside or cutback into a huge lane. Funnel him back into the teeth of the defense.
I just read that McDermott has said that if Tyrod and Peterman are both able to go, Peterman would start over Tyrod, which tells me Tyrod is still far from 100%. Play disciplined defense, play competent offense, and this is a winnable game.
Sidenote: I’ll be in Miami on New Year’s Eve for the game vs Buffalo. All of a sudden that might be a meaningful game.
Just when I think I'm OUT.....
But "seriously," it's been nice to see this thread come back to life, or at least have a reason to come back to life following the last couple of "where the fuck has this team been for the last month and a half" wins. While I'm under no illusions about these next 3 weeks playoff-wise, I've always had a hard time rooting against my teams for the purposes of draft position. Short-sighted perhaps, but it just goes cuts into my soul as a fan. Plus, you miss out on entertainment of a game like Monday-night (truly the most enjoyable game of the year, despite it's ultimate irrelevance), to see some of the youngsters shine and to have the rare opportunity to stick it to your arch-nemeses and watch their fans squirm.
I appreciate the continued analysis by you regulars. I'll be interested in seeing how certain components of the team on both sides of the ball gel (or don't gel) as the players essentially audition for their standing on next year's squad. The secondary is especially intriguing, and there are a few veterans who I think bear watching very closely, as well.
High on that list is the enigma that is Devonte Parker (he's officially a veteran now, right?). One of the bigger disappointments of 2017. I really wonder what his future holds. My prediction: he'll be cut loose, find a new home, and eventually thrive somewhere else. It's the Dolphin way.
Parker and Landry are a case study in physical ability vs mental fortitude. On paper, DeVante Parker can be AJ Green. He has the physical ability to be a top 5-10 WR in the league and every once in a while, the planets will align and you’ll see it in flashes. The second he feels less than 100% physically, he loses his confidence and his production completely drops off.
A big reason for optimism was the offseason reports of Parker playing with an edge in training camp. He was developing the mentality of attacking the ball, being a physical presence. He had committed in the offseason to training and taking football as a lifestyle not just what he does on Sunday. Then he hurt his ankle and he’s been nowhere to be seen. He’s dropping easily catchable balls. Cutler doesn’t trust him to win 50-50 balls, or even attempt to fight for them. His problem is 100% between his ears.
The first play of the game vs NE, Parker is WIDE open, no one within 10 yards of him, and he drops it. I think that, more than anything, absolutely kills Adam Gase. Parker was more concerned with turning the play into a 20 yard gain instead of catching the ball. He said the same about Ajayi during his mid-season tirade, how he was more concerned with hitting the home run every play instead of focusing on taking what the defense gives you.
Parker still has ability that’s hard to find and is young enough where someone will think he can still blossom, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Miami try and trade him for a 4th or 5th rounder and move on.
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Slaguero now reporting that Miami is either open to or starting the process of extending Landry as soon as possible.
I think they were trying to see if Parker took the next step to becoming an elite receiver and were waiting to decide who they would rather pay. Parker has been a bust this season and Landry has done everything they’ve asked, not holding out, not missing a single workout or practice, and continuing to be the heartbeat of the team.
I personally would love to see Landry stay long term, I just don’t want to see him at 12-13 million/season like it was rumored he was looking for before the season.
I think they were trying to see if Parker took the next step to becoming an elite receiver and were waiting to decide who they would rather pay. Parker has been a bust this season and Landry has done everything they’ve asked, not holding out, not missing a single workout or practice, and continuing to be the heartbeat of the team.
I personally would love to see Landry stay long term, I just don’t want to see him at 12-13 million/season like it was rumored he was looking for before the season.
Tyrod is active for Sunday's game.
http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/21776666/buffalo-bills-name-tyrod-taylor-starting-qb-vs-miami-dolphins-hope-kelvin-benjamin-plays
http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/21776666/buffalo-bills-name-tyrod-taylor-starting-qb-vs-miami-dolphins-hope-kelvin-benjamin-plays
Still feel good about Miami’s chances. Seriously doubt his knee is anything close to 100%. If Tyrod is forced to mostly stay in the pocket, clearly he’s better than either Peterman or Webb, but he’s not nearly the threat he normally would be.
With a still somewhat hobbled Clay, and Watkins wearing a new uniform, I'm a little less concerned with Tyrod than I have been the previous 2 seasons. That said, if the Fins can't top 20 points, I don't see them winning this game. The offense has to show up.
Speaking of which, I think a big reason Cutler looked his most comfortable the previous 2 games is that they were home games. No crowd noise, easy to communicate adjustments at the LOS. Yet, even with that improvement, Miami still managed to use all 3 TO in the 2nd half well before the final minutes. Cutler and Co. has struggled on the road to get into the right play -- that'll have to change tomorrow.
That’s a valid point.
Sidebar: Chiefs won last night which is ideal on two fronts. Miami already holds a W over LA this year and KC won’t be in win or go home mode at home next week. Not that it makes a huge difference, but next week could have essentially a playoff game for both teams had KC lost.
I think you have a good chance. Kansas City is very average. It puts you in a good position to make the playoffs. Good luck next weekend
Tough loss. Tyrod proved to be slippery enough to cause Miami lots of headaches. Several near sacks turned into long gains or first downs.
Cutler played poorly, sailing throws, and generally taking poor care of the ball. Miami abandoned the run after starting out hot. Bills started loading the box, and instead of trying to capitalize off of play action, they decide having Cutler spray the ball everywhere was better.
Miami still mathematically alive, but I don’t have a lot of faith in them slowing Hunt down now that KC has suddenly remembered he’s pretty good.
Cutler played poorly, sailing throws, and generally taking poor care of the ball. Miami abandoned the run after starting out hot. Bills started loading the box, and instead of trying to capitalize off of play action, they decide having Cutler spray the ball everywhere was better.
Miami still mathematically alive, but I don’t have a lot of faith in them slowing Hunt down now that KC has suddenly remembered he’s pretty good.
This was the most predictable loss especially after the Dolphins won their Super Bowl the week before. Not surprised at all that they laid an egg.
I'll expand on this later in the week, but Cutler essentially single-handedly lost this past Sunday's game for Miami. While it's true the Fins' defense wasn't "A" good, they were good enough. Even putting Cutty's 3 turnovers aside, the misreads, poor throws, and fumbles/botched plays were enough to make any fan's head explode. The Cutler to Tannehill downgrade will end up costing this team about 4 games.
