I say this not in any way trolling, but that had to be pretty disappointing for our Phish Phan Phriends. How long will Flores stick with Fitz?
I heard on the radio that some sports book had the over/under on changing qb’s at 2.5 games. I hope some people here placed an enormous amount of money on that over.I say this not in any way trolling, but that had to be pretty disappointing for our Phish Phan Phriends. How long will Flores stick with Fitz?
It what it is. I said it earlier in the thread that the Pats having zero film on the new look offense was an advantage I was nervous about.I say this not in any way trolling, but that had to be pretty disappointing for our Phish Phan Phriends. How long will Flores stick with Fitz?
The best thing that could happen for the Dolphins would be an 0-4 start, and then just turn the reins over to Tua and let him get some NFL experience running an offense. This team has a LONG way to go from a talent perspective, so I don’t see the point of having Fitz get much more playing time than it is absolutely necessary. The Patriots dominated them, should have blown them out if not for the unlucky fumble into the endzone, and the Patriots are lacking in talent due to the opt-outs and the lack of offensive weapons. My eyes saw a 5-11 team lose to a 9-7 team today.I say this not in any way trolling, but that had to be pretty disappointing for our Phish Phan Phriends. How long will Flores stick with Fitz?
Gaskin was maybe the most surprising thing from a Miami perspective in yesterday’s game. Howard struggled to get rolling the first two drives out of the I formation, so they started running it more out of the gun with Gaskin, and he looked pretty decent.The OL play has to be encouraging, especially with Karras in the middle and rookies mixed in.
Baker made up for his blown assignments with the Harry strip but that 14 tackles seems like an empty stat line. He was the one who lost Izzo on that big pass play and got sucked in on every other play-action throws.
Xavier signing looks good but I think Miami will regret the KVN contract sooner than later. He looked surprisingly hesitant on a number of plays.
Otherwise, I thought Wilkins on D and Gaskin on O were bright spots.
Now another tough game coming up against the Bills.
Yes, Miami got roasted and looked terrible at times in both Weeks 1 and 2. However if you told me after three weeks that they would be 1-2, I would say that sounds exactly right.Last night really feels like the first time in years that I’ve watched this team play in a national televised game and they weren’t embarrassed.
Last night was a solid win and a bit of a relief, as I’d been judging the first two weeks under the assumption that the Pats and Bills are two of the top 10 teams in the league, so the team coming out and handling Jacksonville sort of reaffirms that things are still on schedule and headed on the right track.
I believe both he and Kindley have graded poorly thus far. I don’t have a subscription, but I recall some consternation on Twitter as they’re graded far lower than their play on the field would suggest.The fact Jackson seems to be at least competent already is huge, especially since most assessments that I read listed him as a project, and questioned if he would even be able to play LT.
Does anyone subscribe to PFF and know how he’d been graded? Not that those are the be all end all, but since I haven’t seen every snap, and line play can be tough to judge even when that’s the case, I was wondering how neutral observers viewed his play thus far.
I like Gaskin, since his days at Washington, but Breida’s the most talented RB on this roster, and it’s not close. Gaskin certainly has the edge in the passing game, so getting some run in Spread and/or on 3rd down makes sense, but Breida should be getting more touches.Gaskin was maybe the most surprising thing from a Miami perspective in yesterday’s game. Howard struggled to get rolling the first two drives out of the I formation, so they started running it more out of the gun with Gaskin, and he looked pretty decent.
I guess the biggest surprise is it wasn’t Breida getting those shotgun snaps, but Gaskin. That one was a head scratcher, but I don’t think Gaskin did anything to play himself out of reps.
Baker was up and down. He almost made two superhero stops around the goal line, but as you pointed out, got lost in coverage a few times and had the personal fouls.
Another positive was outside of Baker, Miami played pretty penalty free football. Which, starting almost a brand new offensive line, starting two new corners in Igbo and Jones, and having no preseason, bodes well for the line and the job Flores did in preparing them to play.
Not sure if Miami matches up any better with Buffalo. The Josh Allen Rodeo is something they’ve struggled to control the last couple of years.
I was very surprised week 1 but I’m becoming less surprised because Gaskin has looked pretty good. Jordan Howard looks like a goal line back/corpse.I like Gaskin, since his days at Washington, but Breida’s the most talented RB on this roster, and it’s not close. Gaskin certainly has the edge in the passing game, so getting some run in Spread and/or on 3rd down makes sense, but Breida should be getting more touches.
I can’t figure it out. Part of me wonders if they’re trying to get him signed to an extension first ... but that’s likely grasping at straws. By mid-season, I think he’s our guy.
Well that stat does not mean he tackled anyone, so your opinion and the stat can both be riightView: https://twitter.com/PFF_Dolphins/status/1310627161380970500?s=20
This is surprising, not because I think Van Noy is bad, but because watching all 3 games, Van Noy felt like he hadn’t made an impact until Jacksonville. Even at the start of the Jags game, it felt like Kyle was struggling tackling.
True. Van Noy has been a mixed bag so far, IMO. He’s been dealing with a thumb injury, so that might explain some of his issues regarding run defense.Well that stat does not mean he tackled anyone, so your opinion and the stat can both be riight
Houston 0-4. You guys get their first 2 picks this year. That is going to be insane value coming back. Realistically, Dolphins fans should look for team to lose as much as possible this year. Then, you’ve got Tua ready to go with a ton of draft capital coming in.Another week, another disappointing loss to a future playoff team.
Miami switched roles this week. Their offense has been playing well and carrying the defense for the first three weeks, but today, outside of a horrible collapse at the end of the first half, Miami held the hottest offense in the league in check.
The offense stalled in the red zone repeatedly, and Flores played it surprisingly conservatively on fourth down, opting to take field goals on several fourth and shorts and tempting fate giving the ball back to Russell Wilson.
We’re also ¼ of the way through the season, so it a good time to reflect on what we’ve seen so far:
Offense
Line play a huge positive sign. Jackson and Kindley look like keepers.
Gaskin continues to be good enough and they’ve started sprinkling in more Brieda. Jordan Howard is Miami’s LaGarrette Blount.
Fitz continues to be good enough, and is not the reason Miami is 1-3, although one of his picks was classic Fitztragic.
Defense
Xavien Howard is starting to look like himself again. That pick on Metcalf in the end zone was vintage Howard. If Jones can get back next week, that takes some of the heat of Igbo, who again was torched badly at the end of the first half.
Defense continues to struggle stopping the run and generating QB pressure. Ogbah and Lawson showed up at different points in today’s game.
No idea what Elandon Roberts looked like in training camp to convince the coaching staff to trade away Raekwon McMillan, but I sure hope it wasn’t this. Miami is missing a true 3 down MLB that can play both the run and the pass well.
I would be lying if I said I hadn’t been peeking at Houston’s schedule. They have the Lions, Jags x2 which look like winnable games. Coin flip on the Bears and Colts.Houston 0-4. You guys get their first 2 picks this year. That is going to be insane value coming back. Realistically, Dolphins fans should look for team to lose as much as possible this year. Then, you’ve got Tua ready to go with a ton of draft capital coming in.
Flores suddenly playing conservative at home against a team they were outgunned against seemed very odd. You pointed it out perfectly, why in the world are you calling that run on third if the plan wasn’t to go for it on fourth down?Yesterday was only deflating to me because I thought they behaved like a stupid team.
Specifically kicking the 5th field goal. And really, the 3rd down run if they weren't planning on it being 4 downs to get a first.
You run through every potential scenario and score moving forward and the only scenario that the FG benefits is if you immediately stop Seattle...and even within that scenario it’s a questionable decision, because if you have that much faith in your defense, why not go for it and worst case you have them pinned deep?
It didn’t make sense to me...still doesn’t. You cut it to 2 instead of 5. Great... If Seattle gets a Fg you need a TD either way. Seattle gets a TD, it’s a two score game either way.
Just typing this is making me upset again.
I know this team still has a ways to go in terms of talent, so being competitive and losing to a team like Seattle is fine...but I was starting to take pride in, and feel good about the team, because they had been behaving like a smart team (for lack of better word) and yesterday, in my estimation, that was not the case.
Off to a good start, but the Steelers looked like they were circling the drain last year and Minkah raised them from the dead.You folks have to be serious excited about the Texans' start
The Steelers aren't run and coached by Bill O'BrienOff to a good start, but the Steelers looked like they were circling the drain last year and Minkah raised them from the dead.
True. Just when it looked like they had a decent team, he goes and trades away Deandre Hopkins for David Johnson.The Steelers aren't run and coached by Bill O'Brien
Reading the bolded, looking back, it certainly did seem that way. Maybe that’s why I reacted the way I did than, because while I was watching that play out, to me, 4 minutes left (or whatever it was) was the end. That was the chance to steal it.Flores suddenly playing conservative at home against a team they were outgunned against seemed very odd. You pointed it out perfectly, why in the world are you calling that run on third if the plan wasn’t to go for it on fourth down?
It seemed like the gamelan was try and keep it close and see if they can steal it at the end, but they were always playing with fire there. It felt like they played not to lose, instead of playing to win, and that’s the first time I believe I’ve seen that out of Flores.
Obviously they’ve lost plenty with Flores but he seems to err on the side of aggressively trying to win.
True. Just when it looked like they had a decent team, he goes and trades away Deandre Hopkins for David Johnson.
And now, neither are the TexansThe Steelers aren't run and coached by Bill O'Brien
And boom goes the Dolphin’s dynamite. I actually think this is good for Houston and subsequently bad for Miami.And now, neither are the Texans
If Houston is run competently, it should be good for the Dolphins. If they were smart, theyd auction off anything not named Deshaun Watson and go from there.And boom goes the Dolphin’s dynamite. I actually think this is good for Houston and subsequently bad for Miami.
Lol the incompetence of that sequence of events would be staggering. Not saying you’re wrong in your thinking, but imagine drafting and signing your franchise guy and completely squandering it that badly.If Houston is run competently, it should be good for the Dolphins. If they were smart, theyd auction off anything not named Deshaun Watson and go from there.
That literally just worked for Miami. Hell, even trade Watson. Tank, get Miami the #1 pick, and then buy it back from them with all the picks they got from trading Watson, Fullee, Tunsil, etc.
Miami isnt gonna need the #1 with Tua. They can cleanup (again) thanks to Houston. And at least Houston gets a reset with Trevor.
No, that's fair. I just dont know how they dig out of their hole without trading Watson. Their skill players are weak. Their defense is aging and porous. Their line isnt anything special. I suppose keeping Watson and trading away the rest of the team could work IF they hit on the draft picks.Lol the incompetence of that sequence of events would be staggering. Not saying you’re wrong in your thinking, but imagine drafting and signing your franchise guy and completely squandering it that badly.
I don’t know where Houston goes from here because they’ve dug themselves into such a deep hole from a draft capital standpoint. They’re bad this year, will likely be bad next year due to them not having their first and second rounders, and you’ve now wasted an additional two years of Watson’s prime staring down a rebuild.
The recent trend of trading away draft picks for established players, somewhat pioneered by Belichick and used by the Rams, only works if the rest of the team is really good and you’re making a Super Bowl push that year. You’re leveraging your future for the present.No, that's fair. I just dont know how they dig out of their hole without trading Watson. Their skill players are weak. Their defense is aging and porous. Their line isnt anything special. I suppose keeping Watson and trading away the rest of the team could work IF they hit on the draft picks.
Either way, its stunning what O'Brien did to this team.
What team in my example would be trading away draft picks for established players? I'm proposing the other side of that deal, and it's one that seems to happen with regularity.The recent trend of trading away draft picks for established players, somewhat pioneered by Belichick and used by the Rams, only works if the rest of the team is really good and you’re making a Super Bowl push that year. You’re leveraging your future for the present.
Much like most of O’Brien’s strategy, he saw something that worked and then applied it terribly.
No I’m saying that’s what the Texans did previously in trading for Tunsil, Cooks, and Johnson. You’re correct that they should tear it down and sell everything with value.What team in my example would be trading away draft picks for established players? I'm proposing the other side of that deal, and it's one that seems to happen with regularity.
We just saw Tunsil, Jamal Adams, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Ngakoue, Stephon Diggs, Buckner, and Khalil Mack get traded for large draft pick hauls. What's stopping the Texans from pushing the button and doing the same?
It certainly seems like teams are willing to trade the draft capital.
There’s definitely some Florida energy at work here, but also Miami has literally been at the forefront of COVID planning in regards to reopening their stadium.
After reading this, I don’t really recall a Dolphins team under Flores coming out flat and laying an egg like I’m so used to seeing. Sure they’ve been beaten, and beaten badly, but I don’t recall them being totally unprepared or unmotivated or playing without effort.Congrats. That was a beat down. I don't care if the Niners were short-handed. It is very difficult to beat any team by that much, especially on the road.
No, Flores is too good of a coach to let Miami lose to the Jets this Sunday (Phins vs Broncos game was rescheduled due to the Pats/Broncos fiasco).
Lol, JetsView: https://twitter.com/jason_otc/status/1316006564252221440?s=21
Interesting tweet showing scoring performance relative to strength of schedule. Miami lumped into the grouping that includes Tampa, Seattle, Buffalo, Green Bay and KC.
Kinda of what the eye test suggest that Miami has played pretty well on both sides of the ball for most of the season against some tough opponents.
Regarding Miami’s upcoming schedule, I think 5-1 is a bit optimistic. I see Chargers and Broncos as coin flip games. Rams I see as a loss. Jets, Bengals, and Cards I’d lean W.
Tough to call with so many unknown variables with health and scheduling, but it isn’t impossible to think they can be “in the Hunt” before they stare down the end of their schedule.