How Phins Offense Can Get On Track

The Phins blocking on offense was terrible in Week 2

The ‘tank talk’ has many believing the Phins staff is doing everything it can to gameplan, scheme, and coach up losing.

The media in their parroting of “Tank for Tua’ will point to the disaster of Week 1 and Week 2 as clear evidence. Yet they fail to even consider the growth of the defense over the course of those two weeks as possible evidence that serious teething issues instead of a conspiracy is the root of the Phins problems.

It’s understandable to an extent because no defense could survive that abysmal level of offensive production. And this offense has been historically offensive.

The reality is most of the defensive failing in Week 1 were correctable through simple fixes in technique. Another reality is the same can be said about the Phins offense.

In the first part of this article “Phins Offensive Failures… Key Reasons Why Might Surprise”, I presented a light overview of the situation and showed that “the worst O-line in history” narrative was overblown.

This article will dig into the nitty-gritty of the offense in Week 2 with a play-by-play analysis showing who’s responsible for the epically bad offensive production. No, this isn’t to say the O-line didn’t have their hand in the cookie jar, rather, that other units had even more culpability.

When you break it down, most of these offensive issues can be corrected or at least mitigated.

Move Josh Rosen into 1st string is a start to getting this thing right. But, with Rosen’s strengths also come his weaknesses. He is raw and needs a more stable environment to allow him time to settle in and eventually mature. This is why improvement in pass blocking and in the run game will be crucial. Miami must have at least 25 rushes this game to be in it. But, given what the film says of Week 2, the Tight Ends, Fullback, and Running backs in pass protection need to take the biggest step forward.

Below is the study of the breakdowns on offense. While it’s comprehensive, don’t consider it the end-all-be-all. I’m sure I missed a negative play or so, but not many. It does though offer a very clear picture of what happened on offense in Week 2.

If this is too much info, simply scroll to the end for the summation.

1st Drive:

Everyone makes their block, BUT Smythe. O’Leary steps outside on his first step, which is so surprising because he missed an easy a read as you’ll get with the defender inside. Ballage’s drop was the cherry on top, but the opening drive died because of poor run blocking by the Tight Ends.

2nd Drive

Tight Ends set up the failure and the O-line hit the home run.

Another issue I’m seeing is Ballge went into his route bypassing a free rusher. Miami’s backs rarely chip on their way out into a route even when they are the last read. You can chip and get into your route. Still, Jesse Davis bears most of the responsibility for this drive’s failure.

3rd Drive

AGAIN, Tight Ends fail to make their blocks in the run game. Even though Webb is beat, there is an open lane, both backs miss it. Parker could have made a game-changing play… instead, he a drops it. One of his many.

4th Drive

This could have been a big play. Fitz had the time, but he left a chunk play on the field.

5th Drive

Isidora causes the deflection and the pressure, but Ballage and more importantly Fitz with his pick destroy this drive. Fitz is now completely lost in tunnel vision.

6th Drive

Drake misses back-to-back pass blocks. The first one causes a sack and all but kills the drive. The O-line broke down on 3rd 15, but come on, the Pats were pinning their ears back.

7th Drive

Fitz should know better on this… this was two down territory. I didn’t like the play call, but Fitz was brought here NOT to do this.

8th Drive

Been saying for a while Ballage is terrible in the passing game. Interestingly, he is good at pass blocking. Can we mix him and Drake? Walton needs to get a healthy dose this weak.

Final Drives with Rosen

It’s hard to fully evaluate Rosen because of the dire situation. We’ll get a clear indication of what’s what with this week tape. Still, big arm and tunnel vision come to mind.

Play Killing Mistake Tally (again close, but not definitive):

• O-line had 11 mistakes with 1 1/2 sacks, 2 deflected pass, 1 negative run play, and 1 holding penalty as the result. The tally per player was Davis 2, Deiter 1, Kilgore 3, Isidora 3, Webb 2, and Boehm 1.
• TEs had 5 missed run blocks.
• RBs, Ballage had 2 drops (one for a TD) and 1 missed receiving assignment, Drake had 3 missed block two for sacks and 1 missed run read, and Walton had an ultra-difficult blown pass block for game-ending deflection.
• FB Cox had 1 missed pass block, 1 missed run read, 1 missed run block.
• QBs, Fitz had 2 terrible picks, and 1 poor read, Rosen 1 terrible read, 2 bad reads, 1 misfire, and 1 pass where he held the ball too long.
• WRs had 4 drops for over 200 yards. Grant 1 and Parker 3.

What about Week 3 against the Cowboys

The key this week is that Cox, O’Leary, and Smythe do much better in the run game. Also, Drake has never been or likely will be reliable as a pass blocker and Ballage isn’t ready to be a focus of the passing game. Time to accept this and plan accordingly. Walton needs to get his shot.

Isidora is another concern, but he is a better run blocker, if we can get the rush attack on track, everything will look a whole lot better.

Pass protection will be stressed this week by a good Cowboys pass-rushing defense. We need more chipping by the backs early… waiting till the 4th Quarter is far too late.

At this point, the Phins staff needs to accept who most of these players are in strength and weakness and act accordingly. I think Flores will because Rosen is a major piece to future success. You can make a sure bet with the best betting software sites that Grier and Flores don’t want Rosen playing bumper cars like Fitz did.

The time for tryouts is over.

My calendar had Week 6 highlighted as my first evaluation for this staff. But, with Rosen starting, that evaluation has been fast-tracked to Week 3. This offense can take make the same strides as the defense did… if the staff is a quality one. Can and will though are oceans apart. Will Flores take a page from Moses and lead Miami to the land of respectability this Sunday? Don’t count him out just yet. Go Phins!!!

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