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In One Week, Phins Go From Miracle To Mess

M.J.

Phins were an ugly mess in Minnesota

Phins continue their road game implosions

The Dolphins / Vikings game started as a complete disaster. Surprisingly, the Phins bounced back with some big plays and were on the verge of taking the lead…

…then they imploded.

It was only a week ago that the Dolphins went toe-to-toe with the Patriots… and won.

Last week’s victory offered hope that maybe the 2018 Season could be salvaged. But Week 14 was nothing more than a blip on the radar.

What the hell should a Phins Fan think now?

A record of 9-7 was my bottom line to see this regime continue.  But I’m no the owner, so my baseline means nothing.

All indications by the pay per head services, Ace Per Head for example, are that 8-8 or 7-9 is more likely than 9-7. If this ends up the case, Adam Gase will go into the 2018 Season as a lame-duck coach with a roster riddled by many gaping holes. Add to this, the Front Office will have limited CAP space and only mid-round picks to bring in help. This doesn’t offer much good news for the long-term prognosis.

Phins Defense is truly offensive

The Vikings were ranked in the bottom of the league in rushing offense. Yet, against the Dolphins they looked like the 95 Cowboys racking up 220 yards. Coaches couldn’t use a scrambling QB as an excuse this week. The defense was simply gutted by the pedestrian Vikings RB.

Miami’s defense is fundamentally flawed from scheme to personnel. This goes way beyond coaching… (although coaching certainly is an issue). All these issues can’t and won’t be resolved in a single offseason. At all three levels, the Dolphins need substantial additions of talent… this fix is a multi-year project.

A major problem is the Wide 9 Scheme is flawed. Not only will Miami need to acquire more talent but also recalibrate the talent they do have towards a new scheme. That’s serious reconstruction.

The Offense wasn’t much better than the defense

Then there were the 9 sacks Miami gave up.

This wasn’t all about the performance of the O-line… although they obviously had their hand in the failure.

Kalen Ballage had some nice runs, but he can’t pass protect… neither can Drake. Ja’Wuan James was bullied on far too many plays to be given an extension next year.

Then there’s Ryan Tannehill’s role in this.

Either due to coaching, play design, audible restriction, or lack of talent by the QB Miami looks lost when the box is stacked. Good team audible in the right play, go to quick hot routes, find the empty space behind the blitz.

Tannehill appears oblivious presnap, the routes and drops don’t shorten, and the middle of the is rarely attacked on 0 Coverage.

Defenses have zero fear of getting burned when they bring heavy heat. When the last time you saw a quick slant thrown?

 

There are ‘mucho problemas’ with the receiving group.

DeVante Parker could have fetched a pick in a trade. Instead, he was kept. Parker has done next to nothing to prove that sticking with him was a smart move. No sane GM would keep him at near $10 million with a 5th-year option.

Kenny Stills goes invisible for weeks and only resurfaces a couple of times a season. The question is why? Coaching? Quarterback play? Play design? All three? However you slice it, the problem lays at Gase’s doorstep.

Mike Gesicki has a long way to go before he proves he isn’t a bust. He looks slow and soft. Could this change? Sure it can. Will it? Likely there are equal odds either way… and that’s not good when you spent a 2nd Round Pick to acquire him.

Wilson and Grant will be returning from season-ending injuries, so there’s uncertainty with the entire receiver group. Frank Gore is the most consistent player on offense and he’ll be 36 next year.

The 2019 Season would be Year 4 of this regime

Gase will be in Year 4 and no closer to success than when he started. The issues he will have to fix to be a good team reaches deep into its core… a core that he helped put in place.

How can you hand Gase an extension under these conditions or think that as a lame-duck coach he can restore faith? Either option leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

So what to do?

I’ve said before Gase will get a second shot at Head Coach somewhere .. and succeed. But he needs time to reassess himself and make serious changes.

At this point, my concern isn’t for him… it’s for my beloved Miami Dolphins. The best case scenario for the Phins is to tear it all down to the foundation and start 100% from scratch. 

But, I’m not the ower… Steven Ross is… hopefully he knows best. Go Phins!!!

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