In The Year Of Living Dangerously, Phins Are 5-5

M.J.

6 years ago

Phins must go at least 4-2 over their final 6 games to reach the Post Season

In 2016, the Phins were 6-4 with 6 games left… This time around, it will be harder to make the Post Season

The Miami Dolphins came into Green Bay minus three starting Offensive Linemen. Without Laremy Tunsil, Ja’Wuan James, and Ted Larsen, a complete disaster was expected. Despite the final score of 31-12, the Dolphins played made the game competitive. Short of players going into the game and losing a couple more players during the game, the already wounded Phins were razor thin on every front. Add to this, both Tackles were ruled out late Friday, so the game plan had to be changed with less than 48hrs to put it together.

Even with all these obstacles, victory was within reach for Miami till the 4th Quarter. This was no small feat. Gase and the Phins should be commended… to a certain extent.

Now with that said, Phins lost, and close is no cigar.

This ‘nice effort’ also doesn’t take away from all the critical problems that Miami has both long and short-term…

…Yet, it does show that this team has character and isn’t a dumpster fire like the Cardinals or Raiders.

Yes, in the long-term, continually being in the middle of the pack isn’t a good thing. Most teams need to be in the Top 5 to find their QB of the future.

But, the future is uncertain and the end of the season is near, so let’s focus on what’s left of the 2018 Season.

The Dolphins biggest talent issues are at Quarterback and Middle Linebacker.

Miami has less than sufficient talent at both positions… and it’s killing them. These deficits reared their heads again against the Packer.

Obviously, Quarterback is the prime issue for the Dolphins. But the lack to a top-tier Mike ‘backer is a key reason for the Defenses inability to stop the run… among other things.

Raekwon McMillan is lost on too many plays… TOO MANY. Phinsnews has spoken on McMillan’s shortfalls a half a dozen times. We’ll show one more example:

Notice the formation: The left is the strong side (D’s point of view) due to the inline Tight End. Kiko moves McMillan to the weak side (shown prior to the start of this clip). There are an even number of blockers and defenders, 3 & 3 on each side of the hash with McDonald lurking. Both Defensive Tackles absorb two linemen. McMillan is on the weak side with an outside alignment shade, which means the inside is more exposed. McMillan sees two lanes open in front of him, and before reads, he reacts and slides to the right vacating inside that’s the weak point. Sight of the hand-off gets blocked, he gets distracted by the QB booting and is isolated on the wrong side.

McMillan absolutely does nothing on this play as the Packers tear off a 63 yard run.

Now, both Kiko and McDonald share responsibility for this breakdown, but their culpability is diminished because they at least are engaged by blockers. McMillan repeats his tendency of poor technique by over running the play (again) and gets lost.

Every opposing offensive coordinator knows McMillan’s tendency and every week they take advantage of it.

https://phinsnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/mc.mp4?_=1

But McMillan issues pale in comparison to the issues at QB

Don Jaime commented on the Phinsnews forums after the game, “The QB spot is Mucho Problema for Dolphins”

This revelation is no surprise… but it did set in concrete terms the crux of the Dolphins issues in no uncertain terms. In that way, it did change my thoughts by refocusing them on the real problem.

Ryan Tannehill isn’t the answer… and neither is anyone else on this roster. Gase was wrong in his estimations.

With Brock Osweiler and Ryan Tannehill they have two halves of a good QB. Tannheill has the physical part and Osweiler is pretty cool under fire (at least until this week). I like Tannehill, but his performance to start the season wasn’t good enough. He has all the physical tools and can make all the throws. Unfortunately, Tannehill has proven to crumble under pressure… and that’s what determines if you have the right QB or not.

You can build a team around an above average QB with a good ability to handle pressure. But you’ll never win anything worthwhile even if you have an elite arm talent that folds like a cheap lawn-chair when it gets hot.

Phins are 5-5 and can reach the Playoffs… but what about beyond that?

Let’s say the Dolphins make the Post Season… is that the goal? No. Winning in the Post Season is the aim and with the lack of play-making talent at the Mike backer and QB, this goal isn’t a reality.

Gase and Burke both have strengths and flaws. Their primary problem is a lack of talented players rather than a lack of coaching talent. Name a coordinator who can win consistently with a C+ Quarterback or Middle Linebacker leading their respective side of the ball?

Now you can fault both coaches for riding and dying with McMillan and believing the talent in these two spots was good enough. That’s fair criticism.

But in this year of living dangerously for those in aqua, if Gase can get the Phins to 9-7 it will have been quite an accomplishment. Even the best pay per head services like AcePerHead.com would agree on that. I don’t think I can recall a Phins season with this many injuries. No, 9-7 won’t bode well for 2019 and beyond because Miami doesn’t have a good enough signal caller…

…But I do think it earns Gase and Co. one more season.

A record of 9-7 would be enough for me to reluctantly give Gase it a go one last time with Luke Falk and a draft pick at QB… to see what he can make of it. If it’s ‘same as it ever was’ next year, then burn it all down in 2020. But if Gase fails to have a good showing over thee next 6 games, clean house this offseason, and roll the dice again. Go Phins!!!