The Over-Time win was sealed by an Ajayi run.
“Surprisingly”, It took over-time to seal the deal.
The bottom line is Miami Dolphins beat the Cleveland Browns in an over-time win.
Outside of all the negative context attached to this win, Miami still has a theoretical chance at having a successful 2016 season.
Unfortunately, when you analyze the context, that “theoretical” shot looks more and more like a pipe-dream.
Unless things change, and change fast.
Many will harp on Ryan Tannehill‘s opening pick. It was bad. The throw was high and a former teammate, who had practiced against T-Hill since 2013, made a calculated guess and jumped the pass.
Others will say pass-blocking, run defense, Corners or Linebackers.
I say coaching.
As much as it hurts me to say, because of how much I like Adam Gase and Vance Joseph personally, both have been the main cause of the Dolphins poor play in the first 3 Weeks.
Week 1: Gase was nervous and called an uneven three quarters. Joseph carried the team with an excellent game-plan.
Week 2: Gase called a poor first half and Joseph was eviscerated when Belli used motion on nearly every play to break the Press-Zone. Joseph couldn’t adjust until late in the half. Gase rebounded with a great second half. Joseph went soft vanilla in back peddle and was beaten by a third string QB.
Week 3: Gase had his “best game”, although there was still too much uneven play calls and a few “head-scratchers”.
But, it was Joseph who fell apart and looked shell shocked most of the game.
Jackson used counter-action and reverse flow plays, as a build off the motion from the previous week, to set Joseph and the D in back peddle mode again. Joseph had few answers.
Too many times Byron Maxwell, who is a totally different player in press, was playing off only to be victimized. Too many times blitzes were sent and the vacated spot targeted. Too many times defenders were huddled together in one zone leaving other zones empty.
Jackson was always a step ahead of Joseph.
Many of the best pay per head fans won’t believe this, but Joseph was bailed out by Miami’s talent advantage — as well as those 3 missed field goals.
Belichick and Jackson are seasoned and talented coaches, and they out coached Gase and took Joseph’s lunch money.
I get it. Joseph is especially is raw. At least Gase is an experienced Offensive Coordinator. Joseph was a position coach. The difference between position coach to coordinator is vast. But, his learning curve is costing Miami — and it might even cost them the 2016 season.
Miami’s coaching staff has been schooled in their beatings with the kitchen sink. These can be great lessons — if said coach has the talent to learn from them. Time will tell if Gase and Joseph can. Gase has shown indications that he can, and he has a resume to prove he has. Joseph doesn’t have history on his side, so his case is a big question mark.
We have seen for two weeks opposing coaches scheme up their team…
…and for two weeks Miami coaches have schemed flat-line or down their team. That’s not good coaching — not even close. On the NFL level that means in big exclamation marks, “Not For Long”.
A short week, a tired defense, a road game and a tough team awaits Gase and Co. The Dolphins coaching staff had nearly every edge in Week 3. In Week 4, most of the edge goes to their opponent.
The one glimmer, and at this point it might be a year away (if we are lucky), is if Gase and Joseph can begin to elevate their players through coaching. It will take something special from this staff to wake up –one can hope, can’t one? At the very least, this over-time win buys a small bit of space for this “coaching epiphany” to happen in time to salvage the 2016 season. Go Fins!!!