The Dolphins reverting to ‘2017 form’ in the Panthers game ruined some good moments.
A lack of discipline was the Phins most notable trait in the Panthers game.
Not only were the Miami Dolphins defeated last night in the Panthers game, but they completely missed the mark on essential progression watermarks. The regression in team discipline is the gravest concern.
I am more concerned today than any other point in Adam Gase’s tenure because they seem to be repeating their ‘2017 form’.
Now I’m not Bill Paxson in Aliens saying, “Game over, man. Game over.”
There is time and opportunity to set things right. Plenty. But the edge of the cliff that leads to an abyss of trouble is very, very close.
Adam Gase has had difficulty in getting the Dolphins going early in Quarters, Halves, and Seasons. He must control this issue (and a few others) now! That is if he doesn’t want the type of disaster that’s being predicted by the pay per head reviews.
This will be as critical a week as it gets. Luckily, Gase still has the luxury of ‘play time’ with one Preseason Game left. Once the season starts though the consequences for poor play and bad decisions will grow geometrically and compound weekly. Miami needs to make smart (and right) decisions, big ones, and make them fast… as in this week.
Last night’s game made several issues abundantly clear in no uncertain terms. Gase must come out in the next practice with a plan to remedy these chronic flaws. These issues will likely take Mike Tannenbaum doing some wheeling and dealing.
Some key issues that were exposed last night:
- Discipline is still a major and debilitating problem. In the 1st Half of this game, Miami nearly equaled the penalties and penalty yards as they did all of last week.
- McMillan is currently far below what is needed at MLB.
- Miami’s LB’s, besides Anthony and Allen, won’t take on blockers– they prefer to shave them.
- Of all inside cover defenders, only Fitzpatrick chips. Why won’t LB’s get physical with receivers in 5 yards of LOS?
- Tankersley isn’t even ready for even a backup role… and he’s getting worse.
- McMillan is slow and isn’t a Nickel LB (at least not yet).
- Baker and McMillan take bad angles in run game.
- Godchaux was better, but still not good enough. Gets blown back too much.
- Phillips is missed… Miami will be in trouble if he goes down.
- Miami’s O-line struggles with discipline in Stretch Zone runs. Two of their three holding calls were in Stretch Zone.
- Gase must shy away from plays and schemes that offer a high probability of trouble in key situations.
- Bubble Screens and pass far short of the marker are still being called in bunches. Maybe it was Preseason calls to gauge Wilson’s skill. Maybe.
- Tunsil had another poor read in run blocking that disrupted the offense, was called for holding in the Red Zone, and whiffed on two pass blocks. More is expected of him.
- Asiata’s blocking skills are too poor for Left Guard. Right Guard is where he belongs at this point.
- Cornerback depth is very thin.
- Langford isn’t the season-long answer.
- NFL refs are as consistent as a shotgun firing long range.
It might seem like Miami didn’t do anything right and there’s no hope, after that ugly laundry list. That’s not the case… even though they are in a precarious position. Underneath the issues, Miami displayed some strengths.
Here is some of the good from the Panthers Game:
- Tannehill looks pretty sharp, fully healed… but chunk plays were missing.
- Drake is exceptional.
- Quinn is exceptional.
- Gesicki continues to improve his pass blocking.
- The O-Line can pass block.
- O-Line was able to make some hay v.s. Top 5 run defense.
- McCain was effective at CB #2.
- Howard is a #1 corner.
- Grant is becoming a legit option.
- Sitton is a star.
- Amendola is a big addition.
- Spence is good enough to be a #2 DT.
- Fitzpatrick is capable all over the field.
- Young and Larsen are quality depth, but Miami needs one more O-linemen to step up.
- Smith is an excellent backup Safety.
It’s a shame we won’t get reports from practice this week. What we do receive will be scant. In truth, fans and the team itself will have to wait till Week 3 of Preseason to get a real gauge on the situation. Bottom line: this game coming up needs big changes in starting personnel or in the starter’s performance. It will be interesting… Go Phins!!!
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