Phins 2018 Chemistry Has Them Scrappy & Winning

M.J.

6 years ago

Phins 2018 chemistry has them 2-0

Many pundits were ho-hum on Phins 2018 chemistry

Adam Gase and Co. made dramatic moves to change the Phins 2018 chemistry that left many scratching their heads. The disbelief given the Dolphins history made the reservations fair. But, after two weeks, a 2-0 start, and sitting at the top of the division… those ‘crazy’ moves may just be paying off.

Yes, it’s still early.

Yes, it’s a long season…

…But there’s no doubt that this team is playing very different manner compared to 2016 and 2017.

Penalties were a major issue that held back the Dolphins in 2016 & 2017.

Phinsnews spoke, over and over, about how lack of discipline was the primary thing holding back the Dolphins last season. We predicted that even being middle of the pack in committed penalties would make for a solid 2018 Season. As it stands now, the Dolphins have 9 penalties for 61 yards. The Phins are ranked #4 in the least amount of penalties just behind the # 3 New England Patriots.

In Miami’s Week 2 of 2017, the Dolphins lost 20-9 to the Jets, committing 8 penalties for 51 yards. This year, in Week 2, the Dolphins committed 2 penalties for 10 yards and won 20-12.

Causing turnovers and being disciplined is how good teams let bad teams beat themselves

After two games in 2017, the Dolphins had caused one turnover. This year they have six. If they had controlled their own turnovers it would have been two blowouts.

This is change you can believe in… if it continues.

Causing turnovers and having opponents commit penalties depends on the other team making mistakes. You can’t bank on it week-and-week-out. Other teams will play disciplined football too. But the Phins committing or not committing penalties is all on them. It’s about professionalism. Playing professional football is a stabilizing force that will have the Phins putting out a far more consistent product every week.

This Week Gase out coached Bowles in many ways.

Phinsnews believed saying goodbye to Jarvis Landry, Ndamukong Suh, and Mike Pouncey was the right move. But we weren’t so sure it was 100% bet with the pay per head sportsbook that the new players would bring the right chemistry.

What was concrete was chemistry did matter… and that the 2017 team had the wrong chemistry.

It was a curiosity though how many of the brightest sports critics saw no value in Miami’s quest for chemistry… and yet, they would still opine on chemistry in New England. It was as if team chemistry was a unique thing that only existed in New England with the ‘Patriot Way’. Everywhere else though, the only factor that mattered was talent.

For nearly two decades, Phins Fans had to hear endlessly about the ‘Patriot Way’.To infinity, ad nauseam and beyond, we were told how team chemistry trumped talent in the ‘Patriot Way’… and other teams, especially the Dolphins who were ‘winners’ of every offseason, just didn’t get it.

Yet, when the Dolphins adopted ‘Don Shula Way’ of ‘TEAM’ as the highest principle, we were told chemistry didn’t mean jack. Add insult to injury, the Phins were predicted to have less than a handful of wins and Gase would be canned.

Now I’m not saying this team isn’t without warts, mistakes, room for improvement…

…or that reservations about this team or Gase weren’t without reason. They were, and the jury is still out on whether this is more than just a blip on the radar. BUT what I am saying, and what we’ve witnessed over the course of two games, is that this is a team that has fully taken on the identity of their Head Coach. Like Gase, this 2018 team is cocky, aggressive, and intelligent… with a few head-scratching moments along the way.

This type of bumpy road is typical though of all good teams finding their identity and suffering growing pains.

Look at John Gruden who inherited a much more talented team than Gase did in 2016. He is, or was, an excellent head coach. Turning things around aren’t always a short-term process, a la Bill Parcells. Let’s not forget though that Parcells had quick turnarounds followed by a quick collapse.

3 years is enough time for a cut off period as to whether a coach is right or not.

They told us when Gase was hired that he was talented but green. This year Gase and Co. were in make or break mode. The Phins have the talent to win and the team Gase likes, so there are no excuses left. So far, it’s been making.

I am not ‘crowning their asses’ as an infamous commenter on the forum said last year over and over. But special teams, run defense, a run game, and low penalties are the recipe of success in the NFL. For two weeks the Dolphins have cooked this recipe to a tee. If they make it three in a row, and if they can limit their turnovers, they may just be who they think they are… and a team to believe in. Go Phins!!!

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