Miami finds a way to be great only when it comes to disaster
The Miami Dolphins have critical game this Sunday vs. the Arizona Cardinals with a big boost from Tua Tagovailoa returning. But as only this team can do, disaster has struck ruining all the good mojo of Tua’s return. In a bizarre accident at practice today, star defensive tackle Zach Sieler had his orbital bone damaged and will miss this Sunday’s game… and maybe much more.
Has anyone heard of such a thing?
This makes no sense considering it was during a practice, and Sieler was wearing a helmet.
This is so uncanny I can’t get myself to buy the explanation. I’m not saying the injury didn’t happen the way it’s been told to us… just that it’s very hard to swallow. Also, who was the player who hurt Sieler? Something doesn’t feel like it adds up.
To add insult to injury, Tyreek Hill was limited yesterday and today he was absent from practice. This means we could be entering this critical game with our two best players missing.
Unbelievable. Really… but so Miami Dolphins!
James Connor is a beast & Sieler’s loss will be felt!
You can see how effective Connor is inside and how tough a runner he is with 34 1st Downs and 33 Missed Tackles Forced. Connor has a little fumble issue, but only 1 was in the run game, the other two were after the catch. It’s thin as far as hope, but it’s something.
Sieler’s absence with force Miami to lean heavily on Benito Jones and Brandon Pili and likely calling up practice squad player Neil Farrell Jr. It doesn’t take the best football software to see that none of these players have the advantage against a very good Cardinals offensive line and a star runner in Connor.
Fingers crossed, I guess.
Thankfully Calais Campbell is a stud and will be the anchor the defensive line wherever he is at, but he can’t be everywhere and how many snaps can he play as old as he is? Rookie Chop Robinson will be forced to play far more run defense this week and Emmanuel Ogbah is coming off a bicep injury. Neither player is in a great spot to help locked down the Cardinals run game.
This is a tall task to ask this Phins crew to stop Connor without Sieler.
Defensive Coordinator Anthony Weaver will certainly show he is a legend if he can pull this off.
Offense Must carry their weight this week… maybe without Hill?
Miami had Waddle come off the injury report and now Hill is looking very shaky for this week.
If Tua wants to make this return memorable, then Hill being there is almost a must.
Maybe the Dolphins can run the football and Waddle, OBJ, and Jonnu can uplift this group without Hill? We’ll need to score more points this week than we have so far this season. Arizona will put up points, especially with Sieler and Kader Kohou out. I’m figuring we need about 20 points to win and considering we are averaging 12 pts a game, Hill absence will hurt. But maybe Hill will gut it out and be available?
This offense can’t let a shorthanded Phins defense be on the field too long or they’ll gas out and then Connor will really have his way. Miami must have sustained drives far more than not. They could really take the heat off their defense if they can force the Cardinals to have to pass to catch up. This would be a great way to take Connor out of the game.
I just don’t think it will be that easy.
Miami can’t head into Buffalo 2-5 because they’d most likely leave 2-6 especially of Sieler is out. The hope of a turnaround could be very short lived…
…but, maybe the Dolphins will do a very un-Dolphins thing and rise to the occasion.
Don’t bet on it but definitely hope like heck! Go Phins!!!
