This topsy-turvy 2021 Season will be defined by these final four games
The Miami Dolphins 2021 Season was bursting with promise heading into the Regular Season, but a nose dive came hard and fast by Week 2. Just before the season crashed and burned though, the Phins wrenched the stick and pulled up and are on a 5-game win streak after losing seven in a row. With four game left against the Jets, Saints, Titans, and Patriots, Miami will clearly define themselves as a team on the rise or one in stagnation by the end of Week 17.
There isn’t a middle ground for this Phins team, which makes their final game against the Patriots at home the best litmus test. So, beyond gloom and doom and the excite and hype narratives, what is already clear about this regime and what are we looking for in this final stretch?
What have the Phins made clear so far this season?
The Miami Dolphins can find defensive players in the draft, Free Agency, waiver wire, and maybe even under your mattress. While they appear to have missed big on CB Noah Igbinoghene, they’ve hit big at every level of acquisition without reaching. Zach Seiler, Raekwon Davis, Andrew Van Ginkel, Jaylen Phillips, Christian Wilkens, Javon Holland.. ect.
Conversely, Miami struggle to find offensive players despite reaching and over paying, especially on the offensive line. Myles Gaskin is the only offensive player taken who has performed above their purchase without paying a premium. Yes, Jaylan Waddle is an excellent play who hasn’t even begun to reveal his ceiling, but Miami paid very big to get his services. While Robert Hunt is close to another player taken of good value for the price, so many other linemen were drafted after him that have outperformed him so far. As for the misses, there are too many to list.
Brian Flores can take less and make more and is a leader of men and even in the most dire circumstance can rally his troops to play hard and believe. His defensive scheme is also a good one and Flores and DC Josh Boyer routinely come up with novels defenses to notch wins with little offense. They are both keepers in my book.
Lightening rod quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is both mentally strong and physically tough enough to endure adversity. What is his ceiling? We don’t know, but clearly he is a leader and has raised the perception of his floor tremendously. While any smart team is always looking for my quarterback talent, Tua has shown when his offensive line isn’t complete Swiss Cheese, he can produce. Despite the media push for Watson generated by GM Chris Grier and Steven Ross inept flirtations and desire to sell the farm for him, Miami has a quality option as a passer.
The Dolphins clearly have a terrible offensive line and the 45th best unit in the game isn’t good enough. The huge concern should be Chris Grier has been in the Top 3 of most influential in the Phins talent acquisition process since 2007 when he became the head of college scouting, and in that time, he has whiffed hard and continuously on offensive linemen in drafts, trades, and Free Agency.
Phins have enough skill talent with Waddle, Parker, Gaskin… and Gesicki, if he is retained, that they aren’t forced to spend huge on more skill talent.
The leadership of Ross and Grier are willing to hang their Head Coach, quarterback, and the team out to dry and not bat an eye. If you haven’t noticed, my disdain for Grier is high, but he has earned every bit of it and more. This means we can expect anything going forward unless real change at the top is made.
What are the questions we are looking to get answered?
Can Tua stay healthy and continue to grow? I don’t question the kid’s toughness… now, durability is another story. There’s no doubt inept coaching and a terrible O-line was a prime reason for his broken ribs, but he has two finger injuries in two seasons. Tua must find a way to stay healthy because it doesn’t matter how good you are if you are injured on the bench. This is why I totally understand the conservative style we are running. No run game and poor pass blocking is a recipe for injuries to any QB. I’ve given this O-staff grief–deservedly so, but they have been masterful in designing a scheme to protect Tua behind the 45th best O-line in football.
Can any of these young O-linemen get better? Can Dieter, Eichenburg, Jackson, or Hunt prove they are strong assets by season’s end. The investment in this group is huge with a 1st, two 2nds, and two 3rds to acquire them. With this vast level of draft capital spent, it would be a disaster if none can and the Phins have to enter the 2022 offseason uncertain and unsecure on their O-line.
Can the Dolphins match up with the Patriots. Even if it’s a close game, I’d feel pretty good. But, if the Pats manhandle the Phins in the trenches and blow their doors off, 2022 will already appear ominous since we have also been the beat up toys for the Bills as well.
Miami spent a ton on it’s secondary with two huge contracts for Byron Jones and Xavien Howard as well as a 1st Round pick for Noah. Despite this investment, Miami appears to be in need to another big spend at the position going into 2022. But, maybe this perception will change over this final stretch?
The three OCs have done better the last few weeks, but the matchups and situations have been strongly in their favor. The last three weeks will test how far they’ve really come.
This is my list. But, you can bet with the best football software that I’ve missed some questions needing answers, so please give me a shout out for what to keep my eyes on. It has felt great to have this 5-game win streak and see Flores and Tua rise, but the most critical evaluations are coming. We should have some great football to watch down the stretch! Go Phins!!!
