The long expected run game finally arrived and brought toughness to every aspect of the Dolphins.
No one expected THIS kind of run game — except Jermon Bushrod.
I had hoped — with fingers crossed and “lucky” Dolphins mini-helmet clutched tight — to see Miami Dolphins run the ball better…and maybe, just maybe, even find a way to win if the stars aligned. While I had hoped for it, I never expected it…much less with the dominance they showed against a top-ranked Pittsburgh Steelers.
Jermon Bushrod was wiser than the best pay per head software sites and did his best impression of Nostradamus. Bushrod upped the ante of the offensive lines belief that they could get 150 yards on the day and said ‘it would be 200’!
Yesterday’s run game hadn’t run like that (200 + yards and 2 T.D.s) since Ricky Williams — and that’s a long time ago. Now, only Ricky and Jay Ajayi can say they have cracked the 200 yard mark for the Dolphins (Ricky did it twice).
But, as big a surprise as it was, it was the potent response you saw from Dolphins players across the board that was the bigger surprise.
Adam Gase had his back to the wall. After a terrible loss to the Titans, he cut Thomas, Turner and Pead, and then during the course of the week, he benched Jason Jones, Walt Aikens and Mario Williams. Many, including myself, were beginning to feel some doubt about their high opinion of Gase. But, Gase clearly reminded us of why we were so high on him from the beginning: he’s no push-over.
Gase made that understanding abundantly clear this week to his players, who in turn, made it abundantly clear to the Steelers, to the NFL, and to Miami fans that this 2016 Dolphins team isn’t either.
yes, it was only one game — no matter how big a win it was.
But, this wasn’t a fluke.
It was the beginning of a culture change.
Dolphins players now know what to expect from Gase if they don’t perform.
I’m not saying Miami is on it’s way to the Super Bowl this year. But, what I am saying is the Dolphins players now know what to expect from Gase if they don’t do what is expected: perform or move on, Gase won’t have it any other way.
The trickle down effect is we fans can expect much better results going forward.
It will take more talent and more consistency to restore the Dolphins to their former glory.
And it will take more than a single game to restore the lost confidence of Dolphins fans.
But, Week 6 of the 2016 season may just have been the long awaited turning point for this struggling franchise. Week 7 can’t come fast enough. Go Fins!!!