Underneath the ugly lurks some good news for Phins Fans
This isn’t the season that Phinsnews Fans had hoped for. So far, there hasn’t been a ton of pretty to look at. Despite the ugliness, so far, Miami is still in position to salvage 2018. Likey or not, 5-5 is in striking distance of the Post Season.
Today is Thanksgiving, Phinsnews hopes you all are enjoying time with family and good food. There isn’t much better than that in my book.
So, in the vein of thankfulness, let’s look over some good news with our beloved Miami Dolphins.
The level of discipline from the 2018 Dolphins should surprise Phinsnews Fans
First, the biggest improvement that Phinsnews thought was needed this year was team discipline. And despite how it feels, Miami has improved tremendously in the reduction of penalties committed.
Miami is currently tied in 9th place with 4 other teams with 61 team penalties. Miami’s 61 penalties have cost them 554 yards (19th). Miami’s 9 pre-snap penalties on offense are tied for 3rd with the Titans.
Given the amount of fluctuation of personnel across nearly every position of the team. This is good news to sink your teeth into and it does offer hope to those who believe Miami can still make the Playoffs.
Does it erase all the other coaching issues? No. But it does put a good light on Gase and the staff for maintaining this level of discipline despite ALL the injuries.
This is a stark improvement over the 2016 and 2017 Seasons where they ranked 30th with 125 penalties and 31st with 149, respectively.
To put it into perspective, the Colts already have 74 with an equal amount of games played as the Dolphins… and far less turnover of personnel.
Discipline will be key to make a miracle happen over these next 6 games… and should Gase and Co. return in 2019.
Miami appears to have hit on at least three players from this year’s draft.
Minkah Fitzpatrick isn’t a physical freak like Derwin James, who is having a DROY season, but there isn’t a fan complaining about him. Fitzpatrick is #1 of all rookies with 48.6 coverage rating. The next closest rating is 50% less by Denzel Ward with 73.7. That’s pretty damn good. Fitzpatrick has played high and low, inside and out in the defensive secondary. At every spot, he has been productive. That’s not easy for a rookie. But Minkah isn’t like many rookies, and he will certainly be a foundational block of this franchise for a long time to come.
Also, Jerome Baker looks like a good find with a PFF Grade of 72.6. He is playing equal to or better than Kiko. He could be considered the best Dolphins Linebacker on the roster.
Add in Jason Sander, who is ranked 10th among kickers, and you have the foundation for a solid draft. Now if Mike Gesicki can only find his way. But we are staying positive here, so….
Key players have shown much-needed growth or were good Free Agent pick-ups:
Laremy Tunsil is proving to be what fans hoped for. He only has 3 penalties on the season and has held up very well with a 73.8 PFF Grade.
Nick O’Leary was a good pick up and picked up the slack left by the growing pains of Mike Gesicki and the injury to A.J. Darby.
T.J. McDonald has started to play like we hoped and will be the in-the-box Safety for years to come… with Minkah as the single High behind… at some point.
Davon Godchaux (PFF 72.3) has played well as a starter in replace of Suh (PFF 75.7). He was an excellent addition for a 6th Round pick.
Vincent Taylor is another great pick up in the draft. When he is healthy both he and Godchaux will be a good pair at Defensive Tackle.
YES, I’d love to see Ryan Tannehill on this list and to have a winning record… but today isn’t about picking at the scab.
Maybe by the season’s conclusion, things will change, and Tannehill will lead us to a storybook ending. Why not… I’m juiced up on turkey and ready to believe! Today is a celebration of thanks… so I’ll stay positive. Enjoy your celebration… and Go Phins!!!
Your attitude is great, Steve. We have made some progress in terms of individual player progress. We did find a couple of blue chip players. Gase has not used Gesicki properly. He is blessed with receiving skills and will learn blocking skills in the upcoming years as he gets stronger. He was a very good pick. Gase has a history of ignoring younger players, so no suprise.
The remainder of our schedule gets tougher. I don’t believe that any of our quarterbacks are the answer. It won’t surprise me if Tannehill is injured again in the near future. Speaking of injuries, this team is littered with guys that just love stretchers. They are underachievers! The future is dim if we continue with the Tannenbaum/Gase experiment. A great Christmas gift would be the firing of both men.
When the pressure on and it’s make or break you find out who someone is… Tannehill surprised me with his complete lack of ability to deal with pressure. If he flops over these next six games or is injured, he needs to go. Same with Gase. Maybe I could be hoodwinked into accepting 8-8… depends on how he gets there. Honestly, if McMillan is still starting, which he will, I’ll have very, very little confidence. 4-2 is unlikely, but the only number to restore confidence. Timmons last year and Jones this year are about as big a neon sign saying this isn’t the guy. Gase has talent but is erratic in his coaching…
Gesicki needs to play a part in these next 6 games… you can’t keep dropping high picks and have them dissappear for 2-3 years.
We really want our fins to wins But its hard to constantly support mediocrity. I Strongly believed that our Dolphins got off track when Jimmy Johnson left the Dolphins. The Fins have had 12 coaches and only two of them kept the standards.
I’ve been reading the stuff about Urban Meyer’s could be throwing in the Towel at Ohio State. If this is the case!
We cannot let a talent like Meyer’s slipped due to the Dolphins inability to recognized talent and for the
Dolphins to just wait for the roof to collapsed then replaced it next season 2019.
Then we are looking at 2020 starting over etc. Maybe 2023 if successful playoffs etc. The successful teams are giving these QB’s two years and they are making it to the Supper Bowl and deep into the playoffs. Time to Reset.
I agree with Admin this team has to be serious about drafting blue chip Quarterbacks and they can be found all threw the draft’s. Allowing the Patriots to take your lunch money every season when that game matters is Mediocrity 101.
Each season we head into the month of December and for the most part the odds or we Dolphins fans and the team will be watching the playoffs and the Super Bowl. It does not have to be this way.
Here are some facts: The Fins have had 12 coaches since being in existence. Only Don Shula and Jimmy Johnson were experience head coaches before. Jimmy Johnson came to the Dolphins holding • 2× Super Bowl champion (XXVII, XXVIII) • AP NFL Coach of the Year (1990) • National champion (1987) • Walter Camp Coach of the Year (1986)
1.George Wilson 1966-1969 15 W-39 L 2.Don Shula 1970-1995 257 wins-133.2 L (2 Super Bowl Championships 1972 and 1973), 5 AFC Championships 1971,1972,1973,1982,1984, 1970, 1972 UPI NFL coach of the year, 11 AFC East Division Champion 1971,1974,1979,1981-1985,1992,1994)
3.Jimmy Johnson 1996-1999 36 Wins-28 L
4.Dave Wannstedt 2000-2004 42wins and 31 Losses 1 AFC East Division Champion (2000)
Mediocre Begins and the Dolphins have been loss since: 5.Jim Bates 2004-2005 3Wins -4 Loses
6.Nick Saban 2005-2006 2005-2006 15 Wins and 17 L
7.Cam Cameron 2007 2007 1 Wins 15 loss
8.Tony Sparano 2008-2011 29 wins and 32 losses Noted: Turned the Dolphins around quickly
9.Todd Bowles 2011 2wins 1 loss
10.Joe Philbin 2012-1015 24 wins and 28 losses
11.Dan Campbell 2015 5 wins and 7 losses
12.Adam Gase 2016-present
Though I like Ross and Staff! This means that Stephen Ross failed to take notes from the previous Owners (Don’t gamble with Rookies head Coaches) Their are some words the Dolphins need to stop using (Quarterback Guru) I’ve heard this almost two decades its a fake lure.
Very nice list, Steve. I like McCarthy or Harbaugh if he gets fired. I think Gase stay at 8-8 or better… and maybe even less. I think Gase would have done better with a better QB and less injuries, but not sure he is good enough to win it all. Some issues are there that go beyond bad circumstance.
I can see why Stephen Ross would like Gase. There’s always a But! Gase has to take ownership of placing all his cards on the Quarterback and not having a solid contingency plan if the current QB does not worked out either performance or injury.
Bringing in Jake Cutler, Yes! Jake is a well season Vet but not the proper tag team partner for the Dolphins and Brock Owieler wasn’t the answer either.
Solution: 1st we need to draft Defensive linemen Quinnen Williams in the 1st round and 2nd round A linebacker. Forget about trying to draft Justin Herbert or Drew Lock in the 1st. They are both overrated Why? They both check the boxes right? Yes! But! neither has showed they can carry their team like the three listed below. Miami can delete and draft all three Quarterbacks in the 3rd to 4th round. Three totally different style which would be a defensive nightmare.
Garner Minshew: Washington State (He Handles the Big games with success) He beat Justin Herbert. Gardner Minshew, QB, Washington State: There may have been some concern about Washington State keeping its playoff hopes alive heading into a tricky spot against Arizona on Saturday night, but those concerns didn’t last long. The Cougars blasted the Wildcats 69-28 with Minshew leading the way. The Mustachioed Maestro finished the evening with 473 yards passing and seven touchdowns. Minshew is the first player to throw seven touchdowns in a game since Buffalo’s Drew Anderson did so against Western Michigan last season, and he’s the first QB in school history to do so. https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/college-football-players-of-the-week-gardner-minshew-throws-washington-state-record-seven-touchdowns/
Projected 2019 draft maybe 3rd to 5th rounder Oklahoma State quarterback Taylor Cornelius became the first Cowboy quarterback with a 300-passing-yard, 100-rushing-yard game. He was the 10th in Big 12 history to accomplish the feat and only the third in the league to have six total touchdowns accompany such a performance.Cornelius’ performance, one of that earned him Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week and Walter Camp National Offensive Player of the Week.
Kyle Murray Oklahoma Who is the Top QB in College Currently But not being discuss.(3rd to 5th projections if he comes out of college.Murray flashed his arm and his speed in the Sooners’ victory against Kansas. He has accounted for 44 total touchdowns, including 10 by land, and 4,049 yards of total offense. He was listed first by a season-high five of the 14 official Heisman voters who submitted surveys this week.
There is a report out now that Ross turned down Gase’s request to hire Vic Fangio. If this is the case, it’s time to really stat labeling Ross as the primary issue. How does your HC ask to hire someone and you say no? Add this to him not listening to Tannenbaum on hiring a vet HC and you have a guy who has not only chosen wrong but added his plug nickel to the equation. I think if this is the case, Ross will have a very hard time hiring anyone worth their salt in the future. Add in the Harbaugh thing with Sporano… ouch. This is uglier than I would have thought. If this is the case, we won’t have a chance till Ross is gone…
When time permits read Urban Meyer’s resume. Then asked yourself who has more experience as a Successful head Coach over multiple programs, from West to East to the North he has won.
As painful college football season nears end, is Urban Meyer finished at Ohio State? By George Schroeder, USA TODAY 16 hours ago—11/23/2018.
Also Meyer’s was a defensive back in college at Cincinnati and for years was a receiver coach under Lou holtz and Not-re Dame and Colorado State.
Your attitude is great, Steve. We have made some progress in terms of individual player progress. We did find a couple of blue chip players. Gase has not used Gesicki properly. He is blessed with receiving skills and will learn blocking skills in the upcoming years as he gets stronger. He was a very good pick. Gase has a history of ignoring younger players, so no suprise.
The remainder of our schedule gets tougher. I don’t believe that any of our quarterbacks are the answer. It won’t surprise me if Tannehill is injured again in the near future. Speaking of injuries, this team is littered with guys that just love stretchers. They are underachievers! The future is dim if we continue with the Tannenbaum/Gase experiment. A great Christmas gift would be the firing of both men.
When the pressure on and it’s make or break you find out who someone is… Tannehill surprised me with his complete lack of ability to deal with pressure. If he flops over these next six games or is injured, he needs to go. Same with Gase. Maybe I could be hoodwinked into accepting 8-8… depends on how he gets there. Honestly, if McMillan is still starting, which he will, I’ll have very, very little confidence. 4-2 is unlikely, but the only number to restore confidence. Timmons last year and Jones this year are about as big a neon sign saying this isn’t the guy. Gase has talent but is erratic in his coaching…
Gesicki needs to play a part in these next 6 games… you can’t keep dropping high picks and have them dissappear for 2-3 years.
Great read Van!
We really want our fins to wins But its hard to constantly support mediocrity. I Strongly believed that our Dolphins got off track when Jimmy Johnson left the Dolphins. The Fins have had 12 coaches and only two of them kept the standards.
I’ve been reading the stuff about Urban Meyer’s could be throwing in the Towel at Ohio State. If this is the case!
We cannot let a talent like Meyer’s slipped due to the Dolphins inability to recognized talent and for the
Dolphins to just wait for the roof to collapsed then replaced it next season 2019.
Then we are looking at 2020 starting over etc. Maybe 2023 if successful playoffs etc. The successful teams are giving these QB’s two years and they are making it to the Supper Bowl and deep into the playoffs. Time to Reset.
I agree with Admin this team has to be serious about drafting blue chip Quarterbacks and they can be found all threw the draft’s. Allowing the Patriots to take your lunch money every season when that game matters is Mediocrity 101.
Hello Admin and Dolphins Fans Happy Thanksgiving!
Each season we head into the month of December and for the most part the odds or we Dolphins fans and the team will be watching the playoffs and the Super Bowl. It does not have to be this way.
Here are some facts: The Fins have had 12 coaches since being in existence. Only Don Shula and Jimmy Johnson were experience head coaches before.
Jimmy Johnson came to the Dolphins holding
• 2× Super Bowl champion (XXVII, XXVIII)
• AP NFL Coach of the Year (1990)
• National champion (1987)
• Walter Camp Coach of the Year (1986)
Career coaching statistics
NFL win–loss record: 80–64
Postseason record: 9–4
NCAA win–loss record: 81–34–3
1.George Wilson 1966-1969 15 W-39 L
2.Don Shula 1970-1995 257 wins-133.2 L (2 Super Bowl Championships 1972 and 1973), 5 AFC Championships 1971,1972,1973,1982,1984, 1970, 1972 UPI NFL coach of the year, 11 AFC East Division Champion 1971,1974,1979,1981-1985,1992,1994)
3.Jimmy Johnson 1996-1999 36 Wins-28 L
4.Dave Wannstedt 2000-2004 42wins and 31 Losses 1 AFC East Division Champion (2000)
Mediocre Begins and the Dolphins have been loss since:
5.Jim Bates 2004-2005 3Wins -4 Loses
6.Nick Saban 2005-2006 2005-2006 15 Wins and 17 L
7.Cam Cameron 2007 2007 1 Wins 15 loss
8.Tony Sparano 2008-2011 29 wins and 32 losses Noted: Turned the Dolphins around quickly
9.Todd Bowles 2011 2wins 1 loss
10.Joe Philbin 2012-1015 24 wins and 28 losses
11.Dan Campbell 2015 5 wins and 7 losses
12.Adam Gase 2016-present
Though I like Ross and Staff! This means that Stephen Ross failed to take notes from the previous Owners (Don’t gamble with Rookies head Coaches) Their are some words the Dolphins need to stop using (Quarterback Guru) I’ve heard this almost two decades its a fake lure.
Very nice list, Steve. I like McCarthy or Harbaugh if he gets fired. I think Gase stay at 8-8 or better… and maybe even less. I think Gase would have done better with a better QB and less injuries, but not sure he is good enough to win it all. Some issues are there that go beyond bad circumstance.
Admin
I can see why Stephen Ross would like Gase. There’s always a But!
Gase has to take ownership of placing all his cards on the Quarterback and not having a solid contingency plan if the current QB does not worked out either performance or injury.
Bringing in Jake Cutler, Yes! Jake is a well season Vet but not the proper tag team partner for the Dolphins and Brock Owieler wasn’t the answer either.
Solution: 1st we need to draft Defensive linemen Quinnen Williams in the 1st round and 2nd round A linebacker. Forget about trying to draft Justin Herbert or Drew Lock in the 1st. They are both overrated Why? They both check the boxes right? Yes! But! neither has showed they can carry their team like the three listed below. Miami can delete and draft all three Quarterbacks in the 3rd to 4th round. Three totally different style which would be a defensive nightmare.
Garner Minshew: Washington State (He Handles the Big games with success) He beat Justin Herbert.
Gardner Minshew, QB, Washington State: There may have been some concern about Washington State keeping its playoff hopes alive heading into a tricky spot against Arizona on Saturday night, but those concerns didn’t last long. The Cougars blasted the Wildcats 69-28 with Minshew leading the way.
The Mustachioed Maestro finished the evening with 473 yards passing and seven touchdowns. Minshew is the first player to throw seven touchdowns in a game since Buffalo’s Drew Anderson did so against Western Michigan last season, and he’s the first QB in school history to do so.
https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/college-football-players-of-the-week-gardner-minshew-throws-washington-state-record-seven-touchdowns/
Projected 2019 draft maybe 3rd to 5th rounder Oklahoma State quarterback Taylor Cornelius became the first Cowboy quarterback with a 300-passing-yard, 100-rushing-yard game. He was the 10th in Big 12 history to accomplish the feat and only the third in the league to have six total touchdowns accompany such a performance.Cornelius’ performance, one of that earned him Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week and Walter Camp National Offensive Player of the Week.
Kyle Murray Oklahoma Who is the Top QB in College Currently But not being discuss.(3rd to 5th projections if he comes out of college.Murray flashed his arm and his speed in the Sooners’ victory against Kansas. He has accounted for 44 total touchdowns, including 10 by land, and 4,049 yards of total offense. He was listed first by a season-high five of the 14 official Heisman voters who submitted surveys this week.
There is a report out now that Ross turned down Gase’s request to hire Vic Fangio. If this is the case, it’s time to really stat labeling Ross as the primary issue. How does your HC ask to hire someone and you say no? Add this to him not listening to Tannenbaum on hiring a vet HC and you have a guy who has not only chosen wrong but added his plug nickel to the equation. I think if this is the case, Ross will have a very hard time hiring anyone worth their salt in the future. Add in the Harbaugh thing with Sporano… ouch. This is uglier than I would have thought. If this is the case, we won’t have a chance till Ross is gone…
When time permits read Urban Meyer’s resume. Then asked yourself who has more experience as a Successful head Coach over multiple programs, from West to East to the North he has won.
As painful college football season nears end, is Urban Meyer finished at Ohio State?
By George Schroeder, USA TODAY 16 hours ago—11/23/2018.
Also Meyer’s was a defensive back in college at Cincinnati and for years was a receiver coach under Lou holtz and Not-re Dame and Colorado State.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/bigten/2018/08/02/urban-meyer-career-timeline-ohio-state-florida/891819002/
https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/coaches/urban-meyer-1.html
Time for Miami to Shut up or put up “IF” Urban Meyer’s will be free. (No excuses)