Jason Lieser, who covers the Dolphins for the Palm Beach Post along with Joe Schad tweeted this out on Wednesday:
“Based on talking to Mike Pouncey today, sounds like running the ball is Plans A, B & C for the Dolphins this week.“
To me, this is the right mindset to have for the Dolphins going into the game against the Titans this weekend. We all remember how Jay Ajayi burst onto the scene last year against the Steelers, though there were signs in the Bengals and Titans games last year that Ajayi was on his way out of Adam Gase’s doghouse. Ajayi’s 25 carry, 204 yard, 2 TD day gave Miami a 30-15 win over the Steelers and catapulted them onto a 6-game winning streak, that I’ve unofficially dubbed “The Streak”.
With Jay Cutler looking like the Jay Cutler that drove Bears fans crazy over the years, and the offense consisting of clogged running lanes and contemptibly bad attempts at screen passes, the J-Train must be unleashed. It’s not like this year’s version of the Miami Dolphins CAN’T do just that. They did so in their first game, back in week 2, against the Chargers with Ajayi toting the rock 28 times for 122 yards (4.4 ypc).
I think this week is more about a mentality, as evidence by what Mike Pouncey told Jason Lieser. Miami had that mentality last year in the Pittsburgh game. Another team Adam Gase coached for, the Denver Broncos, had that mentality back in 2014. The backstory to this is that the Broncos were rolling through the first half of the season. They were 7-2, with their two losses coming on the road to Seattle and to New England. They then traveled to face the then St. Louis Rams. The Rams, led by backup QB Shaun Hill that day, beat the Broncos 22-7. St. Louis frustrated the Broncos into throwing the ball 54 times that day, rushing just 10 times. One of those 10 attempts was a Peyton Manning kneel-down. C.J. Anderson rushed 9 times for 29 yards. Pitiful, much like the Dolphins the past two weeks.
The following week, our beloved Dolphins went into Denver. Denver made it a point to run the ball against Miami, whose run defense was pretty good going into that game. The Broncos came back from a 21-10 deficit in the first half and ended up winning 39-36. Denver ran 35 times, not counting to Manning kneel-downs, in that game to the tune of 203 yards, including C.J. Anderson exploding for 167 yards and a TD on 27 carries. Denver made it a point, and they followed-through.
Looking ahead to this weekend’s game against Tennessee, whose run defense is currently 21st in the league, giving up 112.5 yards per game, but at a clip of 3.8 yards per carry. Teams have to grind it out against the Titans. Miami will have to do just that this Sunday. Adam Gase has talked about Jay Ajayi just trucking defenders, like on the failed 3rd and 1 against the Saints.
To me, this is signaling that Miami’s going to try and play with an attitude this Sunday and try and do to the Titans what the Titans do to their opponents: Run the Ball!
We’ll see if Miami’s able to adjust and deliver.
"No more excuses… either do your job or we will find someone that will". Thats proper attitude
Agreed, DJ. Was that Gase?
Yes.
I'm confused as to why this team is making some many mental errors, according to Gase it's not just one player..
The job of a head coach is to make sure your team is focused..
The only excuse is that this team has been thru things that are in unprecedented to start a season and it was to tough to overcome.
Unfortunately, the way I see at least in terms of the offense, are that two of "Gase's Guys" – Jermon Bushrod and Julius Thomas – have probably been the two worst players on the offense. Cutler isn't far behind. I think unless both of those guys start playing better ball immediately, as in Sunday, they need to be removed from the lineup as much as possible. As soon as possible. Certainly they need to use MarQueis Gray and Fasano more than Julius Thomas; he's not what he once was. I'm not sure there's a viable replacement currently on the roster for Bushrod.
I mean, I suppose they could try and plug in Davis or Asiata there, but I'm not sure that's going to help anything. Davis has been bad.
as a tightend, if your going to be as big as Julius Thomas is then you need to be good in the blocking game, he isn't, and because he is so big it affects his movement and agility..
I'm seeing lineman on run plays not exploding forward with the correct mentality..their waiting, pausing for engagement, so I'm sure Asiata won't have that problem, I know he's quick off the snap and has solid awareness in protection..my only problem with Asiata is at the 2nd level, but I'm sure he would be an upgrade over what we have.
Gray is an all around better football player than Thomas or Fasano, he's more of a threat and shows good technique in the blocking game.
I agree on all counts save for Asiata. There's a lot on his Utah tape that I don't like:
– Bad balance
– Has trouble tracking well when pulling or looking for work in space
– Waist-bender, plays too far forward and loses leverage, especially in pass-pro
– Has a penchant for ducking his head when engaged 1-v-1 in pass-pro; susceptible to swim moves
Could be one of those cases where he simply can get by on physicality. I sure wouldn't want to risk him being eaten alive by Jurrell Casey this week, but that's just me.
That’s the reason I see personally for the emotional flatness. Gase went with his guy instead of Matt Moore, and his guy is neither a leader and nor a good player. Consequently the entire offense is flat. I have to think they would’ve rallied under Moore.
Inability to center on the move was my biggest complaint, and the notion that I think he ways to much for his physique..other stuff I think he can grind and win..we need some power run blocking off the snap desperately.
Can we put him BEHIND Steen and have him push Steen violently forwards??
On his college tape Asiata got pulled off balance a lot by D-linemen who then influenced the quarterback. I want Asiata's attitude out there but man, he is a liability in pass pro…. or at least, I am ASSUMING he would be, based on his past tape.
Completely agree and this is one of my growing concerns that lands right at Coach Gase's doorstep.
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