Turning Point

Sorry for the delay in getting this week’s entry posted.  I needed a few days away from football after Thursday Nights 40-0 drubbing at the hands of the Ravens.  I posted that day that I had a bad feeling about the game.  I didn’t think it’d be 40-0 bad.  A nightmare game on display for the whole country – Miami are like 1-7 in their last 8 primetime wins according to Barry Jackson.  And now for the second year in a row, Miami have been blown out by a depleted Ravens club –  the two losses by a combined 78-6 mark.

The last time I can remember, without Googling, the Dolphins getting shutout was the season finale in 2012, losing 28-0 against the Patriots.  The team, already eliminated from the playoffs, was confused by Joe Philbin’s playing of Bob Seger’s “The Famous Final Scene” in practice that week.  That prompted players to think Philbin was retiring after his first season at the helm.  If only.  This past Friday was different as Miami currently sits at 4-3, and a Jaguars tie-breaking win over the Ravens from currently residing in the playoffs in what’s been a wild NFL season.

Adam Gase took no prisoners in Friday’s post-game presser.  He didn’t mention names, but he pretty much directly called out the following:  Matt Moore, Jay Ajayi, Damien Williams, and the receivers who played in that game (everyone but DeVante Parker).  Clearly, this is a turning point for the Dolphins this season.  A win over the Raiders keeps Miami in the thick of the playoff picture with wins in-pocket over the Jets, Raiders and Titans – not bad to have down the stretch.  Keeping stock of last year, Miami were actually 3-4 after seven games, having just won back-to-back home games over the Steelers and Bills.  Miami would win four more in a row during “The Streak” that vaulted them into the playoffs.

The next three games – vs. the Raiders, at Carolina and vs. the Buccaneers – are extremely critical to Miami.  I believe that Miami MUST win at least two of these three, which would bring them to 6-4 (7-3 if they win them all) to put themselves in a position for a final push over the brutal six-game stretch to close the season which includes the Patriots and Bills twice each, and a road trip to Kansas City in late-December.  We’ll worry about that bridge when we get there.  First Miami need to navigate the road ahead.

Mike Tannenbaum announced today that Ted Larsen should begin practicing this week with the aim to return against the Panthers, with a slight chance to return against the Raiders.  T.J. McDonald also comes back against the Panthers.  His return should help the run defense, though I question how helpful he’ll be against the pass.  Tannebaum also said DeVante Parker should return this week against Oakland and Adam Gase already declared Jay Cutler the starter last week for the Raiders game.

None of this solves the offensive woes.  Adam Gase clearly detailed that his players, especially the skill players, need to be studying more and knowing their responsibilities better.  Remember Tony Sparano’s slogan, “Know you know, and know that you know”.  It’s one of those things.  And I think that we could see some changes for the Raiders game if the players are to heed Gase’s message.

I think we *could* see Jay Ajayi hitting the correct holes and taking 4 and 5 yard gains when they’re there.
I think we *could* see Damien Williams knowing which blitzer to block, and giving better effort when doing so.
I think we *could* see Jarvis Landry and Kenny Stills putting forth better effort in their routes and downfield blocking.
I think we *could* see Adam Gase eliminate receiver screens with Kenny Stills out front blocking.
I think we *could* see more of Jakeem Grant.
I think we *could* see more of Kenyan Drake and even, dare I say it, *could* see Senorise Perry used on offense.
I think we *could* see Julius Thomas in a further reduced role.
I think we *could* see MarQueis Gray actually sustain a run-block (he’s been pretty bad this year).

I think if we see all, or even some, of these things we could see a Dolphins victory under the lights.  That’d be a nice change of pace.  Getting to 5-3 at the halfway point of the season with a near historically bad offense, albeit with plenty of room for improvement, would be a testament to the job Adam Gase has done.  Now, that’s not absolving Miami of wrongdoings on offense and with the whole roster, but that’s a discussion for the offseason.  Getting to 5-3 and carrying some momentum into a Monday Night showdown would cherry after 40-0.