My entire family are Cincinnati Bengals fans other than me, of course, and my youngest brother.  He’s a Buccaneers fan for whatever reason.  Even he felt bad that Tampa Bay won the game yesterday.  Miami’s 4-6 with two games against New England remaining.  Miami’s best hope is 8-8 at this point.  Somehow, someway, even at 4-6, they’re still only a game back of the wild-ca ***Flag*** False start on Jermon Bushrod.

Yesterday’s game was ugly.  Miami started off with a 69 yard run by Damien Williams in a moment of brilliance from the offensive line.  However, Miami’s running game managed 14 yards on 18 attempts the rest of the day.  However, the pass-blocking didn’t allow a sack for the second straight we ***Flag*** Holding on Laremy Tunsil.

Miami’s defense held, ***Flag*** Defensive holding on Davon Godchaux.  Starting over, Miami’s defense held Tampa Bay’s run game in check, giving up just a 2.2 ypc average and 54 yards on the day.  That was nice to see.  The passing defense was shredded by O.J. Howard in the first half, but they shut down Tampa Bay for most of the second half.  Unfortunately, the letups occurred on the Bucs game-winning field goal drive.  Xavien Howard did have a nice bounce back game.  If he starts to iron out his consistency, he may yet grow into a player.  People tend to forget ***Flag*** False Start on Mike Pouncey.  People tend to forget that ***Flag*** False Start on Mike Pouncey, again.  People tend to forget that Xavien Howard’s played 17 career games now, in two different systems.  I don’t think he’s as bad as his PFF ranking says he is.  He’s had some nice moments this year, including ***Flag*** False Start on Laremy Tunsil, including holding Julio Jones in reasonable check throughout the Atlanta game.  ***Flag*** Holding on Jermon Bushrod.

***Flag***Okay, you guys get the point with the flags by now.  17 penalties is just maddeningly bad.  The officiating had some poor points, most notably the non-safety call; that was abysmal and probably changed the game.  But, to what end? Does it matter in the long-run of this season? No, probably not.

Not today after Adam Gase basically said that Jay Cutler’s his quarterback if Jay Cutler’s healthy.  I like Adam Gase, like a lot.  I really do.  He absolutely should not be fired, but for me, his flaw of being too loyal to his own guys, is officially “Strike One” for me.  Like Joe Philbin previously, who stuck with the likes of Daniel Thomas, Dallas Thomas, Daryn Colledge as players and Kevin Coyle as a coach, Adam Gase certainly has his favorites he’s vouched for and tried to use in the offense.  Jay Cutler, Damien Williams, Julius Thomas, Jermon Bushrod, and Mike Pouncey (there, I said it) should all not be on the Dolphins roster next year.  I think the sample size is too small for Ted Larsen and T.J. McDonald ***Flag*** just checking to make sure you’re still reading, but my gut says that Larsen and McDonald probably aren’t going to be positive additions.  Chris Foerster’s already blown out of town.  Adam Gase’s strike is putting these guys into starting positions and relying on them week after week.  Some of that’s forced, for example Pouncey’s contract going into this year, but others have been Gase pushing for his guys.  His evaluation skills have proven to not be very good, much like Philbin’s.

I’ve seen calls to fire Mike Tannenbaum.  I’m not to that point yet, as I think the coaching staff facilitated some of the moves on the O-line and the offensive system.  I expect that to change this offseason.

I think this offseason, and we as fans owe Adam Gase, Chris Grier and Mike Tannenbaum a chance to get it right, is an important one.  I think you have the basis of a good defense, and you get back Raekwon McMillan and Tony Lippett next year.  I think you need to address the pass-rush situation – meaning you draft Bradley Chubb and don’t think twice about it if you end up with a high pick – as Cameron Wake has gone missing the past month, and Andre Branch hadn’t shown much life until the 4th quarter this past Sunday since the Titans game.  You fix that and maybe give Matt Burke another slot CB or S who can cover so he can learn a hard lesson and incorporate a dime package with T.J. McDonald or Reshad as a dime LB.  Do those things and I think you’ll see Miami playing defense like the top 10 unit they were when they were 4-2 this year.

But, the offensive side of the ball – Adam Gase’s side of the ball – there it’s time for an overhaul as Armando Salguero talked about a month ago.  You get Ryan Tannehill back, and that means more than most Dolfans probably realize, IMO, but a lot has to change.  You’re probably going to have to convince Adam Gase to let his binky (Damien Williams) walk in free agency.  I think you need to move on from guys who are underachievers like DeVante Parker, like Julius Thomas, like Jermon Bushrod (hopefully he’ll actually retire this year), like Mike Pouncey (despite what Adam Gase seems to think about him) and Ja’Wuan James.  You also probably need to draft a QB fairly high in order to back up Ryan Tannehill…or groom to replace Tannehill if #17 comes back and can’t regain the playing stride he showed from the Steelers game through the Cardinals game in 2016. The offseason debate is for another day.

I fully expect Miami to get boat raced in Foxboro.  I heard on VsIN today that the opening line is New England – 17.  I’d probably take that bet as I expect the outcome to be something like 45-10; a disaster for Miami, especially if Cutler plays.

At least we have Thanksgiving this week.  I’m not thankful for Miami’s 2017 season.  Not at all.  But I’m hopeful, not thankful, hopeful that Adam Gase and the front office can start overhauling the offense this offseason.  Hopefully the Tryptophan coma lasts with you all from Thursday to Monday.

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