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5 things Miami can do to fix this

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by PhillyPhin, Oct 11, 2013.

  1. PhillyPhin

    PhillyPhin Banned

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    JW Reporting

    No. 1: Add to offensive-line rotation

    Analysis: The Dolphins’ offensive line cannot play much worse after five games. Miami is 28th in rushing and has allowed a league-high 24 sacks on quarterback Ryan Tannehill. Miami’s coaches are taking the approach that they will stick with what they have, and that’s a mistake. There are at least two backups on the bench -- Danny Watkins and Nate Garner -- who should get more playing time. Neither player has to start. But it makes sense to add at least one of these players into the rotation for 10-15 plays a game to provide fresh legs and a rest for the starters, who are underperforming.




    No. 2: Move the quarterback pocket

    Analysis: If the pocket isn’t clean for Tannehill, it’s time to move it. The Dolphins need to call more designed rollouts to protect their quarterback. Tannehill is a good athlete and a terrific passer on the run. His fourth-down completion to receiver Brandon Gibson against the Baltimore Ravens was a perfect example. Tannehill usually doesn’t lose zip or accuracy when on the move, which is a strong quality for a quarterback. Yet, the Dolphins underutilize this strength. Miami cannot roll Tannehill out every play, but several designed rollouts a game would keep defenses off balance and decrease the amount of shots Tannehill is taking in the pocket.

    No. 3: Play Dion Jordan more

    Analysis: It’s time for the coaching staff to take the kid gloves off Jordan, who only plays as a situational pass-rusher. Jordan hasn’t played a lot. But he is making impact plays in limited opportunities. He had a key tip on Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco that caused a pick-six in last week’s loss. Miami is afraid Jordan won’t hold up well against the run. Therefore, he only plays on third down. But Jordan has more potential and a higher ceiling than fellow defensive ends Derrick Shelby and Olivier Vernon. The Dolphins’ defense will be more dynamic if they raise the rookie’s snap count after the bye.

    No. 4: Stop stretch plays and plow forward

    Analysis: It’s time for Miami to stop running so many stretch plays, which has been a staple in Mike Sherman’s offense. Every game that play is getting stuffed for a short gain or negative yards. The Dolphins simply do not have the personnel on the offensive line to consistently run outside. Miami needs to focus more on becoming a power running team after the bye. Guard John Jerry and Richie Incognito are maulers. They are not guards who can run sideline to sideline. Defenses are beating Miami’s offensive line to the spot and tackling the running backs at or behind the line of scrimmage too often. The Dolphins need to use their size to their advantage and plow forward. Basic lead running plays could get Miami four yards more consistently.

    No. 5: Give Lamar Miller more carries

    Analysis: Miami’s running game also will improve if they give the ball more to Miller and less to backup Daniel Thomas. Miami’s coaching staff has spilt playing time between the two and continue to wait for one tailback to emerge. The Dolphins’ infatuation with Thomas has been a mystery since training camp. He’s not dynamic or a powerful back. Thomas is averaging just 2.6 yards per carry. Miller is much more of a home-run hitter and can produce big runs if he gets enough opportunities.

    No. 6: Start making a list of candidates to fill the void at GM after Jeff Ireland is fired at the end of the year.
     
  2. WhiteIbanez

    WhiteIbanez Megamediocremaniacal

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    Look at yourself in the mirror and honestly tell me Lamar Miller will be better with more carries. No one believes that.
    Letting Bush walk set us back.
    Miller or Bush? Not really a tough decision.
     
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  3. Boik14

    Boik14 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Actually I think Miller would be better with more carries and eliminating #4. The OL can not seal the corners on any kind of outside run. At least moving him straight ahead would change some of those no gain/-1/-2's in to +1/+2/+3. It changes a lot on 15 carries when youre not carrying 2-4 negative runs a game. Why do you think Daniel Thomas actually had a few decent games? Hes used as a north south runner and very rarely do they put him on the perimeter of the tackles. Its actually not bad analysis on most of those.

    Also for the original poster, we could probably use Dallas Thomas some since we did spend a day 2 pick on him. Figure out where he can actually play and get him going.
     
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  4. padre31

    padre31 Premium Member Luxury Box

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    I'd like to see Thigpen get more touches at Rb, to me he has the feet to make some of the stuffs into positive plays.
     
  5. GMJohnson

    GMJohnson New Member

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    The run game is killing the offense IMO. Get that fixed and most of the other problems will take care of themselves.
     
  6. Stitches

    Stitches ThePhin's Biggest Killjoy Luxury Box

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    OP, you may want to cite your source better (an espn article written by James Walker) and include a link. Might also be nice to do so that people can distinguish that #6 is something you put in there despite trying to make the formatting the same for each point.
     
  7. Stitches

    Stitches ThePhin's Biggest Killjoy Luxury Box

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    Only thing killing the offense as it relates to the run game is the lack of attempts. We need more balance.
     
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  8. Sam Taylor CRDG

    Sam Taylor CRDG Banned

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    #1 - rotate the back up bums so they become the starting bums. GREAT IDEA, it'll help with the starters self esteem, to know they all stink. #2 - That would imply the coach has the BALLS to do something like take chances with his Quarterback, maybe even design 6 or 7 running plays per game, won't happen cause the coach is a wuss, show me any point in his career he grew a pair. # 3 - They can't play him more because RB's will EAT HIM ALIVE, he is a liability against the RUN, that's why he's had 1 sack total this year, he is a liability, great we drafted a guy 3rd overall to play 8 snaps again for the next 10 years. god this front office. #4 Defenses will KNOW the inside game is coming, they'll put 8 men on the line, we'll average -2.4yc at that rate, terrible idea. #5 - it's LAMAR MILLER, did i miss the trade for Adrian Peterson? What's Lamar Miller going to do, he's not even a top 12 running back, we're going to force feed a bottom tier RB, yeh might as well give Tyler Clutts 15 rushes a game while you're at it. #6. Ireland has so many scandalous pics of ROSS that his tenure is far from over. Ross you better check ID's before bringing the ladies home cause Ireland gotcha boy!
     
  9. jw3102

    jw3102 season ticket holder

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    #1- Unfortunately I don't know if rotating the OL will improve the play of this unit. First of all, the best OL's are usually those lines which have five solid starters who play together all the time, which makes them a more cohesive unit. Players on the top lines are only replaced if they have an injury for the most part. There doesn't seem to be much cohesion on the Dolphins line right now with the starters playing all the time, but I don't see how constantly rotating offensive linemen will help develop this cohesion. Also I just don't think the backups are any better than the starters and that is probably why the coaches have stuck with the sorry line we have now. This unfortunately is a unit that will have to be fixed after this season is over. I don't see much hope for them during this season.

    #2- I agree that more rollouts for Tannehill should be in the game plan. Why the OC hasn't already been calling plays to move the pocket more often is beyond me. I could understand calling plays where Tannehill is in the pocket the majority of the time, if the OL was actually able to protect him. That obviously is not the case, so hopefully moving the pocket for Tannehill will be something they work on over the bye week.

    #3-I am as dumbfounded as you are in the lack of playing time for Jordan. I find it hard to believe that they drafted a player with the 3rd overall pick in the draft, (plus giving up a second round pick), who can only play on obvious passing downs. Shelby and Vernon are mediocre DE's in the NFL. The fact Jordan can't get more playing time behind these two average players should be a concern for all Dolphin fans. I actually think Jordan is better suited for a 3-4 defense than a 4-3 defense. He obviously hasn't shown that he is capable of stopping the run on a consistent basic when he has his hand on the ground and is going up against the OT of the opposing team. He was used more as a LB type at Oregon and that is probably the position he is better suited for in the NFL.

    #4 &#5- Stretch plays or trying to run up the middle doesn't matter if the OL can't block on running plays The major problem in the running game is that the OL is constantly losing the battle at the line of scrimmage on running plays. I also don't think the Dolphins have much when it comes to the running back position. Miller is better suited to be a change of pace type back, than the main RB in an NFL offense. He has break away type speed if there is a huge hole to go through, but he doesn't break tackles or make tacklers miss. He has straight away speed and that is it. Thomas shouldn't even be on an NFL roster, as far as I am concerned. The fact he is still on this roster and is the 2nd string RB only shows how weak this position is on the roster at this time. The Dolphins best RB and the player they needed to resign after the 2012 is now the starting RB for the Lions. Bush is so much better than Miller and Thomas, it isn't even close.

    #6 You and I agree 100% on this one.
     
  10. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Jordan is on a pitch count because of injury and setback , reps will increase moving forward, he's a rooki FYI, don't want you walking around dumbfounded..
     
  11. Rocky Raccoon

    Rocky Raccoon Greasepaint Ghost Staff Member

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    Good job by the mods finally kicking these guys to the curb.
     
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  12. Disgustipate

    Disgustipate Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    I think #4 and #5 are the best, and cleanest options. I think a lot of the issue with the run game is that they need to alter the plays they're calling, and run more in general. The outside zone is working, and finding a bread and butter is important.

    I think Nate Garner at a certain point comes into the conversation as one of the best 5 linemen.
     
  13. jw3102

    jw3102 season ticket holder

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    Thanks for the info, but it has been reported that the coaches are wary of playing Jordan because of his lack on ability in the running game. I haven't given up on him as a player, but injury or not, I would expect him to be getting more reps in recent weeks with Wake being unable to play.

    As far as being a rookie goes, the Jets have four starters on their team who are rookies. Many other teams around the NFL also have rookies starting for them. The Dolphins went into this season with several holes to fill. Ireland was praised before the draft last year in regards to how many draft picks he was able to gain through trades. This is a season that these rookies and the free agents are expected to turn this team into a winner. I'm just surprised that the rookies have had so little impact on the team so far. Jordan has had two plays of note and Sims caught the one TD pass against the Falcons. Stugis has probably had the biggest impact, but he only gets in for a few plays each game.

    As far as Jordan being on a pitch count. Maybe that's the problem, the coaches think they are involved in a baseball game and they think he is their closer. I think we need to see a lot more from Jordan in the early innings and not just in the ninth inning of the game. Perhaps you would E-mail Philbin and let him know he is coaching a football team, not a baseball team.
     
  14. cuchulainn

    cuchulainn Táin Bó Cúailnge Club Member

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    Reported where? Link...

    Philbin limited last season's rookies until he was comfortable that they understood the offense/defense to his staff's satisfaction and worked them into their roles over the course of the season, with what seemed to be their most playing time in the last quarter of the season. He appears to be doing the same with this season's crop, although injuries have set back Jordan and the two DBs. That said, Sturgis has been a stud, and Jordan has had an impact in every single game, even with the limited snaps.
     
  15. scotty_irnbru

    scotty_irnbru Well-Known Member

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    I think Jordan has shown enough to lose any doubts about his ability, the doubt must be the coaches and their lack of sphericals to put him in. Jordan has enough athleticism to compensate for any lack of playbook knowledge.
     
  16. rafael

    rafael Well-Known Member

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    I've never heard it "reported" that Jordan has trouble with the run unless you count Heath Evans idiot rants before the season. I have heard that the team likes how Shelby sets the edge, but that's more about Shelby being good than about Jordan being a liability in anybody's eyes.

    #1 Rotating OL is clearly a silly idea. The coaches should go with whomever they think is the best, whether that's the current starters or any of the current backups.

    #2 and #4 Sherman needs to adjust. RT is good on the run and that should limit the negative plays. And we lack the mobile blockers on the edge to make the stretch work.

    #3 Jordan should maybe play more but it's all about how his injury is progressing and his knowledge level. That's information we just don't have.

    #5 We need to run more often, but up the middle behind our best lineman. Those dive plays should also have fewer negative plays than the stretch and set up some play action which RT is good at. Both backs should be used. It should be about 2/3 Miller and 1/3 Thomas.

    #6 Doesn't even belong in this thread.
     
  17. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Goodness there is a lack of perspective in this post..

    Here's you, this team blows ***, is a joke, Ireland should be fired yesterday, were gonna be 0 and 5, but I hope to be proven wrong..

    Yeah, I hope so too.
     
  18. mcdave21

    mcdave21 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    In Cameron wakes first yr, he could not set the edge and played only in passing situations. Should we have been worried about him as well?He doesn't get as many snaps as of today because we have a good dline and they obviously want to being him along slowly. I have no issue with this.This team will be in good shape for 2014. A couple of free agent lineman and another rookie class, heavy with olinemen I would think, will put us in much better shape. Time wasn't built in a day and now that we have our franchise qb, we can start to make some noise. Im hoping for 10-6 this yr although 9-7 seems more likely atm. Go Fins!
     
  19. NorFlaFin

    NorFlaFin Active Member

    Trying to be an inside zone running team is a complete waste of everybody's time with OG wearing cement shoes.

    Dallas Thomas? Hes at least a solid year of NFL strength and condition before he should sniff the field.

    BTW: JJ tried rotating OL, look how that worked out.


    BTW2: Lamar Miller can't/won't break an arm tackle to save his NFL career. Unfortunately Daniel Thomas sucks, maybe Thigpen should get a shot.
     

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