1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

What is our identity?

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by Alex44, Sep 22, 2014.

  1. Alex44

    Alex44 Boshosaurus Rex

    20,810
    8,965
    0
    Jan 7, 2008
    Hollywood, Florida
    One issue I have is that our team doesn't have an identity on offense or defense really.

    Are we a passing team? We aren't good enough at it to be.

    Are we a running team? We dodon't stick with it.

    Do we stop the pass? Not really so far.

    Do we stop the run? Sometimes.

    I feel this is a huge issue with our team. If Philbin has a vision we haven't built around it well. Being good in all phased is great but every great team has that one thing they do well against almost everyone.

    For discussion, with this group of players what SHOULD our identity be?
     
    firedan and DeDolfan like this.
  2. Dorfdad

    Dorfdad Well-Known Member

    4,052
    2,347
    113
    Dec 9, 2007
    Same as last 10 years. INCONSISTENT sadly that's it.

    We dont do anything well. One game defense shows up and the next were gutted. One game offense looks good next 3 it looks like high school ball.

    We have no IDENTITY.

    It should be defensive football with the talent on the line but our middle linebackers, safeties, and coordinator will never allow this defense to achieve that status.
     
    DeDolfan likes this.
  3. Disgustipate

    Disgustipate Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    31,608
    55,632
    113
    Nov 25, 2007
    Identity is more of a valuable concept for fan understanding than it is successful football. You can't find what you do well and do it to the exclusion of what you do poorly. You've got to do it all regardless, and good coaching is marked by things occurring on a much smaller level than "team runs ball a lot"
     
  4. LI phinfan

    LI phinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    1,846
    1,771
    113
    Nov 6, 2013
    It might be easier to describe the idenity we DO NOT have...We are not a PHYSICAL team. On both sides of the ball, we are finesse. We are reactive instead of proactive. We do not fly to the ball on defense. On offense we are conservative in nature. Almost afraid to make a mistake. We play without much emotion. Take away Moreno's fire in one game with us, We are flat and it seems like we are just going through the motions. Each critical moment of the game ,whether it is offense or defense, is too big a moment for anyone to step up and make a play. We really do not have a "face" of the franchise nor do we have a dominant "personality" of a HC.
     
  5. Pagan

    Pagan Metal & a Mustang

    20,329
    39,767
    113
    Mar 22, 2008
    Newburgh, NY
    We're a team with no balls. That's our identity. And no clue either.

    Running the ball down KC's throat all game, then trying two passes on 2nd and one to go three and out. Hartline taking a stupid ****ing penalty by "golfing" and Philbin standing there like a deer in the headlights instead of ripping him a new one.

    Souless, gutless, and spineless. Nothing has changed.
     
    Tin Indian likes this.
  6. DeDolfan

    DeDolfan Premium Member Luxury Box

    19,406
    10,985
    0
    Nov 23, 2007
    Rehoboth Beach
    We have no identity. We won't have until we have real leaders on the team. leading starts with the coaches and we have none there whatsoever. Philbin has no expressions at all. His expression is always the same regardless of what just happened. That bleeds over onto the players. Look back at game 1. Moreno definitely fired the whole team up. We were in it. His play spoke for itself. Then the next week, he goes down to an injury, his leadership along with it and it has remained since. Good teams have other players that step up into that role but we apparently have none.
     
  7. Phinsoverpats

    Phinsoverpats New Member

    128
    16
    0
    Sep 22, 2013

    This is is the dolphins identity they are consistently inconsistent....every year in the offseason the hype around this team is always high. Everyones optimist about the upcoming season & then by the bye week everyone looking toward the offseason
     
  8. Alex44

    Alex44 Boshosaurus Rex

    20,810
    8,965
    0
    Jan 7, 2008
    Hollywood, Florida
    Of course you want to be good in all phases and noone doubts that. However look at all the great teams.

    With New Orleans its been about Drew Brees and the anticipation passing game down field with Jimmy Graham. With Denver its the Peyton Manning system. New England has always been about the short passibg game mounting long drives.

    Every team has a strength they look to exploit. There is no such thing as a perfectly balanced team.
     
  9. padre31

    padre31 Premium Member Luxury Box

    99,377
    37,301
    0
    Nov 22, 2007
    inching to 100k posts
    ATM we are a team with no leadership, that is what Moreno was providing.
     
    DeDolfan and djphinfan like this.
  10. Rocky Raccoon

    Rocky Raccoon Greasepaint Ghost Staff Member

    30,224
    36,965
    113
    Dec 2, 2007
    Jersey
    Baltimore comes to mind. A team that has a QB that isn't elite but can win you games when need be. A team that relies on being able to run the football and a team that plays good defense.
     
  11. Alex13

    Alex13 Tua Time !!! Club Member

    25,809
    39,060
    113
    Dec 21, 2007
    Berlin,Germany
    i would say its called "stay away from what is working"

    this coaching staff really has me frustrated, Chris McCain blocks a punt and has a sack in his first professional football game, after he went undrafted, then he gets 0 snaps at Buffalo and yesterday he played 2 snaps, what is this coaching staff thinking ? afraid he is a liability in coverage...LOL , then there is that stubborness towards Dion JordanĀ“s role with this team, the weight gain, that bull**** they pulled on shelley smith with that center experiment early in camp.

    the only bright spot is John Benton, imo
     
    DeDolfan likes this.
  12. phinswolverinesrockets

    phinswolverinesrockets If he dies, he dies

    3,807
    1,282
    113
    Oct 31, 2013
    Houston
    We average 5.2 yards per rushing attempt. That is #2 in the NFL, only behind Pittsburgh who topped us last night.

    We average 5.08 yards per pass attempt. And, we are only completing 56.5% of our passes.

    Let that sink in. We have the worst passing offense in the NFL. That is not hyperbole....THAT IS FACT. 5.08 yards per passing attempt is dead last, even behind Oakland. The 56.5% completion rate is ranked 30th in the NFL.

    LET THAT F'N SINK IN FOR A MOMENT!!!

    We are passing a lot more than we are running. WHY??????????
     
  13. Alex13

    Alex13 Tua Time !!! Club Member

    25,809
    39,060
    113
    Dec 21, 2007
    Berlin,Germany
    i think in the end, thats what philbin likes to do, pass pass pass, even if its ****ing 2 and 1 but on 3rd and 10 all of a sudden, they think a draw play might be a good idea...disgusting
     
  14. padre31

    padre31 Premium Member Luxury Box

    99,377
    37,301
    0
    Nov 22, 2007
    inching to 100k posts
    Love THill, it is becoming obvious that he is not clicking in this system
     
  15. phinswolverinesrockets

    phinswolverinesrockets If he dies, he dies

    3,807
    1,282
    113
    Oct 31, 2013
    Houston
    We have 124 passing attempts through 3 games. That is #2 in the NFL.

    We suck at passing, yet we continue to try it at a ridiculous rate.
     
  16. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    111,651
    67,546
    113
    Dec 20, 2007
    he actually doesn't, he would prefer to run 30 times a game, "I would love to run 30 times a game."
     
  17. Tone_E

    Tone_E Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    13,777
    7,574
    113
    Dec 8, 2007
    We've been playing from behind all three games due to poor offensive starts. That can't be ignored. When you are behind you pass more. C'mon coach, you know that isn't unreasonable. Before you answer, just remember hindsight is 20/20. It is easy to say we should've stuck to our game plan and run anyway, etc. etc. but when in that positon most coaches would be more inclined to pass more than run.

    Also IMO our YPC on the runs are inflated due garbage time runs (see drive against Buffalo), the fact that teams really don't respect our run game (and we still can't break long runs), our spread formations, etc.
     
  18. brandon27

    brandon27 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    45,652
    19,304
    113
    Dec 3, 2007
    Windsor, ON. CANADA
    We have no identity. Which really doesn't surprise me because our head coach seems to have no personality, or vision for where he wants his team to go. If he does have one, nobody's ever heard it, or bought into it by the looks of things.
     
    DeDolfan likes this.
  19. SkapePhin

    SkapePhin sigpicz.blogspot.com

    588
    479
    63
    Jan 3, 2008
    Fort Lauderdale
    This is our identity under Philbin...

    [​IMG]
     
    Pagan and DeDolfan like this.
  20. heylookatme

    heylookatme Well-Known Member

    902
    438
    63
    Sep 12, 2012
    It seems to me that our identity is to try to be a ball control offense that relies on the short passing game to score, takes the lead, and then attacks the opposing quarterback. Unfortunately, we are not good enough in the passing game to make this a reality.
     
  21. phinswolverinesrockets

    phinswolverinesrockets If he dies, he dies

    3,807
    1,282
    113
    Oct 31, 2013
    Houston
    Why are we always playing from behind? Because we are throwing the ball too much instead of starting the game off just running down teams throats. We were losing to the Pats in week 1 at halftime. Did we panic and start throwing the ball more? Nope. We stuck with what we do best...we ran the hell out of Moreno and Miller the second half. If we take a look at each quarter of all 3 games:

    1st quarter - 20 pass attempts vs 14 rushing attempts
    2nd quarter - 27 pass attempts vs 23 rushing attempts
    3rd quarter - 36 pass attempts vs 22 rushing attempts
    4th quarter - 41 pass attempts vs 20 rushing attempts

    During our only win, we only had 32 total pass attempts vs 38 rushing attempts. This is clearly the formula we need to get this offense going. During our 2 losses, we are averaging 21 rushing attempts vs 46 passing attempts. It's almost like we were trying to lose the last two weeks. We completely abandoned the winning formula from game 1.

    As for your garbage time runs theory, it's actually the total opposite. We average over 5 yards per attempt in every quarter except the 4th quarter. We barely average over 3.5 yards per carry in the 4th quarter. When the games are close in the first 3 quarters, we average 5.6 yards per carry.
     
    heylookatme and Tone_E like this.
  22. Tone_E

    Tone_E Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    13,777
    7,574
    113
    Dec 8, 2007
    Valid points and I agree that we are playing from behind because we are avoiding the run game. I should have been more specific clarifying that when I meant "poor offensive starts" it did agree that we didn't run enough early. The garbage time I was referring to was end of 2nd quarter in Buffalo game where they just let us run and waste all our full two minutes without taking one of our three available time outs. That padded our stats with how many yards? Anyways, small point, it doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things. Bottom line we aren't running enough, especially considering how woeful the passing game has been. 4 or 5 wide against a blitz and I didn't see one hot route.

    Maybe our coaches are hitting panic mode and scared to go three and out with run>run>pass but feel better with themselves passing twice with the idea that they tried. I don't know. What I do know is this team has no identity because I think we have a tentative, reactionary, and unsure coaching staff and culture. Our team plays like it.
     
  23. heylookatme

    heylookatme Well-Known Member

    902
    438
    63
    Sep 12, 2012
    Do you know which 3 NFL teams were dead last in pass attempts per game last season?

    #30: Carolina Panthers (12-4) - 18th in the NFL in scoring. They kept running the football even when they were behind in games.

    #31: San Francisco 49ers (12-4) - 11th in the NFL in scoring. Check out the box scores on that team last year. When you see lots of play narrations beginning with "Colin Kaepernick," that was probably one of their losses.

    #32: Seattle Seahawks (13-3) - 8th in scoring. This team has a good quarterback and still relied on their rushing game more than any other team in the NFL.

    3 teams that were actually able to throw the ball efficiently, yet all rushed it as much as possible. We can't throw the ball worth a damn and we still go out there tossing it 2:1 against rushes. Mind-bending.
     
  24. Alex44

    Alex44 Boshosaurus Rex

    20,810
    8,965
    0
    Jan 7, 2008
    Hollywood, Florida
    Glad this thread turned out to have some constructive talk instead of all gloom and doom. Thanks guys.
     
  25. UK Fins Fan

    UK Fins Fan Member

    60
    8
    8
    Sep 6, 2014
    Teams worse than the Dolphins:

    Raiders, Jags, Rams, Bucs, Vikings (w/o AP)

    27th in NFL, I think.
     
  26. Tin Indian

    Tin Indian Rockin' The Bottom End Club Member

    7,929
    4,404
    113
    Feb 10, 2010
    Palm Bay Florida
    I hear you loud and clear. The play calling is whacked. 2 and 1 and we pass both downs when our RB is having a career game and averaging over 7 per carry.
     
  27. Alex44

    Alex44 Boshosaurus Rex

    20,810
    8,965
    0
    Jan 7, 2008
    Hollywood, Florida
    Tannehill has a run/pass option before every snap based in the defense he sees. Blame him too at least.
     
  28. UK Fins Fan

    UK Fins Fan Member

    60
    8
    8
    Sep 6, 2014
    our identity = suckage
     
  29. Colmax

    Colmax Well-Known Member

    5,126
    3,241
    113
    Dec 12, 2007
    Miami runs the ball well. That's good. They can work with that. I think we would have begged for a running game last year with Tannehill's ability to pass. We do know Tannehill has that ability. Do you guys not realize how difficult it must be to install an ENTIRELY NEW OFFENSIVE SYSTEM with the hopes of it being successful? Geez, it's three games. Let the system work itself out. They have to learn on the job, and in the NFL, that job is week-to-week and the learning has to be fast, sometimes to a fault.

    Miami was dealt a big blow when Moreno went down. The feeling of air being let out of a balloon was palatable, but the balloon didn't pop. I was pleasantly surprised at Lamar Miller's performance yesterday. So we have that.

    The past couple of years under Philbin, he stressed keeping D-lineman from getting up and batting down balls. Well, it's happening again. There was a time last year where that didn't seem to be a problem. That can be fixed. We see Wallace having a bigger route tree. That was a problem before. Now he is becoming more adept at it. The Clay thing may be because of injury. You have a legitimate playmaker in Clay, and he is not being utilized in this system that stresses getting the ball to your playmakers? I think he is still harboring the knee injury and they are slowly working him in.

    Was the Wake covering McKnight thing a mistake? Sure as hell. Kansas City had a great play. It's going to happen. Could have been a little lack of confidence in the LB Corps covering a guy like that. Quite honestly, outside of some elite guys, who else are you going to put on a guy like that? I think Wake's lack of pushing him off the route at the LOS had a lot to do with it as well. We see Trusnik looked a bit confused and was late hitting the flats on the second TD. And quite honestly, I thought Trusnik had a solid game in the trenches.

    Miami is missing two STARTING LBs right now. That's gotta be tough. It affects scheme BIG TIME. Bad enough when you lose one starter, but two?? If the backups were good, they'd be starters. People ask about McCain. What do you do with a guy like that, save for a blitz here and there? And then what? The offense keys on it, goes for a quick out and you're playing a numbers game because of the blitz. Are you going to put him in over Wake or Vernon on passing downs? No doubt the guy is athletic as hell, but give it a rest. He is an undrafted rookie with limited NFL experience. Can he set the edge on run plays? Does he even understand the defensive scheme and it's idiosyncracies enough to put him on an athletic TE? TEs with experience would eat him for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! Even the best 'backers cannot keep up with those guys.

    I understand the frustrations. I admit, I am completely off the Tannehill train now (with hopes he can get better), but this is a process. I said this earlier before the season that I was afraid that Tannehill may be one of those first-round QBs who seems to have the ability, but never lives up to expectations. Game manager anyone?? And he cannot even do that well enough. I am not sure that he will ever get comfortable enough to take that next step. Maybe he will be a Rich Gannon? Quite possible, but I think his lack of pocket awareness (regardless of how little time he is sometimes given) will be his downfall. He plays with two left feet in the pocket. His first step when he tries to escape is slow. While he is fast in a straight line (showcased yesterday on the end-around to Wallace), he does not have that juke factor inside the pocket, and it takes him a bit to get going. Really unfortunate. I thought he'd be the one. I'm giving him the year to prove it, but I think I have seen enough......

    While this is just a bunch of rambling, I do think this team has a plan. Yes, the players are pissed. Do you not think the coaches are pissed as well? Look, Philbin isn't going to come out to the media and tell them that Tannehill is the issue. You have a QB who has not shown he is the leader, or has yet to prove he can pick this team up and carry them on his shoulders. Tannehill can say what he want, but he is not picking up this system well at all. No fire. I have yet to see him and Wallace genuinely hug it up after a TD. Truthfully, I do not think he has the respect of Wallace. Not really a good thing. They do not have to be beer drinking buddies, but they have to respect one another on the field. I do not see it. He's a former wideout who was lauded by Gruden on how he can communicate to the receivers on what he wants when a play is run. WHY HAVEN'T WE SEEN THAT FROM HIM?? He seems to not give direction or communicate well.

    I am not sure you can really teach those qualities. If he did well, but was not really "the guy", guys would rally behind him because he's doing his job. But he ain't, so they ain't. You have a situation that may not work itself out. All of these things should've been ironed out in the off-season. It was not.

    Fair or not, the leader of your team is the QB, and our QB is just not good enough in many departments. Yes, he flashes, and then turns off the red light. He's a tease. His play mirrors my golf game. I can have 4 pars in a row, and then shoot a 9 on one of the easiest holes on the course.

    So there, a bunch of stuff, but in the end, I think it boils down to Tannehill not being good enough, as displayed yesterday. Wrong depth in a route or not, you throw it to the open guy. Marino did that. Tannehill is not.
     
    Alex44 likes this.
  30. BigDogsHunt

    BigDogsHunt Enough talk...prove it!

    22,422
    9,819
    0
    Nov 27, 2007
    DC Metro Area
    Our identity is Ross....nuff said.
     
  31. Sceeto

    Sceeto Well-Known Member

    13,501
    6,246
    113
    Oct 13, 2008
    New York
    Identity theft.
     
  32. Griese's Glasses

    Griese's Glasses Well-Known Member

    1,388
    438
    83
    Oct 16, 2013
    Ottawa, ON
    At least last year we had an identity. We were "That team with the garbage bully OL and that really good punter." Wake and Grimes were our crown jewels.

    This year? Sure Wake is still a beast but under Coyle he is starting to lose his nerve....Grimesy? Fieldsy? We had Moreno for 1 ****ing game that was that.

    Our identity is confusion. We, and the players and coaches, go from one game to the next not knowing what the hell is going on.
     
    Alex44 likes this.
  33. jw3102

    jw3102 season ticket holder

    7,760
    3,486
    113
    Sep 4, 2010
    Maui, Hawaii
    I have no idea why any one would question the identity of the Dolphins.

    I think their identity has been clearly defined over the past five plus seasons. In fact if you look up the term mediocre in the dictionary, I have no doubt you will see a picture of the Dolphins to explain the definition of the word.

    Mediocre players, mediocre coaches, mediocre records and a very mediocre owner clearly identifies this entire organization as simply MEDIOCRE. That has been this organization and teams identity since Ross began the majority owner and it appears nothing has changed this year.
     

Share This Page