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Fool’s Gold?

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by Colmax, Dec 11, 2018.

  1. Colmax

    Colmax Well-Known Member

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    I ask the question: Is Miami ready?

    There are snippets showing great talent and great plays throughout the season. From the high five between Jakeem and Wilson streaking down the sideline, to Fitzpatrick making a stop on 4th down in the red zone against the Titans, to the Miami Miracle. This team has a bunch of highlight reels this year on offense and defense.

    But what about the little things? The dropped passes by receivers. The tackling. The 2nd and long catch by Stills where he gives himself up short of the sticks and Miami doesn’t convert on 3rd down? The lack of pass rush is beyond me!

    You can tally the injuries, and you would certainly have an argument there. Miami has had more than a lion’s share of injuries that inevitably changes game plans on both sides of the ball. For crying out loud, we signed a wideout off the street who is damn near starting! I get it.

    What I don’t get are the things that this team is suppose to do. DeVante’s agent shining his @$$ via Twitter. DeVante comes out and has a nice game. Then he misses a simple cross on a first down that would have made a 2nd and very short. Iirc, Miami went three and out on that drive. Stills, basically calling out his QB by saying he cannot throw himself the ball, and has a boneheaded 2nd and long slide. THAT almost lost the game for Miami.

    Is this team ready for prime time?

    The “put your head down” constant that the team has right now is Ryan Tannehill. Right here, right now, this team (whether you like it or not) has to go through him. He has to lift this team on his shoulders (no pun intended) and win out.

    Can he do it? History tells us probably not. But there is something different about him. There is something that tells me that he has done all of the right things, the little things in his career, to prepare himself for moments like these last three weeks. Quietly, Miami and Ryan Tannehill might be dangerous moving forward. His quiet leadership, playing through injuries, etc., might just rub off on some of these guys helping this team make a run.

    The Miami Miracle was special, but it also might be the catalyst this team needed moving forward. They have to do the little things right. These flash plays do not always win games. They need to do the little things right, and while it’s been awhile, Miami, with that win, might have turned the corner moving into the last few games of the season. Better late than never, and they have a very good chance at finishing with a double-digit number in the win column.

    This team can win. How they go about it moving forward will be the real test....
     
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  2. MonstBlitz

    MonstBlitz Nobody's Fart Catcher

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    I'd say the only thing this team might be ready for is another first round exit from the playoffs. I think that's best case scenario. I'd love to be wrong.
     
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  3. Colmax

    Colmax Well-Known Member

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    I honestly think I’d be okay with that.
     
  4. danmarino

    danmarino Tua is H1M! Club Member

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    With these injuries I'd be extremely happy with a 1 and done in the post season.
     
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  5. aesop

    aesop Well-Known Member

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    This feels like after the win against NE last year. Miami hasn't put together a string of wins since the first 3 weeks.
     
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  6. Mike8272

    Mike8272 Active Member

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    I'd have no issue with that. This team is going through a transition and it would be a good experience for our young talent to play a postseason game. It would also be good to see how Ryan Tannehill handles the postseason. If the guy struggles when the games really matter (i.e. win or go home), then we probably have our answer on whether Tannehill should be our quarterback long term or not. Ok one bad play off game shouldn't kill a career, but at his age and this stage of his career it would likely be a signal for us to bring in a new quarterback to takeover at some point in the near future.
     
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  7. KeyFin

    KeyFin Well-Known Member

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    I do have an issue with that because I think we have a really complete team from top to bottom. Yes, the defense has been in shambles the past several weeks and YES, yesterday was the first time we've scored in the 30's off of offense alone. But if it all comes together...all that stuff we saw early on from the D and the offensive attack mentality we witnessed this past week.....folks, this is a team that can make a deep playoff run.

    Are we 100% where we need to be? No. But I honestly believe that we're closer than we have been in the past decade. I wish we had Grant or Wilson but I honestly don't think we have to have them if RT can play at that level and the D can tighten up.

    Another thing- it was almost a penalty-free day yesterday. No offsides. No neutral zone infractions. No stupid stuff that extended drives. This team is coming around and I don't think it's fools gold at all, I think it's the start of a new legacy in the AFC East.
     
  8. TheHighExhaulted

    TheHighExhaulted Well-Known Member

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    Get in the playoffs. Build a winning culture.
     
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  9. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Good post Max.

    This is the biggest game in three years, what’s on the line is tremendous both for individuals and team..

    That win on Sunday could propel this teams confidence to another level..

    Ryan has not been able to deal with pressure on the road in a hostile environment

    To me that’s inevitably going to happen, we can only hope he sees it better, anticipates it better, and makes a few plays that will make a difference.

    I think the key for him and where it’s gets very Grey to him is the balance between trusting his olinemen and not trusting them too much and be conscious about the escape route.
     
    Last edited: Dec 11, 2018
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  10. Phins_to_Win

    Phins_to_Win Well-Known Member

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    I hope Tannehill is given the opportunity to make plays under the pressure. I'm actually more worried about overly conservative play calling leaving us unsure what might have been...

    Win or lose I hope we see enough of Tannehill to be confident what we are (or are not) with him. Personally I think you can win big with him, as long as we aren't expecting Drew Brees or Arron Rodgers level play. Give him a solid defense a balanced attack and a game plan that keeps the defense guessing, and I think he will surprise a lot of people.
     
  11. Finatik

    Finatik Season Ticket Holder Staff Member Club Member

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    He's under pressure on almost every play. Most of our play makers are on IR (11). So to even get to the playoffs would be a helleva job.
     
  12. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Playoff intensity which this game will have, has a bit more tempo to it, effort level is increased..

    Ryan can throw in a clean pocket with the best of them, he can run and throw to either side with the best of them, his play action game is good..The last thing he must do to lead us to a championship is be able to consciously have a plan when protection breaks down, some players can see from the get when the protection is leaking and do something about it, he’s got to find that zone where that apex is and have a plan..
     
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  13. Colmax

    Colmax Well-Known Member

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    Well, Minny fired their offensive coordinator. HC was complained publicly about not incorporating solid run game.

    What does that mean for Minny? More running, maybe? Not necessarily Miami’s strongsuit in stopping the run.

    Anyhow, I am not sure it changes things much at all, if only in playcalling. The O will still be the same, the tendencies might be just a little different.

    I wonder if the Dolphins can <wink wink> “talk” to DeFilippo about a potential position? Apparently, he was very important to Philly and Carson Wentz having been a QB coach during their Super Bowl run.
     
  14. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    It was their strong suit against the pats, they shut down a previously very good rushing team.
     
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  15. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Raekwon and Kiko played beautifully violent together..
     
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  16. Colmax

    Colmax Well-Known Member

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    Yeah. They’ve been well below average overall, so maybe they’ve turned a corner. We shall see.
     
  17. ExplosionsInDaSky

    ExplosionsInDaSky Well-Known Member

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    I personally remember being hyped up after we beat New England last year. I thought...Damn man..."Why not us? I mean, we just beat the Pats, lets get to the playoffs with Cutler." Thing is we crapped the bed the rest of the season and it made the Patriot game in essence our "super bowl'. Now I feel the same way this year....I feel like that miracle play didn't just happen for us to lose the next three games or worse...finish the season 8-8 or some dumb **** like that. No.....I feel like hopefully that whole sequence was so galvanizing to this team that we go up to Minnesota and find a way to beat them too. We do that and i'll be a believer, but I don't think any of these games are going to come easy. If we do find a way to upset Minnesota it's going to be a nail biter. The same with the Jags game, and the same with the Bills game. These three games are all going to be close cardiac calls in my opinion and when it comes to this team and Adam Gase it really seems to be the only way we win. Ugly....Or nail biting affairs. There are no cakewalks. We can do it, Minnesota is a wounded animal and they are about to cry Uncle. We have momentum, we have some confidence, and we have Kenyan Drake. It can happen.
     
  18. KeyFin

    KeyFin Well-Known Member

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    Here's how I see it- Minnesota is playing bad football at the moment. We should beat them...and we will beat them...possibly in a blowout.

    Jax is coming to Miami and that's always a pretty good game, but I have a lot of confidence there as well. We only lost one at home this year and it was without Tannehill, in a 33-21 shootout that was closer than it seemed. I think we win this one as well.

    The Bills game is the one to fear for 500 different reasons. If we lose to Jax or Minne then it really won't matter much, but if we win those games then we're headed up north on a 4-game win streak and all the confidence in the world. It's winnable and I think we take it for the final playoff slot.
     
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  19. mlb1399

    mlb1399 Well-Known Member

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    The answer is no. We grabbed lightning in a bottle but saw us get stomped against good teams earlier in the season. The only way you can be convinced is these last 3 games.
     
  20. Kud_II

    Kud_II Realist Division

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    I don't think they are real contenders, I wouldnt be shocked if they made the playoffs and lost the first game though. We do that every once in awhile. I also wouldnt be surprised if we lost to anybody on our remaining schedule. Dont forget the Dolphins squeaked by Buffalo the first time. Vikings look like the biggest threat but the Dolphins can't afford to underestimate any team.
     
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  21. Dorfdad

    Dorfdad Well-Known Member

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    No stop it stop the expectations and save yourself. We won the Super Bowl last weekend on a crazy fluke play and it was great and we all celebrated like it was the Super Bowl! Now back to reality we have chance to get into the playoffs with this team of misfit toys! Games in December that matter!!

    However let’s not get ahead of ourselves, we have a ton of issues on all side of the ball, and our coaching still has issues. Gase is not going to be fired that’s given even if he loses the last few games he will get another year which means another year for Ryan as well.

    We are honestly 2-3 years away from real contenders if we fill some key positions. Oline, DE, LB, CB and TE we fill those with actual starting material and we have a chance to rise as the patriots fall back to mediocrity.
     
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  22. TheHighExhaulted

    TheHighExhaulted Well-Known Member

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    2-3 years? Jeez.
     
  23. AGuyNamedAlex

    AGuyNamedAlex Well-Known Member

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    I honestly believe if the offense can jump to an early lead and the defense just makes a stop or two to hold it, we can win this one.

    Our offense could be so much more effective with a lead. I know you can point out the Bengals but that took two defensive TD on their part which isn't likely or
    common most games.

    I really believe Tannehill can shine if the defense is anticipating run for a stretch of time.
     
  24. AGuyNamedAlex

    AGuyNamedAlex Well-Known Member

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    O-Line: When healthy we looked good. We actually have decent backups if they werent asked to start for long stretches. This is a health toss up.

    DE: Agreed

    LB: Could be fixed with one solid veteran addition IMO

    CB: We have Howard and Fitz who sometimes plays corner. I know we need someone opposite Howard but I don't think we are screwed.

    TE: You may be right but we just drafted two guys. I know they havent made a huge immediate impact but a lot of TE don't.

    I honestly think if we were creating consistent pressure and cut a third of the dumb penalties this could be a strong defense. A lot of the problems would disappear with some pass rush.
     
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  25. Sceeto

    Sceeto Well-Known Member

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    Our DEs have to start getting pressure earlier on. The lack of pressure from the DEs has been troubling.
     
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  26. Surfs Up 99

    Surfs Up 99 Team Flores & Team Tua

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    Good point, DJ! It reminds me of myself when it comes to math. Give me a formula, and I can plug and chug with the best of em. However, take that formula away and ask me to improvise and find a solution based on the concepts and stuff I am supposed to know, and I will probably end up with zilch. I know Tannehill is much smarter than I am, and he struggles when he has to deviate from the plan. A lot of QB's do. I hope he is able to take the next step in his development and really comes to understand what defenses are throwing at him and what he has to do given the situation. It's what makes Brady, Brees, Rodgers, and Payton Manning so good. They know what to do in just about every situation and a lot of times make the defense pay.
     
    Last edited: Dec 12, 2018
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  27. Fame

    Fame Well-Known Member

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    It's not wise to get this high/low each week depending on the outcome of one game. This board goes from "FIRE EVERYONE" to "playoffs?" within seconds of each week's final score, and it's ridiculous. I guarantee if that last play hadn't happened and we had lost to the Pats, despite a really strong showing, then the entire board would be up in arms, demanding the head of everyone imaginable.

    We might make the playoffs. We might not. In fact, we probably won't, but it's not the end of the world. We're slowly building a really strong team and next year we'll be better than we were this year...and so on.
     
  28. WestCoast Phins

    WestCoast Phins WestCoast Phins

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    I think this teams success depends 100% on Gase. Tannehill makes all the throws and reads and the defense is, not great but improving. Gase must call a balanced game and know when to make certain calls and not. A 3rd and 1 play action pass when you have been rushing for 4-5 yards per carry is going to sink this team. There is no room for error hear as the defense is not going to stop good offenses. I do like the way they shut down the Pats run however. They scored well against the Pats by mixing up downfield throws and crushing them up front. If this strategy was employed against the Bengals or the Colts, the Phins would be sitting at 9-4 right now and cruising. Gase is their main limiting factor.
     
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  29. KeyFin

    KeyFin Well-Known Member

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    Look, if we get to the playoffs and lose, then so be it....we lose. I can deal with that.

    But what if we win? Entering the playoffs, you're 3 games out from the Super Bowl. Any team can beat anybody on any given Sunday, and I'll take those playoff odds every day of the week. Tannehill has looked great these past few weeks and out defense has so much stupid potential....that's all I need to call us Super Bowl contenders.

    Because again, if we lose......then oh well, we lost. A few wins would mean the world though and if a few things fall into place....
     
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  30. WestCoast Phins

    WestCoast Phins WestCoast Phins

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    The real difference between this year and last is that Miami's offense can be way more balanced and complete. IF Gase calls a balanced offense. They must throw downfield as well as run the ball. With balance, I think Miami has the team to be an offensive power but if Gase continues to run the ball on 3rd and 15 or giving up on a series because of an early holding penalty, then Miami is very average.
     
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  31. Dorfdad

    Dorfdad Well-Known Member

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    the problem with the DOlphins is they don't consistently do anything well. We have no single side of the ball that we can count on every week. It's russion roulette which offense or defense or special teams units show up. Until we can consistently get a solid performance week in and out we are not contenders. I still think were 1-2 years away from that.
     
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  32. AGuyNamedAlex

    AGuyNamedAlex Well-Known Member

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    Totally agree.

    As I was writing my previous post it got me thinking how good this team could actually be with smart additions in the offseason.
     
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