From the article: Flores said some of the team’s rookies have played better and are further along than others but likes all of their work ethic. The team’s top seven draft picks all played a lot Sunday and “they’ve all earned that opportunity.” When have you had that happen with a Dolphins team. All contributing. I think it goes back to Flores being a scout early in his career.
As for not implementing the no huddle consistently, I’m not sure I agree with Flores’ stance on this. If it works, then use it. I understand the need to adjust to teams you’re playing however, I’m one of those who believe you make the other team adjust to you! If we’re running the ball up and down the field on no huddle, then make the Chiefs have to adjust. If it doesn’t work, then we make the adjustment. I just want other teams to be looking in their calendar and say “oh crap, we’re playing the Fins”
Right now the Miami Dolphins are one of the youngest teams in the league and just went through two seasons of history churn. With a young inexperienced team with some new coaches with a rookie QB that spent most of the offseason rehabbing a terrible injury to his hip, Miami is a legit 8-4 team. I think Miami is on their way to becoming such a team.
The offense is making do with what they have right now. A rookie QB, three rookies on the OL, and a very young and very thin group at both WR and RB. Its hard. But I would really like them to move in the opposite direction of the no huddle if possible. Slow things down. Keep an extra blocker in to protect Tua instead of going 5 wide so often. Run routes that take a few more seconds to develop, but are more likely to result in an easier pass for Tua to make for a completion. And get a lot more first downs and third down conversions.
Maybe start off a game in the no-huddle, even if the other team had the ball first (and didn't sustain a long drive)? He looked like a completely different QB in no-huddle...I mean, it was stark. In command, showing presence, making great decisions, accurate, not overwhelmed. First play of his that really has me hyped up, except a few moments in the Arizona game. Would LOVE to see more, if they feel it's situationally warranted.
So my issue is this. We didnt "unleash" Tua. We have been running plays that are meant to be "downfield" throws and using all the same concepts we did second half for the most part. The hurry up might have helped but the scheme was more or less the same, we just executed.
https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/...-the-universal-cure-for-every-ailing-offense/ "In the second half of the Dolphins’ 19-7 Week 13 win over the Bengals, offensive coordinator Chan Gailey was trying to get rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa out of the mud. Tagovailoa had missed the team’s Week 12 game with a thumb injury, and his Week 11 performance against the Broncos was the worst of Tagovailoa’s short NFL career. What did Gailey do? He presented Cincinnati’s defense with all kinds of different looks out of a much higher no-huddle rate."