I started to write this yesterday at 4PM when the game ended, but then thought- what's the point? We all knew the Fins would beat the Jets and we didn't expect for it to be a close game. The score did end up being close at the end but Miami was in control for the vast majority of the day.
So instead of giving in-depth analysis, here are a few random thoughts I took from the game-
- Our kicking game is way off this year and I don't understand why. The Jets missed two field goals though.
- On defense, we played fairly well and Flacco also did admirably against the cover zero. Their deep score shows why you don't play cover zero in close games- one missed tackle can easily lead to a TD. But that also shows how much confidence we have in our corners to always make the tackle.
- On offense, Tua was very conservative and efficient. He did have a pick on a ball that sailed, but he also had a few deeper passes as well. I am happy with the offense at the moment since they can move the chains reliably with the RPO and short passes.
- Also on offense, the line does not seem to be improving much. There were a couple of clean pockets yesterday but they're still few and far between.
- However, it was really nice seeing the final drive and us running the football the length of the field. I want to give credit where it's due, but I also know the Jets struggle to stop the run (and the pass). It was good to see but far too early to say we've found our run game.
- Not sure you guys caught it, but after the 3rd quarter score, Gaskin handed the ball to Robert Hunt to spike. For me that was one of the biggest feel-good moments of the game...the big man finally got himself a proper celebration.
- Overall, it was our 3rd straight win and I think this team is finding their stride, although it's unfortunate that its coming so late in the season. I'll point back to four close losses we could have/would have/should have won and completely collapsed late in the 4th...all this is really too little, too late but it's still nice to see the development.
Additionally, now's a good time to start paying attention to the 49ers since that's the 1st rounder we have. If we end the season with a better record than them (they currently have 5 wins) then it was a good idea to make the pick swap. I see us winning 8 or 9 games this year- I think we'll lose to the Titans and beat everyone else (including the Pats).
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There is literally no certainty when it comes to the dolphins lol. For sure at halftime I know most fans probably thought we would lose. Im kinda conflicted at this point. I want wins since we don’t own our 1st round pick. However, if we go on a big run here and still miss the playoffs and we keep this front office because of it then ill be mad.
Side note - it feels like they dont trust tua in the redzone at all. I cant be the only one annoyed with redzone play calling.KeyFin likes this. -
The only way we make the playoffs is to win out...and with our luck we'd have Buffalo in the 1st round. At this point though, I'm starting to wonder if NE isn't going to take the division and I think we can beat NE in the playoffs. I don't think we can win all six though with the state our offense is in....they'd have to make some major strides in the next few weeks.
Yeah, the redzone stuff is getting frustrating and they don't trust him to throw over the middle. I love a good gimmick play as much as anyone but lately, I have been a little confused by their frequency. The occasional wildcat plays drive me crazy and then the reverses with pitches and passes on top of it all just doesn't make sense...not when we can dink our way all the way down the field pretty consistently. -
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Glad for the win, but I'm still disappointed we couldn't put up more than 24 points on offense. The Jets have the WORST defense in the NFL, giving up 32 points per game. Our offense is still below average, and if we're going to win out that has to improve in the next few games before we face some strong teams at the end.
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It’s amazing how much of a sh** show our OL is. That’s the disappointing part to me, it’s like they’ve made no or very little progress. Eichenberg is playing worse than Jackson was and that’s saying something. I think he needs to be at RT longer term. Jackson has played himself out of the starting lineup. I think priority 1 this off-season is shoring this up.
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Yeah I agree, but if Grier/Flores are smart they do that by hiring new OL coaches, not spending wildly on FA. We've had talent on OL before and still not seen one that gives the QB a decent amount of time. This is more on the coaches than the players IMO, though I'm fully on board with spending some higher draft picks on OL.JJ_79 likes this.
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I disagree about Jackson not improving. He is looking better in the last few games. However, he isn't looking good.KeyFin likes this.
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Yeah, he stopped cosplaying a Spanish bullfighter, but im not going to call him good.Dol-Fan Dupree likes this.
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yeah, they can deny it all they want but the watson stuff really put a dent in this team.Two Tacos likes this.
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I think that the offensive line is essentially the disease, and a lot of our other problems are the symptoms. I think that we have to play ultra conservative and rely on short passes because our line cannot block long enough to set those plays up. When we are in third and long, we are bringing in an extra blocker whether it be a TE or a blocking RB (Brown did this a lot early on). What is the cost of this? One fewer receiving option. So now the opposing LBS/DBS are covering one less person making their jobs easier.
A poor line causes other things to happen to Tua - rushed passes, forced throws, not getting through his progressions, throwing from awkward positions, etc.
Like KeyFin said, the line does not appear to be getting any better either. Sometimes simple analysis can be accurate analysis. I don't think these guys are very good. Unfortunately, I think that means that there is no immediate solution for this problem in sight. -
Fix the O line, keep the offense on the field, find a way to run the football and everything is going to get a lot better for the entire team. This defense IS good enough to compete at the highest level. It's just not doing it because it's been on the field so much. I feel like football is a game of momentum. When a defense holds serve and puts the offense back on the field only to have the offense go 3 and out, it can be emotionally draining. I can only imagine the frustration with something like that.
As for the game itself, it was the Jets, it was a division game and I guess anything could have happened, but we have owned them over the last couple of years. Beating them was like finding something cool in the bargain bin. You're proud you did it, feels good to get a deal on something you needed, but it's not exactly a dream come true. It is however, a confidence booster none the less. The more we get used to winning, the more confident this team is going to be and the more competitive it's going to be. Momentum is on our side at the moment, but Carolina is going to be a hell of a test. They have beat our asses the last few times we've played them. If we can beat them, i'll start to believe.KeyFin and Dol-Fan Dupree like this.