They are a half a game out of a wildcard spot.

 

I am a fan of the team. I want them to try to win.

 

Give Fales a shot. See what he's got.

 

This mindset of tanking the season for a higher draft spot is silly. It is willful losing, it is accepting defeat, it perpetuates losing and accepts mediocrity.

If you never try to overcome, if you never try to win then losing becomes second nature and the sting of loss doesn’t hurt as much.

No thank you. Never surrender, never give in, give your all. If you lose and you gave your all, then you were defeated, you didn’t quit but if you quit before you even tried, then you don’t deserve to ever win

 

It all really depends on the health of Ryan Tannehill. That's the huge question that needs to be answered over the bye. If RT is looking like he's healthier, even if he can't start vs the Colts, then I think you keep going with Brock and try to stay afloat by hopefully winning razor tight games.

However, if RT isn't getting better and will need to be shut down, then we should switch to Fales for the final six games. See what he can do, and maybe there's a small chance he's good enough to be a one year solution at QB in 2019 before we try and get a permenant solution later on. If he proves that he isn't good enough, then that clears that up as well.

Beyond that on offense, it now looks like in addition to Wilson, we'll be without Parker and maybe Grant the rest of this year at WR. Its Kenny Stills, Danny Amendola and a bunch of nothing after that. The team needs to take the next two weeks to get Mike Gesicki ready to be a WR the rest of the way, honestly. He can't block right now, and we desperately need him as a pass catcher.

Gase needs to seriously adjust what he's asking the offense to do, and needs to craft a game plan that focuses on running the ball with Drake and Gore, and putting the healthy pass catchers who are left in the best position to make catches and move the chains. Forget about deep plays, forget about YAC, just catch the ball.

The secondary and linebackers have young players who need time on the field to learn and get better, but I'm hopeful for them going into the future. The DL, not so much. I honestly think that the line needs to be mostly cleaned out and switched over before next season.

 

Exactly- it's possible that 9 wins could earn a Wildcard slot and we have 4 weaker opponents left. It's also possible that we get 3 linemen and Tannehill back for the next game. There's no way I'd go for intentionally tanking games when we're in a position to make the playoffs.

 

I 100% agree- but I don't think Gase goes this route. He's too loyal to his QBs....it's almost his kryptonite. I'd start Fales regardless until RT is ready to go.

 

No, not sort of. Even how you describe it, if Gase were to put in lower caliber players, he is intentionally putting the team in a losing position.

It’s not just the players that play the game. The coaches do too. You’re suggesting the coaches, the LEADERS of the team tank the season. If out coaches we’re to do that then I would be SCREAMING for Gase to be fired...even if it serves the desires of those who want the Dolphins to tank the season

 

I agree with this except for a couple of things.

First, I think Fales should be playing right now no matter what. We know that Brock isn't any good. I want to see what Fales can do. I really wish Falk wasn't on IR and he could come in and show what he can do. However, I don't have much optimism about either guy and don't even think either one will be much better than BO.

Second, Gase called a good game yesterday. In fact, he's called a lot of good games this season. Injuries (not Gase's fault), youth(not Gase's fault), and undisciplined play (most likely Gase's fault), are the biggest reason this team is not 7-3 or better right now.

To answer the OP's questions:

1. I want them to win out and go 11-5
2. I think if RT comes back next week (which I doubt) they can end up 9-7 or maybe 10-6. I think they end up 7-9
3. I never want to see the Dolphins give up.

 

It really depends on security. Gase will only "tank" if he knows doing so will not hurt his position with management and his role on the team.

The big issue then becomes, even if he is told both he will return and that he needs to tank, how much of the fanbase would turn on him if we go 1-5 or 0-6 and would Ross accept a fan revolt?

The most likely answer is that we play the guys the staff thinks give us the best shot. Even if we lose every other game, there are so many godawful teams we will still not have a top pick. The only bonus is that among the garbage, only the Giants have a clear and pressing need for QB.

 

Gase won't "tank". Why would he? His job is on the line. But it would be the best for the franchise to do so.

 

I hate to say it but I see us finishing 2-4.

I was looking at our past drafts and we have just been plagued with horrible drafting outside of this year and 2016. Problem is you can’t have complete busts like 2017, 2013, 2015 and 2014(in terms of players still on this roster).

 

I'm sick of Gase calling the plays. Gore had 13 carries for 90 yards. Freaking run him.

 

I want them to win, not a fan of the thought of tanking. I know we are right in the thick of the race for a playoff spot, but the reality is with all the injuries we've had this, every game it's someone else, I just don't see how it is possible. The interior offensive line is atrocious and at this point we just don't have a QB on this roster. Yes I am throwing the towel in on Thill.

Anyway, I want them to win, I just don't think they will.

 

I simply can't root for the Dolphins to lose, but knowing we get a better draft position helps me rationalize a loss. Asking a Coach to tank is a bad idea and giving players the idea that losing is 'okay' is a bad precedent to set.

Now, we need spark on offense. Fales might provide that, and defenses won't know him like they know Brock at this point. Give Fales the bye-week to get familiar with the starters (those that are left anyway) and see how it goes. If Tanny actually gets healthy, then you can start him again, but I'm writing him off for the rest of this season until proven otherwise.

If Gase sticks with Brock I think we can beat the Bills at home, but that will probably be the final win of this season. If Fales comes in and provides that spark, we could win both Buffalo games and maybe one of Colts or Jags.

If I was Gase, I'd sit down with Ross and say that injuries have ruined this season for Miami. Tanny is now a big question mark, so we need to draft a QB in 2019 to develop. Tanny or Brock/Fales can start until the rookie is ready (preferably he gets a full or at least half a season to sit and learn). The awkward part will be Gase asking for a contract extension through 2021. If he doesn't get that, then Gase is all in on Tanny coming back healthy and that he finally clicks in this offense.

 

Some of you people have to get the idea of "tanking" out of your head. It doesn't exist in the NFL.

 

That "Suck for Luck" competition kind of changed my mind on this. VERY hard to go from a consistent 10+ win team with Peyton Manning, then suddenly in 2011 win only 2 games, then suddenly with Luck go back to 3 consecutive 11-win seasons if you're not tanking.

I used to think like you do but that experience changed my mind a bit. We do know it happens in other sports.

 

Yes, it was blatant tanking by the Colts to get Luck. Or rather they never made any moves to improve a team that was carried by Manning most every year. They have mostly wasted the prime of Luck's career though, so the idea of getting your QB and building around him still needs competent drafting to work. Feels like justice for them tanking.

 

As a fan of this team I want a complete failure to happen. That’s sounds anti Dolphins but I’m serious. This team has issues well beyond players. I want Gase gone or at least mandated that he is no longer the okay caller. I want a proven defensive coordinator. I want someone to address the offensive line ASP without this it doesn’t matter who the QB is you won’t win. I want a system that works with your players and not a system where you have to have perfect fits in to work.

And Most of all I want Ross to treat this team as something other than a damn investment.

 

I think we'll be 7-8 going in to the final game (losses to Colts (a), Pats (h), Vikes (a); wins vs Bills and Jags at home in next 5)

7-9/8-8 is right about where most of us feared we'd end up.

Plus ca change...

 

This is how I feel. I ALWAYS want us to win. Tanking games is never fun.
I see two scenarios playing out.....We're basically going to go 10-6 or 7-9.

One Scenario,
At Colts- Indy is on the rise and Luck is looking like his old self. Thing is.....We always play them tough and that is a 50/50 game in my opinion. They have benefited from a crappy schedule so I think we can beat them. 6-5

Bills- We can beat the Bills at home. I think this will be close. I like Matt Barkley starting for them the rest of the way, but we can beat them. 7-5

Patriots- A must win if we want to make the playoffs. Osweiler will have to play the game of his life and we will need Kenyan Drake to somehow show up like he did last year. If we can beat them, I like our chances at the postseason 8-5

At Vikings- At this point, we will be riding a hot streak and people will be talking about us. We will go to Minnesota in what will be a pivotal game for both teams. The Vikings are going to crap all over us though and we go crashing back to reality. 8-6

Jaguars- The Jags are cooked at this point. Last season is forgotten and they are struggling. They will crawl through the rest of this season and at this point...This is a game we should win. I wouldn't have said that to start the year, but that's the NFL. 9-6

At Bills- SO here it is....Last game of the year....In Buffalo....Season on the line...Win and we are in. Lose and we don't go to the postseason. Somehow....someway....we win this and go 10-6

The other scenario,
At Colts- Indy blows the doors off of us, Osweiler throws two picks and hurts his shoulder too. Fales finishes the game. 5-6
.
Bills- Talk of Tannehill playing is quickly dismissed and we are forced into action with David Fales as our guy. Fales doesn't play well, but we win a tight ugly game to go 6-6.

Patriots- Tom Brady is surgical for two quarters and that is all he needs as the Pats blow us off the field in a 42-10 shellacking! Fales sucks at this point. Assweiler is out for the year, and we shut Tannehill down as well. We also lose Minkah Fitzpatrick to a torn ACL in this game. 6-7

At Vikings- At this point, we are basically packing it in. We aren't mathematically eliminated, but a loss here cements our status as mediocre garbage once again. Kirk Cousins is masterful while Fales throws three picks and takes 5-6 sacks. Laremy Tunsil breaks his arm in this game and is out for the season. It eventually requires surgery, but the training staff tells him not to do it. 6-8

Jaguars- Playoffs are out, so now it looks as though fighting for draft position is in play right? NO! Blake Bortles and David Fales have an epic showdown between two awful QB's, but we come out on top in a thrilling 13-10 win over the Jags in a game that produces a combined 8 turnovers and only a combined 200 yards of offense. Jakeem Grant and Kenyan Drake are both injured in this game. 7-8

At Bills- Last game of the year. We basically have Fales and a bunch of reserves in the game. Josh Allen returns and displays the talent that made him a top pick in past draft. Bills blow us out, their fanbase gets all excited over Allen and the season ends with David Fales throwing another pick six to Tredavious While. 7-9

 

Personally, I'm so disenchanted right now that I don't care what happens.

 

The season has been over for awhile. We are worse than our record says we are. We are lucky to have the benefit of a weak schedule. Injuries are piling up so much that I don't know if we could beat some of the teams that we have beaten earlier in the season today.

That being said, there is no chance that this team is tanking. Gase and Tannenbaum are on the hot seat together. There is are tons of guys on this team that are overpaid and could not get anywhere near what the Dolphins are paying them elsewhere. That being said, you have a ton of people in Miami that are highly motivated to win. My personal guess is that 2 more victories gets Gase another season in Miami. I still think that this roster has enough talent to get there.

I would love to see Ross take control, fire Gase and Tannenbaum, and be ready to roll the second John Harbaugh is let go. He made this mistake once before with his brother, coincidentally. I hope he learns from it.

 

John Gruden's cheeks just got 2 shades redder.

 

As a fan. You can wish for tanking for a better draft spot. And it should be ok. As you are just a fan.
But the men making millions to work. Should have enough self pride to work as hard as you can.

 

You can only hope for better days. But really after such a strong start and promise. Gase will be lucky to make it next year.

 

People on here keep saying that Gase and Tannenbaum are on the hot seat. What proof of that is there? Wanting something to be true doesn't make it true...

 

Gase will be here next year no doubt in my mind.They will.sell we.were.3-0 before.all the injuries and.Ross will buy it.
Excuse all the periods I can't type.on a pbone.

 

I mean, if the fanbase turns on him, that will count for something regardless of how Ross felt at the beginning of the season. If we, for instance, go 1-5 the rest of the season and the fanbase has lost faith in Gase and THill, what do you sell for 2019? What will get people to renew season tickets and come to the games? It's just the reality. That's not to say Ross won't stick with him through thick and thin, but to just s

 

Depends on what you consider tanking?

I believe there is a proper way to tank, and it’s not what the silly perception is of tanking.

 

I don't think either scenario is accurate unless it's Tannehill in the first one. In the 2nd scenario, bringing in Fales is going to add to our win total. Yes, he's green with NFL playing time but he has a beautiful deep ball and plays with a chip on his shoulder. His stat lines won't be as pretty as Osweiler's but he will find the end zone a lot more often.

Fales basically = Matt Moore minus the concussions...he plays just as aggressive and jumps on that deep route as much as possible. Get Fales behind our starting line with a good run game, and I think it's a short-term recipe for 3-5 wins.

 

I want them to go 6-0 storm knto the playoffs and win the SB.

However, realistically 4-2 and a 9-7 overall record will be a high case scenario, and depending on progress shown by players and coaching staff that could make me optimistic for next year.

3-3 finishing witha meh 8-8 record is on the cusp of making hard choices about Gase’s future, but will probably depend on the quality of coaches available.

2-4 or worse is a clear indication to me that Gase is not the answer and it’s time to move on.

Whatever happens we need to invest in finding an OL coach who can actually coach. I can’t believe we have invested so much to the OL over the last decade (2 former OL coaches as HC, a lot of day 1 and day 2 picks) and basically have nothing to show for it. All the successful OLs in history have had at their core a group of later round draft picks providing depth and stability tomthe stars.

 

I cannot argue with anything you said.
It would take an act of god for the Dolphins to make the playoffs.
We all know the injury situation, I KNOW that Osweiler is not the answer. Falk is young, but I am pretty sure he is not the answer. I think Tannehill is done for the season.
Football players never tank. The sport is so violent that going 85% on one play can end your career. Gotta keep those feet moving and that head on a swivel.
The difference in going 5-11 vs. winning 7 or 8 games will make a huge difference in where we pick in every round.
I love the Phins, I have been a lifelong fan. I can remember 17-0, and I remember beating Baltimore to avoid the 0-16. As much as it pains me, I want the team to play hard, I want the young guys to gain valuable experience, but I hope we end up 5-11.
Sometimes you have to play the long game. This is one of those times.

 

This is a great idea.

 

How is any record an indictment of Gase? Missing 3 starting linemen, three starting receivers, starting QB, and that's not even talking defense.

WTF do you all expect the record to be?