The Dolphins lose again and fall to 0-3. Here are my thoughts after a quick watch of the game.
POSITIVES APLENTY IN THE GAME
This game went as expected and yet… not as expected. The steady descent to 0-17 appeared to be slowing down as the Dolphins looked like merely a bad team and not the worst team ever assembled in the history of ever. The final score was both indicative and not indicative of how the game actually played out. Losing 24-10 looks bad in the box score, and it never really felt like they had a REAL chance to win.
But the Dolphins were only down 17-10 with over 11 minutes left in the 4th quarter and had the ball at that point. Things didn’t turn out well, but the situation was not out of control like it had been in the previous 2 games. By the time the 3rd quarter ended in the first 2 games, the Dolphins had given up 27 points and 35 points respectively and the game was effectively over before the final period of the game. This game was still competitive. At least in the box score. Perhaps part of that was being at home. Perhaps they are starting to play a little better. Whatever it is, the Dolphins looked like maybe things could be starting to turn around. There were still some hiccups, such as the fumble deep in the opponent’s territory that could have yielded points. But the Dolphins still moved the ball, with 329 yards of offense, going 8-16 on 3rd down – 50% would be 8th in the league and the Dolphins are currently 12th at 41.5% – and gaining 19 first downs. Chris Bell stepped up in the absence of Caleb Douglas, with 4 catches for 67 yards. Malik Willis moved the ball on the ground well, picking up key yards for the Dolphins to extend drives. The Dolphins did not allow a sack for the first time all season. All of this is still a work in progress, but maybe, just maybe, it’s starting to turn around and things are starting to click.
COACHING DECISIONS ARE STILL QUESTIONABLE
After just one quick watch, I can’t tell you with certainty about all the play calls. There were a lot of screens and deep passes, and still not very many easy completions to be had. However, I CAN tell you with certainty that the worst coaching decision came before the game was ever played. You entered this game with 2 healthy running backs and the practice squad elevations were for a defensive end that played 8 defensive snaps and a backup linebacker that played 11 special teams snaps. Meanwhile, you lost your starting RB early on, forcing you to play with 1 healthy RB, who also missed snaps due to cramping, and forcing you to either use a WR at RB (more on that later) or throw the ball more. That is terrible decision making. The Dolphins traded for Jarquez Hunter and he remained on the PS, despite the fact they needed depth at the position before a snap was taken. This is terrible decision making and terrible planning. He or Carlos Washington Jr. will likely be added to the roster now that Achane is going to IR.
This wasn’t the only issue I have with coaching. Yeah, the Dolphins held Mahomes and the Chiefs to 17 points until late in the 4th quarter. That has to count for something, right? Well, I have another issue and that is with the number 6. As is 6 is the total amount of incompletions the Dolphins have allowed in the last 2 games. The Dolphins tightened up on the run game, allowing 3.5 YPC and only 88 total rushing yards, despite Walker having a 22-yard run in that equation. But the defense simply cannot keep allowing QBs to complete passes at will against a softer than Charmin defense. The Dolphins were able to generate some pressure in this game despite not getting a sack. Mahomes is renowned for being able to make stuff happen off-script, but it is pitch-and-catch for everyone. Even past-his-prime Kirk Cousins only had 9 incompletions in 30 attempts. Both the Chiefs and 49ers had guys wide open all the time. It was sickening. Thankfully, the Dolphins get a QB this week that is not in the upper echelon of throwers. But if they allow Murray or Wentz to get completion after completion, then something needs to change. Maybe it’s the playcalling. Maybe it’s the playcaller. But allowing only 6 incompletions in 2 games is simply unacceptable. Incompletions can turn into much needed stops the defense has produced too few of this season.
THIS AND THAT
- Speaking of pitch-and catch, Willis made some good plays, but he is also throwing into tight windows WAY too much. All the opponents have wide open guys. The Dolphins players are easily covered at all times. Washington and Coleman are small, slower players that are struggling to get separation. Bell has some skills but is still developing and getting back into shape. Perhaps Douglas would have made a difference in this game, but regardless, the Dolphins need pass catchers that can get open without needing scheme to do it.
- Malik Washington has his limitations, but his ability to generate yards after contact and force missed tackles makes him perfect for getting touches out of the backfield. I’m not suggesting running him 15 times a game. But 5-6 carries as a running back? Why not? Until it becomes ineffective, why not mix things up a bit? It would also allow for some unique plays that could for conflict on the defense.
- I hate the penalty on Chop Robinson. I’m not just saying that because it happened to a Dolphins player. The Dolphins were the beneficiary of the same call last week. The problem is that plays like that are so “bang-bang” that it’s nearly impossible for players to completely cease their momentum that quickly. It’s nearly impossible for players to change their trajectory that quickly. Remember when William Hayes injured himself against the Raiders in 2018 as he was trying to avoid landing on the QB? That flag should never have been thrown because the rule is stupid. I get the NFL wants to protect the QB. But it has gotten out of hand. Chop would have needed to decipher that the ball was out of Mahomes hand and eased off within less than a second; likely half a second or less. What if he does and Mahomes tucks the ball back and runs for a first down? Like how he has acted like he would run out of bounds, the defender would ease up, and then he’d get a couple more yards? Do the officials and the league care that the defender was “trying to ease up”?
- The easy solution: two-hand touch for a defender on the QB in the pocket. This keeps the QBs healthy as they will not be thrown to the ground. It eliminates the need for a defender to ease up because all he’ll have to do is put both hands on the QB. It eliminates the stupid “in the grasp” rule that allows QBs to escape a sack where a defender has him wrapped up. If the QB leaves the pocket, then he’s fair game. But in the pocket, it’s two-hand touch. It’s weak sauce IMO, but if that’s what the league wants, then my solution is the best.
- The 2017 Dolphins offense was the worst I have seen in many years. It’s the only the 3rd time since the horrid 2007 1-15 season where the Dolphins have scored fewer than 300 points (273 in 2010, 288 in 2012, and 281 in 2017). Those bad offenses averaged at least 17 points per game. The current Dolphins have scored 36 points and are averaging 12 points per game. That’s on pace for 204 total points, which would be the lowest in team history save for the strike shortened season of 1982 (198 points – 22 PPG). 12 PPG is 2.2 PPG less than last season’s worst offense, the Las Vegas Raiders. You have to go back to the 2009 season to find such ineptitude with the Rams averaging 10.9 PPG that season. The Dolphins are moving the ball somewhat decently, but they aren’t scoring. I’m sure that will change, but they have to go WAY up to get close to the bad offenses from the recent past. And now they have lost their best scoring weapon.
- Despite all the negativity, the Dolphins do have some winnable games coming up… after the bye week. I doubt they get past Minnesota on the road and Cincy has the weapons to keep the incompletion problem going. But after that? The Jets are feisty, but they’re the Jets. The Pats look about as bad as Miami (same amount of points scored) and that’ll be a home game. They have a couple more later in the season, so 3 wins isn’t unreasonable. Which might be few enough for the 1st overall pick and high enough so that… well… you know.
I SAID WHAT I SAID
I really didn’t have the desire to watch the first 2 games on All-22 because those games were lost causes. This game showed the Dolphins have issues and are a bad team but may be closer to having a chance to win than we previously thought. In a long season with no hope, we’ll take what we can get.
