The Dolphins gave it their all today, hanging tough with the division-leading Patriots. But the guys in white ultimately fell short in Foxboro, dropping a 24-17 decision to the Pats (6-2).
At 3-5, the Dolphins would appear to be in dire straits. Maybe, maybe not.
The good news is, the murderous schedule finally lets up. Miami’s vanquishers are a combined 32-8 (an obscene .800 winning percentage). The upcoming schedule includes winnable games against Tampa Bay (1-7), at Carolina (3-5), at Buffalo (3-5), at Jacksonville (4-4) and at Tennessee (2-6).
But when a 10,000-foot view is applied — the franchise is only 1.5 seasons removed from 1-15 — you gain a greater perspective of where the Dolphins are in the grand scheme of things.
And in the opinion of this observer, today’s game illustrates just how close this team is to contention.
Consider the Patriots won their last game in this stadium 59-0. They were coming off a bye, meaning Emperor Belichick had two weeks to break down this Miami team and prepare. New England would trot out future Hall of Famers Tom Brady and Randy Moss as well as the league’s top slot receiver, Wes Welker, against a pair of rookie cornerbacks.
Consider that the Dolphins were coming off a game in which they mustered an anemic 104 yards total offense.
Yet despite all of these discouraging pre-game elements, the Dolphins were in New England territory attempting to tie the game late in the fourth quarter. Just as they were against the 8-0 Colts and 8-0 Saints.
But as was the case in those two previous games, the Patriots were just a cut above. Like Indy and New Orleans, New England’s regime is well established. Their re-emergence from the rubble occurred long ago.
All of Miami’s strengths and weaknesses on display Sunday.
You saw a Dolphin defense that successfully bent but didn’t break. Their young defensive backs shone. Their offensive line began tearing open holes late in the game. Their quarterback made clutch throws. You saw a team that once again fought to the very end.
You also saw constricted offensive formations and play calling, begot by a receiving corps (tight ends included) that dropped critical passes and cannot stretch the field, and a set of outside linebackers whose best days looked to be behind them.
QB Chad Henne
As always, it starts with the quarterback. And despite what appears to be another week of pedestrian stats, Chad Henne inspired confidence.
To my eyes, Henne still hasn’t had that ‘rookie’ game that is indicative of a first year player (example: Mark Sanchez’s 5-INT performance at home vs Buffalo). He did have a rookie moment on Sunday, signaling timeout late in the fourth quarter when the team had no more left, resulting in a delay of game penalty.
But Henne made two throws on the subsequent 3rd and 4th and 15’s that should have been caught.
The fact that Henne can keep some semblance of rhythm, maintain his composure and make big, accurate throws despite being pulled from behind center (or off the field altogether) in favor of Pat White or the Wildcat every other down is a testament to his ability to lead, persevere and compartmentalize. Not to mention his God-given talent.
Through five starts, Henne has shown poise and moxie well beyond his years. He commands his huddle. He’s a big, strong guy with a big, strong, accurate arm and just enough mobility to get himself out of trouble. He came to Miami with plenty of big game experience and has flashed it in games this season (most notably the Jets game on Monday Night Football). And he has shown improvement in areas of deficiency (example: his habit of locking on and staring down receivers). The stats are irrelevant; this kid has game.
It says here that if general manager Jeff Ireland can arm Henne with a playmaking wide receiver and an athletic tight end (John Nalbone notwithstanding), Henne will light up defenses the way fellow-second year quarterbacks Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco are currently. The offense will open up, perhaps featuring two-wide receiver formations.
I kid (kind of), but the championship offensive line and running game are in place (assuming Ronnie Brown returns next season). The franchise quarterback is in place. The cupboard of role-playing receivers is well stocked. We are one or two players away from a becoming a difficult offense to deal with. It is the difference between teams loading up against the run and being forced to back away from it.
Defensively, the Dolphins look to be in pretty good shape along the defensive line, stocked with several young, ascending players. In fact, after 13-year veteran Jason Ferguson, the oldest player at the position is Randy Starks (25), who just happens to be the best player among the group.
However, the Dolphins will need to address the linebacking corps inside and out in order to take the next step.
Miami has two of this decade’s best players outside in Jason Taylor and Joey Porter. But in 2009, Porter, 32, is a liability against the run and appears to have run out of gas as a difference-maker. Taylor, 35, was intended to be a pass rush specialist, but the full time role also appears to have taken its toll. He and Porter are simply not generating heat on the quarterback.
Run-stopping specialist and previous starter Matt Roth is back from his groin injury, but is in the last year of his contract.
Expect the Dolphins to address this position heavily in the offseason as well as the interior ‘backers, who lack playmaking skills and have been victimized repeatedly by the league’s better tight ends.
The Dolphins are in more than capable hands at cornerback, where rookies Vontae Davis and Sean Smith look more and more like this generation’s Troy Vincent/Bobby Taylor combination each week, along with third corner Nate Jones‘ ascension.
The safety play has also improved as of late, with newcomer Gibril Wilson getting acclimated and rookie Chris Clemons earning more and more time playing time. The jury remains out on this group, but what looked to be a glaring weakness early on could turn out to be a strength.
So there you have it. Plug in a WR, a TE and 1-2 (possibly three) linebackers and this team could be championship caliber.
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