Watching the game, I kept thinking that the only way we were going to lose this game is if we turned the ball over. Not only did our defense bail us out, I felt like we could really count on them. I already think that Minkah is elite, TJ McDonald stepped it up, McCain has excelled in an expanded role, and I think Xavien will be viewed as an elite CB by the end of the season. Kiko has gotten really physical this year, and Baker is underrated situationally. Oh, yeah, Quinn is amazing too! I just really think that these guys can be trusted. After the game, I started thinking, if we don't turn the ball over, I think we can win a lot of games. I think Drake and Gore should continue to be our bread and butter. Today was not an ideal matchup (I respect the Jets' front four), but we did enough (with a little added help of RT on the ground). Last year, I hated the reliance on the screens, but right now, it feels prudent. Perhaps trying to get Drake even more involved in the passing game could be a safe but effective way to move the ball. I think RT's stat line of 17/23 168 yards and 2 TD should be the template going forward. I wish Gesicki was more involved. I really think that he could be part of the safe but effective play calling. Keep it conservative. Trust in Minkah!!!!
I agree, but maybe for different reasons. A little bubble screen to Landry was going 2 yards if his juke failed, and maybe 7 yards if he made the first guy miss. We could depend on it and all but truthfully, it was boring football. When you throw the same pass to Drake, Wilson or Grant though, it's a potential TD every single time since they make one cut and then kick on the afterburners. I'll take those bubble screens all day long since it basically opens up the bombs and the runs up the middle alike...without limiting us to 3 yards per catch.
I feel like Drake is a big play waiting to happen. Just keep giving him the rock, and good things will eventually happen.
Our play calling is really anything but conservative. The team is just so versatile now that sometimes we lose the flow and then it feels sluggish if it doesn't work, but obviously when the offense is flowing there's a tremendous amount of creativity there.
The playcalling seems conservative because there are a lot of short passes, but really our whole offense seems designed to set up the defense. We're trying to lull them to sleep so we can take a shot over the top, or break off a long run once they're in Nickel/dime. We have the speed and ability to RAC in our WR unit for all these short passes to go to the house, too. I've been really impressed by what we've shown so far, and I wouldn't be surprised if there aren't a bunch of wrinkles we haven't even seen yet.
More games in the NFL are lost than won. I don't think it's a coincidence that the Dolphins are something like 9-1 (I didn't look it up to verify the exact record) in Tannehill's last 10 starts. It's a combination of having a careful, accurate QB and conservative play calling. If the defense continues as it has then that combination should serve us well. Additionally, we have a ton of play makers that can take a check down or a draw to the house or take the top off the D on any given play so even safe calls can result in explosive TDs.
You didn't even mention our best defender yesterday and that was Devon Godchaux. He was amazing and Quinn was a close 2nd. The only play call that really annoyed me yesterday was the pass on 3rd and 1 after two run plays that brought 4 and 5 yards. Should have just lined up and punched it down the Jets throat right then. They would have converted it too.
I wish Kalen Ballage was active on game days. I think he could cut his teeth as a short yardage back.
It's too conservative. Not stretching the field and not throwing beyond the sticks on 3rd down. If Gase opened it up we'd have put up 30 on the Jets.
There were routes beyond the sticks on 3rd down. However, RT is much more comfortable in short passes. Also defense knows where the marker is too and tends to crowd it which leaves the underneath stuff easily accessible. andddddd Gase did stretch the field multiple times. At least once where RT was sacked and then another where Tannehill missed Wilson.
I think it was more a case of Wilson missing Tannehill. Reviewing that play Wilson takes a long time to pick up where the ball is in flight and lost one or two steps while he was trying to track the ball. If he’d picked up the ball immediately and didn’t lose those steps it’s an 80ish yard TD.
Playing with a lead why would you want them to open anything up? Save it for NE or when they really need to open it up. It's week 2.
What do you do when defenses start adjusting for those screens and you have no mid deep ball consistency? We need to be balanced to keep the defense honest. I mean each game can change depending on how they are playing you but I’d like to see our TE involved a lot more. Also like to see 10 yard passes more often. Oh and if we ever pass again on 3rd and 1 or two I’m going to scream. Line up two backs or direct snap or run for a yard!!!! If you can’t run a yard or 2 your team sucks
In the first two games, Grant had an average cushion of 6-7 yards and sometimes as much as 9 yards. That means he was open for screen passes every single play. If they did step up to check him on the line, that meant they had to have a safety to that side over the top....so they just didn't do it. Why? Because you have Wilson and Stills deserving just as much respect. That's the problem with 3 guys out there that can outrun your whole team. I get what you're saying, but there is really no "adjusting to the screens" and short passes unless you have one heck of a secondary (AKA Miami). Most teams just don't have that luxury. Then you have the problem of covering Parker and Gisecki....both match-up nightmares because of their catch radius....are you going to double Wilson or Parker? And what about Stills....our true #1 with a knack for deep passes? But what about giving help to stop Gisecki over the middle since he's faster and taller than your team's linebackers? That's why Gase put this offense together- it's so much more dynamic than "stop Landry before the 1st down marker". And we haven't even talked about Drake or Gore yet...you saw what happens when they're ignored. This offense is not clicking quite yet; there's a lot of growing pains left to conquer. We will eventually have games where the offense drops 40+ just because you can't shut down everything. That's always been NE's game-plan...shut down our top guy. But who the heck is that? That's exactly the problem we want to create on a weekly basis.
Thing is Tannehill, used to be money on those intermediate throws 10-20 down the field. We rarely see that anymore.
To be fair though, we only see those throws when we're down by 14+ in the first half. Tannehill is 9-1 in his last 10 games and we haven't had to be that aggressive.
Well really it's been since Gase has been here. I guess it's not something he likes in his play calling.