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It's difficult...

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by Galant, Nov 3, 2018.

  1. Galant

    Galant Love - Unity - Sacrifice - Eternity

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    When the team is suffering/losing like this. Not just that they're on a losing streak but more how they're losing.

    It's one thing if a team is competing, coming close, and losing because you were just outplayed, or because or even because of one or two small issues. You could still approach the games with confidence, consider what minor changes, or one or two personnel changes might be necessary to win more consistently.

    But to lose like this - because of injuries exposing shallow depth, and showing repeated failures in the same area, and when they are things that just seem inexplicable/illogical - it makes life difficult.

    I've not been posting a great deal during the last losses because, well, what do you say? The doubt and problems are there, but what's lacking are the obvious solutions. I find there's simply very little to say. Just this feeling to sit here, without any great expectation for each Sunday, and to see if something gets figured out, gets changed.

    The press conferences are just frustrating, as are most media articles, so I avoid them. This is, after all, supposed to be entertainment, no point getting more frustrated than necessary. And of course, here, we're pretty much all in the same boat. Either trying to find positives, or pondering alternatives, or just calling for an end to it all. Whatever the case, what we can't do is actually effect any change on the team. So we're just left to ponder, rant, hope...cry maybe.

    My biggest frustrations, I think, are the continued issues with:

    Missed tackles.
    Mind-boggling play calling.
    Key injuries.

    This team has struggled with stopping runs in space for years now. There will be a defender right there, and he'll either miss the tackle completely or fail to bring his guy down and that'll be it for a few more yards and a first down. Of course, it's going to happen to everyone, but this team just seems to have a particular problem with it. I'd hoped that Oden and Kocurek might bring some change, but something still seems to be lacking. I'd say just teach the guys how to tackle properly, wrap the runner up and bring him down, but do they seriously not know that? The defense has really pulled out some stops this season at times. Made some big plays, even if they have lacked some consistency at times. Minkah is a huge addition and Jones is proving his quality. Even Kiko has shown value. But somehow we still managed to get gashed and I find myself nervous, expecting those big runs. I'd much prefer to be expecting repeated violence at or around the opposing QB or RB, but that's not something I've had the pleasure of experiencing in quite some time.

    Bubble-screens. Inexplicable bubble screens and long runs. Then passes at weird times. So, so often. Meanwhile, bootlegs for Tannehill were noticeably AWOL. Or how about just more run game, especially when it's working? Yes, we get some big plays at times. But so much of the success just feels like it comes accidentally or incidentally. I've just had no confidence in the ability of the offence to make things happen, to impose their will - you know, sort of the opposite of how you feel when the Patriots get the ball or the Ravens, or almost anyone else with a winning record. In fact, that sort of sums up the Dolphins this year - incidental success. Inconsistent, occasional, big time success, unable to inspire confidence. I want to believe Gase has the mind for this and will figure it out, but his obvious and repeated frustration during press conferences is beginning to bother me. Is he too unstable to get this job done? IMO he needs to get out of his own head, keep it simple so he doesn't go round in circles in his own mind, and maybe hand off the play-calling duties so that he can view things from a wider perspective, rather than getting bogged down in the details. I think that might help him. Although, I wonder if his contract requires him to make the calls - he was apparently hired on the condition he called the plays. I think he needs to move above it. Not sure his OC can do the job though...

    Injuries - what can you say? Not a lot. It sucks. The pressure on the line in front of Tannehill felt tangible though. Maybe it's Pavlovian conditioning from all the horrible OL play over the last four years or more, but again the feeling on every play was that someone somewhere was going to break through the line or get around it - or just force it way back. It felt like this year's line was at it's best when they mixed it up, Tannehill moving or not, run outside, inside, lots of variety. But the reality was things just seemed static, stuck, predictable. I can't say why that is, just that it didn't bode well for their success. And once injuries started to pile up, that was it. I really don't think we're in for a resurgence this season. We might beat the Jets, should beat the Bills, I don't think anything else can be guaranteed. It feels like we're in for a high draft pick this year because I just can't see our backups getting this done. Particularly because it seems Gase's system has needed time to be installed, and so losing the quality guys who might be able to get it done means it's just not going to happen, and there's no fall back plan.

    So yeah, I'd like to see the tackling improve, but I've not heard a word talking about that or addressing it, so not sure that's anything to expect. I'd like Gase to get his head straight, and move away from play calling, but I suspect that's not an option for him (and that was a dumb move from Ross from the get go - you don't hire a new HC and then force him into anything, you have to trust him or nothing). And I'd like to see the back-ups step up - and I'll be proud of them if they do. But I'm not expecting much. If they can at least do themselves proud, perform well, I'll be proud of them. Although the crappy play calling just makes all of that so much harder.

    Alright, rant over.

    Feeling a bit better now.

    Any thoughts?

    What are your frustrations?
     
  2. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Good post G, completely feel those frustrations..

    I’m at that point where I don’t whether it’s scheme or lack of talent, and that’s what’s most frustrating..And the talent we do have 8 starters are basically out, including the starting QB..

    What’s really frustrating is the lack of consistent competitive games..we can’t seem to hang for four quarters..

    What’s most frustrating is We don’t have a Qb on the roster that I trust.
     
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  3. KeyFin

    KeyFin Well-Known Member

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    I feel the same way- I might have ten posts in the past three weeks. In fact, last week was the first time I didn't do a "My Thoughts on Miami/Opponent" in almost five years (I was headed out for an early road trip the next day though and didn't watch the whole game). There's just not a lot to say when you know we don't have the roster to compete with most teams.

    The Jets SHOULD beat us today unless Miami got a ton figured out on defense over the mini bye week. I'm expecting a good game though and I think we'll squeak it out, so hopefully we see some things to give us hope. The best news I can think of at this point is that every week gets us closer back to having starters healthy.....I'm just hoping we close the year strong in December and build some momentum into 2019. Specifically, I want so see how RT closes out the season since he doesn't have a good track record there.
     
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  4. Galant

    Galant Love - Unity - Sacrifice - Eternity

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    Does anyone feel like they know what Gase's offence is supposed to be doing? I suppose this could be the same issue as that play calling but I just don't have a feel for what this offence wants to do. Feels haphazard.
     
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  5. KeyFin

    KeyFin Well-Known Member

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    I have a pretty good feel for it....he wants to do whatever the opponent is giving him. However, there were times today when we had zero starting linemen on the field so I think the main goal in the 2nd half was to just avoid negative plays and let the defense win it.
     
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  6. MrPhinn

    MrPhinn Active Member

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    I! Have! No! Idea! The play calling is extremely baffling at times.
     
  7. danmarino

    danmarino Tua is H1M! Club Member

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    Think Saints and Pats offenses without the execution...
     
  8. brandon27

    brandon27 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    It can be... but at the same time, what do you want them to call?

    During the game today, people are complaining about a pass on 3rd and 1. Why not run!!!! Then later, we run on 3rd and 1, get dropped behind the LOS, and we're crying about that call too. So what gives?

    IMO... as fans, we're all over estimating the talent on this team. Our WR corps? Everyone thinks they're great, right? Then why even when the QB has time, are we not stretching the field? Likely because they're not getting separation. Who on this offense as WR right now, commands coverage? Nobody. Amendola, are you worried about doubling him up? No. Stills? Maybe if he's going deep, but unlikely. Parker? No. Grant? he's not really on the field enough.

    Want to talk running game... Drake needs more carries IMO, but Gore is grinding out yards that Drake doesnt. However, at times today, our OL was in such shambles that we had little to no blocking. What do you expect? Our RB's are getting lit up in the backfield because we can't run block, or block period for that matter.

    The key to beating Miami is still pretty simple. Stop the run. Press the WR's. They won't beat you deep, because they don't have the guys at WR, or the QB to do so, and if you jam them up at the line, you'll throw the timing off enough to mess it all up, and you'll easily shut down the screen game. Other teams run WR screens with great results. Why don't we? Timing, playcalling... ok, sure, but the key to those plays is RAC and blocking. With Wilson out, they should be going to Grant, but today we went to Amendola and Parker. Our WR's aren't particularly that good at blocking those plays either. They're soft. Execution is key on those plays, and it's often why you see Gase shaking his head... guys aren't doing their jobs in his eyes. How many times have we cursed Stills for his poor blocking on those? Even Parker. That's what it needs to succeed, and we can't do it. It's not a hard concept, guys just aren't getting the job done. As for calling them, I think Gase calls them so often, because you should be able to get an easy few yards, which offsets your inability to run. It essentially is your run game. So when you call it to pick up a few yards to set up your next play with a manageable down and distance, and you fail, you've set the whole offense back. This group just isn't good enough. That means players, and coaches to me.

    To me, we're just not as talented as some of us think we are. Personally, as awful as Gase's playcalling seems to be, I think it's a miracle we've even won 5 games. Outside of a couple games, it's essentially been all about the defense.
     
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  9. Vertical Limit

    Vertical Limit Senior Member

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    Playcalling is really not just on the coach, its on the quarterback..

    Elite quarterbacks can check gap assignments and determine what audibles/adjustments they can make on the line to convert a 3rd and short.

    A journeyman like Osweiller will just do what the coaches tell them to do, the coaches only have the view of the side, this isnt baseball where a coach can signal a play right before the pitcher throws a ball, thats the responsibility of a quarterback that has the full vision of the field.

    If you see a wall being built at one side of the line or in the center, good idea to make adjustments on your offensive line, to give your running back a better chance. Instead we have our rb getting caught from behind..
     
  10. KeyFin

    KeyFin Well-Known Member

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    That's why we desperately need Tannehill back. He can throw the deep ball and that gets corners off the LOS. One or two tosses to Grant/Stills and the run game magically opens up...as well as all those underneath screens. I know most have given up on RT but heck, he's our best shot with the current state of the offense. We need a big arm....I wonder what Cutler is doing next Sunday?
     
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  11. brandon27

    brandon27 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Im not so sure he really helps all that much either though. Often times we see defenses doing just that against us even when Ryan is in there. They stack the box and dare us to throw. This year he seems to have tried stretching the field a bit more, aside from a few boneheaded decisions as the OL fell apart in Cincy he's been effective, but either way, no matter who the QB is, this offense is stagnant, and alot of it starts up front on the OL, and then I look at the WR's... why aren't we getting more shots downfield? Why aren't we executing screens like other teams can and do? They're just limited in what they can do. Tannehill may improve that slightly, but I'm not sure it's going to be enough.
     
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  12. KeyFin

    KeyFin Well-Known Member

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    I don't know what it is either. On paper this should be an explosive offense but we've never seen it for a full quarter (much less a full game). RT only got 4 games though after riding the bench for a long time, so that definitely affects the chemistry of the offense. Throw in hurt linemen, hurt receivers, etc. and it's just not our year. All we need is a freaking hurricane to have an official reboot of 2017.

    The difference this season is the defense though- I like how our young LB's are developing and Kiko is having one of his best seasons ever. Howard, Fitz and Jones are solid all-pros and McDonald has been huge in run support. That's a very talented squad and they've largely hidden how bad our offense is. I'd love to get Tannehill back this week to give the team a few solid months of gelling together on offense and figuring things out. We just don't have an identity....which is good and bad.
     

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