Safid reckons the top three reasons are: Apparently he hasn't been tracking Tannehill this year. What do you think guys, why is Parker starting to shine this year?
Probably a combination of all of them Galant. * Travis said in training camp that he was looking much stronger than before, which has probably helped his health * He has realised that he has been given another opportunity, so is more dedicated * Fitz will give him every chance to beat the CB by putting the ball where only he can get it, whereas Tanny wouldn't really throw people open * O'Shea is probably using him where he is most dangerous (notwithstanding that Gase had him as a healthy scratch for at least 5 games last year)
He is just taking the opportunity that is dealt to him. I dont think he ever got a fair shot to be the premier guy... you cant keep talent on the bench, especially if theyre receivers or running backs. They usually begin to produce right out of college.
Also remember all those times Adam Gase publically questioned DeVante Parker’s “toughness”.. saying he needs to learn to play through injuries, almost implying he was soft. Yea what a great coach to play for! the San Antonio Spurs did that to Kawhi Leonard and look at them now. Look at him now.
QBs need to trust their receivers if you want them to throw people open. I just think, generally speaking, Tannehill didn't trust his receivers. So he'd wait to make sure they were open before he'd throw it too often.
Especially when Parker himself, I think it was last year but maybe before, said he was healthy enough to play but he wasnt seeing the field. It never sounded like he wasnt trying to tough it out honestly.
To be fair, Parker wasn't "open" on any of his catches yesterday. He just flat-out beat the defender by high-pointing the pass and hauling it in.
I suspect it is fundamentally due to two things: 1) Physicality - He seems to be healthier and have gotten stronger, or at least more physical with the defensive players. 2) Attitude - When there is a big shake up in a teams personnel, it is often a wake up call for the remaining players. They are more interested and re-focus or finally start to focus on improving themselves and their performance. Of the two, I suspect his attitude has changed and the result is he is clearly more driven. Of course feeling better physically and getting physically stronger can help adjust your attitude in much the same way. Only Parker knows for sure.
Health is a factor. DeVante unfortunately dealt with injuries from landing hard after a catch in 2016, and being taken out by a blind side hit by a linebacker in 2017, and missed time with each. But I believe that the biggest factor is the fact that Adam Gase's offense is garbage, and was stupidly using him the wrong way the majority of the time. Gase often had him running nothing but screen passes and deep bombs, when that simply isn't Parker's game. Sometimes they would have him just be a decoy, and throw the ball to someone else all game. Matt Moore in particular only had eyes for Kenny Stills. This year, FINALLY, the coaching staff is featuring him on come backs, outs, drags and other medium yardage routes, and making him a regular part of the game plan every week. A what do you know? It works, like I've been saying that it would for four years.
The Parker has shown this ability throughout his career. I never understood why people acted like he was Kevin White or Brett Perriman type player. He was always an obvious starter. Saying that, yesterday was more attitude I have seen out of Parker. Even when he dominated the Patriots I don't remember him getting into cornerbacks faces. Maybe he turned a corner on getting the fire it takes to be a number one.
The other thing I failed to mention is that this coaching staff is using Parker's height and size to his advantage when he matches up against smaller or shorter DBs. Why Gase refused to do that was a bizarre mystery, but the current coaches apparently are brighter. They're doing it now with Gesicki too.
It is also a Fitzpatrick thing. He loves throwing it up to big recievers. When it works he does great. When it doesn't he goes terrible
Gase was a stubborn coach. I am still dumbfounded that the Jests snapped him up like he was the second coming of Belichick. How fun it has been seeing them get smoked by a pair of winless teams.
I don't know that its about Fitzpatrick being better than Tannehill, so much as it is about Fitzpatrick being more comfortable throwing to someone thats covered and expecting them to make a contested catch. Fitzpatrick really is a good fit for Parker's game. Tannehill isn't as comfortable/reckless throwing jump balls.
Because the NFL is really hard and the adjustment is extremely difficult and filled with toil, even for the world's most talented athletes. Glad to see Parker kickin' some butt. Kudos.
I prefer the plays where they use Parker's height and size without it being a jump ball. Have him run 10-15 yards, turn around and box the defender out, Michael Irvin style. Over and over!
"Hmmm now, what was that thing that Peyton always used to say, how did it go.... if there's a short DB and a much taller WR, if you throw the ball to the receiver...er.. the DB will always catch it? Is that right? Yes that's it. I think. Or was it the other way round? Was it a small WR and a tall DB? And which one would catch it then? Doh, I can't remember. Better just hoy it downfield to Stills then just in case.."
Health and fitz willingness to throw the climb the ladder ball outside the numbers. which is minus the quick slant on 3rd down where a lot of dvps production has come from this year. mossing dbs.
Same. I also love routes like the slant and post where his long arms and height allow you a bigger window to just air it out or lead him farther in front. Height is dangerous when paired with other skills. Randy Moss probably wouldnt have been as deadly at 5'10 for example. It's one of the few positions I think "Prototypical size" actually impacts play. The lines would be the other positions.
Dolphins GM has done a pretty good job bringing talent in, the issue has always been that he hasnt brought elite coaches to the team. The Gase hire is probably one of the worst hires since the Ken Whisenhunt era in Tennessee. Both lame dumb coaches.
Imagine if the Dolphins hired Rich Kotite right after he was fired from the Jets. Seriously, WTF Jets. WFT?
I'm going to be unpopular and say that Gase, while horribly flawed in some key areas, is a pretty much average HC. I'd take him over Sparano or Philbin. His issue is arrogance which is the only reason I can see people maybe choosing them over him.
I would take Sparano over him in a heartbeat. Sparano was a much better coach and much less embarrassing. I guess I like my coachings to look like they care about what is happening on the field. Philbin vs Gase is a toss-up of misery.
Honestly I dont think Sparano knew a football from a chocolate pastry, but like I said for people who dislike Gase personality type I can see them choosing one of those two guys. EDIT: Also I just realized Sparano died so I feel bad making the pastry comment but I'm not taking it back. It's just a way to say he was a bad puppet of a coach IMO.
IMO, he knew football much more than Gase ever did. There is a reason why the Raider players wanted him to be their coach after he took over. I don't care about Gase's personality type. I care about the fact that his team was sloppy and his game plans made Sparano's look amazing. Plus Sparano was a leader of men while Gase was the Emperor who has no clothes.
I wouldnt view him in that light nor do I think his game plans were any better than Gase in general. Agree to disagree I suppose.
Adam Gase's alleged strength is the offense. He's completely hands off with the defensive side of the ball. And yet, in four years as a head coach, his team's are at or near the very bottom of the NFL each season in all of these categories for offense every season!: First Downs Gained Third Down Conversions Third Down Conversion Percentage Red Zone Trips Red Zone Touchdowns Score Percentage Average Plays Per Drive Average Yards Per Drive Average Time Per Drive Percentage of Drives Ending in a Touchdown Percentage of Drives Ending in a Field Goal Attempt Percentage of Drives Ending in a Punt Gase's won/loss record is about as hollow as any head coach for as long as I've been a NFL fan.
Philbin and Gase are both absolutely terrible. Neither was in any way qualified to even be an OC on a team that didn't feature a HOF QB. Sparano was like Wanny. A Competent man at the top who wasn't going to steer the ship immediately into the rocks, but also not someone who was ever going to do anything special. Far too conservative, and the entire organiation was far too accepting of below average QB play from 2000-2011.
Gase’s offense did produce a very high number of long range TDs. In 2018 the phins comfortable lead all teams in 50+ yard TDs, and almost all of them were from the offense, so it wasn’t like the defense or special teams were returning an absurd number of long plays. The problem was that the production in between the bombs was ineffective and unproductive. Also he linked that type of offense to a wide-9 D that plays best when you control the scoreboard and clock with reliable sustained drives. Gase is able to design some brilliant plays that spring long TDs, but he can’t put together a coherent game plan or strategy.
Gase calls plays like a 12 year old kid playing Madden. Trying for the TD on every play, logic and patience be damned. Is that going to result in more big plays than other teams? Sure, just like if a team went for it on 4th down instead of punting every time, they'd convert more than the others do. But they'd be screwing themselves over in the process, and that's what Gase's offense does as well. I'm a firm believer in not forcing big plays, but rather waiting for them to come to you and then picking your spot. Execute the regular plays properly over and over, stay in manageable down and distance, get first downs, and the other team will miss a tackle, have a guy trip, or make a mental mistake often enough. Gase's offense is like a 80" TV in a crackhouse livingroom.
I think you guys all have a kind of silly view of Gase that will most likely be a bit different in 5-10 years when it feels less personal. Under Gase we were a playoff team once, had a terrible season with Cutler that I excuse, and an entirely mediocre season. To say Gase is terrible youd have to believe that we were so abundantly talented that he was holding us back. In that case why is everyone so skeptical of Grier? His (Gase) personality is awful.
He had far more talent than Flores has. Does anyone actually think that Gase would have won even one game with this roster?