They aren’t who we thought they were? I mean. Not as bad as we thought they were.
Sadly, they’re still on the hook.
R.I.P. Dennis Green.
The Dolphins are trending up, sort of
At least
Tyreek Hill agrees with me.
Look. I sincerely thought the Fins were looking at a 40+ point blowout loss on Thursday night. The fact that the game was 14-14 at the half, the Dolphins were in it until the end, and they were only really derailed by two major mistakes (Zach Sieler and Tua,
please stand up), was wholly unexpected.
Ollie Gordon scored his first career touchdown and looked the part of a power back who can spell De’Von Achane’s speed. Achane was his usual productive self, while both Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle found the end zone alongside Gordon. The previously (let’s face it, probably permanently) problematic offensive line surrendered 0 sacks on the evening and the defense even decided to stop Mr. Janu-Alien himself a few times.
Compare that to the absolute joke of a display opening week, the slightly less comical (but still paltry) showing in Week 2, and the team is ever so slowly climbing its way toward being functional.
Is that good enough?
Of course not.
0-3 teams have a 2.5% chance of making the postseason. Not great odds.
The Fins still have problems all over the place. The linebackers looked overmatched, with Tyrel Dodson standing out to me a few different times as someone in the wrong place, doing the wrong thing, even though he racked up a lot of stats by the end. The defense still gave up over 30 points. That’s 3 weeks in a row, but who’s counting?
Me.
I’m counting.
No matter how many silver linings we can dig up or layers of lipstick we can slap on this here pig, the Dolphins still lost and are sitting at 0-3 to start the season.
That said:
Mike McDaniel will last until the Bye Week
One of the main narratives coming into the game against Buffalo was head coach Mike McDaniel’s job security (or lack thereof). If the team laid an egg and/or the players looked like they’d given up the ghost, the theory was that MM could be gone before the return flight plane was loaded.
The Dolphins’ performance in Orchard Park was instead illustrative of a group that still gives a flying fin. My guess is that alone will be enough to buy McDaniel considerable good will with upper management and keep him in charge until the Week 12 Bye.
Counter arguments will point out that the Fins still lost and McDaniel himself spoke out against moral victories. But institutions hesitant to change will take the devil they know more often than not and point to the team’s glacial pace of improvement over the first 3 games as evidence of a massive ship wrestling against the waves to right itself. Comparisons to
The Titanic notwithstanding.
Obviously what happens between Week 4 and Week 12 will have more bearing on MM’s employment than one Thursday Night game in Buffalo, but, for now, it appears he’s here a bit longer.
Even though:
Self inflicted wounds still ruled the day
We all saw it.
With 10:20 left in the 4th quarter, the Dolphins’ defense had forced the Bills into a 4th and 7 at their own 49 yard line. Buffalo lined up to punt, about to give the Miami offense the ball back, with the game tied at 21. It would put the Fins in the best position to win they’d seen since an early 7-0 lead.
Instead, Zach ‘
Down by the River’ Sieler went for the punt block (undoubtedly and inexplicably requested by his Special Teams coach), carried too far past his blocker, and crashed into the Bills’ punter with the force of 1,000 suns. 15 yard penalty. Automatic 1st down. Ensuing Bills touchdown an absolute certainty. 28-21 Bills.
Fortunately, the Fins were still in the thick of it.
Down just one touchdown, they could easily (relatively) drive down the field for a game tying TD.
We all saw it.
With 3:06 left in the game, it was 1st and 10 for Miami at the Buffalo 21 yard line. A play that looked a little bit designed to drag a defender into the receiver’s path dragged a defender into the receiver’s path, where he nabbed an easy interception on an ill-advised pass from Tua to seal the game for the Bills.
The defender claimed he knew it was coming based on film study. Tua said he’d throw it again 10/10 times. I sadly believe both.
It was a Very Dolphins Way (TM) to lose a game. Speaking of Tua, however:
Tua and MM are secret Phinsider fans
Last week we hammered Tua for his lack of mobility and inability to extend plays and turn them into positives. Against the Bills, he looked as if he took those words to heart. While he still looks stiff and (to my eyes) like a guy suffering from an ever worsening hip injury, he managed to evade pressure all day, avoiding even a single sack, and keep his eyes downfield to find openings like a quarterback of the modern era would.
So Tua, since you’re reading this: “Next week, just do all the good stuff you did this week, minus the interception.” —
a literal genius.
Mikey Mac, I know we have your ear too.
We bagged on MM for his poor operation and ceaseless pre-snap penalties. On Thursday, those were conspicuously absent. He even took on the stretch goal of calling a balanced game, with 25 rushes to 34 passes, while guiding the offense toward moving the ball respectably.
So Mike, since you’re also reading this: “Next week, just do all the good stuff you did this week, but call more runs when they’re working and throw the ball beyond the line of scrimmage more than behind it.” — basically Einstein reincarnate.
I’ll make the bold assumption that the whole staff is here by now, so Anthony Weaver: when the opponent is 12/12 against zone defense, stop calling zone defense. Like. Come on, man. If the broadcast team knows it, you have to know it. So just. Don’t do that.
Thanks.
Weekly Overreaction: Miami will blow out the Jets in Week 4
Gotta get those tasty controversy clicks somehow, right?
The Jets are 0-2 as of this writing. I suspect they’ll be 0-3 once they’ve had the chance.
The Fins are at home. They’re coming off of their best outing so far. They have a mini Bye between a Thursday night game and a Monday night game.
Let’s just be dumb about it and say Miami 34-10 over the Jets.
Is that based almost
entirely on empty hope?
Is there any other way to root for the Dolphins?
Do you think Mike McDaniel stays to Week 12 or beyond? Do you think Miami can beat the Jets? Do you really want to hurt me? Dream in the comments below.
