Have you ever ever watched two paints attempt to out dry one another?
In the event you noticed Sunday’s Dolphins v. Patriots sport, you then positive have.
Miami’s quick begin was a red herring
The Fins began the sport by taking a lead for the primary time all yr after Jason Sanders hit a 54 yard discipline objective, capping off a drive that was run by what may simply be confused for an NFL offense.
Instantly thereafter, the Miami protection stifled the Patriots’ makes an attempt, permitting -5 yards (not a typo) whereas forcing a three-and-out.
One might be forgiven for assuming this was an indication of issues to come back.
Starting with their second offensive outing, the Dolphins of the present day arrived en masse, bringing with them virtually uncountable self inflicted errors.
Let’s attempt to depend anyway:
- Gave up a 33 yard landing run by Rhamondre Stevenson
- Missed a discipline objective
- Had a punt blocked
- Delivered a horrible snap over the quarterback’s head
- Dedicated a penalty on a made discipline objective which then grew to become:
- A muffed snap on the subsequent try, leading to one other missed discipline objective
Counting is dumb.
This was an unpleasant affair. A win is all the time higher than a loss (until you reside and die by draft position), however this sport didn’t go away many followers feeling particularly optimistic concerning the the rest of the yr.
Was there something to encourage hope for the long run?
Tyler Huntley appeared extra comfy already
I feel so. Not less than, just a little bit.
Whereas he didn’t mild the world on fireplace statistically (18/31 for 194 yds 0 TD, 1 INT), Tyler Huntley’s second begin for the Dolphins was an enchancment in executing the offense. And isn’t course of enchancment what all of us get the most jazzed about?
It didn’t harm that Miami lastly leaned on the run sport, both. That might be resulting from a myriad of influences: Raheem Mostert returning, Mike McDaniel altering the sport plan to go well with the scenario for as soon as, or Alec Ingold’s again room cope with the announcers to provide him as a lot air time as attainable.
Regardless of the root trigger, it resulted in a crew whole 193 yards on the bottom and the lone landing (a 3 yard rush by demi-god Ingold) of the day for the Fins.
That success took a whole lot of the stress off of Huntley down the stretch, which is strictly what you could do for a man thrust into a troublesome scenario. All through this sport, followers noticed just a little extra mobility out of their new QB, some aggressive throws downfield whereas on the run (and one aggressive throw that resulted in a decide, however it was as a lot an excellent defensive play because it was a mistake), and extra command of an offense that appeared to suit him higher than the earlier week’s.
In fact, all of that also led to 15 factors and a squeaker win towards a really unhealthy crew.
However what they are saying: idiot me as soon as, disgrace on you. Fools can be the one ones to place Skylar Thompson again in over Huntley when Thompson’s wholesome once more.
Accidents nonetheless underline the story
In opposition to the backdrop of Huntley’s enchancment and the crew’s plodding victory is the affect of accidents.
On one hand, Mostert, David Lengthy, and still-coasting-off-that-one-handed-catch-from-like-10-years-ago Odell Beckham Jr. all returned.
On the opposite broken hand is Jevon Holland, destined to overlook a while and presumably a whole lot of it relying on the necessity for surgical procedure.
De’Von Achane went down with a concussion and Kendall Fuller missed some performs, as did Tyreek Hill.
Each crew battles accidents, however it all the time feels just like the Fins are hit tougher than most. It may simply be as a result of I take note of them, so my notion is closely skewed towards that upon which I focus.
Or it might be that the world is out to get me particularly and the issues I like.
Show it’s not.
Miami seems like a backside 5 crew as a substitute of a Pop Warner crew
That most likely sounds harsh, however it’s truly an enchancment.
Final week’s crew was so unhealthy (how bad was it?) that I can’t even provide you with a humorous technique to characterize it.
It ruined a whole calendar day for therefore many individuals.
This week they appeared just like the type of crew that, with just a few breaks right here and there, may compete with a whole lot of groups, lose just a few shut ones, win just a few nailbiters, and nonetheless get blown out by the juggernauts.
You realize, like most Dolphins groups I can keep in mind.
However that’s higher!
We are able to work with that. That’s the type of crew who can present marked enchancment week to week, reap the benefits of their alternatives, get some damage luck late within the yr, get sizzling on the proper time, and make just a little noise (regardless that they could be enjoying above their assumed potential).
If Mike McDaniel can take the teachings from the incremental enchancment between Weeks 4 and 5, apply them through the fortuitously timed Bye week, see continued development on the quarterback place, and construct sport plans that leverage his crew’s strengths whereas exposing the opponents’ weaknesses (like an excellent coach would), we simply might need one thing to cheer for the remainder of the yr.
If not:
Miami may nonetheless be taking a look at a protracted remainder of the yr
Profitable is nice. It famously takes care of everything. Besides within the NFL, when it actually solely takes care of that specific week, usually.
I’ve stated there’s some cause for hope and I imagine that. There are clear items to work with and even some to construct round for the long run.
Whether or not the Dolphins have the fitting folks to reap the benefits of that’s much less clear.
MM’s proverbial sizzling seat shouldn’t have cooled a fantastic deal from this outing towards New England. He nonetheless wants to indicate that he can and can adapt to every distinctive week. He must win video games towards not horrible groups. He must win video games that matter.
If he and the remainder of his group can’t construct some momentum from this sport and the following Bye week earlier than clashing with the Colts, we followers can be proper again right here, melting down like a Dolphins crew in a primary time sport.
And I’m undecided we will take a twenty fourth yr of that.
Do you see trigger for cheer? Cause for revilement? Nothing since you cowl your eyes any time the Patriots are on TV? Hash it out within the feedback beneath.
