POLITASPORTS

Game Overview

The Bangles may have liked Sunday Funday, but for Dolphins’ fans, it was just another Sucky Sunday, another they couldn’t win day, I wish it was all a dream, and we actually had a winning team day. Amazing how your outlook can change from one moment to the next when watching the Dolphins. When they recovered that muffed punt inside the Colts’ 30 yard line, I was hoping for a shot at the end zone. Instead they dunked it off twice and ran feebly one time. Then they committed an egregious coaching error by electing to kick a FG on 4th and < 3 inside the 25 yard line. This is the epitome of weakness. I said right at this moment: “they lost.” I have recorded my disdain for FGs. Unless you’re kicking with no time left AFTER exhausting all efforts to reach the end zone, it is a losing play for a loser team. Ask the Eagles how kicking the FGs helped them win on Sunday or better yet, the Hurricanes on Saturday. Obviously that was not the Dolphins’ worst bit of play calling on Sunday, but it is emblematic of the timidity with which they coach and play. They spent 3/4ths of the game calling dink and dunk passing (as they’ve spent all season doing) against a depleted secondary. Not until they reached “desperation time” did they test the Colts’ secondary, and the Colts failed. Imagine if the 4 headed monster that is the Dolphins’ offensive coaching fiasco pushed the ball down field from the onset?

Coaching

It is time to Fire Flores. I have not reached this conclusion lightly, but this team is in shambles, and he doesn’t even have his own coaching staff in order. The first red flag should’ve been when he couldn’t pick an OC and decided to have “co-offensive” coordinators. And now it appears as if he has relegated much of their duties to the QB coach. This constitutes a profound lack of aptitude. Combined with his failures on draft day, the inadequate defense (he is a former DC), and what appears to be his loss of the locker room, there does not seem to be a way to salvage this season or his tenure. The second week in a row they underutilized the offense until they reached despondency. Last week it got them into OT, where Flores reverted to fragility and kicked a losing FG. This week it padded the stats, which were utterly pathetic leading up to the 4th quarter.

Demerit(s): 5 (last week I ended with “if this continues a pink slip is in order” this week, a pink slip is in order)

Receiving

This is the 3rd week in a row I’ve begun this section with “Parker dropped,” it is becoming an intolerable issue. He did make up for the 3rd and goal TD drop with a 4th and goal catch, but his hands are what put them in a 4th down situation. Parker benefitted the most from the Phins’ late game awakening, but it was much too little, far too late. Parker finished with 4 catches, 3 in the 4th, and his lone catch before the final stanza came with 16 seconds remaining in the 3rd. He added one score and 77 yards, the bulk of which came when they mattered little. Gesicki as well had a solid game on the stat sheet: 5 of 6 targets for 57 yards and a score. These would be wonderful if they came throughout the course of the game. Neither Gesicki nor Parker caught a ball before the final minute of the 3rd QTR. This is outrageous. But not their fault. Waddle too was nearly invisible. When compared to the usage of Chase and Smith, Waddle is closer to a 2nd or 3rd round pick, not a top 10 pick. It is embarrassing. It’s as if the co-coordinators don’t know they have receivers.

Demerit(s): 3 (would’ve been less if not for the Parker 3rd and goal drop, that can’t happen, even if you catch the 4th and goal)

Running Backs

Gaskin disappeared. I’m not sure if he is in the doghouse, or the coaching staff just whimsically decided to use Brown instead, giving him 23 carries. I have said repeatedly in Dolphins’ Demerits that Gaskin needed a minimum of 20 touches per game to gauge his true effectiveness. He had avg 5ypc in every game thus far, but was only given 3 vs the Colts and no targets. Brown couldn’t even average 3ypc. Again, this coaching staff’s ability to weigh talent and productively apply it are suspect. Brown’s failure to punch the ball in on successive goal to go carries just underscores this staff’s incapacity to use their on field talent wisely.

Demerit(s): 4

QB

This one is a doozy. Brisset for his part did not perform poorly. He completed over 65% of his throws, didn’t turn the ball over, accounted for two TDs, and even threw the ball away to avoid costly sacks in key situations. It is just maddening that he wasn’t given any early opportunities to test the Colts’ secondary. Yes, I get it, I’m being repetitive, but this has been the Dolphins’ most peculiar strategy. To die dumping down. I believe Brisset is above average as a back-up QB. As a starter he is in the bottom third. But they acquired him as a back-up and as such he has performed competently. The worrisome bit is that he may be better than the Dolphins’ “starter.” This loss should be squarely laid on the shoulders of Flores and his coaching staff. If Ross doesn’t have the plums to dump Flores, he better cut ties with the two headed coordinator fiasco.

Demerit(s): 2

The Trenches

The defensive line sacked Wentz twice, including Phillips first sack of the season, credited for only half-sack, but it was nice to see him getting some pressure. He also pressured Wentz towards the end of the game on 3rd down but was called for a face mask penalty resulting in a 1st and goal situation for the Colts and all but sealing the Phins’ loss. But it wasn’t a face mask! This was a horrendous call, maybe as bad as the roughing the passer penalty from week one against Jones. This was bad. Even if the Phins’ were able to still hold the Colts to a FG, the extra plays and time ran off the clock doomed them. As it is, the Colts punched it in for 6 firmly planting the dagger in Dolphans’ hearts. The offensive line continued to be offensive. Allowing 3 sacks, enumerable hurries, and an abysmal 35 yards rushing on 16 carries.

Demerit(s): 5

Secondary

This was a bad outing for this group. Howard was badly beat twice, including by Pascal for a 42 yard gain after the Dolphins cut the lead to 10. This was followed a few plays later by Mo Alie-Cox snagging a TD pass away from Rowe. It was good coverage, beaten by a great catch. This play never should have happened however, if it weren’t for the erroneous face mask penalty. They allowed a QB playing on two flimsy ankles to complete 75% of his throws including 4 greater than 20 yards down field. Not a good look for what is supposed to be the Dolphins’ strongest unit.

Demerit(s): 4

Officiating

Last week I highlighted an obvious missed call that probably cost the Dolphins the win vs the Raiders in OT. This week this crew blew a call that cost the Dolphins an opportunity to perhaps tie or win the game. Jaelan Phillips was called for a facemask penalty when he pressured Carson Wentz. Replays clearly showed his hand never touched Carson’s mask and was instead gripping his left shoulder pad. This 3rd down call gave the Colts 1st and goal. The Colts did not blow the opportunity. Officials can not make errors like this. They can not throw flags on appearance, but must actually see the infraction. The league needs to address this issue.

Demerit(s): 5

Special Teams

Special teams recovered a muffed punt and gave up a muffed punt. This is Jakeem Grant’s second muffed punt. Didn’t we draft Waddle in part because of his dynamic return ability? Here is a novel suggestion, use him.

Demerit(s): 4

Overall

After the loss to the Bills I suggested that the next 5 games would determine the season, calculating that the Dolphins needed to emerge from this stretch 4-1. That is no longer a possibility, and with the Bucs upcoming and then a trip across the pond, where the Dolphins are winless, they may end up 1-4. This team needs a drastic overhaul, and they need it now, not after the season. The hope of this year, is quickly converting to “there’s always next year.”

Demerit(s): 5