POLITASPORTS

Game Overview

Phins WIN! The Phins Win! It has been too many long weeks since we’ve witnessed a “W.” This one, like their week 1 effort was mired with ineptitude, but, at the end of the day, a win is a win, and I’ll take it. Just as in Week 1 scoring was difficult. It appears their magic number is 17. Just as in their slime victory over the Pats to begin the season, they managed only 17 points against a struggling Texans’ D, all of which came in the first half. Turnovers was a two edged sword. It prevented the Dolphins from adding to their score, but also preserved the victory. Miami continues to play like a 30th ranked team. The give-aways weren’t isolated to one facet. They fumbled the ball, they threw interceptions, and even special teams got in on the generosity. It had been nearly 30 years since the Miami Dolphins coughed up the football five times and won, thank you Houston. This is a quick turnaround week as they play the Ravens on Thursday night. They have a chance to turn this victory into a streak, I have faith they will.

Coaching

I have reserved my hardest critiques for this group all year long. And deservedly so. Sunday was not different. They continue to play far too conservative offensively. Back-up QB or not, you signed him to perform when called upon, throw the ball down field. It doesn’t matter how you slice it, if you don’t have confidence to execute your full playbook with the #2 QB in the game, why did you sign him? Flores again elected to kick a FG, which is a pet peeve of mine, worse than nails on a chalk board (a chalk board kids is what we used to use before dry erase markers and iPads existed click here to understand). Miami will not, and most likely can not, beat Baltimore with FGs. Flores electing to throw the challenge flag on a 1st and goal play that gained one yard was also peculiar. It cost Miami a timeout in a close game that may have come back to bite them. Even if he wins the challenge it remains 2nd and goal from the 3 instead of the 2. This wasn’t a possible interception, this wasn’t a huge gain, or even a 3rd down play, it was on first down and it gained one yard. Why? Flores has not done well for himself this season and he is quickly erasing the good grace he had built up during the previous two.

Demerit(s): 3.5 (wins always help)

Receiving

Last week I stated “Gesicki is quickly becoming a top tier TE” I am rapidly beginning to believe he is the best player on the Dolphins’ roster. This has never happened, to my knowledge, in NFL history. Travis Kelce and Gronk have had better statistical seasons than Gesicki is having this year, on far better teams, but they played with the likes of Brady, Mahommes, and Hill. Hard to say they were the best players on their teams. Gesicki’s only competition this year is perhaps Waddle, but his receiving numbers don’t come close to Gesicki’s. Gesicki made two remarkable catches on Sunday, continued to elevate himself in his free agency year. If Miami doesn’t pony up, he will be gone with a stack of cash. He lead all Dolphins receivers with a 13.5ypc avg (Waddle did have more total yards on double the receptions), he almost brought in 3 one handed grabs, his 4 catches were too few, but half of them required Lynn Swan type athleticism to pull in. Would I take TK over Gesicki right now, perhaps, is there another TE out there I’d trade for him? No. Waddle continues to improve, but Miami needs to find ways to use his speed prior to catching the ball, not simply after catching. Yes, give him the ball in space on the outside a few times and see what he can do, but send him on a post once in a while and lets see if he can beat man coverage down field. This isn’t rocket science. Hollins made a nice catch in the End Zone to end the first half and Smythe made the most of his two catches as well. Not too shabby a day for a “depleted” receiving corps.

Demerit(s): 1

Running Backs

Gaskin struggled to find lanes all game Sunday. He got plenty of touches, 26 (20 rushing and 6 receiving), but man did he have to fight for yards. A 1.7 avg won’t cut it in this league. I’m not sure a runner could do that poorly if he tried, so part of that has to be placed on the O-line. He did have a nice 6 yard scamper out of the Wild Cat for Miami’s first TD, that helps. But he lost the ball once, and that can not happen in any game, let alone a close game. Ahmed was really a non factor as well averaging even less than Gaskin’s 1.7, again, pointing more towards a suspect O-line than lack of running talent. Only 47 yards on the ground? The only score that will increase is your Demerits.

Demerit(s): 4

QB

Miami doesn’t have a starting QB right now, they have two backups. Can Tua develop into one? Perhaps, though the evidence currently is on the wrong side of the scale. Tua was ruled out for this game, and it appears for Thursday night as well, therefore Miami went with their second string backup QB. Brisset didn’t have a stellar day by any calculation, but he completed over 60% of his passes, threw a TD, and used his legs to pick up a key first down in the scoreless second half. His two picks and fumble lost however, would’ve equaled a loss against 30 other teams (they may have been able to beat the Lions with 5 turnovers). If Miami has any chance on Thursday, Brisset is going to have to carry them, can he do it?

Demerit(s): 3 (inexcusable turnovers, but he got the win)

The Trenches

The lines couldn’t have played more differently if they were on separate teams in alternate universes. Let me start with the bad news, the offensive line. Miami gained 47 yards on 25 rushes for a whopping 1.89 yards per attempt. Couple this with giving up two very costly sacks, including one sack-fumble and nobody is going to be buying them breakfast this week. Brisset on top of the sacks (4), was pressured all day; Gaskin and Ahmed were constantly getting hit in the backfield. It was not a great look for this unit in a season of bad looks. Flores and Grier have tried, and failed, for 3 years to put together a group that can protect their QB and open one lane for their RBs. Last offseason most believed adding WR was the biggest issue for this offense, this year it has to be addressing the O-line.

This was by far the best game of the season for the D-line. They constantly pressured Tyrod Taylor into bad throws, leading to 3 interceptions, including one in the End Zone and one deep in Houston territory when he thought he was throwing the ball away to avoid a loss, and instead Baker snagged it while tippy toeing the sideline. Taylor was sacked five times, including 2.5 sacks from Ogbah alone. He also batted a ball at the line. Houston finished with less than 75 yards rushing and a banged and bruised QB. This group contributed more to the win than any other single unit on Sunday.

Demerit(s): (I have to separate these for the first time all season) O: 4.5 / D: 0

Secondary

The secondary came up large. Intercepting Taylor three times Sunday, sacking Taylor once, and pressuring him constantly with safety blitzes. The secondary, including the linebackers, provided needed run support, and closed down on receivers all game. If the D-line were the stars Sunday, this group was the moon. The only disappointed person, is probably Howard who did not get to partake in the pick fest. Again, the talent opposite them will be greatly increased come Thursday, but if they can play this well, it will give Miami a fighting chance.

Demerit(s): 1.5

Officiating

They made some questionable calls and one glaring missed call. The missed call came inside Houston territory when Brisset was facemasked twice by two different defenders on a 2nd down play. This should not have been a sack, and should have been a 15 yard penalty and first down. It would’ve put Miami very deep in Texans’ territory. Instead, it was a 10 yard loss. How can a crew charged with protecting the QB miss such an egregious personal foul call? Seems implausible. They also had a fumble call overturned via replay. It seemed clear to me, and I’m sure most viewers that it was in fact a fumble as Akins tucked the ball, turned up field, and took three and a half steps before the ball came loose. Even the Fox replay official got it wrong. Luckily the crew on the field saw it correctly after getting a second look, and thankfully Flores still had a challenge remaining even after the worst challenge of the NFL season.

Demerit(s): 5 (this group doesn’t get the benefit of the doubt)

Special Teams

They made a great play at the end to down Houston inside the 5 yard line. Holland fumbled a return. Unfortunately, the disastrous play outweighs the nice play.

Demerit(s): 4

Overall

They got the win. Wow, how that changes everything. I’ll take ugly wins over outstanding close tough loss games every single time. Was it against a bottom tier team? Yes, but so were 2 of their losses. In the NFL, on Sunday, a win is a win. “Just win baby.”

Demerit(s): 1 (winning covers a multitude of mistakes)