POLITASPORTS

The Miami Dolphins continued their streak of lackluster performances against elite competition. That is the takeaway from Sunday in Deutschland. The Dolphins are not simply zero and three against the top teams they’ve faced, they are below average. The Bills, Eagles, and Chiefs are allowing 353, 345, and 307 yards per game respectively. The Fins managed: 393, 244, and and 292. The Bills’ game included over 120 yards of offense in a meaningless fourth quarter down by twenty eight points. They were well below the average pace of most Bills’ opponents this season. Yes, the Philadelphia and Kansas City games were competitive compared to the Bills fiasco, but going into half time down by twenty one points would’ve made it a top seven comeback in NFL history. The Giants earlier this year came back from a 20-0 halftime deficit against Arizona marking the franchise’s largest halftime comeback in it’s 99 year history. So let’s not get too carried away with the “well it was competitive” narrative. The Dolphins left themselves no margin for error and they had a lot of gaps in their game. I will be keeping my grades short and not so sweet because I don’t have much nice to say this week.

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Coaching: (D); Coach Mike McDaniel is a breath of fresh air after the Flores, Philbin, and Gase years, but he has left some things to be desired in these key matchups. He tightens up, constricts his playbook instead of just letting his hair down and going for broke like he does against the Broncos and Panthers of the league. He shows fear and it is inexplicable. The fact he called two consecutive receiver screens, one to Smythe and then the disaster to Hill deep in Chiefs territory with the game virtually on the line, I threw my hands up. Then of course came the knee to the nuts (fumble, lateral, TD) that all but sealed the loss before intermission. The only coaching move that keeps this grade from being a failure was the defense; for which, truthfully, Fangio deserves his first “A” of the season. The defense did more than enough, not to win this game, but for it to be a statement win similar to what Buffalo did to Miami several weeks ago. Had you told me the Dolphins D would hold KC to 14 points and only 267 yards I would’ve guessed at least a 17 point victory. Instead, Coach McDaniel and the offense laid an ostrich egg.

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Running Backs: (B-); It was a slow start, but then, it was that way for the entire offense. Mostert finished with 85 yards, a 7.1 average, and added another TD to his impressive season haul. On the final possession he ripped off runs of 19 and 25 yards before being shut down by the play calling for the remainder of the game. I’ve said it before, I am not sure why Ahmed gets carries, Wilson Jr had a quiet night. This unit desperately needs Achane back, but Mostert deserved more touches. Especially on the final 4 downs. The more balanced the Miami offense, the more potent. McDaniel dropped the ball. Mostert continues to pile up All-Pro numbers.

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Receivers: (F); Tyreek Hill had his worst game as a Miami Dolphin against his former squad. He said he’d be miserable if he didn’t score against his previous team, how devastated must he be giving them 7 points? I’m not sure if I’m more disappointed with the performance or his demeanor afterwards. I don’t expect Caleb Williams level crying in his mom’s arms dejection, but a modicum of remorse for that abysmal effort would be nice to see. Add in the drops, it was a forgettable morning (US time zone) to put it mildly. I said in my 4Keys to Victory post that others needed to step up, but that doesn’t mean Hill and Waddle can check out!

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Defense: (A-); The offense wasted the defenses’ best game of the season. They eliminated Kelce, held Mahomes under 200 yards passing, forced a turnover, recorded 3 sacks, and held the Chiefs to 14 points and Miami lost. I’m shocked. The Greatest Show on Surf wiped out. While the D swam the offense couldn’t keep their heads above water. Miami’s defense playing like this can get this team to the promised land, if the offense can right the ship.

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Special Teams: (B); Seven punts! Embarrassing. Miami even punted on fourth and five in the second half down three scores! Pathetic. Again, McDaniel tightens up against these “top” teams. I don’t understand it. They average over seven yards per play, even Sunday they averaged over five per play. Sanders made both his extra points. This unit didn’t cost Miami the game.

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Quarterback: (D+); Tua deserves this grade. He was well below his standard. His two greatest deficiencies are arm strength and mobility. Mobility, well what are you going to do? He isn’t a scrambler. It would be nice, but pocket passers can win. His arm strength though is concerning, especially given that he can’t break free of the pocket and pick up yards nor can he fling the ball on the move because he lacks the power to put any zip on it. He missed C. Wilson Jr. because he tried to throw off his back foot thinking the pressure was coming sooner than it was and well the results are evident to all. The pass floated a fell fifteen yards short. He tried to do what Fields did here, and didn’t come close. I am not saying Fields is a better QB, HE IS NOT. But he has the arm to make this particular throw, Tua doesn’t. Also, the snap is on Tua as well. If that was a pass to any of the Fins’ receivers for a first down and they dropped it, who would you be made at today? That’s what I thought.

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Officials: (C); A couple questionable calls, perhaps, but Miami blew this game. Based on todays possession rules, I thought Hill didn’t have possession of that pass, which, is equally as embarrassing as fumbling the ball. This game is not on the stripes. Stop with the twitter non sense… His forward progress was NOT stopped. He was in the process of fumbling, you can’t bail him out of that!

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Overall: (F); Keeping it short. Get to the bye, regroup. Miami has some favorable matchups early, tough yes, but favorable. Vegas at home then on the road two weeks in a row at NYJ and the Commandskins. All very winnable games. Lets see where the Dolphins are in a month and how they’ve bounced back. If they are sitting at 9-3 staring down a final five match ups of Titans, Jets, Cowboys, Ravens, and Bills I think they’ll be ok.

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