POLITASPORTS

The season has officially ended. In my opinion McDaniel’s ability to save his job is quickly fading. I have outlined the issues the Dolphins have in moving on from Tua prior to the 2027 season. It is a finance and salary cap nightmare. According to SportTrac the “Dead Cap” hit next season is nearly 100m dollars.

Based on the chart and dollars; I don’t see Miami even considering a change at the QB position until the 2027-2028 off-season. I have stated previously; it is unlikely McDaniel is gone while Tua remains and vice-versa. Miami would have to find a Head Coach that would be willing to give Tua one more year. That is one third of the entire average tenure for new coaches in the NFL. This is the biggest travesty of the season. As bad as it seems, it is projecting to get worse. Though gloomy, bringing in a new GM with a “lame duck” QB would not be as difficult. Miami can make significant changes that could help them with fresh eyes on player potential and development. I struggle to see a scenario that involves keeping Grier. My question to Ross is: “What benefits do you see in waiting till the end of the season to move on from Grier?” If the answer is “none” or “not many” why wait? Peal off the band-aid. Let a new GM start making changes this year before the trade deadline. For the sake of the fans if nothing else. Please.

Jump to Grades: Coaching || Defense || Quarterback || Special Teams || Running Backs || Officials || Receivers || Overall ||

Coaching: (F); Another failing grade for Coach McDaniel. Weaver isn’t even mentioning. He may be the first casualty of the season. Miami has holes on the defensive side, but Weaver’s job is to put together a game plan that hides those holes. I can picture a scenario, due to Tua’s contract, where Grier and Weaver are out and McDaniel stays. Losing Weaver would mean another DC change. Based on how this team as played, ranked 29th, it appears necessary. Miami is last against the run and second to last on third down. The two areas which most prohibit your offense from being on the field.

Jump to Grades: Coaching || Defense || Quarterback || Special Teams || Running Backs || Officials || Receivers || Overall ||

Running Backs: (A); Achane had his best day since his break out rookie campaign. 150 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns on only twenty touches. The other backs combined for three carries, but they weren’t required. Even without Achane’s 49 yard score, he would still have averaged over 5 yards per carry. These are the types of games Fins Fans envisioned after that incredible five game stretch two seasons ago. It is unfortunate, but very “Dolphins-like” that he finally gets going as the rest of the offense struggles and the defense disappears. For his efforts, he gets my only “A” of the day. Not the greatest consolation prize in history, but it’s honest work.

Jump to Grades: Coaching || Defense || Quarterback || Special Teams || Running Backs || Officials || Receivers || Overall ||

Receivers: (C); Waddle’s stats would suggest a higher grade; however, his bobbled INT is inexcusable. The second play of the game and Tua hits him between his numbers and he drops it. More clumsy than Jeffy. The pick wiped out a great return by Washington and put a struggling defense behind the eight ball with San Diego getting possession at the 41 yard line. Malik was the only other receiver with more than two receptions. The tight end Hill was Miami’s second leading receiver with 31 yards on his three catches. Waller did add the go ahead TD, with only his second catch of the day after a break out 5 catch 78 yard 1 TD performance against Carolina.

Rumors are now circulating that Waddle is on the trade block. A sign Miami has resigned itself to next season.

Jump to Grades: Coaching || Defense || Quarterback || Special Teams || Running Backs || Officials || Receivers || Overall ||

Defense: (F-); The defense has been the largest determent to winning. They have allowed back up running backs to have career days against them in consecutive weeks. The Dolphins did “force” a first half punt on Sunday for the first time all year. If you were looking for “bright spots” you’re welcome.

Sunday marked the second time this year Miami scored 27 points and lost. NFL teams scoring at least 27 points win approximately 80% of the time. Miami’s porous defense has bucked that trend. They have yet to hold an opponent to 20 points or less all season. They accomplished this feat nine times last season. The defense has been a disaster. JP had Herbert in his sights and let him get away for the game clinching completion. Making those types of plays are what divides winning from losing. Miami has not made those plays.

Jump to Grades: Coaching || Defense || Quarterback || Special Teams || Running Backs || Officials || Receivers || Overall ||

Special Teams: (D); Malik opened the game with a great return setting Miami up at midfield. He would finish the game with 161 return yards. Bailey once again crushed the ball when asked to punt, finishing with an avg above 55 yards. Patterson missed one FG, which proved costly. Yes, it was greater than 50 yards, but when a team is struggling this much, they need perfection to win.

The reason for my low grade was the final kick return by the Charges. Miami just took a one point lead with under a minute to play. San Diego had only one time out, but only needed a FG to win. Special Teams allowed the Chargers to return the ball 40 yards to the 41. Not as egregious as the return in the Buffalo game after a score, but awful none the less. Just can’t allow a team to snatch back momentum after scores. It’s demoralizing to a struggling defense.

Jump to Grades: Coaching || Defense || Quarterback || Special Teams || Running Backs || Officials || Receivers || Overall ||Overall ||

Quarterback(s): (D); No matter how or when they come, three interceptions is too many. Tua’s play has stolen wins away from Miami this season. And his postgame pressers have killed camaraderie. There are no “good” solutions for Tua. Miami can’t move on, the cost is too high, but they also can’t win with him. Not as presently constructed. They tried to surround him with offensive talent hoping he was Joe Burrow, but his play quality isn’t enough. For the Fins to compete with Tua, they require a lock down defense. What they have is a fence with no gate, just an open hole.

I just watched two forty year old QBs play better on Thursday than Tua has all year.

Jump to Grades: Coaching || Defense || Quarterback || Special Teams || Running Backs || Officials || Receivers || Overall ||

Officials: (C); My one question would be; why when Malik was tackled backwards out of bounds did the clock stop? I thought the rules stated the offensive player needed to have forward momentum when going out of bounds to stop the clock? Assuming Miami still converts with the Waller TD, the 30 seconds they could have bled off the clock could have changed the outcome.

Jump to Grades: Coaching || Defense || Quarterback || Special Teams || Running Backs || Officials || Receivers || Overall ||

Overall: (F); The go ahead score was fun, for 45 seconds. Not many other bright spots to report. The season has passed the point of no return, but a few wins down the stretch would still be welcomed. Miami has an extremely winnable game on Sunday verse the lowly Browns. It really is a must win game for this coaching and management personnel. If they lose to another one win team, Ross has to make a change. Their next three opponents have a combined record of 5-12. No excuse to not win these games and be 4-5 with two games left before the bye week. Being a Dolphins fan for 46 years has taught me something, dreams are made to be destroyed.

Jump to Grades: Coaching || Defense || Quarterback || Special Teams || Running Backs || Officials || Receivers || Overall ||