Running Team? Passing Team? Or Balanced Attack?

[Finatic]

How do you see the offensive philosophy of the team this year? We are all excited about the improvement of Tannehill and think about him throwing for 4,000 yeards. But we have a great stable of running backs too. So will we lean on Ryan's arm and be a passing team? Or will we take the heat off of him and run the ball and be more conservative? I see a balanced attack. Quick passes, running the ball including using Tannehills legs. And then the occasional deep pass.

[Phintim Menace]

I know it always plays out as a philosophy, but I always hope we pass against an 8 man front and run against a dime defense. So in order to know which we do most I would like to know what defensive game plans we would be facing. But I think you will see a pretty balanced attack if you split the "running game" to include all plays made by running backs. We will probably throw about 40% of our passes to the backs to help the offensive line and we have a lot of backs who are dangerous in space with the ball in their hands. I also think we have drilled into Tannehill not to throw deep into coverage and turn the ball over. Myself I believe a 50 yard pass that may get intercepted on third and 10 is better than a punt on 4th and 7 because you completed the 3 yard outlet pass. You at least have a chance of a big play and if it's intercepted, it's as good as a punt.

[FinFan in KC]

And it shows the willingness to throw deep and makes the opponent prepare for it.

[AquaXI]

I hope it's 55/45 passing/rushing

[ONole1]

I think the passing game will set up the running game, but when the final numbers come out I wouldn't be shocked if they were very close.

[DolphinsFreak]

I think the slight edge will go to the passing over the running. I can see the Dolphins being in a lot of 3rd and long situations where they will be forced to pass, so whether they want to or not they might have to be a passing team. With this receiving corps, tight ends included, this team should be a passing team anyway while using the run to set up the pass. I would say 60/40 or so.............

[Alpha]

I agree with the majority here so far - a balanced attack, but with passing taking a slight edge. 60/40 sounds about right to me....

[Daytona Dolfan]

I agree with Menace if you count all the RB touches as run, I see it close to 50/50. If no then probably 65/35 pass. I believe that there will be a lot of passes to the RB's either designed to get them in space or as dumpoff because of Oline problems.

[cuchulainn]

Tannehill passed an average of 37 attempts a game last year. As a team, we rushed for just under 25 rush attempts per game. It worked out to 595 pass attempts and 399 rushing attempts. We ranked #11 overall in points scored. That was with an average X receiver, a rookie Y receiver, a Z receiver with team chemistry issues, and poor TE contributions due to Clay being injured most of last season.

I think we'll see a continuation of last season with the pass setting up the run and more Option plays from Tannehill, with hopefully better overall passing chemistry where the ball is spread out and more evenly distributed.

[61finfan]

I think it all depends on the ability of the O line to run block. The first team in preseason had mild success running but better success passing. So i think as of today the passing game will be relied on more heavily.

[Finatic]

No doubt 61 that the OLine will dictate a great deal. I think if we can stretch the field a little bit and keep the safeties back it will take some pressure off the line. But we are so fragile there. One injury to Albert or Pouncey, etc. and we are going to have a tough time.

[So Be]

I can see us running more in the first 4 games for a 50-50 split. Then, timing with RT and Parker, Stills, and Cameron click, and it's 60-40 pass, and the run average goes up.

I really believe that Parker is gonna be that special WR who opens things up for others, while wreaking havoc with opposing D's. Miller will go over 1200 because of it.

[Phintim Menace]

You bring up a very good point again that is easy to overlook in this preseason. Parker, Stills, Jennings and Cameron only accounted for 9 receptions in the preseason. Their impact on this team hasn't even been glimpsed yet. Ajayi and James have only been glimpsed.

[So Be]

You bring up a very good point again that is easy to overlook in this preseason. Parker, Stills, Jennings and Cameron only accounted for 9 receptions in the preseason. Their impact on this team hasn't even been glimpsed yet. Ajayi and James have only been glimpsed.

Add in that last year we had a new O with a new OC and a new OL coach. Lazor was dealing with what he had and RT was learning. Benton had to deal with a mess, and 5 guys who had never played together. I think guys played longer and am sure they tried more plays.

This year, Tannehill has the O down, while waiting for weapons to come available. Benton has guys he now knows and has had over a year to work with. So what do they do? Play call such a VANILLA O that I have not seen before. It was no fun to watch but, still looked VG.

We were sandbagging to the extreme, as the Redskins will find out in a week. This will happen.

[Phintim Menace]

I think we are sandbagging some. I also think we have the incredible luxury of not having to force these guys into service before they are ready.

[Phishinphin]

I think the single biggest thing being missed as far as balance goes is being completely overlooked. I think this team is more balanced than ever on both sides of the ball. Yes there are some weaknesses. But I think our defense is going to keep the other team off of the field enough to tire the other teams defense which in turn helps our offense. I also think our offense is going to be good enough that our defense will come to the field rested and ready to further dominate. It will in essence be the Anti-Dolphins of recent past. Everything we suffered from, we should now be inflicting on other teams. Long tiring drives on the other teams defense and quick three and out on the other teams offense. When you are dominating the other team, you don't get tired. You get energized. You cant wait to get back out there and dominate some more.

So for me, for the first time since the early 70s we have the most complete and balanced team I have ever seen. What unit is better? The offense or the defense? I know for me it is a toss up. As I watched the preseason games as much as I could, teams were racking up injuries against us at a pretty alarming rate. This was happening on both sides of the ball for the other teams. I am not celebrating that fact but merely pointing it out. Because as you are getting fatigued and dominated you become very complacent in your physical surroundings and end up in bad positions.

Being Matt and Tim's youngest brother I have a slightly different perspective but also lived with the fanatical Dolphins life. The blanket that Matt mentions in his article I took off of our mother and folded it up and it has been in my truck riding with me for the last 3 years proudly displayed in the rear window.

[Phintim Menace]

Very well put. This is the center of this years optimism. We have turned a corner where we are now the dominating team on both sides of the ball. Now our opponents are looking for luck and a break, like we used to. They are hoping for something to happen to slow down the onslaught that is now the Miami Dolphins!

[kelbail21]

"I think if we can get Lamar Miller 40-45 carries a game we'll be in great shape and be able to finish off most of our opponents with a last second 52 yard field goal."
Dave Wannstedt