My concerns after week 1

[FTLDOLFAN]

1. LB So much for the theory that Suh is going to make our LB's better. They were awful today. Maybe the Redskins had a good scheme to counter our D-line and we will adjust to it but if we can't stop the run then we are not going anywhere this year.

2. O-line They don't get any push in the running game and the pass protection is still shaky.

3. RB We don't have a RB who can get us those tough 2 or 3 yards when we absolutely must have them. Miller is a finesse back.

4. QB Tannehill still looks like the same QB. He has no pocket awareness and his accuracy remains an issue which causes him to consistently leave points on the field. He will make plays and look good at times but without a consistent rushing attack and a shaky o-line too much is asked of him and he is not good enough to carry a team.

I am happy that we won today but my expectations have been lowered. I still feel like making the playoffs as a wildcard is possible if we rack up enough wins against these teams that we are supposed to beat and win a couple games we aren't supposed to but as far as us doing damage in the playoffs I can't imagine that happening with what I saw today.

[cuchulainn]

1 - Coyles had Suh out of position. Agree on the Skins out coaching Philbin and Co. We gave up 160 on the ground. Coyles should be called out.
2 - Disappointing game. Albert was our best OLman. Pouncey and James struggled as well. Douglas can play and should improve. Turner and Thomas were yikes.
3 - Lazor never should have had Williams in there as a rusher. He is a 3rd down pass option. Miller is good, but slow at picking up the hole at times. Bad luck on Ajayi getting injured. Hope to see Gray soon.
4 - There was no rhythm on O. Tannehill has to get more consistent, but Lazor has to establish something as well.

I think we were all deflated a bit, but again - we won on the road and overcame our own gaffs to do it. I'll wait for week 4 to see what this team really looks like.

YMMV.

[Phintim Menace]

Agree on the week 4, I don't think we should base too much on 1 poor performance.

[HndRkyaBong34]

Like I've said along, my biggest concern is coaching and this is the root of today performance.. Landry was the only one that wanted to win bad enough so he took it upon himself to make it happen..

[ONole1]

1 - Coyles had Suh out of position. Agree on the Skins out coaching Philbin and Co. We gave up 160 on the ground. Coyles should be called out.
2 - Disappointing game. Albert was our best OLman. Pouncey and James struggled as well. Douglas can play and should improve. Turner and Thomas were yikes.
3 - Lazor never should have had Williams in there as a rusher. He is a 3rd down pass option. Miller is good, but slow at picking up the hole at times. Bad luck on Ajayi getting injured. Hope to see Gray soon.
4 - There was no rhythm on O. Tannehill has to get more consistent, but Lazor has to establish something as well.

I think we were all deflated a bit, but again - we won on the road and overcame our own gaffs to do it. I'll wait for week 4 to see what this team really looks like.

YMMV.

1. I completely agree, and I just don't get it...why is this guy so freaking clueless....
2. Completely disagree. I saw the O Line play much different and looking at PFF they seemed to have seen what I saw. I thought Pouncey and James played good games. They are the only linemen that rated out positively with James at 2.2 and Pouncey at 1.6. I thought Pouncey looked like his old self getting out in front of plays and controlling things right up the middle. Douglas struggled early, but thought he looked better later and was key in getting out in front of the screen at the end. Albert didn't have any push and struggled to get out wide, but was expected coming off his injury. Thomas was horrible. Arguably his worst game, and he has had many but I thought he was on the rise...I know just one game, but WOW, he was horrible...
3. Not only does he put Williams in, but why no matter what OC we have to we run off tackle in third and short??? UHGGGGGGG
4. They set up for up tempo, they need to play it...

The team came out flat as usual and on defense we seem to just fight ourselves...I know the second half the defense looked much better, but I also think a lot of that was on the ineptitude of Cousins.

[cuchulainn]

Some good points... as for #2, Jason Hatcher was unstoppable. He played the game we expected to see from Suh. I wasn't happy with any of the interior line play and James struggled more than I expected. As for Douglas, go watch the line play on the Matthews TD. lol... Douglas was blown up and Miller made a key block taking on Douglas' man. Hoping for a better showing in game #2. Agree on most else. ;-)

[Phintim Menace]

We run off tackle short because we use a weak zone blocking scheme where everyone just sort of hand fights and drifts left or right and hope a gap develops somewhere. We do not use straight ahead drive blocking with a specific hole created by a specific lineman at a particular point.

[ONole1]

1. LB So much for the theory that Suh is going to make our LB's better. They were awful today. Maybe the Redskins had a good scheme to counter our D-line and we will adjust to it but if we can't stop the run then we are not going anywhere this year.

2. O-line They don't get any push in the running game and the pass protection is still shaky.

3. RB We don't have a RB who can get us those tough 2 or 3 yards when we absolutely must have them. Miller is a finesse back.

4. QB Tannehill still looks like the same QB. He has no pocket awareness and his accuracy remains an issue which causes him to consistently leave points on the field. He will make plays and look good at times but without a consistent rushing attack and a shaky o-line too much is asked of him and he is not good enough to carry a team.

I am happy that we won today but my expectations have been lowered. I still feel like making the playoffs as a wildcard is possible if we rack up enough wins against these teams that we are supposed to beat and win a couple games we aren't supposed to but as far as us doing damage in the playoffs I can't imagine that happening with what I saw today.

1. I gotta agree with Cuch on this one and put this on Coyle more than anything. Don't get me wrong, the LB's need to be upgraded, but you don' take the best 3 technique DT in the game and essentially play him as a NT. It's almost like Coyles said, "well we know they are going to double team and cut him, so let's make is easier for them to do that."

2. Pouncey and James are the only ones that played the entire game. Albert struggled with strength and quickness which was expected. Douglas struggled early, but thought he played better later in the game. Thomas was horrible...just horrible.

3. We have Gray, but guess they felt a finesse and a scat back was better to be active...uhgggggg I hate , and I mean HATE that Lazor will not play smash mouth football when he needs to.

4. Yeah, I though this was arguably one of his worst games. I know his stats wont show that, but the two horrible throws to wide open Sims and Stills, along with three picks (one for a pick 6) that were dropped, and add to it some throws that almost got his receivers killed. His pocket awareness is what it is, I just don't see it getting any better.

I know a road win you have to take no matter what, but if it wasn't for the ineptness of Cousins Miami would have been smoked yesterday.

[ONole1]

Here are my main concerns from the game and going forward;

Coaching
First and foremost COACHING. I thought maybe some of the changes from Philbin in the offseason were for the better and maybe he would change things when it comes to playing. However, as in the words of the immortal Emmitt Smith, “You cannot change the stripes of a leopard.” As with most teams they take on the persona of their coach and they seem to come out flat game in and game out, no matter who the players are.

The play calling by Lazor drives me nuts at times. I like most of the stuff he does, but hate that he does not like to put the QB under center and absolutely does not play smash mouth football when you need to. Stop getting cute and line up the big uglies and run the GD ball between the tackles. I also have to add that his RD play calling is horrible, just horrible.
Let’s go to Coyle now…He should have been fired after last season. Once again he has no freaking clue how to coach to his talent. As Cuch said you take the best 3 technique DT in the NFL and you have him plat a 1 technique. Yes we know he’s going to be double teamed and chopped, so you just make it easier for them to do that?

Offensive Line
Pouncey and James looked good. Douglas looked better as the game went on. Albert is going to play his way back into shape, and it may take a year. He actually looks like Pouncey did last year with no quickness and no strength in the knee. Thomas needs to go, he was abysmal. I understand it’s the first game, but I am thinking in the games he looked decent last year it was because Albert was playing at an All-Pro level before getting hurt…They should have signed Mathis…

Linebackers
There is no playmaker in the group, and to be a truly elite defense you must have a playmaker. Misi played solid as usual, when healthy I expect nothing less, unfortunately I expect nothing more either.
Jenkins probably played his worst game. He was abused in pass coverage, took horrible angles and missed tackles, just seem out of position the entire game. I’ll give him a pass for one game as he has been solid, but similar to Misi not sure he is a playmaker.

Shepard was exposed…With Coyle taking Suh out of the game Shepard was horrible and was pulled (rightly so) quickly in place of Vigil. I didn’t notice Vigil do anything outstanding, but I didn’t see him give up anything crazy either. Live and die by the rookie, as I think he has instinct and could be a playmaker.

Quarterback
I think we have seen what Tannehill is and will always be. He’s a top half of the NFL QB, but I don’t think he will ever be an “elite” QB. He may put up some impressive stats but as I have said they don’t always show the entire picture. I thought this was one of if not the worst game he has played as a pro. His stats don’t show that, but what they also don’t show are the two wide open receivers and bad throws. I understand he was on the move, but that is supposedly his strength. They also won’t show the three should have been picks that were dropped by Washington defenders with at least one being a pick six. Don’t get me wrong, he made some very nice throws as well but the others were soooo bad.

He has no pocket awareness, and not sure that is something that can be taught, you either have it or you don’t…he don’t. The guys has as much athletic ability as any QB in the NFL but has not clue how to use it to get himself out of trouble unless it’s a designed roll out.

Unfortunately, I think he is what he is. He is going to be up and down as a QB but there is no better option now or in the foreseeable future, so they need to figure out a way to play to his strengths and keep the players around him. Don’t get me wrong, that combination can work as I see him very similar to Joe Flacco, Matt Ryan, Andy Dalton, and Alex Smith as you can win with them, but can’t count on them to carry the team when they need to on a consistent basis.

These are my concerns, I have many positives too I will post in another thread.

[Dolfan1]

Well said Shane. Funny, not 2 minutes ago I said in the FB group that yesterday was the worst game I've ever seen Tannehill play and while the stats may not back that up, my eyes don't lie.

[cuchulainn]

Good post. As usual, I agree with most of your views.

[So Be]

I believe that Albert's being thrown in with next to no practice time and not really ready had an effect on the play of Dallas. If you don't know what the guy next to you can do, you will think and hesitate a fraction of a second as opposed to your normal reaction and play.

I saw the same on the OL overall.

[DolphinsFreak]

1. Defensive Line

I have this rated as the #1 problem in week 1 because on PAPER this unit should NOT be a problem. The players are at fault for allowing a mediocre team to manhandle them and run all over them. Coaching is definitely part of the problem though, but these guys are talented enough to NEVER look this bad DESPITE how worthless the defensive coordinator is.


2. Quarterback

<See Post #6> Nole pretty much covered everything that I would have said. I agree with everything he said, I just would have been more harsh. I do think there are other options out there though. We have see QB's that have come out of nowhere who are able to sense pressure, throw better touch passes, etc. than Tannehill.

3. Offensive Line

This would be ranked #1 but the defensive line SHOULD BE better and most people know that the o-line is an issue. Nothing really to add that hasn't been covered already. Hopefully Albert, POuncey and the gang were just showing a little 'ring rust' and will preform much better in week 2 and beyond.

4. Coaching

C;mon. Would you want to play for these coaches? I know I wouldn't. Great teams, heck, even DECENT TEAMS have a coaching staff that know how to get the most out of each player, how to use each players strengths to bring out the most in them. The Dolphins coaches lack this ability on both sides of the ball. I said it last year and I will say it again and agree with Nole again, Coyle shuld have been fired after last season. His defensive scheme is nonexistent. The vanilla defense that we saw in the preseason is still here. It's not 'vanilla' it's Coyle's defense. Lining Wake and Suh up next to each other on every down is a mistake. Coyle is a joke! Philbin is not a motivator. Lazor is all hype and is coaching on the coattails of Chip Kelly. He got a lot of respect BECAUSE of Kelly and is proving that he has learned very little from him. Where is the creativity?? As FANS, not coaches, SOME of us can see that Tannehill can't sense pressure so why does the OC who is getting paid to get the most out of his QB keep allowing him to look stupid? FIX IT! If Lazor can't fix Tannehill's problems then he needs to call plays that will help Tannehill move OR Lazor should find a new profession. Did I mention that Philbin is not a motivator?


5. Linebackers

Stale. Average play. Nobody stands out. There are just warm bodies out there playing okay but not doing anything special.


6. Cornerbacks

Jamar Taylor flat out sucks. No surprise here but he should not even be on the team let alone be in the game. This coaching staff and front office should have addressed this issue.

7. Depth

Aside from D-Line there is no depth at any other position, it's scary.

[Seadog]

1. LB So much for the theory that Suh is going to make our LB's better. They were awful today. Maybe the Redskins had a good scheme to counter our D-line and we will adjust to it but if we can't stop the run then we are not going anywhere this year.

2. O-line They don't get any push in the running game and the pass protection is still shaky.

3. RB We don't have a RB who can get us those tough 2 or 3 yards when we absolutely must have them. Miller is a finesse back.

4. QB Tannehill still looks like the same QB. He has no pocket awareness and his accuracy remains an issue which causes him to consistently leave points on the field. He will make plays and look good at times but without a consistent rushing attack and a shaky o-line too much is asked of him and he is not good enough to carry a team.

I am happy that we won today but my expectations have been lowered. I still feel like making the playoffs as a wildcard is possible if we rack up enough wins against these teams that we are supposed to beat and win a couple games we aren't supposed to but as far as us doing damage in the playoffs I can't imagine that happening with what I saw today.

1: There is no way anyone could make these LB's look good, Misi had a decent day, but the rest all remind me of Wheels and Wannabe, of course you could throw in Clam Chowder as well. As far as picking up Suh and Phillips, good move...build the wall then fix the rest. I have said this before, we need a Ray Lewis type MLB...

2: I'll say it again, this has to be the worse OL in all of football, just because they are Dolphins doesn't make them good......

3: We don't have an OL that could get a RB 2-3 yards when we need it.

4: Very disappointed in RT, he was playing lights out in preseason, looked as if he was well on his way for a break out year. But so was the D, and they looked bad yesterday as well...

Ok that all said, I swear to all of you I thought the way we played yesterday looked just like the way we were playing last year, like we never changed a thing. But we did, we changed a lot of players, and still look the same....yes we did keep the coaching staff.........they are who they are and coach how they coach, no matter who's on the field....

I couldn't believe my eyes watching the RB run straight up the middle again and again.......We did make a change in the 2nd half, but that should have never happened in the 1st half.....

Oh well seems as if the Skins lost the game to us more than we beat the Skins, but a win will have to do.......

[kelbail21]

That front seven seems to have no cohesion at all. The LB's lined up at five to six yards deep. When our DTs got penetration, the LBs stood back there waiting to get blasted by both OGs that came out to swallow them up. We should either not have the DTs penetrate and just stalemate the OL at the LOS or the LBs have to be willing to attack and not allow that enormous bubble between the DL and LBs. Our LBs seem way too interested in slamming into blockers than being athletic, shedding blockers and making tackles. It looks like the Sheppard experiment has been exposed (are we sure #52 isn't still Phillip Wheeler?). I think the next logical step is to start Misi inside (still don't think he is an OLB) and bring Chris McCain back into the starting unit at OLB.
Could have started better and ended Redskins first drive twice. First on Taylor's PI. Second, when Coyle dropped Vernon and his heavily taped ankle into coverage and he missed an easy tackle on 3rd and 6.
We still have a robot behind center. Too bad the guy just doesn't have a passion for the game. I'm not saying he's not a hard worker, he just doesn't have a passion for the game and a taste for greatness on top of being fundamentally reckless when he's proven over and over again IT DOESN'T WORK.
We sure could have used Evan Mathis yesterday.
Stars were way out of alignment. Everything was so out of sync. Really an amazing win. Don't think it's possible to play worse or have everything so out of whack.
Looks like it is going to be run left, throw left against us all year.

[DOLPHINSIN2008]

omg give me a break about the coaching the freaking coaches cant make the tackle so many times the dolphins were in position to make the stop but could not get it done,fact the players need to to get better and tackle its not that hard

to me a lot of the guys looked rusty maybe we should play the starters more in the pre-season


Take nothing away from the skins playing at home ,season opener they played well and probably should have one,but they did not

[cuchulainn]

Tale of 2 halfs... 1st half was shat. 2nd half Defense shut them out. Lazor's playcalling left much to be desired as well. Doesn't excuse Tannehill misfiring on several passes, but some of the calls were bad. D Williams is a receiver out of the backfield at best and I think a good kickoff returner. Having him run for short yardage wasn't a good call last year or this year.

Agree on guys being rusty though, but I think that extends to the coaches.
Also agree on the skins playing at home on opening day and playing for the new starting QB and the disrespect they felt over being written off before the season started...

[Phintim Menace]

Just curious what you guys think. We were not the only team to look flat on opening day. Is it possible that the extinction of 2 a days and the drastic reduction in contact in training camp coupled with the old practice of not using starters in preseason means your starters really are just not ready for full speed live contact on opening day? When we used to have two a day practices and lots of hard contact it wasn't necessary to play your starters in the preseason games and you could use those games to evaluate your guys on the bubble. Is this the result of the CBA?

[cuchulainn]

Maybe... but we're sorely lacking talent at DB, LB, and OL still. I think we're an off-season away from being a serious contender. If we can shore up Safety, CB, strond side and Mike LBs, as well as Left Guard, we should be a contender for the foreseeable future as long as Tannehill continues to progress. As poorly as he executed a handful of plays, I felt better about his performance after watching some other QBs play.

[Kato]

Nole and DF. Great analysis...thanks. didn't see the game so I defer to your wisdoms, and of course most of what we are concerned about has been sitting there since the summer. Coaching.....Junior Varsity...snoring xxxxxxxxxx. Defensive Line....better be coaching behind giving up 150 yards on the ground, or it will be a looooooong season. Offensive Line........I would give my left nut to stop talking about this issue and have them fix it, and why for the love of Martinis did they not go hard after Mathis?...........Defensive backfield, no depth and mighty mites, but who knew Jamar Talyor would be so bad-thought it was a good pick at the time. We need a tall, rangy playmaker back there. But my #1 cancer this year is the LB corps. I thought we picked up a good group of camp guys, but we have missed out on some serious playmakers over the past 2 years. Just like the modern NFL has seen unreal uber-athlete wide receivers change the game, we are now seeing cape wearing LBs that can fly, cover, and hit.......they have arguably the greatest impact on a D today. It is reminiscent to the good old days when one nasty ugly MLB could dominate....flash forward to 2015, and we have traded muscle car MLBs, for AWD, turbo charged 6 cylinder OLB guys that are every bit as dominant and required.............and we don't have one.