Tweet
Dolphins receiver Jarvis Landry, who won a SEC title at LSU and went to a national championship game, never experienced 30 minutes of football like Miami’s 41-0 first half thrashing of Houston on Sunday.
Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) and Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jarvis Landry (14), celebrate a touchdown against the Houston Texans Sunday Oct. 25, 2015, at Sun Life stadium in Miami Gardens. (Bill Ingram / The Palm Beach Post)“It’s the best half of football I’ve ever been a part of in my life,” Landry said.
Linebacker Kelvin Sheppard, who also went to LSU and won a national title there, won’t go quite that far. But it was close.
“I hadn’t felt that since I was at LSU and this is my fifth year in the league,” he said.
Players sat in the locker room while reporters spewed off stats they hadn’t heard yet.
Ryan Tannehill broke the NFL record for most consecutive completions (25) by a quarterback.
The Dolphins became the first team in NFL history with four touchdowns of more than 50 yards in a half, which took the Miami’s defense by surprise.
“It was funny because I’m like ‘I’m actually tired,'” linebacker Jelani Jenkins said. “We we were getting three-and-outs but they were moving so fast, getting so many explosive plays, that we just kept getting right back on the field.”
Sunday’s game could have been a bigger blowout.
The Dolphins will gladly take a 44-26 win before Thursday’s daunting showdown in New England although at one point it looked like they’d score 50 for the first time since the 1995 season opener — Don Shula’s last opener as coach.
Instead they hit 40 points for the first time since Thanksgiving 2003, an embarrassingly long drought for the Dolphins.
Players continue to preach a change in mentality under interim coach Dan Campbell that’s allowed them to excel.
“We’ve just been having fun, competing,” running back Lamar Miller said. “All it comes down to is you just have to have fun.”
While former coach Joe Philbin tried to loosen up this season, it was never the fun, competitive environment under his watch than it is under Campbell.
Nobody has benefited more from the coaching change than Miller, who is suddenly an integral part of the offense.
The Dolphins have a renewed commitment to the run. After averaging just 13.5 carries a game last season — and nine carries in the first four games this year — Miller has been let loose.
He ran 19 times for 113 yards and a touchdown in last week’s win against Tennessee.
On Sunday, Miller had 14 carries in the first half alone for 175 yards, capped off by a 54-yard touchdown run.
He also added three receptions for 61 yards and a receiving touchdown.
“To be a great offense in this league you’ve got to be a balanced offense,” Miller said. “Once you’re a balanced offense you can be a dominant offense in this league, always keeping the defense on their toes.”
The commitment to the run has put less of a load on Tannehill, whose attempts are way down and passer rating is skyrocketing. Tannehill had a perfect 158.3 rating on Sunday after a 97.8 last week. He averaged 78.5 in the first four games.
With the Dolphins up 41 points, Miller was told at the half that Campbell wanted to sit him and play running backs Jonas Gray and Damien Williams.
At first Miller wasn’t pleased.
“I was trying to aim for 200,” he said.
But running backs coach Jeff Nixon told Miller to stand by Campbell.
“I’m not sure what coach Campbell said, but (Nixon) told me to just stand by him, other guys are going to get some carries,” Miller said.
Believing in Campbell is what’s driving the Dolphins.
“I’m not saying the coaching change was the answer to all,” Sheppard said. “But it had a lot to do with it. The way he was able to change the mindset of a group of grown men.
“He gave us the option. You can buy in or you can’t. You choose. We’re going to be out here, we’re going to compete, and you can be the one guy on film not competing or you can be the guy all bought in. It’s a man’s game. He holds everybody accountable and we hold each accountable.”
Landry said the Dolphins are playing “like our heads are cut off.”
“We’re just out there, raw passion, guys just playing fast, knowing their assignment, knowing their details and just going,” Landry said.
There were new shields in the Dolphins locker room on Sunday. One read “Brotherhood: Competitors only.” The other said: “A storm is coming.”
“When coach Campbell took over as head coach, that was one of the first things he said: There’s a storm coming. We’re going to wake these giants up,” Landry said. “So far, so good.”
The Dolphins just hope that storm continues to be navigated by Campbell and without the interim tag.
“Everybody can say — 100 percent — that we want him as the permanent head coach,” Jenkins said.
---------------------------------
If we blow out the Cheatriots then I'm all in with Dantallica. Metallica is such a great band too.
Comment