Miami Dolphins at Falcons recap

An early Falcons blowout with only the running game with Jay Ajayi working on offense is not too appealing.

It’s fine that something is working on the Miami Dolphins offense with Ajayi running but it eats too much clock. Any pass over twenty yards from Cutler is wobbly and off target as the line is not giving him enough time to set up properly.

This is no way to get back into the game down by 17 – 0 as the two-minute warning hits. The only bright spot playing this way is maybe the Falcons defense will start to wear down and that power run game will open up springing some large chunk yards.

Hitting Jarvis Landry underneath has been the only passing game and the connection to him within the two-minute warning he soon had three defenders on him after the catch as the Falcons are trying to take that away.

This drive ended with Jay Cutler throwing an interception, he had time to hit Leonte Carroo his target but Cutler yet again did not set his feet but threw the ball on the run as he had moved up in the pocket. The ball also looked wobbly and off target.

Here is the dilemma, Cutler has little time to throw and has poor mechanics yet when he does get time to throw he still makes the same motions and nearly throws an interception almost every time.

Finally some better play calling by coach Gase.

The offense showed life in the 2nd half. Cutler steps into some air but watch till the end he had to go over a defender.

Howard getting burned by Hall. (Hall was just brought up from practice squad)

As advertised

Came Wake: on 2nd and 20 gets the sack near midfield to help stop a potential scoring drive with the score 17 – 14 early in the fourth quarter. He also got a big pass rush late in the game disrupting a play as the Falcons where driving late to try to tie the game with a FG or win it with a TD.

Jay Ajayi: he got the heavy workload this game and made the most of it. The “Jay Train” gained steamed late in the game as the Falcons defense started losing theirs. This is the building block of this offense and everything gets set up from it. He rushed 26 times for 130 yards.

Still missing in action

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Dumb penalties: Xavien Howard on Julio Jones wrapping him up before ball arrives on the sideline Jones made the catch anyway. Ja’Wuan James with a late hit after a play downfield on a Landry completion for good yards.

Defense: showing signs of cracking early after giving up 10 points heading into the second quarter. Even the run defense started giving up big yards as Freeman busted a run for over 40 yards on the way to the Falcons next scoring drive. Although there was a tipped pass and a near interception.

Jay Cutler: I have to add him here after seeing enough by the end of the first half this game. You can not play consistent winning football with a QB not able to connect twenty yards downfield. Sure there are times when he is rushed to throw from poor blocking. But even when he has ample time it is the same results. And it’s not even close to being completed by a player wearing his own team’s jersey it is closer to the opponents.

Pleasant surprises

Jay Cutler: What’s going on here he is listed in MIA? Well that was for his footwork. He is here for his decision-making on the field, on a drive that had stalled he threw away a ball under heavy pressure allowing the Miami Dolphins to remain in FG range that was picked up for the tie.

Defense: same as Cutler above be listed twice. The defense played well enough to keep this game close enough in the second half for the Miami Dolphins to at least have a fleeting chance to come back and tie and potentially win this game. Which is exactly what happened as it Looked like the Falcons would at least tie the game late. But instead Cordrea Tankersley batted a ball as a Falcons receiver was bringing it in which somehow found its way to Reshad Jones

Play calling: Gase finally comes through in the second half of this game with the kind of plays that suit short yardage passing. None of that screen garbage was noticed at all. We have seen enough of that play failing. Please bury it for the rest of the season.

Phi- injuries: Mike Pouncey left the game for the second half due to a concussion.

It is almost like Jay Cutler wants to make every throw off-balance. Adam Gase must have worked hard on Cutler getting him better from their time shared on the Bears. Sure the guy has a strong arm but without proper mechanics (stepping into the throw) it is all wasted. On the other hand the few times when he does step into it there are some nice plays made. Gase is aware of this having mentioned it in pressers and has his work cut out for him to remedy it.

Also some better play calling could help matters. Something that helps in the shorter passing game like crossing routes. They did run a play like this faking to RB’s then throwing to one of them that looked nifty. I was going to also suggest some misdirection but the second scoring play near the red zone Gase finally called one allowing Landry to get open in the end zone for the 21 yard score.

Edit the late drive with Landry getting a crucial first down near the red zone was a crossing route. This set up the go ahead 38-yard FG which Cody Parkey connected on.

What a game! Down by 17 – 0 at the half, somehow the Miami Dolphins beat the defending NFC champs 20 – 17 moving into 3rd place in the AFC east.