What to make of the Dolphins onside kick attempt

The Miami Dolphins were winning 33-9 and had just scored when Cody Parkey took to the ball and attempted an onside kick. Odd timing for certain.

Many are questioning the attempt and some are calling it unsportsmanlike. To be honest, I can’t be a hypocrite here and call this anything but a lack of class. Why? Because when Bill Belichick pulls this crap I call him out on it. When their team keeps Tom Brady in a game during a blowout and are still throwing for touchdowns, I call it classless. I have to admit to that.

"(What was your thinking with the onside kick?) – “Just playing 60 minutes. We’re not going to slow down. I don’t care what the score is.” – From MiamiDolphins.com post-game press transcript."

What was the thinking? Perhaps Gase finally saw that his team was playing at the level he has expected all season. Maybe he wanted to get his struggling offense more reps. Afterall the Dolphins offense wasn’t without its flaws on Sunday.

The Dolphins offense suffered two interceptions, one of them a pick-6. They regularly were called for holding, two by Mike Pouncey, and Cutler was under pressure most of the day. Despite the victory, Miami’s offense only put up two touchdowns on the day. Parkey added a field goal and the Dolphins defense added two safeties and a touchdown of their own.

It doesn’t seem as though the media is too concerned over the onside kick or the deep pass by David Fales late in the game when the team should have been running out the clock. Yet again however you have to give the young guy some reps in a real game situation.

This could be a new direction for the Dolphins under Gase. The softer teams under Sparano and Philbin and even dating back to Dave Wannstedt wouldn’t attempt an onside kick in that situation. They would take the lead and sit on the ball. In fact Philbin often did that with a 10 point lead.

Perhaps this could be the turning point that Miami needs. Not for this year but for the identity of the team in general. For the first time this season, the Dolphins showed a fight we haven’t seen since last year.