Miami Dolphins post game recap: The good, bad, and ugly
The Miami Dolphins and the Oakland Raiders played an ugly penalty-filled game and there was good, bad, and a lot of ugly on both sides.
Following the Miami Dolphins matchup with the Raiders, we take a broad look at what went well, what needs work, and what should be alarming. The good games and the bad always have lessons to learn and we look at the apparent ones.
The Good
Kenny Stills deep ball: Kenny is having a great year so far and his chemistry with Ryan is undeniable. Stills found a nice pocket in the end zone and Ryan threw a laser to him. Stills held on, got his feet in, and smashed into the wall to score six. Not only does Stills present a deep ball threat, but he keeps the safeties honest
Xavien Howard: Ladies and gentlemen, we have a shutdown corner. Not only that but a ball-hawking one that will make you pay the ultimate price if you look his way down the stretch. Enough can’t be said about Howard’s late-game heroics and there hasn’t been a receiver yet that has had any sort of good game against him.
Ryan Tannehill: I put it best on my twitter during the game, “Trying to keep up with the Tannehill hate and praise is like keeping up with the Kardashians.” But let’s face it. Ryan had an AMAZING game on paper. 17/23, 289 yards, 3 TDs, and no picks. Ryan doesn’t make big mistakes and is efficient. I don’t want more or less.
Albert Wilson: Did anyone else not see that absolute dime he threw to Grant for the TD? Then he follows it up with an encore run to ice the game. Gase was not messing around when he said he envisions Wilson being everything and everywhere. Great game by Albert and the speed on the corners is killer.
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The bad
The play calling: The only reason this isn’t in the worse category is that the double reverse pass that put Miami up in the fourth was a genius call by Adam. Then to get the shuffle pass working when the running game wasn’t moving was also a great mix. But don’t let it hid that yet again the offense looked HORRIBLE for 3 quarters of football and most of it was predictable, bad matchup, unimaginative football that even old man Gruden could handle. The scripted 15 plays that coaches draft pre-game shows a young coach still struggling to find anything the first half.
Penalties: Again, the only reason this wasn’t in the next category down is that the officiating was BAD. Not only for this game but around the league. The NFL is becoming so complex and unclear with penalties that refs, fans, and players are left scratching their heads to why calls are being made. However, Akeem ripping a helmet off and unsportsmanlike penalties are clear calls and those penalties were the ones that hurt the most.
The Ugly
Devante Parker: 3 targets, 2 catches, 40 yards. Many were very excited to see the big-bodied receiver get suited up again, only to find that he was invisible the entire game. For a player on his contract year, Devante is finding new ways to disappoint and will find himself playing for much less next year.
Injuries: In my radio interview with the Jets last week I noted that Miami had avoided the injury bug in its entirety this season. However, when it rained it poured. The defense got smashed and found itself lining an offensive lineman up on a goal line play. Rashad Jones was missed severely and immediately with his injury. Yet, the defense held on by a thread at the end.
Running game: 11 carries, 15 yards, no touchdowns. Drake averaged 0.6 yards on his 5 carries. The Dolphins offense and play calling is a completely different beast when this happens. Time of possession turns to garbage, play calling becomes amateur Madden 2019 status, and the defense gets winded. This failure almost sunk the game to a loss.
Final Thoughts
The last four quarters of football for Miami were really bad. So bad that a game almost slipped away after a 20-0 lead last week and another game almost got out of control this week, falling 17-7 late in the game. However, Gase has said time and again his team is full of grinders and next man up and Miami lived up to their bend don’t break persona. Week three in the books and the Dolphins find themselves in sole first place. First time since the 90’s.