What we learned about the Miami Dolphins on Sunday

 If you look at the ratings from this past Sunday, all football fans had two games marked on their calendar, Miami Dolphins vs New York Jets was not one of them.

This was a boring game, unless you are a die-hard Miami Dolphins fan.   Neither offense was able to score a touchdown, which is the first time that has happened throughout the entire NFL season.  It was hard to see what would make this game special, yes, there was drama (Reshad Jones taking himself out of the line-up), but there were two main things that stood up.

The Miami Dolphins need a quarterback.

Brock-tober has finally ended.  To steal a line from Dennis Green, “they are, who we thought they were.” Brock Osweiler is not the long-term solution for the Miami Dolphins.  All he is, is a band-aid which has been applied to the quarterback position ever since a guy who wore 13 retired.  That band-aid has held its own, but it’s time to replace it and the best way to do it, is a one quick motion.

Re-watching the painful game on Sunday, you can’t help but notice that the Brock missed on a lot of throws.  For two consecutive weeks we have seen him over throw on a deep ball that would have scored 6.   In Adam Gase system, the long ball is baited on the opposing defense, with short hallow crosses, screen, etc. It causes the defensive backs to jump routes, and then an unexpected double move from wide receiver and you have a chance to expose a fly cut to a post 9.

Is Ryan Tannehill any better than Brock – maybe, but is Ryan the long-term solution; no. Let’s be honest with each other, the starting quarterback from the Miami Dolphins in 2019, is on this roster.  Pending a trade or a switch in front office, Ryan Tannehill will be the starting quarterback next year, for the only reason that his cap hit makes it so.  The flip side is on all of this, is what happens if Adam Gase is not the Miami Dolphins Head Coach next year? Let’s await to see how this season unfolds first, before we can start predicting stretch ideas.

In all honestly, the Dolphins should be searching for quarterback this upcoming draft, but unlike this past year, there isn’t a special talent waiting to take over a franchise, except for Justin Herbet (the kid looks legit.  Think Cam Newton size with Philip Rivers velocity) all other QBs might be considered projects or unfinished.  The downside in all of this, is the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins have been stuck at 8-8 or 7-9 or 6-10 for forever. What that means is that instead of picking in the top 5 or even the top 10 in the NFL draft, they are always missing out on selecting a top candidate.  And, don’t think the scouting department can help, here is a list of QB’s selected by the Dolphins in the past drafts:

·         2016 Drew Doughty – 7th round

·         2012 Ryan Tannehill – 1st round

·         2009 Pat While – 2nd round

·         2008  Chad Henne – 2nd round

·         2007 Jon Beck – 2nd round

Reviewing the above list, you are kinda left speechless.

Taking all that into consideration, you have the understanding, that the Dolphins needs a franchise QB.

How to get one is the better question.  The Dolphins face the Packers, Colts, Patriots, Viking and Jaguars, which in terms of talent alone will lead to losses but might win both meetings against the Bills.  That would put them around 6-10 for the season.

Basically, another year without a top 5 draft selection.  The Giants and Raiders will most likely be battling for the 1st overall pick and both could select a QB.  The free agent market is less than stellar unless David Carr is some how released from the Raiders, but Teddy Bridgewater is the most attractive name out there.

Whom ever is leading the Miami Dolphins next year, might start thinking about a complete rebuild around the QB position, even though they might have to deal with Ryan for one more year.

On the flip side of things, one can’t stress how the New York Jets defense limited the Dolphins in all facets of the game.  To be honest, one of the biggest mistakes the Dolphins ever made was allowing Kacy Rodgers to leave.  Rodgers was the defensive line coach when Tony Sparano was the Head Coach of the Dolphins.  Rodgers worked under Bowles, who at the time was the Defensive Coordinator.   Once this season unfolds, there will most likely be a regimen change, but if someone is looking for a Defensive Coordinator to take over the Dolphins band of misfits, hiring Rodgers would make perfect sense.

Rodger use of Jamal Adams is something to watch.  Adams is a beast, and has the same build, character as the Dolphins first round pick Minkah Fitzpatrick.   Adams should be the bar that we hope Minkah can get too, and who better to coach him up than Rodger.

Additionally, the Dolphins Dline, which was supposed to be the core or the life of the party, has not achieved anything (4 sacks against the Jet’s doesn’t count).  The Dolphins D line has been a non-factor since Rodgers left the team.

Games like this past Sunday happen, but they happen for a reason.   The reason why I watched this game twice was to understand two things; the Dolphins need a quarterback and how badly our existing D is playing out of position.  Truth of the matter is that neither of these options will be resolved before the end of the season, but as a Dolphin fan, we learn to be optimistic about the future.