Phin Phanatic
FanSided

3 things the Miami Dolphins need to do in order to beat the Panthers

By Matt Serniak

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - NOVEMBER 21: Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins looks to pass during the second half of the game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on November 21, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - NOVEMBER 21: Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins looks to pass during the second half of the game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on November 21, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 15: Helmets belonging to the Miami Dolphins are carried off the field following the teams 29-21 victory against the Los Angeles Chargers at Hard Rock Stadium on November 15, 2020 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 15: Helmets belonging to the Miami Dolphins are carried off the field following the teams 29-21 victory against the Los Angeles Chargers at Hard Rock Stadium on November 15, 2020 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

We’ve seen a bunch of times this year the Dolphins go down and score on their opening drive. It always looks awesome and we all say the same thing; “why don’t they just play like that the whole game?” I don’t know why the Dolphins don’t go up-tempo for an entire game just like they do in their opening drives. I pontificated earlier in the week that maybe they’re afraid of going three and out too often and that will take the edge off their defense. I say give it a try.

Here are some fun stats for all you nerds out there. The Dolphins rank 10th in the league in first-quarter scoring offense with 5.6 points every first quarter. That up-tempo has a lot to do with that. The second quarter is a completely different matter. In the second quarter of games, the Dolphins pull a Houdini and disappear ranking dead last with a whopping 2.5 points a second quarter. That’s awful stuff.

It’s like the team is all jacked up and focused to start the game and then when the second quarter hits they come down like it’s morning and the rave is over.

It seems that when the scripted part of the playbook is over they don’t know what to do until later in the second half. Am I being too simplistic to think why not just run similar stuff that you ran on the first drive and in the first quarter such as the up-tempo style and moving guys in motion?

Now watch the Dolphin score nothing in the first quarter but have a great second quarter. That’s definitely going to happen now.

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