Right before halftime, with the Dolphins losing only by 4, the Colts were all set to run out the clock and let the second quarter expire. But then Brian Flores decided to use his timeouts.
In theory, you use the timeouts there to get the ball back before halftime, and then go down and get 3 points before the half. In theory. But the game isn’t won and lost on theory. In the real world, the Dolphins had ZERO chance of putting up points there. We have an awful offense who can’t score. Flores coached this game as though he had Dan Marino running the Rams’ Greatest Show on Turf. He does not have that.
He has the worst offense in the league, run by two different outstanding and experienced coordinators, with plays called in by Charlie Frey, the perennial genius and former all-pro QB.*
Note to coach Flores…if your opponent is willing to run out the clock, please let them. To make matters worse, the Colts ended up with a 4th and inches. It was a close call, and I thought the NFL was going to review the spot. But lucky for us, they let the play stand. Until Flores called a timeout. He had just been given the benefit of the doubt on a close play, which went in the Dolphins’ favor. By calling a timeout there, he gave a the league a chance to think about it. He helped the opponent.
Also, by calling a timeout, he gave the Colts’ Frank Reich time to think about it, and he decided to go for it. They easily picked up the first down. So the Colts went from punting to going for it, because Flores helped them.
Flores’s incorrect decision there did not cost us the game, but it shows you how outclassed he is by experienced head coaches. He is late to make adjustments, and that kills us each week. After yanking Tua every other game last year, for the last 3 games he watches Jacoby Brissett throw grounders to his receivers, and Flores refuses to change anything. There was a play when Brissett fumbled the ball, but the replays clearly showed his arm going forward and the ball going forward. All turnovers are supposed to be reviewed, but they didn’t look at that one. And Flores never raised the point.
He just stood there and watched his offense further crumble. He would probably lose the argument, but you have to argue nonetheless. Let the refs no that you’re not just some stoic loser who gives coordinator jobs to your unqualified friends. Let the refs know you’re a head coach in the National Football League.
Flores also refuses to address the elephant in the room, let alone change it: His offensive coordinators are absolutely horrendous. 4 weeks in a row with hardly any production. A terrible QB is asked to pass it 3 times as much as he’s asked to hand it off. Gaskin breaks a run for 5 or 6 yards a pop, and then they make him go to the bench to watch Brissett throw a grounder to Waddle and an airball to Gesicki. Brissett’s horrible.
Belichick and Reich both had Brissett and both gave up on him. But Brian Flores saw something in him? What, Brian, what?
You saw how terrible that Colts team is. And today, they were without half a dozen starters. Yet Flores had zero game plan to capitalize on it. Again. It’s exaspirating to listen to this guy. “We have to get better. We’re still learning” Enough already! Make someone accountable for this garbage or resign!
*Sarcasm all around
I missed the game, fortunately. I am really discouraged going forward….Also, watching the Pats-Bucs game now, and it looks very much like they have a keeper in Mac Jones. It only took them a year to find their next generation QB. Phins are into year twenty two still looking for their QB.
Time to start Reid Sinnett.
Just saw an interesting stat on passes over 20 yards Jones has a QB rating of 10. One of the worst in football but the patsies do a better job of protecting him than the Fins do for Brissett or even Tua. Either way he’s no Brady and when the weather gets worse I don’t expect the guy to be a world beater.
Let’s just hope that they can fix the issues a team is never as good or bad as they look. We all need to remember this they are very young so we are experiencing growing pains its just tough when most of this comes from the coaching end.
i don’t anticipate Mac will be the new Tom Brady, but I was impressed with his composure in the pocket, quick decision making, and quick release. He is also 3 to 4″ taller than Tua, which helps more in the pocket when you have to look over the lineman, quickly assess the unfolding play, quickly make a decision, and quickly release the ball
I gave Gase 3 seasons before I gave up. I am here with Flores now. All I could really supply by way of support for Flores was that he made players better. Well that was a myth. All that really happened was the defense forced many turnovers and this masked the poor planning and play. This is the worst team we’ve had since the 1 win year. We have zero identity on either side of the ball and teams have adjusted since last year and Flores has not adjusted in response. We still can’t stop the run. Someone tell Flores to teach these guys to stop trying to get into the backfield on runs and just fill gaps. It really is that easy and watch just about any other team to prove my point. Miami is the worst team in football.
This team is horrible with or without Tua. I agree that we should throw Sinnett in there next week. He couldn’t possibly do any worse than Brissett.
And to think we are only a Xavien strip fumble from being 0-4.
Oh and truly believing my beloved Dolphins would win today, I went ahead and bought tickets to the Falcons game on the 24th. SMH 🤦♂️
An embarrassment of draft riches and we get some shit show like this?..
I have given up on this team and the organization. Both are a mess! Look around the league and see the QB’s in their first or second year and how they are progressing….BUT noooooooooooooooooooooo! Miami can’t pick with the scouts they have bec. they stink as well. This is a rebuild! Ross should just stop playing like he’s a knowledge football owner ad sell the team and he’ll have enough money to buy more NYC real estate and stay there!! This is not a way to run a football team! The GM should be fired now-not after the season, not before the draft but now! He’s useless and should be out. There is so much blame to go around but it starts at the top!!!
This team is a dumpster fire. Players are not the problem……they are giving what they have, which simply shows how bad our evaluations are for drafting and free agency. Ownership needs to hire a competent front office and coach, or this will continue.
Yeah we traded down from 3 to 12 and got three different #1 draft picks for that. A great deal. Then Grier inexplicably traded back up to #6 to get undersized punt-muffer Jaylen Waddle. I know some of you disagree, but I am convinced Waddle would have been there at #12. Even if he were off the board by #12, who cares? He’s not that good anyway. This nonstop accumulation pof picks is exciting at first, until you realize that the Dolphin scouts are terrible and they won’t pick up any stars.
The personnel decisions are completely laughable. We unloaded elite talent in their prime (Tunsil and Minkah) for laughable returns. Austin Jackson can’t block anyone in the league, Tua will never be anything more than a mediocre injury prone starter (meanwhile Herbert is an absolute superstar in the making), Noah Igbinoghene is so terrible he isn’t even active most weeks… the jury is out on this year’s rookie class of course but they have failed to make much of an impact so far. It needs to start with Grier…. and I’m starting to lean towards the idea Flores needs to go too. Sucks because I like aspects of his coaching… but it’s becoming more and more clear he just isn’t quite ready to be “the guy” and probably needs to slide back to a DC role for a bit longer before getting another HC opportunity.
For me, Flores can instantly win back a lot of credibility this week if he makes some drastic changes. He must PUBLICLY call out all three offensive coordinators and fire at least 2 of them. That takes guts and leadership, and it’s a test for Flores. Sadly, I think he will blame the players, “trust the system,” admit he has to be better, etc. He just does not see his own failures in startegy and decisionmaking. And it’s not like anyone can teach a head coach. It’s not like Ross can come in and teach Flores why you don’t go for it on 4th and 2 in the first quarter vs. the Bills. You don’t get your QB knocked out for a month in that situation. You simply punt.
This is a perfect example of why the Belichick assistants always bomb out. He led a bunch of followers. Flores spent his whole career with someone over him to make the tough decisions.
Stephen Ross, meanwhile, has a chance to lead as well, by getting rid of Chris Grier. No benefit to firing Grier right now, but certainly after the season. He’s had more than enough chances to spend the war chest that he himself created, and he must admit failure. Is it too early to give up on the talent we acquired the last few years? Yes, it’s probably too soon. I’m not giving up on Tua, for one. And maybe a few more of these underachievers will develop. But at this point…even by luck…Grier should have found a legitimate superstar to draft…someone who vies for rookie of the year right off the bat. Besides All Pro Minkah Fitzpatrick, I mean.
Ross can start right NOW looking for the next GM! Don’t wait until all that’s left is sloppy seconds, which is what happens in the organization. Fire the two of the three offensive coordinators, keep one and start looking for the next one, and he needs to be a good one with credibility and a magical mind! Coach Flores, I do like, but I’m not seeing the strength I saw early on. Mike Tomlin hasn’t dropped his command so it’s what is in the coach that I’m looking at. I think if he gets good players from the next GM (cuz he’s got to go), the team should improve and give Flores another chance. Ross needs to do himself a big favor-sell the team to another billionaire who wants to put his money down for this team! Ross is not interested in the Dolphins–he’s got real estate that he is far more enamoured with…those building win for him, Dolphins don’t. Worse owner in the league. Admin you may not agree but it starts with him, he owns the team.
I’ve pointed this out before, and it is BAD news. We already know the next Dolphin owner. It is Bruce Beal, a New York City business buddy of Ross’s. The deal is already in place. No one else can buy the team. It becomes Beal’s automatically whenever Ross decides to leave. Beal is more than likely a Jets fan. Possibly a Giants fan. But no way can he be a Dolphin fan. It’s just a billion-dollar hobby. I pray I’m wrong about Beal’s commitment to the Dolphins, but I know I’m right about the fact that he will be the new owner.
I wonder what goes through their minds, when I see shots of Marino and Griese sitting in the crowd, and watching the worst offense, in the history of the team.
Yes, this offense is WAY worse than the 1-15 team, it’s not even close.
That booing the offense got was much deserved, should have been louder, and I expect to see a lot of bags over the heads of the (very few) fans who show up the next home game.
I think they must sit there and miss coach Shula fondly. Listen, Shula drafted bums too. A lot of draft misses are on Shula’s resume. But he knew when he made a mistake and he got rid of them sooner rather than later.
As if he wanted to prove me right just in time, Brian Flores has come out and said he won’t be making any changes to the offense. He watched the last 3 games, and in his mind, the offense is perfect and needs no adjustments.
Ross needs to get Rex Ryan on the phone.
Today.
Anyone else watching Justin Herbert light up the Raiders tonight? Another great evaluation job by the Dolphins’ front office staff.
That is disturbing to hear the coach watched the last 3 games and didn’t think any adjustments were needed…really? That had to be different game film he was watching bec. these past three games weren’t beauties.
Watching Herbert was a beautiful thing….then a big kick in the gut! That could have been the QB this team and fan base have been longing for since Marino. He was precision in action. Something needs to change for the Dolphins.