While most of this post will show the coaching blunders that enabled the Packers to win, let’s make one thing clear from the beginning: Malik Washington blew this game. He singled-handled gave away an easy gift touchdown to the Packers. Now overcoming a 7-0 deficit is obviously not impossible, but it was the way in which they got those 7 points…that’s what hurt.

We began the day on defense and forced a wonderful 3-and-out. The defense was pumped up as they ran off the field, and our offense was chomping at the bit. That is called enthusiasm. In the NFL, momentum is real. It’s palpable. We were ready to take over early.

But then Malik Washington misjudged the punt. He was out of position, and lunged to his right at the last moment to catch the ball. Sadly, he should have stayed out of position, and the ball would have harmlessly bounced into the endzone. Right then and there, I knew the game was over.

I mentioned that the game was over on some social media posts, and people attacked me. They said it was still early. They said I was a naysayer. They say I was a fair-weather fan. No, I am a Dolphins fan, and I know the team’s history. We do not have the mental makeup to recover from devastating turnovers, ESPECIALLY in the cold.

I was right of course, and all the Dolphin fans who were criticizing me started to realize it one by one.

As mad as I was at Malik Washington, I immediately starting to condemn special teams coach Darren Crossman. The night began with Green Bay getting a 45-yard kickoff return on the opening kickoff, whch put them at midfield immediately. Horrible coverage.

But then came the Washington muff. I understand that McDaniel and Crossman are not the men who dropped the ball, but I do blame them somewhat for Washington’s lack of awareness. As soon as he misjudged the ball and knew it, he need to run away from the ball. That has to be drilled into his skull a million times per week.

There is simply no reason to lunge for the ball at the last second. Just walk away and let it bounce. Dolphins get first and 10. It’s truly that simple. But that simplicity needs to be second nature. Starting with the coaches.

So speaking of the coaching now…I have been giving Mike McDaniel some credit as of late for his planning and play-calling, but he regressed badly in Green Bay.

We trailed 21-3 right before halftime, and we were driving. Using Jonnu Smith on that drive, we were moving the ball well. But then McD did what he’s done in the past…he got cute. He has NOT been getting cute the last month, and we’ve been doing well. Instead of giving them a steady diet of Jonnu, he tried to fool the Pack.

After driving to the GB on the back of Jonnu, McD’s next 4 plays were these: Incomplete attempt to Hill. Screen to Achane. Incomplete to Washington. Incomplete to Waddle. Half over, game over.

A similar situation occurred later when we got to the goal line by riding the hot rushing of Achane. Instead of using Achane or Ingold to lunge for one lousy yard, McD called two really bad pass plays. No reason to do so, and it’s something McD HAD been getting better at. Until last night.

DC Anthony Weaver gets no mercy either. For some reason, he didn’t blitz as much as previous weeks. He had DBs playing 15 yards off the ball. He seemed to guess wrong all night long. Granted, missed tackles and another poor game from overhyped Jevon Holland didn’t help, but the schemes he had used for the past month were abandoned. This was bad and sad…

13 Comments

  1. Agree with you about the muffed punt. I rushed home to watch the game and got there just in time to see the punt. I thought the same thing after that – game over after 1 set of downs. I’ll never understand why punt returners don’t just let the ball bounce into the end zone when they’re inside the 10. They’ll even call for fair catches on the 5 yard line. Guess they’re not being paid for their high level reasoning skills.

    1. Author

      Yep. It’s very very basic stuff. And when you realize you have rookie returner still adjusting to the NFL, you have to coach them until they’re blue in the face. Don’t touch an f’n ball that is about to bounce into the endzone!!!

  2. yes, it was a costly rookie decision and fumble, but it was early in the game. good teams and coaching can recover from a mistake like that. This recovery requires a certain degree of mental toughness of which Dolphins are sorely lacking. So I totally understand your reaction, admin, to that play. in my gut, I had a similar feeling.

    Dolphins are just too soft and pansy-ass, a reflection of the coaching and Organization. I think the Malik blunder forced McDaniel to panic & he responded by reverting to his old play calling ways (pass dominant, too cute and clever). He looked cold and overwhelmed on the sidelines, searching his super-duper menu play-card for the answer, when the answer should come from his gut.

    The other observation I had – the Packers appeared physically bigger than the Dolphins. Their tight ends, receivers, and RB’s were bowling us over for much of the night. And The Dolphins offense attack is made up mostly of short, albeit fast, players. No big receivers. Tua missed high on a handful of passes.

    Dolphins can move the ball between the twenties with an array of dink & dunk pass plays and screens, but inside the red zone, smash-mouth football is more critical against the good teams, especially as you get close to the goal line. I don’t think this configuration of the team has the tools to do that.

    1. Flyerphin…. I can’t agree more! I love the comment you make, “Dolphins are just too soft and pansy-ass, a reflection of the coaching and Organization.” I think we can all say AMEN to that and it starts with Ross and makes it all the way through the organization to the coach on the sideline and then to the players!!!!

  3. did anyone watch last night’s Bills snow bowl game? another dose of harsh reality! We Dolphins are so far behind the Bills level of play and success. It’s not even close.

    and it reflects in the record too. Since week 13 of last year, when the Dolphins record was 9 and 3 (3-games up on the Bills), Dolphins have a 7-10 record while the Bills have a 15-2 record (Regular season games only). Dolphins are 8-games behind over that stretch.

    2. Author

      No doubt whatsoever that the beginning of the end was when we peaked at 9-3…and then had a HOME prime time game against the doormat Titans. I was already looking ahead to 10-3 and clinching the division that weak. We led by 14 with 3 minutes to play or so, and we squandered that lead, that game, and our season. We were in position to not only win the division, but to also have home field advantage throughout. It was within our grasp, but instead, we barely squeaked into the playoffs. It’s been downhill since.

  4. okay Admin, are you going to call out Malik Washington in the title of your next post 😁? This time for arguably the play of the game.

    his kickoff return in which he bowled over the Jets kicker may have saved our season, at least saved it for at least one week more 🙏 Atta boy, Malik!
    Phins Win! 🐬

    1. Hey Flyerphin, Admin is on vacation in Japan so he may not post or respond right away. I’m not sure when he’s coming back. But that was awesome the way he put the kicker on his ass!!

      1. bon voyage, admin!

        The Dolphins were lucky to win.
        Jets offense gets a Dolphin game-ball for terrible clock management during their last possession. Aaron getting sacked, Davante Adams stepping out of bounds. Thank you Jets!

        Defense needs to tighten up a few things to have any chance this Sunday versus the Texans. And I hope they don’t wait to overtime to give Jonnu Smith some touches 🙏

    1. Great, a couple more NY City businessmen investing in our beloved team. One of the dudes invested in professional lacrosse. That’s a sure money-making venture. SMH. The curse of useless owners continues ever since Joe Robbie handed the team to his family, and they in turn said “Nah, we don’t care about tradition. We want cash. Sell”

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