In Sunday’s tough loss to the Ravens, it seems overly simple to say that only two plays determined the outcome. But when you look into it further, you’ll see the point.
One was a gutsy call by the game’s winner, John Harbaugh. The other was a typically conservative and incorrect (as usual) call by loser Joe Philbin.
The first play occurred at the end of the first quarter. We had the Ravens pinned back in punt formation as the quarter wound down. Joe Philbin called a timeout to make them punt into the wind, and we don’t mind that timeout.
But his very next decision cost us the game.
The Ravens punter boomed a great punt and Landry had a poor return. We were suddenly pinned back on our own 26, and the Ravens had turned the field on us. But wait!! There was a penalty on Baltimore, and we would have a chance to do better.
Rekick the ball. It is a no-brainer. No debate. The right call is to make them kick again.
The punter would have to kick it from his own 12 yard line after the penalty. Odds are that he wouldn’t hit another 65 yarder like he just had. Also, chances are that our most electrifying player, Jarvis Landry, would not get a three-yard return like he just had. We had a free do-over coming our way, and the odds were that when he punted from his 12- yard line this time, we’d end up with much much better field position than our own 26. We were given a free gift.
In addition, Dion Jordan had come close to blocking a punt twice earlier. Everything was in the Dolphins’ favor to make Baltimore punt again.
But instead, Clueless Joey Philbin took the five yards at the end of the run. Congratulations, Joe. Your decision allowed Miami to begin from its own 31 instead of its 26…virtually no difference whatsoever.
Joe Philbin had a second chance to allow Jarvis Landry to shine, but instead he settled for conservative field position. He had a chance to send Dion Jordan up the middle again, and dare the Ravens punter to kick it 60+ yards again. He had a chance to make the tired Ravens sprint downfield and cover a second punt. But instead, Joe Philbin wanted those precious five yards.
The Dolphins began at their 31, and a few plays later punted back to Baltimore. That seemed to inspire the Ravens, and we all saw what happened throughout the rest of the day.
The other coaching decision that determined the outcome was John Harbaugh’s call to go for it on 4th and one. Almost without hesitation, he knew what he wanted and made the decision. I am envious of that deciviseness, and I hope our next head coach has that quality.
Certainly, that head coach is not Joe Philbin. He needs to go.
Yeah, I’m just so sick of Philbin. I’m sick of writing about him, seeing him, listening to him, etc.
It’s funny – I don’t even really “hate” him. He’s just become so tiresome to me that I think of him as a non-entity that used to be associated with the Dolphins; but for some reason is still associated with the Dolphins – if that makes any sense.
And yes, I agree with Admin and basically all other posters here that nearly every other coach we play has more passion for, and understanding of, the game…and that’s really frustrating.
More importantly, I’m sick of losing games because of him – as well as being sick of winning games despite of him.
He does need to go.
Yes, it sucks to lose, but it’s easier to swallow when you can blame the players for shoddy play. Our players are doing what they told to do, and that is sad.
Jim Harbaugh, please come.
An we run Miller 12 times, why he just don’t run the damn ball! Tannehill is ok when he have a running game, the line is weak why would u pass the ball 33 times an get sack on six of them an why the Defense give up big plays! The play calling is terrible! An the secondary have to aleast keep up with the wide receivers just leave them open no why ill safety should have the most Tackles today that’s a bad sign for your Defense! An Chargers beating the Pats right now! This was a big big game to lose! Bad coaching got us to 7-6 at this point! 12 carries??? Joe Philbin got issues!
12 carries shoulda been 30. Miller is playing his heart out and labor don’t use him
I just don’t get it. I eat, sleep and breath Dolphins. My 13 year old son gets so upset with me because he loves watching them and I’m ready to break the tv. But it’s the same thing week in and week out. We’re not good enough to be in the playoffs. We’re not dominate like the packers, Patriots. The dominate well coached teams play the same every week. I don’t get how we can play great one week and like a high school football team the next. 5 weeks ago our defense was ferocious now I just want to turn my head. It’s like they have already given up. Gibson is flat out garbage, drops balls, first downs, momentum. Wallace hasn’t showed me nothing. Landry is promising. And the o-line should just be embarrassed grown men getting man handled and thrown around like grade school kids. I have no idea how Dallas Thomas is playing in the NFL. And philbin has no emotion and seems like no heart, no fire or drive and that leads right over to our players.. All I wanted for Christmas was for the dolphins to make the playoffs. Whatever
I feel for you and your son. The only good thing is that your boy never saw the Dolphins in their heyday, or he would be twice as sad. He knows them only as an annual 8-8 team, so there is nowhere to go but up.
One of the absolute worst head coaches I’ve seen in my 40+ years watching professional sports. I’ve never seen a human being in any aspect of life with less passion for what he does for a living than Philbin. This man makes Tom Landry look like Buddy Ryan!
8-8 is not acceptable. This is a Public Service Announcement.
Carl, welcome to the site. You will find many fans here who agree with you a lot. Check us out daily and tell your friends.
By the way, loved your line about Landry/Ryan. We definitely need a more disciplined, hardened coach. I don’t mind if Philbin is emotionless, as long as he is strict and wins. Belichick and Landry are great examples.
I will bookmark this blog and post it in the Dolphins FB group I’m in. We have heated debates about the state of the Dolphins daily and I’m sure the guys will love this blog. Thanks for having me.
Agree with you guys.
Miami is nota place for a goody-goody kind of Mr. Drummond paternal Joe Philbin.
Please, read again (or listen to), after 40 years, what the players were saying of Don Shula’s methods and discipline to Greatness. True Greatness, to this day unparalleled by anyone in the NFL sidelines (records of W’s as a coach still stands) or by any team (no other Perfect ones since).
Miami needs a Coach with full powers, guts, a method and players who follow him like the Ravens do with Harbaugh.
Then you they can give us Andy Dalton at QB for all I care, we will still make it to the Playoffs.
Nicola makes great points. It’s very tiring a repetitive to constantly hear yap about teaching the players and making them better, etc etc. The players are taught already. They are professionals. They need to be able to play with Philbin interfering. His awful decisions lose the players confidence. Thank goodness that Odrick mouthed off to him.
I agree! Philbin clean all the alpha males from the Miami roster because they made him feel uncomfortable. The culture is established by the coach and this guy looks like he belongs in a county morgue or a library.
Getting rid of Mike Sherman gave our offense some spark. Now get rid of Philbin and watch us soar. He is an awful coach. I forgot about that decision when he didn’t make the ravens re-punt, but your right. That decision helped cost us the game. We began a drive at our 30 when it coulda been at midfield
Philbin also has no idea what the use of a TO is. Although the TO to punt into wind was fine. But yet another defensive TO?? Since I have kept track of (GB game – twice), Philbin is 7 for 9. He has called 9 defensive TO’s and following play has scored a TD 7 out of 9 times. All 9 have ended in TD drives. The guy is a complete and total buffoon. I am starting to think that Lazor is not it either. Miller 56+/-yds in 1st qtr and then he disappears. Its the same thing every fucking game. I cannot stand it!!!! Get a decent lead and then stop doing what got you that lead. Lamar gets 5+ yes every single time he touches, but he only get 12-14 game??? I blame this on Lazor. Notice that Philly has had no drop off without Lazor. This coaching staff is 100% disgrace
Jeff, that is an excellent statistic, and I’m glad you shared it. SEVEN times an opponent has scored after a Philbin defensive timeout?!???!!!. That is incredibly unacceptable.
A five-year-old kid only gets burnt once in order to learn his lesson. Philbin gets burned 7 times and he’s still at it. He needs to be Phired.
Lazor, Philbin and Coyle are all buffoons who make Rex Ryan look like Tom Landry or Chuck Knoll. If the owner wasn’t in Manhattan all the damn time instead of Miami, he might have noticed. And don’t get me started on the celebs who own shares of the team. This franchise is a damn train wreck.
I’m wondering what Mrs. Ross is thinking about Phibin and who he will try to bring in as the new head coach? Any ideas beside Harbaugh?
Ron, right before the pre-season started, DolphinsTruth re-analyzed the Philbin hiring: who was available and what they brought to the table.
I think Mr. Ross’s heart might lead him to keep Philbin. But Ross is also a savvy businessman who knows (we assume) when his employees do not meet expectations. Anyway, here is what we wrote a few months ago: http://dolphinstruth.com/time-for-joe-philbin-to-prove-himself-worthy/
I’d take a ham sandwich over Philbin! Even Richie Kotite would be an upgrade!
Richie Kotite! Now there’s a name we haven’t heard in a while !
I will write more about this game that I attended today later. But I will say this. Baltimore fans (not as a whole) but some were a disgrace! I am never one to cat call or be disrespectful to fans of the opposing team , especially if I were visiting. Cant say the same about some Baltimore fans. As opposed to the complete class the Chargers fans displayed in the other game I attended. Before the game a middle aged woman yells to a bunch of Dolphin fans “Dolphins Blow!” Lacking in class ,overly pretentious , and near fist fight provoking name calling and chest out posturing. To think I almost told a middle aged woman to eat sh*t! And this continued after the game ended as if the victory wasn’t enough. This is a dangerous fan base because you dont know if they are decent or bordering on hooliganism from one to the next. Im trying really hard right to keep my emotions in check but having that loss rubbed in the faces of the accommodating and polite dolphins fans is unacceptable.
All you need to know about Ravens fans is that they supported Ray Lewis all those years after what he did. Is there another fan base with less class?
BAL is a total sh*thole- low class city with low class fans. Tons of gov’t workers tells you all you need to know about Baltimore….
@Admin @ BIG J
While I wont succumb to the nastiness and classify the entire fanbase of Baltimore as worth less than sh*t. I wont be extending any olive branches either! As a matter of fact, I will be constantly resisting the urge to act towards them as they act towards us if there is a next time. Shame on you Baltimore fans! Gov workers you say? Explains how so many could afford to travel so far to see their team and pretend it was their stadium. Yeah it really was like that!
I was at last year’s Baltimore game, and it was the same thing with the fans.
To juxtapose, I was at the Packers game this year, and those fans were totally different.
It was too difficult watching from the upperbowl to have conceived the punt blunder covered here. But I will say this. My never have ever played or coached NFL football mind predicted several play calls simply because of my experience watching the phins. I successfully predicted about 60 seconds before , tannehills first run for the first down. And the terrible run up the middle for a 2 yard loss while on 1st and goal. Predictability almost routine like. Imagine what an accomplished DC with decades of football experience could foretell after watching us for a few drives?
Before reading anything here my over all impression was that it was the play calling which cost us this game. It seems like we call plays based upon what we have accomplished vs what is possible to accomplish. This style is not effective enough. Sure when your hot you ride the wave. But once the opposing Defense shuts that down, you need to try something different. Instead they peel slices away from the same onion of plays originated from the first and only approach. And if success still eludes our team , the options keep dwindling until we collapse just like today. Sure our Defense could have been better but Baltimore has an offense averaging 27pts per game and we held them to 28. Our offense continually ,progressively, and very predictably kept trying the same ole, same ole, and Baltimore had already adjusted to it. And guess what? It wasnt working! It wasnt talent, it wasnt that Baltimore is so much better than we are. It was lack of strategy and complete lack of in game situational improvising. Come to think of it, whats the definition of insanity again?
We should have won this game or lost a very close fought battle. But when creativity is called as essential criteria for victory. We loose every time. And I am very curious exactly what Odrick was so upset about.
I honestly think that this game most likely cost Philbin his job. Only 3 straight wins might save it. Anything less probably wont. Well here’s to another 2 years of rebuilding with a new coach. And I do like philbin but his refusal to improvise or take the pulse of his team for insights on which direction to take, will most likely be his undoing. And its sad because he’s been the best thing for this team in a long while (Jimmy the Greek Johnson, Wonstache, Nick Satan, Scam Cameron, Wild-Cat Sporano) so who wants to argue with me there? This harkens back to our power structure with Philbin not directly underneath the control of Hickey. If he were maybe, just maybe, he would consider adapting for the better of our team and to insure his continued employment.
I was so up for this game and had such hope. How! HOW ! could we play so terrible at home!
I would welcome back Wildcat Sparano at this point. The only guy who ever got us to the playoffs in the past decade. That Wildcat set our team on fire, and we never shoulda abandoned it.
@Admin I did like Sporano too but he was fired after going 0-6 or 0-7. And yes many of those losses were very very close. I could see the team was slowly about to turn a corner and become dominant. He just couldnt get it done in time. Honestly I still wonder what things would have been like if the Harbaugh scandal never happened and he could coach in harmony with even Ireland? He definitely is an excellent motivator and not too shabby of an HC. If Harbaugh goes to Oakland if the rumors are correct and if Philbin is fired. Anybody think we would take Sporano back and if so , would he accept the offer?
I doubt very much if Ross would go down that road again, and Tony would laugh in his face if the offer ever came. Sparano was no genius, but my biggest defense of him is that he and Chad Pennington led us to a division title. Tony took a 1-15 team and (with Chad) made us a division champ. The next year, we woulda gone further and possibly won it all…but Chad got hurt. End of season, end of career. Henne and Tyler Thigpen didn’t have a chance, and we never recovered.
Apparently Odrick said things like, “every week” and “get the f*ck out of here!”
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/dolphins–jared-odrick-goes-off-on-joe-philbin-on-sideline-002202390.html
I am very glad that PhinsUp mentioned the predictable nature of this team.
– When Tannehill goes under center, we almost always throw a play action pass.
– How about the slant to Hartline. Before the play, I yelled out, “Slant to Hartline” right before the touchdown. BAL was ready for it to, except the LB was a step late or he’d have picked it. As it was, it went right under his hand.
– The run up the middle from the 3 WR set on 1st and goal cost us big time! Look at what BAL does when they want to run- they bring in extra TE’s, squeeze the line, and make a crease. The read option set doesn’t work on the goal line.
– Right before the roll out pass to Steve Smith, you could read Kubiak’s lips telling Flacco to roll out right. Anyone with half a brain saw the flood play coming as soon as Smith went into motion, and took off into a sprint.
While I was up on Lazor at first, I am no longer a fan. Clearly, Chip Kelly was the brains behind the Eagles offense. We can’t score, period. We lead the league in red zone attempts- a sign of a dink and dunk, close but not quite offense.
I know BAL was playing their safeties deep, but how can you have Mike Wallace and not at least try 1 deep ball. For crying out loud?!?!
Here’s the difference between a good coach like Andy Reid and a half-stepper like Philbin. Reid knew his offense was ailing and didn’t want Alex Smith to lose the game, so he ran 40 times against us! Philbin sees Tannehill getting killed (even their 3 man rush got to him) and what does he do to slow it down? He rushes 16 times and passes 33!
Honestly, I think I am at the point now that if Ross keeps these clowns around another year I am not going to go out of my way to watch games. It’s pretty hard going to a sports bar with wife and 3 kids (even if wife and two little ones leave to go to the mall for 3 quarters) every time they aren’t on TV. I’ll watch the games that are televised, but I don’t think I’ll keep going out of my way for the rest.
BTW, I have only missed one game in 10+ years- my son was born on a Sat and the game wasn’t on regular TV. I thought it might be in poor taste to a sports bar with them both still at the hospital. Even BIG J has standards….
Big J., we always respect your standards!
Predictability is indeed a problem for our offense.
I don’t know if Lazor is to blame for lack of deep balls. Seems like someone is always running deep, but T-hill doesn’t even look for them. Today, he was busy running for his life.
Even so, predictability is not the kiss of death. You are right about the Hartline play. You knew it was coming. Baltimore knew it was coming. Half the stadium knew it was coming, but they still couldn’t stop it. Predictability doesn’t kill you as long as you execute correctly, and we fail to do that.
After the Dolphins win Philbin gives a weird speech then ends it by saying GO team or Team on 3, first of all it’s Go Fins. Philbin is awkward and has no fire in the eyes NONE he is truly and honestly disliked by each and every player. I know this is true because my neighbors son over heard a nun named Dolphin Player telling his girl what all the guys really thought of Philbin. why can’t Ross see this. Philbin is. Boring and weird in addition he looks very unhealthy . I hate the fact that the face of the Dolphin franchise is a skinny bald headed guy who talks like he is teaching Law at a very very small community college
If the Dolphins. Do. Get. Rid of Philbin I would like to see The. Other Shula boy have a chance to fix our problems
Mike Shula. Is ready to become an NFL HEAD COACH
Now there’s a name we haven’t heard tossed into the coaching ring.
Cameras caught Odrick having two “exchanges” with Philbin on the sidelines. In one, Odrick heard to say, “Every week!” 2nd: “Coaches always have a way out”.
http://www.si.com/nfl/2014/12/07/jared-odrick-yells-joe-philbin-video-dolphins-ravens
Continuing on with the Odrick thing, apparently there’s video of him telling Philbing to “get the f*ck out of here!”
Wow.
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/dolphins–jared-odrick-goes-off-on-joe-philbin-on-sideline-002202390.html
THREE OBSERVATIONS AFTER THE RAVENS GAME (a la John Congemi):
1. If I had a dollar for everytime Joe started a post game press conference saying: “I think the (other team name) deserved to win. They played better” I’d have a private jet on a 24 hours standby. With a couple of Dolphins cheerleaders onboard.
Joe is speaking as an imaginary NFC fan could, someone who happened to be sitting on the stands at a Dolphins game while visiting auntie in Miami and assesses what happened in a neutral way. Not as the friggin’ Head Coacjh of a team that he has control upon, and can make something to STOP having to repeat that same old tirade again about the ‘other team’.
2. What happened to the “very uptempo” offense Reggie Bush and Mike Wallace got wow-ed about in training camp as they first joined the Dolphins? We NEVER go no-huddle. Yesterday we did ONCE, “guess what?” Paulie Walnuts would say! We got them unprepared and gassed and got an easy first down! And you don’t even need to be Don Shula to realize it!
And another thing: how come when T-hill scrambles, left or right it doesn’t matter, we always (or nearly always) pick 15+ yards for a 1st down and more?
And he does it while running for his life!!! Imagine if some schemes were DESIGNED to favor such movements….hint* hint*
3. Sure, we can ship Philbin back to Massachussets at the end of the season and get yet another HC, but mind this:
The Patriots who have dominated the AFC east since time out of mind by now, are playing under a system installed in 2000. I repeat, 2000. This is their 15th Season under that system.
No wonder any Edelman (I repeat, Julian Edelman, not AJ Green) over there can post crucial games like a vintage Randy Moss. Look at what they did with Jonas Gray and Legarret Blount, for this is the team that will be there next year, yet again, no matter who suits up in those (ugly) colors. “Statue of salt” Bill Belichick will still be there working his voodoo that could transform, I guarantee you!, Jimmy Wilson into Ronnie Lott.
Let’s brood on it, boys, we gotta find a coach who will be here to stay. FAST.
That’s all I had to say,
Nicola
@Nicola
I was at the game and noticed the success of our no huddle and then after 1 or 2 plays we stopped doing it. OMG even the crowd was shaking their heads as to why. I agree too that coaching stability is very important and I hesitate to call for Philbins head but dammit is he going have the humility to evolve and go back on some of his pre game decisions for the sake of his team and victory? Sometimes I wonder about that. Finally you and about 10 million other frustrated phin fans have all been saying how good Tannehill is when he rolls out. Not only does he avoid the rush, extend the play, tire out the defense, but heck he completes great passes down field. So exactly what is the downside to rolling him out? This harkens back to my previous comments about the coaches trying to make tannehill fit the game plan when they should be making thier game plan fit tannehill. And between the 2 evolve the latter to fit the game they are playing.
Philbin has no ability to evolve, PhinsUp. If so, he would have evolved a long time ago. He makes the same mistakes repeatedly like a child. But at least a child evolves and matures and learns not to make mistakes. Philbin, on the other hand, makes the same mistakes, and then tells you why he made the right call.
Here’s the thing about it on Dolphin defense that had Baltimore pinned down on their own 4 yard line with a 10-0 lead under 2 minutes to go in the half and what does Baltimore do just drive the ball right down Dolphins throat 96 yards for a score after pitching for a shutout the whole first half which that drive started with Flacco running right up the gut of the Dolphins secondary for 15 yards which the Dolphins left cb was blitzing and left the middle of the field wide open that anybody’s grandmother could have ran through and if Flacco had any running speed that Tannehill has Flacco could have went a lot further if not scored.
The play calling or strategy which guides the play calling was even confounding the announcers. On our first series we were around the Ravens 30 yard line and a penalty gave us 1st & 5. Announcers say this is a time to take a deep strike. I agree. We hand off to damien williams for a 4 yard gain. 2nd & 1 another run play for no gain. Wheres the pass?. 3rd and 1 run play stopped for no gain. 4th Down and have to kick for a FG. This is called playing to the strength of your opponent and even worse when its predictable and obvious . Neither play had any play action fake or formation to confuse the defense. The run was extremely obvious and handed an opportunity to the Ravens on this drive to redeem themselves and they gladly accepted. I understand the idea of establishing your team’s identity through strength of will . Do what your opponent is expecting and make a statement that they cant stop you even when its obvious. But when there is a clear advantage and opportunity to score , settle the tone setting plays later and just go for the TD. Play to win. Joe Philbin is no idiot even though I am sure some of his decisions call to the contrary. So what is going on here? What is the philosophy behind calling 3 run plays in a row when starting from 1st and 5 when your deep in your opponents territory? I dont know if I am to blame lazor or philbin because the power structure between them is cloudy . But this was a classic case of Shermanism and most likely cost us a TD on this drive and as I rewatch the game , I am sure more. This is coming from an admitted football lamen to some degree. I cant hang conversationally with many whom can name formations and describe the intricacies within. But I understand strategy very well from my sports background and also sadly the effects of dysfunction as applied to team sports. In an interview last week a reporter asked Kevin Coyle about how remarkable our 2nd half adjustments usually are. Coyle agreed and commented for a minute and the reporter followed up by asking. Is there any reason why these great adjustments cant be arrived at sooner. Coyle didnt have any real answer. And therein lies at least part of the problem.
What we witnessed was Baltimore slowly and methodically adjusting and fine tuning their approach against our static and non evolving game plan. They didnt beat us because they are more talented, they didnt get lucky calls or turnovers, they didnt have to score in the final seconds or rely on our questionable time clock management, they simply kept adjusting. And the performance from the first quarter to the 4th quarter shows this steady decline for the Dolphins and equally as steady incline for the Ravens. I ask again what is the definition of insanity?
All I can say is that when it’s first and 5, the announcers and us fans (and probably the RAVENS) were all expecting that we’d take a deep chance. So to try to fool them, we ran it up the middle, hoping to take advantage of a Baltimore blitz. So actually, running the ball when the defense was preparing for a deep pass is not a bad idea. But on 2nd and 3rd and one?
Why are we the only team in NFL history who doesn’t run a QB sneak? Mike Sherman never did it either, so therefore I believe it’s Philbin making those calls. We needed 36 inches to keep that drive alive, and Philbin wouldn’t let Tannehill even try.
Lol Admin – you beat me to the punch, and made your point far more succinctly! Point being we’re really seeing that the problem may not have been Sherman; it’s possible it’s been Philbin all along.
Agreed and yes there is something to be said for avoiding the obvious so yes the run play on 1st and 5 is ambiguous. But there is also something to be said for a feel for the moment especially after the 2nd down was a tackle for a loss. We have talented receivers and could take a risk passing because the FG was all but assured. Sure risk a T-Hill sack on a pass play but thats why you ROLL HIM OUT or tell him to throw it out of the endzone if hes taking too much pressure. Many times the strategy has to give way to strength and execution. Sometimes boxers need to slug it out instead of trying to out maneuver. When it called for a slightly risky pass play (strength) we balked. Later when it called for creativity , we went with strength and it didnt work. Baltimore was foaming at the mouth to hold us to a FG and we gave them an easy opportunity and morale building chance. Before that we were rolling all over them. How did they finish playing like we did mostly the first half and conversely we finish playing like they did for the first 26 minutes? They evolved and we didnt. And the biggest insight is this was our problem last year and the supposed cause is now gone. And Philbin is the likely source now. And it definitely contributed to this loss.
I agree it was a classic case of Shermanism. The thing is – he’s not here anymore! So my knee-jerk response is that it must be Philbinism; and that Sherman was basically just doing what Philbin wanted.
I too am somewhat of a layman. Like you, I don’t have all the names of the plays down in my head; nor do I know the exact kinds of defensive formations that are specifically effective against so-and-so offensive formations, etc.
But like you, I DO have a background in sports, strategy, competition, team play, etc. And so I completely agree the coaching is insane. Whether it’s Lazor, Coyle, Philbin, or even Sherman over the phone to Philbin still (lol) – it’s insane.
For whatever reason, the insanity is even more noticeable when I go to the games. Since Philbin’s been here I’ve attended 6 games. The 2 losses that stick out in my mind are the Bills game from last year (the one where they had Thad Somethingorother as QB) and the Packers game from this year. Obviously both were winnable games, albeit for different reasons.
What I clearly recall both times (especially the Packers game) is that the fans were going crazy in the stands. We were either yelling out what the next play should be, and/or were mumbling to each other what the next predictable play was actually going to be. In the former cases, it’s as if the coaches heard us and literally did the opposite. And in the latter – we were correct at least 75% of the time (probably we were right more often, but memory is fuzzy at this point).
My point? If thousands and thousands of laypeople attending the games (not to mention watching them at home/bars) are all saying the SAME things, you’d think Dolphins management would be capable of hiring SOMEBODY on the coaching staff capable of executing plays that should be obvious. Obvious because they play to the strengths of our particular players (such as – oh I don’t know – Ryan Tannehill for instance), or obvious because of basic football strategy.
If somehow we are able to win the last 3 games, there’s a chance we can be a wildcard. But the way things have been going – I just don’t know. To have a chance, the coaches would have to stop behaving the way they’ve been doing so for a while now, and how likely is that?