An explanation beyond ‘game plan’ why Taco Charlton and Charles Harris have been inactive
For Taco Charlton and Charles Harris, nothing seemed necessarily wrong after the Miami Dolphins defeated the Philadelphia Eagles the first day of December.
Charlton was active in that game, the Dolphins’ best victory of 2019. He collected a sack and a forced fumble. It was a pretty good afternoon.
Harris, meanwhile, enjoyed a good day (for him). He had two tackles and one quarterback hurry.
So Charlton and Harris both were felt. Both showed up, which is good.
But it was what happened the ensuing week that has set us off on a curious four-game journey in which sometimes one player, sometimes the other, and sometimes both have fallen out of favor with Dolphins coaches.
The week of practice after Charlton had a solid game against the Eagles, he was inactive against the New York Jets. The week after Harris was less of a factor against the Eagles, he remained active against the Jets.
Yeah, weird.
And when asked why, all Dolphins head coach Brian Flores or defensive coordinator Patrick Graham would say is that it was a “game-plan” decision. In other words, the Dolphins’ staff made Charlton a healthy scratch and put Harris in the game because they simply felt Harris was better suited to help the team beat the New York Jets.
The Dolphins, by the way, lost to the Jets.
The following week, in the lead up to the game against the New York Giants, coaches decided Harris needed to sit while Charlton was returned to active duty. Harris, by the way, was healthy so again this decision had nothing to do with a player being physically unable to perform.
And once again, Flores said the decision was a “game plan” decision made in the best interest of helping the team win.
The Dolphins, by the way, lost to the Giants.
Last Sunday the Dolphins finally stopped alternating healthy scratch status between Taco Charlton and Charles Harris. This time, both 2017 first-round draft choices were inactive. Both were healthy scratches.
And the Dolphins won the game against Cincinnati.
And here’s the point: We have come to a moment in the 2019 season when the Dolphins coaching staff doesn’t think it needs either Charlton or Harris to win a game. Both have been inactive in two of the last three games.
And whether both or neither or some combination thereof play against the New England Patriots in the season-finale was supposedly being decided Monday evening.
“We’re going through the game plan right now to see what we feel like gives us the best chance to win offensively, defensively and in the kicking game,” Flores said. “If we feel like they give us a chance to play well and the style and temperament that we’re looking for, then they’ll be in there.”
And here is where this becomes interesting. Because both Charlton and Harris have the general talent to play every week — especially for the Dolphins, who lack talent at just about every position including the defensive front seven.
But both of these guys have issues with, well, uneven temperament.
Charlton, for example, handled the week after his good Philadelphia performance with a certain degree of nonchalance, per one team source. It was, the source said, as if he got comfortable — too comfortable.
The Dolphins under Flores value a player sacrificing. They like players that act like they need the team and are willing to do more for the team than players that act like the team needs them and should do for them.
One source said the Dolphins want their players mentally prepared all the time, not just on game days. And apparently Charlton wasn’t fully prepared that entire week after having a good game days before. So the game plan rolled past him to someone else.
And then he seemed to get it and was active for the Jets. And then other guys passed him prior to the Cincinnati game.
Harris? I’m not totally certain what his problem is other than, you know, he doesn’t produce a whole lot.
Harris did have three tackles in the Jets loss. And then he got scratched against the Giants, while Charlton returned to the lineup.
So here we are:
Other media is wondering if either of these guys have places on the squad after the season, which is funny because the Dolphins are wondering if they have places on the squad for Sunday’s game at New England.
The Miami coaching staff is making short-term decisions. And the long-term will take care of itself depending on whether a couple of things happen ... or don’t:
Both players need to realize it’s not about them. Both players need to prepare better. Both players need to recognize they may get another chance at any time and they have to grasp that opportunity when if it comes.
Both players need to realize their role is to make the team better because this staff doesn’t value players who think of themselves first.
This story was originally published December 24, 2019 at 12:00 AM.
