Kelly: Dolphins season isn’t lost. Offense just needs to be found | Opinion
A new team owner doesn’t solve the Miami Dolphins’ current problems.
There’s no guarantee the new owner will consistently pump millions into South Florida’s NFL franchise the way Steve Ross has during the past decade.
A new general manager doesn’t rectify the problems plaguing this Dolphins team right now either.
Sure, the decisions Chris Grier made building this roster — disappointing options at backup quarterback, not properly addressing numerous free agent departures, and the overinflated opinion of the offensive line to be specific - put the Dolphins in this predicament, beginning this season 1-3 following the concussion Tua Tagovailoa suffered.
At the root of this team’s three game losing streak is Tagovailoa’s absence, and the offensive line’s struggles. But there’s no magic trade Grier can make today, or tomorrow that waves a wand and fixes Miami’s numerous issues unless Kansas City’s ready to move on from Patrick Mahomes, or Buffalo’s ready to turn the page on Josh Allen.
And there’s no guarantee a roster overhaul does it either, which is why we need to be patient and see how this season plays out when Tagovailoa returns. Evaluate that and then make the necessary decisions.
Coach Mike McDaniel was a genius when he was the architect of the NFL’s sexiest offense the previous two seasons. He didn’t become an imbecile overnight.
And this is a team with a strong leadership core, made up of men you would want marrying your daughter, and would let babysit your children, with a few exceptions.
So the insinuation that the inmates are running the asylum because McDaniel has intentionally empowered his players is misplaced frustration, little more than blame-shifting for unmatched expectations.
Bottom line is that the Dolphins are losing now because the quarterback they built the entire franchise around is sidelined for a month, or two, because he sustained a nasty-looking concussion, and people fear for his long-term health.
Let’s not make this about anything more than it is.
And sure, there are other teams [primarily Minnesota, Green Bay and Indianapolis] out there winning games with their backup quarterbacks. South Florida’s own Tyler “Snoop” Huntley, who participated in six practices and three walk-throughs since joining the team two weeks ago is trying to join them. And keep in mind those franchises winning with backups actually have healthy rushing attacks, and they aren’t beating themselves with costly penalties like the Dolphins.
“The answer is to diligently maximize accountability across the board and collectively come up with a solution,” McDaniel about his team leading up to this Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots, a week where he planned to have “uncomfortable conversations” with his coaches and players with the goal of finding solutions.
Based on his tone and statements the past three days, McDaniel realizes the Dolphins have to clean it up and dumb it down until Tagovailoa returns.
Losing by 19 points at home to a winless Titans team that’s playing its backup quarterback isn’t a good look, especially after you have spent months calling yourself a Super Bowl-contending team.
But it’s time we let reality sit in.
This Dolphins team isn’t ending its season in New Orleans.
The focus should be on keeping the boat from capsizing, and everyone drowning, and that will require changes be made.
We have heard so much about the Jonnu Smith package, and so far he’s in the running for the most overhyped Dolphin of the decade. That’s on McDaniel and tight end coach Jon Ebree to get their act together.
Why is Tyreek Hill not working in the slot, running option routes against nickel cornerbacks at this stage of Miami’s struggles? The more he touches the ball the better off the Dolphins are. It’s time Hill moves closer to the quarterback.
Odell Beckham Jr. was signed here to beat 1-on-1 coverage Hill’s presence creates. At this point, who cares if he doesn’t know the offense. If he’s healthy and productive in practice this week put him in the three-receiver set at split end and have him run five routes — a go-route, a drag, a come back, a slant and an out.
It’s time for McDaniel to simplify this thing, stripping the offense down even further, creating a system for dummies, which is a fitting name considering how the Dolphins have been playing and coaching lately.
But this team is better than that. And they deserve better, but to get it they will need to buy in.
There’s only one thing that can help this Dolphins team stop the bleeding, and resurrecting the Dolphins back to health. That’s everyone taking personal accountability, and the team rallying together instead of finger pointing.
Ironically, we’ve actually seen it done before, back in 2021 when a Brian Flores led Dolphins team began the year 1-7, then rallied to win eight of the season’s final nine games.
The common thread on that season was that the coaches were accountable to what was transpiring, blamed themselves. And the team went to work, buying into the changes that were being made. And eventually the wins started stacking up.
“We are grown [expletive] men. At the end of the day people need to feed their families. Whatever needs to happen is going to happen,” safety Jevon Holland said. “I’ve been in this position before and I’m not necessarily shaken by it. I know the message is everybody needs to stick together and that’s the biggest thing. That is what helped us in ‘21 and that will help us here. It’s the biggest thing. Relying around each other. Trusting each other and playing solid ball.”
This story was originally published October 2, 2024 at 4:50 PM.
