Dolphins take ‘ownership’ of errors

DAVIE — Monday was a day of acknowledgment for the Dolphins, whose mistakes were largely to blame for their 24-14 loss to Dallas on Sunday.

Interim coach Dan Campbell played video from the Cowboys game — every series, offense and defense — and pointed out the errors. Before long, players were admitting to their blunders, in front of their teammates.

“It wasn’t a ‘call-out’ session,” Campbell said. “It was a ‘take ownership’ session, and the guys did that. And that’s a hard pill to swallow. But they did that.

“To me, that’s a step in the right direction.”

There was even a tweet from an NFL.com reporter saying that defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh addressed his fellow defensive players with “an incredibly fiery & demanding speech. Had his own meeting, holding players accountable.”

Campbell, who had an 11-year NFL career as a player, refused to confirm that report, but he didn’t deny it, either.

“To me,” he said, “from the time that I came into this league it’s always been about, ‘This is us, in this room.’

“And things that are said in there are between us. And I’ve always felt that way.”

As good as the “take ownership” meeting might have felt, however, and as encouraging as Suh’s passion might have been, the Dolphins (4-6) can’t escape the fact they made some bad mistakes against Dallas.

Cornerback Jamar Taylor had a holding call that wiped out a sack. Right tackle Jason Fox had a holding call that wiped out a first-down run. Wide receiver/kickoff returner Jarvis Landry botched a kickoff return, quarterback Ryan Tannehill threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown, center Mike Pouncey got flagged for an illegal chop block, and wide receiver Rishard Matthews dropped a pass on third down that would have gained first down yardage.

There were also times in which Dallas simply executed better. On the 16-yard touchdown reception by Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant, Dallas moved him into the slot, away from the 1-on-1 coverage he got from cornerback Brent Grimes when he lined up on the outside.

The Dolphins expected such a move, but they didn’t defend it correctly.

Cornerback Brice McCain sees those plays as part of the bigger picture.

“They made plays; we didn’t,” he said. “I felt like we beat ourselves. There are plays we knew were coming, and we knew we were in great coverage for it, and we didn’t make the plays.”

In a number of games this season the Dolphins have been afflicted by that same malady. No one knows how to change it, though.

“If I had that answer, I’d probably be making way more than I’m making right now — I’m making the minimum,” free safety Michael Thomas joked.

The Dolphins, 0-4 in division games and 2-5 in conference games, are still clinging to their playoff hopes.

But most likely they have to win their remaining six games to earn a wild-card berth.