X’S AND OMAR:
Poor performance means Dolphins’ offensive identity could be a concern as opponents build game plans
Omar Kelly examines the key plays of the game.
East Rutherford, N.J. – The simple answers to the tough questions are the ones everyone should avoid.
The Miami Dolphins left Sunday’s embarrassing 20-6 loss to the previously winless New York Jets questioning their own toughness and saying that they didn’t practice hard enough leading up to the game.
But the Dolphins will need to dig deeper.
Poor practices don’t explain why the Dolphins got manhandled by a talent-starved Jets team in a one-sided loss. It doesn’t explain why Miami’s offensive line repeatedly got pushed into the backfield, clogging up the running lanes.
It also doesn’t explain the numerous dropped passes Miami’s playmakers had, or clarify why quarterback Jay Cutler had a couple one-hopper throws in his 44 attempts.
“We didn’t showup, didn’t play physical,” head coach Adam Gase said. “The defense did the best they could with 40 minutes of time of possession.”
Gase is exaggerating a bit considering the Jets had 36:08 in time of possession, edging out the Dolphins by more than12 minutes because of the offense’s numerous three-and-outs, and struggles converting third downs (1 for 12). Butwe get the point.
“They just beat the [expletive] out of us,” Gase said. “That’s the bestway to put it.”
Gase is right. The Dolphins’ offense wasn’t flat. Theywere just foul. Butwhy? Gase wears two hats with the Dolphins because of his dual role as the head coach and the team’s offensive play-caller. That means he must shoulder all of the blame for Sunday’s terrible performance. Miami gained 30 rushing yards on15 carries. The Dolphins had 44 total yards of offense in the first half, whichwas the team’s lowest output since 2003.
Miami didn’t convert a third down until the first minute of the fourth quarter, and the only reason the Dolphins avoided the franchise’s first shutout since a December loss to the Buffalo Bills in 2013was because Cutler competed a 3-yard touchdown pass to DeVante Parker as time expired.
“I think that gamewas awake-up call for us,” said Cutler, who completed 26-of-44 passes for 220 yards and produced a 70.3 passer rating. “We can’t just roll out there and expect it to happen. We have to prepare. We’ve got to be ready each and every game because it doesn’t matter who your opponent is and if they’ve won one game, zero games or 10 games. You can lose each and everyweek in this league.”
Practice leading up to the Jets game lacked physicality and intensity according to running back Jay Ajayi, who only participated in Friday’s session because of a sore knee.
Jarvis Landry, who is also nursing a knee issue, and DeVante Parker, who is nursing an ankle injury, also sat out most of lastweek’s sessions. And Mike Pouncey only practiced once during theweek, which is the norm because of his history of hip issues. That means four of the team’s offensive starters practiced sparingly leading up to this Jets game.
Gase was extremely critical of himself following the offense’s slow start in lastweek’s 19-17 win over the San Diego Chargers. Wonder howhe feels knowing absolutely nothing worked on Sunday?
The Dolphins faced similar issues last season when the run game became stagnant, and that’s troubling considering this offense is being led by its third different quarterback during the Gase era.
That leads us tow onder if play-calling, or the team’s desired offensive identity is the issue?
And could the Jets have provided a blueprint to beat Miami that other teams can build on?
Those are the complex questions that need to be answered.
“We expect everyone to focus on the run. We are a good running football team. We expect to be able to run on anybody aswell,” said Ajayi, who gained 16 yards on11 carries. “We didn’t do that today.
“There’s no reason why we should have came out today with that tone of play, It’s disappointing.”