Dolphins’ disarray is par for the NFL
We’ve been to the depths of the ocean with the Miami Dolphins over the years.
Who remembers that 2007 season with Cam Cameron that produced only one win?
Just two years ago, the team basically quit on its head coach (Joe Philbin). And we’ve witnessed a coach in over his head (Tony Sparano).
It’s no secret that this franchise spent a decade being dysfunctional.
So as rough as these past three losses — two of which were extremely embarrassing — have been, try to keep them in perspective.
The Dolphins are 4-5 and still in the AFC playoff conversation heading into Sunday’s home game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This isn’t a season that needs to be tanked. And truth is, there is no Andrew Luck to tank for in next year’s draft.
This season — which has produced plenty of drama and featured possibly the worst offense in the franchise’s history — is merely a rough patch. Nothing has gone according to anyone’s plan in Davie, but that’s the NFL.
For the past few decades this league has been made up of the haves — teams that have elite quarterbacks — and the have nots — teams that don’t.
There are title contenders — New England, Pittsburgh, Seattle — that reign as long as their golden goose stays healthy (look what’s happened to Green Bay without Aaron Rodgers), and those lost in the
abyss of mediocrity (Cleveland and San Francisco) because of lackluster talent and bad management.
For a while the Dolphins were in the abyss, but last year’s playoff run — in which the team rebounded from a 1-4 start to win nine of its final 11 regular-season games — showed promise. It proved that progress was being made.
The problem now is that there’s little evidence the next step has been taken. In fact, many think the Dolphins are regressing. But truth is what’s happening in 2017 is simply regression to the mean. A league designed to have most teams hover around .500 so that they can keep them relevant brought the Dolphins back down to earth.
Sometimes a franchise — say, Philadelphia or Kansas City — can get hot if it makes the right offseason moves (Eagles trading up to draft quarterback Carson Wentz) and selects the right player in the draft (Chiefs picking tailback Kareem Hunt). But that wasn’t the Dolphins’ offseason.
Miami has weathered so many storms this season that Mike Pouncey laughed out loud when asked what it felt like to finally have a drama-free week heading into the Carolina game.
For once the Dolphins got to exhale and take a breather. But the beatdown the Panthers provided exposed numerous flaws, and showed coach Adam Gase’s team isn’t ready to compete for a title. A playoff berth seems unrealistic considering the Dolphins are on pace to produce the NFL’s worst offense.
Seven games isn’t enough time to patch all the leaks, but what it will show us is whether management needs to hit the reset button and redo the foundation of this team.
There is no face to this franchise. The offense doesn’t have an identity. And the defense, after a promising start, is seemingly aging before our eyes.
Even if Vice President of Football Operations Mike Tannenbaum and General Manager Chris Grier double down on what’s in place by pouring money into this team via free agency next offseason, would it make the Dolphins a title contender?
If the answer to that question is no, then it’s time for a full rebuild of this roster.
But this season isn’t over, so it’s not time to pull the plug yet.
Plenty needs to be explored and discovered in the final seven games.
Can Kenyan Drake serve as a lead back, carrying the rushing attack?
Are cornerbacks Xavien Howard and Cordrea Tankersley talented enough to build around?
Will DeVante Parker blossom into the receiver he has the talent to become?
Does Miami’s offensive line have what it takes to improve, or does that entire unit need to be rebuilt?
Does the safety tandem of Reshad Jones and T.J. McDonald work?
Is there a tight end on the roster worth salvaging?
We’ll learn a lot from these final seven games, and hopefully the team’s decision makers use it to help this franchise get better.