Can Gase deliver a top NFL offense?
Editor’s note: With the start of Miami Dolphins’ training camp one day away, the South Florida Sun Sentinel looks at some of the team’s top storylines on the eve of the 2018 season.
Here’s a sobering realization for any Dolphins fan: statistically, former coach Joe Philbin’s offense worked better than current coach Adam Gase’s.
But take a deep breath and relax. This should be the year Gase, who was hired for his passing-game ideas and quarter back coaching skills, finally gets to display his offensive chops for an entire season.
First, however, Gase must overtake the ghost of Philbin.
In 2014, Philbin’s offense was 14th in the NFL (350.1 yards per game) and 11th in scoring (24.3 points per game).
By comparison, in 2016, Gase’s first year as the Dolphins coach, when he led Miami to its first playoff appearance since the 2008 season, the Dolphins were 24th in offense (334.8 ypg) and 17th in scoring (22.7 ppg).
Last season, the Dolphins were 25th in offense (307.7 ypg) and 28th in scoring (17.6 ppg).
Granted, that’s cherry-picking from Philbin’s disappointing three-plus seasons in Miami. Plus, Philbin never made the playoffs.
But the bottom line is Gase’s offense hasn’t yet delivered.
And here’s something else to consider: quarterback Ryan Tannehill might have had his best season under Philbin. In 2014, Tannehill had a career-best 27 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, tied for fewest in his career, and a 92.8 passer rating.
In Tannehill’s injuryshortened 2016 season, his only season under Gase, he had 19 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and a career-best 93.5 passer rating in 13 games. It’s a close call but if Tannehill is roughly the same under Gase as he was under Philbin, it’s concerning.
The biggest issue for Gase, who also serves as the play-caller, is he hasn’t been able to show the reasons some regarded him as an offensive guru when he was a coordinator.
Running back Jay Ajayi suddenly emerged in 2016, forcing Gase to scrap his passing game and convert to a running offense, something that made him uncomfortable (he’s a passinggame guy).
And last year Tannehill sustained a season-ending knee injury in training camp. Gase replaced him with 34-year-old Jay Cutler, who was lured out of retirement, and he was ineffective.
But 2018 figures to be the season we get to observe the offensive wizardry that made Gase, the former Chicago and Denver offensive coordinator, one of the league’s hottest young coaching candidates before he was hired by Miami.
For the most part, Gase has what he wants offensively. Tannehill at quarterback, complemented by his preferred two-headed running back attack, led by Kenyan Drake and Frank Gore. Gase has diversity among wide receivers Kenny Stills, DeVante Parker, Danny Amendola and Albert Wilson. Gase has an offensive line led by left guard Josh Sitton, left tackle Laremy Tunsil and center Daniel Kilgore. Yes, tight end remains a question but between second-round pick Mike Gesicki and fourthround pick Durham Smythe that position was addressed in the draft.
It’s not a perfect offensive personnel group, to be sure, but they’re a crew that’s largely been handpicked or approved by Gase. And they’re healthy. So here we go.
Training camp practice schedule: Thursday (8:30 a.m.); Friday (8:30 a.m.); Saturday (8:30 a.m.); Sunday (8:30 a.m.); Monday (8:30 a.m.); Wednesday (8:30 a.m.); Thursday, Aug. 2 (8:30 a.m.); Friday, Aug. 3 (8:30 a.m.); Saturday, Aug. 4 (11 a.m. scrimmage at Hard Rock Stadium); Monday, Aug. 6 (8:30 a.m.); Tuesday, Aug. 7 (8 a.m.); Sunday, Aug. 12 (8:30 a.m.); Monday, Aug. 13 (8:30 a.m.); Tuesday, Aug. 14 (8:30 a.m.)
But 2018 figures to be the season we get to observe the offensive wizardry that made Gase ... one of the league’s hottest young coaching candidates.