Gase: 2-0 means nothing
DAVIE — Miami Dolphins coach Adam Gase has been off to fast starts before. That’s why he hopes the Dolphins heed to his advice after their first 2-0 start since the 2013 season.
“I’ve been 6-0 and haven’t been to the playoffs — it doesn’t matter,” Gase said Monday after the Dolphins’ 20-12 win over the Jets on Sunday, remembering his 2009 season as a wide receivers coach with the Broncos.
“You have to play every week, and reset it every week. You have to work to get better, and try not to be a team that’s up and down, try to be consistent.
“You’re going to lose games in this league. That’s why there’s only been one undefeated team that has won it all, and another team didn’t win the last game.”
The Dolphins hope to maintain that steadfast perspective for their Week 3 matchup Sunday against the Oakland Raiders (0-2) at Hard Rock Stadium.
Miami is one of seven NFL teams off to a 2-0 start this season, joining the Buccaneers, Jaguars, Bengals, Broncos, Chiefs, and Rams.
The Dolphins also sit alone atop the AFC East undefeated ahead of the Patriots (1-1), Jets (1-1), and Bills (0-2).
Newcomer Albert Wilson, who caught a 29-yard reception for a touchdown in the first half against the Jets, said this start has
been in the works for the Dolphins since the offseason.
“We knew it was going to happen,” Wilson said. “We’re not surprised with where we’re at, but I hold a higher standard for this team.”
While Dolphins fans might cherish the moment and Dolphins players should be pleased with their fast start, Gase does not want his players to grow comfortable one bit.
The Dolphins needed two big plays — a 102-yard kickoff return from Jakeem Grant, and a 75-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Tannehill to Kenny Stills — to beat the Titans in Week 1.
And after storming out to a 20-0 lead against the Jets, the Dolphins could have easily lost the game if they allowed the Jets to score before halftime or after coughing up two fumbles in the third quarter.
“We can be better, and we can do better,” Wilson said. “We want to be happy with 2-0, but we don’t want to be satisfied.”
Still, the Dolphins should take some joy in being undefeated after the first two weeks of the season.
The Dolphins entered this season with 150-1 odds to win the Super Bowl, according to VegasInsider.com — tied for worse odds than the Jets and the Bills. Even the Browns, who have started 0-1-1, had better Super Bowl odds at 100-1.
ESPN even listed Miami as the worst team in the
NFL during a power before the season.
“I feel like at the end of the day, it’s about the guys in the locker room and we’re playing for each other,” receiver and kick returner Jakeem Grant said.
The Dolphins are trying to reach the playoffs for the second time in Gase’s threeyear tenure. Miami was 10-6 and made the playoffs in 2016, but was 6-10 last season.
If the Dolphins make the playoffs this season, it would be the third time since the 2008 season that they play in the postseason.
For Gase and the Dolphins, keeping perspective is imperative.
Rookie tight end Mike Gesicki offered a quote he strives to live by as a football player.
“Don’t pay attention to praise or criticism — it’s a weakness to get caught up in either one,” Gesicki said.
Gase was much blunter, particularly about Miami’s early lead in the divisional standings.
“It doesn’t mean anything. The division stuff right now is a little bit irrelevant,” Gase said.
The team is expected to promote safety Maurice Smith to its 53-man roster today, according to a league source.
Smith will assume the open roster spot created by left guard Josh Sitton’s move to injured reserve.
Smith, a second-year player out of Georgia, was waived by the Dolphins on Sept. 3 after not making the initial 53-man roster, but resigned to the practice squad on Sept. 5.
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