Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Offense keeps focus on improving
DAVIE — Cut through the headlines about injuries, a hurricane, a player gone AWOL and a coach’s video scandal, and one on-field truth remains about the Miami Dolphins — the offense, which has managed just three touchdowns in four games, has been bad.
That message is drilled home in league rankings, media sessions, video study and social media. The pressure is even building from within.
“Defensively, those guys, I’m sure they are getting a little frustrated,” quarterback Jay Cutler said.
Offensive coordinator Clyde Christensen uses a simple metaphor to teach singular focus on improvement.
“You’re in a tunnel,” he tells players. “You don’t see light. You just keep digging.”
After all, he reasons, this offense that has a load of talent could snap to attention Sunday at Atlanta.
On the other hand, it could confensive tinue to plod along at its current 10.3 points per game average, which ranks last in the NFL. Whatever the case the Dolphins will keep preaching a singular of- message — focus on improving.
“You’ve got to keep the outside
“You’re in a tunnel. You don’t see light. You just keep digging.” Clyde Christensen, offensive coordinator
forces out,” Christensen said. “You can’t let anybody define what you are. You’ve just got to keep going with no guarantees.
“There are no guarantees that we don’t win every one of the rest of them and no guarantees that we win another one. That’s the deal and that’s what we signed on for.”
Head coach Adam Gase describes himself, wide receiver Jarvis Landry and running back Jay Ajayi as the “hotheads of the offense,” the ones whose frustration boils over in facial expressions and actions.
“I’m such a passionate player,” Ajayi said. “I play with a lot of emotions, but at the same time, you can’t let those emotions affect the game or the team.”
“I’m the worst,” Gase said.
They met about that very topic this week.
“All three of us talked about it,” Gase said, “about how can all three of us not get as frustrated when things don’t go quite right?
“I need to do a better job of keeping my anger under control, and they’re trying to do the same thing.”
The mental strain of an offense that ranks last in the NFL in yards per game (231.3), last in passing yards per game (156.5), second-tolast in rushing yards per game (74.8) is tough to shoulder.
The defense, while far from perfect, is doing its job. It ranks fourth in points allowed (16.8 per game), fourth against the run (75.5 yards per game) and eighth in total defense (309.5).
They say the right things publicly.
“When you sign up to play defense it’s a whenever, wherever-type mentality,” defensive end Cameron Wake said.
But the offense knows the reality of having to be carried by the defense.
“It is a strain,” Christensen said. “I’ve been on both sides.”
Cutler is among the players who know that the fix won’t be easy.
“We can’t magically think that this is just going to turn around just because we come in and we practice and we play games,” he said.
“There’s got to be a focus there. There’s got to be energy. There’s got to be a sense of urgency for us offensively, to do things the way we’re coached to do, and go out there and get better each day.”
Furthermore, the offense acknowledges that the defense has been kind.
“No one is pointing fingers,” center Mike Pouncey said. “We’re just trying to get it all figured out right now.
“It’s still early in the football season. We know that we’ve got to get our offense going now. It’s the second quarter of the season. We will. We’ll get it going on Sunday.” Until then... “You tunnel,” Christensen said.