Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Offense is Gase’s problem to fix
Time for coach to show why he’s considered a play-calling guru
One of Adam Gase’s best qualities is that he’s relatable.
He’s also intelligent, intense, charismatic, candid and accountable.
But humble isn’t a word many would use to describe the Miami Dolphins’ head coach, and some would even say he’s a tad arrogant.
That shouldn’t surprise anyone who has ever gotten to know an NFL head coach. To make a room full alpha males follow you, you must exude confidence. And confidence often times borders on arrogance, but it doesn’t always have to.
Gase’s predecessor, Joe Philbin, wasn’t arrogant. However, it should also be pointed out that he was fairly incompetent as a head coach, and didn’t have much of a personality. But it’s a safe bet that the nature of the job humbled Philbin at some point.
This season, with the Dolphins’ early struggles on offense — where the franchise ranks last in just about every important NFL statistical category — Gase is getting a dose of humble pie, and that could be a blessing in disguise.
Too much success too early can become poison. Gase needs to encounter struggles — and overcome them — if he’s going to become the kind of head coach he has the potential to be.
Gase, who led the Dolphins to the playoffs for the first time since the 2008 season last year by winning nine of the regular season’s final 11 games, had lofty expecta-
tions for the Dolphins’ offense in Year 2, with and without injured quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
But Miami’s offense is struggling mightily.
The Dolphins have scored just five touchdowns this season on offense, and are averaging 10.8 points per game.
Miami’s offense averages the fewest yards per game (242.8), has converted the fewest third downs (17), and possesses the worst third-down conversion rate (28 percent) in the NFL.
The Dolphins have the third-lowest cumulative passer rating (71.4) in the league, are ranked 27th in rushing yards per game (87.4), and average the fewest yards per attempt (5.1).
The unit Gase calls the plays for is one of three offenses in the NFL that hasn’t had a play of at least 40 yards this season.
Miami’s offense has been putrid, and the unit’s struggles have served as a reality check for the man who made Tim Tebow look like a winning NFL quarterback, and coached the NFL’s most potent offense during Peyton Manning’s tenure with the Denver Broncos.
Despite an abundance of weapons this season, Gase hasn’t been able to find a solution that will end the sputtering.
The Dolphins might have a 3-2 record heading into Sunday’s home game against the New York Jets, but anyone who thinks this team is going anywhere if the offense doesn’t get fixed doesn’t understand football.
If Gase’s unit continues to struggle it will lead to a heavy snap count for Miami’s defense and eventually that unit will begin to wear down, much like what we saw last season.
Miami’s defense has been good about carrying the weight of this season on their shoulders so far, but if the offense doesn’t become more consistent it’s only a matter of time before cracks begin to surface.
It’s on Gase to lead the offense out of the wilderness, and to do that Miami must get back to what worked in 2016.
The Dolphins need to utilize two-tightend sets more often. Miami must move the pocket for Jay Cutler, like it did with Tannehill, to compensate for the offensive line’s protection issues and buy Cutler time to connect with his weapons.
The Dolphins need to use more motion with the receivers to set up Jarvis Landry and Kenny Stills with favorable matchups.
It would also be wise for Gase to get Damien Williams, who scored six touchdowns last season as the team’s third-down back, more involved on offense instead of using Jay Ajayi as an all-purpose tailback.
As the head coach — and play-caller on offense — it’s on Gase to turn this anemic unit around and show everyone why he’s viewed as an offensive guru.