Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Report card
Omar Kelly grades the Dolphins after the 40-0 loss to the Ravens on Thursday night.
When company is coming over, everyone is supposed to be on their best behavior.
America was watching Thursday night, but that didn’t stop the Miami Dolphins from embarrassing themselves in the first of three straight nationally televised games.
The Baltimore Ravens have a habit of bullying the Dolphins during the John Harbaugh era, so it wasn’t shocking to see Miami get pushed around. However, the 40-0 shellacking created a new low for Adam Gase’s team.
Here is the Sun Sentinel’s report card, evaluating how the Dolphins performed against the Ravens:
Passing Game: F
Matt Moore completed 25 of 44 passes, throwing for 176 yards, which equates to a 47.2 passer rating, the 10th worst in his 10-year career as a quarterback. Moore threw two interceptions that were returned for touchdowns. He has a reputation for producing big plays, but the only chuck yardage he created was a 28-yard completion to Kenny Stills.
Running Game: F
Miami’s struggling offensive line was frighteningly bad against a Ravens team that went into Thursday allowing 146 rushing yards per game. If it wasn’t for Jay Ajayi’s 21-yard run early, the Dolphins would have averaged even less than the dismal 2.4 yards per carry on its 19 attempts. Kenyan Drake gained 22 yards on six rushes, but those carries came when the game was already decided and the Ravens had called off the dogs.
Defending the pass: F
Joe Flacco had been struggling all season, but he carved up the Dolphins — completing 10 of 15 passes for 101 yards and a 34-yard touchdown pass to Jeremy Maclin — before being knocked out the game with a concussion on Kiko Alonso’s hit. Ryan Mallet completed 3-of-7 passes as Flacco’s replacement, and he threw a touchdown pass.
Defending the run: F
Former South Plantation standout Alex Collins looked like a future NFL star against Miami’s usually forceful defense front, which came into Thursday holding opponents to 82 rushing yards per game. Collins ran for 113 yards on 18 carries, and the Ravens as a whole rushed for 174 yards on 40 carries. The Dolphins did a poor job setting the edge, which must be addressed during future games that Andre Branch is forced to sit out because of his groin injury.
Special teams: C
Kicker Cody Parkey had his first missed first field goal of the season when a 50-yarder he attempted in the second quarter went wide right. Rookie punter Matt Haack was fairly inconsistent on his eight punts, averaging 39.9 net yards. Miami’s return game was again a non-factor, contributing to the Dolphins being dominated in field position, but defensive tackle Vincent Taylor did block his first field goal in the NFL.
Coaching: F
Adam Gase’s offense continues to contract, and that unit’s struggles have the potential to suffocate the entire team. At this point Gase needs to make changes to the offensive line, or change the entire offensive approach. Matt Burke’s defense failed to produce a sack or turnover against a Baltimore offense that was struggling this season.
Stock up: Leonte Carroo
The 2016 third-round pick has been relatively invisible the past season and a half despite receiving a decent amount of snaps because of injuries. For the first time this season he began to create separation from cornerbacks, and it resulted in Carroo bringing down a career-high six receptions for 48 yards. The Dolphins must find a way to ensure he continues improving.
Stock down: Matt Moore
Those campaigning for Moore to unseat Jay Cutler as the starting quarterback have been muzzled. Gase has already said that Jay Cutler will start when the Dolphins return to action Nov. 5 against Oakland. No matter who is at quarterback, the Dolphins have the same issue: The offensive line’s struggles are handcuffing the offense and forcing Gase to limit his playbook.