Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
ONCE 3-0, NOW ON NEGATIVE TREND
After a promising start to the 2018 season, the Dolphins have lost four of the last five games, and appear to be taking another spin on the mediocrity merry-go-round.
Last year at this point in the season the Dolphins were also 4-4, having lost two in a row in what would end up as a five-game skid en route to 6-10. If Miami can’t pull off a win in the next three games, we could be looking at a season-decimating free fall that could also cost vice president Mike Tannenbaum, General Manager Chris Grier and the coaching staff their jobs.
It is on Adam Gase and his staff to stop the bleeding, and for Tannenbaum and Grier to upgrade the roster, providing the Dolphins midseason reinforcements.
Who, if anyone, will save this Dolphins season?
Passing game C-
When healthy, which hasn’t been often the past three years, Ryan Tannehill has proven he’s a decent game manager. Tannehill’s numbers this season – 65.9 percent completions, 7.5 yards per attempt, eight touchdowns, five interceptions and 11 sacks in five games – are on par with what they’ve been throughout his career. In other words, average. The problem is, he was supposed to show significant improvement playing his second season in Gase’s offense. That hasn’t happened, and he’s coming up short when it comes time to make game-altering throws. If his shoulder injury lingers it could speed up the end of his tenure in Miami. Backup Brock Osweiler is nothing more than a caretaker whom the coaches don’t trust to do anything but throw short passes.
Running game B-
Frank Gore and Kenyan Drake complement each other well, leading a rushing attack that averages 108.0 yards per game and 4.6 yards per attempt. When the rushing attack is working, Miami’s playaction-based offense is at its best. Drake’s recent resurgence proves that Miami should continue to utilize him as the featured playmaker.
Defending the pass: C-
The Dolphins are the second-worst pass-rushing team in the NFL with 11 sacks. Earlier this season, the defense’s ability to create turnovers (11 interceptions, three fumbles recovered) led the league, but Miami’s inability to pull down a turnover or create pressure on quarterbacks the past two games has skyrocketed the their opponents’ cumulative passer rating to 96.4.
Defending the run F
The Dolphins were magnificent against the run when Williams Hayes, who suffered an ACL injury against the Raiders, was in the rotation and Cameron Wake, Andre Branch and safety Reshad Jones were healthy. But the leakage started against New England, which created a blueprint Miami’s last four opponents have copied to perfection. The Dolphins need better defensive line play from the ends (edge setting), the defensive tackles (occupying blockers) and the linebackers (shedding blocks) to keep the season respectable.
Special teams B
Darren Rizzi’s the one constant about the Dolphins since 2010. You can always expect his special teams unit to deliver respectable returns (two special teams TDs this season), decent coverage on kickoffs and punts with a few exceptions, and reliable kicking (9 of 10 on field goals). The Dolphins would benefit from giving Jason Sanders more opportunities to attempt field goals, and more consistency from punter Matt Haack (39.8 net yards on punts).
Coaching C-
Gase’s offense has struggled with slow starts (21 points in the first quarter this season), and converting third downs (36.5 percent) all three seasons. Gase’s offense will not get out of third gear until those problems get addressed, and he’s running out of excuses and time to fix them. Burke’s wide-nine defensive front remains ineffective, and the defensive line’s inability to keep Miami’s linebackers clear has placed an unmanageable amount of pressure on an injury-depleted secondary.
Top performer on offense: LT Laremy Tunsil
Tunsil, the Dolphins’ 2016 first-round pick, has blossomed into an elite left tackle who is able to handle some of the NFL’s best pass rushers one-on-one consistently. Tunsil has only allowed one sack this season, and that came against the Lions on a play where the refs blew an early whistle on a play Brock Osweiler could have, and should have thrown the ball away.
Top performer on defense: CB Xavien Howard
Howard has played admirably all season, locking down every receiver he’s shadowed this season outside of Houston’s Deandre Hopkins, who beat him for a 2-yard touchdown last week. Howard has contributed 16 tackles, three interceptions and five pass deflections in eight games. He’s established himself as the player the Dolphins need to make re-signing a priority this upcoming offseason.
Biggest surprise: Albert Wilson’s emergence
Before suffering his season-ending hip injury in Miami’s 32-21 loss to the Lions, Wilson had established himself as the Dolphins’ top play-maker, producing 391 yards and four touchdowns on 26 receptions and throwing a 52-yard touchdown pass. Lets hope that Wilson’s hip injury doesn’t deplete his shake-and-bake ability.
Biggest disappointment
The Dolphins traded a 2018 fourth-round pick to the Rams to acquire Robert Quinn hoping that the two-time Pro Bowler’s presence would stabilize Miami’s defensive front. But Quinn has contributed just 21 tackles, one sack and one forced fumble, and it seems as if he’s wearing down physically. Unless Quinn turns it on soon it is hard to envision Miami paying him the $12.9 million he’s due in 2019.