Gase plays waiting game in naming starting QB
DAVIE — The question for the Dolphins at quarterback isn’t as straightforward as whether Jay Cutler is cleared from a concussion before Sunday’s kickoff at New England. It’s much more complicated than that, based on what coach Adam Gase has said this week, as well as taking into account what he won’t say.
Regarding the latter, it’s nearly impossible to believe Gase doesn’t see the spark backup Matt Moore created when he took over in the second half last week. For the second time this season, Moore has performed in a way that creates doubt about which quarterback is better suited to run this offense.
“Matt’s going today, and Jay’s in the concussion protocol,” Gase said Wednesday. “That’s really all I have for you right now.”
Even if Cutler is cleared in time to play, the Dolphins might need to know well before Sunday whether he’s available.
Gase said “there will be a point where we make a decision,” hinting that they could remain uncertain all the way up to game time. Gase declined to say whether he’d feel good about playing Cutler even if he didn’t practice all week, leaving it at, “We’ll see.”
Moore practiced Wednesday with David Fales as the No. 2 quarterback. Cutler was not on the field, and the team will not give an update on his recovery.
“I don’t really know what the timetable is right now,” Gase said of determining Cutler’s status for the Patriots game. “I’m just taking it day by day right now. When you’re in the protocol ... as coaches we remove ourselves and let that process take care of itself . ... the protocol tells us what the right thing to do is.”
Moore looked good in relief as he led comebacks against the Jets and Buccaneers.
In those games, he combined to complete 30 of 49 passes for 470 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. That comes out to a 105 passer rating.
When Moore started for Cutler against Baltimore, however, he was a disaster. He went 25 for 44, was sacked three times and threw two pick-sixes. He put up 176 yards in the 40-0 loss.
That was a truncated workweek for Moore with only three days between games. Essentially all he got in terms of field time was a walk-through.
“Any time you’re a quarterback, whether you’re a starter or a backup, when you get the reps and you’re trying to show the looks that you think you may get, it’s beneficial,” Gase said. “It’s like anything else: If you practice it, it gives you the best chance to execute it when we hit Sunday.”