Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
TIME TO CHECK THEIR PROGRESS
The Dolphins remain optimistic after an 0-2 start. But a loss in Jacksonville would be bad look for the rebuild.
The Miami Dolphins are Oh and Tua after two games.
But you know what’s worse after Miami’s 31-28 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday?
The Dolphins (0-2) will play another game this week. On Thursday. Up the road against the Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1).
It’ll come four days after their last game. And that’s not enough time to fix the Dolphins’ woes defensively after the first two games in the second year of the Brian Flores era in Miami.
Or to consider even making a move at quarterback after Ryan
Fitzpatrick led three touchdown drives, which should have been four had receiver Preston Williams caught a pass from the 1-yard line that went right through his hands as he jumped in the air.
“0-2 is tough. But there’s a lot to improve on, and that’s where my focus is,” Flores said on Monday after Miami’s loss, which saw the Dolphins hold a lead for five minutes in the fourth quarter.
“It was a more competitive game than a week before. We had a lead in the fourth quarter, but we have to finish. We need to learn how to do that. That’s where my focus is right now.”
The Dolphins are rebuilding. They just lost to two teams that might make the playoffs two seasons in a row. Before they can become a playoff team, they must learn how to beat playoffcaliber teams first.
A season ago, this team lost 11 games. They have got 14 more to play and need to show some significant progress along the way in this second season under Flores and general manager Chris Grier, the Dolphins’ rebuilders.
Winning more than five games, which they did with a roster much cheaper and devoid of talent a season ago, would certainly be ideal for the group.
But one thing is for sure: a loss on Thursday against Jacksonville — a team that appears like it could very well beat Miami — would be a sour step in the wrong direction.
The Jaguars are a team, whose recent roster moves of players like Jalen Ramsey, Yannick Ngakoue and Leonard Fournette indicate a run toward Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence and the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NFL draft. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? But current Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew already delivered a win in the opener, stunning the
Colts in Jacksonville.
And on Sunday, Minshew’s two touchdowns sparked a furious comeback in the fourth quarter that fell short after a game-winning field goal for the Tennessee Titans. (Former Dolphins starter Ryan Tannehill had four touchdowns and is off to a 2-0 start by the way.)
“They’re a tough competitive team, and they’re playing well. And we have to prepare for that in a short amount of time,” Flores said of the Jaguars.
Minshew is much smaller in stature than New England’s Cam Newton, who the Dolphins couldn’t keep from running his legs and his mouth, and Buffalo’s Josh Allen, who they simply couldn’t stop from physically running them over.
Despite two interceptions Sunday, Minshew has thrown three touchdown passes in each of his first two games, which should be a major cause of concern for a Dolphins defense that can barely dial up a significant pass rush and has forced only two turnovers this season.
“We’re all part of it. We’re all one team and it starts with me,” Flores said of his team’s defensive woes, which include surrendering 524 yards of offense to the Bills. “We have to play better. We’re not pointing fingers or making excuses. We’ll just work to get it better.”
If the Dolphins fall to 0-3, when their first win of the season could come seems like bleak possibility with tough opponents throughout their upcoming schedule.
The Dolphins will play the Seahawks at home in Week 4, with road games against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 5 and Denver Broncos in Week 6.
Two more home games against the Los Angeles teams, first the Chargers in Week 7 and Rams in Week 8. Then, on the road against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 9.
Only Denver is 0-2 like Miami after two weeks, while the 49ers and Chargers split their first two games. The Seahawks, Rams and Cardinals all started 2-0.
But let’s not get too far ahead.
Flores remains optimistic as the Dolphins hope to make the best of their quick turnaround heading into Thursday’s road game against the Jaguars.
“I think every day we’ll try to come in and improve and get better,” Flores said. “If we continue to do those things, then the results will take care of themselves. That’s always been my message and that’s my message to the team right now.”