from Doggy

Q – Mike E,
Now that we’ve finally seen that our Starting Oline can make a huge difference in both the run game and pass protection. How do you feel about our depth and do we target early in the draft or go with FA. I hope this group stays healthy and on the field for the rest of the season.. They did a great job !!
 
Phindog

I think we should probably stick to best BPA, and there’s still a chance we may need to draft a QB early. Even if we don’t draft a QB early, I think we need help on defense. We need an impact from our front 7, specifically a pass rushing DE or 2, and we also need a playmaking LB. There’s also a good chance we will need a CB or 2, but that will play out by the end of the end of the season. We have to see what we’ve got there in Howard, Lippett and I think McCain will be fine as the nickel corner.

Albert is so hard to count on to stay healthy, but he’s a damn good player when he is. Tunsil is likely the LT at some point, but if #76 is healthy, and Tunsil continues to play well at LG, why not leave it? I have no problem going one more year with BA at LT, but I would absolutely make sure we have Tunsil prepared to play LT, and have serviceable depth at OG when Tunsil has to move to LT.

Man, that was something watching the holes open for Ajayi, and even better watching him exploit them, running hard and aggressively. I think that’s what we all imagined he could be if he got the opportunity, and it won’t always be as easy as it was last Sunday, but if we stay committed to having balance, and getting the run game going, our team will be a  better team for it!
____________________________________________________

from Toba
I assume this will be the theme of the week, but WTF..
 
After the solid game and game plan put together against the Steelers, do you see this an Aberration ? or something sustainable going forward .. I am hoping they can sustain it, but your thoughts ??

The success we had might possibly be an aberration, but man Toba, the game plan better not be. It’s just never good to be one dimensional. We have to keep the opposing defense honest, and if they sell out, and do everything to stuff the run, we have to still try and run, but make them pay with some deep shots if they stuff the box with 8 guys. Someone will be uncovered, and we have to execute, and hit that player. No question we’re a better team all around when we have T.O.P. in our favor, and we’re able to successfully run the football. The pass protection was stellar, and Ryan Tannehill looked considerably better with the better protection and time. The defense looked so much better because they weren’t on the field all day.

I don’t know if we can sustain it Toba, there’s really nothing we can look at and say we can for sure. I would hope we would, but the Buffalo Bills defense is a better unit than the Steelers. The thing is, I want to see them try to duplicate this. It would kill me if we see 8 guys in the box and decide to pass all day, unless of course it worked. How about we dictate our game plan, and let the other team adjust, instead of the other way around. Execution is key, no matter what we plan on doing, so we have to do it well. If we consistently try and run the football, even when it’s not yielding results like last Sunday, we’ll know we’re in the right direction. How many times did we see success one week, and then a couple of runs were stuffed (last season), and then we got pass happy? Too often, and my best guess is Gase won’t do the same thing.
____________________________________________________

from Rock

Q – Hello Mike E! How is it hanging?

That’s not my question for Ask Mike this is;

As the standings sit now, the Dolphins are scheduled to play only two teams the rest of the season that currently have a winning record. (Pats & Buffalo) With the Dolphins starting the season 1-4 do you think there is any chance that they can still make the playoffs this year?  I think we will have to sweep the Jets and Bills, beat the Ravens at home and win our final game at home against the Pats to have a chance.  What do you think our chances are?

I can’t do it Rock. I can’t even say the “P” word, I just can’t. I can’t even really guess if we stay on course against Buffalo for the Fest game. I have to do this one game at a time, because we have been anything but consistent all season long.

I’ll say this though, if the 5 starters on the O-line as currently constituted can stay healthy, I think we’ll be a better football than we were our first 5 games. I think the O-line set the tone in that game, and now teams see that Ajayi is more than capable of wrecking their day. The good thing is, we do have some depth at RB, because although Ajayi was grinding hard all day Sunday, not sure we can pump 25 carries from him every Sunday, but we have Drake, Williams and Foster too. I think the defense will still have it’s issues with teams that run well, and Buffalo is one of those teams. Not only can their RB move the chains (LeSean McCoy), who leads the team with 587 rushing yards (5.6YPC) which is pretty damn impressive. Tyrod Taylor is a dangerous guy running too, he already has 236 yards rushing. We must keep containment with him, like on those 3rd and 8 type of downs, when we almost get to him, and someone didn’t stay in their gap, and he busts out for a 12 yard gain. Those are killers, and we can’t let that happen.

We’ll have to see which Miami Dolphins team shows up, is it the same team that just beat up the Steelers, or the 1-4 team we’ve seen languish through 4 quarters each game. It would be a helluva lot more fun if last week’s team shows up, and last week’s coaches too!
____________________________________________________

I would like to thank Stanger, Chef Warren, Toba, and anyone else who has a hand (yeah I said that!) in putting the Fest together, and all the stuff that goes along with it, like the dinner Saturday night before the game.  I really wish everyone could make it, but of course that’s not possible.  Despite the fact that we kick one another every now and again, this is a pretty cool bunch, and for a lot of us to get together and see a game together,  and hang out, is even cooler.

Looking so forward to meeting a few of you that I haven’t yet met, and to seeing those again who I’ve already met.  This is awesome!  Go Festivus!  Go Dolphins!

____________________________________________________

And now for the babe of the week . . .