The big bad Patriots come into town this week, ranked in the top 5 by many sources, and top 3 by some. The Patriots have improved on defense each week, and at 9-3, they have a comfortable lead in the AFC East. On the other hand, the Dolphins are still alive for a wildcard berth in the playoffs as we are the #7 seed in the AFC at the moment. Time for some payback fellas! The Patriots demolished the Dolphins up in Foxborough, now it’s our turn to take one at home.
We were a different team last time we played the Patriots. We had all of our small, speedy receivers like Albert Wilson, Jakeem Grant and Danny Amendola. This time, Wilson and Grant are both on I/R, and Amendola who was inactive against the Bills is still nursing a knee injury, so the Patriots will be seeing a different Miami offense. It’s time for the young dog (Gase) to teach the old dog (Belichick) a lesson. Belichick easily neutralized or smaller receivers lining up in the nickel and dime formations and not allowing them any space on screens and short passes, and we had no answer. I’d like to see Gase find answers this week. The Patriots had the ball for just over 36 minutes, but managed 449 yards of offense. RB Sony Michel carried 25 times for 112 yards and Brady spread the ball around to numerous receivers.
The Dolphins need to hold on to the ball in this game. TE A.J. Derby was put on I/R (join the club!), but we still have 3 TE’s, and I think it’s time to use them. We haven’t featured many 3 TE sets, and we surely haven’t featured Mike Gesicki. Let’s get O’Leary and Smythe out there as extra blockers and run the ball down their throats. Who knows, if we run the ball well, maybe Gesicki or Smythe or O’Leary sneak out for a big reception. We don’t have to open this way either, just have a few wrinkles the Patriots haven’t seen, in other words, don’t be so conventional. We know the Patriots will likely out execute most teams, but if you give something they don’t expect, maybe you get results.
This past week against the Bills, I saw some things I really liked. First of all, it may have been my favorite game this season because it looked to me like Gase took the training wheels off of QB Ryan Tannehill. Tannehill rewarded his HC with one of his best games and the win. If Amendola can’t go, we’re likely to see Stills, Parker, Butler, Carroo and Isaiah Ford at WR. That’s a lot more size than the last time we faced them. The Patriots do have 2 “big” CB’s in McCourty and Gilmore, both 6 feet. I think this is a game where we need to out-physical the Patriots and and also outsmart them. Not an easy task with the Evil Emperor stalking the Patriots sidelines, a veteran of many intergalactic takeovers. We have 3 running backs, I hope we use them all. Run Gore with 2 or 3 TE’s and impose our will. Tire them out some and put Drake in to break one or beat a LB in coverage. Let Ballage get some carries, and please, please find a way to pick up a 3rd and short. I think the big issue there is we really have no reliable interior OL to get some room, and that definitely is a hindrance. Heck, get Asiata in there for one of those plays, he’ll be fresh and all he has to do is get some push. Put him in as a FB, create a small package of plays for him, make it happen!
The stats don’t give us much of a chance, the Patriots are scoring nearly 28 PPG, allowing only 21.6 PPG. We’re scoring only 20.3 PPG, and allowing 25 PPG. So what, all that goes in the trash when the teams hit the field. O’Leary must be thrilled he got a 1 YR extension, but that kid plays hard, and everyone else on this team needs to do the same. Tannehill played tough last week, he got hit on what seemed like every other throw, and yet he played very well, one of his best. Build on that. Let Tannehill continue to throw the ball downfield, and try and exploit certain matchups. Don’t be complacent, and please don’t go in there and be cautious and revert back to that lame bubble screen offense, I swear I might blow a gasket if we do. The Patriots need to keep pace for home field, they currently trail the Chiefs who are 10-2, and are tied with the Texans at 9-3. They need this game, but I’d like to show them we need it more. Go get ’em Dolphins! Statement game!
Finsmob Unleashed 
Real nice article Mike E — but man are we like mirror image fans. When you are down, I am “all is well” (yeah that is Kevin Bacon from Animal House). Now when am assuming we will lose…… you present how we can beat them. Love it though!
Thanks! Trying to keep you all off balance. 🙂 We have given them a tough time in MIA, this one is a bit different. Last season, Patriots had a clearer path, not that they didn’t want to win, but it wasn’t as important. Now the Patriots are behind for home field, so they really want this, that’s their best path to another SB, to make teams go through them at home. Regardless, we should be able to devise a game plan to be competitive in this game, and and we should try and be the more physical team.
The one thing we have going for us is a whole lot of wildcat practice against the Bills. 🙂
If we can get another 137 yards out of Tannehill we should be good.
Statement Game!
Good job Mike
Thats kinda what i was thinking when he talked about Tanny’s game last week 🙂
stangerx says:
December 5, 2018 at 10:33 am
Real nice article Mike E — but man are we like mirror image fans. When you are down, I am “all is well” (yeah that is Kevin Bacon from Animal House). Now when am assuming we will lose…… you present how we can beat them. Love it though!
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Even if you think that a loss is eminent, you can still muse how it could go the other way, because “any given Sunday”. I never think we cant beat another team, i just know some teams always show up prepared and they arent likely to be off their game. If the Pats play like they normally do, then we would still have to play a good game even if we didnt have the injuries, etc. Home field advantage helps, not being in the cold helps, but we still would have to play pretty close to perfect to beat them.
The offense isnt great but it more effective with Tanny at the helm, but i dont really think “letting Tanny loose” will be the reason we win or lose. I think its more of turning up the volume on the whole offense. Run sweeps until they are gassed, then load up misdirection roll out passes, fake the pitch on the sweep and naked bootleg to the opposite side and his a deep pass. Tanny has always been better on the move. When they start biting on those plays hit them with a reverse or counter runs. We have the tools on offense to be potent, even as depleted as we are, we just need to be creative with the playcalling to get those guys their opportunities to turn in big plays.
We all saw the first game, but then as Mike E pointed out….. different team now. They quashed our little speedsters that won the first three games with like every small guy they had with a good 40 time. If we do win….. the only speedster left will have a huge game. That’s Drake, but probably only after Gase gasses them out.
We have Stills too . . .
True. Guess I forgot about him when learned he couldn’t pass to himself. 🙂
But he don’t have that juke in him. So maybe just not about speed, even if he can run any CB out of the play for sure.
It’s not that he threw for 300 + yards, last week Russell Wilson threw for 185 yards. Who cares how many yards? Both Wilson and Tannehill threw the ball downfield and scored TD’s, rather than those freaking bubble screens and 5-10 yard passes. That’s all I’m sayin’ guys, the yardage means crap, it’s the scores that count.
Low yardage though usually tell the tale of good field position or other components of the offense working well. It basically means we won without needing a big game out of the QB. The three TD was great, but that actually shows you that the running game and ST’s contributed a whole lot too. Im not dissing his performance, he didn’t lose the game, and with the type of QB he is, thats what you hope to expect from him. Im just saying Tanny wasnt “let loose” with those stats, its sound more like our offense just was effective making plays when we had to. Ill go back and check, but im pretty sure we never had a drive more than 70ish yards and we picked up a good percentage of our third downs.
How bout this throw to Parker?
Obviously, it’s the bottom video. F that guy for making fun of Gesicki. He’s awesome! At least I hope next year he will be. WTF!
Actually looking at those stats im not sure how we won, other than that muff punt turnover lol. We had only 15 total first downs, and we were 2-9 in third down conversions. Total yards of 175….jesus. Our TOP was pretty decent, but theirs was better.
TOP 33mins Them, 27mins Us…
Total Yards 415 Them, 175 Us… WTF
Yards per play 6.3 Them, 3.5 Us…..WTF
Total first downs: 24 Them 15 Us…..
Here is where we won.
Turnovers: 3 Them, 1 Us…….The muffed punt recovery was probably the real reason we won, as that yielded a TD for us, which is the margin of victory.
And 2 big TD throws, one to Parker, one to Stills that we freaking never do anymore. Those were huge plays. Even though the Drake TD throw was a short pass, it was a tough throw if I remember correctly.
Actually, the Drake TD was easy as pie, never mind. 😀
Actually Tannehill had to adjust the throw on the fly with a blitzing corner jumping up to bat it down or pick it off and that’s why he put more of and arc on it and Drake had to slow up and wait for it. Drake still had enough speed and room to punch it in.
Nice write Mike E !! Our offense does need a great game but our defense can’t play zone or they will get torched and limiting their run game is critical. Last year we played press and limited their offense. Attack .. Attack.. Attack.. Hit Brady early and often. He will pout and give up.
Thanks Doggy – Problem is, the way to beat Brady is pressure up the middle, something we never get. I think we need to stop the run game, they have all 3 backs again, Michel, White and Burkhead, and I would expect them to try and run them down our throats. Can’t let that happen
Then there’s this . . .
Pats killer he is. And heck — win this one and maybe we can make the playoffs. Hope never dies. 🙂
Hey man, we beat the Patriots when it matters and I’m in for the ride, tell you that!
Only way we beat the Pats is something don’t know….. is OD going to the game?
Sounds like no X-Man this week…
Sounds like a big hit, make that a huge hit to our defense. Damn
I am with you Mike E. Another good write, btw.
Have 3 good RBs. Use them. The banged up line should have an easier time run blocking. RT17 is at his best under center with play actions and boots. Lets get physical!
Thanks ER!
Agreed.
grumble grumble grumble! Howard grumble grumble grumble bad luck all the time grumble grumble grumble
Sanchez is the Redskins starting QB….. makes me laugh. Maybe cause it a perfect trifecta of hate for The Yets, Sanchez and Dan Snyder. 🙂
Man Dabo Swinney just looks like a ret….. a reta….. a slow dude.
http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/25442992/clemson-tigers-dabo-swinney-familiar-playoff-spot
Riiiiiight.
He’s won 10 games a year for the last 8 years straight.
made 4 straight final four playoffs
manages a multi-million dollar a year enterprise of hundreds of employees
I can’t see any evidence that he lacks intelligence.
You, however, invoke a crass and unscientific insult for an unfathomably cheap thrill.
Did it make you feel jolly to do that?
Do you also sniff glue?
stangerx says:
December 5, 2018 at 4:35 pm
Sanchez is the Redskins starting QB….. makes me laugh. Maybe cause it a perfect trifecta of hate for The Yets, Sanchez and Dan Snyder. 🙂
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Yup, Mark Sanchez is the QB that our own MIKE TANNENBAUM traded up for in 2009. And to be perfectly honest, Steve Ross truly has spent $$$, much like Dan “Deep Pockets” Snyder.
And just like the Redskins, we’ve sucked for many, many years.
I wouldn’t laugh too hard… especially being the ‘Skins beat us the last time they met us in the Super Bowl.
Mr. Stanger, I’m truly not trying to be a d!ck to you… I’m just sayin’, man! 🙂
Not even sure why you think that might offend….. great history and thought.
Nice write Mike! Good point about the Pats handling our WRs the first time. They played a lot of man and we couldn’t make them pay. I agree we need to pull out some special plays and show some different looks.
What’s up with Howard? That sucks if he can’t play.
Knee. I remember him missing a few plays….
Dirty Bubbles playing for the ‘Skins now. LOL
LMAO!!!
I had nearly forgotten that YOU coined Mark Sanchez as “Dirty Bubbles”!!! 😆
LUV IT!!! CHEERS!!!
I had forgotten that moniker I until I read your post, and it popped into my head. I don’t even remember what the context for that name was, but it was always one of my favorites. lol
YOUNG STANGER: For the last several years I have had Ryan sell my New England tickets to an over eager Patriots fan for crazy money. Again, as in the past few years, the Fins have NO SHOT at the Super Bowl. And Pats’ fans will pay huge sums to come down to Florida and see their boys get their butts beat. SOOO-O-O I take advantage of the situation.
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HOWEVER, if the Fins have a realistic shot at success in the playoffs, I will NOT sell my tix to any December home games. And, in case you wondered, the LAST TIME I DID FEEL CONFIDENT was in late December of 2000 when the Dolphins, led by QB Jay Fiedler, defeated Peyton Manning and the Colts in Miami in overtime!! What a game it was!!!
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IS ANYONE on this board taking an extra close look at this year’s crop of Quarterbacks who will be available in the April draft?? Ex-Gator and current Mountaineer Will Grier certainly has impressed me. He has the big arm for the deep passes that our wideouts seldom have tossed their way. I DON’T expect Grier to last past pick 5 or 6 in round one, so it’s obvious we’ll have to come up with a blockbuster trade to move well up the board. Anyway, I’d LOVE to hear what Mr. Spikes, Mike E., and some of our other board members have to say about acquiring a potential Top-10 quarterback for next year’s team. A Top 10 quarterback currently is NOT on Miami’s roster, so changes HAVE to come to the QB position, the O-Line, and the D-Line
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Of course, a change is also needed for the OWNER, GM AND HEAD COACH. But I don’t see that coming in 2019.- – – WHAT do you think?
OD — figure as good as your seats are that you could go to four games, sell the tickets to the rest and the ones you go to are for free. And yeah those Pats fans pay the big money.
Mike He’s the pass.
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/0ap3000000994485/Tannehill-floats-rainbow-TD-pass-to-Drake
Here’s the pass. LOL
GOTTA LOVE those throw back jersies and the large REAL DOLPHIN at midfield instead of the “Ross Minnow!”
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DOLPHINS are almost unbeatable at home with the “Throw backs!” Let’s make them the “REGULAR” jersies for next season!!!
olddolphan says:
December 5, 2018 at 7:59 pm
… Anyway, I’d LOVE to hear what Mr. Spikes, Mike E., and some of our other board members have to say about acquiring a potential Top-10 quarterback for next year’s team…
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I’m what they call “old school”, thus, I want to see what these top-tiered QBs can do in a Bowl game when the stakes REALLY matter.
As such, I’m not calling a favorite at this point in time, Mr. Campbell.
OD, I’ve wanted to go back to the original uni’s since last year. I love them. I’m done with the new look. I do have a nice generic jersey with the new logo that I like. But the throwbacks look classic and I prefer them.
They play tougher in them. Scientific fact!!
I feel the same way. Is it true, do we know the record in the throwbacks?
Somebody here should research that! Thanks! 🙂
Miami Dolphins: Xavien Howard has allowed three or fewer catches in 19 consecutive games. That is double any other cornerback’s current streak and one game away from tying Chris Harris Jr. for the longest streak in the PFF era (a cornerback needs 15 or more coverage snaps in each game during the streak to qualify).
at least we have something to beat a drum about
stangerx says:
December 5, 2018 at 4:35 pm
Sanchez is the Redskins starting QB…
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and they didn’t even consider Kapernick yet they signed Rubin Foster, while i dont agree with what Kapernick started I don’t think what he was doing pales in comparison to the charges against Foster.
I wouldn’t want to give Kapernick a stage for more of his political venue but if we could get past all that i would definitely take him over Mark Sanchez.
Well put.
i like the addition of Nick O’Leary, i think he’s the best TE on the team! great lead blocker.
Way better than Gheysucki
I still think that Gase isnt playing Gesicki to his strengths, he is still round peg square-holing him. O’Leary may be more of the TE type Gase is looking for, but if so then its kind of Gase’s fault for not drafting two that are like Smythe vs going big early on and taking a receiving TE with scouting marks that said he couldnt block for shit and then not using him as a receiver.
Quote from Tom Brady:
“It’s been a challenging environment,” Brady said. “I think the climate plays some role and they always seem to play well when they play us down there. We are not going to get beat by the weather; we’re going to get beat by the Dolphins.”
GOD DAMN RIGHT TOM! GLAD TO HEAR IT!
naplesfan2010 says:
December 5, 2018 at 6:45 pm
Riiiiiight.
He’s won 10 games a year for the last 8 years straight.
made 4 straight final four playoffs
manages a multi-million dollar a year enterprise of hundreds of employees
I can’t see any evidence that he lacks intelligence.
You, however, invoke a crass and unscientific insult for an unfathomably cheap thrill.
Did it make you feel jolly to do that?
Do you also sniff glue
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No he looks like he is. I didnt say he actually was, nor that he was intellectually stunted. He just has a really dumb look on his face all the time. He could have won every game of his entire career and its not going to help that silly look and those big turned out ears.
I was poking fun at the situation where i would normall use that word but i was refraining from it.
As for your questions:I have already said i count myself as a person who acts retarded, as do i count most people here in that same category. I dont think Jolly or getting a jolly has anything to do with it either. I did not require glue to be this way.
D says:
December 6, 2018 at 10:39 am
I still think that Gase isnt playing Gesicki to his strengths…. then not using him as a receiver.
I think it goes beyond that. Gesicki is soft. He does’t get separation on his routes and cannot get off his blocks.
Maybe, i havent waatched him runs his routes close enough to know for sure, but i know he sucks at blocking. Still im not gonna bang my head into a wall if i drafted a guy in the second round and wanted to get use out of him. Hell with our lack of depth at receiver, they could just line him up out there and run routes with him and keep O’Leary on the field.
ocalarob says:
December 6, 2018 at 7:43 am
stangerx says:
December 5, 2018 at 4:35 pm
Sanchez is the Redskins starting QB…
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and they didn’t even consider Kapernick yet they signed Rubin Foster, while i dont agree with what Kapernick started I don’t think what he was doing pales in comparison to the charges against Foster.
I wouldn’t want to give Kapernick a stage for more of his political venue but if we could get past all that i would definitely take him over Mark Sanchez.
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I dotn see that it matters much, if you are considering Kaepernick or Sanchez as the QB you finish the year out with, you are choosing between two QB’s that aren’t going to do anything for your team. Its like choosing what QB would you rather lose with, as was out situation earlier between Fales and Osweiler. I think it just comes down to what the coach prefers. Maybe Sanchez fit their system better so it wouldnt be as hard getting him up to speed. It could be they didnt want to deal with Kaepernick’s other shit.
mf13ss says:
December 5, 2018 at 9:30 pm
olddolphan says:
December 5, 2018 at 7:59 pm
… Anyway, I’d LOVE to hear what Mr. Spikes, Mike E., and some of our other board members have to say about acquiring a potential Top-10 quarterback for next year’s team…
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I’m what they call “old school”, thus, I want to see what these top-tiered QBs can do in a Bowl game when the stakes REALLY matter.
As such, I’m not calling a favorite at this point in time, Mr. Campbell.
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Non of them are really in a bowl game that matters though. They will be playing it safe, most likely. Its kinda like the Senior Bowl, the game itself isnt where you get your ideas about the player, its the practices. The gam, everyone is playing safe, and showcasing a little, but the interviews, the meetings with the team execs, all those are way more important than how they fair int he game. A lot of the top players are sitting out this year, so most of the bowl games are going to be second teir players against each other, i just dont think that its the same thing anymore.
To answer OD’s questions though, i absolutely think we should take a QBin the first round. I dont think it has to be the first QB off the board, but unless they just really aren’t sold on anyone in this class, id take the best one available when we pick. If we wind up having a shot at Drew Lock, or Daneil Jones, or even Dwayne Haskins (im going to listen to the rest of you and just try to let my OSU QB bias go), i think we should select one. Outside of those three i think Will Grier is an excellent choice and i wouldnt be upset if they doubles down at QB with a 1st and 3rd round selection, taking Grier with the second selection if he lass that long.I wouldnt mind them going
Just say no to throw away QB’s. Wait until the new HC get’s here before you spend a first round pick on a QB.
I dont see any of those guys as throw away QB’s. They are as good as Trubisky, Mahomes or Wentz coming out of college.
The one guy i listed above that i think could be a throw away is Haskins, but a lot of people here disagree with me.
No reason not to draft a QB next year. Even if Gase isn’t the future at HC, still need to draft a QB, or like D said, 2.
Gheysucki will be fine, give him some time to develop. This is O’Leary’s 4th NFL season. Guarantee you Gesicki will be considerably better in his 4th year
I have never understood the need to evaluate a rookie and claim he’s thus or that. Especially a guy like Gesicki who everyone knew was somewhat of a project coming out of college and would need to develop his game to become a more well rounded player. Can’t we wait 7 years and still claim he’s gonna get better? Lol
It’s not Mike Gesicki’s fault that he’s not being properly utilized: this is a dink-n-dunk Offense. His 8.7 YPR is evidence of as much. Know what that means? It means on average, he’s thrown to before he can even get past a mere 10-yard route.
He wasn’t brought in to be an in-line blocker (see Smythe)… he was brought in to stretch the seam. Both Gase and Tannehill don’t even know what the seam means.
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Remember, Kyler Murray isn’t going to the NFL… he’s going to the MLB (Major League Baseball).
My guess is he will enter the MLB draft and the NFL draft and go wherever he feels he can start a career and get paid te most money. Baseball will wind up being the best/easiest mony route, but it takes a while to get going, whereas the NFL would start him off making more. I dunno what the end result will be but i expect he will enter both drafts.
That entirely possible, D. We’ll see!
D – I think Gase wants to have a TE that can run the seam, that’s why he desperately went after Julius Thomas last year. I’m not sure where the disconnect is though. Apparently he and Tannehill haven’t developed a rhythm or a trust yet, but that will happen. O.J. Howard was more NFL ready and he struggled his first season, and Eric Ebron is finally looking the guy that was drafted a few years ago.
I just havent seen Gesicki running many of those routes. They seem to be using him primarily on short to middle crossing routes. They really arent stretching the field with him.
^
Also, to add to your comment about O’Leary, he also has been in the league and been on multiple teams during his short career, so its not like the success he has had has been evident every where he has been. IM glad he is finally finding his niche with us, but i dont think that just because he is out performing Gesicki currently that thats where we will be this time next year. I think Gesicki has a lot of potential, and thats coming from a guy who didnt really care a lot about him before the draft.
D says:
December 6, 2018 at 1:51 pm
My guess is he will enter the MLB draft and the NFL draft and go wherever he feels he can start
He is already an Oakland Athletic. (or they own his rights)
The A’s signed Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray to a $4.66 million signing bonus last summer by making the outfielder version of him the No. 9 overall pick in the MLB draft. Murray, now the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy, could be a first-round pick for his talents on the gridiron, to
Yeah i had heard about that but it doesnt prevent him from going into the NFL draft. He can still be drafted and play in the NFL instead.
I was just bustin on Mike E’s balls about Gesicki. Dallas Goedert is doing better through this point in their careers. 221 yards to 156 yards, 10.5 YPC to 8.7, 3 TD to 0 TD’s. PLUS the turn overs.
but neither has taken the league by storm so Gesicki still can become the better overall player with time to develop. (can, not necessarily will. If I could tell the future I would OWN the Dolphins with my 10 winning lottery awards.)
Goedert has Ertz in front of him, which may have actually helped him, because Ertz gets much more attention from the defense. Still love the name of my nephews FF team, MyBallZachErtz. lol
Neither did Hayden Hurst, which i liked him a lot better than the other two.
Clever Clever young Mikeyphew
I don’t think system or anyone else has anything to do with Gesicki having a meh rookie season. I think it’s all on him needing to develop his skills at the NFL level. I thought he’d make more on an impact than he has but I’m not surprised by the season he’s having. Everyone knew he had a lot to work on coming out of college. However I’d be shocked if he wasn’t much better next season.
We’ll see how our two rookie TE’s do next year and the year after. I am much more concerned with the lack of productivity from Charles Harris. 19 tackles 12 assists and 2 sacks in two seasons is back up back up production not first round pick production.
He’s another one who needed to add some weight and strength coming out of college. He showed some promise his rookie season and then this year he got hurt and missed 5 games that hampered his progress. I’m not ready to give up on him yet. I’ve seen other edge guys take a few years to develop – Brandon Graham, Everson Griffen, Melvin Ingram, even some guy named Cam Wake reinvented himself in the CFL to what he has become.
Mike E. says:
December 6, 2018 at 2:39 pm
Goedert has Ertz in front of him…..
Well Gesicki has whatever TE the can call in off the streets in front of him…..(MarQueis grey, AJ Derby, now Nick O’Leary)
Buzinga!
They all have more experience than Gesicki. Gray had a nice role with us but never made it out of camp this year. Derby was a project who showed promise but of course he went down during the season. O’Leary busted onto the scene with us but has since been quiet. Gray and Derby are UFAs next season and even though they won’t be difficult guys to re-sign, I’m not sure we will with Gesicki, Smythe and O’Leary all locked up for 2019.
I said Buzinga
Here is a crazy statistical anomaly for you.
The Green Bay Packers are 200/1 odds to win the superbowl
Miami is 500/1
HOWEVER the same list shows Miami has a 7.5% chance of making the playoffs and Green bay only has a 2.8% chance.
How does that work? we have a “much better” (2.5 x better) chance of making the playoffs but they have 2.5 x better chance of winning the SB? You gotta get to the dance to dance.
Is that the current odds, or what they were to start the season?
current odds
That doesn’t make sense.
D – Hurst was hurt for nearly half the season with a foot injury. He never really got on track, and the Ravens have a bunch of young TE’s, a few early rounders too. Hurst was 1st RD this year, Maxx Williams was 2nd RD in ’15, Mark Andrews 3rd RD this yea. Their starter is Nick Boyle, a 5th RD pick in ’15. Go figure!
If Kyler Murray doesn’t enter the draft could a team still draft him anyway just to secure rights to him?
Yeah, but I’d bet it would be a late RD pick, no team is gonna waste an early pick knowing he wants to play BB
The rookie cap might be what keeps him with the A’s, with no cap he could bank as an early first rounder
If he’s that good at baseball he should play baseball. Less of a chance suffering a brutal injury or having long-term affects from one and guaranteed contracts.
Yeah, if he could get a Sam Bradford type contract, you might be right
Rock, the difference in chance to win the Super Bowl vs chance to make the playoffs is that they feel if GB did make it they’d do better as a playoff team than us.
Rockphin says:
December 6, 2018 at 3:07 pm
Here is a crazy statistical anomaly for you.
The Green Bay Packers are 200/1 odds to win the superbowl
Miami is 500/1
HOWEVER the same list shows Miami has a 7.5% chance of making the playoffs and Green bay only has a 2.8% chance.
How does that work? we have a “much better” (2.5 x better) chance of making the playoffs but they have 2.5 x better chance of winning the SB? You gotta get to the dance to dance.
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What that says to me is that Green Bay, if they make the playoffs they are likely to go further in them, whereas we have a better chance of getting in and then flaming out in the first game.
Flamers . . .
I think we can all agree that neither the Packers or Dolphins will be playing in the Super Bowl. LOL
Ever?
He means as long as we have Tannehill
Son you are my favorite dick (after my own of course)
Ok I feel gross now
Alrighty then! LOL
LOL @ Son
This sucks. Feel bad for Alex Smith . . .
https://www.yahoo.com/sports/alex-smith-reportedly-dealing-infection-surgery-horrible-leg-injury-163351920.html
Yeah that sucks. I wish him all the best.
Son, the favorite dick comment was because every time I read one of your posts I think to myself “what a dick” but then I remember that I like you in person.
I can’t root for any team I follow to lose, but it wouldn’t break my heart if we lost every single game left to get a better draft slot. I won’t be hoping for it but we aren’t doing spit even if we get into the playoffs…so I just can’t get excited about it.
I can’t follow this game where the trophy is a better draft slot. I’d rather make the playoffs because you never know. 🙂
Tim,
I keep hoping for Santa to bring me a new Maserati for Christmas too because you never know! Lol
That’s true but even rooting your team on as underdogs can be fun.
Randy – I think even if we finished 6-10, we won’t be a top 10 pick, but I get your point that a #12 is better than 17-20
Not always.
When is not? Even if the talent is pretty even, you still want your choice
#12 is not always better than 17-20.
LOLing at Rock defending his favorite dick comment.
you don’t make the list of favorites!
😉
Somehow I feel better
Rockphin says:
December 6, 2018 at 3:41 pm
Son you are my favorite dick (after my own of course)
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You dont show him nearly the amount of attention though.
pfff not even a fraction of a fraction of a fraction.
MikeE,
Like I said, I can’t root for losing at anytime. But, if we want to go after a QB, the higher the better. It also gives you more options of trading back, getting higher picks and giving you capital to make a move in 2020, if that’s what they’re thinking. Truthfully, it’s more about my disappointment with how this team has performed this year than anything. My positivity has been crushed.
it also will make it more likely that they will fire Gase so there is that.
GGG
Tim,
Oh I’ll always cheer on the team. That’s a given. This team just doesn’t have the players to control or win the battle on either side of the LOS, so I have no hope. Making the playoffs is fool’s gold.
Upsetting a higher seed can be fun. You don’t know until they play the game. I don’t expect us to make the playoffs but would enjoy it if we did. You can always find good players in the draft regardless of where you pick.
New head coaches and higher draft picks. Reminds me of this.
Tim – The player you choose may not be better at #12 compared to #17, but it’s better to have the choice!
Sure, but I don’t root for it.
It depends, at some point I’m cool with the losses if we’re out of it, but I want to win while I watch it, if that makes any sense at all
The final results takes care of itself. So I always root for wins and the team decides what happens anyway. I would love to make the playoffs, play the role of underdog and upset a higher seed. 🙂
Randy, I feel your pain. Just like your Maserati, I am pretty sure I will not get the pile of cheerleaders I asked for.
None of you remembered to bring the baby oil? Damn it! Get out! All of you get out!
Mike E
I understand how you feel. I root and cheer and get angry and excited during the game. At this point tho, they lose and i’m over it in about 5 minutes compared to early in season when it takes the rest of the day kicking puppies and pinching babies to feel better.
Big difference when you just give into no playoffs. Better for the puppies and babies too. 🙂
Maybe the worst sign for Gesicki was when the coaches said, “his blocking is getting a lot better.” Seems if he was showing what we hoped that would be a throw in. Same time….. hoping he becomes what we all wished for. A good starter on that would be red zone snaps.
Go Jaguars! Knock the Titans down a notch and we beat them head to head. That said we have to then beat the Pats to make it matter.
BINGO!!!
We might as well enjoy the chance being the 7th seed looking to steal the 6th seed while it’s still alive. Both conferences are very much undecided with the exception of 7 teams I feel will be there.
AFC
NE, HOU, KC, LAC
NFC
CHI, NO, LAR
A lot can change over 4 games. PIT and BAL have an edge but not confident either team is a lock to close the deal. There is still a lot that can change with 5-7 to 7-5 teams. Gotta play the games! 🙂
You’ve got it, Bro. I refuse to lose until we’re officially out of it, though some of our own have already written us off/out.
And to be clear, I’m not trying to call anybody out… hey, if ya think we’re done for, so be it. It is what it is, and you’re likely right.
But I’m with Tim, where it’s not over ’til it’s over.
I think many fans look at us as worse than we really are because when you really take a look at the rest of the league, we’re not that far off with the exception of a few teams who show consistent dominance.
Not good that Howard is questionable/Doubtful.
When any of my sports teams are in a playoff hunt but I don’t think their championship bound, it’s fun to be the dark horse because great sports moments are made of underdogs doing something special. The 2011 NYG were not a great team at 9-7. But they got to the dance with a chance to dance as Rock said.
Enjoy it while it’s still possible. 🙂
AMEN!!!
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I didn’t think Henry would make it past Myles Jack! 99-yard rushing TD!!!!!!!!!!!
That was bad defense.
Only 11.3% behind the league leading Jest, not too shabby!
Kinda interesting that 5 of the top 10 have losing records.
Good call. The translation: if one doesn’t have a high-scoring Offense, good luck.
The NFL loves when fans of every single team thinks they have a shot. Nothing like telling fans their team is “still in it” when they are 2 games back from the last wildcard spot with 6 other teams and 4 games left. Lol
Mathematically speaking, it’s bound to happen… and that includes any and every thing. Can’t blame the NFL for simple math on this.
That’s how sports go. Play the games and see how it shapes up. Geez man… have some fun. LOL
Frickin Jags suck!
Think about being a Jags fan after last year. LOL
Tim,
I enjoy watching football no matter how good the team I follow is. What I think of the team doesn’t affect my enjoyment. I can be realistic and hopeful at the same time. Lol
That’s what I’m saying. Enjoy it while it lasts. 🙂
Beat the Pats! We are in it!!!! Enjoy the games while they last! Just. Have. Fun!
That’s what it’s all about. We’ll have plenty of time to discuss us not making the playoffs and what we need to do to make it in 2019. I believe competing and winning as much as you can is just as much a part of it as anything else. That’s part of the culture. Play until the end.
Exactly!!! All other teams that are 6-6 are in it, but we are not? Lol. Sometimes we spend too much time analyzing and not enough time just enjoying the season, and each game within it. We have a shot! Enjoy it! There are many months to worry about the off season. JMHO.
Ok, I’m done now.
Yes, it’s great to watch football, keep rooting till the last game then plenty of time too critique,
only 6 teams have won the superbowl from the wild card, most recent was 2010, so it can be done.
Maybe thats just how crafty Gase really is, all those putird displays of incompetence just to pull out the real playbook at just the right time and “SURPRISE” we win the superbowl!
crazy season, we need this win on sunday, that would put us 4-1 in the division and 6-4 conference.
It is crazy that we could wind up 5-1 in the division an still not make the playoffs.
Tim Knight says:
December 6, 2018 at 5:01 pm
The final results takes care of itself. So I always root for wins and the team decides what happens anyway. I would love to make the playoffs, play the role of underdog and upset a higher seed. 🙂
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Ive lowered my expectations WAY down, i just root for us not to play like… well you know.
I am going to root for us to be 10-6 at the end of the year and make the playoffs even though I am hoping for Gase to be fired. If he can somehow get this team of beat up backups to make the playoffs, well then he can stay! LOL
I don’t care about draft position in December. That is a discussion for next month.
Even if we lose this Sunday to NE, which would just about eliminate us from the playoffs I will still root to win the final three games. GO DOLPHINS!!
Wins make people feel better losses make them feel worse, so everyone, for simple fact of personal enjoyment should always root for wins. Alternately, you could also adjust your expectations down some and find a new happy/sad pivot point, which is what i have done.
If i can see us play a good game ill be happy with it, because we have had plenty this year that haven’t been good. The other team can just beat you, and there is no reason to me, at this point in our season, to deny myself some satisfaction if i know we played well enough to win, possibly on a different Sunday.
Its been working for me as far as how i have felt about the games. I think the losses aren’t hitting me as hard and the wins are even more enjoyable.
Least after last night, Jags at home sure does look winnable. Beat either the Pats or the Vikes and good chance we are still mathematically alive for the playoffs come last game.
defenses are forcing the most “3 and Outs” this season
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Kinda interesting that 5 of the top 10 have losing records.
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Good call. The translation: if one doesn’t have a high-scoring Offense, good luck.
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Four of our 6 wins are against teams in the top 5 of this stat. Maybe those teams are up in the top 5 cause they all got to play against our shitty offense. I mean, look at who is #1, Jets. Could that be because they got to play against our offense twice? Hmmmmmmm? LOL
We might have helped, but teams are 12 games in, even if Jets got us twice. And have to think when teams are running out the clock a bunch on you that helps with the 3 and out stats too.
Last two seasons in which the Patriots won the Super Bowl (2014, 2016), they lost during the regular season in Miami.
and you bring this up WHY!!??
LOL
Two options.
1 — we can beat them at home even when they are a Superbowl team, or
2 — maybe we should lose so they can’t get another ring.
I see our schedule as likely to end 8-8, we have two games that unless we are on int we are going to lose, and last games we have played we havent been on it, we have just been slightly better than bad. Winning one of the two games agaisnt wining team is our only hop to get in, but i still think it wont be enough.
The Chargers or the Chiefs are going to get one of the WC spots, while the other wins the division. Leaving one spot for us to get with two other teams already ahead of us in the record race.
The Ravens have two winnable but should be competative game and two that are likely losses. If they win the two they should and lose the other two, 9-7 and they have advantage over us with AFC wins.
The Steelers have a mixed bag. 2 games against teams who have worse records, and two against two powerhouse teams. So they look to be headed to 9-6-1.
The Titans have 3 winnable games left, so they likely go 10-6 , maybe 9-7. IF they are 9-7 we would get in by virtue of our head-to-head win, and i think if there are multiple ties we have the advantage of a multi-team tiebreaker as well.
The Colts have it rough to end the year, i dont see them finishing much better than 8-8, if not 7-9.
The Benglas look to be headed to 7-9, maybe 8-8 if they play well.
The Broncos actually have it better than most, their end of the year is against mostly losing record teams, including two of the NFL’s worst. i could see 9-7 for them as well.
To me it looks like we have to win out to be in, because 9-7 wouldn’t cut it. There is a chance that something odd happens and 9-7 might do it, but even then thats a tall order for us to beat either the Pats at home or the Vikes at their place.
Even if we win out the rest of the season we still need the Ravens to lose one game. We would be tied, but we would have a better conference record than them at that point. They are 6-3 in conference now with two more AFC games to go we are 5-4 with three conference games to go.
We’d need the Raven’s to lose one or the Steelers to lose 2.
Well and a lot more, look above.
I was wrong here. They need to lose one of the AFC games. There AFC record is better than ours and we cannot catch up if they win there two final AFC games even if we win our three final AFC games.
their
Balt is playing KC on Sunday….. on that alone am guessing they don’t win out. But not like think we will either.
D, I haven’t looked at the level three tie breakers, but if we DO lose one game it would have to be the Vikes game for us to have ANY chance of still making the playoffs. I still don’t think that is good enough. The Ravens can at best be 8-3 (.727) in the conference which is better than our possible 8-4. (.666)
I’m not sure why they play one less out of conference game than us this year?
Rock – every team plays 12 conference games
“A day that will live in infamy”
💪 Greatest generation
One of the best books ever read was The Good War: An Oral History of World War II by Studs Terkel. Might not have been the greatest generation to start, but the war made them that.
Mike E. says:
December 7, 2018 at 12:09 pm
Rock – every team plays 12 conference games
Reply
I was looking at NFL .com and they show the Ravens with a 6-3 conference record and games left against KC, Tampa and LAC
They don’t show the final game against Clev for some reason which had me thinking there were only two AFC games left on their schedule. (6+2 = 8 + 3 losses =11) I guess Clev doesn’t count! LOL
http://www.nfl.com/teams/profile?team=BAL
Look at the schedule mid way down the page on the right.
December 7th, 1941. ALWAYS REMEMBER
A date which will live in Infamy.
77 years ago
Rock, you had to click the “more” tab at the top right where they show the schedule
yeah, I figured that out after the confusion. I don’t know why they just don’t show the remaining schedule.
I read a funny meme today:
“Everything happens for a reason. Sometimes the reason is “because you are stupid and make bad decisions”
LOL
I knew i should have chosen a better team, Damn!
Howard ruled out against Pats
Brice Butler seems to be a good WR
He seems aiiight
7-6 has a nice ring to it
10-6 has a better ring
14-6 would be a super ring
Now you’re talking!
son of a son of a shula says:
December 7, 2018 at 12:54 pm
“A day that will live in infamy”
💪 Greatest generation
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Totally didnt register with me today was Pearl Harbor Day. That speech that FDR gave still gives me chills when i listen to it and i usually listen to it every Dec 7th.
You’re welcome!
And, “… a DATE that will forever live in infamy”.
With all due respect to my man Son.
And look at me… LOL. I just screwed it up, too.
“A DATE which will live in infamy”
https://twitter.com/LestWeForgetUK/status/1071187740983623680
Horrible what those men went through on this date 77 years ago. Japan made a very big mistake that day.
Indeed. And the sleeping giant suddenly put every socialistic regime on the face of Earth on notice.
Socialist Germany, socialist Russia, socialist China, and socialist ANYBODY was put on notice.
Well labeling them as simply economic socialist nations doesn’t do them justice. The Axis were lead by brutal dictatorships – Nazi Germany, Italy and Japan. Even though Stalin was also a brutal dictator, Russia/USSR eventually joined the Allies. Not out of the goodness of his heart, but out of the goodness of his nation’s survival. We probably don’t defeat the Axis without them. I believe Russia/USSR had more casualties than any other nation in WWII.
Amazing story, courageous and sad.
http://www.taraross.com/2018/12/tdih-wwii-georgehwbush/?fbclid=IwAR3FleQCH3fDrwTPx3kd-q5qvYf9-FerBpjYmmO8oyKwhudURo29Lk63I0g