The halfway point of the season, the Miami Dolphins 3-3 host the 5-2 LA Rams. It’s going to be very different for the 3-3 Dolphins because their veteran fun loving QB is no longer at the helm as he is replaced by rookie Tua Tagovailoa. There aren’t many parallels to find in the history of the NFL but I do recall Eli Manning replacing Kurt Warner in NY for the Giants in 2004. The NY Giants were 5-4 and after replacing Kurt Warner who had thrown for 2054 yards with 6 TD’s and 4 INT’s ended up finishing the season 1-6 with Eli Manning at QB. Ryan Fitzpatrick after 6 games has 1535 yards with 10 TD’s and 7 INT’s. There are similarities, but to me the biggest disparity is that the Dolphins at 3-3 are only a game and half behind the Bills (5-2) while in 2004, the Giants at 5-4 were pretty far behind the division leading Philadelphia Eagles who were 8-1 and comfortably in first place as they cruised to a 13-3 record. After watching the play of the Bills against the NY Jets last week, those Bills are fortunate to have won that game.
So even though it’s technically game #8 for us and not the start of the second half of the season, this season will be forever divided from this point on. Did the Dolphins make the right move inserting their rookie QB with a chance to win the division? We’ll find out, and this Sunday’s matchup against the LA Rams will give us an idea. The Rams boast a +52 point differential after 7 games, the Dolphins +47. The Dolphins are 12th in the league in scoring (26.7PPG) while the Rams are 18th (25.1PPG). Defensively, the Rams are 2rd in the NFL allowing 17.7PPG and the Dolphins are right behind them at 3rd allowing 18.8PPG. The teams are pretty even but definitely take a different approach getting there. On offense the Rams truly have had a RB by committee approach with Darrell Henderson leading the team with 87 carries for 411 yards followed closely by Malcolm Brown with 65 carries for 274 yards. Cam Akers was drafted early (RD 2 pick #52) by the Rams but minor injuries have stifled his season. In contrast, the Dolphins have relied almost singularly on RB Myles Gaskin with 82 carries and 340 yards and then Matt Brieda has had a few carries sprinkled in some games for 33 carries and 115 yards. The disparity is even wider in the passing game where Gaskin has 27 receptions to Breida’s 7. For the Rams, they seldom throw to the backs, Goff loves the WR combo of Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp who have 30 and 37 receptions respectively. The Rams offense relies much more heavily on its run game than do the Dolphins, the Dolphins have about half the rushing yards.
On defense I think we match up well against the Rams passing game. The pass rush which has come alive can make things difficult for Goff. The Dolphins secondary, now at full strength with Byron Jones healthy opposite Xavien Howard. Nik Needham has been handling the slot and safeties Bobby McCain and Eric Rowe, along with Brandon Jones, Kavon Frazier and Noah Igbinoghene will probably once again leave the Rams to focus on the run game. At the time of this writing, I don’t believe the Dolphins have made a roster move to replace Davon Godchaux at DT. Raekwon Davis will start there but until they bring someone for the PS or acquire a DT DE’s Zach Sieler and Jason Strowbridge will likely fill in. This is important, because I think the Rams are going to try and control the game with their run game so our depth and strength on the front 7 will be imperative to success at stopping the run. The Dolphins are midpack allowing 745 yards rushing (124 YPG)) while the Rams are #12 with 702 yards allowed (100 YPG).
On offense, all I can do is guess as to how we attack the Rams. LOgic would dictate that we’re not going to be doing a lot of prototypical NFL dropbacks with Tua, that we will have him moving around to keep him away from Aaron Donald who as 8 sacks in 7 games, along with 15 QB hits. The good news is that no one else on this Rams defense is close to that, so the task will be neutralize Donald and take your chances with everyone else. My hope is that we get TE Mike Gesicki more involved in the offense. Only twice has Gesicki been targeted more than 5 times and in 2 games he’s had only 1 reception. I want that to change. He’s a big time weapon and should be better utilized. The Rams won’t be easy to run against but they have very little to go on with Tua except 3 plays in the Jets and his college film, so Tua is the “X” factor. In some ways I’d be surprised if they lean heavily on Tua in this game but sometimes great players make it so, and if that happens, I’m willing to let Tua be Tua.
GO DOLPHINS!!!
Finsmob Unleashed 
Newton looks horrible
First half is over and I have no clue about Tua. Sorta liking the D though.
He was playing too fast early, then settled down, buy yeah I agree.
Definitely looked better 2nd Q. But thankfully was a small sample size.
Did you guys catch the thermometers? Was like 85 on the home side in the shade and 120-something on the visitors side. They’ll have shade by now….. but man does that tire you out. Going into A/C at half and back makes it almost worse.
I hope they have the locker room at like 60 degrees. Those guys are soaked to the bone wet with sweat, even the ones who sat all half. LOL Cool em off and watch them cramp in the 4th!
So you get exactly what I mean. You’d think a getting cool break from the heat helps…. but nope. Fluids is the answer.
The rams have 52 plays and the Dolphins have 54 yards. LOL
There was a point in the game where we didn’t have the ball on offense what seemed like forever. Didn’t need to. LOL
Rockphin says:
November 1, 2020 at 1:51 pm (Edit)
I just thought I would mention, I am doing laundry
Reply
Same! It really is the best time to do it.
🐬 🧺 🍸
That was one of the most satisfying defensive halves in a long time. The run defense still very suspect but that pass rush is alive!
Yep. We were getting penetration on those runs, we just weren’t making that first tackle.
Bengals with 10 pt lead on Tenn is quite the surprise.
still some game left! let;s go fins!
A LOT of game left.
Since the QB change was announced the team didn’t take the bye week off, they worked their asses off. The effort we’re getting today is, because of Tua starting his first game. I doubt we would be seeing this with Fitz.
No doubt, different energy and basically a different sense of responsibility.
https://www.google.com/search?q=nfl+scores&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS918US918&oq=nfl&aqs=chrome.2.69i59j69i57j0i131i433j69i59j0i131i433l4.3885j0j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
Vikings and Bengals are surprises so far.
Need some of those 1 win teams to keep winning and Houston Texans to keep losing. 😉
Offense us suspect under Tua
OMG!!! Was that a car commercial!? Is that allowed now?
Game FLO
NE 1st & 10 at Buff 27, 14-6 buff
Who would’ve thunk?
I’m rooting for the Jets and Pats right now.
that’s a lame play
what a TERRIBLE call … come on. We need a long drive.
I don’t like that call!
Rather have a QB sneak!
Or just a straight run!
Stupid play call on 3rd and 1
Weird play call
you hand it to the fullback in an up position, you get that 1st down every time
I didn’t like that 3rd down play call
Ugh.. this playcalling
If Fitz were in we would be winning by more now. But let the kid get his experience while the rest of the team carries him.
maybe they want to play D, we have a high scoring D
Fitz wore a hawaiian shirt to the game today in honor of Tua.
The defensive and special teams play has kept this poor playing hidden.
NE just tied Buff 14-14
I am loving watching this D
4th and 13 baby
wow, Fins D needed that 3 and out. whew. Now let’s put together a DRIVE.
I think that Loews commercial is funny. “Will painting your walls in your favorite team’s colors help them to win? …… Of course it will! Why would you even ask that? LOL
Throw it to ford.
Now THAT is a good play call with the roll out to the left.
Perry sighting!
Woot woot
Welcome to the league Perry
Perry with a catch
TD Bills 21-14
Enough with the gadget plays
nice punt
What the hell
Take that!
My punter is better than yours!!!!!!
Some real questionable play calling so far
Play calling getting a little too cute
I think just based on volume of good plays, Haak is MVP today
Another stupid play call
Haack seems to get the ball to ‘bite’ and not bounce into endzone on more occasions than not.
Right now we should be lining up to run and mix in some play action not this gadget play offense
I endorse this message
NE on buff 28
TD NE
Pats tie it up
21-21 BUFF NE
24-7 bengals. Could knock 10 of 60 out of survivor. , bikes can knock another 10 out. I have Philly
9 MINS LEFT
Run run run
That was scary
damn. Grant wide open. couldn’t get it to him.
Even though Tua didn’t complete those last 2 passes I like that he got the ball out quickly
It would appear Tua does not have the game fitz does
buff 24-21 4mins left NE ball
We Badly need to burn some clock on offense
Dolphins score here VanGINKLE IS HOLDING HIS FUCKING EAR ON!
Rowe????????????????????????
rutt rowe!
Good stop!!!!
4th and 10
it would appear flores has the secret against this rams offense
I live this announcer
It feels like 2019
I don’t recognize one of the DBs….
i think flo would rather his D be on the field
Not happy with the play calling.
Why did the Rams go for it on 4th and ten towards the end of the 4th Q? Yeah they were down 18 …. but they’d been running the ball the whole quarter.
Hey Williams caught a ball
Hawk!!!
ne to buff 29 1 min left
2nd & 10 at BUF 19
NE fumbled! game over
Had a chance to at least get it to OT smh.
Scary part of the game
We need to generate some offense, 100 yards on O is pitiful
Our defense has been heroic, especially in this kind of heat. They look flat.
Offense is going to HAVE to contribute to get out of this thing.
Tempted to put fitz in to burn clock but you can’t do that to Tua.
11 points is nothing when offense is 3 and out, and defense all need electrolyte i.v.s
Tua will have to step up now
Can choked
how did you get the can down your throat?
Cam used the kryptonite football on their last play.
2nd and Tua.. DRINK
we need this 1st down!
yeah baby!
keep that clock rolling!
Haak is Tua’s best friend
Dropped balls!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gaskin should’ve fallen forward with the ball instead of trying to lean to get more.
lets go Ravens
Receivers really dropping a lot today
I just can’t root for patsies . I just can’t root for cam Newton. I just can’t root for bellicheat.
Dolphins cramping up.
dudes are exhausted!
Burn clock burn clock burn clock
GAME!
missed it!!!!!!!!!!!