It’s still one game in 17, and at 6-3 the Dolphins are far from being out of contention. However, one needs to accurately put in context exactly what we are in contention for. To win the division, sure, its definitely possible, likely even if the Bills lose tonight against the Bengals. Winning the division is nice, but we have tried to assemble a team with a very small window of opportunity to go all the way. As currently constituted, that won’t happen. At least I should say “shouldn’t happen”, because we haven’t defeated a good team with a winning record since September of ’22.
We got back Jalen Ramsey, Xavien Howard, Jaelan Phillips, Bradley Chubb and Andrew Van Ginkel are all healthy now and playing well, yet we still can’t close out a good team. The offense was more of an issue, and if I’m being honest, why was Raheem Mostert used so sparingly in this game until it was almost too late? Besides De’Von Achane, Mostert is our best RB, our most consistent guy. I know he’s a little banged up, but Ahmed and Wilson just don’t threaten the defense like Mostert does. He looked pretty darn fresh in the 4th quarter, I wish we didn’t save him until then because we squandered too many drives without him. Penalties have been a killer as well, and we escaped a penalty today that should have been called against AVG. It’s not that AVG was looking to hurt Mahomes, he actually turned away and hit him with his back, but the fact is, Mahomes was out of bounds when AVG ran into him and that’s a penalty.
I don’t want to hear the excuse that we had 2 OL out. Every team has subs somewhere, and the O-line was making plenty of room for Mostert in the 4th quarter. Tua had a subpar performance for him. Tyreek Hill dropped a big pass, but Tua with the game on the line let a pass slip out of hand and mishandled a snap, one which did not look egregiously off target. He said it himself, you can’t end a game for your team on a play like that. Another observation is we’ve had a few slow starts. Those of you that attended the Fest game know we were behind 14-0 after the 1st quarter. We scored 3 points against the Eagles in the 1st quarter. We scored 7 against the Patriots, and were shutout the entire first half against the Chiefs. If we’re going to defer, we need to do a better job in the first half because the really good teams put their foot on your neck and don’t let you back in the game.
What can I say, the narrative that we can’t beat the good teams will continue to exist as long as it’s true and accurate, and right now it’s 100% accurate. We look like a different team against the better teams, we’re tight, and we get shut down on offense, and sometimes it’s the defense that looks disinterested. Today, the defense did its best, but the offense was the weak unit that didn’t hold up their end of the bargain. It’s great to be the #1 ranked offense in the NFL, but it sucks when you can’t back it up against better competition. Who cares if we can score 70 against the Broncos when we can only score 14 against the Chiefs?
We have the BYE week next week. Last week we lost OG Isaiah Wynn for the rest of the season, and it’s likely the same fate waits for OG Robert Jones, who ironically just filled in for Isaiah Wynn after coming off this week. Hopefully, after 2 weeks of rest, RG Robert Hunt will be back, and be healthy for the rest of the season. Lester Cotton, who played RG today will probably slide to LG as long as Hunt as healthy. RB De’Von Achane should make his return in Week 11 at home against the Las Vegas Raiders. He will undoubtedly give the offense a huge boost, and when we split carries between the two backs, Mostert and Achane both really thrive. It doesn’t leave that vacuum every time Mostert comes off the field.
Listen, it sucks, if you have friends that are NFL fans like I do, you know they’re getting a hearty laugh at our team, and rightfully so. We have yet to look anything like a team to fear when the opponent has been top level. 48-20 loss to the Bills, 31-17 loss to the Eagles and now a 21-14 loss to the Chiefs. Just remember, the #1 scoring offense in the NFL at a whopping 33.9PPG, practically 34 points per game has scored 17PPG against winning teams. Forget the defense which on occasion has not played well, but the high flying offense seems to wither when challenged, and our young HC Mike McDaniel needs to find a way to stop that from occurring. That won’t be an easy fix, but it has to happen if we’re going to ascend to a playoff winning team. I think our defense is going to be good going forward, but the offense has to be as effective against the good teams as they are against the weaker ones. I needed to vent this, spew it out of my system, it’s cathartic.
GO DOLPHINS!!!
Finsmob Unleashed 
Conrow? I think he meant cornrow.
Thank you !
The whole presser
I would like to express do you all the know it all’s who lambasted me for not wanting Deshaun Watson ever ever ever be on the Miami Dolphins and believing that Tua would be the better quarterback sooner than later that I was right. And you were still wrong. 😁😂
Not me.
Brady either …
I was guilty of being on the fence about Tua before the draft because of his size and serious injury.
But more and more I am really happy with him being my QB.
Oh, I am an on record for wanting Herbert over Tua early on, but I NEVER thought Deshaun was what he was hyped to be, even the two years where he had great stats with Hou
This team is looking good coming out of the bye. Everyday there is another good report on players.🙂
^^^
I am just boggled. This guy got paid 10M to sit they year before last by Hou, then got paid 46M last year to play 6 games and another 46M to play 6 games this year. I am dubbing him “the Milkman”
183 yards per game (2200 over two years)
6.5 yard average
14 TD’s
9 Ints
Oh wait he was getting paid before hand to do those are his stats for 3 years.
I probably not the first to say it, but with the media dogging on Josh Allen the turnover machine, I just want to point out……
MADDEN CURSE
I hope no dolphins are on MADDEN 25 cover
Didn’t take long. He didn’t clear waivers and got snatched up by the first team that had dibs.
Arizona Cardinals
SIGNINGS
RB Michael Carter claimed off waivers from the Jets.
Las Vegas Raiders
2023 · 5-5-0
INJURIES
T Kolton Miller (shoulder) did not participate in Wednesday’s practice.
DE Maxx Crosby (knee) limited
CB Nate Hobbs (ankle) limited
CB Marcus Peters (knee) limited
S Roderic Teamer (hamstring) has been designated for return from injured reserve.
Hoping Crisby is gimpy.
Miami Dolphins
2023 · 6-3-0
INJURIES
RB De’Von Achane (knee) was a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice.
RB Alec Ingold (foot) DNP
RB Raheem Mostert (ankle/knee) limited
WR Braxton Berrios (hamstring) DNP
WR Chase Claypool (knee) DNP
WR Jaylen Waddle (knee) full
T Terron Armstead (knee) limited
OLB Jaelan Phillips (back/toe) full
S Jevon Holland (back) full
That’s a ton of talent that’s banged up for us.
It’s football season.
We were supposed to be the healthiest we’ve been all year. To be fair, I’m sure most of the important players on that list will be playing Sunday
Yeah it’s only Wednesday. MM is also careful with injuries.
It’s the time of year when guys get treatment for all kinds of ailments. Yeah, my ankle was sore and I got ice tub time, that’s on the report, ankle.
Is Brooks ever coming back this season?
I’d like to have him for the last 2 games and PO.
I thought he was done for the season, but could be wrong.
I don’t believe he is
They only have two remaining spots to bring someone back from IR, and need to save them in case someone with a bigger role needs it. We are set at RB with Achane coming back, so it would be wise to leave Brooks on there for the rest of the season.
Tim – We both have Achane in FF. You think he’s playing Sunday?
I have Mostert. Achane is a gut call.
I have Mostert also. He’s a must start if he’s playing. Achane is the risk this week, but if he’s playing, I’m putting him in too
Dolphins now 13.5 point favorites
I wonder if it moved because Miller and Parham both didn’t practice yesterday and are doubtful for the game.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/are-miami-dolphins-in-on-free-agent-dt-akiem-hicks/ar-AA1k2sP0?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=b598e52247cb42d2a52ca8da8272df1f&ei=7
Last few games I have been thinking this exact thought that Wilkins and Seiler are playing way to many snaps.
We need DT depth.
Totally agreed, and Akiem Hicks (former man-crush of mine) makes sense with his connection to Fangio.
Didn’t know we did some workouts this week.
https://www.si.com/nfl/dolphins/news/miami-dolphins-looking-at-veteran-offensive-linemen
I knew we brought three Guards in for workouts yesterday, but didn’t realize one of them was Andrew Norwell. He finished last year as the #24 overall Guard according to PFF.
Seems his right elbow is at issue, at least when Washington released him back in May/June of this year.
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/37761832/sources-commanders-plan-release-guard-andrew-norwell
BBMike,
By the way, thank you for the above to articles ya linked to!
According to Spotrac, we’re roughly $5.2M under the cap at the moment. If deemed to do so, we can probably fit both Akiem Hicks and Andrew Norwell under the cap. But should anything else happen… YIKES.
I would say this: IF we are to sign either player, the sooner the better… in order to get them acclimated to our schemes for a deep run in the playoffs.
Yeah, Hicks already knows our scheme (Fangio), but still, the sooner the better in order to gel with his teammates.
AND to keep the reps down for both Wilkins and Sieler.
Anyone else get defense mechanism vibes from this Bills post…
Kinda gay. Not that there’s anything wrong with that
NOT FUCKING SPAM FOR FUCKS SAKE
We waived Robbie Chosen today
Not sure if that is an indication that we activate Achane but I hope it is
Agreed
With the emergence of Ced and the toughness of Claypool,
we don’t need Robbie. Plus Cracraft needs some snaps.
Pig
Methinks the Bills fan doth protest too much.
Probably too many concussions from crushing cheap tables.
I want to smash a table over each one of their heads so bad
But I don’t have to
They volunteer themselves to head trauma
I see we cut Chosen.
mf13ss says:
November 16, 2023 at 4:11 pm
According to Spotrac, we’re roughly $5.2M under the cap at the moment. If deemed to do so, we can probably fit both Akiem Hicks and Andrew Norwell under the cap.
———————-
Plus, their contracts won’t be so much for less than half a season.
mf13ss says:
November 16, 2023 at 3:13 pm
BBMike,
By the way, thank you for the above to articles ya linked to!
————
That’s what we all here for. Thank you and everyone else!
naplesfan2010 says:
November 16, 2023 at 5:04 pm
Agreed
With the emergence of Ced and the toughness of Claypool,
we don’t need Robbie. Plus Cracraft needs some snaps.
————-
Liked Chosen being on the team but way too often seen him on the field watching plays happen in front of him instead of getting involved.
What I mean is trying but not too hard. Not being physical enough when the ball is in someone else’s hands.
Would be nice if he had his speed but played with a Hines Ward mentality.
I didn’t see him actively blocking for the other WR”s or RB’S.
Hill, Waddle, Craycraft, EZ all block their asses off for the other guys.
Yep, I think we have upgraded
The jests completely wasted him
but the Dolphins absolutely positively MUST have him. They will kick themselves. They have “nobody” meanwhile we lead the league
Who do we want tonight?
I’d prefer a tie, but I think we want the Bengals to win tonight.
Regardless of the outcome, both teams are threats to us.
I hate ties. It is one less loss for both teams
Hmmm… interesting take, and noted!
Well it looks like a good night for injuries
We have the opportunity to take out the Ravens ourselves, but I’m still rooting against them tonight. We’re already ahead of the Bengals right now. I’d rather finish the night ahead of the Ravens too.
Plus, all things being equal, eff the Ravens.
^
Injuries
Wow, Burrow hurt
We want Cincy tonight
With a win Sunday we’ll be tied in the win column with one less loss than the Ravens
Yeah, this game is already being rigged by the zebras.
Double digit lead. Bengals have the Ravens right where they want them
Jaelan Phillips opened up about second-guessing his ability but he proved himself & others wrong. This is the full quote:
“I mean, health was obviously a big part of it, but I think that confidence plays a lot too,” Phillips explained. “It was really tough for me, I’m not going to lie, pretty much that month where I missed three and a half games essentially and was dealing with all those injuries. It’s pretty crazy what it can do to you psychologically when it comes to confidence, when it comes to preparedness, just everything.
‘I just felt like I was a shell of myself. Even when I was getting back onto the field, I was second-guessing everything. So starting with the Panthers game, it felt good to get back out there. Eagles game, especially getting the sack on Lane (Johnson), things like that boost your confidence a little bit. Then the last two games, I feel like I’m pretty much clicking on all cylinders. Obviously, there’s little technique things to clean up and things like that, but I just think in terms of my effort, in terms of my confidence when I’m rushing the passer, it’s getting to where I want it to be.’
Well there’s a kid I used to beat the shit out of (not necessarily him but) in high school starting for the Raidahs on Sunday start there with your confidence.
The key to our 2nd half run is our defense. Our offense will probably score enough points most of the time.
Boy Joe Burrow is amazing.🤣
Bengals will only be contenders if Burrow stays health….oh wait…
Burrow gets injured a lot. He should retire.
Holy smokes, Andrews likely out for the season with an ankle injury. That is a big loss for the Ravens.
I figured he escaped a season ending injury when they reported it was ankle not knee.
Good night for injuries
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/dolphins-could-be-forced-to-play-without-third-most-targeted-receiver/ar-AA1k2Xxk?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=d386ad2c0f324e2689d797428bfc4287&ei=8
“With Hunt and Robert Jones (knee) missing practice for a second consecutive day, Lester Cotton and Liam Eichenberg appear in line to be the starting guards against the Raiders. The only other options are Chasen Hines, who is on the practice squad, and offensive tackles Kendall Lamm and Kion Smith.”
——————
Wow, hope we get no injuries along the OL this game.
😬
NEW BLOG UP!!!!