The Miami Dolphins finally got in the win column. The record now stands at 1-3, while of course the Buffalo Bills are undefeated at 4-0. The win itself was unimpressive, it felt like the Jets were not only playing against our Dolphins on the field, but the officiating crew as well. The Jets were hit with 13 penalties for 101 yards while the Dolphins only 6 penalties for 40 yards. I’m not going to name all the penalties that could/should have been called on our team but the two egregious misses in my view were the tackle of QB Justin Fields out of bounds, he was so clearly already out of bounds and was tackled at least 3-5 yards beyond being out of bounds. That should have been a 15 yard personal foul. The other one was Jets 2nd TE Jeremy Ruckert caught a pass and was tackled, and then a good second to a second and a half later, a Dolphins defender decided to dive on his back way too late. Despite the fact that the game was in the evening, it was actually still 86 degrees and plenty hot, but of course the blazing sun was not a factor.
It’s one game, but I can admit at least as far as his initial game performance, that TE Darren Waller, who I mocked GM Chris Grier relentlessly for played very well and made his presence felt. Obviously, he has to do a whole lot more, because one huge factor in my criticism is that I don’t think Waller is going to be here long, but if he keeps being making big plays and helping the team, I may just end up being very wrong about that move. In any case, as any Dolphins fan knows, we lost WR Tyreek Hill to a devastating knee injury, a dislocation, which included torn ligaments as well, most notably his ACL. I’m not sure if we’ll ever see Tyreek Hill in a Miami Dolphins uniform again, but I do think the people that made fun of Tyreek’s smiling and clapping were out of line, I think he was thanking the fans applause and that’s all it was.
Jaylen Waddle time. It’s not that Jaylen Waddle has to be Tyreek Hill, he just has to be Jaylen Waddle before Tyreek was even here. Or, even Jaylen Waddle of 2022 when Tyreek first came to the Dolphins. He had back to back 1000 yard receiving seasons with 14 total TD’s over those 2 years. In 2021 he was almost like a possession receiver, but in 2022, he became a big play receiver with an outstanding 18.1 YPR with 1356 yards receiving and 8 TD’s. Let’s face it, the offense runs through RB De’Von Achane, but Waddle has to be involved. He may not be an elite #1 WR like Jamar Chase or Justin Jefferson or Puka Nacua, but he doesn’t have to be any of that. I prefer a more balanced attack anyway, so keep letting Achane do his thing, if Waller can keep contributing that would be great, and WR Malik Washington has also proven he’s a very shifty runner with the football and runs good routes and understands his assignments. I’d like to see them ramp up RB Ollie Gordon’s carries too, but it sure is hard to not want to feed Achane, he’s so good.
So what’s up with the rookies? Well, so far not a whole lot of good to report. Our two first picks, DT Kenneth Grant who we took at RD 1 #13 and LG Jonah Savaiinaea have not played well. Grant was supposed to a stout interior defender who really plays the run well, and he’s been nearly invisible. Savaiinaea who required another Grier trade up hasn’t looked the part at LG at all yet. The other draft piocks haven’t fared much better, DT’s Jordan Phillips and Zeek Biggers have been playing but not showing up quite yet, and even RB Ollie Gordon has only 18 carries as so far though 5 games, not even 5 per game. Who knows what’s going on with last year’s Grier’s trade up, RB Jaylen Wright who has yet to play this season.
You want some good news? Grier’s late piickups, CB’s Rasul Douglas and CB Jack Jones have been playing pretty well. Not outstanding, but both played extremely well against the Jets. Jack Jones had what could easily be the biggest play of the game punching out the football from Jets RB Braelon Allen near the goal line. That forced fumble totally changed the game as the Jets were about to score, it was a 14 point swing, as the Dolphins drove one of their best drives in the last few years, a masterful 15 play masterclass, that took up 8 minutes and 40 seconds culminating in TE Darren Wallers first TD reception as a Miami Dolphin. It was really something, and that basically took the heart out of the Jets. If that didn’t do it, the officials helped there as well by not giving the Jets any chance.
We play this game in Carolina, and the Panthers are not so unlike our Dolphins. Both teams are 1-3, and both are either in the 20’s or near the 20’s on offense and defense, the Dolphins slightly better on offense (#22) with the Panthers at (#26), and the Panthers a little better on defense at (#19) while our Dolphins are at (#26). The Panthers have only played one home game in their first 4 games and in that game the Panthers obliterated a very talented Atlanta Falcons offense, shutting them out 30-0. Last week they got shellacked by the New England Patriots 42-13, so who knows which team we will face. Besides the drubbing at the hands of the Patriots, despite not playing especially well, we have been in every other game, winning last week, and of course failing to come up big against the Bills with the game still available for the taking.
We will see how Mike McDaniel adjusts to the Hill-less offense. There’s no reason why this offense can’t be a good one, and as we know, this offense will only go as far as QB Tua Tagovailoa will take it. Everyone else will have to step up, we ned that O-line to get healthy. I’m not sure when RG James Daniels will be back, or RT Austin Jackson, and even more importantly, will they play well and be able to finish the season? Tremendous question marks on both, and once again, the poor depth of our O-line rears it’s ugly head as RT Larry Borom invokes memories turnstile RT Marc Colombo, not a good thing. HC Mike McDaniel has Tua staying away from the weak right side and has been exclusively rolling to his left where 2nd year LT Patrick Paul and rookie Jonah Savaiinaea reside. So far it has worked, but as teams study film, and tendencies will be exploited, so they’re going to have to mix that up some. One notable thing in the Jets game was the surprising amount of reps QB Tua Tagovailoa spent under center, and not in the shotgun formation. He seemed more comfortable that way, and more efficient. We’ll see if that continues against the Panthers.
The Panthers feature QB Bryce Williams, along with rookie WR Tet McMillan and slot WR Hunter Renfrow who along with RB Chuba Hubbard, have the most targets with rookie Tet McMillan #1. RB Rico Dowdle backs up Hubbard and is second in carries, but Hubbard is the workhorse. QB Bryce Young hasn’t seemed to have found his stride yet, and has been uneven so far this season. It would be nice to our front 7 come alive. OLB Chop Robinson hasn’t been playing much, and vet OLB Jaelan Phillips has, but hasn’t been much with all the playing time. Phillips has been in coverage with mixed results but seems a few steps slow with the pass rush game. The team has 8 sacks after 4 games, not hideous, but we all thought this potentially could be a strength, maybe it still will.
GO DOLPHINS!!!
Finsmob Unleashed 
Achane going to cost some money to resign
PT
Holy shit is Jonah Savaiinaea looking like shit in this game so far! He had TWO olay’s on one play and has been the guy who failed at the point (his guy made the tackle) on every run play.
I’m to the point where every time I see either Achane or Waddle get tackled, I cringe that they may be hurt. We already saw Waddle come off the field once earlier.
Hope they can stay healthy for all 17 games!!!
The defender tried to punch the ball out and got him in the gut; he just lost his wind.
But that doesn’t take away from your point. I cringe every time they touch the ball too. We know it’s just a matter of time.
I swear if feels every catch Waddle goes out for some time.
the Carolina defense has to be real tired. We should just run run run
If Baby Johnah wasn’t playing patty cake maybe we could.
YAY! MFF!
LMAO , all Mike Es favourites showing up today 😎
Like last week, another game of “Who’s worse than Jamie?”. Looks like the Panthers are worse
Finally an INT
MINKAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rock, re: Jonah. It makes me long for the return of Eichenberg. SMH
LOL, I shit you not, I almost said the same thing. He’s been that bad.
well they both cost us a second and a third, four picks for one position…
Go Grier!
No, really, I mean it…Grier GO!
Tua is pinpoint accurate today.
THat was Patrick Paul’s fault not Hill’s
Waller is killing it
Don’t tell Mike E, but i picked him up on my fantasy team this week. 😂
Daaayum
WALLER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
well there’s my answer to wtf is the story with Waller…
😳😳
lol
Man, were we ever WRONG about Darren Waller!!!
we who? You and Mike
Don’t tell ER, but I did too! My mama didn’t raise no dummy!
🤡
This should open up the run, don’t stop calling run plays
ABSOLUTELY!!! ^^^
That run was btwn Grant and Phillips. Tighten up rookies
Announcer saying how bad the Panthers are and the next play Rico Dowdle runs for 14 yards on 1st and 15
They went down to 2 DT’s and 2 edge on that 1st and 15. I don’t like that
Bryce Young < Jamie
I think he heard ya
Shit, get him dammit! lol
Wow what a catch
Toba , Dolphins D < Jamie
WHAT a pass and catch! Jack Jones didn’t have a chance!
LOL Mike E!
The bend and break defense
BBM,
Who is this Xavier Leggette guy? 😉
He’s got INCREDIBLE talent.
lol
Ravens getting beat up at home vs the Texans without Lamar.
Hate it as it affects our 3rd round pick we got from the Texans.
They’ve done a good job shutting down our run game. Hopefully MM doesn’t abandon it completely.
Easy to shut it down when you barely get blocked
Our guards are still so bad. LG gave up that last early pressure.
# 55 < Jamie
Does Brewer get credit for a half sack on that play?
I think should get two half sacks as he missed his guy twice
This defense is so pathetic. When the TOs stop, we still can’t stop anyone.
Our O-Line still sucks.
Why do I fear another quick score and then they get the ball beginning of second half
And our D-Line still sucks as well.
When you don’t run screen’s so often, they work better
BBM – If Grier is still here he will trade that 3rd RD pick, you can bet on it
The bend and break defense again
Is Robinson playing for Carolina at nose? He’s a big boy, I was concerned about the matchup with Brewer. How’s that going?
haven’t paid attention to who’s blocking who. It’s just easy to see who loses
Cav Kong,
Poor Chris Webber, man! He’ll never live it down!
I have the sound down. Did the announcers reference Webber on that attempted TO call by Young? LOL, it’ll forever be the Webber play.
Yup, one announcer said, “That’s a Chris Webber” when Bryce Young attempted to call a TO with none left.
😂
No DT’s in there just pass rushers
Lost control of the game due to bad OL and bad DL
turrible
Our kicker’s number is 47, smh
WTF
We can’t stop the run
JAELAEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Our ILBer’s seem to be nonexistent this game
So we can’t run on Offense, and can’t stop the run on Defense.
We were foolish to think both Kenneth Grant and Big Jonah could serve as instant starters.
Got to respond out the gate
Gezz
Pathetic response
I feel like Ollie Gordon will never get in a rhythm. You give him a carry and he has no chance with no blocking and then he’s done. He’s a physical back that needs reps. MM isn’t giving him a chance
LOL, now do Tua!!!
We’re going to lose this game… I can feel the momentum change in the air.
I felt it before halftime
Can’t believe I am sacrificing my sleep for this after working 12 hours last night and have to work 8pm to 8am tonight.
bad bad team.
wow no call
just me….or are these announcers horrible?
About as good as our OL
Is Ross finally spending his money wisely?
On refs?
Up until that last Achane run. We had 11 yards on 12 carries by our RB’s
This is yet another example of opposing coaches adjusting to McDaniel and him having nothing to counter
So right
turrible bad team
on the bright side – I will not be watching the bad bunny Super Bowl so no chance of missing a Miami championship
^ SAME
^
Since the second TD after the INT:
3 plays -5 yards
3 plays 7 yards
5 plays 13 yards
stop running the ball, stop throwing passes behind the LOS
Brian, 100%
Good lord
Offense unable to adjust to the other team’s adjustments. This offense is so fucking limited.
Of course, when you can’t run because both guards ole every other play, that limits you as well.
It’s unreal that our oline and dline are probably the two worst units on the team.
that’s the Tua effect, once you figure out the quick passing game we have nothing
True that. There was a scramble play last drive or the drive before, Tua threw it down the field on a WR crossing and he just didn’t have the arm to rip it in there.
I said to myself, that’s a completion for any QB with an arm, but his arm strength limits what he can do on a scramble play.
we’d be down 2 tds, if the the Car PR didn’t call fair catch every time, he’s killin’ them
Channel crashed .. omen ??
Pick 6
Just kidding Toba
They figured out to shut down Waller also
I love the way Tua goes to the bench and slumps down. Great posture and body language
^
It’s someone else’s fault…
Waddle for 15
3rd & 87 Carolina calls time out
Malik Washington has 4 rec for 0 yards on 5 targets. Why don’t they target him down field?
how many times do you have to get stuffed throwing behind the line before you do something different?
every time Phel…Every time until Ross makes a change. Hopefully that’s some time this season…
Give those two some time to gel man…..
Lol. Tell me you scared without telling me you scared.
Don’t worry. Grier still isn’t worried about the OL.
He thinks he fixed it in f/a and draft
Is that DeShaun Foster? WTF!!!
lol thanks Rock …. Feed is back in time for dowdle big run
can they hire an interim coach off the street
WOW…
There’s Chop!! Way to get there 2 seconds too late
pressure counts
In this particular instance, counts for 15 yards additional for the Panthers
Here we go. Going against one of the worst teams on the league. How do they respond?
So bad. Making Rico Dowdle look like an All Pro
I legit hope we finish this game the same way we’ve played the last 3 quarters.
Rico Suave in the house. WE CAN’T STOP THE RUN!!!
and yet they keep throwing it
It’s about Tua time ☹️
They need to run off a 6 minute running drive and win to even start to shut people up
Total offense:
Dolphins – 198 yards
Rico Dowdle – 213 yards
19 whole rushing yards for us to now. SMH
Fucking channel drops agin during kick return
Phew it’s back
Great return Washington
Under threw him but 👍
Excellent play action pass to Waddle!!!
MM finally listened, quit running it