Finsmob Unleashed

The Dolphins start the first quarter of the season (not technically a quarter due to the now 17 game season) at 1-3. If not for a late Xavien Howard forced fumble and recovery against the New England Patriots we’d be 0-4. Every play counts, and that win counts, but I feel like I’m in some version of this team that we’ve all seen before. The offense can’t get it done, the defense is on the field all day but we defend them for probably being better than they really are. Yes, we’re back “there” again, pick a year in the last 20 some odd years and this team could fit right in. The offense is bad, and Jacoby Brissett just can’t move the ball down the field. Chad Henne took more shots downfield during the first 3 quarters than Brissett does. It’s so strange to me that we have all these players who can do damage downfield like DeVante Parker and Mike Gesicki and Jaylen Waddle and we ignore their ability until some point in the 4th quarter when the game is out of reach. I don’t understand what our game plan is on offense and I truly don’t get the offensive concept of our offense, as in what our identity is. We’re not a power running team, not a finesse offense, I guess the closest thing to what we are is a dink and dunk offense. Why?

The O-line, the much maligned O-line of 2021. Austin Jackson has had a tough year, and I’m not calling out anyone here, not my intention, but I see some saying move him to guard. Why? If he’s playing so poorly at his natural position, will he better inside at a less familiar position? I say bench him until he shows something in practice or just let him take his lumps at LT. I don’t want to take a guy who’s playing better at G off the field to experiment with Austin Jackson at G now. Maybe we lose a couple of more games and fall to 1-6 and I’ll feel it would be OK then, but we still have a chance to make it this season and we should have the players playing best on the field.

The Dolphins “travel” to Tampa Bay to face Tom Brady’s 3-1 Buccaneers. A few key guys will likely be out such as TE Rob Gronkowski (ribs), starting CB Carlton Davis just went on IR, S Antoine Winfield is in concussion protocol and has not practiced this week. One guy who is back and that will make Tom Brady smile is WR Antonio Brown. He’s healthy and ready to go. The Bucs secondary looks to be hobbled, but the Bucs are know best for their front 7 which is mostly intact, sans for DE Jason Pierre-Paul (shoulder-hand). Richard Sherman came off the street and played CB last and he will likely start again this week with Davis on IR. Our O-line is going to have a tough matchup with D-linemen Ndamukong Suh, Vita Vea and William Gholston, along with LB’s Shaq Barrett, Lavonte David, Devin White and most likely Anthony Nelson if JPP can’t go. Hopefully Jeannie doesn’t watch the games.

I’m going to be honest here. I don’t care if Malcolm Brown is the better blocker, put 3 TE’s in the game and let’s run the ball with Gaskin. Brown brings nothing to the offense. He never has. He’s a bit player. Not that Myles Gaskin is a world-beater but he has shown he can make things happen out there, and is a much bigger threat as a receiver as well. Gaskin is averaging 5 yards a pop while Brown is 3.5 yards and a cloud of dust and PUNT. We started out throwing to Jaylen Waddle and were moving the ball and then inexplicably we never saw Waddle used again. Parker and Gesicki were ignored all game until it was over. Can we please try to use our weapons all game long, our BEST weapons??? It’s absurd to me that when we finally decide to move the ball Mike Gesicki is one of the guys that gets it done. Kills me that we squander him here, and please stop talking about his blocking. It’s IRRELEVANT!!! Throw him the damn ball 15 times a game and let the other 2 TE’s block.

On paper, we don’t really stand a chance against the SB Champs. The game won’t be played on paper and a win this Sunday would surely put us back on the map, especially since our starting QB Tua Tagovailoa is due back week 6 for our London matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. We desperately need a win this week and it’s time to get this team in gear. Like some have said on here, let it fly, stop being so cautious, it’s clearly not working. Play like every quarter is the 4th quarter on offense. Get the ball into the hands of your best offensive players, Parker, Gesicki, Waddle and Gaskin. Be competitive, be aggressive, and maybe upset the champs in their house and sink that damn pirate ship!

GO DOLPHINS!!!