Finsmob Unleashed

That’s really what this is all about, our disappointing 1-2 start. We’re already calling for the head of Head Coach Mike McDaniel. Things happen fast here in Miami, and previous failures of this franchise seem to accelerate this type of feeling. Honestly, maybe it’s a little bit of instant gratification rearing its ugly head. “I want an Oompa Loompa NOW daddy!” In any case, I, myself have overreacted, and frankly, I think all of us here at FMU have as well. I didn’t forget that this team has Super Bowl aspirations, and they gave us the feeling they were assembling a roster worthy of a run to that cause. Sure, some of us had our doubts about the O-line and D-line, but none of us expected us to be so different. This team really doesn’t resemble the team that played in 2023. Under further scrutiny, it’s fair to say we actually do resemble that team, the team that in the last 4 games of the 2023 season scored an average of 15.5 points per game, where the mighty high flying offense in the early season was nowhere to be found.

So what do the Dolphins do to remedy this situation? We’re definitely hamstrung with Skylar Thompson as the backup QB, and now even he is injured. We did sign QB Tyler Huntley off of the Ravens practice squad, but is it fair to throw him into action so soon? Probably not, but maybe with a simplified offense with just a few handfuls of plays, he could be effective. Tim Boyle looked poised compared to Skylar Thompson, and that’s an indictment on just how poor Skylar Thompson looked. I do believe it’s fair to expect more from him. He’s been here 2 full years, he’s started games before in 2022, but again, he’s been here since 2022, so he should have complete understanding of this offense. It looked more like was called up from the PS just that morning.

Another huge question is, how much of this is on Head Coach Mike McDaniel? Lots of speculation that the NFL has figured our offense, and now that they have, we can no longer be effective. I would say that’s partially true, but just slightly. You always have to make adjustments. If you run the football well and the opposing defense puts 9 guys in the box, you’re probably not going to beat them unless you do something different. The problem is, we haven’t done anything different, and it’s rather shocking at how ineffective WR’s Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle have been. In 3 games, Tyreek Hill has 13 receptions for 149 yards and 1 TD. Jaylen Waddle has 13 receptions for 176 yards and ZERO TD’s. We have been shuffling different WR’s in and out of the lineup and at least one is already off the roster, WR Grant Dubose. Still on IR is OBJ, and WR Erik Ezukanma just made it back this week, if you can call it being back. He was targeted only twice and unsuccessfully. Rookie WR Malik Washington has yet to be healthy to play, although maybe next week he can finally make his debut.

We picked up TE Jonnu Smith who many of us hoped would be the weapon that would make teams who keyed on Hill and Waddle pay for it, and he had one good game, but hasn’t really been a big part of the offense otherwise. It’s basically been the De’Von Achane show, and he’s doing his part, but Achane on his own isn’t sufficient. We weren’t playing well with Tua, although the offense had at least some resemblance to last year’s. Even so, if not for the game saving tackle and forced fumble by S Jevon Holland, we lose the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. It’s also important to remember a healthy Tua was at the helm against Buffalo, at least for the first half, and 6 minutes or so of the 3rd quarter until his unfortunate scramble and run which not only led to his injury, but the predicament we’re in now.

QB Tua Tagovailoa played just as poorly in this game as he did in any of those games against better teams last season, like the Eagles, Chiefs, or Ravens. The question is, is it Head Coach Mike McDaniel that can’t adjust when teams take away our bread and butter, the QB who can’t step up in big games, or a combination of both? I’d say the latter, a combination of both. The good part, if you want to be an optimist, which is increasingly difficult with the current state of things, is we’re only in Week 3, and only 1 game from being a .500 team. I think all the “Fire McDaniel, Fire Grier” and “Blow it all up” is very premature. A win next week can change all that quite quickly, but that’s a different story.

It’s not all Mike McDaniel, and it’s not all Tua Tagovailoa. We’ve seen Mike McDaniel struggle making adjustments, he needs to find some help in that regard. He has some good people he can consult with, Darrell Bevel is a fine NFL mind who’s been an offensive coordinator and a Head Coach for almost as long as Mike McDaniel has been alive. Not quite, but he’s been in the NFL since 2006, and maybe he should be the OC here, to give Mike McDaniel a chance to see the whole picture better. In the immediate future, our QB situation is a big concern, but the coaching is also a chief concern. MM has to do better, and his backup QB should have been better prepared this past weekend.

As far as QB Tua Tagovailoa is concerned, it’s a shame. If you count on him, you’re going to be disappointed because the young man’s brain is letting him down. It’s not his fault he’s “Glass Joe”, he’s a very talented player, a fine young man, but his body let him down. God giveth and God taketh away. He’s probably able to play this coming week, but the Dolphins have already put him on IR and he’s not eligible to play until Week 8, the Fest Game against the Arizona Cardinals. It seems as if it’s “when” he gets concussed again, not “if”. It may be that very first game back, and if that’s the case, he should be done for the year and bigger decisions will lie ahead.

Going forward, no matter what we do this season, I think we need to prioritize drafting our next QB. Even if somehow Tua stays healthy the rest of this season and plays well enough to get this team into the playoffs, again, it’s a matter of “when” he’s concussed again, not “if”. The sooner we reconcile that, the better. As far as Mike McDaniel, hopefully he enlists some help, or concocts something that fixes our offensive woes. Yes, our O-line is deficient, and I’m not letting Grier off the hook. There aren’t many good O-lines in the NFL, but when your QB can’t get hit, it’s inexcusable to have a poor offensive line. Mike McDaniel won’t be getting fired anytime soon, it’s just way too soon. Grier isn’t going anywhere either, he’s teflon. Let’s hope Mike McDaniel figures things out, and our team turns it all around, and we can all laugh about how we wanted to blow it up Week 3!

GO DOLPHINS!!!