Finsmob Unleashed

Since we stole the Houston Oilers theme song music, we may as well steal one of the most iconic quotes from the Apollo 13 mission, although the quote was actually “Houston, we’ve had a problem” when the voltage dropped on the electrical system on the spacecraft. We definitely have had a problem, and still have a problem, one that reaches way further than last night’s performance against the Buffalo Bills. Our season, and potentially the Franchise itself is in danger of having a complete meltdown of this season. Even before the unfortunate injury to our QB Tua Tagovailoa , this team looked to be a mess, and that in and of itself was so disturbing and disappointing.

Oddly enough, Josh Allen didn’t beat us, as is usually the case when we face the Bills. I’m just going to get this out there quickly before I forget because I have 1000 things racing through my mind as my fingers hit the keys. Once again, this particular Buffalo Bills roster, the 2024 Buffalo Bills are once again supposed to be an inferior team, and ready and primed to be taken down. However, once again, as the prime time chokers we are, we’re ready to assume the fetal position against good teams, even if they aren’t as good as they used to be, or are supposed to be. Listen, Tua was ridiculously poor last night, and Mike McDaniel may have been worse, if that’s possible. We discussed it last night, why were Grant Dubose and Robby Chosen out there when they had only been here a couple of weeks, and we have so many weapons such as Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Jonnu Smith, De’Von Achane, Jaylen Wright etc etc ? Did we try to throw the Bills off track because they don’t have film on these guys? The very first throw to WR Grant Dubose results in an INT. The ball was forced number one, the receiver wasn’t prepared to make the reception number 2, and why on a crucial 3rd down play is our QB trying to thread the needle to a guy plucked from NFL waivers just 2 short weeks ago?

This is going to be disjointed, I have thoughts just racing through my mind. I think our HC is beloved by the players, because he is. I think one of his major flaws is preparation, and game planning. We just don’t seem to look ready or prepared in bigger games. Hell, if it wasn’t for Jevon Holland stripping the football against the Jacksonville Jaguars near the end zone from RB Travis Etienne, we may be 0-2. BTW, Jevon Holland is one guy who has yet to be paid. Hey, maybe we’ll let him test free agency like Christian Wilkins, because that worked out so well. Back to MM. Why the f*ck are WR’s Grant Dubose and Robby Chosen on the field when there’s clearly no rhythm or cohesiveness with Tua at this point? That’s on HC Mike McDaniel. Tua doesn’t set the lineup or call the plays, but the 3rd down throw for the first turnover of the game goes right on QB Tua Tagovailoa for making that throw. 3rd down and 13, and we’re throwing to fucking Grant Dubose, and not a wide open Grant Dubose either, no, a tightly covered Grant Dubose.

On defense, well, Anthony Weaver didn’t seem to have this defense prepared either. Perhaps he was expecting a typical performance from Josh Allen, but Josh was barely a participant in this one. Allen was 13-19, 1 TD, 0 INT’s, more importantly, 2 rushes for 2 yards. We made RB James Cook look like Dalvin Cook in his prime! He finished with 78 yards rushing on just 11 carries along with 2 TD’s, and then 1 catch for 17 yards and another TD for THREE total TD’s. Our defense basically did nothing. No sacks, no turnovers, no nothing. I’m aware we turned the ball over 3 times and that’s disastrous, but the defense was so not special on a day where we need it to be. Yes, Jevon Holland saved the day last week, but on this day we just looked uninspired. Not sure if OLB Jaelan Phillips got hurt, but he only played 23 snaps this week, down from 31 last week. Jaelan Phillips, Chop Robinson, Quinton Bell, Emmanuel Ogbah did nothing.

OK, back to the elephant in the room. What happens now with QB Tua Tagovailoa, and how do the Miami Dolphins proceed without his services, which may be a few weeks, or potentially the entire season, or even beyond that, the end of his career? You all know well how much I wanted this team to not give Tua a massive contract, especially without protections for a catastrophic injury like another concussion. I said it a 1000 times if I said it once, not only does he not show well in big games, but can he make it through a season when he’s not playing like he’s in bubble wrap? Well, unfortunately, we have our answer, and it’s a resounding NO. Not only he did get injured in what might end his season, or at the very least, cause him to strap on that very same bubble wrap from last season which kept him from making plays like running for a first down, but he once again showed big games are just too much for him, as he shrank in the spotlight. There’s no denying this, 3 turnovers at HOME, 80+ degrees and once again, the guy that throws for 300+ yards against anyone else has his worst performance our division rival Buffalo Bills. Surely, many doctors will urge him to retire, and now that he’s been paid, maybe he will. I know the fire burns strong, and he will want to play, but that fire can be smothered and extinguished by $167.17M

Skylar Thompson so very clearly isn’t the answer. I’d say right now that QB Mike White wishes he was here, and also maybe that S Jordan Poyer wishes he was back in Buffalo. Mike White isn’t the answer either. Depending upon how long the prognosis is on just how long QB Tua Tagovailoa will be OUT, this will affect our decision making on acquiring a new QB. Ryan Tannehill might very well be sitting close to his phone, and Joe Flacco may be as well. Tannehill had 2 NFL seasons with a rating of 100 or higher, but those seasons were pretty far in the rear view mirror, one in 2019. and the other in 2020. Still, he would be a better QB than Skylar Thompson, who really gives me no feeling that he could ever be a quality QB. Can we trade for a backup? Oh, I really don’t want to do that, we have no cap space in the next few years, I don’t want to have no cap space and no draft picks either!

So now Dolphins fans, crushed as we are, we have nothing to do but wait. Wait and see what the reports are on QB Tua Tagovailoa, find out how long it will be after MRI’s, cat scans, whatever other tests they do. It’s only Week 2, and yet the sky has fallen here, and fallen hard. It’s most difficult to find optimism for this season, despite it only being Week 2, and having a 1-1 record. The Bills have come into Hard Rock, basically their home field as it is, and tore our team a new asshole as per usghe. BTW, I’m sure you’re all aware, the collision Tua had was with DB Damar Hamlin. Ironic? Thoughts racing, caffeine pumping through my veins, along with a lethal dose of despair. I’m already thinking of the Fest as being a vacation only, and the game itself a nuisance that will keep me away from the beach. Hopefully, something good happens for us Dolphins fans, but do they ever?