A Dolphins Tale The Rebuild Part Deux
Year 1 News Wire
Dolphins Enter 2021 With Many Questions Left Unanswered And A New GM Coming Into The Fold
The Miami Dolphins went a surprising 10-6 in 2020. Playing in empty stadiums during the Pandemic, the Fins had a dual headed QB in Ryan Fitzpatrick and 1st round rookie Tua Tagovailoa, a ferocious blitzing defense with two premier CB’s in Xavien Howard and Byron Jones that was very opportunistic. 2021 though will be different. Former GM Chris Grier made some questionable picks with all the draft capital he had heading into the 2021 NFL Draft. Heads were turned as he traded down out of the 3rd overall pick passing on the chance to draft Generational talent Kyle Pitts or top tier Alpha Dog WR Jammar Chase. Also LT Penei Sewall, considered to be the best LT in the draft was passed over. Instead he took Alabama WR Jaylen Waddle to pair up with 2nd year starting QB Tua Tagovailoa. The hope from Grier is he hit on the next Tyreek Hill and gives his QB a true game breaker. There were a lot of unhappy fans. Also he decided to swing for the fences taking 1 year wonder Jalen Phillips out of Miami instead of taking RB Najee Harris. The Dolphins have a clear need at RB. There was some good though. Javon Holland the Dolphins first 2nd round pick looks to be a steal. A versatile hybrid safety who can play slot CB as well as blitz. He is a great addition. LT Liam Eichenburg has already displaced 2020 1st round pick Austin Jackson as the starting LT with Jackson being moved to LG.
In a shocking move GM Chris Grier was relieved of his duties just before the start of training camp with owner Stephen Ross hiring little known Michael Sword. He brings a lot of scouting knowledge at the college level as he ran the recruiting department at Stanford University. His goal is to evaluate the entire roster during the 2021 season and potentially reshape the Dolphins Rebuild which was expected to bear fruit heading into the season. And it still may do that. Sword is evaluating Tua carefully and according to sources will determine if the Dolphins will stick with him in this rebuild or move on from him in the 2022 draft. Speaking of the 2022 draft there are a lot of enticing QB options that will be available and we will go over the potential of the 2022 draft during this Year 1 season. Sword wasted no time in addressing the RB situation when he singed veteran RB Levon Bell to a modest 1 Year contract for 2.2M. Bell is expected to be a primary ball carrier and 3rd year back Myles Gaskin will also have a role. Of course it remains to be seen if Bell can even carry the load anymore as he has had issues staying healthy.
The Dolphins travel to New England and then have Buffalo coming to town. So the AFC East race will already be off an running.
Year 1 Week 1 At New England
Xavian Howard Leads Fins To Week 1 Road Win 17-10 Over The Patriots
All-Pro CB Xavien Howard brought his HOF game to New England in the Dolphins week 1 win over the Patriots. He had not one, not two, but three interceptions off rookie QB Mac Jones to help lead his defense to stifling the Patriots offense for most of the contest. The first half was an exercise in futility for both QB’s. Tua Tagovailoa threw two interceptions in the 1st quarter. Fortunately the defense held and Howard had two pick off’s himself to counter it. Going into the halftime the Patriots led 3-0.
Tua would then engineer 17 unanswered points in the second half as he settled down and finished 23/35 for 302 yards and 2 INT. Le’Veon Bell would get two rushing TD’s and finish with 44 yards rushing and 25 yards receiving. Will Fuller led all Dolphins receivers with 7 receptions for 123 yards. Rookie Jaylen Waddle would haul in 6/72
The Patriots would add a TD in the 4th quarter late to make the game respectable but the defense held on for the win in the final minute as they stopped the Pat’s inside the red zone with under a minute left.
“A great start for the defense. But we need to figure some things out in the offense” Said head coach Brian Flores. The defense had 3 pics and 4 sacks. Jerome Baker, Andrew Van Ginkel, Ogbah and Sieler would all collect 1 sack each.
Howard Made Sure The Fins Had A Week 1 Road Win With 3 Interceptions
Year 1 Week 2 vs The Bills
Week 2 Heartbreak As Fins Fall 34-28 To Rival BillsIn a wild week 2 game the Dolphins just came up short vs they arch rival in the Bills. The Dolphins found themselves down 24-7 at halftime only to storm back behind QB Tua Tagovailoa. Heading into the 4th quarter the Dolphins were down 31-21 and the crowd was rocking. Tua would toss a deep strike TD pass to Jaylen Waddle (67 yards) and Bell would wish for a TD to bring the Fin within 10 points. He did however toss two interceptions for the second week in a row which is a concerning trend. Le’Veon Bell again rushed for a TD in this game but would leave in the 3rd quarter with a sprained shoulder. He ended up with 38 yards rushing. In the 4th quarter the Dolphins pulled to within 3 points on a Tua TD to Will Fuller.
The defense could not hold though as the Bills would kick a FG to expend the lead to 34-28. Tua would throw his second interception trying to hit Fuller on a badly underthrown deep pass and the Bills were able to run out the clock.
“We just could not make some plays early and found ourself in a big hole” Said Tua. “We really fought back hard and almost pulled this out”.
“We need to go over a few things in the film, correct some things with OL as Tua is getting too much pressure on him too fast”. The Bills had only a couple of sacks but a lot of pressures. “Tua also needs to clean up those pics. We can’t have turnovers like that every week”.
The Fins travel to Las Vegas to take on the Raiders in Week 3.
Year 1 Week 3 At Las Vegas
Tua’s 4 TD Passes Not Enough As Dolphins Fall To Raiders in OT 36-30
QB Tua Tagovailoa did everything he could to help the Dolphins win a wild road game at Las Vegas. Throwing for 293 yards and 3 TD on 25/42 with no interceptions. However the Dolphins defense again failed to provide support for the offense as Derrick Carr tore the secondary up for 356 yards thru the air. Josh Jacobs and former Dolphins Kenyan Drake combined for 26 carries and 142 yards including two TD’s. The Raiders also got to Tua 4 times and harassed him plenty. The Dolphins led this game going into halftime 13-9. The Raiders stormed back out of the tunnel but heading into the 4th quarter the Phins held onto a 20-19 lead. Tua was able to help grab a 30-27 lead but a FG with no time remaining sent this into overtime. Carr would then slice and dice the Dolphins defense and finish it off with a TD pass to Willie Snead IV.
Darren Waller would torture the Dolphins with a 11/126 line. John Brown would also chip in 5/76
For the Dolphins TE Mike Gesicki who was extended with a shiny new 5 year 75MM deal had 7/134 and 2 TD
Devante Parker had 6/95.
Rookie Jaylen Waddle missed the game due to a quad strain suffered in practice on Thursday.
Myles Gaskin led the way in the ground game with 13/60, and Bell would add 10/31
“Just frustrating today. This was a game we had right in front of us and we could not put it away with under 2 minutes left in regulation” said Tua.
“There are moments all around this game where if a play went this way or that way we come out of this 2-1 instead of 1-2” We need to get better at put away drives”. I loved how Tua played today and the team deserved better. We still need to figure things out on the OL as I do not like what I am seeing in the running game and pas protection” Coach Brian Flores said.
The Dolphins come home to face the 2-1 Colts
Year 1 Week 4 vs The Colts
Tua Record Setting Day Not Enough As Dolphins Fall Again Late 41-38
Have we been transported back to 1984? Tua Tagovailoa is doing his best Dan Marino Impression the last few weeks. The 2nd year left handed QB would have a record day for himself.
30/53 for 456 yards and 5 TD against zero int.
Again though he would find himself on his back 6 times and fumbled two times which led to 14 points.
His counterpart Carson Wentz would be modest compared to the air show Tua had on display.
22/33 for 278 Yards 3TD INT and chipped in 71 yards rushing on 9 carries (one 31 yard jaunt would be a blow early in the game).
But what matters is wins.....not numbers. And the Dolphins are now 1-3 as the once vaunted defense of 2020 has been anything but in 2021.
Jonathan Taylor shredded this front 7 for 138 yards and a TD.
This game was shaping up to be an easy Colts win. leading 20-10 at the half they would come out and take 27-10 lead in the 3rd quarter when all of a sudden Tua came alive. He would bring them back and it was 30-24 Colts heading into the 4th quarter. Then the Colts would take a 41-24 lead but Tua and the Phins offense refused to stop. They would score two late TD’s and were able to recover an onside kick to help them come within 3 points. A failed second onside kick would seal their fate.
The running game was non-existent but that was more due to game script than anything else. The receiving numbers for the Dolphins were gaudy:
Gesicki - 5/119/TD
Parker - 6/110
Fuller - 7/106/TD
Waddle - 6/90/3TD
For the Colts
Ty Hilton - 1/75/TD
Pittman Jr - 4/74
Campbell - 4/47
Doyle - 4/20/2TD
Grover Stewart would collect 3.5 sacks on this day and Deforest Buckner would add 1.5 sacks as well.
Jerome Baker was the leading tackler for the Dolphins with 13 total (8 solo) Only 1 sack shared by Phillips and Ogbah on the day.
“Just a tough tough loss again. I would give back all the stats for wins” Said Tua.
“I am feeling great out there. But those 2 fumbles cost my team a win today” I have to take better care of the ball”.
“We will look at the film and see what we can do on defense to stop this bleeding. I need to do a better job preparing these guys on defense”. The Offense right now is doing so much good.....Tua is coming into his own but he needs to take better care of the ball when under pressure”.
The Dolphins head to Tampa Bay to face Tom Brady and the defending Super Bowl Champs who are off to a 3-1 start.
Year 1 Week 5 At Tampa Bay
Dolphins Get Rocked In Tampa Score Some Garbage Time Points To Make It Respectable as they fall 49-28. The Defense is on Life Support
Don’t let that final score fool into thinking the Dolphins were ever in this game. Well....actually they were for one great 3rd quarter rally. The Phins coming into this game on a 3 game losing streak were looking to snap it vs the GOAT. That is a tall order. The Bucs quickly took a 21-3 lead into halftime on the back of Leonard Fournette’s legs. He would bruise and batter the Dolphins front 7 much like Jonathan Taylor did a week earlier. 21 carries for 142 yards and two TD’s when it was done.
However......The Dolphins would come out in the 3rd quarter and make this a game. Tua Tagovailoa continues to show he is a real QB in his 2nd year as he led his offense to 17 3rd quarter points. Devante Parker would haul in two TD’s and Sanders would kick a FG and before you knew it the game turned. 28-20 Bucs. Brady would extend to lead to 28-3 before the Tua flurry and it was looking like a blowout. Give credit to this Miami offense. They simply don’t quit.
Ahhhh but we are talking about Tom Brady. And he would Brady the Phins. The Bucs would score 21 unanswered in the 4th quarter to take a commanding 49-20 lead and put the nail in the coffin. The Dolphins would score a garbage time TD and convert a 2 point conversion for the final score.
Tom Brady - 40/46 471 Yards/5TD/2INT
A Brown - 10/130/TD
Mike Evans - 11/113/TD
C.Godwin - 5/110/TD
OJ Howard - 6/51/TD
The Dolphins again had no running game to speak after falling behind by so much. They would total a paltry 37 yards.
Tua 30/48 369 Yards 3TD
Waddle - 9/109
Parker - 7/108 2TD
Fuller - 4/63
Gesicki - 4/39 TD
“The defense is a major concern for us” GM Michael Sword said in a post game interview. We really need to figure some things out.....and get this defense back on track if we want to have any shot at the post season”.
“Our pass rush is poor, our coverage is poor, our tackling is poor....F’s all around for our defense”. This was the strength of our team last season and now it is a liability. They need to look themselves in the mirror this week and figure it out” Coach Brian Flores.
The Dolphins now fall to 1-5 as they head to London to face the surprising 3-2 Jaguars.
Year 1 Week 6 At The Jaguars (London)
Dolphins Prevail And Dominate Lawrence and Jags 41-20 Snap 5 Game Losing Streak
The Dolphins wasted no time jumping all over the young upstart Jaguars. In a rematch of the National Title Game in 2018 Trevor Lawrence and Tua went head to head and it was Tua who prevailed. He is simply lighting up the NFL right now.
He would finish 26/38 for 387 yards and 4 TD and no interceptions. Lawrence would finish 24/41 for 252 yards and 2TD INT
Will Fuller (4/130 td) and Mike Gesicki (8/123/2TD) would lead the way for the Dolphins and Parker (5/74/TD) and Waddle (7/71) would also chip in as well. Myles Gaskin would collect 60 yards on the ground on 14 carries as he has supplanted Le’Veon Bell as the starting RB.
The game was never in doubt even though the Jags would score 17 second half points. It was 34-6 heading into the 4th quarter as the Dolphins went into a prevent defense.
Speaking of the defense.....they showed up. Van Ginkel and Ogbah each collated a sack and Jerome Baker was a monster collecting 14 total tackles. Byron Jones had a pick. The game came with a price though as rookie Jean Phillips went down with a dislocated hip and miss several weeks.
The current injury situation for the Dolphins is not great as they have suffered some losses on the OL as well.
Center Austin Reiter out the last 3 weeks with an elbow injury (will be back Week 8)
Starting LT Greg Little has also been out the last 3 weeks with an upper arm fracture (will be back week 8)
“This was the game our defense needed and this can be a spring board for the rest of the season”. Coach Flores.
During the week following the game GM Michael Sword went out and signed DE Dee Ford to spark the pass rush.
The Dolphins come home to face the surprising 4-1 Falcons.