What The 2019 Fins Failed To Do

Despite having literally no running game, they STILL didn't finish with the worst yards per carry in franchise history. That "honor" still belongs to the '97 Fins, with the '99 Fins coming in second. Which means I still get to legitimately make the claim that the JJ-Era Fins were the worst running teams I have ever seen

http://pfref.com/tiny/oLsNN

(Wait a second...why am I happy about that? If anything it just proves even more what a fraud, poseur, charlatan and all-around snake oil salesman JJ was )

Also, in spite of having a worse point differential through the first 4 games than any team in NFL history, they rallied to only finish tied for the worst in franchise history with the '67 team

http://pfref.com/tiny/8yqiK

Also, they in fact did NOT manage to grab the NFL record for most 40-plus point losses in a season all by themselves, after it seemed like a certainty in September

http://pfref.com/tiny/F7ZEm

I guess my point is, they managed to not be the worst team ever, and things will only get better from here

In hindsight, coming back after the Dallas stint was probably the worst thing for JJ.

If he'd stayed retired like Cowher has, and stayed in the booth for 25 years, he'd forever be the legend who walked away on top after building the great Cowboys dynasty.

Instead, he came to Miami after talking smack about Shula for two years, and produced a running game considerably worse than what Shula was putting out there.  And seemed to be exposed as a defensive specialist who lucked into Aikman (first pick), Irvin (already there) and Emmitt (wanted to take someone else).

Here, inadvertently found a worthy starter at RB cheap (Wheatley, for a 7th rounder) then cut him to keep.....Cecil Collins and James Johnson!  

To add insult to injury, Vermeil came out from out of the booth a year after JJ, and ended up WINNING a Super Bowl in his new spot in less time, the same year JJ walked away for good....

Jimmy came here a peerless legend, and left a mere mortal again.

IMO it all started when instead of viewing a Hall Of Fame QB as an asset, JJ viewed Marino as a threat to his alpha-maleness and literally from day one adopted the attitude of "this team ain't big enough for the both of us." He didn't have the stones to outright bench or trade Dan, so instead JJ sabotaged him in literally every way possible. His insistence on running when the Fins couldn't actually run just to get the ball out of Marino's hands still angers me to this day

So yeah, it was actually very important to me that this team NOT finish with a worse YPC than the '97 team, just like it was very important to me that they beat the Bengals. I'm just irrationally proud and stubborn like that.

FK JJ! This team overachieved! Yes I wanted the first pick but hard to achieve when you have what appears to be an ascending coach.

CarsonChris wrote:This team overachieved! Yes I wanted the first pick but hard to achieve when you have what appears to be an ascending coach.

Exactly. And that's a good thing! It's a nice change of pace to see the Dolphins overachieve...usually they do much worse than we expect! Hopefully Flores is the real deal...

JMP wrote:

CarsonChris wrote:This team overachieved! Yes I wanted the first pick but hard to achieve when you have what appears to be an ascending coach.

Exactly.  And that's a good thing!  It's a nice change of pace to see the Dolphins overachieve...usually they do much worse than we expect!  Hopefully Flores is the real deal...

I have to agree, everyone was expecting Miami to have the first round pick and not win more than one game this season. They went out won 5 games with under average players and also had the nerve to beat the Pats at the end of the season. I say I like it when Miami is overachieving.

I said early on getting a 6-10 record out of this bunch would be a blooming miracle, and danged if Flores and company did not almost manage it!

I really NEVER expected to see the team improve as much as they have over the season. THAT was the biggest single difference in Miami Dolphins teams of the past. There was actual improvement. Even with the steady changes to the roster.

You have to wonder just how Flores is going to do when he is not "playing with the house's money" like he was this season. I have always heard it is harder to get a team over the hump than it is to get a team to the hump.

Give this team some talent and let Flores and company DEVELOP them, and we may be on to something!

In Miami! Really! I am not joking!!

finfanatic wrote:I said early on getting a 6-10 record out of this bunch would be a blooming miracle, and danged if Flores and company did not almost manage it!

I really NEVER expected to see the team improve as much as they have over the season. THAT was the biggest single difference in Miami Dolphins teams of the past. There was actual improvement. Even with the steady changes to the roster.

You have to wonder just how Flores is going to do when he is not "playing with the house's money" like he was this season. I have always heard it is harder to get a team over the hump than it is to get a team to the hump.

Give this team some talent and let Flores and company DEVELOP them, and we may be on to something!

In Miami! Really! I am not joking!!

Yep, it will be a big test for Flores once he gets talent to work with. Fortunately, I think the culture he's building is something that is sustainable long-term. If you preach accountability and fundamentals, it will pay off.

finfanatic wrote:I said early on getting a 6-10 record out of this bunch would be a blooming miracle, and danged if Flores and company did not almost manage it!

It truly is mind-blowing to look back and realize this team was one failed 2-point conversion and one awful PI call away from 7-9!!!