Game 5 thoughts: Titans vs. Dolphins

Sometimes, one single statistic can tell the story of an entire football game. That is the case in today’s Titans-Dolphins game. Here’s the stat: the Titans netted 235 yards rushing, while the Dolphins offense netted 200 yards total.

This was a total team effort for the Dolphins, as the defense was bulldozed and shredded repeatedly by the Titan running game, and the offense did their part by doing…well…not much of anything.

Let’s start with the offense. Offensive Genius Adam Gase and his Boy Toy Ryan Tannehill managed to call a game that saw the Dolphins get 8 first downs and net 149 yards passing, scoring just 10 points in the process (including just 3 points in the second half). Those numbers aren’t bad…they are atrocious. At this point, I’m not sure who is more clueless, Gase or Tannehill. I suppose it doesn’t matter, because both are in way over their heads. Tannehill once again displayed no feel whatsoever for when or where pressure was coming from, both pre-snap and post-snap. And Gase has no idea whatsoever what to call on third down.

But enough about Gase and Tannehill…let’s just say they both suck. However, the biggest trainwreck of all today was the OL. With Albert and Tunsil both out, the Phins started Billy Turner at LT and Dallas Thomas at LG. Suffice to say, it didn’t go so well. Turner showed promise early in his career, but he has steadily gotten worse – to the point that he is on par with Thomas now. Thomas, for his part, continues to get pushed backwards as if he’s standing on ice, over and over. If there’s ever been two worse linemen in NFL history, I’ve never see them. These guys have no redeeming qualities at all – just pure garbage. Another player that has regressed is Ja’Wuan James, who now has to be considered the worst RT in the league. He gets beat like a drum on nearly every passing down.

I’ll end the discussion of the offense by pointing out a couple of positives. Pouncey looked decent is his first game of the season, Ajayi had a couple of nice runs and Parker had a nice 50-yard catch on Tannehill’s only quality throw of the day. Other than that, this was a horrendously bad performance by the Dolphin O, so bad in fact that the home crowd was loudly chanting for Matt Moore to come in the game! Clearly, those fans were wrecked out of their gourds…but just as clearly, they have lost all faith in Tannehill. And who could blame them?

Anyway, the defense wasn’t much better and was actually even worse. The run D didn’t bother showing up, and Titan RBs Murray and Henry – and QB Mariota – all looked unstoppable throughout the day. The Miami DL might as well have played the entire game on the sideline, and the LBs and DBs showed a complete lack of understanding of basic tackling fundamentals. And when it comes to pass rush and coverage – there isn’t any. The defense is beyond bad. I’m calling out several players: Maxwell, who sucks at everything, Tippett, who tackles like a little girl, Suh, who makes more impact when he cashes his checks than when he gets on the field, Super Mario, who looks more like Princess Peach since joining the Phins, and Kiko Alonso, who moves all over the field but never actually does anything. Fuck all those guys. And fuck Vance Joseph, who never heard the word “adjustment” in his life.

The highlight of the game came on special teams, where Jakeem Grant FINALLY made a play, with an absolutely beautiful 75-yard punt return TD that showcased his speed and agility. But, somehow this ace coaching staff can’t even design one play for him on offense.

Before this game, the Titans were awful – easily one of the worst teams in the league. The Dolphins made them look like Super Bowl contenders. In weeks 3 and 4, Mariota threw as many TDs as I did sitting on my couch – zero. Today, he had three.

Anyway, this Miami Dolphins team looks like the 32nd best team in the 32-team NFL right now. What is really scary is that replacing just a few pieces won’t do the trick. The coaching sucks, the players suck, the front office sucks, the talent evaluators suck, the owner sucks. EVERYTHING sucks.

YESSS!!! WOOHOO!!! I LOOK MORE FORWARD TO THE GAME THOUGHTS THAN THE ACTUAL GAMES!!! DON'T STOP, JMP!!! DON'T EVER STOP!!!

JMP wrote:Super Mario, who looks more like Princess Peach since joining the Phins

Brilliant. Simply brilliant on multiple levels

The highlight of the game came on special teams, where Jakeem Grant FINALLY made a play, with an absolutely beautiful 75-yard punt return TD that showcased his speed and agility.  But, somehow this ace coaching staff can’t even design one play for him on offense.

But...but...he doesn't know the playbook! Or something. Gotta love the Gase-style "meritocracy"

At this point I think Gase is basically a more hardass acting Cam. Notice I said acting.

Gase has shown me nothing. I'm all for a first-year firing at this point. However, if that were to happen, Grier, Tannenbaum, and the whole lot of those fucks can go away. The entire front office, gone; scouting, gone; ticket sales; gone. The only people that can stay are the new hospitality management folks because the stadium is tops in that respect. Anyone related to the game on the field, gone.

Then, put out this statement. "I am looking for someone to come here and create a champion. As my GM, you will have autonomy in creating your front office, training staff, head coach hiring process and hire itself, as well as talent and the draft." Watch the real good ones line up for the damn job then. We won't be picking our 8th choice, I can assure you that.

It's a tough first step, but if Ross truly wants to bring this franchise out of the shitter, because we're just about the worst in the league right now, he needs to truly get rid of everyone that has to do with this current product.

If you can trade Tannehill, get whatever you can for him, I mean anything, we've seen enough here, time to cut the cord.

There are so many holes on this team, it may be beneficial to trade just about anyone you can with decent talent that isn't a cornerstone guy to acquire picks.

I'm dead serious about this. If they want to achieve long-term success, they have to jettison the people responsible for this.

We've tried the half measures several times now, and they're not effective at all. As a matter of fact, we have continually gone backwards using Ross' processes. The process must change, and the way to do that is to give someone the keys to the kingdom, not just shuffle shit around every two years.

Outstanding post, Degarmo - right on the money. Exactly what the Phins need to do - but won't do.

However, if that were to happen, Grier, Tannenbaum, and the whole lot of those fucks can go away. The entire front office, gone; scouting, gone; ticket sales; gone.

Excellent post, and right on the mark.

It's really unfortunate for us. Ross made his "big move" this past offseason by ousting Hickey and Aponte and then consolidating power under Tannenbaum. Followed of course by the elevation of Grier and the hiring of Gase.

Tannenbaum, whose picture is now likely in the NFL Owners Handbook found by using the index and looking for "Not the Right Guy for the Job", is not suited for the most important job of any front office. Finding and acquiring talent.

Damn Parcells all you want, and God knows that I have, but he nailed it in the early days of his short tenure with Miami. This is a talent acquisition business. All the scheming, game planning, and play calling in the world cannot cover up holes on the roster filled with subpar talent.

We've seen it first hand just in the first five games this season. Peter King wrote about the playcall Gase had been "sitting on" likely for two or three years after identifying a tendency in the Seattle secondary. Called at the right time, it sprung open Kenny Stills for that deep bomb. How did that work out? The player that Tannenbaum acquired was simply not good enough. He was in perfect position and dropped the pass.

JuaWan James was clearly a reach where we drafted him. Repeating mistakes made in the past, we "reached' for a need instead of taking the best player available. James looks like he will fail to develop into a long term starter, we may end up suffering with him as a backup or starter for two more years, then will have to go to the well once again for a new starting RT.

Just looking at this roster screams that we are devoid of talent. I'd lambaste Gase if I thought he had any chance of success at all given the players acquired and put on this team. I know he has final authority on the 53 man roster. However, when the 90+ that are brought in by the front office boil down to a bad final 53, I put that squarely on Grier and Tannenbaum. From where I sit, if we are shopping tomorrow for the next offseason this is a high level list of our needs:

- A new DT to put next to Suh, because Phillips is a bust. Another wasted second round pick.
- Two new DEs because Williams isn't good enough, Wake is relegated to pass rushing specialist, and Branch, Jones and others don't look nearly good enough. They are depth players only. I'm so tired of watching this line fail to set the edge. It's just painful to watch our defense against the run.
- At least two linebackers. I'll be generous and say that Alonso has earned a longer term stay to this point. Could change by end of year depending on how his stats finalize.
- Two starting guards. Tunsil moves to left tackle, I think Albert is done. Just can't stay healthy anymore. I think we are okay at Center, Steen was a pleasant surprise so we have insurance against the injury prone Pouncey. Right tackle is now in question given the deterioration of James play. May have to add this to the list.
- At least one starting corner. I'm assuming Howard is good, and McCain has played excellent at nickle. Safety looks fine to me. Maxwell is a goner.
- Running back, although I would put this low on the list. The way our line blocks, Ezekiel Elliott would look like a bust on this team. Fill other holes first, there are plenty.
- Tight end. Where to start? Maybe keep Sims for blocking (he's good there), and one of the other two? Cameron is done.
- Receiver. I'm thinking Stills is gone in FA, leaving Landry and two underwhelming alternatives. If a true stud is available to us in the draft, has to be a consideration.
- Quarterback. A topic likely for another thread, and another day, but as of right now I'm betting against Gase tying his fortunes to Tannehill. The kid just doesn't appear to have "it", and it's highly unlikely he ever will.

Just look at that list. Look at it! Running through a simple count, that's 12 starters I just identified as "needs". TWELVE. We are literally playing with less than half of an NFL starting roster right now.

I'd love to hang Gase and Vance Joseph for this, but it's just not fair. In a talent acquisition business, we have totally failed to acquire enough talent to compete. As a point of comparison, the Titans we faced yesterday have two young tackles on offense, EACH of them is ranked top 10 at their position by Pro Football Focus. Take that with a grain of salt, until you see how easily they outplayed our "vaunted" defensive line. The right tackle is a rookie, and I believe he was ranked FOUR overall. 4th! Where do our draft picks and young players grade out? Consistently beyond the #32 marker that each team should have at least one of, by position, if my understanding of the grading is right.

Ross is going to need to ask himself how long this is Tannenbaum's franchise to run. A real stinker in year one is not a total tragedy. But year two will need to show serious progress. If it's more of THIS, then he has to really ask himself, how long does he get while stuck in neutral, at the bottom of the league?

Agree with everything said.

At this point, the Phins MIGHT have the worst talent in the league IMHO.

Cleveland is bad, but at least they compete. The Phins just look like a clueless bunch of tards out there!

Talent lacking with subpar coaching is a recipe for a season long soggy shyte sammich!

(Pops in.)

I just want to say one thing: I literally cannot love this thread enough

(Pops back out.)

With the sacrifice of the offensive line's dipshits today, it's time to start getting rid of vets for anything. Amass picks. It's how you start to rebuild. Maybe we could have some decent cap space for next season. Then either trade for one of the Minnesota guys (seems like a Brees/Rivers-esque situation there) or get a plug-in veteran QB for 2017, which will again suck ass.

We're not in a short-term fix mode here, gentlemen. This hole is dug down so deep, it's a minimum of three years to make the playoffs, and that's going to take a SHITLOAD of new players (talented ones) as well as a bunch of good moves from the front office.

In summary: We're fucked.

Three years??? I see you're in an optimistic mood today

Hehe - well, it's just that the NFL, you only have a max of three years to turn things around drastically before people start getting cherry picked away. Realistically, if you want to win a Super Bowl, you need the main places set by two years and then have a great front office to provide cap room and new talent on a consistent basis so you can keep the larders full.