Tag: Miami Dolphins

1972 Dolphins will remain as only undefeated Super Bowl champions

The 1972 Miami Dolphins’ record will remain intact for another year, as the San Francisco 49ers fell last night to earn their first loss.

Here’s to perfection! The 1972 Miami Dolphins will see their status as the NFL’s only undefeated Super Bowl Champions live on for yet another season. Miami’s long standing record has been tested to varying degrees over the years, but thankfully 2019 will be a fairly uneventful season as far as undefeated threats go. The NFL’s final undefeated team, the San Francisco 49ers, fell last night in overtime on Monday Night Football to fall to 8-1 on the season, marking the end of an impressive run to start the season after finished the last two seasons under coach Kyle Shanahan a combined 10-22.

San Francisco’s comeback attempt at home against Seattle fell short, as kicker Chase McLaughlin’s 47-yard attempt in overtime sailed wide and the Seahawks went on to kick a game winner of their own from 42-yards at the end of the overtime period.

For the ’72 Dolphins, life is good. They’ve seen the New England Patriots finish the season 16-0 before losing in miraculous fashion in the Super Bowl to the New York Giants to preserve the record. And the 1985 Bears were turned away from perfection thanks to a late season loss to Dan Marino and the Dolphins in primetime as well.

Without a serious contender to threaten the undefeated record, long-time Miami Dolphins fans (and player/coaching alumni) can kick their feet up and enjoy what remains of the 2019 season — perhaps even with a few more Dolphins victories along the way.

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Watch Dolphins’ Brian Flores break down Ryan Fitzpatrick TD vs. Colts

Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores broke down some of the dynamics of Ryan Fitzpatrick’s rushing TD against the Indianapolis Colts.

Sunday afternoon wasn’t exactly the best showing thus far in 2019 by the Miami Dolphins — but it was enough to get the job done en route to a 16-12 victory over the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. The key play for Miami? Ryan Fitzpatrick’s scrambling score in the 1st half to put the Dolphins up 10-0, a clutch play against a fast, physical Colts defense who didn’t yield much to Miami all game long — even before the Dolphins were blanked in the 3rd quarter.

Head coach Brian Flores met with Kim Bokamper in the aftermath of Miami’s victory over Indianapolis to break down the play that ultimately ended up being the difference maker for the Dolphins. The first note from Flores? This is an extremely difficult red zone defense to navigate, which made Fitzpatrick’s leg work a must in order to crack the end zone.

Perhaps the most interesting note from Flores’ time with Bokamper is the continued messaging that Ryan Fitzpatrick is a special personality, one that draws excitement and inspiration out of his teammates. No, Fitzpatrick isn’t the most physically gifted quarterback. Heck, Josh Rosen has more physical gifts as a player. But Fitzpatrick is the one who transcends talent and brings the “energy and enthusiasm” that Flores wants to see out of his Dolphins’ team.

So as the Dolphins move forward and look for their answer at quarterback, that connection figures to be an intangibles component Miami refuses to budge on. Nor should they. If Fitzpatrick can have this kind of success over the past month for Miami, imagine what a young, charismatic quarterback can do for Miami when the Dolphins decide it is time to add talent.

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Dolphins’ Brian Flores focused on improving today, not the future

Head coach Brian Flores isn’t worried about how winning in 2019 will impact the search for a new starting quarterback.

If you’ve been following the Dolphins closely this fall, you’ve probably heard someone mutter it over the course of the last two weeks.

“They can’t even tank right!”

As has been well established over the course of the Dolphins’ 2019 calendar year, the Dolphins are, in fact, not tanking. There’s been a managerial focus on collecting assets and creating salary cap space with the understanding that such an approach is probably going to hinder the Dolphins’ on-field product. Such an approach requires everyone to be on the same page — the Dolphins have done a very good job of ensuring that thus far in to their rebuild. But Miami wasn’t dedicated to slapping their players and fans in the face by giving up on 16 games, they’ve been playing to win.

And through a hard-nosed, disciplined approach, the Dolphins have started to do exactly that. Miami now sits at 2-7 and with the 4th overall pick in the current 2020 NFL Draft order. Is that going to cost Miami the chance to draft a quarterback? Potentially — but don’t tell that to Brian Flores, because he doesn’t care.

“My job is to put this team in the best position to try to go out there and be productive and try to win football games,” said Flores yesterday during his press availability.

“I think every head coach, every general manager, every organization is thinking about things long-term, as well as short-term. We’re no different, but right now my goal is to get each one of those guys in that locker better (and) as good as they can be. That’s the goal for me and our coaching staff.”

For most rebuilding teams, the worry would be concerns. But most rebuilding teams don’t have a war chest of 1st-round draft picks. And with 7 losses already this season, Miami will have the mobility they need to attack the draft. That luxury allows Flores the opportunity to make sure he’s developing his football players and — as he said himself — get his guys as good as they can be.

With more time, some of this year’s contributors will become fixtures for the next several years of the Flores era — and hopefully a dynamic turnaround into a winning program. That has value, too.

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Vision for Dolphins’ defense coming to life in recent weeks

The Dolphins’ defensive efforts have improved over the past month — bringing to life Miami’s vision for a fierce unit in South Florida.

The Miami Dolphins made a bold change of directions this past February when they decided to hire former New England Patriots head coach Brian Flores to serve as the next head coach of the Dolphins. Cam Cameron? An offensive mind. Tony Sparano? Blue collared — but still a former offensive line coach. Joe Philbin and Adam Gase? Two more offensive “visionaries” who turned out to be false promises.

When Miami hired Flores and the subsequent effort to open the season was nearly 100 points allowed in the team’s first two games, it was a gut punch. Here we go again, many surmised. But while it is too early in the process to determine what kind of head coach Brian Flores will ultimately be, we now know he’s definitely not a flop, as recent performances would indicate.

The Dolphins defense has come alive despite playing without three of their best players at the open of the 2019 season — defensive backs Xavien Howard, Reshad Jones and Minkah Fitzpatrick are all off the field for Miami, with Fitzpatrick traded and Jones and Howard battling injuries. The pass rush potency isn’t anything other than bottom shelf by NFL standards. And yet this defense is playing stout over their last 5 games.

Miami has conceded an average of 326 yards per game over their last five games. The team has forced 5 turnovers in their last three — after producing just two over the first six games. Eight sacks in the last four games versus five in the first five. And the defensive scoring is down considerably. Since Miami’s Week 5 bye week, the Dolphins defense is allowing under 19 points per game (18.8) if you adjust for Buffalo’s onside kick return for a touchdown and the New York Jets’ safety after an interception near their own goal line.

This is what the Dolphins envisioned this summer — even with the concessions in talent during a rebuilding year. Dolphins LB Jerome Baker said yesterday that this is the defensive vision Miami has been striving for since the summer.

“Yeah, if you just look at it, I just believe in ‘Coach Flo’ (Head Coach Brian Flores) and ‘P.G.’ (Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham),” said Baker.

“These past few games have just been what they’ve been coaching us up to do and we’ve definitely been having fun playing this defense. Just got to continue.”

It isn’t just fun to play — it’s fun to watch.

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Does Minkah Fitzpatrick have a case for DPOY?

Minkah Fitzpatrick has had an interesting welcome into the NFL, but it doesn’t seem to have stopped him from playing his best football yet. After being drafted by the Miami Dolphins with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, it had looked …

Minkah Fitzpatrick has had an interesting welcome into the NFL, but it doesn’t seem to have stopped him from playing his best football yet.

After being drafted by the Miami Dolphins with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, it had looked like Fitzpatrick was poised to be the lead man in the team’s secondary.

Instead, he was bounced around three different positions, and was unable to solidify himself as a large contributor because of this.

When the Alabama product requested a trade early on in the 2019 regular season, the Dolphins granted his wish – it also helped that they were looking to build up draft stock in preparation for the 2020 NFL Draft.

A trade was made with Pittsburgh after Week 2, and thus, the breakout year had begun.

In his seven weeks as a Steeler, it’s been hard to not find Fitzpatrick’s name in a headline.

He’s made flashy plays and crucial plays in the black and yellow, almost as if he wanted to show the Dolphins’ front office ‘what could have been.’

So far in 2019, Fitzpatrick, with both teams, has accumulated five interceptions, two defensive touchdowns, eight pass deflections, two fumble recoveries and 45 total tackles.

This stat line is not only impressive for a second-year player that struggled with his original team, but for any defensive back in the pros.

If he is able to continue making big plays that positively affect his team, and keep his name in the headlines – for positive, on-the-field, reasons – he could enter the 2020 season as the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

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Which QB would former Dolphins executive Mike Tannenbaum covet as QB1?

Mike Tannenbaum appeared this morning on ‘The Golic and Wingo Show’ to discuss which 2020 NFL Draft QB he would covet as QB1.

The Dolphins made the decision this offseason to relieve former Vice President of Football Operations Mike Tannenbaum of his duties with the team, instead electing to elevate general manager Chris Grier to total control over the Dolphins’ direction and philosophy as a football team. That decision has yielded a drastic change versus what Dolphins fans have been accustomed to for nearly a decade — an intriguing shift into unfamiliar territory that will provide Miami with much more flexibility in how they choose to approach their roster rebuild.

But what would the Dolphins’ quarterback preferences look like if Tannenbaum were still on the team? Would he like the hot new name, Joe Burrow? Or what about the Alabama prodigy, Tua Tagovailoa?

The correct answer? None of the above.

Tannenbaum preferring Oregon’s Justin Herbert to both Tagovailoa and Burrow is hardly surprising — but is a clear indication that the Dolphins made the right decision to elevate Chris Grier within the organization. This isn’t to say that Herbert will be a bad professional quarterback, he very well may be a very good one. But the justification of the position for Tannenbaum? It stems all around Herbert’s size, while ignoring that Joe Burrow is listed at 6-foot-4, 214 pounds and Tua Tagovailoa checked in last March at 230 pounds, according to Jim Nagy, the executive director of the Senior Bowl.

Never mind the fact that Justin Herbert has experienced a broken collarbone and a concussion thus far in his college career. To presume Herbert is durable and “built to last” because of his frame while ignoring Burrow’s frame and Tagovailoa only missing 6 quarters of action over two years of action is an old-school way of thinking — and quite frankly in ineffective one. The NFL has drafted “smaller” quarterbacks 1st-overall in each of the last two seasons, to prioritize a player over other contenders based on height and a misplaced faith in durability is all Miami fans need to know about the man who used to call the shots.

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Three stars of the game in Dolphins’ 16-12 victory over Colts

Who were the three biggest performers in Miami’s 16-12 road upset over the Indianapolis Colts? Here are our three stars of the game.

The Miami Dolphins’ defense was the star of yesterday’s win over the Brian Hoyer-led Indianapolis Colts. Is that in impressive feat? Maybe not for some teams in the NFL — but the Dolphins aren’t your average football team. The Dolphins’ roster is depleted by trades, injuries and financial decisions and the argument could be made that the Dolphins are the least physically talented football team in the NFL.

But they’ve now won two in a row — last week against the Jets courtesy of an explosive second quarter offensive show and now against the Colts after a stout defensive stand in the final seconds to force Indianapolis to turn the ball over on downs.

The momentum is real. The players are playing committed football and the Dolphins will still have their treasure trove of picks at the end of the day. This is a fun time to watch the Dolphins’ plan for player development come alive. Some of those developed players were the biggest contributors in Miami’s win — here are our three stars of yesterday’s win over Indianapolis.

3rd star – WR DeVante Parker

Parker let a ball slip through his fingertips in the end zone early in the game — a catch that could have pushed the Dolphins to an insurmountable early lead with the Colts’ back-up quarterback in. He couldn’t finish the play but more than made up for the missed opportunity with some clutch plays in the second half to help revive Miami’s offense.

Parker made several chunk gains, including catches to extend drives on third down. Parker finished the game with 5 receptions for 69 yards with a long of 21 yards — a very nice showing.

2nd star – LB Jerome Baker

Baker was everywhere against the Colts, shaking off an injury to return to the game and continue to impact the game within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage with his range. Baker finished the game with 7 solo tackles, a sack, a tackle for loss and a forced fumble, continuing his strong stretch of play as Miami’s biggest impact defender.

Baker is thriving in his role as Miami’s emotional and verbal leader on defense — we’re now seeing the version of Baker that this coaching staff envisioned when he was receiving rave reviews over the summer.

1st star – CB Nik Needham

What a turnaround for Nik Needham. Needham had a pretty rough start to the season, but the staff seemed to see something in the youngster. They’ve stuck with him, even after a disheartening showing against the Pittsburgh Steelers in primetime just a few weeks ago.

Fast forward to yesterday and the Dolphins’ rookie cornerback made several critical plays, including a diving interception and the tackle on Colts TE Eric Ebron on Miami’s 8-yard line on Indianapolis’ final play, a 4th and 10 pass that came up a yard short.

Needham stepping up was critical to Miami’s defensive effort — now can he string some winning weeks together?

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Stock up, stock down in Colts’ loss to Dolphins

Stock report following the Colts’ loss in Week 10.

The Indianapolis Colts (5-4) have to take a long look in the mirror following the embarrassing 16-12 loss they suffered at home against the Miami Dolphins (2-7) on Sunday.

Even though they were without a few starters, there is no excuse for losing to a team like the Dolphins—especially if the Colts are supposed to be considered a team bound for the playoffs.

Here’s a look at the stock report in the Week 10 loss:

AP Photo/Darron Cummings

Stock Up: LB Darius Leonard

The All-Pro linebacker hasn’t quite lived up to expectations this season and while he’s also dealt with some injuries, it was nice to see him return to his elite form. No one is doubting the impact Leonard has on a weekly basis, but this was truly his best game of the season.

The former second-round pick started off the game hot by punching out a fumble against Dolphins tight end Mike Gesicki. He also added a sack, two tackles for loss, two passes defended and a crucial interception in the fourth quarter.

The Colts have a massive stretch of games coming up, and they will need Leonard to play like this for the second half.

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Why Dolphins’ hopes of drafting Tua Tagovailoa are alive and well

The Dolphins have high hopes of drafting a top quarterback this offseason – namely Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa. Those hopes are alive and well.

The Miami Dolphins’ search for the heir to Dan Marino in South Florida has been a long and labored one. Miami has kissed a lot of frogs while searching for its prince — many of whom didn’t last more than just a handful of games as the starting quarterback. The closest Miami has come to replacing Marino over the last 20 years was Ryan Tannehill, a former top-10 draft selection who showed promise over his first three seasons before failing to further develop as a player — ultimately leading to the Dolphins’ decision to part ways with him this past offseason.

Tannehill is now in Tennessee, quarterbacking the Titans. And the Dolphins are once again looking for the answer. The popular pick for Miami’s next move is Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa, who has been widely considered the country’s top QB prospect and a shoo-in to be the first overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

But with the Dolphins now two games ahead of the Cincinnati Bengals in the win column, landing the No. 1 overall pick now seems like a pipe dream. And with it go the chances of drafting Tagovailoa — right?

Wrong.

Miami’s hopes of drafting Tagovailoa are still very much alive and well, thanks to two developments since the summer. Miami deserves credit for one, while the other is a gift from the football gods.

The Dolphins’ massive pooling of draft capital, specifically first-round picks, has put them in position to bend the draft order to their will — short of pulling Cincinnati off of holding the top pick. If Washington or either New York team ends up in the No. 2 hole, Miami can easily swing a deal. Is that ideal? No, of course not. But if this is the price to pay for positive momentum and player development, so be it. This isn’t a luxury the vast majority of NFL teams can afford in rebuilding years. But it is for the Dolphins because of the arsenal of picks they have at this disposal via their trades of Minkah Fitzpatrick and Laremy Tunsil.

The other development is the arrival of LSU’s Joe Burrow on the scene. Do not dismiss the possibility of the Cincinnati Bengals opting to target Burrow, given his status as a two-year starter, his growth over two years at LSU, his origins as an Ohio prep prospect and his eligibility to participate in the Reese’s Senior Bowl, which will provide him with a huge opportunity to make a strong impression on a Bengals coaching staff who will get first crack at coaching the game.

If Cincinnati drafts Burrow, Miami can make its move for Tagovailoa. And if Cincinnati drafts Tagovailoa, Miami should gladly make its move for Burrow.

The “gloom and doom” of Miami being out of position to fix the quarterback position over two wins is misplaced and, most importantly, inaccurate.

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An updated look at Dolphins’ 2020 1st-round picks after Week 10

An updated look at where each of the Miami Dolphins’ 2020 1st-round picks sit in the NFL Draft order.

You just can’t stop the juggernaut that is the 2019 Miami Dolphins, what else can you say? In all seriousness, the Dolphins took advantage of playing QB Brian Hoyer in Week 10 of the 2019 season by notching a 16-12 victory over the Colts in Indianapolis. And in the process, the Dolphins have the first winning streak in Brian Flores’ tenure as the head coach.

Looking ahead, Miami’s posturing for the 2020 NFL Draft wasn’t greatly aided by the results of the NFL’s Week 10 action. The Dolphins won, the Steelers won and the Texans were off — all three of the picks Miami owns in the 2020 NFL Draft have either held steady or moved up the ladder from their positioning at this point in time last week.

So here’s where Miami’s picks currently stand, although you’d be wise to avoid hitting the panic button.

Miami’s Pick: 4th overall

Last week, this pick was the 4th overall pick in the draft — so Miami’s win wasn’t detrimental to their overall posturing. The Cincinnati Bengals now hold a commanding 2 game lead in the race for the 1st-pick in the draft. Considering the rest of each team’s schedule, the Bengals are probably going to hold the top pick. But Miami is still on track to finish with a top-5 pick and from there, they can use some of their extra ammunition to jump up and ensure they grab a top quarterback.

Pittsburgh’s Pick: 22th overall

Minkah Fitzpatrick is single handedly working to sour this pick as much as possible for the Miami Dolphins. Fitzpatrick continued to shine in Pittsburgh, notching an interception yesterday to ice a Steelers victory over the Los Angeles Rams. The Steelers are up to four straight wins and currently hold the 6th-seed in the AFC playoff picture, mostly aided by Miami’s defeat of the Colts, who otherwise would have held that spot.

There’s a lot of ballgame left this season. The Steelers have more winnable games ahead of them. It’s hard to see this pick finishing much higher than this, however. The Colts aren’t going away once they get QB Jacoby Brissett back and the Buffalo Bills are 6-3 and have several more winnable football games on the horizon.

Houston’s Pick: 26th overall

The good news: The Texans didn’t win yesterday. The bad news: they didn’t lose, either. The other good news? The Texans go to Baltimore next Sunday to play the red hot Ravens. This pick has been steady in the mid-20s and that should be the expectation for Miami fans when things are all said and done.

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