The worst start turned into a heck of a season, personally I feel so good about the Fins and the direction and culture change that I'm drunk of excitement for our team with their first winning season and playoff birth since 2008.
I'm thinking what if Pouncey, Jones, Misi, Jenkins, Albert, Alonzo and Tannehill weren't out for the season or playing hurt. It's got to be really hard to tackle a RB with a clubbed hand or block an opposing DE.
The excuses can be made about a lot of what's happened just as in seasons past, but no not this guys they just grind and fight for the win. I've been a fan a long time and I've never seen that next man up mentality work for the Fins before at least not like this.
21 comments
Actually by now; all of you should know how effective a running game is and scoring 30+ points each week can be for winning.
If we keep scoring 30+ each week; we are not likely to lose another game this season.
Dan Marino also showed how scoring a lot of points can keep you relevant each year. Even if you do not have a great defense.
It just so happens that we do have a good defense that borderlines great when everyone is healthy.
So don't be surprised if we make some serious noise in the playoffs. Because we have the QB & WRs to go deep and the runningbacks to pound the rock.
The winning formula henceforth is to score 30+ points or more each game and then everything else will take care of itself.
Want proof? Well; you can do what I have already done; and that is go back and examine each year; how many games we would have won and lost if we had scored 30+ points each game. In my examination; we would have never had a record less that 13-3 from 2009 until now!
This season proves the value of having a competent veteran QB. While he may not be at Tannehills level of play (Referring to his play this year) he is certainly good enough to win with for the time being. While he is completing 57% of his passes compared to Ryan's 67% he is making the most of what he completes. Now if we can get less interceptions we can hep ourselves win games. That interception in the end zone would've been at least 3 points that could've helped us win in regulation without OT. While we were able to pull out a win against the Bills that interception in the playoffs is a game killer. That's why I'm bringing this up. Hopefully, Gase can help Moore like he did Tannehill.
Moore 57% verses tannehill's 67%. I will take the 57% any day along with Moore's 30+ points and his wins; rather than be dependent on our defense every week to pull us out of games because we simply cannot score enough points with MR 67% under center.
So the bottom line of logic is; the more points you score; the room you create to make mistakes ans your mistakes not kill you. This is why when Dan Marino threw an interception; there was no panic because either we already had enough points to win or we knew that Dan would score enough to win.
It only took 45 years to figure out that a strong running game wins ?
How did the Phins win their two championships ? I loved watching Marino in the 80's and 90's, however , there was no running game to speak of and the defense was leaky (Olivadotti had no clue).
A great passing game with a suspect defense gets you no where.
Phins been through all of that before. Now, a good or sometimes great running game, good special teams, still with a leaky defense (mostly due to injuries and one LB vs 3) a good coaching staff, gets the team to 10 wins and playoffs ? Awesome, but what took so long ? A high scoring slug fest with the Steel boys will not lead to a good ending. The Phins will need to run, score enough and keep Roethlesburger contained with fewer possessions for Phins to have a chance.
Pass happy teams don't win championships, heck, they barely get beyond 7-9, 8-8...Phins should know better than anyone, only 45 years worth of experience. Go JayTrain ! Choo- Choo !
Great comment, Edwin. I agree wholeheartedly which is why I'd prefer to have Tannehill if possible. He helps the run game more with his own running ability and better completion percentage with less interceptions. Your concept is totally lost on Apollos who has such a mancrush on Moore that he can't see straight. Irrational Tannehaters crack me up.
David you and Edwin are in left field in your suspect logic. Despite the constant draining of our defense; poor red zone efficiency, poor 4th quarter showing, poor 3rd down showing and pocket presence; also zero playoff appearances in FIVE YEARS; only someone INSANE would still be campaigning for the return of that empty playground activity.
It is true that the 80's and 90's went SOLELY on Dan Marino's arm; who received very little help from the defense and run game; but the passing game always yield a winning season. The difference with the dolphins today; is, not only do we have a running game and a good defense, but that both contribute each game. We are even receiving contributions from our special teams. So our success is balanced now. But any sensible person can see that our wins now are solid and are mainly due to the 30+ points that is being orchestrated by Matt Moore each week. The dolphins will go as far as Matt Moore will take them. We have seen how far tannehill will take us for 5 years regardless of the talent around him and the scheme.
Apollos, all the criticisms you leveled at Tannehill may have held water last year but you are flat out wrong about his performance THIS year.
David I have been fair in my observations of all our QBs for the past 20 years. I am not bias to any one player over another. If tannehill were the better QB; then I would admit it with compliments; just as I have acknowledge his toughness many times.
Tannehill has costed us way too much over the years. You have to understand that. In any situation involving people; anyone can go too far in their activities; to the point that it does not matter how much they improve.
That is where tannehill is with the team and many of the fans. It does not matter that tannehill is playing a little better now. The damage that he has imposed on the team over 4+ years cannot be dismissed at this point. And the team is afraid to trust him now.
The only reason that Gase was able to win the team over and get them to play with enthusiasm; is because he told them that the offense is switching to the running game with Ajayi. If Gase had said that the team would continue to try to win on tannehill's arm and legs; he would have lost the team for good. And Gase would have been replaced by season'e end because the team would not want to play for him. If Gase had continued to promote tannehill as he did the 1st 4 weeks of the season; as the way to success and wins; we would not have won any games this season and the locker room would despise him!
Apollos, sorry but I have to disagree. Interestingly enough Gase still says Tannehill is his starting QB when ready. No controversy etc. Gase clearly thinks Tannehill is the better QB. Of course, I'm sure you think you know better than Gase. You should probably be coaching in the NFL with all your vast superior knowledge you have over the rest of us fans. And BTW, no you have not been fair to Tannehill, in any sense of the word. Enjoy your time with Moore because he's only playing 'til RT comes back.
RT is one of best redzone QB's this year.
You are correct Dave.
30+ is the goal and necessity.
J right, J left, J, J, j
Both Tannehill and Moore dink and dunk.
Missed tackles vs Jets and Bills helped turn short passes into long plays.
I prefer Tannehill because he has a stronger arm t ok fire the ball sideline to sideline.
Plus he can run the ball.
Marino didn't have a running game
It's not all Tannehill's fault he's never had a real NFL coach until now, he has a higher ceiling than Moore.
The NFL dinks and dunks even Brady, but a few long balls a game and you forget the 20 short ones
I am not saying they are unique.
I am saying Moore hit a bomb but most of his big plays went 5 yards in the air
Carl I am sure that you can see how potent the run game is in conjunction with the 30+ points orchestrated by Matt Moore each game. With this formula we will be hard to beat.
Just watch what we do to the Pats with this formula. By the way; if tannehill scored 30+ a game; then I would not care which QB was under center. Tannehill simply does not score enough points and it drains our defense every week that he is under center; but Matt Moore does score enough points and the results are undeniable.
Frankly that is my only beef with a tannehill led offense. Because a lot of points scored on offense makes room for errors on both sides of the ball.