Two video games and two wins. I’m not, uh. I don’t know what to do with my fingers.
It feels unusual to enter a recreation with confidence
In the event you’re studying this, you’re a Dolphins fan and which means you belong to an elite group of misfits who reside for punishment and disappointment. Such is our lot in life. Or at the very least it has been for the higher a part of a century.
But, in some way, earlier than the sport kicked off between the Fins and The Belichick Bunch, I truly thought Miami was going to win.
Not like in years previous the place I assumed Miami had an opportunity to win if they only managed to manage the clock for 55 minutes or pressure eight turnovers or get a forfeit on a technicality associated to uniform laws: I truly thought they might simply be higher at soccer.
That feeling is borderline surreal. In fact, they made positive I didn’t get too comfortable, what with their dangerous snaps and dropped passes and missed kicks to point out me what for. Even with mentioned poppycock, nevertheless, they beat the *Patriots on the highway.
I do know it’s solely two video games, however ooh youngster.
The offense had higher stability from the beginning
A fair proportion of followers (beginning along with your beloved writer) advised that the offense may stand for some run performs to associate with their monstrous passing assault because the season progressed. Effectively, Mike McDaniel (buddy of this system) took that sage recommendation to coronary heart instantly, doling out 22 carries to his working backs and three rushes to broad receiver Erik Ezukanma to go together with Tua’s 30 move makes an attempt. Raheem Mostert made essentially the most of his touches from a statistical vantage level, ending with 18 carries for 121 yds and a pair of TDs.
Although I have to say, on his 6 whole touches (3 rushes and three receptions), seemingly fixed bubble man Salvon Ahmed appeared each bit nearly as good as Mostert to my eyes. I do know they don’t have comparable immediately pace, however Ahmed simply manages to excel when given the prospect. I don’t have something profound to say about it, I simply like to see it.
Now after simply two video games, Miami has proven the flexibility to plot a profitable recreation plan on the bottom to go together with their aerial assault. That bodes extraordinarily properly for the longer term.
Vic Fangio combined issues up early and sometimes
The offense wasn’t the one aspect of the ball listening to outdoors suggestions straight from followers and from completely no different supply. Vic Fangio (famed fan-listener and buddy of this system) modified the defensive technique so as to add extra blitzes and up the stress on opposing quarterback Macaroni and Jones to the tune of 4 sacks.
A part of the move rush’s success got here from one more man who loves listening to it from followers: Bradley Chubb (doesn’t look after this system). It could nonetheless not justify his megalithic contract but, however notching 7 tks, 2 tfls, and 1 sack is a efficiency trending in the appropriate route (even when generally he appeared a bit like a snail combating its manner by means of the remnants of an overturned molasses truck).
The a lot maligned run protection from Week 1 stepped up as properly. They held New England to 88 yards dashing, holding Ezekiel Elliott an afterthought in a stomach shirt.
However the greatest standout was everybody’s favourite Owen Hart cosplayer Andrew Van Ginkel. Marek wrote all the things that must be mentioned about AVG in his MVP article. AVG going HAM can solely imply GG, no re.
One grievance (since they appear to be doing the trick to date) is with the protection utilizing Eli Apple on the skin and Kader Kohou within the nickel. Apple has appeared overmatched and had his fair proportion of penalties, together with some phantom ones, whereas Kohou is among the protection’s brightest younger gamers. Since I do know you’re studying this Vic, perhaps see if taking part in musical CBs helps that out.
Is the offensive line good?
I get it. It doesn’t make sense to say that I believe I believe one thing after which that one thing is a query. That’s how unacclimated I’m to the likelihood that the offensive line isn’t a legal responsibility.
Simply the mere glimmer that they may not be devastating to the staff’s success turns me into this man.
But, despite my preconditioning, the road is taking part in properly. They’ve solely given up a single sack over the primary two video games and that’s with out Terron Armstead.
Traditionally, the moment any Fins’ lineman goes down, for even a single snap, the road turns into inconsolable and melts into the bottom like a gaggle of squonks. However this time, they’re straight killin’ it. Having offensive line depth is an space that no Dolphins staff in my reminiscence has gotten proper. It’s such an enormous element to late season success that I simply can’t even let myself think about it.
However it’s actual. No less than to date. And holding that success going will proceed to construct the staff’s confidence together with the tiny little flame of hope burning within the in any other case chilly, hole cave of my coronary heart.
Miami with momentum goes to be harmful
If the Dolphins can proceed to construct on these first two wins, I believe we’re all going to have some reckoning to do. Already, they’ve confirmed they will beat opponents with an all-out air assault, a tough and tumble floor recreation, win a nail biter with a final second defensive stand, and shut down each the opponent’s run and move offense with various recreation plans.
That’s all the things, proper? That’s undefeated on the way in which to the Superbowl.
Besides, I believe there’s nonetheless (at the very least) one factor lacking: they should be taught to win huge.
All the mediocrity over the a long time has poured into the souls of followers, however it might have additionally leaked a bit into the material of the franchise. It takes a bit little bit of time to erase that stigma and, whereas I believe Tua and Mike McD are nearly as good a pair to do it as any, the following step in that development is to essentially dominate the video games they need to dominate.
The truth that these video games are even on the schedule is simply so superb, however subsequent week is one among them. The Denver Broncos are 0-2 and they’re dangerous. I do know; they’ve solely misplaced their first two video games by a mixed 3 factors, however I simply don’t imagine in them. The Payments are due up after the Broncos and Miami groups of the previous can be wanting forward (seemingly in worry) and handle to lose a recreation that had no enterprise even being shut.
Miami must deal with Denver of their Exhausting Rock residence opener. They should get used to successful simply when the chance is there. If this staff can get to that time, we received’t have to fret if they will win or assume they need to win, however we would simply have the ability to have the boldness that they are going to.
Have you ever been suitably impressed by the Fins to date? Nonetheless have lingering doubts? Nonetheless know that the reality is on the market? Seek for it within the feedback under.
