Taking Stock of Miami Dolphins Ahead of Week 5 Bye
Since 1990 (the birth of the current playoff format), there have been just 25 playoff teams to start with a record of 1-3 or worse through four games. Needless to say, things do not look good for the Miami Dolphins.
Owner Stephen Ross beset playoff expectations of the Dolphins ahead of training camp, and with his team underperforming through four games and headed into the bye week, major changes are unfolding. Joe Philbin is out as head coach, and tight ends coach Dan Campbell is in as the head coach, according to Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Make no mistake; the Dolphins are not out of the playoff hunt just yet. They started 1-3 in 2012, Philbin's first year as head coach, before winning three straight and sparking debate about their viability as a playoff contender. They lost their next three, though, to drop back below .500 and out of the race.
The big differences between 2015 and 2012 are the talent level of the roster and the tenure of Philbin. This team was supposed to perform much better than this, and Philbin was supposed to have learned from his previous mistakes. Now, it's up to Campbell to clean up the mess that Philbin leaves behind.
Of course, the coaching job isn't the only storyline that has reporters circling SunLife Stadium, so let's take stock of the Dolphins through four games and headed into their bye week.
Slow Starts Could Haunt Team All Season Long
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One reason to hold the coaching staff accountable is the apparent (or rather clear) lack of effective preparation and game planning that's been evident in the team's flat starts this season.
In the first quarter of their first four games, the Dolphins have been outscored 37-3. In the first half overall, they've been outscored 77-27.
This is a collective failure by the team and the coaching staff. Whether it's poor game planning or poor execution, things aren't working. The Dolphins defense is giving up scores too fast, and the offense is too predictable when playing from behind.
Unfortunately, there's no magic wand to wave that will fix the issue. The Dolphins simply have to start preparing better during the week and playing better on Sundays.
Total Refusal to Run the Ball
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Maybe the Dolphins' new head coach will place more of an emphasis on establishing a running game.
Through four games, the Dolphins rank dead last in rushing attempts (65 total, 16.3 per game) and second-to-last in rushing yards (277 total, 69.3 per game). Of course, it would be easier for the Dolphins to stick to the running game if they weren't getting off to such slow starts, where they've been trailing by an average of 8.5 points in the first quarter and 12.5 points in the first half.
That would almost be excusable if the problem couldn't be traced back two years. That's how long it's been since the Dolphins gave a real commitment to the running game to the point of ranking outside the bottom 10 in rushing attempts per game. On Sunday against the New York Jets, the Dolphins attempted 44 passes and 11 runs. They trailed by 13 in the first half, but the game was still very much within reach at that point.
Unfortunately for the Dolphins, they just didn't play like it.
Ryan Tannehill's Constant Progress Has Stopped
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The Dolphins have been disappointing over the past few seasons, with spending sprees that fail to produce the desired on-field results as the Dolphins continue to fail to get over the .500 hump. The Dolphins haven't improved as a team, but one individual has improved each year since 2012: quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
On Sunday against the Jets, Tannehill completed 19 of his 44 passes for 198 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Through four games, Tannehill has completed 97 of his league-high 171 pass attempts (56.7 percent) for 1,080 yards, seven touchdowns, five interceptions and a 77.1 passer rating. Tannehill has regressed to a point where he's on par to put up similar numbers to what he posted in his rookie year.
It appears even Tannehill's continued growth is no match for Miami's run of bad football.
The Dolphins just gave Tannehill a four-year contract extension worth $77 million in new money. They are heavily invested in him as their franchise quarterback for the next two years. If his play doesn't turn around, that investment could turn sour in the course of just a few months.
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Pervasive Negative Attitude Running Rampant on Dolphins Roster
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Ndamukong Suh stood behind the podium, selectively answering some questions and deflecting others with a quick "next question."
According to Conor Orr of NFL Media, Suh "refused to answer a question about the gear he wore to practice earlier this week," after reportedly wearing sneakers to a practice, "and he refused to answer a question about why the defense gets off to so many slow starts."
Suh's defiance of the media is far from the only example of bad attitudes having their influence on the roster. According to Aaron Wilson of NationalFootballPost.com, quarterback Ryan Tannehill "made negative comments toward [practice squad players that forced turnovers], including saying: 'Enjoy your practice squad paycheck, enjoy your practice squad trophy.'"
Suh and Tannehill are not only the team's two financial leaders in terms of their massive contracts, but by virtue, they are also leaders in the locker room. If this is indeed the example they are setting, it's no wonder the Dolphins have played so uninspired in their first four games of the season.
Complete House-Cleaning Could Be Coming Soon
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Joe Philbin, we hardly knew ye—well, actually, we knew ye quite well.
You are what your record says you are, and Philbin's .462 winning percentage is in the bottom half of the league. Forget trips to the playoffs; Philbin's teams have never shown much sign of improvement at any point in his tenure. It's about time he is held accountable for his team's shortcomings. It was a surprise he was even brought back in the first place.
But now, there are questions surrounding the rest of the Dolphins' regime. Between offensive coordinator Bill Lazor, defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle, general manager Dennis Hickey and vice president of football operations Mike Tannenbaum, the Dolphins have plenty of people on the hot seat who could be out by the end of the season.
For years, the Dolphins have been hesitant to hit the reset button. Be it a head coach or a general manager, there's always been some overlap in the front office and leadership infrastructure. If Ross ever wants his team to compete for a playoff spot, it may be time to establish a clear chain of command and eliminate some of the extra cooks in his kitchen.
Unless otherwise noted, all quotes obtained via team news release.
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