To the surprise of almost no one, the Miami Dolphins were quiet on the trade front as the NFL’s deadline came and went Tuesday. The Dolphins currently sit in that grey area where they aren’t good enough that a splash trade can bring a player that provides immediate help, yet aren’t bad enough to trade away players in which the team sees future value.

But it wasn’t all crickets in the front office, as the team did make three roster moves involving free agents, signing defensive end Ziggy Hood, defensive tackle Sylvester Williams, and activating linebacker Mike Hull off of injured reserve. They also placed defensive tackle Vincent Taylor on season-ending injured reserve with a foot injury.

Hood, a former first round draft pick (32nd overall in 2009) with the Pittsburgh Steelers, is a 10-year NFL veteran with 73 starts in 134 career games. He’s compiled 225 tackles (139 solo), 14 sacks, 10 passes defensed, one forced fumble, and five fumble recoveries. He played the past three seasons with Washington, before being released earlier this month. He’s 6’-3” and 305 pounds, and is still only 31 years old, despite having a 10-year NFL career.

Williams, 6’-2” and 328 pounds, has played 81 games in his 6 year career, with 63 starts. He was also a first round pick, selected 28th overall in 2013 by the Denver Broncos. He has 120 tackles (83 solo), six sacks, two passes defensed and one fumble recovery with three NFL teams (Denver, Tennessee, and Detroit. He was released by the Lions last week.

Hull was placed on injured reserve prior to the regular season. He has played in 35 career games with four starts for the Dolphins and totaled 42 tackles (27 solo), one interception, one pass defensed, and one fumble recovery. He also has 27 career special teams tackles (19 solo) and finished third in the NFL with 18 special teams tackles in 2016. He was an undrafted free agent signing in 2015.

​This story was written by Eldon Jenson. Follow him on Twitter: @EJFootball

Dolphins fan, I am sorry. I apologize for the current state of our beloved franchise and football team. I know none of us are at fault, but sometimes it feels like it’s something we did. We either didn’t cheer hard enough, or get to the stadium early enough, or wear the right socks. I don’t know, but what I do know is that this era of ambiguity in which we are currently stuck, needs to be resolved.

Allow me to be clear: a team being at 4-4 is not a death sentence by any means, neither is the talent—yes, there is still significant talent on this team—that is present in Davie. No, I am not attempting to paint a picture of the sky falling, or a reason for fans to stop supporting their team. All I am saying is that it is okay to be frustrated, confused, and shell-shocked.

​After all, are there many other fanbases that have gone through what we have the past 5-10 years? The turnstile offensive lines, the recent injuries to prominent players, the inability to find consistency in any unit or player not named Denney?
 
The answer to that depressing question is likely no; not many fanbases like that exist. And yet, we are still here. We are still wearing our aqua and orange proudly, and we still love our Fins. So for those of us that are with the team through thick and thin (literally thin…as in we don’t have enough healthy players to fill out our roster), allow me to give you my opinion of how we get out of this era of ambiguity. 

Go on Twitter and search “Fire Gase” as soon as you finish reading this sentence, and then come back to finish the article. Did you do it? Okay. What you likely found was about 3,536 tweets on how Gase needs to go and on how Ross is making a mistake by continuously trusting in the Head Coach.

I empathize with the fans that share that opinion, but I simply don’t agree with them. If you want to get out of ambiguity, the first step is to not create more if it. See, firing your coach is not an answer to the questions, it is solely another question being added to the pile.
 
If you want consistency, you need to start somewhere; and no, the owner doesn’t count. So then you get to be the judge, from the following members of the organization, who do you keep for consistency: Adam Gase, Mike Tannenbaum, or Chris Grier? To me, the answer is a resounding vote for Adam Gase. You do not keep Gase because of what he’s done, but rather because of what he can do.

It’s the same philosophy of not paying a free agent for the back of his baseball card, but for what he will bring to you in the future. Gase can and will be successful in this league, my hope is that he does so while wearing aqua and orange.
 
​You want to be better? First step is consistency, and the first choice there is Adam Gase.

I could write a twenty page article, with the winning lotto numbers, the cure for illnesses around the world, and the location of the Holy Grail…and yet this is the section that would get the most engagements and views. Quarterback talk…yikes…this should be fun. The following are a few opinions that I believe to be true:

1. Miami needs to draft a quarterback in either the 2019 or 2020 Draft. This opinion is controversial, but really shouldn’t be. Even over the offseason, and even with the belief that a healthy Ryan Tannehill is a franchise quarterback, Miami should always be investing and searching for the next Dan Marino. The issue? Miami has had so many holes in their roster, that they cannot be blamed for not always going quarterback.

With that being said, that excuse will not fly over the next few years; Gase needs to draft a prospect, and he needs to do it soon. I love that they were able to sign Falk for this year—I clamored for him during the draft—but he’s not becoming Marino.

2. Ryan Tannehill has 11, 10, 9…8 games to earn himself a spot on the 2019 roster. Allow me to re-iterate something I previously stated: Ryan Tannehill, when healthy, is a franchise quarterback in this league, and you can win with him. With that being said, he may be winning on another team. Miami would be foolish to detach from Tannehill without a clear successor—and no, trading for Carr is not the answer—but due to injury, lack of support, a begruntled fanbase, and football being about business $$$ more so than solely football, Tannehill’s time in Miami may be coming to an end.

For some fans, there is nothing Tannehill can do this season that will keep him on this roster; I don’t agree. He has 8 games to show that he is what many believe he is, and show Gase that he is worthy of the starting job heading into next year.

3. No single quarterback, not even Dan Marino is fixing this team as currently playing. If this was a Ryan Tannehill article, the bots would now tell me that this point is all about excuses and covering for him…blah blah blah. But here is the truth, regardless of who is back there, Miami will not win meaningful football games until the people in Davie figure out how to pass protect, run block, and win the battle in the trenches.

Also, your defense shouldn’t be giving up 27+ points a game. Oh, and you probably shouldn’t have your quarterback be the leading rusher; like Tannehill was during that 3-0 start. This is the franchise that ruined—as in never allowed for Super Bowl success—the best quarterback of all-time in Dan Marino…so it’s somewhat hard to blame any quarterback for their failures when they come here.

I don’t know if it is Ryan Tannehill (my guess), or a draft prospect, or a free agent who starts Week 1 in 2019…but I do know that they won’t be successful without support. Support which Miami hasn’t provided a quarterback of theirs in a very very long time.

In sum: keep drafting until you find Dan Marino, Ryan Tannehill may still be the guy but he needs to show it, and whenever you figure out the QB position, also remember that the other guys on the team should be competent too.

My most significant gripe with this franchise is their inability to develop a true identity throughout the years following the early 2000’s. Make no mistake, this comes from some of the things discussed above such as lack of consistency and a revolving door at quarterback prior to Tannehill and during his injuries, but it also comes from continuously resetting prematurely.

This is eerily close to my first point that discussed the need for consistency, but is slightly different. The first one had to do with football ops, but this one is about the organization.
 
From marketing, to stadium management, to public relations, to football operations, the Miami Dolphins need to choose a path (e.g. rebuilding versus going for it) and stick to it. They are continuously in this cycle of 9-7, 8-8, or early elimination in the playoffs, and that cycle does not lend itself to success. Here’s a scary thought to many, but is likely true: you know those pesky Miami Marlins that operate in Little Havana, the franchise run by Derek Jeter, the same franchise that the national media killed all last year? Well those “little guys” in Little Havana currently have a proven plan to success, and are implementing at a high level as we speak.

That plan has many, possibly including myself, confident that they’re likely the best suited South Florida team to take the next step and bring consistent winning to South Florida. If you give me an offer on season tickets to either the Fins for the next five years or the Fish; my answer is the Fish 10 out of 10 times. Think about that for a few seconds…ponder that reality, and then realize that you can’t really even debate it much…because at least they have an identity and a plan. What identity do our beloved Fins have?

The Dolphins will eventually have answers to their current state of ambiguity, it will happen. If you want it to happen slightly quicker than Brock Osweiler trying to run out of the pocket, then let’s hope that they find their consistency, resolve their quarterback situation, and learn that they need to develop an identity.

We will always be wearing our aqua and orange. We will always be cheering for our team. But we will also be asking ourselves why? Why the ambiguity? Why the inconsistency? My hope? That we get the answers sooner rather than later.

This story as written by Daniel Martinez. Follow him on Twitter: @all_right_Miami

Miami (4-3) is in a must-win spot Thursday night against a red-hot Houston Texans (4-3) ballclub that has rang off four consecutive victories, after opening the season 0-3. As it has all season, the injury bug struck, yet, again, in Sunday’s 32-21 loss to the Detroit Lions.

WR Albert Wilson sustained a leg injury after a 25-yard catch-and-run in the second quarter, WR Kenny Stills suffered a groin injury late in the fourth quarter, and LB Jerome Baker limped off in the second half. As it stands, expect WR DeVante Parker, who has missed six of Miami’s seven football games, to see a lot of action Thursday night.

The Texans secured a 20-7 victory Sunday at Jacksonville, taking over first-place in the AFC South. Houston leads the all-time series, 7-1-0. Miami has never defeated Houston, in Houston (0-4).

Date: Thursday, October 25
Time: 8:20 p.m.
Site: NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas
TV: Fox/NFL Network
Line: Hou -7, O/U: 45
Radio: Dolphins Radio Network, KISS 99.9 FM, 560 WQAM, 1210 WNMA (Spanish)
Radio Announcers: English broadcast- Jimmy Cefalo, Bob Griese, Joe Rose, Kim Bokamper; Spanish broadcast- Raul Striker Jr., Eduardo Martell

1. QB Brock Osweiler: Osweiler will be Miami’s man under center for the third consecutive game, as QB Ryan Tannehill recovers from a right shoulder injury. This is set up as a revenge game for Osweiler, who was a one-year starter for the Texans in 2016, tallying eight wins and six losses.

2. RB Lamar Miller: Miller, the former Miami Dolphin, has gained 371 yards on 95 carries this season. Miller attended the University of Miami, and spent four seasons with the Dolphins (2012-’16). He's also set for a revenge game, as the Dolphins defense allowed a total of 248 rushing yards against the Lions.

3. WR DeAndre Hopkins: Hopkins is third in the National Football League in receiving yards (707), trailing Minnesota’s Adam Thielen and Atlanta’s Julio Jones. Hopkins will present a tough challenge for Miami’s cornerbacks, led by Xavien Howard and Bobby McCain, who made his return to the field last Sunday versus Detroit, after missing weeks five and six due to an injury.

4. DE J.J. Watt: Through seven football games, Watt has recorded 7.0 sacks, good for top five in the league. Dolphins LT Laremy Tunsil and RT Ja’Wuan James must fortify the line of scrimmage throughout, or it will get ugly in a hurry.

5. CB Xavien Howard: Get your popcorn ready. Howard is expected to cover Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins, all while the two exchanged some comments this week. When asked about Hopkins, Howard responded with, “I mean, he always pushes CB’s off, that’s why he is always open.” When asked about the type of player Xavien Howard is, Hopkins sincerely said, “Who is Xavien Howard?”   

I've been through it all as a fan of the Miami Dolphins.

From the unbridled and innocent joy as a kid watching the magical seasons of the early ‘70s.

To the soul-crushing disappointment when Larry Csonka, Paul Warfield, and Jim Kiick left for the Toronto Northmen of the WFL.

To the apathy that followed as the Pittsburgh Steelers became the dynasty of the ‘70s, a title that to this day I know the Dolphins would hold if only… if only…

To the glory of the ‘80s, watching coach Don Shula mold his team from a run-dominant squad into a passing machine.
To the abject sadness of watching two lopsided losses in Super Bowls XVII and XIX. And the loneliness of never making it back to that game since.

To the satisfaction of watching Dan Marino throw the ball like no one had ever seen, giving the Dolphins a chance no matter who the opponent.

Then the clock ticked on, the century came to an end, and the legends retired.

And the Miami Dolphins have floundered ever since.

Being a fan of the Miami Dolphins in the 21st century is no easy task. An entire generation of fans has grown up having never seen Marino play, let alone having experienced the gloriousness of the Perfect Season. The team that had just two losing seasons in all those Don Shula years has since only seen three winning seasons in the past fourteen years.

What once was the root of stability in Miami, a great quarterback led by a great coach, has become a turnstile of uncertainty. Nine head coaches since the turn of the century, more starting quarterbacks than anyone cares to count (it’s 20, by the way), and a constant turnover of the roster as one regime after another tries and fails to mold a winner in South Florida. Is it any wonder so much of the fanbase is jaded and gives an eye-rolling “that’s so Dolphins” reaction each time a season or game takes a turn for the worse?

This isn’t unique to Miami, mind you. Other fan bases are the same. I see stuff from the Bears and Broncos all the time, and they have the same “live and die with my team” fans as well.

The thing I see missing for Miami, going back to the sad day that Marino retired, is that as fans, we no longer have anything to hang our hat on. And haven’t for a long time.

​Back in the day, we had Csonka, Kiick, Mercury Morris, and a no name defense that kicked you where it counts. You just KNEW that every week the team had a chance, regardless of opponent. Later, with Marino, you also just KNEW the Dolphins would compete. They might lose 45-42, and you'd say, "Damn, we lost. But man, that was a good game!" And you knew we'd be right back into it next week.

But for two decades now, we've sifted through QBs, we've sifted through coaches, and every changeover results in more turnover, so there is constantly a myriad of holes in the roster where we need help. And there's nothing for fans to hang their hat on. You know, things like, "Well, our coach is great, he’ll figure this out and we’ll kick butt next week," or, "Dang, our offense is struggling, but man, our D is tough (a la the Zach Thomas and Jason Taylor years)."

Know what they call those things?

An identity.

Something that you can always say is a positive about the team, something that you know is the bread and butter, the heart and soul, the… well, call it what you will, but it’s what makes you love that team.

Can you name something that the current edition of the Miami Dolphins does that makes you confident?

Besides the colors are pretty?

This is a team without a face.

A face without a reflection.

And that brings us to the root of this story. It’s this writer’s opinion that the problem with the team, right here, right now, is that head coach Adam Gase needs to look in the mirror and realize that in his third year after landing the job based on a reputation as an offensive guru, a developer of quarterbacks, and an innovative game planner and playcaller, none of those things are shining through.

I could go on for pages of all the many issues that are making fans squirm in their seat at the game and utter profanities at their TV screens all around the country. But that’s for another column. Let’s just sum it up with this: In Gase’s third year, with a team molded in his fashion, with an offense that he has built to his specifications, with all the tools in place that he needed to be successful, the results scream the complete opposite of what he was hired to do.

Now I’m well aware that Gase knows way more about football than I ever will, but even he has to see how bad some of his situational calls are. Even he has to see how wholly unprepared the team looks at times. Even he has to recognize that sometimes it's not because a player didn’t execute their assignment (a favorite refrain in press conferences), but because the call simply didn’t put the players in the best spot to succeed.

When I watch the Dolphins play, it seems that every time a play is called that doesn’t work, the cameras swing to Gase on the sidelines, and there he is, hat pulled low over his brow, body slumping into his playsheet, scanning for the next play. Rarely if ever do I see Gase scanning the field, checking the defense, or most of all, barking the next play quickly to his quarterback.

His head is buried in that play sheet all day. And I feel that by giving his full focus, his undivided attention to that one isolated part of the game, he's hurting the team.

As much as it will surely pain him, Gase absolutely needs to give up playcalling and actually be a head coach. He needs to focus on the entire team, on all phases of the game as they unfold on the field, from defense to offense to special teams to clock management.

He needs to let his offensive coordinator handle the biggest part of the offense. He can always lean in and make his voice heard when needed; that’s what head coaches do, after all. If he doesn’t trust his coaches to do these things, then he needs new coaches.

But if Gase continues down the road he’s going, if he insists that playcalling and play design are what got him here, and he’s going to hang on to that with a death grip, then he will fail. I can’t be the only one who sees this. It seems so clear.

If Gase can’t look in the mirror and see what the results reflect, it's going to be his downfall.

​This story was written by Eldon Jenson. Follow him on Twitter: @EJFootball

​Fashion shows are generally viewed as opportunities to admire the female form, and it would be a lie to say that wasn't the case this past Friday as the Dolphins cheerleaders worked the catwalk at Hard Rock Stadium, but the underlying theme was a bit different than usual this year, as the cover girls (along with the rest of the squad) were depicted much differently than what's the norm for things like this.

They wore no makeup at all in their photos.

"This is the coolest year to be on a cover," Cheerleader Paige said. "Because it's just raw images of us, completely untouched. So you get to see our inner beauty through our eyes, I get to tell a story through my picture, and I think that's very special to me, that just being myself with no makeup on it is going to be handed out to people and people are going to admire it."

For the very first segment of the fashion show, the theme was called "You Be You," and it gave the cheerleaders the opportunity to design their own outfits and let their personalities shine through the way they wanted it to, and there was definitely no shortage of variety as the girls came out to show them off.

"We kinda got to wear whatever we wanted, that we felt represented us in the best way." said Cheerleader Katie. "I really liked this part because we all are so different, we don't have one image similar to the next, we are the Miami Dolphins cheerleaders 2018 because of all 36 of us. So I felt like it was really a chance for us to contribute to that and show people how different we are and how diverse our team is."

In many ways, this is groundbreaking stuff for the NFL, as the Miami Dolphins continue their crusade against injustice and discrimination in the world. Owner Stephen Ross started up RISE (Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality) back in 2015 as a way to combat racism in the world of sports.

But women also need help.

"It's definitely hard as a woman in this world, and in industries like this," said Katie. "It's hard to overcome rejection and overcome stereotypes. We are one of the most stereotyped groups in the industry, unfortunately. It's nice to be the first to overcome it. I feel like we're setting a foundation for all NFL teams, all cheerleaders, and it's really a blessing to be able to do that, be the first to do that and be a part of that movement."

"It's really tough," said Paige. "When you look at cheerleaders, you look at all the rhinestones, the bright lipstick, perfectly manicured, and it's almost sad that little girls will look up to us and think that that's what they're supposed to look like. So I think this direction that we're taking is very, very huge, because we do have a lot of little girls that are looking up to us, so they get to see these pictures and they're like, 'well you know, Paige is on the cover and she has no makeup and I love that photo of her,' so we're hoping to encourage women and little girls to be proud in the skin that they are in and just embrace their inner and outer beauty that God has given them."

This will likely be only the beginning for the movement that the Dolphins Cheerleaders kicked off on Friday; in a world where equality is something so strongly sought after, this is an excellent start, and one can only imagine what the future will hold.

This story was written by Luis Sung. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung

Kicking ‘em while they’re down.

Pouring salt in the wound.

Adding insult to injury (literally).

And then some dope tweeted, “The Dolphins need Ryan Tannehill back ASAP.. ..as a WR.”

(That last one may have been me. Sorry.)

The Miami Dolphins played a terrible game on Sunday, losing 32-21 to the Detroit Lions, and pretty much doing everything wrong that they could. And if that outcome wasn’t bad enough, wide receiver DeVante Parker’s agent decided to go on a rant of his own.

James Gould, who is Parker’s agent, released a statement to reporters about an hour after the game. As Barry Jackson reports, Gould wrote, “I am responding that (Gase) is not telling the truth and his decision was an example of poor management and cost the team the best opportunity to win. He continues attacking the health of my client and this is not acceptable.

“Parker is not only healthy but wants to help this team win, and the only real question that should be asked is how does Coach Gase justify his own incompetence? (The Dolphins) averaged only 6.1 yards per pass catch today. They needed Parker, who is completely healthy and was in full participation all week and in warm ups this morning.”
He concluded with, “Something smells in Miami.”

Then in an interview with the Miami Herald, Gould showed just how incensed he is with the perceived treatment of his client.

“I’m sick to my stomach,” he said. “I’m tired of watching coach Gase make these decisions. This was the third game DeVante should have played and didn’t. Coach Gase should have made himself inactive. He has taken advantage of a great young man, a terrifically gifted football player with God-given talent, and made him a scapegoat.”

It would seem quite likely that Parker has played his last game for Miami, as outbursts like this from a player’s agent certainly don’t bode well with the team. There have been rumblings on the trade front that Parker has been discussed with other teams as a possible trade target, with the Philadelphia Eagles being one of the teams confirmed to have been in contact with the Dolphins. But to date nothing concrete has come from those talks.

The Dolphins have declined to comment on Gould’s remarks. But they are rumored to be seeking a third round pick for Parker. Should a trade come to fruition, it is expected to be far less compensation for a player that currently is the team’s fifth wide receiver, and as such has more likely been inactive because he doesn’t contribute on special teams.

Then again, the Miami Dolphins also suddenly have a distinct need at wide receiver, with both Albert Wilson and Kenny Stills currently hobbled by injury, so the team may decide to ride out the storm out of necessity. It will certainly be something to keep an eye on in the coming days.

This story was written by Eldon Jenson. Follow him on Twitter: @EJFootball

Some artists are known for being attached to a certain location in the world, and Flo Rida quite obviously has his attachment to Miami.

So it was a big deal when the 39-year old rapper, singer and songwriter appeared at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday against the Detroit Lions to perform for the Miami Dolphins halftime show.

"To be home in the 305, I mean I anticipated coming out here for a very long time, and I think this may be a pre-Super Bowl halftime performance for the Dolphins, you know what I'm saying? We have it down in the 305, yeah it was so much fun."

​The longtime Dolphins fan gave shout outs to the cheerleaders and the fans while talking to the media, and also stated he loved Dan Marino and the Marks brothers, which is a true indicator that he's been following the team for quite some time.

And the experience he had performing at halftime is one that Flo Rida is likely to never forget.

"My passion is performing, and at the same time, to be home, you just get tremendous love." he said. "I grew up in Carol City not too far from here, to come home versus performing at night and the day is basically the same for me, because all my family and friends come out and they support. It's the Sunshine State, you know where there's day and night, Miami is like 24 hours."

It was his first time performing at Hard Rock for a halftime show, but he certainly hopes it won't be his last. Flo Rida also has an album coming out soon, and he joked that Dolphins fans should help him come up with a name for it.

Well, that's what Twitter is for, so why not?

This story was written by Luis Sung. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung

The Miami Dolphins have a next man up mentality, they talk about it all the time, they talked about it more after the loss to the Lions that saw several players go down for either multiple plays or the rest of the game entirely.

"It's football, injuries happen," said Dolphins (and former Lions) defensive tackle Akeem Spence. "It's next man up mentality, and we've been that all throughout this season, we got games where you had two guys go out on the defensive line, guys picked it up, so I mean we gotta continue to step up, continue to make plays, and guys just gotta keep believing, believing in each other, and keep belieiving in this team. It's one loss, we got a game come Thursday night, and we need everybody. Everybody needs to get healthy, do what they need to do, come Thursday night and find a way to get a 'W'."

But that's just it, as much as they would like to talk about next man up, there comes a point where the level of injuries starts becoming a mountain that can't be overcome. Consider this:

The Dolphins traded for center Daniel Kilgore and signed Pro Bowl guard Josh Sitton to shore up the interior of the offensive line and protect Ryan Tannehill. Sitton lasted one game, and Ted Larsen took over. Kilgore went down weeks later, and Travis Swanson was picked up off the street. Then Miami signed former Jets interior OL Wesley Johnson just in case, and he wound up playing on both sides during the Lions game, spelling Larsen and Jesse Davis who both missed snaps with injuries.

Then there's Albert Wilson, who left the game with a bad hip injury, and then there's Mike Gesicki, who was evaluated for a concussion, and then there's Kenny Stills, who hopped off the field after taking a bad hit on a deep pass late in the fourth quarter.

Ryan Tannehill, William Hayes, DeVante Parker, A.J. Derby, even Jerome Baker and Frank Gore missed a few snaps against the Lions.

Is the team really just that cursed?

For what it's worth, the team not only used the next man up mentality to discuss that players needed to step up, but also to say that there were truly no excuses for the performance they put out at home against a team that actually improved to 3-3 with the win on Sunday.

"They were just taking the plays we were giving them," said Dolphins cornerback Bobby McCain, who himself just returned from injury. "A veteran quarterback like that (Stafford), they're gonna take what you give them. If you give them 2nd and 5, they'll take it, you give them 3rd and 1, they'll take it. At the end of the day, we know we gotta play better in the back end and up front. As a defense we gotta play better, as a team we gotta play better, we didn't do enough."

Miami's defense, which had been viewed as the strength of the team for the past few weeks, gave up a total of 248 rushing yards to the Lions, with rookie phenom Kerryon Johnson accounting for 158 of those yards.

The Dolphins offense racked up a grand total of 322 yards.

At some point we have to raise an eyebrow, at some point we have to wonder why players are so prone to getting injured in Miami. Is it strength and conditioning? Is it the heat and humidity? Is it because of the stadium is built on an Indian burial ground?

Either way, the team needs to find a solution and fast, before there's no players left to play. Now the Dolphins will have a short week as they head up to play a hot Houston Texans team that's won four straight games, and they better have some healthy bodies who can carry the workload if they don't want to fall too far behind the season.

This story was written by Luis Sung. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung

The Miami Dolphins are about to go to Hollywood. Vice Chairman and co-founder and CEO of RSE Ventures (which is owner Stephen Ross' private investment firm that focuses on sports, entertainment and technology based companies) will be making an appearance on ABC's hit show 'Shark Tank' as a guest during the show's 'Decade of Dreams' season.

Higgins will be joined by fellow celebrities Alex Rodriguez, Bethenny Frankel and Charles Barkley, among others. The show is known for allowing aspiring entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas and dreams to influential people in the business world, like Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, who can then make offers to invest in their company if they like the idea.

“It’s what we do all day long, only on TV,” Higgins said during a collaboration with &pizza to launch its exclusive delivery partnership with UberEATS. “They gave me an invite, and how do you pass that up." 

All of Higgins' episodes have been taped already, and the Dolphins vice chairman admitted that during these 10-hour taping sessions of hearing pitches, he bought into a few of the businesses that were presented to him with his own money.

“It was an amazing experience. It was competitive and aggressive and I’m excited to see what comes of it,” Higgins said. “Everything we do is about taking a visionary entrepreneur that’s at an inflection point, and maybe they are missing something to get the rest of the way there and we supply it. Whether that’s real estate advice or capital, we just like to give that extra boost.”

Shark Tank will start up again in the fall, so be sure to keep an eye out for Higgins this year.

This story was written by Luis Sung. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung

Backup quarterback Brock Osweiler, in his first start for the Miami Dolphins (4-2), shocked the football world this past Sunday, racking up 380 passing yards, en-route to Miami’s 31-28 overtime victory versus Chicago. Earlier this week, head coach Adam Gase ruled quarterback Ryan Tannehill (right shoulder) out for the second consecutive contest today versus the Detroit Lions (2-3).

Detroit, led by former Georgia product Matthew Stafford, is coming off a bye week. The Dolphins have two games in four days, as Miami will travel to Houston, battling the Texans Thursday night, October 25. December 26, 2010 was the last time Detroit knocked off Miami on the road. These two teams have squared off eleven times, with Miami winning seven of those matchups.

DATE: Sunday, October 21
TIME: 1:00 p.m.
SITE: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
TV: FOX
LINE: DET -3, O/U: 46.5
Radio: Dolphins Radio Network, KISS 99.9 FM, 560 WQAM, 1210 WNMA (Spanish)
Radio Announcers: English broadcast- Jimmy Cefalo, Bob Griese, Joe Rose, Kim Bokamper; Spanish broadcast- Raul Striker Jr., Eduardo Martell

Matthew Stafford Vs. Dolphins Defense: Stafford is a gunslinger. That is not good news for a Dolphins defense that coughed up 300+ passing yards last week from Bears quarterback, Mitchell Trubisky. Sunday will mark Stafford’s second career game against the Dolphins. It will be interesting to see how Miami’s linebacker unit, led by Kiko Alonso, and secondary play out. CB Bobby McCain is slated to make his return after a brief two-game injury absence.

Are Miami’s CBs able to contain Lions WR Golden Tate: Tate is no Calvin Johnson, but he presents a tough task for Miami's cornerbacks. Xavien Howard, who had a solid performance last Sunday versus Chicago, must be on his toes down-to-down. Opposite Xavien Howard still remains up for grabs. Torry McTyer had a rough outing in locking up Bears WR Taylor Gabriel, and was replaced by Cordrea Tankersley in the second half. With the expected return of Bobby McCain, it will be key to see who has the edge in this battle.

Run the Football: History has shown when Miami runs the football successfully under Adam Gase, the team wins football games. On that note, look for this trend to continue Sunday. Versus the Bears, the duo of Frank Gore and Kenyan Drake each carried more than ten times. Gore gained 101 yards, whereas Drake produced 57. Detroit will be down a key pass-rusher, with DE Ezekiel Ansah ruled out.  

This past Sunday, Miami (3-2) was well on its way to opening the season 4-1. Leading 17-0 mid-way through quarter three, the Dolphins suffered a collapse. Cincinnati punched Miami in the mouth, en-route to scoring 27 unanswered points, 14 on two costly turnovers from quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

Poor offensive line play from Miami was the ultimate result in the meltdown. The Dolphins now return home to Hard Rock Stadium for the first time since September 23, defeating the Oakland Raiders in come-from-behind fashion, 28-20. The hot Chicago Bears (3-1), fresh off a bye, are paced by quarterback and former North Carolina product Mitchell Trubisky, who threw a career high six touchdowns in their win, week four versus Tampa Bay.

These two teams last squared off at Soldier Field in 2014. Miami leads the all-time series, 8-4-0.

DATE: Sunday, October 14
TIME: 1:00 p.m. ET
SITE: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
TV: FOX
LINE: CHI -3.5, O/U: 43.5
Radio: Dolphins Radio Network, KISS 99.9 FM, 560 WQAM, 1210 WNMA (Spanish)
Radio Announcers: English broadcast - Jimmy Cefalo, Bob Griese, Joe Rose, Kim Bokamper; Spanish broadcast - Raul Striker Jr., Eduardo Martell

1. Mitchell Trubisky vs. Ryan Tannehill/Brock Osweiler

Trubisky (91/130, 945 YDS, 8 TD, 3 INT), the second pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, threw a career-high six touchdowns in a 48-10 beatdown versus Tampa Bay two weeks ago. Tannehill (85/129, 972 YDS, 8 TD, 5 INT) was at fault for two blunder-type interceptions in the fourth quarter against Cincinnati this past Sunday. The good news for Miami’s offense is WR Jakeem Grant is expected to play Sunday, after sustaining an injury in the Bengals contest. Grant is a perennial force in the return/passing game.

The bad news is that an injury Tannehill sustained a few weeks back (reportedly an AC joint sprain) might actually keep him from playing on Sunday, forcing backup Brock Osweiler to take charge. It would at least partly explain why Tannehill's play has dramatically fallen off in the past two weeks, but one can only hope that a healthy Osweiler is better than an injured Tannehill.

2. Chicago’s Front 7 vs. Miami’s OL

Chicago’s ferocious defense ranks second in the league, only behind Jacksonville. The Windy City is sure excited to have Khalil Mack on their side. Mack, who was acquired from the Oakland Raiders, signed a six-year, $141 million contract in early September.

​Through four games, Mack has made his presence felt, producing five sacks. Miami’s offensive line received positive news Friday, learning that LT Laremy Tunsil is out of the concussion protocol, and is expected to play Sunday. Keep an eye out for Mack, DE Johnathan Bullard, and rookie LB Roquan Smith against a recently struggling Dolphins offensive line.

​3. Running back - Jordan Howard vs. Kenyan Drake/Frank Gore

The run game for Miami was absolutely invisible versus Oakland and against New England. Last Sunday, the Dolphins were able to open up some holes for Frank Gore and Kenyan Drake. Miami uses the flip-and-flop formation between the two.

​Gore had 12 carries for 63 yards, whereas Drake gained 46 yards on 6 carries. It will be interesting to see if Miami’s offensive line can open holes Sunday against a stout Bears run defense. Howard, a 2016 fifth round pick, has one touchdown in four matches this season.

This story was written by Brandon Liguori. Follow him on Twitter: @BLiguori98

Such is the nature of the Miami Dolphins and their fan base. The team wins, and they're on top of the world. As soon as things start going sour, everything is horrible. This was the case for everyone - and I do mean everyone - after the painful loss to the Cincinnati Bengals last Sunday that should have been a win.

“Every loss hurts. When you put 110 hours in a week and get kicked in the nuts like that, it pisses you off." Gase said after the game. "This isn’t like a 9-to-5 (job). We have a lot of people putting a lot of work into this stuff. You’re going to be mad today and tomorrow. When Wednesday comes, you have to forget about it and move on to the next one.”

Believe me, coach Gase, the fans feel the exact same way. Sometimes it feels like being a fan of this team is a full-time job, except we don't get paid for it, and trying to quit is like trying to get over an alcohol addiction while you work in a bar; it's very, very, very hard.

Also see: impossible.

It is also very easy to fall deeper into dark places when the team struggles and the fan base collectively comes together to wallow in their misery. But it is in these moments where it becomes imperative to pull yourself up by your own bootstraps and find something else to look at, something to remind you that all is not lost.

Perhaps there's really no point in expecting Gase to fix the team, since he himself has yet to be humbled and learn lessons on how he should be coaching. Perhaps that won't happen until he goes and coaches elsewhere.

It is also abundantly clear that, as nice of a guy as he is and as hard as he tries, Ryan Tannehill is not a "game-changing" QB, and he isn't able to consistently overcome the extreme adversity that NFL QBs have to face on a weekly basis.

I personally equate that to having the ability (or lack thereof) to run around in the backfield like a chicken with its head cut off, dodging endless defenders and heaving up a prayer that somehow magically lands in the hands of a receiver, but the fact is other QBs get on highlight reels for it and Tannehill doesn't; I suppose that's enough.

Maybe it really is time for new blood at that position. Even if Tannehill's legacy won't be remembered fondly in Miami, I can console myself knowing that he'll likely have a promising medical career after he leaves the NFL. And before anyone accuses me of being "in love" with Tannehill, understand that it comes from the perspective of a human being, not necessarily as a football fan.

Tannehill is one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet, and in some respects, I can relate to him because of the way he lives his life. If that's not a good enough reason to root for him, then that's your prerogative; he still has eleven games to prove that Miami doesn't have to spend a first-round pick on a QB next season.

But this isn't about the negative parts of the team, this is about the side of things that screams promise and further potential. This is about the young defensive core developing even now, and if the front office (and whoever will actually be in it in a year or two's time) is wise, they would be sure to lock these players up now while they have the chance.

The Miami Dolphins defense isn't ranked very high overall thanks to a lot of time spent on the field (side-eye look at the offense), but the number of players performing at a high level has kept the defense from being labeled as a complete joke for once. For a defense that sent All-Pro defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh packing in the offseason, they're allowing only 3.7 yards a carry, which ranks them at 6th in the NFL in that category.

That's thanks in large part to the emergence of young defensive tackles Davon Godchaux and Vincent Taylor, the team's fifth and sixth-round draft picks from 2017; as a tandem, they have been able to stuff runners and even collapse a few pockets in their short time, making Suh's absence ultimately irrelevant.

At linebacker, Jerome Baker has been a massive (and pleasant) surprise as a rookie third-round pick; his speed has made him an asset in the passing game (though he still certainly has plenty to learn still) and he is able to go sideline to sideline chasing down players and making plays, whether by blitzing or keeping an eye on guys in the backfield. Against the Bengals this past Sunday, Baker racked up six tackles and two sacks on QB Andy Dalton.

That’s why we liked him." coach Gase said on Monday. "We liked him because he can cover a lot of ground and when he blitzes, he has no regard for his body and tries to annihilate the other guy. I thought he played well."

It isn't just Baker, however. After spending the first several weeks of 2018 as practically invisible, Baker's former Ohio State teammate Raekwon McMillan had himself a strong game too, adding six tackles of his own - one being for a loss - against Cincinnati. If nothing else, it means that he's still worth investing in for the future, and the LB corps has a strong chance to be much improved in the future, if the ability to cover can be upgraded as tight ends still pose somewhat of a threat.

But if push comes to shove, that's where 2018 first-round pick Minkah Fitzpatrick comes in, and he also had a good game against the Bengals, helping keep the Cincinnati receivers contained for the most part, and reading screens before they happen and making plays on them to force losses of yards as the slot cornerback.

And if that's where he's the most likely to make his mark in the NFL, then Miami has finally found themselves a real gem.

There's plenty to look forward to on the defensive side of the ball, the talent is there and there's still plenty of time to continue to build around them. Safety Reshad Jones - playing with a partially torn labrum - is still a dynamic playmaker even at the age of 30 and could be an excellent veteran presence for a few years more; Robert Quinn has been every bit worth the fourth-round pick sent to the Rams to acquire him, and should be locked up long-term (if the Wide-9 continues to be implemented) if he continues to be disruptive.

The only thing the defense has not managed to do is finish the job with sacks. They've gotten plenty of pressure on QBs, but they haven't actually been able to get them down before they throw the ball away or somehow escape and find a receiver. That is a concern. Miami ranks down near the bottom of the league at 27th with only eight total sacks, but they rank near the top in takeaways, tied for second with the Chicago Bears with a total of 11.

Only the Cleveland Browns of all teams rank higher, and that's with a whopping 15.

Even if the offense never comes together this season, even if the team goes 8-8 all over again or perhaps drop even  lower due to their apparent inability to remain consistent on offense for one reason or another, take comfort in the fact that the defense - while still not perfect and in many ways still very raw - is coming along nicely, and that's one of the marks of any championship caliber team.

Who knows? Maybe a new QB really will turn the tides for the Dolphins offense, though there's nothing in the team's history to suggest that will happen, but regardless, that will have to wait until 2019 at the earliest, if Tannehill continues to perform poorly. For now, hope that the offensive line can somehow get it together and protect Ryan Tannehill so he can be at his best, hope that coach Gase learns to stick with what works and adapts to move away from what doesn't, and enjoy watching a young defense grow together.

Then pray that whoever turns out to be in the front office in the near future - whether it be Mike Tannenbaum or some other executive - has the wisdom to lock up Godchaux, Taylor, Fitzpatrick, Baker, Quinn, Xavien Howard, and others to stick around for years to come, because this defense has the makings to be something special, under the proper leadership.

“I thought the defense did well." Gase said on Monday. "The defense played exactly the way that we talked about all week. That’s why it probably irritates me more than anything that we screwed it up on offense. We scored more offense for their team on the offensive side than they let up. And that bothers me. I feel awful because our defense played really well and they did exactly what we wanted to do.”

For the time being, it's up to Gase to figure things out and make it work, and make sure the team's silver lining has a chance to shine brighter this year, rather than waiting for the future to move into the spotlight.

This story was written by Luis Sung. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung

The Miami Dolphins (3-1) suffered their first defeat of the 2018 season, at the hands of Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, 38-7, last Sunday. Statistic wise, it was one of the worst offensive performances from head coach Adam Gase’s team in his three year tenure. The Dolphins produced eleven first-downs, (one rushing), 172 yards of total offense, and just 100 yards passing from quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

Injuries have plagued the Dolphins thus far, with key players such as S Reshad Jones, WR DeVante Parker, TE A.J. Derby, DE Cameron Wake, and CB Bobby McCain listed as either questionable/doubtful/out for Sunday’s contest.

Miami has already lost DE William Hayes, G Josh Sitton and C Daniel Kilgore to season-ending injuries. Cincinnati (3-1) is coming into Sunday red hot, upsetting the Atlanta Falcons on the road, 37-36. Miami will look to stay atop the AFC East Division, whereas the Bengals will seek their second consecutive victory in fourteen days. Miami leads the all-time series, 16-6.

Date: Sunday, October 7
Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
Site: Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
TV: CBS
Line: CIN -6 O/U: 48.5
Radio: Dolphins Radio Network, KISS 99.9 FM, 560 WQAM, 1210 WNMA (Spanish)
Radio Announcers: English broadcast - Jimmy Cefalo, Bob Griese, Joe Rose, Kim Bokamper; Spanish broadcast - Raul Striker Jr., Eduardo Martell

​QB Ryan Tannehill: Tannehill should feast on a Bengals defense that sits 27th overall in total defense. Cincinnati coughs up just under 30 points per game (28.3). It will be key to see how accurate Tannehill throws the football. Last Sunday, Tannehill was throwing the football off his back foot, thus causing numerous incompletions, and even one interception.

QB Andy Dalton: Dalton, a TCU graduate, is 1-2 in his career versus Miami. Throwing two touchdowns and five interceptions in three games, Dalton leads a charged Bengals offense that is averaging 31.5 points per ballgame this season. The Miami secondary, led by Xavien Howard and Minkah Fitzpatrick, must be on their toes at all times, due in large part to the Andy Dalton-AJ Green deep ball connections.

​WR DeVante Parker: Parker has not been able to stay consistent because of injuries. Parker missed Miami’s loss to New England Sunday due to a quad injury suffered in practice last Friday, his third game listed as inactive this season. Having rode the stationary bike this week, and getting some short first-team reps, Parker is likely to play Sunday against Cincinnati.

​LB Vontaze Burfict: Vontaze Burfict is slated to make his season debut this Sunday, after missing the first four games due to a PED violation. Playing in 68 career regular season games with the Bengals, the always-feisty Burfict will automatically boost a Cincinnati defensive front, paced by Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunlap.

S Reshad Jones: The Dolphins hope to have former Pro Bowl safety Reshad Jones on the field Sunday. Similar to Burfict, Jones’s presence increases a Miami defense tremendously. Jones missed the previous two games because of a shoulder injury suffered in Miami’s week two win at the Jets. This season, Jones has hauled in two takeaways, both against Tennessee.

This story was written by Brandon Liguori. Follow him on Twitter: @BLiguori98

Miami Dolphins DT Jordan Phillips is staying in the AFC East Division. The only significant difference is Phillips will now be the Dolphins biggest rival. On Wednesday afternoon, the Buffalo Bills claimed Phillips, the former Oklahoma product, off waivers.

There was tension between Phillips and the Miami coaching staff during Sunday’s 38-7 blowout loss at the hands of New England, and the former second-round pick did not leave the team quietly. This is not the first time Miami has had in-game issues throughout the regular season. In 2017, the Dolphins were shut out in Baltimore, 40-0. It appeared RB Jay Ajayi was not happy with the play calling, and gave head coach Adam Gase a negative look. Days after, Ajayi was dealt to the NFC’s Philadelphia Eagles.

Phillips has just one sack in four games this season. The former Oklahoma standout started twenty-six games, contributing 5.5 sacks, and one interception, during his four-year, 48 game tenure with the Dolphins. Moving forward, the Miami Dolphins will get a clearer look at DTs Davon Godchaux, Vincent Taylor, and Akeem Spence.

It's no surprise that Phillips was picked up quickly, he is a supremely talented player when his motor is running, but his dedication to the game was always the biggest question mark with him, and now it's up to Bills head coach Sean McDermott to see if he can get the motor running now that Phillips has gotten a change of scenery.

This story was written by Brandon Liguori. Follow him on Twitter: @BLiguori98

There's a major theme that is connected to head coach Adam Gase ever since he took command of the Miami Dolphins, and that is funny business will not be tolerated. On Tuesday, the team continued that trend just two days after getting annihilated on the road by the New England Patriots, waiving former second round pick Jordan Phillips.

Phillips, 26, was drafted out of Oklahoma back in 2015 and is a supremely talented and gifted player, but his effort level and dedication to the game has been in question since his college days, and despite his more advanced draft status, his playing time has dropped lower and lower in favor of 2017 fifth and sixth-round picks Davon Godchaux and Vincent Taylor, who have been regularly making plays so far this season.

Phillips only recorded a total of 25 snaps (31%) on defense against the Patriots, giving him less than all the other DTs on the roster; he also was later seen throwing a temper tantrum on the sideline that was captured on television, and several players attempted to calm him down but to no avail.

But in spite of this, Phillips himself came out onto Twitter to debunk any theories that this outburst had anything to do with why the Dolphins released him.

On Monday, Gase addressed the sideline spa, which was assumed to be a result of being rotated out of the game as often as he was.

“Well there’s a reason why we’re doing that." he said. "There’s a reason why we’re subbing the way we’re subbing against that team. It’s not a secret why we’re doing it. Whatever (Defensive Line Coach) Kris Kocurek wants the d-linemen to do, that’s what we’re doing.”

Kocurek is known for wanting to continually rotate players in and out in order to keep the pass rush fresh and keeping them from getting exhausted, and it would make sense that Phillips would get frustrated by that. But there's no way to know what the real reason is behind the release without actually being in the building; either Phillips or the Dolphins aren't being completely truthful.

But the bigger story is not that he was cut or why he was cut, it's the sheer joy that he expressed through his Instagram over the fact that he's no longer a member of the team.

In the same vein as departed players Jay Ajayi, Jarvis Landry and Mike Pouncey, Phillips seems relieved to be out of the Miami Dolphins locker room headed up by Adam Gase. Whether this is a reflection of Phillips or Gase is up to reader interpretation, but it can't be summarily dismissed that so many players are so happy to be anywhere but Miami. Perhaps the players truly are malcontents, like they were being looked at as during the offseason, or perhaps there's something to Gase's coaching style that turns off certain players.

Ultimately, until the results of this move are seen, it's truly moot. As a member of the Miami Dolphins, Phillips racked up a total of 63 tackles, 5.5 sacks 11 pass deflections and an interception in his four seasons. Now, it's up to veteran Akeem Spence, and young players Davon Godchaux and Vincent Taylor to pick up the slack, with recently called up defensive lineman Jonathan Woodard attempting to fill in the role left behind by William Hayes, who was also playing on the interior.

Phillips is indeed 'free at last,' the only question now is who will this benefit more when all is said and done.

This story was written by Luis Sung. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung

Are you over the shellshock of what occurred this past Sunday? The absolute destruction of a potential “changing of the guard” or any other media narrative that was being held on to this past week? If not, then let’s go through a quick review, and then turn the page on that gruesome week together.

If you’ve read along in previous weeks, then you know I typically begin with an intro, followed by areas for improvement, and closed off with the “good” from the previous week.

This week will be different, and I think you can easily estimate why; because there is truly not much “good” to speak about. Instead, this will be a look at the clear areas of improvement, and why or why not, this team will be able to overcome the Foxborough thumping.

1. Early down failures

Sunday was a perfect film study on how to get absolutely manhandled by any team; and by any team I truly mean it, the Dolphins could have played your local high school team and still have struggled. Here is why: the following were the yards to gain on the offense's third down plays: 12, 10, 8, 8, 12, and 8.

Fans tend to get mad at third down conversion rates for this team, or the playcalling on third downs. DON’T. Get mad that the offense is continually put in a position where they need to gain 8+ yards just to get a first down.
 
Where does this come from? Penalties are a good place to start. Take your pick: pre-snap, holding, etc. The penalties this team put forth on Sunday are the most bitter cocktail of how to lose in the NFL. Now, I’ve previously said that it is tough to place this on Tannehill or Gase, after all, it is the lineman causing the 1st and 15’s or 1st and 20’s, but at some point Tannehill and Gase either have to compensate for this, or eliminate it all together.

This is where my criticism for Tannehill comes into play, we often see him compensate for bad protection, but we rarely see him compensate for bad third down scenarios. Part of this will come from playcalling—make no mistake about it—but part of it comes from being timid with the ball and wary of turning it over. When your team has more penalties than first downs at any point throughout the game, you know you’ve already lost.

2. As the team crumbled, so did Tannehill

Similar to the Jets game, we again saw the OL play as the worst unit in the game…and we again saw Tannehill be unable to compensate for it.

Now before anyone calls me unrealistic or a hater, let me be clear: I am aware of how ridiculous it is to expect him to play top level football when the OL is in shambles, our running backs do not eclipse TEN yards in rushing at various points throughout the game, and when your back-up center throws a dart past you in an off-cadence snap, leading to a fumble.

I promise you that I hold that context in my mind when writing this, I really do, but I needed him to do more.
 
In the miracle snaps where he was given time, he overthrew his receivers, and in the small percentage of plays where the receiver was open—because the Patriots weren’t holding them—he missed the read.

What I am trying to point out here is the following: everyone was awful on Sunday, no one deserves to be held responsible above others, but the captain needed to do more too, and for the first time in a while, he didn’t.

I explained in the introduction that we wouldn’t have a “good” section, because there wasn’t much to show (other than the first pass in the game, which was a beautifully spotted 20+ yard pass, yet also led to us not throwing it that deep again, for whatever the reason). Instead, let’s talk about what changes need to happen to yield improvement.

1. Running game

The old adage is that defense and a running game are the QB’s best friends. Yes, yes they are. But currently, the Miami running game is Tannehill’s worst enemy. The Miami Dolphins have gained 352 yards on the ground this year; 74 of those have come from Tannehill.

This leaves a whopping total of 278 yards coming from the backfield in Miami through four games. That type of running game is music to the ears of opposing defenses, and is exactly what the Patriots feasted on this past Sunday.

They dropped 7-8 men into the defensive backfield, and took away Tannehill’s ability to throw. They then limited Drake and Gore to only 56 yards rushing, of which a large amount occurred once the game was already decided and QB1 was on the bench preserving his health.
 
You cannot and will not win football games in the NFL when you are one-dimensional. This running game must improve if the Dolphins want to see continued growth in this offense and in Tannehill.

2. Injury concerns

All-Pro Josh Sitton? Out for the year. Captain Daniel Kilgore? Also on injured reserve. Parker? Welp. Derby? Hurt. Those on the offensive line that remained? They played their worst collective game of the year on Sunday. Run blocking? Absent. Pass protection? Minimal. Penalties? Too many. You get the point.
 
Our players are hurt, and those that aren’t hurt were playing like they were. It’s easy to put too much weight into one game (just take a look at #DolphinsTwitter), but one game is only one game and that is all this Foxborough thumping is…one game.

However, the exception to that rule is when that one game bleeds into the rest of the season via the form of injuries and chronic penalties. The point here is simple: injuries happen to every team, but not every team responds well to them. Which one will Miami be?

3. Identity

When asking yourself if you believe in this team’s ability to improve, make a note that the real answer lies in the following: will this team find an offensive identity? Through four weeks, the only assured identities are penalties, no running game, and an offense predicated on passing success and atypically schemed play development.

The issue?

You cannot win with penalties, and if you are going to be entirely ineffective at running, then you need to open the passing playbook. The Dolphins playcalling works when they play complimentary football. When the defense needs to defend the run, the quick throws and speed-kills developments work. But when the defense can drop 7 or 8 to counteract your speed, you’re left with this past Sunday.
 
Miami needs an identity on the offensive side. You wanted it to be running? Well where is that coming from? Where are the holes or the playmakers? You wanted it to be passing? Fine, but where is the opened playcalling. Miami is choosing to run a scheme predicated on running effectiveness, and then asking their passing unit to do the impossible, when every run is stopped within two yards.

It will not work against smart defenses and coordinators. Either learn to run or open up the pass game. It’s not as easy as it sounds, it’s not going to change in a week, but something needs to be done, and this part lies squarely on the shoulders of Adam Gase.

Stats:
 
47.9 Quarterback Rating
​11 for 20 on pass attempts
55% Completion
0 Touchdowns
1 Interception
100 Total Yards
 5 Yards per attempt
 
Overall Quarterback Grade: D (Only thing not making this an F is how atrocious everything around him also was, but make no mistake, the Dolphins all collectively Failed)

This story was written by Daniel Martinez. Follow him on Twitter: @all_right_Miami