The loss to the New York Jets at the end of 2013 was one of the worst collapses in recent memory for the Miami Dolphins. Only needing to win the game, the Dolphins failed to do so and missed out on the playoffs once again. In fact, it was so bad that many fans and media members were calling for Joe Philbin to be fired. He wasn't and here we are in a similar situation in 2014.

“I think the film, we’ve shown different examples to the football team, I was looking at the game against New England in Week 7," Joe Philbin said. "They had 450 yards of offense. It was a two-point game. They played Denver and it was a seven-point game with two minutes to go in the game. They beat a very good Pittsburgh team. Again, this is the National Football League. We certainly remind our guys that this team has very good players. They’ve always played hard. I think the records, in this kind of game, an AFC East game, aren’t real meaningful.”

Does that mean that Philbin and his players haven't learned their lesson from 2013? He says that while there is plenty of stuff on film from last year, this is a new year and not all of that necessarily matters anymore.

“Certainly, there is a lot of film value in that game. A lot of the same players are there. A lot of their staff is the same. There’s certainly some value. Again, I was sitting in a defensive meeting today. We watched some of those plays, but this is a new year. This is December 1, 2014. (The game) was a long time ago. It’s a brand new season, brand new game.”

Despite the film maybe being different, the feeling of losing to the Jets in that fashion hasn't left the players on the team. One of those guys is Jelani Jenkins, who said that it wasn't a good feeling last year when they knew their season was over after losing the last two games of the season.

“It’s definitely something you remember. I was in that locker room and it’s not a good feeling watching the next week knowing that you should be playing. It was very difficult for us. We watched the film and we saw what we did wrong. We watched the game that happened last year and seeing what they did last year. We know they want to establish the run. Looking forward, we’ve just got to play hard and play our style of ball, not play too different from last week or the week before that, but just play hard.”

Mike Pouncey said that it wasn't just the Jets that did them in last year but instead, it can also be traced to the game against the Buffalo Bills. However, he said they can't be focusing on that because they need to just go out and play the way they know they can.

“You could say the same thing about the Buffalo Bills too, either one of those games. It didn’t come down to just the Jets, we could have won any of those games and we would have gone to the playoffs last year. But that’s not on our minds right now, it’s about us right now and going out there and playing the way we know we can play.”

The Dolphins will need to beat the Jets to have any real chance of staying alive in the AFC playoffs. A loss will send the season in a downward spiral and will immediately spark talk about a new coach in 2015. Hopefully, for everyone's sake, the Dolphins roll into New Jersey and take care of business the way everyone is expecting them to do so.

This story was written by Matthew Cannata | Twitter: @PhinManiacs

As of the time this post was published, the only thing we know about the Miami Dolphins cornerback position heading into Monday night against the New York Jets is that Cortland Finnegan is doubtful for the game. 

Besides that, everything else is a mystery as to who will start where and who will play but the other day, Joe Philbin talked about what could happen and dropped some hints along the way.

“It doesn’t matter who lines up. We have to have a player that’s going to execute the defensive call, whether we are going to play man-to-man, whether we are going to play zone, whether we are pressing, whether we are off, whether we are blitzing. It doesn’t matter. When you dress for a game and you are playing defensive back or you are playing offensive tackle, everybody knows exactly what their role is, what their job description is and they have to go execute. It doesn’t really matter who is in the game. We’ll have to see how that unfolds throughout the course of the week.”
 
Although Philbin said that it doesn’t matter who lines up and plays, he did hint that Walt Aikens could see extended playing time at the corner position on Monday night.

“He’s gotten work at both positions. Part of the thing, when you are a young player and you are not starting, is having some versatility when you dress and you go to the game. Part of the thing, when you are providing a look of the opponent in the coming week, you can fiddle around a little bit and get some guys some reps at different positions even though it’s obviously they are looking at a card, but sometimes man-to-man is man-to-man and cloud coverage is cloud coverage. He’s gotten some work throughout the course of the season. We are just looking to find the right combination, the best combination of guys.”

Another possibility is Jimmy Wilson moving to the outside on the boundary but Philbin seemed to shoot that down, saying he hasn’t had a lot of repetitions there in practice or a game. However, if the Dolphins needed him there, Philbin said he’s confident that he could get the job done.

“He hasn’t taken a ton of reps there, so I think from a familiarity standpoint. The good news with Jimmy is he is experienced. He’s knowledgeable. He’s been exposed to the system now for three years. There are not a lot of things he’s going to be hearing that aren’t familiar to him. Physically, has he done all of those things as much as he’s played deep-half, quarters or as a nickel? Certainly not, but again that’s part of football. As you know, he played outside in the game last year against New England for a certain stretch. It wasn’t a ton.”

Although Don Jones was recently claimed off waivers from the New England Patriots, his first practice with the team was on Saturday so it’s doubtful he gets much playing time, if any at all. Instead, we’ll most likely see Aikens opposite Brent Grimes. It’s time for the rookie to step up and prove that he belongs.

This story was written by Matthew Cannata. Follow him on Twitter: @PhinManiacs

Miami Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin isn't one to shy away from conventional wisdom and we have seen that over the past 2.5 years. One staple under him is the fact that he likes to rotate players in and out of the game at certain positions on both offense and defense. This year, it's no different, with the running back and left guard position showing the most drastic rotation in all. 

Some may ask why Philbin would rotate someone such as Lamar Miller out of the game, especially when he seems to have the hot hand. He explained his reasoning the other day, saying that different guys do different things and it all depends on the situation of the game and where they are on the field.

“We like the different running backs we have. We like the kind of different skillsets. We feature certain guys different ways. That’s kind of how the snaps have worked themselves out. Really, I think the Detroit game, what did he get four carries maybe in that game or something like that. That one probably skewed things a little bit, but we want to get different guys involved and get their hands on the football as well. But we certainly like the contribution he’s made.”

At the left guard position, we have seen Shelley Smith and Daryn Colledge split snaps throughout the course of the game. While Bill Lazor has come out and said that Smith has deserved playing time and has a great work ethic, Philbin was more reserved, saying that coming into each game, they have a plan and if the situation is right, they execute it.

“We just liked it. We felt going in, that was our plan was going to be to do that. We thought that was fairly effective. Again, nothing is popping into my brain right this second. But I thought it was effective in the game the other day”
 
This rotation is to be expected by now and we will likely continue to see it happen throughout the rest of the season. At this point, it's better to accept it rather than question the thinking of Philbin and his coaching staff.

This story was written by Matthew Cannata. Follow him on Twitter: @PhinManiacs

Heading into the game against the Denver Broncos, the Miami Dolphins were the third worst team in the red zone, trailing only the San Francisco 49ers and Buffalo Bills. However, during that game, they seemed to have turned a corner as they scored five touchdowns on five trips inside the red zone. With that in mind, have the Dolphins figured out the key to success in that area?

“We just finished drives really well. When we got down there, usually when we get down there, we just don’t finish that well," Mike Pouncey said. "This past week, we put our mind on that, knowing every point was going to matter against Peyton (Manning) and so we went out there with the mindset that we had to score every time in the red zone, which we do every week, but last week we did really well in the red zone.”

Does this mean that the Dolphins can now turn their attention to other things or will they continue to work on it in practice and the film room? Pouncey said it's no time to relax and be content.

"I think we played really well in the red zone on Sunday, but obviously it’s something that we have to continue to work on," Mike Pouncey said. "It hasn’t been money for us all year. It’s something that we have to continue to work on and keep getting better and better at it each week.” 

One small reason for success was because the Dolphins used Daniel Thomas in that area of the field more than Lamar Miller or any other running back. Philbin said that it depends on the game situation when deciding who to use.
 
“Some of it’s play specific. Some of it’s that. Some of it’s scheme specific in terms of what runs we might be featuring that week that perhaps we like him better than somebody else at.”

Let's hope that the Dolphins have in fact turned the corner in the red zone. They'll need to score as many touchdowns as possible over the next five games if they want to compete and make a serious run at making the playoffs.

This story was written by Matthew Cannata | Twitter: @PhinManiacs

December hasn't been a kind month to the Miami Dolphins under the direction of Joe Philbin and especially when it matters the most, such as last year when the Dolphins lost to the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets when all they needed to do was win one game to make the playoffs for the first time since 2008. 

Now, with the Dolphins pushing for a playoff spot, Philbin is looking to turn things around and make this December one to remember and secure a spot in the playoffs. Some of that starts with success in the red zone and scoring touchdowns instead of field goals. With the team scoring five touchdowns last week, Philbin is hoping that it's a trend moving forward.

“We stepped up and made some plays. I think I talked about, last week, I had the opportunity to watch a bunch of our (red zone) possessions. There wasn’t one particular thing that had been the downfall necessarily as why we haven’t been as productive. Obviously, when you watch last week, we had a couple of running touchdowns. We had a couple of passing touchdowns. The guys stepped up and made some plays. I thought we had a good plan. I thought we had practiced it well. It transferred to the game. It’s the same thing. We will put in the red zone tomorrow. We would certainly love to be 100 percent every time you are in there.”

Another area the Dolphins will need to improve in is tackling as they haven't been very good at it the past several games. Philbin said it's something they are working on and have been doing specific drills to address the issue.

“We practiced it a little bit today. We broke up the whole team and did a specific emphasis on it. We did a fundamental presentation on it to the whole team today, so it’s certainly something that we want to make sure we address and work on. It’s like any other fundamental. You can’t assume anything in football, so you have to continually work on those basics of the game. Like I told the team today, I believe the game will be decided really by blocking and tackling. The schemes will take care of themselves.”

Besides the physical things and the execution by the players, they will need to be mentally tough to not get down when things aren't going their way. Instead, they need to keep on fighting and never give up. Philbin said he isn't worried about it though as he feels like this team has a great group of leaders who will keep everyone going.

“I like the way this team has competed really since we’ve started this whole thing. This is the great thing, this is a great opportunity. I told them today, we have a great opportunity, it’s December 1st by the time we kick the ball off in New York. Really good football teams play their best football in December and I’m confident that we are going to play an excellent game up in New York.”

The Dolphins will likely need to finish the season 4-1 ot make the playoffs. Finishing 5-0 would all but guarantee them a spot as a Wild Card team but could also propel them to win the AFC East. It will be an exciting few weeks and let's hope the Dolphins can make it happen in 2014.  

This story was written by Matthew Cannata. You can follow him on Twitter: @PhinManiac

No matter what you think of Joe Philbin as a coach in the National Football League, there is absolutely no denying that he's one of the nicest and kind-hearted men you will ever meet and/or get to know from a distance. He preaches family all the time to players and coaches and follows through on that promise when situations warrant it. 

With the Thanksgiving holiday in the books, Philbin took some time to reflect on what he's thankful for and also talked about how he spent the day with his family after the Dolphins held a practice and a few meetings in the morning. 

"I said to the team, each and every one of us that works for the Miami Dolphins have a lot to be thankful for. We have a wonderful profession. They get to play the game that they love. (The coaches and I) get to coach the game that we love. Certainly, to get to this point of our lives, each person has a different story and there have been different people that have helped each and every one of us get to this particular point in our careers. We certainly should all be thankful for that. Then enjoy the afternoon, the rest of the day with family, friends. Yeah, absolutely.”
 
On Wednesday night, Philbin, along with the players and other coaches, handed out over 500 Thanksgiving meals at the Dolphins' headquarters in Davie to those less fortunate. He noted it was a good bonding experience for the team 

“I think the players have done a great job. I was over there and you can see them interact. Their interaction with the fans, the younger fans, the older fans, it really didn’t matter. I thought it was authentic and really good to see in the participation. A lot of our guys financially contributed to that cause. They’ve been very generous with their time and their money, and it really showed yesterday.”

As for what he did with the family on Thursday, Philbin did what most of us do - eat, watch football and spend quality time with those around us that we may not get to see very often throughout the course of the year. 
 
“I’m definitely going to hang out with my family. We will take a look at the practice tape and we’re going to make whatever corrections we need to make, make sure we are all set for tomorrow when the players come back into the building. But then I am absolutely going to take time with the family. I’ll probably casually watch some football (today), but I watch enough in my regular job, so when I get home I’m not going to be riveted to it, that’s for sure.”
 
What was on the table in the Philbin household? Of course, the basics of Thanksgiving.

“I’m hoping turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, stuffing. After that, I don’t really care, but those four things you have to have (and) gravy too, of course.” 

This story was written by Matthew Cannata. You can follow him on Twitter: @PhinManiacs

Samson Satele was viewed as an emergency signing and one that the Dolphins hoped would work out for just a few weeks while Mike Pouncey was rehabbing his hip injury. On the flip side, Satele looked at it as an opportunity to revive his career. He did just that and secured himself a spot in the starting lineup as center, for at least the remainder of the 2014 season.

Joe Philbin likes the way that Satele has been playing and is pleased with his steady improvement throughout the course of the season, crediting his work and his willingness to accept advice and constructive criticism from those around him.

"“I thought he played one of his better games the other day, I really did. I thought he did a good job. We actually showed the team some pictures today. We kind of reviewed some fundamentals this week in our team meetings, just some of the basics of blocking and tackling. He showed up on a lot of the pictures from last week’s game. He did a nice job. I like the way he plays. He has good poise and composure. He’s been practicing hard, playing hard. He’s a veteran guy and he’s a hard worker. I like what he is doing.”

Another player who has brought some stability to the offensive line is Dallas Thomas. This is a surprise to many because of how much he has struggled the past several years. Offensive line coach John Benton deserves a ton of credit for this as well as offensive coordinator Bill Lazor as they both put him in positions to succeed. 
 
“You have to really respect the way he is contributing in a variety of different roles," Philbin said. "We’ve asked this guy to do a lot of different things, and he’s never wavered. He’s always been ready. He’s always answered the bell. I think he’s shown improvement. He’s started games at guard. He’s started games at tackle. He’s played right and left. The guy stepped up and has really done some nice things contributing to the football team. I think it’s just maturing overall. I think he was obviously an athletic guy when we drafted him. I think some of his experience and repetitions has paid off for him.”

The offensive line will continue to be one of the most important pieces of this Dolphins team as they head into the final five weeks of the season and attempt to make a playoff run.

This story was written by Matthew Cannata. You can follow him on Twitter: @PhinManiacs

It's one of the biggest rivalries in all of football and on Monday Night, despite the New York Jets' 2-8 record, it's not going to be any different when they take the field against the Miami Dolphins. Yes, the odds are stacked against the Jets, even though they're playing at home. However, players understand how big this game is and how physical it may get.

Reshad Jones has been part of the rivalry game for several years and isn't taking anything for granted, despite the fact that the Jets are struggling and are trending downwards.

“It’s a divisional opponent and it’s going to be tough. We all know how hard it is to win in this league each and every week. We know they are going to come to play. It’s not going to be a cakewalk. We are going to have to come out and play our style of football," he said. "I get amped playing each and every week. It’s a tough league to play in, tough league to win in. Each and every week is a challenge to me. I get up to play every week no matter who we are playing. I take every opponent the same. It’s the NFL. It’s going to be a tough game this weekend. We are going to have to go out and play our style of football.”

Jared Odrick said that Monday Night's storyline is simple. It's the Dolphins vs. Jets and nothing more needs to be said.

"I think most people who have an understanding of what Miami versus New York or the Jets versus the Dolphins, it’s a game that’s raised to another level. Each team is very aware of opposing teams and the players and the personnel and what they like to run and what they like to do and each team’s attitudes. So the thing is, it raises the stakes, raises the level of play because each team is so familiar with one another. It’s going to be a tough battle.”

Brent Grimes has only played two games as a member of the Dolphins against the Jets so he talked more about playing on the biggest stage in the regular season - Monday Night Football. 

It’s a Monday night game. It’s nighttime. It’s the only game on TV. It’s cool. It’s a cool thing. You get your sleep. You go wake up. You go eat breakfast. Then you just have a lot of dead time and waiting until the game starts. I like playing at 1 p.m. You get up and you play the game. I like that. I don’t like the sitting around so much. It’s a cool thing.”

Finally, Ja'Wuan James will be playing his first game in this rivalry but has been talking to others in the locker room about how important this game is and how intense it may get.

“I just take one game at a time. Like I said, everybody I’ve gone against has been good. I just go out there and try to compete against them. But just from listening to guys in the locker room, I know I talked to Pounce (Mike Pouncey) before, I asked him who is our rival here? We were talking about (University of) Tennessee and (University of) Florida, he said he’d have to say the Jets, and I’ve heard a couple of people here this week say Jets week, things like that. I guess this is one of the rivalries.” 

However, James said that he and others need to remember to focus on winning the game and not let all of the background noise and clutter distract them from doing their job on the field.

“We need every game. We like to look one game at a time. If we could go 1-0 this week, that would be a win for us. We’re just trying to prepare this week. It’s going to big on the O-Line (offensive line), there is a lot of stuff that they do on defense, so we’ve got to prepare ourselves to do well.”

While the Jets will still probably put up some sort of a fight, it's unknown just how long that will lost with their depleted offense and with their injuries piling up on the defensive side of the ball. The Dolphins should go in and blow them out but you never know in the NFL. We'll find out soon enough.

This story was written by Matthew Cannata. You can follow him on Twitter: @PhinManiacs

The Miami Dolphins announced the team has been awarded safety Don Jones (New England Patriots) off waivers. To make room on the roster for Jones, the team waived cornerback Lowell Rose. Jones was with the team during training camp prior to being released on August 31, 2014. 

Jones may see immediate action on the field with the depth in the secondary a major concern heading into Monday night. If he doesn't see the field in defensive packages, there's a good chance we'll see him on special teams, as that's where he's made his living over the past several years.

With his third season just five weeks away from being in the books, Tannehill is looking like the real deal but credits much of that success to those around him and also the fact that he is getting more comfortable in the offense, which he states he started becoming more comfortable in around Week 3 and 4 against the Green Bay Packers and Oakland Raiders.

“I think the guys around me, like I said. The guys around me are making plays and it’s just allowing me to get them the ball in space and let them work. That’s been fun for me. I think the offensive line is doing a good job keeping me off the ground and giving me time in the pocket. Once you do that, you create a lot more opportunities down the field.”

Tannehill said that there wasn't any moment where things started to click for him but instead, it has been more of a learning process each week of the past three seasons.

"I don’t think there is a moment. I think you learn as you go. Obviously, with the new offense, early on there were some growing pains, some learning curve to overcome. But I’ve finally settled in and gotten comfortable and started playing the game and not thinking about trying to make everything perfect. It’s working out for me.”

He has shown the ability to lead a team back when they are down in the second half and credits that to the confidence level that he and the rest of the team has in any given game.

“I think we have it, we just have to do it. We know how to do it, there’s plays being made all the time. Even in this last game, after an interception and they scored, we still went down and scored and got ourselves an opportunity. You have to recover an onside kick, which is a very low percentage. But I think guys know how to win and we know how to make plays. We just have to do it at the right time.” 

However, Tannehill isn't satisfied with his progress so far this season, noting they still have a lot of football left in front of them and are still fighting to make it into the playoffs.

“No, no way. We still have a lot of football in front of us and we’re still fighting to get to the playoffs. Every game is huge for us at this point. Obviously, this one is a division game on the road, on the big stage, Monday night. This is a big game for us. Like I said, there is a lot of football in front of us and we’re ready to play every game.”

Regardless of whether or not the Dolphins make the playoffs this year, Tannehill looks like he's going to be the quarterback of the Miami Dolphins for a very long time.

This story was written by Matthew Cannata. You can follow him on Twitter: @PhinManiacs

Something weird is going on with the Miami Dolphins in the sense that they seem better than last year but they only have six wins. The Dolphins have proven they can hang with the best of the best in the NFL but haven't been able to turn the corner and win those games. Why is this happening and is there anything the team can do to get over the hump?

“We have a lot of football left to play, and most importantly this one," Joe Philbin said. "Those are things that will all be determined in due time, but really all that matters right now is this week and the Jets. Like I’ve said before, more just the way the guys have played the game. It started in Atlanta in the preseason. I liked the way the guys played. Obviously, we have a lot of things to improve upon and do better, but I like the way they take the field. I like the way they care about one another. I like the effort that they’ve been giving. It just feels like a better football team.”

Brent Grimes weighed in and said that they are approaching it one game at a time, noting that they have to win this game if they want to stay alive in the playoff race. Grimes said he doesn't know who the Dolphins play next because they are so focused on the Jets and especially because it's a division game. Jared Odrick said they aren't thinking about losing and instead are asking the question of how many wins they need to get to make the playoffs. He said they want to win every game from here on out and that is their goal.

Ryan Tannehill said that it's definitely frustrating to lose all these close games and especially because these losses may decide whether or not the Dolphins make the playoffs at the end of the season. 

“Yeah. It’s tough, you lose those tight games and it’s the NFL, you’ve got to be able to win those tough games, especially when you hit November. Every game gets a little bigger once you hit November. So to lose two tough ones in November is definitely tough. I feel like, if you look at Green Bay, Detroit, if we make one more play, offense or defense, we’re going to win those games. So if you make that one play or don’t make that one play, it doesn’t make you a worse or better team and how you think of yourself. Obviously, you are what your record is. But the playmakers that we have and the ability that we have, that one play doesn’t change. I have a lot of confidence in the guys in our locker room and the plays that we can make. But at this point, we can’t do anything about that. You learn from it and get ready to play these next five games.”   

Philbin said that he and the coaches have been stressing the one game at a time approach and all of their focus and attention are on the Jets and the Jets only. 

“We obviously have a game Monday night in New York. There’s a lot that goes into each and every game-plan, and game-plans change. Their job description, the players within each plan changes. Today, we talked about we really have to focus on the Jets, on this plan that we are putting in and installing, and we talked about fundamentals. We have to be a better fundamental football team than we were the other day. That’s really been as we started our preparation for the Jets what we’ve been really focused on.”

This story was written by Matthew Cannata. You can follow him on Twitter: @PhinManiacs

The Miami Dolphins had everything going in their favor at the end of the 2013 season. They had just upset the New England Patriots and all they had to do was either beat the New York Jets or the Buffalo Bills - both teams who were underachieving. However, they weren't able to beat either of them and in the process of losing, looked like a team deflated and unmotivated.

Tannehill admits that he hasn't thought much about the Jets game from last year until last week and said he doesn't think about it on a regular basis. However, he did say that he realizes now that they play some of their best football against them due to the rivalry, regardless of what their record is. He also understands now just how important December games are in the NFL and knows that it's time to step up.

"All games are important in the NFL, but, when you really look at it, December is when you either make or break. You either fight your way into the playoffs or you let your spot slip. So it’s a huge month for us. It was last year and I think we learned from that. We didn’t finish it off the way we wanted to. We have an opportunity this year to play well in December and have a shot at going where we want to go. So it’s all in our hands.” 

Wake said that it's tough to look back but understands how important it is to learn from it and correct it.

“Hindsight talk it 20-20. You know me, I’m not a guy who looks too far in the future. Any game you lose, whether it’s by 50 or 1 (point) at the end of the game, it’s going to eat at you. As frustrating as it is, this is the NFL. Every game is not going to be a blowout. Every game is not going to be a goose-egg on defense. We are going to have games where it comes down to the last drive, whether it is the offense driving to score or the defense going to get a stop. That’s just the way the league is set up. Those are the type of games we have to win, past and the future. That’s just the way it is.”

The season is on the line on Monday night and the Dolphins will need to do everything they can to walk away with a win. If they do, their season is still alive. If not, it's going to get ugly quick in Florida and for all Dolphins fans across the world.

This story was written by Matthew Cannata. You can follow him on Twitter: @PhinManiacs

On Monday night, the Miami Dolphins will walk into MetLife Stadium and take on the New York Jets, a team that is reeling after a disappointing season. With only two wins under their belt, the team is a mess but nonetheless, they still present several challenges for the Dolphins and the team has been preparing for them throughout the week thus far.

“They are a top 10 defense on paper. They have a lot of good defensive players," Joe Philbin said. "They are a team that is playing with exceptional effort. As you watch them on film, you watch them play the Patriots and they lose by two points. You watch them play the Denver Broncos, it’s 24-17 with 2:08 left in the game and Denver has a third down play they have to make to keep the ball away from the Jets. You see them beat a very good Pittsburgh team. There are plenty of pictures of them doing things well. The other night we watched film and it’s 7-3 with 2:20 left in the half. They sack Kyle Orton, it’s second-and-17, and then (the Bills) throw a vertical route to (Scott) Chandler for a touchdown, then they blocked a punt. There’s a lot of good stuff (the Jets) are doing on film. That’s why you just have to watch the tape.”

Jarvis Landry said that watching tape of them, he has seen a lot of weird blitzes and a lot of different things they do with their defense. Jared Odrick said that the Jets will come in looking to run the ball, noting that they don't try to hide what they do. He said that the Jets will try to run the ball down the opposing defense's throat and won't let down so they will need to focus on it and work to shut down the run.

Ryan Tannehill talked about their defensive line, the different blitzes they bring and the versatility and athleticism those on the line have, which allows them to disrupt the game at a moment's notice.

“I think, first of all, they’re a good front. You see (DL Sheldon) Richardson and (DL Muhammad) Wilkerson up front. Two very good players, very active, they move around a lot. They can make the linemen miss in the run game or pass game. And they use a lot of different coverages, different fronts, different blitzes, especially on third downs. They have a bunch of athletic guys that can really move, creates tough blocks for the offensive linemen. They are multiple. They are going to mix it up a lot and show you all kinds of different things. So we have to be clear with our communication and all be on the same page with where we’re going and who we’re hot off of and all that stuff.”    
 
While the defensive line might be the strong point for the Jets, their secondary is weak and has been exposed throughout the entire year. Does that mean Tannehill can't wait to rip them apart on Monday night? 

“No, I don’t lick my chops. They’re still an NFL defense with guys that can make plays at any point in time. You make a bad throw or miscommunication with the receiver or whatever it is, a guy makes a good play, they can make a play at any point. I always respect the opponent.”

The Dolphins may catch a break as Wilkerson hasn't practice all week. If that's the case, that's one less weapon the Jets defense has and should make the Dolphins job on offense even easier in a must-win game.

This story was written by Matthew Cannata. You can follow him on Twitter: @PhinManiacs

Rookie wide receiver Jarvis Landry has wasted no time becoming a fan favorite in Miami and has also been turning heads around the NFL. Through 11 games, Landry has racked up 49 receptions and has gained 450 yards with 5 touchdowns. He has averaged 9.2 yards per reception and his longest reception comes in at 21 yards.

Perhaps most impressive though is his ability to make the tough catches and also get the yards after the catch, often shedding tacklers and juking defenders in the open field. While Landry showed this skill set in college, he says he owes a lot of credit to the guys in the locker room who have helped him grow.

"I’ve learned from (Brandon Gibson), I learned from Mike (Wallace), I’ve learned from Brian (Hartline). I think from the other guys, it has just been picking their brain, not more of a physical thing, but more of a mental thing. As far as practice, just showing me how to practice, just showing me how to take care of my body and stuff like that has definitely been helpful.”

Landry said that he's always had the confidence that he can be successful but he just didn't have the opportunity earlier in the season to showcase his skills. Now, with him seeing the field more than any receiver with the exception of Mike Wallace, his confidence level and chemistry with Ryan Tannehill has been growing each week. 

“Just trust, developing it, the trust and chemistry to make plays for each other and I think that definitely allowed me and him and the offense to move in a positive way as Ryan has progressed. I think, as a whole group collectively, we’ve all grown. We’ve all gotten better. Each week, you have seen him progress. You've seen all of us progress. Since that Chicago week, when we all started running the ball and extending plays, I think the 17 of Tannehill that we need on this team is definitely here.”

Tannehill said that he has a ton of confidence in Landry and has been impressed with the way he carries himself on and off the field. 

"He’s a playmaker. You see what he does week in and week out, day in and day out on the practice field. He comes to practice every day, practices hard. He runs hard even if he’s not feeling good. Once you get the ball in his hands, it’s a chance of a touchdown every single time. He runs hard, whether it’s on special teams, a kickoff, punt return or once he gets the ball in his hands, he’s determined to make yards after the catch. He’s one of the most fun guys to play with because every time he touches the ball he can do something with it. So you love throwing to guys like that and you see the passion he has for the game. You can tell he loves the game just by the way he plays. When you’re playing with guys like that, it’s a lot of fun.”    

Tannehill admits that he didn't know much about Landry when the Dolphins drafted him but once he saw him ont he practice field, he knew he was going to be something special.

“I actually didn’t know much about him until we drafted him. I think I saw him play in college a little bit. Once I saw him on the practice field, some of the catches he made in the first couple of days, I knew he was a special player. Some of the best hands I’ve ever seen, if not the best. He’s constantly making plays for us.”

The sky seems to be the limit for Landry and he's only going to get better from here. It's certainly going to be exciting watching in Miami for the next several years and hopefully beyond.

This story was written by Matthew Cannata. You can follow him on Twitter: @PhinManiacs

A common complaint by many media pundits over the past couple of years has been the fact that quarterback Ryan Tannehill has been consistently inconsistent. One game he would put up amazing numbers and look like a superstar quarterback, and then the next game he would put up a mediocre performance and the "start Matt Moore" fans would make themselves heard and implore the organization to draft the next "star" quarterback coming out of college.

Finally, in his third year as an NFL starter, Ryan Tannehill appears to have turned the corner and is putting up solid performances even in less than stellar conditions.

"I feel like I’m improving and just want to keep improving." said Tannehill. "There’s still a lot of room for growth. I just want to take those strides as we hit the last five games of the year.”

Last year, the Dolphins offense struggled mightily to make plays, and in their last two games they failed to score more than seven points total, which completely knocked them out of the playoffs and allowed the San Diego Chargers to make an incredibly unlikely playoff berth. 

In those games, Tannehill struggled to handle the pressure coming his way and couldn't do much of anything. Now however, his pocket presence has improved immensely in offensive coordinator Bill Lazor's offense, and it's been showing as he's handled pressure far better as he's adapted to the offense.

"That’s only natural. If that’s not happening, then you’re not getting better." said Tannehill. "The less you think out there and the more you’re reacting and trusting what you feel and what you see, then you’re going to be making plays.”

It's not all on Tannehill though. The offensive line has done a much better job protecting him as opposed to last season, and the running game has been much improved as well as the overall ability of the receivers. Tannehill is well aware of this and has given his teammates the credit they so richly deserve.

“I think the guys around me are playing well and that’s what makes it fun for me, I can just go out and play my game, get the ball to the guys around me and let them make plays.”

Tannehill has been putting together good games for quite a few weeks now, and everyone is trying to figure out exactly when it was that Tannehill turned the corner. But Tannehill says there wasn't really a specific time per say.

“I don’t think there is a moment. I think you learn as you go. Obviously, with the new offense, early on there were some growing pains, some learning curve to overcome. But I’ve finally settled in and gotten comfortable and started playing the game and not thinking about trying to make everything perfect. It’s working out for me.”

It certainly is working for him, as his numbers over the past few weeks has made him stastically a top fifteen quarterback in the league. If Tannehill's growth continues at this pace, and he continues getting the help that every QB requires, there will be very few who could even consider doubting Tannehill's ability to finally become the franchise QB the Dolphins have been looking for for fifteen years.

"I don’t know exactly how my numbers look. I feel more and more comfortable the more games we play. The guys around me are making plays right now. The Dolphins line is protecting me. The run game is going pretty well. So when the guys around you are making plays and you can just get them the ball in space, it makes it a lot more fun to be a quarterback.” 

Written by Matthew Cannata | Twitter: @PhinManiacs
Ja'Wuan James might be a rookie but he's been playing like he's been in the league for years. James, who started the season at right tackle, has been moved to the left side due to Branden Albert's season ending injury. James said he is just trying to get better every week.

“I’m never comfortable. I’m never comfortable at any position, I’m just trying to get better at everything, whether it’s right, left, or if they want me to play guard. I’m just trying to get better every day.”

Replacing James on the right side is Dallas Thomas and he has gotten better each week with every snap. James and Thomas were teammates at the University of Tennessee but says they don't think or talk about that much. Instead, they just go out and get the job done, taking one day and one practice at a time.

“I think we’ve got a lot of work, a lot of room to get better. But we continue to work, me and Dallas, everybody in the room is a hard worker, good character guys that are trying to get better. I think over time with just more reps will keep getting better and better.” 

As the bookends on the offensive line, they are responsible for protecting Ryan Tannehill and they'll work to continue to get better each day in an effort to provide the most possible room for Tannehill to throw on game day.

Written by Matthew Cannata | Twitter: @PhinManiacs
Cameron Wake might be getting older but he is still one of the best and most dominant defensive ends in the entire NFL. On the flip side, Ryan Tannehill is only in his third year and has plenty of road ahead of him. However, both are important to the long-term success of the Miami Dolphins.

Although Wake has proven that he can still continue to be elite, he never gets content, knowing that the NFL is a business and things can change in the blink of an eye.

“Have you been watching the locker room? I’ve never gotten to that point. People laugh at me, but, every time I come to training camp, I look at it like I have to make this team, and that was no different this past offseason where I’m like, ‘Hey, I’ve got to train. I’ve got to make sure I’m ready and pass my conditioning test. I don’t look at it any differently than every week. This is a one-week league, you guys know just as well as anybody. It’s always what have you done for me lately. It doesn’t matter if you had 25 sacks or 30 tackles this week. It’s ‘What are you going to do this week?’ That’s why every week you have to come with that same hunger, that same passion to produce.”

Tannehill has just started to prove that he is capable of being a franchise quarterback and has done so in the all-important third year barometer for NFL quarterbacks. Although Tannehill won't say whether or not he thinks he deserves to be here in the long-term, he knows he has improved and said he needs to just continue to work hard.

“I don’t really think about that. I think I need to get better and I need to make plays. I want to be here for a long time. Obviously, I understand, in order to do that, you have to play well. So that all goes into it. But at the end of the day, I just want to win. I want to take this team to the playoffs and go from there.”   

It will be important to keep these two players around for the future as the Dolphins are just a few pieces away from being a legitimate powerhouse in the NFL. 

Written by Matthew Cannata | Twitter: @PhinManiacs
There's a whole lot of dysfunction and controversy going on with the New York Jets and that escalated earlier this week when Rex Ryan named Geno Smith the starter heading into Monday night. With Vick out of the picture, does that change how the Dolphins are preparing for the Jets?

“No, I wouldn’t say we were surprised," Joe Philbin said. "We were getting ready for both players obviously. I don’t know if either one is a huge, dramatic shift from the other. They have some similar traits. Offensively, the good thing is there’s film on both guys. You can certainly take a look at both of them.”

Philbin said that the tape from last year's Week 17 loss against the Jets will certainly help them preparing for him once again heading into Monday night.

“It’s good, definitely. I was in a defensive meeting this morning, and Kevin (Coyle) referenced the last game a little bit just from a statistical perspective, some of the tendencies that they showed in game formationally and so forth. They are very multiple on offense. They are doing a lot of different things, which makes them a challenge to prepare for.”

Reshad Jones, the one who will be responsible for making everyone is in their proper places when Smith walks up to the line of scrimmage, said both guys are good and can make all the throws, in addition to many other things.

“Both of the guys are good and can make all the throws. Both are very versatile and can run out of the pocket. I think Coach (Kevin) Coyle and our defensive staff will have something drawn up ready for those guys. When you break them down on film, you look for stuff like that, but both guys are good players. I think it’s going to be more about what we do than what they do. We are getting back to playing our style of football, which is fundamental hard-nosed football. I think we’ll be fine.”

If the Dolphins can't rattle Smith from the very first snap, they could be in for a very long night. However, no one is expecting Smith to throw and run all over the Dolphins but as they say, anything can happen at any time in the NFL.

Written by Matthew Cannata | Twitter: @PhinManiacs
It hasn't been a very good year for the Miami Dolphins secondary in regards to injuries. So far, Michael Thomas and Will Davis have suffered season-ending injuries. Jamar Taylor is expected to miss the next three weeks and Cortland Finnegan has been sidelined for two weeks so far.

Heading into Monday night against the New York Jets, the Dolphins have plenty of questions in the secondary but have cleared a few up with roster moves earlier this week, signing R.J. Stanford and releasing Jalil Brown.

“He’s a pro. He’s got familiarity obviously with what we are doing," Philbin said of Stanford. "He was a good special teams player when he was here. There were other times where he contributed in games as a corner. He’s a guy we are familiar with. We like his approach to the game. He’s a good fit in the locker room. We’ll see how quickly we can get him up to speed. It’s been a while since he’s been here.”

While us on the outside might be concerned about the cornerback depth, Philbin said he wasn't too concerned because they'll have a week of practice and preparation to get the guys ready to go. In addition, Finnegan has been practicing this week and could play on Monday night. 

If he can't, Walt Aikens will again have a bigger role. Aikens is normally a safety here in Miami but has been thrust into this position because of injuries. Philbin said that he needs to be ready to go. 

“When you are a backup player and you aren’t a starter, sometimes there are multiple things you have to be able to insert yourself into the game. Certainly, for a young player, that makes it even more challenging because he doesn’t have a ton of experience. A lot of those guys have to be able to fill in at dual positions.”

We'll see what happens on Monday night but if Finnegan can return to the lineup, it will provide a big boost to a depleted secondary.

Written by Matthew Cannata | Twitter: @PhinManiacs
The Miami Dolphins offense has featured a ton of short and intermediate passes while only seeing one or two deep pass attempts per game. Sometimes, we don't see any deep pass attempts. Is this a problem though and if it is, are the Dolphins trying to fix it?

“We’ve been stressing with the guys, the skill players specifically when they get the ball in their hands, there are certain plays throughout the course of a game, let’s say running plays, might be blocked for two yards or four or eight and maybe even 10 (yards)," Joe Philbin said. "Part of the job description of a running back is to make some yards on their own, whether it be elusiveness, whether it be breaking a tackle. Lamar (Miller) made (Bills CB Leodis) McKelvin miss and got a 40-yard (run) two weeks ago. Certainly, we’ve been stressing that, and in the passing game some of the similar things. There are not a ton of routes in our five-step or our seven-step. A lot of them are 16, 14, 18 yards, but then you have space between you and the defender. You have the ball in your hand, make something happen. So there are other ways, and obviously we want to connect on some of the deeper balls down the field too.”

Philbin said that he hasn't seen defenses playing the offense in a 20-yard box, thus limiting certain plays the Dolphins can run. He did admit that sometimes this will happen, but not enough to alter their game plan on game day.

Tannehill, who has been adjusting and growing in the new offense under Bill Lazor, said that the improvement has been steady but he's getting to the point where he's truly comfortable doing what needs to be done.

“It’s been good. Obviously, there was a little adjustment time early on through the offseason and the first couple of games. I feel like right now we’re on the same page, we think about the game the same way and I really like the way he’s been calling the games," he said. "We don’t do a whole lot of no huddle or on the line stuff, but we try to have tempo once we break the huddle just with our shifts and motions and put pressure on defense that way. I think it does create some different things for teams to look at and challenges them to get lined up and communicated.”


Some of the greatest quarterbacks to play the game, such as Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, relied on short and intermediate routes while mixing in a deep ball here and there. While it's a great thing to have, it's not truly necessary to have one of the better offenses in the league, as the Dolphins have proved this year.

Written by Matthew Cannata | Twitter: @PhinManiacs
It's Thanksgiving and that means we should all take a moment to reflect on what we are thankful for. We all have our different things and for NFL players, it's no different. With the holiday here, several players reflected on what they are thankful for.

Cameron Wake, who had one of the toughest journeys to the NFL and to where he is today, reflected on that path and he understands that he's been truly blessed to get the opportunity to play for the Miami Dolphins and in the NFL.

“We would be here for the next 35 minutes if I spoke about that. As you said, just my story and the opportunity I’ve had to be standing here talking to you guys, the support I had that allowed me to be here. I’ve been truly blessed in every capacity from me personally physically to be in this situation with the Miami Dolphins, my family, the help I have, there are so many things. Just being able to in the next hour, we are going out to give back to the community. Just to be in a position to do all of those things, I think it really is a holiday that makes you reflect.”

Ja'Wuan James, a rookie, said he's thankful for so many things and plans to enjoy his family and the time together after they are done practicing and home for the day.

“I’m thankful for a lot of things, thankful for waking up this morning, thankful for this opportunity to play this game and the people in our lives. We’ve talked about it all week, we don’t want it to be a distraction, we need to enjoy our families and have a good time on that day, but at the end of the day we’ve got to get ready for Monday. So just try to give our thanks on Thursday, be done with it, and get ready for the Jets.” 

Jared Odrick, one of the leaders on the defense and defensive line, talked about the community and how they have helped them by passing out over 500 turkeys on Wednesday evening.

“It’s a great event every year where we’re able to hand out a few turkeys and a few turkey dinners to some people that may not have it otherwise. Each year, each player tries to do something whether it’s on their own or with ten team that tries to give back to the community, especially on the holidays. Because down here, half the time you don’t recognize that it’s a holiday because it’s summer weather outside, but then you’re remind very quickly just handing those turkeys out that there are families in need and it’s a time of spending a lot of time with your family and just appreciating what you have. If you can do that by helping other people out, that’s fine by. I’ll continue to do it every year.”

Today is a good day to also remember that NFL players are humans just like us and they go through their ups and downs just like us. They'll certainly be enjoying Thanksgiving just like the rest of us will be throughout the day before jumping back on the practice field tomorrow.

Written by Matthew Cannata | Twitter: @PhinManiacs
With the Miami Dolphins set to kick off against the New York Jets on Monday Night Football, we though it'd be interesting to take a look back in history to see how the Dolphins have done along with some other interesting stats and facts.

• The Miami Dolphins have appeared on Monday Night Football a total of 80 times in franchise history. 54 have been played at home and 26 of them have been on the road.

• The Miami Dolphins record on Monday Night Football at home is 33-21 (.611) and is 7-19 (.269) when they are away

• Throughout franchise history, the Dolphins have a 40-40 record on Monday Night Football.

• Records on Monday Night Football: In September, the Dolphins are 5-6. In October, they are 6-10. In November, they are 8-16 and in December, they are 21-8.

• The Dolphins have played the Jets the most on Monday Night Football in the history of the franchise - 12 times. They hold a 5-7 record against them. They've also beaten the Patriots and Bills 5 times each.

• Dolphins vs. Jets on Monday will be the 13th in MNF history and is the third most frequent match-up since prime time games started in 1970. Broncos vs. Raiders has been on MNF 17 times and Cowboys vs. Redskins have been on MNF 16 times.

• Since the start of MNF, the Dolphins 40 victories on Monday nights ranks fourth in history. Others: 49ers (46), Cowboys (43), Steelers (42)

• The last time the Dolphins won on MNF was September 26, 2010 against the Jets. They won 31-27.

• The Dolphins currently hold a 5 game losing streak on Monday Night Football.

Written by Matthew Cannata | Twitter: @PhinManiacs
The Miami Dolphins have been accomplishing numerous things throughout the season - both as a team and as individuals. The following are a list of accomplishments following the game on Sunday against the Denver Broncos. 

• Miami’s offense in 2014 has improved dramatically in many categories and certainly has been successful moving the chains. The Dolphins 12.1 three-and-out percentage is tied for the the lowest in the NFL.

• While Miami’s defense has been strong in many areas, one of the team’s keys to success has been the way it has defended the deep ball. Miami has allowed 26 completions of 20-plus yards, which is tied for the second fewest in the NFL.

• The Dolphins defense has allowed 6-of-35 passes that have traveled 21-or-more yards in the air to be completed. The 17.1 completion percentage against passes thrown more 21-or-more yards is the second lowest completion percentage in the NFL.

• Rookie WR Jarvis Landry punctuated the month of November when he tied a career high with seven receptions for 50 yards and two touchdowns at Denver in Week 12. His two touchdown receptions were the most for a Dolphins rookie since WR Chris Chambers tallied two of his own on Dec. 10, 2001 vs. Indianapolis. Landry finished November by recording 24 receptions for 195 yards and four scores. His 24 catches were tied for the fifth-most by a Dolphins rookie in any month in franchise history. Additionally, his four touchdown grabs tied Chambers (2001) for the most in any month by a Dolphins rookie in team history. 

• Through the first 11 games of the 2014 season, QB Ryan Tannehill has thrown 20 touchdown passes with just eight interceptions. He joined Dan Marino (13 times) and Bob Griese (two times) as the only quarterbacks in Dolphins history to have two o -more seasons with 20+ touchdown passes in a season. Further, his touchdown to interception differential of plus-12 is tied for the sixth best in Dolphins history and also tied for the best in team history (along with Chad Pennington in 2008) among quarterbacks other than Marino.

All stats and data were provided courtesy of the Miami Dolphins Public Relations Department

Written by Steven Wilson | Twitter: @stevenjwilson11
Although the Miami Dolphins put the entire AFC on notice with their strong three-quarter performance against the Denver Broncos − Miami led 28-17 heading into the fourth − the team strayed off track and were outscored 22-8 in the final 15 minutes as the Broncos stole the victory at home.

“We know a lot of times it seems like games often times come down to the fourth quarter in the National Football League,” Head Coach Joe Philbin said. “There have been certain weeks where it hasn’t been where it needs to be, and certainly [Sunday] falls into that category… We have to keep people out of the end zone better in that situation and we have to score more.”

Even after surrendering that 11-point, third-quarter lead, the Dolphins were down by just four points, 32-28, with five minutes and change left. But the Broncos T.J. Ward iced the win with for his team with an interception off a tipped pass intended for Jarvis Landry. The ensuing Denver touchdown put the home team up by 11, 39-28, flipping the tides on the Phins.

“In that kind of game, offensively, you are going to have to answer blow-for-blow,” continued Philbin. “That’s just the kind of game we were in. We had a couple of chances and again I’m losing track, but was it a four-point lead they had and we threw an interception and gave them the ball at the 8-yard line. We have to do better.”

Despite their winning record, the aqua and orange defense has allowed a total of 86 points to opponents in the fourth quarter alone this season. That’s a difference of 32 points in favor of their opposition.

“There have been games where we’ve played well and then there are games that obviously stand out where we didn’t play well down the stretch,” said Defensive Coordinator Kevin Coyle. “I think at times you can isolate one area and it’s important to do that because in this league a lot of the games do come down to the very end of the game as we know. There are a lot of things that we’ve done well, but we’ve got to do more things well at critical times. Hopefully, we’ve got five opportunities to do that down the stretch here. I know we’re going to do everything we can as coaches and players to play our best football here over the last five weeks and then, at the end of the season, look at our whole season in totality and see where we end up.”

Looking at the big picture will reveal many positives, but will there be enough in the eyes of ownership to keep the same coaching staff around for another season if Miami misses the playoffs? That’s the biggest question looming over the Dolphins over the next five weeks.

They’ve played well against good teams like New England, Green Bay and Denver. They’ve won big blowout games, like the one at home over San Diego. They’ve beaten most of the team’s they’re supposed to beat like Jacksonville, Oakland and Chicago.

Now, the question is, can Philbin and Co. defeat those elite teams on a consistent basis? Those are the teams that close out games with 11-point leads. Those are the teams that dominant the fourth quarter. 

“They step up and make plays at critical times,” Philbin admitted. “At some point in time, we have to be able to do that. We’ve won a lot of games by double-digits in the six wins we’ve had. We’ve had some good margin-of-victory in those games, but you look at the last three losses we’ve had and what are they by, three, four and three points. We have to find a way to win some of those games. A year ago, I think we won a bunch of those games. This year, not so much and we have to do better. We are going to be in some more of those games. That’s just the way the National Football League typically is.”

How they close out those tight games will determine if the Dolphins are elite or just another borderline contender.