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Flores

Just because it worked out does not mean it was a good decision

I didn't agree with the decision but it worked out and the true shame goes to Jordan Howard. He should just be released at this point. We hit on our free agent signings except for him. Total disaster.

Flores. He's turned into scaredy-cat this year. Fortunately for the fins, he was bailed out by an even worse decision by the Kingsbury. That my opinion aligns with d4l is giving me second thoughts, though.

Can you guys be more specific, I have no idea what you're talking about.  How do you give it to the head coach when we beat a potential superbowl contender?

I give mine to Xavien Howard, he was a PI machine.

I really think Howard got shafted by one of the most PI-happy crews I've seen in a long time. Two of the four just were not there and one of those was completely on Hopkins. Howard got his head and upper body around and was about to intercept the ball when Hopkins slammed into his back. That cannot be OPI in any way shape or form. (This was the "offsetting" one of his 4 PIs).

With regards to Flores, what I have a serious problem with is the decision to kick a 50 yard field goal with 3-something remaining on 4th and a foot. Particularly in a game where you've showed little ability to stop the opponent. Fortunately, Arizona decided to return the favor and gamble on a 49-yard field goal to tie with enough time left for the Dolphins to come back, instead of trying to convert a 4th and 1.

Arizona's probability of winning had they made the field goal AND stopped the Dolphins from putting more points up would have been 50/50. Prior to this game, the Cardinals had converted 2-or-less to go 3rd and 4th downs 77% of the time this season (4th best) and the Dolphins had allowed 2-or-less to go a league-worst 79% of the time. Sure, you got unlucky once in the game, but this is the standard scaredy-cat choice by coaches to postpone losing decisions (like waiting to go for two, kicking now when you need a TD as well, etc). Coaches have gotten A LOT better over the past few years and Flores was actually very good last season, but for some reason he has regressed. That's why it's particularly frustrating that he's been making bad decisions lately - even when they happen to work out.

I can't give a shame of the game for this one. Sure, Jordan Howard looks like he is on his last legs out there, but he still converted a few important short-yardage plays for Miami. Xavien Howard may have had 3-4 PI calls, but that was pretty much all that Hopkins got from him the entire game. Flores may have made a questionable play-call or two, but his team just beat a legitimate playoff contender, and that's my bottom line when it comes to coaches.

Ditto. 

Xavien Howard was very unlucky, if he was wearing a Patriots jersey with a Gilmore nameplate it would have been a no-call almost every time...

Jordan Howard seems to be used as the short yardage back - he did his job every time it was called. Yes he may be a very overpaid short yardage back, but that may be Gailey's fault...

I am a bit surprised to see Flores mentioned here... I could not see any bad call he made in this game.

If I had to pick a victim, it would be Byron Jones for completely blowing the man on man coverage on Kirk leading to the TD. The second one with Daniels he was unlucky, but it's still another TD black mark against his name.

Like I said in another thread, if you choose to play man-on-man and stick 7 or 8 in the box to pass/run rush, you then live by the sword and die by it... but I do love our bravery in playing that way.

Flores made the only questionable decision of the game

I think and hope Xavien Howard just had a bad game against a good receiving crew. I'd rather give up PI's than big plays. We'll see in the next couple games. I was hoping to see Laird a bit more in there.