Will we see more rookies?

[Pappy13]

Now that the playoffs are all but out of the question, do you think Miami will start playing the rookies more? I'd like to see Miller and Matthews get more involved in the offense and I'd like to see Egnew get on the field. It's not like playing these guys can hurt their playoff chances anymore, time to see whether they are going to be a part of the Dolphins next year or not. Matthews seems to have jumped Gaffney on the depth chart, perhaps Philbin is thinking the same thing?

Thoughts, comments, discussion?

[Brian Fein]

No.

The team doesn't think the season is over.  Only fans think like that.

[Pappy13]

No.

The team doesn't think the season is over.  Only fans think like that.

Well typically I would agree, but Philbin doesn't seem to be your typical head coach. Look at his track record.

1) He allowed the Dolphins to be the subject of NFL's Behind the Scenes, despite the fact that he was a rookie head coach. This could have easily blown up in his face and in fact at the beginning of the year most thought it WAS blowing up in his face.

2) He traded away a known commodity at WR for future draft choices at a time when it seemed that Miami basically had no one to replace him.

3) He gave a fading star a chance at WR, but the instant he became bigger than the organization he cut him loose in no uncertain terms and he TELEVISED the event.

4) He traded away a known commodity at CB for future draft picks, again electing to do this with cameras in his face and his CB's face.

5) He went ahead and named a rookie QB the starter despite the fact that many believed he wasn't ready for it and kept a veteran QB that didn't play too badly the year before on the bench backing him up.

6) He benched his starting running back (and the only guy on the team that is capable of a big play in many people's eyes) for fumbling a ball in the second series of a game.

Are these the actions of your average run of the mill head coach? Go around the NFL and ask the head coaches how many of them would do the same thing as Philbin. I doubt you would get many head coaches to say they would do things the way Philbin has done them. Philbin still wants to win as many games as possible there's no question about that, but if the difference between winning and losing is a matter or doing what's good for the short term or for the long term, Philbin tends to lean toward looking towards building for the future over winning a game or 2 in the short term.

That's just my opinion, I could be wrong, but it sure is nice to see for a change. Maybe what this franchise needs is a little more listening to the fans and a little less focus on "the next game". It's a little hard to steer the thing out of the ditch and back into the road when the furthest down the road you look is 2 feet in front of the bumper.

[MikeO]

The fact they are going with Rishard Matthews over Jabar Gaffeny should answer that question for you!

[CF DolFan]

I don't think they are surrendering but it does seem that Philben is more concerned with the future than winning in the short  term.

[Fins4ever]

Now that the playoffs are all but out of the question, do you think Miami will start playing the rookies more? I'd like to see Miller and Matthews get more involved in the offense and I'd like to see Egnew get on the field. It's not like playing these guys can hurt their playoff chances anymore, time to see whether they are going to be a part of the Dolphins next year or not. Matthews seems to have jumped Gaffney on the depth chart, perhaps Philbin is thinking the same thing?

Thoughts, comments, discussion?

I would like to see more play from the young guys and I am hoping we will. One thing in our favor is unlike Sparano (who played the starters to the bitter end), is not playing for his job, but more for the future.

Let Egnew, Moore, Miller and others get in the game and evaluate what we have while giving them experience.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

Now that the playoffs are all but out of the question,

The dolphins are 2 games out of a wild card spot with almost half a season to go.  If the coach conceeds the season at this point he should be fired. 

[badger6]

^^^ But they gotta fucking win. This damn team is so hot and cold. Is everyone on the teams payroll bipolar, or on crack ?  It's the damnedest thing.

[Pappy13]

The dolphins are 2 games out of a wild card spot with almost half a season to go.  If the coach conceeds the season at this point he should be fired. 

But they just lost 2 of the easiest games on the schedule in the 2nd half. That doesn't bode well for them. Sure they *COULD* beat Seattle, New England twice and San Fran, but it's not very likely. They'll be lucky to go 3-3 down the stretch and finsh 7-9. Besides playing the rookies isn't conceeding the season, it's looking for a spark from another source since it's pretty obvious that Bush and Gaffney haven't been the answer lately.

[EKnight]

Along the lines of "making the playoffs," from makenflplayoffs.com: AFC top six — Texans 99.8%, Ravens 98.4, Broncos 97.6; Patriots 92.4, Colts 63.2 and Steelers 57.5 (Dolphins now 11th at 11.5). NFC — Falcons 97.2, 49ers 87.5; Packers 74.5; Bears 67.8, Giants 62.8 and Seahawks 45.1.

11.5% isn't particularly good. Of course anything can happen, but if the gamblers are predicting it this way (and, IMO, oddsmakers are the most objective people when it comes to this kind of thing), Philbin can't really believe they've got much of a chance. -EK

[badger6]

But they just lost 2 of the easiest games on the schedule in the 2nd half. That doesn't bode well for them. Sure they *COULD* beat Seattle, New England twice and San Fran, but it's not very likely. They'll be lucky to go 3-3 down the stretch and finsh 7-9. Besides playing the rookies isn't conceeding the season, it's looking for a spark from another source since it's pretty obvious that Bush and Gaffney haven't been the answer lately.

I see in my Thanksgiving Day Makers Mark eyes One more bad game from Tanne and I sit his ass and let him think about it for a couple games. Put Moore in. That may be the spark the team, Bush, and Tannehill himself needs. If Moore can win games and Tanne can't. That says something, mostly about Tannehill. Gotta think about it. Just like Carrol has to do better to keep his job. So does Tanne. If Moore can win games, put his ass in.

If Tanne is a great or even good QB he will learn the best lesson he ever could from getting benched. If Tanne is a bust he will let Moore beat him. And then we will have to resign Moore anyhow, I think we should resign him anyways.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

11.5% isn't particularly good. Of course anything can happen, but if the gamblers are predicting it this way (and, IMO, oddsmakers are the most objective people when it comes to this kind of thing), Philbin can't really believe they've got much of a chance. -EK

I really wish Tom Caughlin had your attitude back in 2007.   

Maybe that is why he is an NFL coach and you're not.

[MikeO]

^^^ 100% Agree!!

Gamblers and Oddsmakers are interested in ONLY 1 thing...MAKING MONEY! They set odds and use stats that help them make money WITH A POINT SPREAD!! 

[Brian Fein]

They'll be lucky to go 3-3 down the stretch and finsh 7-9.

Disagree completely.

They SHOULD go 3-3 down the stretch.  SHOULD.  Seattle, Buffalo, and Jacksonville are all home games and SHOULD be wins.  If the team plays the way the are supposed to.

They would be lucky to get 6 wins.  They need to be lucky to beat New England (twice) and San Fran.

If you ask me, the level of consistency of this team seems to be that of a 7-9 team.  And if they play the way they're supposed to, that's exactly where they'll end up.

[MikeO]

^^^ YEP! And 7-9 with a ROOKIE QB and a ROOKIE head coach is NOT a bad year! It really isn't.