Philbin: Pass play was the right call

[Landshark]

http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/10/22/3703626/miami-dolphins-joe-philbin-says.html

This guy is completely clueless, as is his right hand man who is calling the plays.  You run the ball, chew up some clock, and pin them deep in their own territory. 

[Cathal]

I agreed with being aggressive. I didn't agree with calling a pocket passing play, I would have preferred a designed rollout where Tannehill could have just slid if need be. The offensive line always crumbles at the worst time so take him out of the pocket. I don't think you can sit on a 1 point lead, especially considering the defense loves to give up big yards at the worst time too.

[hordman]

I agreed with being aggressive. I didn't agree with calling a pocket passing play, I would have preferred a designed rollout where Tannehill could have just slid if need be. The offensive line always crumbles at the worst time so take him out of the pocket. I don't think you can sit on a 1 point lead, especially considering the defense loves to give up big yards at the worst time too.

I agree with you. don't mind the pass play, just the execution of it, and possibly another way of going about it.

[hordman]

Just read an article talking about Tannehill's lack of awareness in the pocket.  I know he's been sacked many times this year and he's probably getting jumpy in the pocket.

Having said that, it seems as though he is patting the ball and staring down WRs and that's not good.  He's got to overcome this now or it's just going to get worse. 

Take for example for a play on Sunday on 3rd and short.  I remember the play, he drops back, stares down Miller on the dump off pass, sees that he's covered and then overthrows him out of bounds.  Take a look at the screenshot.



He's GOT time.  If he comes back on his read progressions, he's got Egnew/Sims (can't see too well) wide open in the middle of the field for a 1st down, easily.

I've got to hope that Tannehill is staring down WRs cause he's nervous in the pocket. That's my hope.  EVERY QB is under pressure, but the good ones, know how to feel for it and avoid it.  Not sure he's there yet or if might ever be.

Let's hope McKinnie coming in allays those fears.

[CF DolFan]

People are saying Manning had the same problem against the Colts. No pocket awareness and staring down his receivers. I wonder why he doesn't have the same issues when he wins?

Buffalo gambled and played aggressive on the short routes knowing our o-line couldn't handle them. They had zero respect for a long ball and it killed our passing game.  I'm sure we will see more of it until we learn to beat it.

[Brian Fein]

This is why you have to get him time to throw.  He has regressed since week 1 due to the guys always in his face, I think. 

He's playing scared now.  If they don't find ways to slow the rush and protect him better, you might be ruining your franchise QB.

[Dave Gray]

I'm fine with a pass play.  You have to be able to trust that your tackle can prevent a sack/fumble on a simple drop-back.

There wasn't enough time to run the clock out.  You needed a first down and they were stacking the line.  Had we run, we'd still be giving Buffalo enough opportunity to move down the field for a FG, considering it would've been 4 down territory.  We were trying to win the game, rather than not lose it, and I can't fault the coaches for that.

Given the result, of course it was the wrong call, but the call isn't the issue - The issue is that you have players that can't block in key situations.

[Brian Fein]

Given the result, of course it was the wrong call, but the call isn't the issue - The issue is that you have players that can't block in key situations.

Bingo!  Had the result been different, no one would be talking about that play call today.

[Pappy13]

Bingo!  Had the result been different, no one would be talking about that play call today.

Wrong. If it had been just an incomplete pass I would STILL have been saying that they should have run the ball in that position. Before the play I was 100% certain they would run the ball 3 times and failing a first down, punt. 100% CERTAIN of that because both Philbin AND Sherman STRESS the importance of the run game. They STRESS IT and then they abandon it at the most critical point in the game? And why? Because Buffalo was in an 8 man front? Ah, I see you want Miami to pass every down, well just put in an 8 man front and you can GUARANTEEE they will pass the ball. Doesn't matter what the circumstance is. They have as much as said so. They have proved it on the field. You can just send all 8 guys and KILL Tannehill because they ARE going to pass with an 8 man front.

I'm sorry, but this is the WRONG way to go about coaching. You know what the right way is? You say go ahead, put 8 man in the box, we can BLOCK it and we can STILL get yardage on the ground. You're NOT going to dictate to US how we run our offense, we are gonna dictate it to YOU! If we need to run the ball WE WILL and you can't stop it! That's what great teams do. That's what great coaches preach.

They had better learn from this or they are doomed to repeat it.

What's even MORE disturbing is the lack of confidence in the defense. Basically Philbin and Sherman both just stated that they don't think Miami's D can hold a 1 point lead even if the opposing team is backed up to their 20 with no time outs and 2 minutes left in the game. They think the D would give up points in that circumstance. They think they HAVE to get a first down to win the game in that position. And that's against a QB making his FIRST start I believe. That my friends is a TOTAL lack of confidence in your D. TOTAL!!! That's scary. And what's worse is that perhaps they are right. They did just let Buffalo go on a 15 play drive for a FG just a couple posessions earlier, but hey this time they'll have to pass the ball, not just run it down our throats, wait what am I saying, we are BETTER stopping the run then the pass, gulp.

The problems during this 3 game slide go MUCH further than right tackle. MUCH further and a BIG chunk of that problem is on the DEFENSIVE side of the ball. The fact is that Miami's D made yet ANOTHER young, inexperienced QB look good or at least decent. I've seen that happen about a dozen times in the last decade and that's in about a dozen chances. Had Miami turned THEIR QB over 2 or 3 times, THEN we wouldn't HAVE to be talking about whether or not they should have been running the ball.

Go ahead Spider, I'm ready. Hit me with your best shot how the D ONLY gave up 13 points and that the offense basically handed them 10. Well how come OUR defense can't hand OUR offense points when they need it? That hasn't happened since Zach and Jason were on the field together. Against an inexperienced QB with a weak WR group and only an average TE. They STILL let Buffalo go on 15 play scoring drives, convert WAY too many 3 and longs, etc etc etc. The defense is JUST as much to blame for the last 3 losses as the offense is. But no one is talking about that. It's never the defense's fault, it's always that the offense didn't score enough.

[MikeO]

^^ Defense played 2 games without Cam Wake and essentially 2 games without Ellerbee. Patterson has been out. Something to take into account.

The D is the least of Miami's problem in all honesty.

[Pappy13]

^^ Defense played 2 games without Cam Wake and essentially 2 games without Ellerbee. Patterson has been out. Something to take into account.

The D is the least of Miami's problem in all honesty.

Yes, but you also have to take into account the team you are playing. This WASN'T New Orleans, this was Buffalo with their BACKUP QB and their only good WR gimpy.  This was a game that Miami's D should have bowed up and made Buffalo look silly and they didn't.  They COULD have, but they didn't. Had they, we wouldn't be talking about the offensive problems today.

That's just my opinion, I could be wrong.

[MikeO]

Yes, but you also have to take into account the team you are playing. This WASN'T New Orleans, this was Buffalo with their BACKUP QB and their only good WR gimpy.  This was a game that Miami's D should have bowed up and made Buffalo look silly and they didn't.  They COULD have, but they didn't.

Holding any NFL team, back-up QB or not, to under 300 yards of total offense is a good day. Don't know what more you want them to do. They aren't the 85' Bears

[Pappy13]

Holding any NFL team, back-up QB or not, to under 300 yards of total offense is a good day. Don't know what more you want them to do. They aren't the 85' Bears

The 85 Bears would have held them to negative yardage in the air. Buffalo's QB would have never left the ground.

I'm not blaming this loss on the D, it was a total loss (special teams included), I'm just saying that if we all believed that Miami's D would have held them in that position, then there's no reason to pass the ball. None. I have been hard on the D in the past and yet I believe THIS was their chance to prove it. Miami SHOULD have given the D the chance to prove it. The fact they didn't has as much to do with how the coaching staff feels about the D as they do the O.

[Diehard_Dolfan]

Problem with us is we're not using our backs to their strengths.  Thomas is actually the right back for the zone run game that Phibin wants to run. Thomas is a one cut and go guy... that's what you need. Problem is... Thomas is not a speed guy!  Miller is not a one cut guy... so while he does have the speed... he's more of a toss or stretch type back.  He's too patient at times... instead of just hitting it up in there he's looking for lanes which allows the defense to close on him.

[MikeO]

Problem with us is we're not using our backs to their strengths.  Thomas is actually the right back for the zone run game that Phibin wants to run. Thomas is a one cut and go guy... that's what you need. Problem is... Thomas is not a speed guy!  Miller is not a one cut guy... so while he does have the speed... he's more of a toss or stretch type back.  He's too patient at times... instead of just hitting it up in there he's looking for lanes which allows the defense to close on him.

And the problem is there are no running lanes. Every problem on offense comes back to the o-line. It just does. No time to throw, no running lanes, too many sacks, can't hold a block long enough to get Wallace deep down field on a consistent basis. It's gonna be a long rough year but this is the year it will be with the o-line. It's Week 8, we are stuck with this group. Just gotta make the best of it at this point. This is still a very young team in many areas, one of the youngest teams in the league....will have growing pains. Gotta have patience which I know is tough for fans sometimes.

This team is still set up well long-term and big picture wise. Can't let one bad loss change the future. This isn't "blow it up and start over" time. Far from it.