To be fair to the ‘beats of gloom and doom’, we are certainly at a profound crossroads with the most crucial unit to the Dolphins success in the crosshairs… along with the coaches and GM. It could very well be the first scene of a horror show… or not. I’d say wait more than 5 days before we predict the ending, though.
Good news: This situation is where good leaders are needed most and weak leader crumble. We will get a clear view of the type of leadership Brain Flores will provide by not only how he handles this situation, but also by how it shakes out.
Whether seen half full or half empty… the situation is serious
Still, as is being said by Mando, Flores was either wrong for hiring Flaherty and right now… or wrong in both regards. He was ‘wrong’ at some point though. But, let’s be real. Sadly, the Phins are one of the least sought after spots in the NFL and Flores is very unproven. Gase suffered the same issues with putting together a staff piecemeal and scrounging at the bottom of the barrel.
Context is key: All young coaches suffer the same teething problems with their staff… unless they are going to a team laden with talent. Dolphins weren’t and aren’t such a team.
Remember, Flores took the best of what was available with Flaherty but brought in quality backup just in case. Foresight displayed for sure. A deeper analyzation of this move is for another article, though. Flores certainly made the right move. Some of how today played out showed that he did. We’ll see if the right move included the right guy for the job.
As Rocky said, “It’s not how hard you hit, but how hard you can be hit… and keep coming.”
You could see Flores was visibly uncomfortable explaining his decision… more so than in any other conference, in my opinion. Flores is fully aware that this move will go a long way to proving or disproving the pay-per-head best bookie software sites right or wrong. It took big-boy pants to fire Flaherty. But, was it backed by big-boy brains?
Flores understands the process of this thing and knows players must be developed for the plan to work. Flaherty wasn’t teaching the young guys and was leaning on familiarity.
Consider Flaherty’s starting lineup: LT Tunsil, LG Reed, C Kilgore, RG Davis, and RT Mills. Safe a road as possible. And given where he is in his career, age, and his situation last season with the Jags, job security, whether here or elsewhere, is a big concern. No slight… it makes perfect sense for him.
This though wasn’t the best road for the Dolphins long term.
Today, Deiter came in as the Left Guard starter and held his own. Davis went to Tackle and Right Guard was a tryout with Holden, Calhoun, and Reed.
Reports on the Offensive Line today:
Deiter got 1st team reps and looked better than “a long way off “as Flaherty described
Sterup saw more action at Left Tackle
Calhoun saw more action with the 1s
Prince saw action with the 2s
Reed saw time at backup Center (good)
Mills moved to backup RT (good) and saw time at LT
Fuller took reps at LG and C
OT Monteiro blipped
Jones-Smith saw time with the 2nds at RT
OL Ryan Anderson cut by Miami was signed by Gase
Reports on the rest of the team from Day 5
Starting D-line: Baker & Eguavoen at LBs, DTs Wilkins & Godchaux, DEs Harris & Carradine
Clive Walford, Chase Allen, Dwayne Allen, Mike Hull, and Cordrea Tankersley still out
Ballage left the practice with an undisclosed injury
As per Joe Schad, “Josh Rosen is IDing MLB for the first time.”
Orchard still flashing in the pass rush
Tank Carradine showing himself near-daily
Josh Rosen is 2nd at OL but WRs 1st and Kalen Ballage in the backfield. He needs to get acclimated with WR not OL if he wants to start. Means starting job still open.
Kiko missed practice
Bobby McCain was a stud today
Rosen a bit sloppy with picks and near picks
Jakeem Grant closing in on 100% healthy
Nick O’Leary locking down 1st string and Chad O’Shea praised his leadership
Jerome Baker is looking excellent on every level
Harris moved to Left End
Raekwon McMillan seeing more reps 1s
Lots of wall running and push-ups for both sides who were very sloppy
Well, that’s the sum of it. Even if this thing turns in an upward trajectory, expect a couple more ugly days… and maybe even the scrimmage. But, post scrimmage leading up to Week 1 of Preseason should see the Phins stabilize… if Flores has them on the right track. Go Phins!!!
This is just more proof that Flores is OJT as a head coach. In three or four years he could be doing just fine. Think of Belichick with his first head coaching gig. It was crash and burn. Flores is going to experiment with his assistants too. I guarantee you his staff will be much different in three years than it is today.
The offensive line is not laden with much talent. It will be a dynamic lineup all year. My hopes are that we find a group of guys that develop a chemistry based on relationships. You know, everyone works harder so that they don’t let the other guys down. We need to get 3.5 yards per running play and we need to hold the defensive line off for a 4 count. We can’t kill drives with penalties. No holding. No false starts. It is pretty simple stuff.
The game plan must consider that the goals I have just established are the max this line can give you. Fitz magic and the running game must deliver within these perimeters. The Tight Ends need to block and catch the over the middle stuff. The Split end / taller wide receivers have to catch the slant over the middle. Somebody has to play some fullback and maybe catch a few passes behind the Middle linebacker or backers on a draw. Can Stills or that injury prone Parker get open in the middle of the field in 4 seconds? Do we even have a slot guy? If there is a resounding YES! from the guys up front we can go 8&8 if some other teams plane gets hit by lightning we might even go 9&7! Take That Los Vegas!
“This is just more proof that Flores is OJT as a head coach.” Of course, as all new coaches are. “In three or four years he could be doing just fine.” If he is good Year 3… and great Year 2. Beli was mostly because he didn’t have a QB. D was solid. “I guarantee you his staff will be much different in three years than it is today.” 20-25% turnover should be the limit. OL Tunsil and Deiter should hold down the left side is all goes well. Davis at RT will be a key. C has decent enough talent. RG and Depth on the wings is a concern… although RG is the easiest to man. Even if they find a vet before the season we’ll be okay. “My hopes are that we find a group of guys that develop a chemistry based on relationships. ” This is key with all lines, especially under talented ones. “We need to get 3.5 yards per running play and we need to hold the defensive line off for a 4 count. We can’t kill drives with penalties. No holding. No false starts. It is pretty simple stuff.” Basic… but not always easy for Phins. Slot will be Stills or Albert. I’m seeing 6 wins and a few close losses as my floor. 8-8 or 9-7? This Ol will need to make that happen. It’s all about them.
This is just more proof that Flores is OJT as a head coach. In three or four years he could be doing just fine. Think of Belichick with his first head coaching gig. It was crash and burn. Flores is going to experiment with his assistants too. I guarantee you his staff will be much different in three years than it is today.
The offensive line is not laden with much talent. It will be a dynamic lineup all year. My hopes are that we find a group of guys that develop a chemistry based on relationships. You know, everyone works harder so that they don’t let the other guys down. We need to get 3.5 yards per running play and we need to hold the defensive line off for a 4 count. We can’t kill drives with penalties. No holding. No false starts. It is pretty simple stuff.
The game plan must consider that the goals I have just established are the max this line can give you. Fitz magic and the running game must deliver within these perimeters. The Tight Ends need to block and catch the over the middle stuff. The Split end / taller wide receivers have to catch the slant over the middle. Somebody has to play some fullback and maybe catch a few passes behind the Middle linebacker or backers on a draw. Can Stills or that injury prone Parker get open in the middle of the field in 4 seconds? Do we even have a slot guy?
If there is a resounding YES! from the guys up front we can go 8&8 if some other teams plane gets hit by lightning we might even go 9&7! Take That Los Vegas!
“This is just more proof that Flores is OJT as a head coach.” Of course, as all new coaches are.
“In three or four years he could be doing just fine.” If he is good Year 3… and great Year 2.
Beli was mostly because he didn’t have a QB. D was solid.
“I guarantee you his staff will be much different in three years than it is today.” 20-25% turnover should be the limit.
OL Tunsil and Deiter should hold down the left side is all goes well. Davis at RT will be a key. C has decent enough talent. RG and Depth on the wings is a concern… although RG is the easiest to man. Even if they find a vet before the season we’ll be okay.
“My hopes are that we find a group of guys that develop a chemistry based on relationships. ” This is key with all lines, especially under talented ones.
“We need to get 3.5 yards per running play and we need to hold the defensive line off for a 4 count. We can’t kill drives with penalties. No holding. No false starts. It is pretty simple stuff.”
Basic… but not always easy for Phins.
Slot will be Stills or Albert.
I’m seeing 6 wins and a few close losses as my floor. 8-8 or 9-7? This Ol will need to make that happen. It’s all about them.