Silver linings can be hard to see in the moment of defeat. The Dolphins didn’t have to look for any silver linings through the first three weeks of the season, but now it’s time to reflect. As Dolphin fans, we never expected to see the laundry list of injuries that have piled up. It seems fair to say that the players have been beaten up physically and the fans emotionally. The Dolphins haven’t been able to show their true strength all season. From losing Austin Jackson in Week 1 to Byron Jones’ injury delays, it seems we haven’t gotten a fair chance to show the rest of the NFL who we are. The great Vince Lombardi once said that “Winning isn’t everything but wanting to win is.” I can’t find a better quote that encompasses the Dolphins right now. We have fought hard the last two weeks with the lineups we have. 3rd string QBs, rookie DBs and, alongside practice squad linemen, we still have given good showings in the moment of defeat. So, what can the Dolphins take away from the Cincinnati and New York losses?
Depleted Not Defeated
The Dolphins are not a healthy team by any means. Injury troubles began before the season even started. We lost training camp talent such as Trill Williams; we had summer surgery for Byron Jones, Jaylen Waddle was in a compression sleeve all camp. The list goes on and on for the Dolphins. The loss of Tua Tagovailoa was the biggest hit for the team, of course. Without our top signal caller, we have not been able to unlock the offense through the air. I believe, and I think most Dolphins fans would agree, that if we bring healthy lineups into Cincinnati and New York, we are 5-0. I don’t see how either of those teams could have stopped us at our best. Cincinnati played us with a couple of broken bones, but the Jets played us in a wheelchair. The Dolphins are nowhere near a losing season; we just need to heal up and reengage. The first three weeks of the season showed our potential, and that same team still exists. Time heals wounds, and I believe it will also heal this depleted Dolphins team.
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Run the Ball
Raheem Mostert gave us the rushing game we all hoped we’d see this season. 18 carries 113 yards, 6.3 yards a carry, and a touchdown to cap it off. The run game had life on Sunday, and it felt nice to see a back for the Dolphins bust off 100 yards. McDaniel finally reached into his bag and pulled the running genius we had been waiting for. The Dolphins efficiently ran the ball to the weak side of New York, and I loved the half-back flips for a speedy running back like Mostert. The Jets virtually had no answer for Mostert when he was on the field. We will need this production going forward when Tua returns to the starting lineup.
Miami Needs Tua
Believe it or not, the Dolphins’ offense wasn’t designed for Teddy Bridgewater or Skylar Thompson. Probably not so shocking, considering how poorly both QBs played in their limited time. Our offense is as fast as it gets in the NFL. Unfortunately, the release speed of our backup QBs is nowhere near as fast as Tua. We noticed yesterday that Skylar took way too long to deliver the football. That resulted in sacks and a fumble that iced the game for Miami. We’ll give Skylar credit. He did manage the game well enough for Miami to potentially take the lead on a missed field goal by Sanders. Whether we will get Tua back for the Vikings is still up in the air. The Dolphins will need Tua back if they stand any chance of defeating a good Vikings team.
Don’t lose hope, Dolphin fans! We all know the abilities that this team has on both sides. Our schedule is one of the most favorable for a team struggling with health. Our next five opponents combine for a W-L percentage under .500. We will see this team heal up and take command. Fins Up!
