Dolphins Currently Are in a Tight Spot & are Desperate

endzoneeditor | November 7, 2015 | Uncategorized | No Comments

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Despite never being on a Super Bowl-winning team, he is recognized as one of the greatest quarterbacks in football history. Best remembered for his quick release and powerful arm, Marino led the Dolphins to the playoffs ten times in his seventeen-season career. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2005.

Another Dolphins season is at yet another crossroads Sunday. And they again need someone. Anyone, really. It’s not really clear or even necessary to guess who at this point.

All that’s clear is a season in search of tomorrow and team in need of answers is looking for a someone to provide them. Probably a few someones will be necessary in this odd NFL venue.

The Dolphins haven’t won a playoff game since 2000. The Bills haven’t made the playoffs since 1999. Now they come to a game where it looks like the winner survives and the loser realistically plots for next season.

Each team is 3-4. Each team has provided Jacksonville its only wins of the season. Each team has some semblance of playoff hope only because the wild-card picture is led by the Jets and Steelers with four wins.

It’s on the interim coaching staff, too. Yes, everyone’s an interim at this point. This week, offensive coordinator Bill Lazor said, “You know what we game planned last night? Third downs.”

When you turn just three-of-20 third downs into first downs over the past two games that’s a problem. But you know the real issue? It’s how bad the Dolphins have been on first and second downs.

Against New England, they faced at least eight yards for a first down on eight of their 11 third downs. They converted one of those eight. They had two sacks and a safety on them, too.

Tannehill can’t bail them out like Tom Brady did the Patriots. How many Bradys are there? Buffalo has Tyrod Taylor, who rolled out of the pocket to pick apart the Dolphins in the first game. Taylor has missed the last two games.

“I think everything with us is a bit of a work in progress,” Ryan Said. “Guys in and out of the lineup. This guy’s in, this guy’s out. … We’re trying to figure out some things still.”

Again, that quote stands for the Dolphins, too. Cameron Wake was the best Dolphins player on the field the last few games. He’s lost for the season now. Right tackle Ja’Wuan James’ toe injury opens another hole.

The great teams always have someone to come through. Jonas Gray materialized from nowhere a year ago to run for 202 yards for New England. Undrafted rookie cornerback Malcolm Butler won the Super Bowl.

The Dolphins and Bills? They just go into another Sunday hoping for someone like that. It’s been that way for years for Miami, back to when Marino was playing. Maybe this Sunday they find an answer to keep the season going.