Hurricanes Must Play to Potential and Beat Virginia

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The Miami Hurricanes faced the 20th ranked Virginia Cavaliers under the Friday night lights at Hard Rock Stadium. Miami is on a downward trajectory with a 2-3 record overall and are winless in two ACC contests.

Despite being unranked the Hurricanes enter the game as a slight favorite even though Virginia sits at 4-1 (2-0), their only defeat was at No. 10 Notre Dame 35-20 last weekend.

Virginia has one solid win on their 2019 resume so far, a 30-14 victory to open the season at Pitt. Their other ACC win came against a bad Florida State team three weeks ago.

Miami has yet to play a complete game and finish – whether it is sacks, penalties, or missed field goals they are finding ways to lose.

Where Miami has an advantage is on run defense against a suspect Virginia ground game which ranks 116th in college football. One of the few strengths of the Hurricanes on defense has been their run defense which ranks 7th nationally.

Virginia quarterback Bryce Perkins is a dual threat and the Miami linebackers must do a better job of tackling in space to contain him when he gets outside the pocket.

Like the Hurricanes, Virginia’s offensive line is a sieve having allowed 15 sacks in five games.

Notre Dame dropped Perkins eight times last week, if the Miami pass rush has a chance to shine this is the week to do so.

Manny Diaz stated he would be getting more involved with the defense moving forward. They need to pick up the blitzing from the last couple of years when Diaz was defensive coordinator.

A retooled secondary has been exposed against mediocre quarterbacks and needs some help from the front seven.

Miami only has three interceptions all season, turnovers change momentum and give a sometimes listless defense life.

The “Turnover Chain” has not made many meaningful appearances this year

N’Kosi Perry steps back into the starting quarterback spot after Jarren Williams was sidelined with an upper extremity injury. Perry almost led a ferocious comeback against Virginia Tech, perhaps some of that momentum can carry over against the Cavaliers.

Virginia has a solid run defense of their own (15th) but did allow Tony Jones, Jr. of the Fighting Irish to rack up 131 yards and three touchdowns on just 18 carries (7.3 YPC).

Dan Enos must stick with DeeJay Dallas even if the big runs aren’t there early. We documented the questionable play calling and run/pass ratio against Virginia Tech which put a heavy burden on Williams in that game.

Perry could use some balance from the running game to help open up opportunities in the air.

Last year Perry had a game to forget against Virginia, being benched after completing just 3-of-6 attempts and two interceptions. Miami would like nothing more than to avenge that 16-13 defeat which began a four game losing streak.

Follow us on Twitter @SportsWaveDave and @CaneMaven.

Make sure to check out the 5 Rings Canes podcast for exclusive Miami Hurricanes content all year long. Image by Tony Capobianco
 
Jerome Baker

Comments from Dolphins LB Jerome Baker spark firestorm

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The 2019 season isn’t easy for Dolphins fans to sit through. Every week, they go to the stadium or turn on the television and expect a loss. In fact, many are actively rooting for losses. The mindset for fans on social media is that losing every game in 2019 will ensure the number one overall pick in the 2020 draft. In other words, exclusive rights to their would-be new franchise quarterback, who many are hoping will be Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa. It might also be Oregon’s Justin Herbert.

But controversy erupted on social media when the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson asked some players about the fans’ desire for the Dolphins to lose out. Naturally, no football player who actually cares about the game would purposely try to fail. The very thought has them shaking their heads. However, Dolphins linebacker Jerome Baker questioned the fandom of those individuals rooting for losses, even in light of the greater good it would presumably bring.

“You’re not a real fan if you’re rooting for us to lose, no matter what [the reason] is,” Baker said. “We try to win every chance we get. If we come up short, it’s not because we come up short for the future. I’ve seen the tanking and all that. From outside looking in, you essentially think we’re just tanking. But we go out there and try to perform. If you are not performing, they get you out of here. Every guy wants to play well and ultimately stay as long as we can.”

Baker obviously tried to bring it back to the locker room with the second half of his statement. But it was too late, the damage was done. Twitter erupted with fans and analysts arguing both for and against Baker, as evidenced in this thread from Five Reasons’ own Josh Houtz.

What does it mean to be a true fan? For some, it means supporting the team no matter what. Come on Sunday and sport your team colors, rooting for a win. Support the players there now because they’re giving it their all. For many others, it means demanding excellence. Do what’s best for the team, even if it hurts. Losing now could open the door to a decade’s worth of victory. That’s worth the humiliation of 0-16, right?

Ultimately, it depends on who you ask.

Whose side are you on?

Luis Sung has covered the Miami Dolphins for numerous outlets such as Dolphins Wire for six years. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung

Dolphins Select Herbert and Jeudy in Latest Tankathon Mock Draft

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One week ago, the Dolphins were sitting pretty at the top of the 2020 NFL Draft order.  And although there was still plenty of football to be played, fans could breath a sigh of relief.  After all, anything less than the first-overall pick would be a massive disappointment.  Which, to be honest, has been the story for the last twenty years for most Dolphins’ fans.

Well folks, prepare to be disappointed once more.

In the latest Tankathon.com mock draft, the Cincinnati Bengals are at the top of the draft order.  And for a team that wasted more years on Andy Dalton than the Dolphins did on Ryan Tannehill, the time is now for Zac Taylor to handpick his QB of the future.

Sure, there’s the slight chance he takes Oregon QB Justin Herbert, but the more likely scenario is Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa.  (Insert Sad Face)

So with the #Tankovailoa sweepstakes over, who will the Dolphins select with their three-first round draft picks?

There’s no question the Dolphins will draft a QB in this April’s draft.  And whether that be Jake Fromm, Jordan Love, Jalen Hurts, or Justin Herbert, a QB will be selected on day one. (If you want to take a look at this year’s top QB prospects, CLICK HERE)

In Tankathon’s latest mock draft, that QB is Herbert– who has been mocked to Miami several times before.  Furthermore, GM Chris Grier continues to do his due diligence on the prototypical passer (6’6, 237 LBs).

 

But who should the Dolphins select with the 5th-overall pick?

In previous mocks, Tankathon had Miami selecting Iowa pass-rusher A.J Epenesa.  Now, they go with one of Tua’s favorite targets in wide receiver Jerry Jeudy.

Jeudy would be a game-changer in Chad O’Shea’s offense and would make the rest of receiving corps better.  He would also be the perfect security blanket for the Dolphins’ newest QB, whoever they ultimately decide to draft.

 

Lastly, Miami selects LSU CB Kristian Fulton with the 25th-overall pick.  As we all know, Miami desperately needs help opposite of Xavien Howard and Fulton would be an immediate fit.

This will change many more times between now and April 23, 2020.  With that said, how do you feel with Tankathon’s latest mock draft?

 

Josh Houtz (@houtz) is a die-hard fan of the Miami Dolphins, despite what Jerome Baker thinks.

 

 

Dolphins QB search: The Jake Fromm Play That “Didn’t Happen”

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It may seem like a simple 7- yard completion from Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm to a receiver.

But it’s more than that.

Chris Kouffman (@CKParrot) of Three Yards Per Carry — our popular Dolphins analysis podcast — breaks down why this completion shows off so many of Fromm’s unique abilities.

Follow the thread below:

Click here to follow the 3YardsPerCarry College QB tracker for in-depth break downs and stats for all of the top 2020  class prospects.

Miami Dolphins add project player Antonio Garcia to team

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This is an intriguing signing by the Miami Dolphins.

The Miami Dolphins made a move on Monday. It is not a move that is going to generate headlines, but it is certainly of note. The team claimed offensive tackle Antonio Garcia off waivers.

There is no doubt that Garcia is a bit of a project. He is coming off a four-game suspension for violating the league’s performance-enhancing substance policy.

Garcia has bounced around the National Football League early in his career. He is very familiar with AFC East, as he was selected by the New England Patriots with the 85th pick in the 2017 NFL Draft.  He never saw the field in 2017 as he spent his rookie season on injured reserve due to blood clots in his lungs. For some, that would be a reason to hang up the cleats immediately. Nevertheless, he attempted a comeback.

Garcia is well-traveled

Garcia was released by the Patriots on May 11, 2018. He was claimed off waivers by the New York Jets on May 14, 2018. He was never able to find his footing in New York, and was waived by the Jets on August 31. Garcia then traveled to Indianapolis, where he was signed to their practice squad on October 29. While in Indianapolis, he was suspended by the National Football League.

The Miami Dolphins desperately need help on the offensive line. Between injuries and the Laremy Tunsil trade, things are bleak on the unit. It’s interesting that the Dolphins would take a flyer on him. He seems like a bit of a project player. I thought the Dolphins would want to sign a more established veteran. However, this is a move that costed nothing for the Dolphins to make.

Hopefully, Garcia can find his footing here and help with the Miami Dolphins at a time when their line desperately needs it. He could turn out to be a very solid player. He has just encountered roadblocks along the way. This was a good move for the Miami Dolphins at a time when they are undoubtedly trying to find the best pieces they can for their team. In a year like this, it is ideal for them to evaluate talent and decide which players they can keep and which ones will be packing their bags.

Miami Hurricanes: Should They Lock up the Chain?

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The Miami Hurricanes suffered a demoralizing defeat at the hands of Virginia Tech Saturday 42-35 in front of a stunned crowd at Hard Rock Stadium.

Should the Hurricanes lock up the “Turnover Chain” and touchdown rings until they start locking up wins?

A furious comeback including 21 points in the final quarter was not enough. Miami fell to 2-3 overall and 0-2 in ACC play and will face an even tougher challenge when Virginia comes calling next weekend.

Jarren Williams came back to earth with a resounding thud against an opportunistic Bud Foster led defense. The long-time defensive coordinator is retiring after 33 seasons on the sidelines, but had one last knife twist for an old foe.

Williams went full Malik Rosier, hitting the bench after throwing three interceptions in the first half. Good news for Williams is that none of his seven pass attempts hit the ground, the other four were completed to the good guys.

For a grand total of 47 yards.

Miami fell down 28-0 early in the first half before N’ Kosi Perry did his best to salvage the game after replacing Williams but it was too little, too late. Perry finished with a career high 422 yards, completing 28 of 47 attempts with four TD and one pick.

Despite this effort Manny Diaz hinted that Williams would return to the starting role next week in his post game press conference.

Once again the Hurricanes running game was underutilized against a vulnerable Virginia Tech run defense.

DeeJay Dallas finished with just 66 yards on six carries, including a 62 yard run to put Miami in a position to take a late lead and steal the victory. Yet Dan Enos refused to call his number early when Williams was throwing the ball to the wrong team.

 

Put Away the Props

 

Manny Diaz brought the Turnover Chain to the program in 2017 and for a time the prop seemed to propel the defense. The Hurricanes added “Touchdown Rings” to the mix this year to balance things out.

Problem is, celebrating a score with prop jewelry when you are getting waxed rings hollow.

The great Miami Hurricanes teams didn’t need gimmicks, they knew they were better and just proved it week after week.

Miami lost the turnover battle 5-0 against Virginia Tech, if they would have snatched a couple chains early perhaps the momentum would swing back to the team in orange.

Virginia Tech has a beat up lunch box on the sidelines with a simple moniker: WIN. They packed a lunch today, and stole our lunch money in the process.

Until this Miami Hurricanes team learns the basics of winning football and stops making constant mental mistakes, the ice needs to be put on ice.

Bubba Baxa failed to make an extra point which would have put Miami up 36-35, another glaring miscue in a close game.

Get that man a platinum pinky ring next time he makes a clutch kick under 30 yards..

The offensive line is an abomination, giving up another seven sacks and allowing some crushing shots to Perry.

Maybe they should get an iced out watch so they know the snap count.

 

What are the odds the Dolphins go 0-16?

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Let’s talk about odds…

The 2019 season has been anything but entertaining for the Miami Dolphins and their loyal fanbase.  Unless of course you believe in the art of tanking, in which case you are probably very supportive of Miami’s efforts this NFL season.  Truth is, Miami is on pace to become the worst team in the history of the NFL. No, this is not a joke.  And although we all wish and hope for a quick turanaround, a terrible 2019 season can mean only one thing.  Alabama QB, Tua Tagovailoa.

Unfortunately, Miami isn’t the only team that appears to be tanking for Tua.

In fact, there are currently six teams that remain winless in 2019. Fortunately, not all of those teams are in need of a QB.  Which means if the Dolphins truly covet one of this year’s franchise signal-callers, they can move up and try to acquire their ‘next Dan Marino’.  Or not, the choice is theirs. But what we’re starting to realize more and more each day, is that if Miami does want to land Tagovailoa, they might need to go 0-16 to do so.  This is okay with me and I’m sure a majority of fans would suffer through a historically bad season, if it meant landing the Crimson Tide QB.

But how likely is it for Miami to go 0-16?  According to Sports Betting Dime, the Dolphins odds of going 0-16 are as follows:

Yes +250

No -400

Sure, the odds could change several times between now and the end of the season.  But nevertheless, it’s interesting to see how Miami stacks up against the rest of the field.  Furthermore, if the Dolphins truly are tanking (they are), this would be the perfect outcome.  Trust me, if the Dolphins land Tua, the franchise will be winning football games quicker than you can pronounce his first name-Tuanigamanuolepola 

In the end, Miami is most likely going to squeak out a win or two.  Why?  Because nothing good ever happens to the Dolphins.  And in a year where the QB class is out of this world, and there’s a guy staring them in the face with elite intangibles, Miami will find a way to mess this up.  No matter how good they look in their current state.  But let’s be honest, there’s nothing fans want to hear more than these famous words…

“With the first pick in the 2020 NFL draft, the Miami Dolphins select:”

Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama

 

Josh Houtz (@houtz) is a die-hard fan of the Miami Dolphins, and has fallen in love with  Tua Tagovailoa.

The unofficial Miami Dolphins viewing guide

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After four weeks of Regular Season NFL Football the Dolphins stand at 0-4 with the worst point differential in the league, losing games by an average of 34 points, not scoring a single point in any 2nd half, so as you can tell it’s been tough.

Miami is very clearly tanking so rooting for them is very hard at this point and probably not the best thing for your mental health. For that reason I present the “Miami Dolphins Viewing Guide” where I’ll show you how to enjoy this waste of a football season and quit your suffering on Sundays.

 

Step 1: Root against the Steelers and Texans

Due to some trades a few weeks ago, the Dolphins now possess the 1st round pick of the Steelers and Texans. The logic is fairly simple in this one, just watch some other teams and root for them on a week to week basis.

With this step you’ll get to enjoy and root for teams like the Ravens, Chargers, Jaguars, Browns, Rams and many more. For the first time in years you’ll actually root for teams with talent.

 

Step 2: Watch the Development of young players

While this does mean you would have to watch the Dolphins on Sundays, you should try and ignore the scoreboard. Looking at 2020 and beyond the roster will be very different but some young guys may still be around in this next phase of the franchise, making their development important to the future of the team. The benefit of this step is you get to enjoy players like: Preston Williams, Jerome Baker, Christian Wilkins, Taco Charlton and Davon Godchaux.

 

Step 3: Watch the Development of Josh Rosen

Ok, I understand this step is very similar to No.2 , but Josh Rosen being a Quarterback should separate him from the bunch. It’s no secret Miami is looking at the 2020 QB class, so that leaves Josh Rosen as the likely backup or out of Miami. Monitoring the development for Rosen should be intriguing for Dolphin fans, because if he manages to show some good signs this year desperate teams may be calling in the future.

 

Step 4: Watch some Alabama Games

I urge Dolphin Fans to ignore the Nick Saban hate just for one season, and just enjoy the talent of their next QB. Watching Tua Tagovailoa play football is truly a joy as a fan, and picturing him in a Miami uniform (Not wearing #13) is beautiful. It truly helps ease the pain you feel on Sundays. If you aren’t watching him yet, make an appointment every Saturday to do so and root for him to win the Heisman, trust me It’s fun.

 

Step 5: Embrace the Tank

There’s no 2 ways about it, Miami is tanking. While the morality or ethics of this have been debated to death by fans and national media, there’s no changing the fact that this is Miami’s plan and it isn’t changing. As a Fan I implore you to embrace it and laugh at all the dumb silly memes on the internet and laugh as they score yet another touchdown on our defense.

 

Dolphins

Dolphins coaches reevaluating their methods

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The Miami Dolphins are 0-4 heading into the bye week. They have been outscored 81-0 in the second half through all four games. Players are growing frustrated with the team’s inability to execute. Now, the entire coaching staff finds themselves questioning how they’re handling things.

“We’re going to go and closely evaluate what we do in all areas of the second half – the approach, the scheme we use, defensively study what they’ve done (against) us in the second half.” Offensive coordinator Chad O’Shea said on Tuesday. “I think it’s a combination of factors that we’re really going to look closely at and determine what’s best for us moving forward.”

In all fairness, there are many rookies on this Dolphins coaching staff. Both O’Shea and head coach Brian Flores are first-timers at their respective roles. If Patriots head coach Bill Belichick were in the business of passing on his skills to his subordinates, more of his coaching tree would find success upon leaving New England. Additionally, the talent level on the roster is severely lacking in several areas. The offensive line in particular. When coaches have to add new players through the regular season, success is hard to come by.

“I would say we made a lot of changes to the roster,” Brian Flores said on Monday. “(We were) kind of building the team on the fly in a lot of ways. But we’re not going to make excuses about that. We try to put the guys in the best positions to play well, but at the same time trying to build a team and build some camaraderie and build some communication and build some rapport. I think that’s been a big part of these first four weeks.”

With this in mind, it’s not surprising to see the coaching staff looking to make some changes. Considering their desire to emphasize basics and fundamentals, the lack of execution is troublesome. The number of wide receiver drops is especially alarming. Miami ranks second in the league with eight drops. Only the Philadelphia Eagles have suffered from more with ten. So even how the coaches teach players how to catch is not immune to scrutiny.

“I think that one of the things on catching the football is it’s something that we have as part of our everyday drills.” O’Shea said. “We think that throwing, catching, blocking, tackling are things that we try to work every day, and we’re going to continue to do those, but we’re going to – as a coaching staff – again, we’re evaluating all aspects of our program right now. One of the things we’re evaluating is the teaching progression and what we do on the field and the drills that we have and those things.”

It’s not ideal to hear that the Dolphins coaching staff already feels the need to change how they do things. However, the previous regime displayed the other side of the spectrum. Adam Gase – now with the New York Jets – refuses to change. As a result, his team has also failed to win a game so far.

It’s been said numerous times that 2019 is all about evaluation for the future. Perhaps, it bodes well that the coaches are willing to take an honest look at themselves in the mirror. If they can find a method that works by 2020, then perhaps the rebuild won’t take nearly as long as projected.

“You’re always in the process of self-evaluating and trying to improve.” Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham said. “I ask the players to get better every day. I make it a point on myself to get better every day. If I’m never thinking about how I can improve for the next week or the next day, then I think you get complacent, and then when complacency sets in, in this league, you’re not going to be here very long. That’s how I approach it. There’s a bunch of stuff – I don’t feel the need to get into exactly all of the stuff that I know that I need to improve upon, but I’m constantly evaluating myself and trying to figure out how I can become a better coach, a better husband, a better brother, a better son. That’s just how I’m built.”

Luis Sung has covered the Miami Dolphins for numerous outlets such as Dolphins Wire for six years. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung

Alabama Athletics

Dolphins have first-overall pick in latest Tankathon Mock Draft

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Tankathon is our new friend.

“Finally, the Dolphins, have come back, to the top of the draft order”

We are officially a quarter of the way through the 2019 NFL season, and the Miami Dolphins have finally landed at the top of the 2020 draft order.  Their recent loss to the Los Angeles Chargers dropped them 0-4 on the season.  Which means, they have their pick of the litter when it comes to the highly coveted 2020 QB class.

According to Tankathon’s latest mock draft, Miami finally gets the QB they covet – selecting Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa with the first-overall pick.  In 2019, Tagovailoa has thrown for 1,738 yards and 23 touchdowns with a staggering 0 interceptions.  He’s good.  Very good. However, if you’d like to follow the other QBs in this year’s class, you can find our tracker HERE. Thanks Tankathon!

(Editor’s note: If you’d like to support the Dolphins race for Tua Tagovailoa, we have the perfect shirt for you!)

But that’s not the only pick Miami has in the first-round.  After all, they will head into April’s draft with a war chest of draft picks, including three first-round picks.  Based on Tankathon’s updated draft order, Miami also has pick #6 and #25.

Aside from Tua Tagovailoa, the Dolphins also select Iowa pass-rusher A.J Epenesa and Florida CB C.J Henderson.

Truth is, there’s still a ton of football to be played, and no one knows how things will shape up between now and next April.  But what we do know, is that the Dolphins have the chance to jump-start their rebuild, by acquiring talented players in the first-round.  Miami isn’t one player away.  Which is why the Dolphins’ front office thought it was necessary to stockpile draft picks.

In the end, no one knows how the draft order will shape up.  We also don’t know how Chris Grier and the rest of the Dolphins’ organization view this year’s class.  But what we do know is that if Miami wants to land a once in a generation passer, they will need to continue down their current path.  After all, they are on pace to be the worst team in NFL history.  Which means everything is going EXACTLY as planned.

#TankForTua

 

Josh Houtz (@houtz) is a die-hard fan of the Miami Dolphins, and has fallen in love with  Tua Tagovailoa.