Dolphins coaching was a problem versus Bill

There are complaints aplenty about the Miami Dolphins today.

Some of them come from fans, as blogs, message boards and radio call-in shows will be loaded today with complaints about play-calling and coaching.

Some of the complaints come from Miami's locker room and coaching staff. That's the one I decided to focus on for my column in the Miami Herald Monday. Players and coaches alike looked at their fourth-quarter collapse against the Bills, a collapse which turned a 14-7 lead into a 31-14 loss, and everyone agreed the Dolphins have a problem finishing.

The Dolphins are perhaps the NFL's worst team at finishing games. They've blown games against Indianapolis, New Orleans, and the Bills in the final stanza this year. They also got outplayed by San Diego in the fourth quarter of that game.

Read the column and answer the following question: How does a team that cannot finish games, expect to successfully finish the season?

As to matters not in the column:

The coaching by the Dolphins staff was horrible on Sunday. I have great respect for the Miami coaching staff because I believe they often get the most production out of some limited talent. But this blowout upset loss was different.

This was embarrassing.

The facts are the Dolphins were facing an inferior team on Sunday. The Buffalo starting cornerbacks of Leodis McKelvin and Terrence McGee did not play on Sunday. The Buffalo offensive line was missing two starters and had another dude playing out of position. The Buffalo head coach is a rookie. And Ryan Fitzpatrick from Harvard? Really?

The Bills had nothing to play for but pride while the Dolphins' season was on the line.

Then one has to understand the Dolphins had 10 days to prepare for this game.

And the Bills still won?

"We've got 10 days to prepare and I didn't do a good enough job obviously preparing them," coach Tony Sparano said. "I've got to do a better job."

Sparano, the former play-caller for Bill Parcells in Dallas, has to do a better job of riding herd over offensive coordinator Dan Henning. Henning, who has forgotten more football than most people will ever know, is normally a fine offensive coordinator.

Sunday was not one of those occassions.

Consider that on Miami's first possession the Dolphins moved from their own 45 yard line to the Buffalo 3. Chad Henne completed a 15-yard pass. Ricky Williams ran for 11, then 7, then six, then 5 yards. The Bills were on their heels.

And then on first-and-goal, Henning got cute by calling a halfback pass for a player that hasn't thrown a pass since 2000.

Interception.

Momentum lost.

"Yeah, you know, I got the ball and Joey Haynos was supposed to block the outside linebacker and then go, and I saw him, and I just didn't put enough arch on the ball and it was picked off by the backside linebacker," Williams said.

But why call the play at that point? I can understand if the Dolphins weren't running well? But they were rolling. Not smart. They used their best runner to throw, thereby not using their best runner's or best passer's greatest assets. Not smart. 

Sparano relegated the criticism of the play-call to "Monday Morning quarterbacking" and said the problem with the play was in its execution. It sounded like a coach who would prefer to blame a player than another coach for a play's failure.

There were other head-scratching offensive calls also.

In the second quarter the Dolphins took a 7-0 lead and then stopped the Bills on a three-and-out. Then the Dolphins complete a pass for 11 yards, Williams runs for 6 yards, Williams runs for 5 yards. And then Henning gets cute again.

He calls an end-around to Ginn on first down. It loses 4 yards. And you know what? The Dolphins make 11 yards on the next two plays but have to punt because they needed 14 yards for a first thanks to that reverse, So that reverse to Ginn costs the Dolphins a chance to keep driving.

The Bills then get the ball and tie the game at 7-7 on their next possession.

Finally, can I ask about continuing to force the issue with Pat White? He is neither one of the team's better runners nor it's best passer. And yet he continues to get plays at strange moments when Miami runs its spread option.

White ran once for 2 yards on Sunday. When did that first taste of action come?

In the fourth quarter. Right after Buffalo took a 17-14 lead. What changed at that point that didn't happen in the three previous quarters when Miami was winning? What was the freakin' point?

The defensive coaching staff doesn't get a pass here, either.

We all recognize the Dolphins are starting two rookie cornerbacks. We recognize they are talented. And we recognize they are capable. But why put them in one-on-one coverage a large majority of the game, every game?

Hello? Other teams watch tape, also ...

It is begging for a game-changing TD. And the Dolphins got exactly what they were begging for when Terrell Owens caught a 51-yard TD pass over Vontae Davis in the fourth quarter. Fitzpatrick said he recognized the coverage pre-snap and called an audible.

Dagger to the heart.

One more thing: We keep hearing how Cameron Wake cannot get into games more because he is a work-in-progress as a run-defender.

Well, how long does it take to coach up a player to defend the edge of the defense? We're 11 games into the season and Wake's still not ready to tackle somebody running wide?

And if Wake isn't, what makes coaches think Joey Porter is ready? Porter blew edge run assignments time after time on Sunday. Yes, he had a couple of sacks against reserve tackles. But that was Porter blowing the run defense against Fitzpatrick as the Ivy League QB set off on a 31-yard TD run.

So the young player can't be taught to defend the run 11 games into a season and the veteran can't be reminded to keep his assignment discipline? Yes, the players have a responsibility to get this done. But the coaches have an equal responsibility to make sure those players do their job or take a seat on the bench.

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Comments

[Beerndrums]

Ben you do realize that the Vikes have had the EASIEST schedule of all time......those cream puffs won't make the playoffs.The Saints would crush faggy Favre.

[Litos]

Beerndrums is 100% correct.

[Finatic]

Well guess what. The fat ladie ain't sung yet. Beat the fish next week. And I'm convinced it's urs.

[bobbyd12]

Five games left jrkoff, nowhere has anyone annointed New England AFC Champs...the only thing they are is OVERRATED

[Finatic]

Urs

[GOpats]

RICKY WILLIAMS IS THE BEST QB DOLPHINS HAD THIS SEASON SO FAR .HE WAS 0 FOR ONE .

BOYS, WE ARE THE AFC CHAMPS AND WE R IN THE PLAYOFFS.WE DON'T NEED ANY MORE WINS AS LONG AS OUR PLAYERS ARE NOT INJURED .

WIDCAT ??????????????????????

[Finatic]

If the pats make the playoffs. I'm gonna enjoy watching them fall in the first round.

[Litos]

Goputz, stop trying to cover up what's happening right now. At least the fins were competitive against the saints.

[bobbyd12]

Remember what Jack Tatum did to Darrel Stingley??? Tatum is still my HERO

[bobbyd12]

Like to see Brady take a Tatum hit

[GOpats]

ALL FANS ON THIS FOURM TALK LIKE OLD LADYS HAVING NO LOVE OR RING FOR OVR 43 YEARS SPENDING ALL THEIR TIME PLAYING BINGO AND WILDCAT .

[Roman]

Go Pats, dont looser cheater fans have something better to do than talk trash.

*Gopats
*Been caught cheating

[bobbyd12]

Yea, no rings, you Boston Red Sucks fans should know all about no rings for 80 plus years

[GOpats]

W/TEAMS LIKE FINS AND THE DIRTY JETE FOR SURE WE ARE THE AFC CHAMPS THIS YEAR .ANOTHER SURE THING YOU ALL GOING TO REBUILD AND WE R GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL .

[H8dpats]

I seriously think NOnuts is a imposter trying to stir us up, either that or a retard.

[Po White Trash]

This is GREAT!

Pay money to see this!

[GOpats]

Roman,

we are having some fun since my team is losing badly .no hard fellings.i love the fins and that's why i am here .all this talk about afc and ring is just to pass time .

[Tony T Bone]

AFC East Miami first in 2008-2009.

[Po White Trash]

The fall of a dynasty.

[Eddy007]

I hate the pats, it great to see belicheat make stupid decision, it still the 3rd quarter get the 3 points, I love it, pats suck and so does there coach

[Litos]

Gopants is stirring it up bit it's good practice for all the numb nut Patsy fans we'll encounter in the stands next week. Remember, don't look their female fans in the eye. Look at their reflection in your shield or you'll turn into a dunkin donuts coffee

[Po White Trash]

Look at their faces on the side lines.

Defeat!

[bobbyd12]

GoPats has always been one of the A''holes on this blog...but considering he can't talk like normal Americans and is probaly married to his boyfriend since his State allows that, u can understand why he has no life

[Po White Trash]

Defeat in Brady’s eyes.

They are feeling it.

[bobbyd12]

New England has the UGLIEST women in the country...at least in winter they cover up their faces

[Finatic]

One less day to prepare for the Pescado. Pats r going down hard.

[Po White Trash]

That sounds more like Gopats, tone is different.

[bobbyd12]

New England 0-4 on the road, next week 0-5

[GOpats]

I asure you bobby13 i am alright .WE R THE AFC CHAMPS AND YOUR TEAM IS THE WILDCAT TEAM .

[H8dpats]

That Meacher is pretty good after the catch, nice moves. Does anybody know if Hernandez on Florida is a Senior, draftable?

[bobbyd12]

The only thing ur right about is ur an a''hole, always will be, and I'm sure u got it from ur parents, who were also a''holes

[MsCuba]

Tom Brady is falling apart! How sweet it is!

[bobbyd12]

In fact, I've never met anyone from New England who didn't talk like they have a d'ck in their mouth...paaark da caaar..

[bobbyd12]

Brady looks like Sanchez, except worse

[Po White Trash]

Hernandez coming out more than likely
Spikes is of interest.

[GOpats]

BOBBY13, SOUNDS LIKE A NAME FOR A KILLER .BTW ,IS YOUR TEAM GOING TO REBUILD NEXT YEAR WE THE AFC CHAMPS AND BRADY IS HEALTY .

[bobbyd12]

Reminds me of why I moved to Florida, to get away from the short bus crowd up north who thinks living in the cold, paying high taxes and marrying ugly women is the norm

[H8dpats]

Po I realize now he is a junior. But he could come out considering Tebow is leaving. Any predictions on Tebows destination?

[GOpats]

DAN MARINO....NEVER WON ANY THING

YOUR DADDY......WON 3 RINGS

[MsCuba]

And the assasination continues!

[H8dpats]

Damn Bobby your slamming the Patsies and NE worse than me, I must be off my game tonight. High five brother!

[bobbyd12]

Like I said, ur daddy was an a''hole, just like you

[NEfan]

WOMEN IN FLORIDA ALL WEAR THE SAME TRSHY LOOK W/9.99 CLOTHS FROM WALMART .1/2 OF THEM ROAMING LAKE WORTH AND THE OTHER 1/2 ARE THINKING ABOUT IT .

[meatball]

rebuilding...............what that means ?

[Chewyphins]

I've been to new England, their women are atrocious.. Lol what a bunch of moo cows

[MsCuba]

Well guys one thing for certain: the whole Boston area sucks. Lived there, been there, done that. Hopefully never again.

[meatball]

let's rebuild a new .a team w/ricky as the new qback .

[H8dpats]

Chewy what's up bro?

[Chewyphins]

Another TD NE sux too bad we don't have receivers like NO!!!

[bobbyd12]

I would rather be in Florida, be a Dolphin fan, looking at beautiful women, enjoying great weather and talking to people that actually speak ENGLISH then EVER be a Patriots, Red suks or any kind of Boston fan...

[H8dpats]

MsCuba you are a VA finfan like me right?

[Chewyphins]

Living this game that's what's up. In stationed in coastal miss they love their saints here and the saints are a class act

[bobbyd12]

Well HD8, he is worse then a Jets fan, no class but that's what Boston has always been about, they have an inferiority complex...have u ever been to Boston??? What a s'h'thole of a city

[MsCuba]

Yep h8dpats! How r u?

[meatball]

i love seeing H8dpats talking to himself .

your daddy won 3 ring while you were rebuilding your wildcat team .

[H8dpats]

Chewy yeah have to agree, what part of Miss r u stationed in?

[Chewyphins]

Boston is NY's ugly stepsister and NY is fugly so what does that say about boston!!!!

[LipsinToronto]

I hope the Saints score another 2 TDs..

I like seeing Moss and Brady on the short end of a run up score against a weak opponent.

[Chewyphins]

Stennis space center I live in Gulfport though

[Chewyphins]

At least we finished our perfect season!!! Can't say much to that can ya??