Dolphins irrelevant so it's time to change gears

Allow me to share parts of the NFL schedule this weekend:

New York Giants at Atlanta.

Green Bay at Chicago.

Denver at Baltimore.

Indianapolis at Houston.

Pittsburgh at Dallas.

San Francisco at New England.

And against this backdrop of interesting and profoundly meaningful matchups, the Dolphins and the Jaguars will play at Sun Life Stadium. The visiting team is 2-11. The home team is 5-8.

The rest of the NFL may not notice.

This is what it means to be irrelevant in December. It is the fourth time in as many years the Dolphins will be playing games in December that frankly do not matter.

And you wonder why I advocate making the most of this time of year by moving on to younger players?

Michael Egnew should play this game. I already shared with you yesterday that Miami's tight ends are sub par. So why protect them by continuing to play them?

Move on to Egnew to see if he has any promise, any spark, any ability to solve the problem that the guys who have been playing ahead of him -- Anthony Fasano and Charles Clay -- have not solved despite ample opportunity.

I'm not saying Egnew's the answer. But unless you play the kid, all he represents is a question.

Last week, finally, the club turned to Lamar Miller ahead of Daniel Thomas. But as with so many things this team does, the switch was done in incomplete fashion. Miller got only three carries while being in the game three quarters. Thomas got two carries when he finally got playing time in the fourth quarter.

If you're going to sit somebody, sit him. If you're going to work somebody, work him! Do not split the difference.

On Sunday, the Dolphins may not have receiver Davone Bess. He's battling a back problem. Even if he takes a shot and can play, he's not going to be 100 percent.

Hello?

Give a healthy Rishard Matthews those snaps instead. Or play Marlon Moore 40 snaps.

Look, Bess is a solid guy. He's a good slot receiver. But he's not the answer at No. 2. He would dominate in a three-wide set (with either three WRs or two WRs and a threatening TE) as the slot. But he's instead had to play out of position much of this year.

And what did that pressing of Bess to a higher service accomplish? The Dolphins are 5-8. Their offense is still terrible. Everyone knows the team needs wide receiver help.

In other words, it didn't mask anything.

Time to think outside the box. Time to push the eaglets out of the nest. Maybe they'll fall to earth with a thud. But, who knows, maybe they'll soar.

Letting them stay safe in the nest without making any attempt at all?

It's a great way to stay irrelevant in December. 

 

Comments

[davidorth]

Mando needs to STOP analyzing and stick to reporting. Dude u are clueless, amazing how someone who has been doing something for so long can still be so inept..

[Kris]

LOL....

Hilarity @ its best is reading you go on POST AFTER POST about how this franchise NEEDS to draft Manti' Teo (under your other name of course)...and THUS ACTING AS IF YOU KNOW WHAT SHERMAN/PHILBIN WANT.......(you're words not mine)....

Everything you post IS YOU'RE opinion....just as it is for everyone else....

You posting under LOL....doesn't change that.....but you are a joke tho....so that screen name works for you.....

[Mark in Toronto]

LOL, you're hilarious. I have no problem with you but you bang heads with Craig and project on me.

I guess the answer to my question is actually yes.

SEE CRAIG, YOU BLACKLISTED ALL CANADIANS FOR LOL. Now, who am I going to cut my lawn???

[oscar canosa]

Oh no, we know very well what Pat Dvlin can bring to the Table.

[Kris]

If you guys can't see who "LOL" is....c'mon.....

[Mark in Toronto]

Kris, is he Doink the Clown???

I used to like that littel clown he ran around with. that was pure comedy.

[Kris]

Mark....not him....but his personality is about as sharp.....

He loves to tell you what he does to you...

in HIS mind...he is mind effing you.....in his mind he is smarter than you (all of us)....

Hence the LONG-WINDED post when he repeats the same thing in over andover and over thru out 4 paragraphs....and then immediately writes another post saying the same thing.....

yesterday he wanted me to know he was the one who hacked my name in blue....today he taunts you guys with LOL...a phrase he uses after all his post....

This isn't rocket science.....its just a guy with nothing better to do...and gets on on BELIEVING he is fooling people....

oh...and he HAS to start an argument....otherwise...he is scared you won't respond to him....hence the insults aimed @ everyone....

[oscar canosa]

Yes, YG s a bit obssesive-compulsive but we all know that about him here. He can also Flip like a Moder.

[dolfanman13]

Totally agree, Armando. Now is the time to see what we've got in these rookies that haven't played much. I hope they keep Mathews and Miller in there for most of the game. I'm baffled that Egnew hasn't played at all and yet we spend a 3rd round pick on him??? What a waste!

[Mark in Toronto]

aaah, my old buddy YG

[CadillacDeVille]

Actually with Henne in 2009 & 2010 we were 7-6 after 13 games.

When Moore and then Tanne took over things have regressed.

Oh well at least we didn't get anything for Henne and we will similarly get nothing for Bush who could have been traded in preseason for a draft pick or a WR.

[Phinmanski]

Armando, great article. You are the best Dolphin writer and have great insight. Keep up the good work!

[Shula 73]

We wont get anything for Tannehill either when his contract is up.

[LOL]

Craig M, grow up sissy ninny pants.

You're wrong because YOU think you know more than the coaches.

You're a friggin laughing stock!

And Yes, i do want Ireland gone. Why? 5 years of mismanagement and pi** poor talent.

Why do I want long gone? because he is declining every year, injured every year & will cost too much money for a declining player.

I just gave you COMMON SENSE LOGICAL RESPONSES.

You disagreeing doesn't make me wrong.

So tell us BIG MOUTH, why is it so imperative that Jake Long & Jeff Ireland stick around?

Cant wait for that answer! LMAO

[oscar canosa]

obsessive, obsessive

[LOL]

LOL....

Hilarity @ its best is reading you go on POST AFTER POST about how this franchise NEEDS to draft Manti' Teo (under your other name of course)...and THUS ACTING AS IF YOU KNOW WHAT SHERMAN/PHILBIN WANT.......(you're words not mine)....

Everything you post IS YOU'RE opinion....just as it is for everyone else....

You posting under LOL....doesn't change that.....but you are a joke tho....so that screen name works for you.....

Posted by: Kris | December 14, 2012 at 12:43 PM

Hey dipstick, I'm not whoever else you are accusing me of being. IT's funny, all you pansys resort to the same name calling accusatory BS.

You're him & him & him. STFU & grow a set meathead!

I'm not here nearly as much as you nerds to care or try to distinguish 1 person from the other. Some fulfilling lives you must have.

Whoever you think I am? Guess again missy.

You know it alls think you know everything when in fact, you know nothing.

THis blog is living proof of your ignorance.

[CadillacDeVille]

oscar,
I am impressed that Dr Canosa made such an impression on you that you use his name.

[LOL]

HEY Armando, settle it for these block heads. Am I whoeever they are accusing me of?

God forbid they know the truth! Then, what will they have to make excuses for why people mock them on this blog.

God forbid, they learn the real truth. Which is, they're despised.

[LOL]

Oscar, funny to see you accusing people of being some one else.

Considering everyone here does it to you.

You senile, old fart! LMAO

[CadillacDeVille]

Darkoak,
Having thought about it some more I have decided that I never really 'loved' splitting you.
The best I can say is that it was 'aight'.
Next time I'll turn you over.

[oscar canosa]

LV is very wary of me Today, but I have set up a trap for them.

[oscar canosa]

There you go, YG got riled.

[CadillacDeVille]

In 48 hours Chad Henne will be going ape$hit at SunLife. That will lead to the return of the PriceMaster this offseason to urinate in our faces everyday.

[The Signal]

Gotta admit, LOL has a point. This isn't college. They don't seem to redshirt guys, they draft them to get on the field in some capacity. Roster spots are precious. Top rookie QB's used to get a year or two to sit and learn, but even that doesn't happen much in today's NFL.

We also keep hearing that Philbin prefers to build through the draft, so I would think his bias would be toward young players, if they had the talent.

[CadillacDeVille]

Signal,
Are you referring to the Long comment?

[LOL]

LMAO

Another dumb naive child.

Hey, dementia Oscar, why don't you ask Armando if I'm whoever you say I am?

What's a matter old man, don't wanna hear you're wrong?

I asked him to confirm it in this THREAD. WHy don't you, pops?

Panzy! Afraid to look dumber than you already do?

[Noplayoffsagain]

Ireland's job could be in serious jeopardy if he pushes Philbin to play the younger players and they stink up the place.

It would shift the focus to his talent search skills.

Losing the next three could be the end for Ireland.

[CadillacDeVille]

Mark,
If you are in a relationship with the chick in the photo that's cool.

If on the other hand she does not even know that you exist then that is lacking.

[LOL]

Signal,

Of Course I have a point. People with a fully functioning brain can understand it.

You have the same 4 or 5 sissy mary's who wanna banish me because the reality don't mesh with their fantasy land.

This blog needs a dose of reality. Theese 4 or 5 clowns can go circle blog each other elsewhere.

[phillip carson]

Ok,, what if mr.ross had let Bill cowher come in alone with his on personal would we be sitting at 5-8 or 11-5.. I think it all start with the front office... That's the reason bill cowher chose not to come in because he didn't trust Ireland picking his talent nd seems to me he made a bright decision.. I'm jus saying

[RAYMAD]

LET'S FIND OUT IF PHILBIN IS PLAYING IT SAFE(LIKE SPA-
RANO), NOT PLAYING YOUNGER GUYS NOW, IS SHAMEFUL. WE
HAVE NOTHING TO LOOSE & EVERYTHING TO WIN BY PLAYING
ROOKIES NOW UNLESS PHILBIN IS AFRAID OF LOSING HIS -
JOB.ONE PROBLEM THAN I SEE IS THAT THE OC IS NOT CALL-
ING A WINING GAME. HE'S BORING,REPETITIVE,CONSERVATIVE
ETC. I THINK HE'S ALSO PLAYING NOT TO LOOSE(HIS JOB) -
LEADERSHIP AN PASSION FOR THE GAME OF FOOTBALL IS LACK-
ING FROM THE OWNER DOWN.ROSS IS NOT A LIVING, FIRE SPI-
TTING,FOOTBALL FANATIC LIKE JONES,KRAFT,MARA, ROONEY ETC. HE IS A CLOWN DISGUISED AS AN OWNER. THAT'S THE
ONLY REASON WHY A GM LIKE JI IS IN CHARGE OF DRAFT & FA. IT'S A TOTALLY FRUSTATING BEING A DOLPHIN FAN. I
LOOK FORWARD TO THE TIME ROSS EITHER SELL THE TEAM OR
START TAKING VERY SERIOUSLY THE FACT THAT WE ARE A
GREAT FRANCHISE, WITH A PROUD HISTORY AN A LOT OF YEARS OF BAD OWNERSHIP. WE'RE SICK & TIRED OF PROMESES
IF HE'S REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT WINING, PLEASE START ACT
ING LIKE U REALLY MEAN IT. GET RID OF JI. HIRE MAYOCK
POLIAN, OR ANYBODY WITH PLAYER ACQUISITION EXPIRIENCE.
I'M A DOLPHIN FOR LIFE, BUT IS VERY HARD TO WASTE SO
MUCH MONEY FOR SUCH A POOR TEAM.

[LOL]

Let Egnew play like Craig says! He needs to see him!

Let him break some guys leg or break a neck or tear an acl because he doesn't know what he's doing!

As long as Craig gets to see him destroy himself and others! As long as she's happy!

[CadillacDeVille]

Jags waived rookie receiver Kevin Elliot today because he dropped 2 passes this past game.

That's what is supposed to happen to WRs that can't hold on to the ball.

[Fin 77]

1st Round: QB
2nd Round: RB
3rd Round: WR
4th Round: CB
4th Round: TE
5th Round: RB
6th Round: LB
7th Round: WR

[Fin 77]

Fisher was not about to let his future rely on Irescums incompetence either.

[Vegas Mike]

If Egnew were playing I'd be betting the Jags.

[LOL]

You shut up huh Oscar?

Won't man up and get Armando to back up your girly claims of me being someone else?

Same goes for Krissy & what other midnless gnat exists here.

Enjoy your circle jerk ladies! Don't forget to sign Kumbaya & hold hands later tonight while the rest of the real world lives their lives!

LMAO

[oscar canosa]

YG knows Football... sometimes, and sometimes not. Actually, he's very inconsistent.

[phillip carson]

O by the way,, on the Egnew situation,, Billechick is jus praying the dolphins part ways with the kid den we would be seeing another Hernandez in the making lol

[Mark in Toronto]

Why is everyone so angry on a Friday afternoon? Especially one as pleasant as today. The entire office is in some stupid training session and I'm left here in absolute quiet with my latte.

Julio, Juan, I don't have a spouse but if I leave some broad hanging around my house, go crazy - there's another five or six that are interchangeable with the one you found.

[Mark in Toronto]

Cadillac, I do not date the girl in that pic anymore, but I did for the better part of two years. I guess I should take it down now but I still like staring at those knockers every now and then even though I'm not hitting that one anymore.

[The Signal]

CadillacDeVille,

If Long can be signed at a fair price, I think they should try to resign him. He hasn't dominated at his position for about two years now, so I don't think he commands top LT money.

Sure he makes the Pro Bowl, but even Craig M admits the Pro Bowl is a popularity contest.

And no, I don't want to create another hole to fill, but you can only tie up so much money on a player...if you believe he is on the decline.

[oscar canosa]

Hell, I'm not angry, YG is.

[oscar canosa]

The Dolphins by 11 over Jackonville.

[Lucadawg]

Do we really need further proof that Egnew is a bust? Let's just end the season & then let Ireland quietly cast him loose when no one's paying attention.

[Mark in Toronto]

I agree oscar, we should roll over the Jags. But these seem to be the games our rookie qb strugggles most in. I mean, over all he's played well against Cincy, Seattle, SF, and NE. Certainly was not a significant contributing factor in losing the games they did. So against 4 of the five top temas we face, he acquitted himself pretty well for his first time out.

However against Tennessee and Buffalo, he was awful. Those were two games that should've been in our pocket and have us sitting with 7 wins right now. Could've totally changed the entire face of th season and the perception of our rookie QB.

He needs this game personally. Manod says this game is irrelevant, I think it matters a lot.

[CommonSense]

Eh Tannehill doesn't just need this game. So does the team. They can't let Henne come back in and beat them. Would be pretty demoralizing.

[CadillacDeVille]

CommonSense,
If Henne wins the game Sunday, and I believe he will, then the PriceMaster has promised to return to this blog and urinate on our faces everyday this offseason.

[CadillacDeVille]

18 elementary school children dead in rural Connecticut and all we can talk about is who is better Tanne or Henne.

[CommonSense]

Whats PriceMaster? On paper the Dolphins should beat them, but they love to play down to their competition. Still I think the Dolphins got this one.

[Shula 73]

There are $10 tickets for Sunday on craigslist if anyone is interested.

[Mark in Toronto]

CDV, this kind fo thing happens way too much in the United States. This doesn't normally happen in other developed countries. What's going on there???

[CadillacDeVille]

So what if Henne never wins the SB?
So what if Tanne does?
At a minimum Henne can make $2-3mil/season for the next 10 years as a backup.
He's a millionaire, he's married to his HS sweetheart, he gets paid to watch NFL games from the sideline and he's not allowed to be hit in practice.
Oh yeah and he owns college records, Rose Bowl records, 1 NFL passing record and every once in a while he makes the highlights.
That's the lifestyle of the person we are making fun of?
We're fu@king broke and we're making fun of Henne?

[Shula 73]

The other countries have gun control.

[Mark in Toronto]

Didn't really hear anyone making fun of Henne. Most everyone just didn't think he was good enough to be Miami's starting QB.

[THE BOX SCORE]

Cadillac is correct about Henne.

[CadillacDeVille]

CommonSense,
PriceMaster is a blogger that used to be in here everyday.
PriceMaster let us know that the wildcat is BACKDOOR football the first time it was unveiled in 2008 to cover up for the mistake Parcells made in giving NoodleArm a $10mil contract without a physical or a tryout.
PriceMaster is Henne's biggest fan.
However he bet us last year that the Phins would franchise Henne and when he lost the bet he agreed not to come here anymore.
Evidently if Henne wins on Sunday he has promised to return and urinate in our faces everyday this offseason.

[GEEZ]

Mark, uou never heard the booing of Henne? or the term RoboHenne? or Check Down Chad? Do you live in a cave? out of touch out of towners = clueless

[CadillacDeVille]

So he's not good enough to be a starting QB in the NFL.
BFD.
I enjoy it when he gets a chance to play.
I'm sure when this NFL career is over he'll go to the booth and he'll be the one cracking the jokes about how many int's he threw in the 4th qtr and how many times he got benched and how many different offenses he had to learn because he kept getting run out of town etc.

[CommonSense]

And this guy isn't the idiot thats here everyday anyway? lol. What is wrong in FLA guys?

Henne was ok. He had skills, but didn't get it done. Possibly with better coaches he could have been decent. I thought if he went to SF he would have took Smith's job.