Half 2 of the post-Payments sport SI Fan Nation All Dolphins mailbag:

From Bellal73 (@bellal73):

For God’s sake, when is that this workforce gonna use a TE for something?

Hey there, nicely, they do use the tight ends to dam fairly regularly. As for the passing sport, I believe I’ve reached the purpose the place I’ve given up on the concept of Gesicki, Smythe or Lengthy turning into elements.

From TimboSlicer (@SlicerTimbo):

Not a query however a press release. This go protection protection has been very disappointing, however what do you count on while you rely upon rookie Kohou and Iggy?

You make a legitimate level, however for the file Noah Igbinoghene has performed little or no on protection this season.

From Fernando (@Fins4Life73):

Do you anticipate the working sport being featured extra?

Hey Fernando, solely Mike McDaniel is aware of that, although I might say in all probability given the success in opposition to the Payments. And let’s additionally not overlook that what this offense does greatest is passing. What I do hope is we’ll see extra working performs being referred to as on third-and-1 or third-and-2.

From Nick Vipperman (@NickVipperman):

Any ideas on Boyer and whether or not he’ll get a reprieve subsequent 12 months primarily based on the variety of accidents the protection has confronted?

Hey Nick, the accidents within the secondary completely can be motive sufficient to present Boyer one other shot, however I don’t actually have a clue what Mike McDaniel thinks of him.

From Chris Roney (@ChrisRoney0):

Altering personnel this time of 12 months seldom occurs, so can Miami do something totally different schematically to enhance the go protection? They appear to be getting strain however these chunk performs hold taking place and so they nonetheless have Rodgers and a proficient NYJ WR room to cope with. Thanks!

Hey Chris, one factor I might let you know is that the Dolphins are usually not getting strain persistently sufficient, although Herbert and Allen each made numerous performs after getting flushed out of the pocket and people two video games had been extra about QBs shining than the Dolphins protection failing. I might assume that’s not going to proceed for very lengthy.

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FOR EVEN MORE COVERAGE ON THE MIAMI DOLPHINS, CHECK OUT SPORTS ILLUSTRATED’S MIAMI DOLPHINS PAGE ON SI.COM

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From Tony (@Tony_Matoszka):

When did the NFL change the principles for what is taken into account a drop? Was shocked by your professional evaluation explaining how a couple of of the passes on Saturday weren’t truly drops.

Hey Tony, let’s begin by saying that “drops” are usually not an official NFL stat. The place you’ll see drops are in superior stats from varied retailers and there’s no clear definition for what constitutes a drop. It’s the identical as what constitutes a strain and people numbers had been vastly totally different final 12 months for the Dolphins from Professional Soccer Focus and Professional Soccer Reference due to totally different interpretations. So principally what could be a drop to me may not be a drop to you and others, and there’s no hard-set definition. My level on the 2 passes close to the tip zone that everyone is looking drops was that I felt each had been very catchable, however neither was a simple catch that might qualify as a transparent drop in my eyes. And that is the half the place you possibly can inform me I’m loopy for not contemplating both a transparent drop.

From wayne_moore (@Wayne_Moore65):

Why is 41 not enjoying a lot?

Hey Wayne, this gorgeous a lot is identical factor as Erik Ezukanma on offense and it comes all the way down to the coaches trusting these rookies. Plain and easy. The Dolphins completely might use an affect participant at inside linebacker and the actual fact they’re not giving Channing Tindall a shot tells you all you have to know.

From Mike (@elons18thchild):

Ought to they’ve gone after Roquan Smith as a substitute of Bradley Chubb?

Hey Mike, yeah, I believe there’s one thing there, notably for the reason that Ravens bought Smith with out having to surrender a first-round choose, and Smith has been large for Baltimore up to now whereas Chubb’s affect has been considerably restricted. It’s very early, although, and we should always reserve closing judgment for some time.

From Carlos Coopers (@CoopersCarlos7):

The place the hell is Bradley Chubb? Discovering Waldo is simpler. Sometime I hope you’ll clarify the Expos emblem to the nation. It’s an M, however rattling it at all times seems like elb.

Hey Carlos, I’ll gladly begin with the emblem of my beloved Expos (born and raised in Montreal). To get the “M” impact, visualize the entire emblem as a flowery “M” in cursive. So the cap is EMB. OK, on to Chubb, he’s been OK up to now since becoming a member of the Dolphins, although clearly not fairly as impactful as hoped. However there’s nonetheless time for that to alter.

From ChrisDavis (@KyLouFinFan):

Aside from perhaps the SF sport it appears fairly honest to say within the different 5 losses both the O or D performed as much as customary. Is it teaching, matchups, effort, coincidence? Or is my premise unsuitable? If I’m proper, can it’s mounted inside motive?

Hey Chris, within the first three losses there was an in-game QB change pressured by damage, which doesn’t assist, and there have been no takeaways on protection, plus a sport and three quarters with out Terron Armstead, so I’m undecided I purchase the premise of the O or D enjoying as much as customary in all of the non-SF losses. I’d say the Buffalo sport was near having each side play as much as customary and performances like that you have to be ok to beat Inexperienced Bay, New England and the Jets. The important thing now’s duplicating that type of efficiency.

From Walt Thiessen (by way of electronic mail):

Hello Alain, I am slightly involved concerning the receiving corps. They’re dropping numerous passes this 12 months. One or two extra catches within the early a part of the Payments sport might have swung the ultimate outcome the opposite method very simply. What are you ideas about what it is going to take for the receivers to hold on to extra of them?

Hey Walt, you’re not unsuitable concerning the receivers dropping too many passes or not developing with catchable balls, however I’d recommend that the Dolphins don’t essentially have essentially the most sure-handed WR corps within the NFL, although they in all probability do have the quickest. There’s not rather a lot that may be finished about it, both, as a result of you must know the gamers already are spending numerous time on the Jugs machine after follow.

From Simon (by way of electronic mail):

Salut Alain, thanks for the superb, widespread sense protection of the Dolphins, it’s so refreshing to learn balanced and nuanced reporting. As a UK fan who may not perceive all the subtleties of the sport, I used to be questioning if there may be some very important significance to successful the coin toss (or flip as I imagine you name it)? I be aware that as of week 15, the Eagles, Payments and Chiefs, adopted by the Vikings, lead the league, whereas Miami’s 8-6 completely matches their file? Joking – I’ve been following the Phins since 1983 (after being launched to the sport by US service personnel – Go De Novo Horn Heads!), and I do know they don’t must win or lose a coin toss to interrupt our hearts. My precise query is concerning the “drops” within the Payments sport. A few of them, particularly within the 1st quarter, appeared to be the results of early contact by the Payments protection (notably Wilson at 7:46, Hill 6:23) which I’ve seen given in different circumstances. The commentary workforce appeared to assume tackling a receiver within the air is a part of a “contested catch.” So, apologies for the lengthy buildup, however do you assume the Dolphins have been on the receiving finish of some poor choices (and I do know officers are solely human) or is their second-worst league file correct and so they actually do want some work on contested catches? Bien à vous et bonnes fetes.

Hey Simon, blissful holidays. Defensive go interference and defensive holding are among the many most tough issues to officiate as a result of there may be contact virtually on a regular basis and it turns into a query of what deserves a flag and what doesn’t. The Chargers DBs and the Payments DBs each had been very aggressive with the Dolphins receivers and simply might have been flagged from time to time for defensive holding. However the identical holds true the opposite method. The very best instance of the fickle nature of DPIs is that what Kader Kohou did in opposition to Buffalo on the finish of the sport Saturday evening wasn’t practically as flag-worthy as what Keion Crossen did on the finish of the Chicago sport, and Crossen wasn’t flagged. Backside line, each workforce can level to totally different performs all through a sport the place calls ought to have been made or shouldn’t have been made and that actually did apply to the Dolphins in opposition to Buffalo, the place they simply might have gotten a few DPIs or defensive holding penalties of their favor.

From Jeff (by way of electronic mail):

Howdy Alain. What a troublesome loss! Not as a result of it is a division sport, or as a result of we had this one circled since preseason, however as a result of emotionally you possibly can really feel how we had been this shut. I get the sensation if we had one or two extra minor issues, we might be there on the finish of the sport and the Dolphins would have been forward on the scoreboard. I hearken to the coach and I can not assist however really feel like no matter phrases he expressed after the sport had gravity. What are you able to say about Coach McDaniel and the way a lot of a distinction he has been this season in comparison with the previous couple of many years? What has been your favourite coach in that point, and the way does McDaniel’s type examine? Thanks as at all times on your efforts and ideas Merry Christmas Alain!

Hey Jeff, it’s a troublesome query to reply as a result of McDaniel hasn’t even completed his first season and I’ve to outline “previous couple of many years.” I do like McDaniel as a head coach as a result of he relates nicely to his gamers and he put collectively an excellent offensive scheme to benefit from the pace he has at vast receiver. As for my favourite, post-Shula and Jimmy Johnson and excluding McDaniel as a result of it’s too early, I believe I’d go perhaps with Dan Campbell on an interim foundation as a result of it was so insanely how a lot more durable his gamers performed for him after he took over. And despite the fact that he may need had his X’s and O’s shortcomings, you at all times knew the Dolphins would play onerous.

From Earl (by way of electronic mail):

Howdy Alain, your column has lengthy been my “go to” for Dolphin perception, so right here is one thing i needed occurred for the protection as a substitute of what did: buying and selling for Roquan Smith as a substitute of Bradley Chubb. Not solely did the Ravens change a lesser draft worth however i believe bought a significantly better, extra constant participant. I at all times thought Chubb was overrated. What do you assume, contemplating you talked about the MLB want in a current reply. alongside that line, what do you assume the Dolphins will do with their second-round choose?

Hey Earl, yeah, I addressed the Chubb/Smith debate in an earlier query and I do assume I personally would have most popular Smith, although I’ll say once more it’s too early to make a closing name on this. As for the 2023 draft, the Dolphins can have sufficient positions of must take the perfect participant, however as of proper now, I’d say OL, TE, MLB or CB.

From NY – Fins Up (@azomback34):

It’s been one of the enjoyable years that I can recall for our Fins. I’ve tried to stay constructive all 12 months all through the tough patches. So to not harp on the unfavorable, however my 2 greatest disappointments are lack of pash rush/sacks after which INT. Questioning what yours are.

Hey there, does it should be two? Yeah, it’s onerous to argue with both of you too factors. I’d additionally add the shortage of any type of lengthy returns within the kicking sport.

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