Day 1,687, Quasi-Quarantine: The Payoff Comes When The End Is In Sight

This kid had a trying fall soccer season at times. 

• He joined a new team -- going up a level -- after a stressful tryout. 
• He went through individual, daily offseason workouts this summer without ever having met his coaches or teammates. 
• He was the new kid on an existing team, then was immediately told he wouldn't be able to even try out to play his favored position, goalie. 
• He had to learn a new position, a new system, and new teammates -- all at the same time.
• He fractured his forearm during a practice and only found out a couple of days later.
• He played through pain and with a sizeable cast.
• Then he scored both of his team's goals in a tournament game against the eventual tourney champ.

Proud Dad here. ✋

Way to be, Finnegan.

Day 1,683, Quasi-Quarantine: Dolphins-Colts Game 6 Review

I was at this game! 

Mike McDaniel should be fired for this travesty!

Yes, I'm saying that targeting Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle once in the first 55 minutes is a fireable offense. That's $35M a year in receiver averaging roughly $9M a target. On top of that, the Dolphins were called for nine penalties and lost the turnover battle yet again (2-1).

The sad thing is that Indianapolis is in a similar situation (the stats were almost mirror images). There were scattered boos aimed at the Colts offense generally and perhaps quarterback Anthony Richardson (who was brutal in identifying blitzes) specifically. But there is at least hope in Indianapolis, while very little remains on South Beach.

On to the it-somehow-got-worse recap ...

Offense

• In another brutal display, the 'Fins managed just 18 first downs but somehow got 337 total yards. The unit converted six of 15 third downs and misfired on its lone fourth-down attempt. Miami averaged just 5.3 yards per pass, showing no ability or willingness to stretch the field. Settling for field-goal attempts remained an issue, as the Dolphins scored touchdowns on just one of three red-zone visits. To crystallize the ineptitude, here are the Miami second-half possessions: three punts, two fumbles, a missed field goal, and a turnover on downs. 
• Tyler Huntley started again at quarterback, hitting seven of 13 passes for 87 yards and a touchdown while running five times for 20 yards and taking two sacks. Even when he escaped the pocket, Huntley did not look downfield, and he missed his last three throws before being injured on a rollout throwaway. Tim Boyle came on and connected on eight of 13 passes for 74 yards, adding a four-yard scramble. Tellingly, even Boyle -- the fourth-string quarterback -- was desperately trying to get the play calls to come in faster.
• At running back, De'Von Achane led the way with 15 carries for 77 yards, adding two receptions for eight yards on three targets in 40 snaps. Raheem Mostert ran 11 times for 50 yards and had a big gainer called back by penalty, but he also coughed up a key fumble and was used sparingly afterward (23 snaps). Rookie Jaylen Wright had five carries for 33 yards, but did not get nearly enough snaps (six) or touches. Alec Ingold carried twice for negative one yard -- managing to fumble on the first attempt and fail to convert a 3rd & 1 on the second -- and was whistled for a laughable low block. He did have a 25-yard catch on a wheel route and made some strong second-level blocks in his 27 snaps. If you're looking for optimism, the commitment to and re-emergence of the 'Fins run game has been apparent in recent weeks.
• Not to beat a dead horse, but Waddle had an 11-yard catch on two targets (hey, he also had an assisted tackle in 59 snaps), while Hill had an eight-yarder on two targets, with a five-yard run thrown in as part of his 62 snaps. Somehow, Malik Washington led the wideouts in targets with three in four snaps, grabbing two for nine yards. Odell Beckham contributed two more targets without a catch and appeared to be afraid of contact in his 11 snaps, leading this observer to believe that the No. 3 WR spot for the Dolphins is official haunted. Braxton Berrios played five snaps from scrimmage before leaving with a season-ending injury, ending his campaign with zero receptions. The dissemination of targets is complete coaching misconduct, and it's highly questionable at this point whether McDaniel possesses the self-awareness to evolve from it.
• At tight end, Jonnu Smith was the lone bright spot offensively, reeling in all seven targets for 96 yards and a score, while getting whistled for an offsides in his 34 snaps. Julian Hill had a four-yard catch on two targets in 36 plays, getting called for his weekly penalty (a false start on special teams) and giving up a sack when he was unwisely matched up with rookie end Laiatu Latu. Durham Smythe was not targeted, but was called for a holding penalty on an awful call that erased a massive play for Miami. He contributed a number of strong blocks, but he was reduced to 17 snaps. Overall, the 'Fins got great mileage from a fake toss play that freed Smith over the middle multiple times. A third of the way through the campaign, Smith has become Miami's only dependable receiving target.
• The offensive line helped the 'Fins average 4.7 yards per carry and rack up 188 yards on the ground. The passing game was horrific and the front allowed five hits and two sacks, but that was as attributable to bad pocket awareness and an inability to find open receivers as anything else. Left tackle Austin Jackson had an illegal-formation penalty and struggled overall, while right guard Liam Eichenberg was flagged for a costly facemask penalty.

Defense

• The Dolphins were credited with four quarterback hits and zero sacks, though they would have likely picked up five against a normal quarterback. The unit held the Colts to 284 yards, four of 13 third-down conversions, and touchdowns on just one of three red-zone trips. Getting turnovers remains a problem, as Miami got a single recovery on an unforced fumble.
• On on the interior, Calais Campbell posted five solo stops and three tackles for losses in 37 snaps, while Zach Sieler added four tackles, three solos, and a fumble recovery in 52 snaps. Da'Shawn Hand recorded three solos, a tackle for loss, and a quarterback hit in 37 snaps, with reserve Benito Jones contributing two assisted tackles in 27 snaps.
• Without Emmanuel Ogbah, edge players Tyus Bowser (37 snaps) and Chop Robinson (38 snaps) each had two tackles and one solo, with Quinton Bell chipping in with two assisted tackles in nine snaps. Rookie Mohamed Kamara saw his first action, picking up an assisted tackle and a quarterback hit in 16 snaps. Bowser had a neutral-zone infraction and Robinson missed two tackles on one play at one point. Despite solid energy, this position group -- granted, decimated yet again by injury -- is not playing winning football. 
• At inside linebacker, Jordyn Brooks led the way as usual, collecting seven tackles, five solos, one stop for loss, and a pass breakup in 62 snaps. David Long notched four tackles and two solos in 42 snaps, though he had some problematic run fits along the way. Anthony Walker didn't record a statistic in 20 snaps against his old team, and Duke Riley played one snap from scrimmage.
• Jalen Ramsey was extremely active as a blitzer, registering two quarterback hits to go with four tackles and two solos in 62 snaps. He could have had three sacks on his own, and narrowly missed a couple of big plays against behemoth quarterback Richardson. Kendall Fuller racked up seven tackles, six solos, a pass breakup, and a pass interference penalty in 62 snaps, while slot Kader Kohou had an assisted tackle and two pass breakups in 49 snaps. This was a winning performance from this position group, with Fuller and Kohou making big third-down plays.
• With Jevon Holland out at safety, Jordan Poyer was back with eight tackles and six solos and Marcus Maye collected five tackles and two solos. The duo played all 62 snaps.

Special teams

• Jason Sanders connected on a 33-yard field goal and made his first extra point in four games -- but only one. He hit the crossbar from 54 yards on a crucial miss at a pivotal moment in the game.
• Jake Bailey overcome a couple of shaky punts early to average 47.7 yards on six boots (including a 59-yarder), with three placed inside the 20-yard line.
• Berrios had a 16-yard kickoff return and 18 yards on two punt returns before getting injured.
• The 'Fins got solo special-teams tackles from Siran Neal, Ingold, and Storm Duck, while Anthony Walker and Julian Hill assisted on stops.

Momentum plays

• Three straight three-and-outs ensued after Indy took the opening kickoff, but Miami's second possession got going with a key third-down offsides call on former Dolphin Raekwon Davis that resulted in a free first down. Huntley's keeper converted a 3rd & 1, then he hit Smith for 18 yards two plays later. Mostert ripped off an 11-yard run, then -- after a sloppy sack -- Huntley paid off the drive with a third-and-goal completion to Smith for 10 yards and a 7-0 lead.
• The Colts answered with a promising drive of their own, jumpstarted by two carries for 19 and eight yards by Tyler Goodson. Richardson found Adonai Mitchell for 14 yards, then offsetting penalties erased a 28-yard completion to Alec Pierce to Miami's one-yard line. A Richardson scramble -- after escaping a Sieler sack -- went for 22 yards to set up Indy on the 'Fins' eight-yard line, but a fumbled shotgun snap was somehow scooped up by Sieler for a massive turnover two plays later.
• The Dolphins immediately went in the wrong direction thanks to a terrible low-block call on Ingold, but Huntley connected with Smith again for 15 yards before Achane darted for a 15-yard run. Huntley tried to scramble for a first down on 3rd & 9, but reserve Indianapolis linebacker Grant Stuard ran him down and out of bounds, forcing a poor 33-yard punt by Bailey.
• Indy went three-and-out, and Mostert went to work with jaunts of nine and 32 yards. However, the second of these was called back on an unbelievably bad call, a phantom hold on Smythe on the perimeter. Huntley ran twice for a first down, but a facemask penalty on Eichenberg proved too much to overcome. Another subpar punt (39 yards) by Bailey ensued, capping a drive that saw the 'Fins commit three penalties and call timeout on 3rd & 18.
• After an initial first down, the Colts had to punt again. A swing pass to Ingold covered 25 yards, and Achane followed up with a 14-yard run just ahead of the two-minute warning. On 3rd & 3, Huntley found Smith again, this time for 13 yards. Three plays later, Beckham short-armed a 3rd & 4 pass, forcing Miami to settle for a 33-yard field goal and a 10-0 advantage.
• With just 22 seconds remaining, Indy somewhat surprisingly came out firing on what would turn out to be a monumental drive. Richardson threw an absolute dart on an out pattern to Pierce (he burned Ramsey badly), but the wideout dropped it on the sidelines. Undaunted, the quarterback layered a beautiful ball to Michael Pittman for a 33-yard pickup, allowing the Colts to drill a 52-yard field goal with no time remaining to give the home crowd a lift and narrow the margin to 10-3. 
• Miami got the ball to start the second half, and Achane started the drive with a 12-yard carry. However, the 'Fins were unable to convert a 3rd & 2 on the first target of the game (yes, you read that right) to Tyreek Hill, on a well-thrown ball that would have hit Hill in stride deep down the left sideline -- if he had been looking. The inexplicable incompletion forced a punt, but Indianapolis returned the favor with a three-and-out.
• A promising seven-yard run by Mostert ended the possession swiftly, as he coughed up the ball and Segun Olubi (who forced it as well) recovered and returned it 18 yards.
• Taking over at Miami's 28-yard line, Indy got 12-yard runs from Richardson and receiver Ashton Dulin on back-to-back plays. After a false start, back-to-back runs by Goodson covered nine yards and a touchdown, trimming the lead to 10-7 with 9:08 left in the third quarter.
• After yet another Dolphins' three-and-out that saw Huntley injure his shoulder on a rollout, the visitors seemed to finally get a break when another strong blitz by Jaylen Ramsey resulted in a Richardson fumble that was recovered by Robinson to set up Miami on Indy's 19-yard line. However, the call was overturned on replay on a fairly controversial decision, and the home team ended up punting.
• With good field position at their own 45-yard line and Huntley sidelined due to injury, the 'Fins turned to Wright, who carried four straight times for 30 yards. Fourth-string signal-caller Tim Boyle found Smith for 12 yards to convert a 3rd & 8, but Ingold fumbled on the next play, resulting in a brutal red-zone turnover.
• The teams traded three-and-outs (marked by a key third-down breakup by Kohou on defense and unflagged late hit on Boyle on offense) before Indianapolis found some offensive momentum. Richardson hooked up with Mitchell for 16 yards and Trey Sermon for 13 more on a trick play. The quarterback then hit Pierce for 10 to convert a 3rd & 8 before Sermon carried three times in a row for 24 yards. The drive stalled at Miami's four-yard line, forcing the Colts to settle for a 22-yard field goal to go ahead, 13-10.
• After Berrios was injured on the ensuing kickoff, Boyle found Smith for 18 yards and Mostert ripped off a 14-yarder (his first carry since his fumble early in the third quarter). Boyle connected with Waddle for 11 yards, but the Dolphins doubled down on bad decisions. First, the team went to Ingold for a 3rd & 1 carry, which was blown up immediately for no gain. Then, McDaniel settled for a 54-yard field goal instead of going for it on 4th & 1, and the Sanders boot fairly predictably clanged off the left upright.
• Taking over at its own 43-yard line, Indy got a small break when a Richardson out pass went just off the fingertips of Poyer and to Pittman for a 21-yard gain. Richardson then got eight yards on a keeper to convert a 3rd & 4, forcing Miami to burn its remaining timeouts. The "D" stopped the Colts' ground game, but the home team nailed a 38-yard field goal to extend its lead to 16-10.
• With no timeouts remaining, the 'Fins finally decided to involve Tyreek Hill, hitting him for eight yards. A Boyle scramble that was ended by a massive hit converted a 3rd & 3, and the signal-caller hit Achane for nine yards. As the clock ran, Boyle found Achane again, but the running back both lost a yard and failed to get out of bounds (Boyle's fault). Boyle was forced to spike the ball with 11 seconds remaining, but his 4th & 2 pass was somehow targeted to Washington -- and it sailed roughly eight yards out of bounds.
• A Richardson kneeldown put an end to yet another squandered game from the Dolphins.

2024 Schedule

Miami 20, Jacksonville 17 (1-0)

Buffalo 31, Miami 10 (1-1)

Seattle 24, Miami 3 (1-2)

Tennessee 31, Miami 12 (1-3)

Miami 15, New England 10 (2-3)

Indianapolis 16, Miami 10 (2-4)

Day 1,676, Quasi-Quarantine: Dolphins-Patriots Game 5 Review

 

Look, this game was hard to look at. Miami lost the turnover battle (2-0) and still won on the road against a team that is marginally worse than the Dolphins. To show how far New England has fallen, they were called for five more penalties (14 to nine) against Miami. At home.

On the plus side, the 'Fins made a commitment to running the ball (41 rushes!), owned time of possession (34:20 to 25:40), got a division road victory, and snapped a three-game losing streak. 

All that said, the Dolphins were incredibly fortunate to win this contest.

On to the I-guess-it's-improvement recap ...

Offense

• Signs of life! The Dolphins had 24 first downs and 372 total yards, including a stunning 193 yards on the ground (4.7 yards per carry). There are still major concerns -- another dismal showing on third down (two of 11), an ofer on fourth (0-1), two more illegal shifts, and converting just one of two red-zone trips into touchdowns -- but the operation looked more ... coached and practiced? 
• Tyler Huntley overcame an ugly early interception to hit 18 of 31 passes for 194 yards. He was sacked three times, but avoided the catastrophic plays and pushed the ball down the field a bit more. He ran it just three times for seven yards, and opening up this part of his game would seem to be in the best interest of the entire offense.
• Raheem Mostert reminded 'Fins fans just how much he sets the tone for this offense, rushing 19 times for 81 yards and grabbing two passes for 18 yards in his first action (44 snaps) since the season opener. After De'Von Achane left with a head injury after 17 yards on four touches in 11 snaps, Jaylen Wright put on a show, carrying 13 times for 86 yards in 25 plays for a sterling 87.9 mark from Pro Football Focus. Even Alec Ingold got into the act, converting a three-yard touchdown run, recovering a fumble, delivering some notable blocks, and earning a 77.4 PFF grade in 42 snaps. The offense really missed Mostert's slashing style, and moving Achane -- when healthy -- back into more of a slot/third-down role is probably the best scenario for Miami.
• The top receivers were slightly more involved, with Tyreek Hill catching six of nine targets for 69 yards in 62 snaps and Jaylen Waddle adding four grabs on eight targets for 46 yards in 61 snaps. The third wideout spot continues to be haunted, as Odell Beckham was targeted twice without a catch in 11 snaps, with one of the passes thrown in his direction intercepted. Malik Washington was ineffective in 20 snaps, contributing only an illegal blindside block and looking largely confused, while Braxton Berrios (who has still yet to catch a passion this season) also went without a target in 15 snaps. The team simply has to develop another viable weapon in the passing game, especially as Waddle's issues with drops continues.
• At tight end, there was an effort made to involve Jonnu Smith more, and he responded with five receptions on eight targets for 62 yards in 32 snaps (even adding a carry from the backfield, though it lost a yard), good for an 80.3 PFF grade. Julian Hill got back to himself with a holding penalty in 40 snaps, while Durham Smythe continued to regress, appearing to trip over his own feet on a downfield pass on his lone target in 27 snaps. However, the tight ends deserve some of the credit for the stellar rushing performance, and it's best to focus on the positive contribution (many of them in clutch situations) made by Smith for a unit that has grossly underperformed this season. 
• The big news was Terron Armstead returning to the lineup in this one, and he played all 78 snaps, delivering a lofty 88.2 mark from PFF. Left guard Robert Jones picked up a 79.1 PFF grade, though center Aaron Brewer was charged with a fumble, right guard Liam Eichenberg was called for (a very late) holding, and right tackle Austin Jackson had a false start and a misread on a blitz that led to an easy sack. On the good side, the offensive line seemed to relish playing downhill under a renewed emphasis on the ground game, leading to hopes that coach Mike McDaniel sticks with what is working instead of chasing the "genius" label.

Defense

• The defense once again played strong football, constantly hitting former Dolphin quarterback Jacoby Brissett and limiting New England to just 15 first downs. Miami stopped nine of 13 third-down attempts and the lone fourth-down try, and also held the home team without a touchdown on either red-zone visit. Bizarrely, the Patriots dominated on the ground -- averaging 7.9 yards per carry and ripping off runs of 33 and 24 yards -- but chose to run it just 19 times for no apparent reason.
• On the interior, Zach Sieler led the way with 49 snaps, collecting one solo tackle, a sack, a stop for loss, and three quarterback hits. Calais Campbell added a pair of quarterback hits in 34 snaps, while Da'Shawn Hand tallied two tackles, one solo, and a quarterback hit in his 30 snaps. Benito Jones was a factor, contributing a quarterback hit and multiple pressures in his 18 snaps. Brandon Pili got two snaps in a reserve capacity. This unit did a nice job in applying pressure, but must bear some of the burden of responsibility for the struggles against the ground game.
• Emmanuel Ogbah paced edge players with 45 snaps, recording four solo tackles, a sack, a stop for loss, and a quarterback hit. Rookie Chop Robinson saw more time (40 snaps) in the absence of Jaelan Phillips, and he managed three tackles, one solo, and a quarterback hit. Newcomer Tyus Bowser had an assisted tackle in 33 snaps, while reserve Quinton Bell got a single snap. Ogbah has been a needed revelation in his unexpected return to the 'Fins, playing a massive role in the face of injuries to Phillips and Bradley Chubb.
• At inside linebacker, Jordyn Brooks played all 60 snaps, picking up seven tackles and four solos, while David Long assisted on four tackles in 30 snaps in his return to action. Anthony Walker also played 30 snaps, registering three tackles, two solo stops, and a pass breakup. Duke Riley added an assisted tackle in his lone snap from scrimmage.
• Jalen Ramsey had a strong game at cornerback (five tackles, four solos, two pass breakups, and a near fourth-quarter pick in 60 snaps), though it was marred somewhat by a foolish roughing-the-pass penalty. Kendall Fuller made his return, posting an assisted tackle in 55 snaps. In the slot, Kader Kohou racked up five tackles, three solos, two stops for losses, a pass breakup, and an important third-down stop in 46 snaps, though he was flagged for holding. Storm Duck had five snaps in reserve, while Nik Needham saw his first action of the season, picking up an assisted tackle on his only snap.
• A banged-up safety spot suffered another injury when Jevon Holland broke his hand after collecting five tackles, four solo stops, and a pass breakup in 44 snaps. Fellow starter Marcus Maye (filling in for Jordan Poyer) led the way with nine tackles, five solos, and a pass breakup in 60 snaps, though he missed a key tackle on the long Patriots' touchdown run -- a play that saw Holland also take a bad angle. Special-teamer Elijah Campbell filled in for 16 snaps, notching two solos and a stop for loss.

Special teams

• Overall, the comedy of errors in the kicking game continued, with coordinator Danny Crossman still miraculously employed as of this writing. Miami had a bad snap on a field goal, a missed field goal (a 41-yarder off the upright), and a blocked punt. Sanders did connect on three field goals -- with a long of 54 yards -- but has not made an extra point in three straight games.
• Riley missed a block on the punt block, and Bailey punted two other times for a 44-yard average, putting one inside the 20-yard line.
• Berrios was solid in the return game, with a 19-yard kickoff return and a 12-yard punt return.
• Tanner Conner and Washington had solo tackles, while Riley, Bell, and Siran Neal each had 21 snaps in the third phase.

Momentum plays

• After Berrios got stamped on the opening kick return, Huntley hit Hill for 18 yards on the second play of the possession. Another first down followed before Huntley was sacked, though a 13-yard strike to Smith got the 'Fins close enough for Sanders to drill a 54-yarder for the game's first points.
• Back-to-back sacks by Ogbah and Sieler fueled a quick three-and-out, but the Dolphins answered with one of their own. However, Miami got a break when New England was called for too many men on the field on a punt, giving the 'Fins a fresh set of downs. Just two plays later, Huntley was picked off trying to force a ball to Beckham.
• The Patriots converted a 3rd & 1 after Rhamondre Stevenson broke a Kohou tackle on a short pass. On the next play, Stevenson went around right end, eluded a weak tackle attempt by Maye, juked Holland badly, and coasted into the end zone to cap a 33-yard touchdown run that put the home team ahead, 7-3.
• The Dolphins got an initial first down on a 12-yard end-around by Achane, though he was lost for the game after suffering a concussion on the play. Huntley found Waddle for 20, then Mostert ripped off a 12-yard run. Huntley was sacked on third down, setting up a 41-yard field goal attempt that Sanders clanged off the left upright, keeping the score at 7-3 after the first quarter.
• A couple of penalties on New England waylaid its next possession, forcing a three-and-out and a 69-yard punt that resulted in a touchback.
• In one of the worst drives of all time, the 'Fins committed three straight penalties after an initial first down, then had a punt blocked and recovered by the home team on Miami's 23-yard line.
• Not to be outdone, the Patsies overcome one penalty to get a first down, then committed a second holding and eventually missed a 33-yard field goal wide right. At this point, the game was bordering on the unwatchable.
• Huntley found Smith for 17 and Waddle for 10 more before hitting Mostert for 10 yards to convert a 3rd & 5. However, a premature snap by Brewer turned a 3rd & 3 into a 4th & 25, pushing the Dolphins out of field goal range. The 'Fins quickly forced a three-and-out, getting the ball back in New England territory (44-yard line) after a 12-yard Berrios return.
• Huntley connected with Smith again, this time for 16 yards, but three straight incompletions ensued, including an incredibly ill-advised Hail Mary-ish attempt that was fortunate not to be intercepted in the end zone. A false start on the initial field goal attempt led to a retry, and longsnapper Blake Ferguson inexplicably rolled the ball back to holder Bailey, who lost a yard while trying to salvage something out of yet another special-teams miscue.
• The Patriots followed with another three-and-out, and the Dolphins ran it twice for two yards to mercifully run out the clock on what had to be one of the worst first halves in NFL history.
• New England took possession after halftime, and faced a 2nd & 18 after an initial first down. After a short pass, Ramsey inexplicably hit Brissett in the face, earning a roughing-the-passer flag and gift-wrapping a rare Patsies first down. The home team then converted a 3rd & 4, setting up a 38-yard field goal to make the lead 10-3.
• Horsecollar and roughing-the-passer penalties on New England gave Miami life, and a Wright 12-yard burst set up the visitors at the 16-yard line. Huntley targeted Hill twice, with the first a dropped interception in the end zone that could have been a pick-six of over 100 yards and the second appearing to result in a touchdown. However, the wideout had stepped out of bounds, forcing the 'Fins to settle for a 32-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 10-6.
• After a three-and-out, the Dolphins took over again, with a 17-yard Wright run giving the offense some momentum. Huntley found Hill for 16 yards and a third-straight first down, but a sack of Huntley forced another long third down (3rd & 13). Huntley got 11 of those yards back with a strike to Waddle, setting up Sanders for a 47-yarder to trim the margin to 10-9.
• New England countered with a couple of first downs, punctuated by a 24-yard run by Antonio Gibson. The Dolphins "D" stiffened at that point, forcing another punt early in the fourth quarter that just barely eked into the end zone for a touchback.
• On the following drive, the 'Fins overcame an immediate penalty when Huntley hit Hill for 21 yards on 1st & 18. The signal-caller then hit Smith for eight on 3rd & 5, and Miami got another third-down conversion on a shaky pass interference call on 3rd & 13. Wright ripped off a 16-yarder, then Mostert followed with an 18-yard jaunt to set the Dolphins up at New England's 13-yard line. Wright's hard eight-yard run set up a first-and-goal opportunity, and Ingold ran it in from three yards out on a nifty fullback dive to push Miami ahead. The 'Fins went for two, but an incompletion to Hill kept the score at 15-10.
• A 13-yard pass, a defensive holding, an 11-yard run, and a 10-yard run gave New England four quick first downs on the ensuing possession. Back-to-back Patsies penalties created a 2nd & 21 situation, but Brissett responded with 13- and 19-yard strikes to DeMario Douglas. Two plays later, Brissett hit Ja'Lynn Polk for a 12-yard touchdown in the back of the end zone, but the play was overturned by replay. Two plays later, Miami brought seven rushers on 4th & 15, forcing a desperation heave into the end zone that fell incomplete for tight end Hunter Henry.
• The 'Fins ran it three straight times, failing to gain a first down but forcing the Patriots to use all their timeouts. Bailey's punt was returned 15 yards, giving New England the ball at its own 43-yard line with 29 seconds remaining.
• Brissett somehow managed to avoid a sack, find an open receiver for 21 yards, and spike the ball. With 13 seconds left, he was forced to throw in-bounds to Henry, who reeled it in for 25 yards but was tackled at the Dolphins' 11-yard line as time expired.

2024 Schedule

Miami 20, Jacksonville 17 (1-0)

Buffalo 31, Miami 10 (1-1)

Seattle 24, Miami 3 (1-2)

Tennessee 31, Miami 12 (1-3)

Miami 15, New England 10 (2-3)

Day 1,674, Quasi-Quarantine: Impact Of Automation On The Dignity Of Work Explored In Meandering "Wrong Way"

 

“She had wanted from him all she wanted from anyone: to tell her what to do and leave her alone.”

Full of wry humor and topical technology debates, "Wrong Way" offers a surface-level view of employment ennui in the age of automation. Joanne McNeil's prose has an appealing flow, but the story progression is slow and elements of the plotline are only marginally believable.

Teresa's endless series of dead-end jobs become even more heartbreaking when you learn how her dream role was ripped out from underneath her. It can be difficult to find interiority with the main character beyond a surface level, but her journey is relatable and, in many ways, universal.

“The Ivy League is Scientology for people in Weston, Bethesda, Westchester County.”

Reading "Wrong Way" as an encapsulation of Gen X's encroaching mortality and existential crises can perhaps elevate -- or diminish -- the nature of the experience, depending on your age. McNeil stays close to what she knows here, leading to hope that future work will lead to further exploration and challenge.

“It’s a chance to be human with someone who doesn’t judge her for being no good at it."

Day 1,672, Quasi-Quarantine: Vance Joseph And Kenan Thompson Are The Doppelgangers We Need Right Now

 

Former Miami Dolphins and current Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph (left) and Saturday Night Live won't-leaver mainstay Kenan Thompson bear a striking resemblance.

And each would probably be equally effective coaching "D" for the 'Fins ...

Day 1,666, Quasi-Quarantine: "Think Again" Highlights The Power Of Rethinking

“We listen to views that make us feel good, instead of ideas that make us think hard.”

Adam Grant's thoughtful book is especially useful for those navigating challenging work dynamics and struggles with stagnation. So, yeah, pretty much everyone these days.

“Who you are should be a question of what you value, not what you believe.”

"Think Again" delves into the roles of biases, the importance of a learning culture vs. a performance culture, and a host of other key topics. The book is replete with useful diagrams, charts, and graphics that reinforce or cleverly summarize key points.

Grant also spends time on the role of psychological safety in helping to navigate differences in fixed vs. growth mindsets.

“ … Psychological safety is not a matter of relaxing standards, making people comfortable, being nice and agreeable, or giving unconditional praise. It’s fostering a climate of respect, trust, and openness in which people can raise concerns and suggestions without fear of reprisal. It's the foundation of a learning culture.”

Highly shareable and eminently quotable, "Think Again" is a work that will be recommended to and commented on by coworkers and leaders across a number of industries. We could all use a primer on rethinking what we don't know, and Grant's book is a tremendous starting point.

“Arrogance leaves us blind to our weaknesses. Humility is a reflective lens: it helps us see them clearly. Confident humility is a corrective lens: it enables us to overcome those weaknesses.”

Day 1,663, Quasi-Quarantine: I Take It All Back, Pete

 

It's been a long, difficult year for Pete Alonso. The Mets slugger has struggled mightily in crucial situations, hitting anemically with runners in scoring position and contributing the lowest full-season slug and RBI totals of his career.

And then on Thursday night he saved New York's season. His three-run homer in the eighth inning erased a 2-0 deficit and propelled the Mets to a series victory.

Hat tip to ya, Polar Bear.

LFGM.

Day 1,662, Quasi-Quarantine: Dolphins-Titans Game 4 Review

 

Entering Week 4, it was going to be hard for Miami to match the sheer ineptitude it put on display in Seattle the week prior. However, even with an extra day of preparation, the 'Fins somehow exceeded its offensive nadir.

On full display in primetime on Monday Night Football, the Dolphins bottomed out, punctuated by lusty boos as the team trudged off the field at halftime. Coach Mike McDaniels -- clearly in waaaaaaaay over his head at this point -- presided over an offense that somehow committed five illegal shifts on its way to another double-digit-penalty outing. 

On to the somebody-make-it-stop recap ...

Offense

• Miami managed just 13 first downs and 184 total yards, averaging 3.4 yards per play. The unit put together another embarrassing effort on key downs, converting just two of 12 third downs and one of three fourth-down attempts. The 'Fins scored a touchdown on their only red-zone trip, but that did little mitigate another disastrous performance on this side of the ball.
• Tyler Huntley became the fourth quarterback to play for the Dolphins this year, and he somehow managed to be worse than Skylar Thompson and Tim Boyle. He connected on 14 of 22 passes for 96 yards, an almost-impossible average of 4.4 yards per throw. He was sacked twice, committed an intentional grounding for a safety, missed Tyreek Hill open twice for easy long-distance scores, and generally looked tentative and erratic. His only saving grace was carrying the ball eight times for 40 yards and a touchdown.
• In probably his worst game, DeVon Achane forced valid questions about whether he is something beyond a third-down back. In 44 snaps, he carried 10 times for 15 yards and caught three passes for 14 yards, consistently missing holes, trying to bounce everything outside, and leaving a lot of yards on the field. Rookie Jaylen Wright made a strong bid for lead-back responsibilities in his 28 snaps, rushing nine times for 32 yards, including a 20-yarder. He was only targeted once through the air, without a catch. Neither Jeff Wilson (two snaps) nor Alec Ingold (18 snaps) were factors in the game. 
• The gaping hole at quarterback has rendered Jaylen Waddle (four catches, 36 yards, six targets in 43 snaps) and Hill (four receptions on seven targets for 23 yards and three rushes for 19 yards in 44 snaps) largely meaningless. Hill got open for layup deep scores twice and could have had four touchdowns in the contest with competent passing, though he did lose a fumble on a lateral pass that saw him give awful effort. Dee Eskridge (17 snaps), Malik Washington (14 snaps, first career catch for eight yards), and Braxton Berrios (15 snaps) were also non-factors. Waddle had a brutal drop, and the receivers overall seemed largely checked out of the contest after it became apparent that forward passes weren't in Huntley's future. Berrios still does not have a reception this season -- unfathomable as the team's No. 3 wideout.
• The tight ends struggled again, with Julian Hill (30 snaps), Jonnu Smith (25), and Durham Smythe (18) held without a reception, with only Smith even getting a single target. Deep reserve Tanner Conner caught two passes for 15 yards at the very end of the game in his only two snaps. The bright side is that Hill went an entire game without committing a penalty.
• The interior offensive line was largely dominated, though there were some holes on the inside intermittently. Rookie Patrick Paul got his first career start at left tackle as Terron Armstead's replacement, and he was understandably shaky. 

Defense

• Once again, the defense did its part, despite missing starters David Long (linebacker) and Kyle Fuller (cornerback). Miami held the visitors to just 16 first downs and 244 total yards, stopping the Titans on 10 of 12 third-down attempts. The crew had eight stops for losses, a sack, and a turnover, but they wore down late in the game thanks to being on the field for 34:52. Tennessee did manage two touchdowns on three red-zone trips, but the Dolphins were just entirely too one-dimensional, putting unfair and undue pressure on a depleted "D."
• Ageless Calais Campbell led the defensive front again, notching five tackles, four solos, and one stop for loss in 36 snaps, even adding a deflected punt on special teams. Zach Sieler added five tackles, two solos, and a quarterback hit in 51 snaps, while Da'Shon Hand contributed two tackles, one solo, and a stop for loss in 37 snaps. Benito Jones (assisted tackle in 32 snaps) and Brandon Pili (11 snaps) rounded out the rotation as fatigue set in.
• On the edge, Emmanuel Ogbah was everywhere, posting six tackles, three solos, a stop for loss, a batted pass, a quarterback hit, a facemask flag, and an interception in 54 snaps. Jaelan Phillips was limited by injury, notching two tackles, one solo, a deflected pass, and a roughing-the-pass penalty in 32 snaps. Quinton Bell got 15 snaps, recording three tackles, one solo, and a stop for loss. Rookie Chop Robinson had an assisted tackle in his 22 snaps, and he'll need to step up his game in a big way after it was revealed that Phillips was lost for the season due to a knee injury suffered in the contest.
• At inside linebacker, Jordyn Brooks continued his fine campaign, registering 13 tackles, nine solos, a sack, two stops for losses, a pass breakup, and a quarterback hit in a team-leading 65 snaps. Anthony Walker stepped into a starting role and picked up nine tackles and three solos in 59 snaps. Duke Riley saw nine snaps from scrimmage, collecting five tackles and three solos. Overall, it was a winning performance from this unit considering the injury situation.
• With Fuller out, Jalen Ramsey saw little to no action in the passing game, as the Titans steered clear. However, Ramsey threw himself into run support, tallying four tackles, two solos, and a stop for loss in 61 snaps. Undrafted rookie Storm Duck picked up three solos, a stop for loss, and a pass breakup in his first start, playing 60 snaps. In 33 snaps, Kader Kohou had one solo tackle and was called for pass interference on a terrible flag, while Ethan Bonner got four snaps in reserve.
• At safety, Jevon Holland made five tackles and three solo stops in 61 snaps, but the team overall needs more impact plays from him. Jordan Poyer saw his snaps drop to 37, and he somehow managed to not record any statistic. Marcus Maye notched four tackles and one solo stop in 30 snaps, while Elijah Campbell saw six snaps from scrimmage. At long last, Maye seems to be overtaking Poyer, with the hope that the back end of the defense can start generating some turnovers.

Special teams

• Jason Sanders drilled both of his field-goal attempts, including a 56-yarder, but for the second straight game, he did not attempt an extra point.
• Jake Bailey punted five times for a 47.6-yard average, but did not place any inside the 20-yard line and was somehow called for unsporstmanlike conduct on an onsides kick attempt. His 30-yard punt late in the first half played a big role in giving Tennessee a free field goal.
• While Miami did not have a kickoff return, Berrios did deliver a nifty 27-yard punt return.
• Bell, Riley, and Siran Neal led all Dolphins with 29 snaps apiece on special teams, and Neal, Campbell, and long-snapper Blake Ferguson contributed assisted tackles. Neal was whistled for unsportsmanlike conduct, giving Miami two penalties on special teams a week after it committed five.
• Campbell deflected a punt during the course of the game, but Riley made a poor decision by touching it, creating a live-ball situation. The ball was originally awarded to Tennessee as a fumble, but replay narrowly overturned to save the 'Fins a possession. Regardless, there was zero upside to touching the ball for Riley, making it yet another in a string of baffling and poorly coached incidents in the kicking game.

Momentum plays

• Miami held the Titans on three straight plays, but a horrific roughing-the-passer penalty on Phillips -- on a play in which he was clearly held and thrown low into the quarterback -- gave Tennessee a new set of downs. The visitors went on to convert a 2nd & 17 as well, but two plays later, Ogbah dropped back into coverage and managed to snare an interception with his knees.
• The 'Fins showed early signs of life, with Huntley hitting Waddle for 14 yards on the initial play and Hill following with a 16-yard end-around. Two players later, however, Huntley missed Hill on a backwards pass, and Miami's lack of awareness and effort gifted the ball to the Titans when officials ruled it a fumble.
• A three-and-out followed, highlighted by Tennessee quarterback Will Levis injuring his shoulder on a dive that came up short of a first down. The 'Fins quickly answered with a three-and-out of their own.
• The Titans used nine plays to go just 21 yards on the ensuing possession, but that was enough to give 60-year-old Nick Folk a chance at a successful 53-yard field goal for the game's first points.
• A roughing-the-passer penalty on Tennessee got Miami a first down, but a 4th & 1 end-around by Hill didn't gain a yard, handing the ball right back to the visitors.
• This time, the Titans used eight plays to go just 19 yards, but Folk drilled a 52-yarder to push the advantage to 6-0.
• A personal foul on Tennessee (taunting) once again started a 'Fins drive, and a Huntley scramble converted a 3rd & 11. The drive stalled, but Sanders hit from 44 to cut the lead in half, 6-3.
• The teams exchanged four punts in 14 plays (Huntley missed Hill wide open deep for an easy score in the middle of all this), but the last one was a poor 30-yarder from Bailey that set the Titans up at their own 44-yard line. Backup quarterback Mason Rudolph found Tyler Boyd for 27 yards, and a spike with one second left allowed Folk to add yet another long one to make it 9-3. The field goal was a low-key back-breaker, and the Dolphins were booed vociferously as they entered the halftime locker room.
• Two more three-and-outs followed to start the second half before Miami found a bit of traction, thanks to Berrios's 27-yard punt return. Taking over in Tennessee territory, the Dolphins traveled only 10 yards (half on a Titans' penalty), but it was enough to allow Sanders to crush a 56-yarder to trim the margin to 9-6.
• A disastrous scenario unfolded on the third play of Tennessee's following drive. The Titans were gifted a third-down conversion on a baffling pass interference call on Kohou, while Phillips left the game with a knee injury on the same play. The double-whammy seemed to energize the visitors and demoralize the home team, as Tennessee got a 41-yard run by Tony Pollard and a seven-yard touchdown jaunt from Tajae Spears on the next two plays to make it 16-6.
• After Huntley once again missed a wide-open Hill streaking for the end zone, a three-and-out that lost seven yards put the 'Fins in the danger zone, and the Titans made them pay with help from Neal's personal foul. Taking over at Miami's 44-yard line, the visitors went just 11 yards in four plays, but it was enough for yet another 50-yarder from Folk to extend the lead to 19-6. Even Tennessee fans had to be a little shocked at Folks's display by this point.
• Disaster ensued, as Miami went for it on 4th & 1, only to lose a yard on an unfathomable RPO that saw Achane try to bounce the play outside before losing yardage.
• A series of runs put Tennessee in position for another Folk field goal (29 yards) to make it 22-6, before the 'Fins showed a spark of self-respect on the following drive, traveling 70 yards on 11 plays. Huntley found Hill for 17 yards before Wright burst up the middle for 20. Back-to-back illegal shifts followed before Huntley scrambled for 20 more, then hit Waddle for 18 on a 4th & 11 play. The quarterback ran it in for a touchdown from a yard out, but the two-point conversion was no good, making the score 22-12.
• The defense held again, forcing yet another three-and-out, but Huntley was called for grounding as he was being tackled in the end zone. The Titans were awarded a safety and a 24-12 advantage.
• A confusing series of events that featured Bailey kicking the ball too far on an onsides kick attempt somehow led to Tennessee being given the ball at Miami's 10-yard line -- a scenario that no one affiliated with the NFL seemed capable of explaining. Somewhat surprisingly, instead of kneeling on the ball with 24 seconds remaining, the Titans ran it into the end zone on fourth down to make it 31-12.
• Two quick passes to Conner mercifully ran out the clock on yet another dismal Dolphins display.

2024 Schedule

Miami 20, Jacksonville 17 (1-0)

Buffalo 31, Miami 10 (1-1)

Seattle 24, Miami 3 (1-2)

Tennessee 31, Miami 12 (1-3)

Day 1,661, Quasi-Quarantine: Mendoza's Shaky Decision-Making Costs The Mets At A Suboptimal Moment

It was all out there for the New York Mets, clinging to a one-run lead (3-2) in the bottom of the eighth in Milwaukee. The Brewers had their top of the order coming up.

On the verge of advancing, manager Carlos Mendoza had a number of viable options:

• Stick with reliever Ryan Stanek, who had thrown just 11 pitches in a spotless seventh inning.
• Go to closer Edwin Diaz to face the 1-2-3 hitters before giving way to another reliever (Phil Maton?) in the bottom of the ninth.
• Go to Diaz for a six-out save (not likely considering the fireballer's recent workload).
• Go to Maton as a setup guy in the eighth inning.

Mendoza chose the final route. Maton (pitching in his fourth game in five days) imploded, giving up four hits, three runs, and two homers in a brutal inning that cost New York a trip to the next round and forced an all-or-nothing third game today.

To me, the move was always to stick with Stanek, considering how well he has thrown recently and how quickly he got through the seventh. To compound matters, it was apparent right away that Maton didn't have it, giving up a homer to the leadoff hitter, then a single, then a fortunate double play off a very hard-hit ball.

However, Mendoza ignored those signs, leaving in Maton to give up another hit and the eventual game-winning long ball.

It's been a magical season for the Mets and their rookie manager, but this felt like an avoidable mistake and one that could end the campaign.

Let's hope Mendoza and the team have enough left in the tank to regain their mojo tonight.

Let's go Metsies.

Day 1,660, Quasi-Quarantine: October Has Arrove. Queens Is Already Salvaging It.

 

• I just lost a fantasy football game after having a 98% chance to win on Monday night.
• NC State is woefully underperforming after being saddled with huge expectations (stop me if you've heard this one before).
• The Dolphins might be the worst team in the NFL.

But the Mets. 

My god, the Mets.