Miami Dolphins

Adam Gase's 12 Steps to Rehabilitating the Dolphins: Step 11

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Miami Dolphins are hoping that Adam Gase can mold the team into a playoff contender. The road to get there is not a matter of one big leap, but rather, a series of small steps.

With the regular season upon us, and the first wave of Adam Gase’s changes in place, it is time to take a look at how the rookie head coach hopes to piece together all the parts of his plan to produce a winning season in Miami. In order to do this, we will take a look at various aspects of the Dolphins attack and attempt to gauge how those different facets will blend into a single offensive philosophy.

As such, what follows is a compilation of observations based on the changes Gase has implemented, as well as trends in his coaching history. Additionally, some sections include 2016 projections for individual players based on the manner in which Gase structured his offenses while serving as offensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos and Chicago Bears.

Coaching, Game Plans and Play Calling

Landry End Around

FakeBlockSlipAngle2

PlayActionJarvisPlay.gif

Image result for isaiah pead Gif

Gase’s Goal: In short, Gase has taken it upon himself to build up his players, and through the application of innovative play calling and offensive schemes, create mismatches put them in the best position to win.

Ryan Tannehill

Image result for kenny stills gif

GreatTimingGreatExecution.gif

Gase’s Goal: Gase was hired to elevate Tannehill’s game to elite status. He is doing this through the following steps:

Tannehill’s Career Statistics and 2016 Projection

Year	Att	Comp	Comp %	Yds	Avg	TDs	INTs	20+	40+	Sacks	Rating
2012	484	282	58.3	3294	5.8	12	13	40	3	35	76.1
2013	588	355	60.4	3913	6.7	24	17	46	10	58	81.7
2014	590	392	66.4	4045	6.9	27	12	41	4	46	92.8
2015	586	363	61.9	4208	7.2	24	12	57	13	45	88.7
2016 Proj.	560	358	64.0	4480	8.0	32	10	65	14	35	100.2

The Offensive Line

Gase’s Goal: To make the unit stronger and more versatile in order to adapt to whatever adversities the game throws their way.

The Passing Game

EasyFlyGOOD.gif

Image result for jakeem grant dolphins GIF

Image result for jakeem grant dolphins GIF

OutTE.gif

Gase’s Goal: To stack the team with elite deep threats and possession receivers alike so as to attack defenses across every part of the field in order to create and exploit mismatches.

2016 Receiving Projections

Player	Rec	Tgts	Yds	TDs
D. Parker	55	97	1003	5
J. Landry	76	108	882	5
K. Stills	47	78	848	7
L. Carroo	27	39	336	3
J. Cameron	31	55	324	3
K. Drake	25	35	242	3
J. Hunter	17	28	223	1
J. Grant	20	29	213	2
A. Foster	18	27	135	1
M. Gray	13	20	91	1
J Ajayi	13	20	85	1
I. Pead	7	10	57	0
D. Williams	6	9	31	0
D. Sims	3	5	10	0
	358	560	4480	32

The Running Game

Considering the late breaking news that Jay Ajayi was not permitted to travel with the team to Seattle for the season opener, it became necessary to add some additional notes and perspective here before proceeding with the general points, particularly considering that this incident is a major setback for both the Dolphins and Ajayi’s career.

According to reports coming out of Miami, Gase left Ajayi behind due to his unprofessional reaction to Arian Foster being named the starting back. The truth is, Ajayi has no one to blame but himself for Foster’s ascension, as was made clear in a report by Mike Garafalo on NFL.com.

“But along the way, according to a team source and another person informed of Ajayi’s status with the team, Ajayi didn’t respond to the challenge Foster’s arrival presented. The Dolphins’ coaches wanted to see Ajayi dig in, work hard and force the team to keep him in the top spot while Foster — who signed in July — complemented him. Instead, they saw Ajayi sulk and struggle through a subpar preseason,” reported Garafalo.

Over a month ago, in Step 3 of my series, Adam Gase’s 12 Steps to Rehabilitating the Dolphins, I indicated Gase’s intentions to use Foster as a complimentary back, given his age and injury history. Nevertheless, dropped passes, a crucial fumble, and worse still, a poor attitude during preseason cost Ajayi the starting job.

Image result for jay ajayi gif dolphins

Even so, many still expected the younger RB to eventually win back the #1 spot, interpreting his demotion as a character building decision. This interpretation of events was at least partially due to the fact that, while neither Ajayi nor Foster were impressive during the preseason, as a runner, Ajayi easily outdistanced the seasoned veteran, finishing the preseason with 18 carries for 49 yards, or 2.7 yards per run. In contrast, Foster managed a meager 5 yards on 7 carries, which translates into a paltry 0.7 yards per carry. Be that as it may, for reasons that are now obvious, Foster’s professionalism won out.

Unlike Laremy Tunsil, who showed maturity and grasped that Gase was actually helping him by forcing him to earn his spot among the starters, Ajayi has responded to his coach’s challenge in the worst way possible. Not only did he under-performing on the field, but he failed the character test as well. Now, only time will tell if he can regroup and make amends to his coaches and teammates, or if he will even get the chance to do so.

With the uncertainty surrounding Ajayi’s future, the Dolphins find themselves in a very precarious situation. To put it simply, their backfield is comprised of injury prone veterans, unproven youngsters, and an immature could-have-been who may well be on his way out.

Image result for Kenyan drake gif

Image result for arian foster gif

Gase’s Goal: In the absence of a single dominant workhorse, to keep defenses of balance with a stable of versatile backs who can run, catch and protect the quarterback in equal measure.

2016 Running Back Projections

Player	Att	Yds	Avg	TDs
K. Drake	145	638	4.4	7
J. Ajayi	96	344	3.6	4
A. Foster	84	311	3.7	2
R. Tannehill	45	248	5.5	1
I. Pead	42	168	4.0	1
J. Grant	15	80	5.3	0
D. Williams	17	49	2.9	1
J. Landry	3	20	6.7	0
L. Carroo	1	6	6.0	0
	448	1864	4.1	16

The Finished Product

So what should emerge when all these individual factors and possibilities come together? Simply put, the Dolphins will attempt to tire out opposing defenses early in games by using an unpredictable passing attack and the “No Huddle” offense. Then, in the second half, they will look to finish off their weary rivals with a persistent, if not spectacular, running game designed to eat up the clock.

If the plan comes together as Gase envisions, the Dolphins could compete for a playoff berth this season, but they are almost surely lacking the necessary personnel in key positions to become instantaneous contenders. That said,if Gase can accomplish the primary job he was brought in to do….help Ryan Tannehill achieve elite quarterback status…..anything is possible.

To that end, if the men in aqua and orange can somehow pull off the upset in Seattle, then, travel to New England and defeat a Tom Brady-less Patriots’ squad, who is to say they can’t build on that momentum and make their first serious charge of the 21st century?

To read step 10 in this series, click here.

To read step 9 in this series, click here.

To read step 8 in this series, click here.

To read step 7 in this series, click here.

To read step 6 in this series, click here.

To read step 5 in this series, click here.

To read step 4 in this series, click here.

To read Step 3 in this series, click here.

To read Step 2 in this series, click here.

To read Step 1 in this series, click here.