NFL

Miami Dolphins need a change at OC, but team’s dysfunction extends beyond play-calling

Published

3 years ago

October 4, 2021

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Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores once fired a brand new offensive line coach the first week of training camp. So when he knows something’s wrong, he’s not one to sit on his hands.

Which means changes could — and probably should — be coming after four very ugly weeks for Miami. The Dolphins lost for the third straight time Sunday, 27-17 to the Indianapolis Colts, because they can’t move the ball, and they can’t score.

Miami Dolphins’ season on the brink at 1-3

The offense’s sickness is now infecting the entire franchise, with at least one key starter who’s in the prime of his career mulling if he even wants to play beyond this season. Not for the Dolphins. Football in general.

“I think we have to take a look at everything,” Flores Sunday said after his team gained all of 203 yards and 13 first downs.

“We will take a look at everything, but I would say it’s really across the board. Offense, defense, special teams starts with me, coaching. I got to do a better job. I know I say that every week.

“I don’t want to come up here and say that every week, but I got to do a better job of figuring out a way to help us play better than that. But we also got to play better, and we’re out there taking turns making mistakes in all three phases, and it’s not enough. It’s not good enough.”

If Flores is indeed committed to looking at everything, he should start with who’s calling the plays on offense.

Unfortunately, we don’t know exactly who deserves blame because Flores won’t tell us who calls those plays. George Godsey, the team’s tight ends coach in 2020, and Eric Studesville, a career position coach, share the offensive coordinator title. But Bill Belichick and Jon Gruden have both said bluntly that Godsey is calling the plays, so we’ll believe them.

Perhaps Sunday’s showing against the Colts will be enough for Flores to make a switch and give Studesville — or even quarterbacks coach Charlie Frye — a crack at it. It can’t be any worse than what we’ve seen the last three weeks.

Sunday was brutal. But it wasn’t anything new. The Dolphins in Week 2 were shut out by the Bills — and lost their quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, to a rib injury in the process — and had 7 points from their offense through 51 minutes in Week 3.

“Really hard to watch,” Dolphins Hall of Famer Larry Csonka tweeted while Miami’s Week 3 loss to the Raiders was in progress. “#Dolphins have so many weaknesses.”

Deshaun Watson to Dolphins trade brewing?

Offensive play-calling is one of those weaknesses. Opposing players since Week 1 have privately marveled at how rudimentary Miami’s system is. Yes, Jacoby Brissett — who started his second straight game Sunday and has needed 119 passing attempts to manage 583 passing yards — is an inferior player to Tagovailoa. But it’s not like Tua was exactly lighting it up before he got hurt. Tua’s QBR this season is a garish 22.5 after an ugly 44.8 rating as a rookie.

Here’s the part of the column where we bring up the name Deshaun Watson. The Dolphins remain very much interested in the Houston Texans quarterback. However, they aren’t yet willing to part with what the Texans say it will take to acquire him. Will that change after Sunday’s loss? Perhaps. But it would be a sign of desperation.

Now, back to the players actually on the roster. The offensive line is one of the league’s worst despite GM Chris Grier using a ton of draft capital on the position in the last three years. Their running backs scare no one. Yet, there are weapons on the outside. Jaylen Waddle, Mike Gesicki, Will Fuller, and DeVante Parker all have big-play ability. They just have not been put in a position to make big plays.

Waddle’s usage has been embarrassing. Keep in mind he was one of college football’s most dynamic players, and the Dolphins used two first-round selections to take him No. 6 overall. And yet, he’s averaging 8 yards per catch through four NFL games. And even that figure is skewed by one 36-yard play.

Miami’s offense hasn’t been explosive in decades, but they’ve been more than competent in the recent past. The offense absolutely hummed in comparison when Ryan Fitzpatrick was under center last year. The Dolphins have been lifeless the last two weeks until they’re in a rally mode. Why not open the offense up sooner?

Godsey and Studesville are the Dolphins’ third and fourth offensive coordinators in three years. Flores fired longtime friend Chad O’Shea after one season. Chan Gailey quit after 12 months after Flores — who can be tough to work for and doesn’t have a ton of connections outside of the Patriots’ coaching tree — talked him into coming out of retirement. The Dolphins conducted a real search for Gailey’s replacement but decided that the combination of Godsey and Studesville was the right way forward.

After yet another ugly day on offense, it would be strange if he isn’t having second thoughts.

The fallout from the 1-3 start

Flores cannot afford to wait too long to get this figured out. Stephen Ross fired Adam Gase and Mike Tannenbaum three years into a reclamation process. It’s Year 3 of the Miami Dolphins’ latest rebuild, and there’s an argument to be made that the franchise is in worse shape now than it was then.

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Taylor Swift Is Shown Chugging a Beer on the Jumbotron at Super Bowl 58

Published

2 months ago

February 12, 2024

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Global superstar Taylor Swift made it to the big game to support her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce. In the second quarter, it was evident that she was having a good time at the Super Bowl after taking a 12-hour flight from Tokyo the night prior.

Taylor Swift Seen Chugging Beer at Super Bowl

Swift’s attendance has been highly anticipated, as many fans questioned whether she would be able to make it to the big game since she had been in Japan until Saturday for her Eras Tour.

Sure enough, she made it to the Super Bowl and was seen making a grand entrance alongside Blake Lively and Ice Spice.

Swift made it back to the States with plenty of time to make it to Allegiant Stadium to support Kelce. After a leg of her Eras Tour, where she performed several nights in Japan, the singer appeared to let loose.

In a box full of friends, Swift was shown chugging a beer with Ashley Avignone. She was shown on the jumbotron and slammed her cup down after she finished her beer.

Legend 😂 pic.twitter.com/hk27JTAXZ9

— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) February 12, 2024

There was a mix of cheers and boos as Swift was shown on the big screen, and a long pass to Mecole Hardman was the only highlight of the first half for Swift and her friends. The 49ers led the Chiefs, 10-0, late in the second quarter.

On social media, Swift garnered plenty of support from NFL fans.

“If you’re hating on her you can kick rocks man she’s the best,” one user posted on X.

“The one thing I learned this season is that she is actually fun,” another said.

“Booing Taylor Swift chugging a beer is so soft. She’s just one of us now and I respect it ,” another posted.

At the time of the beer chugging, Kelce, Taylor Swift’s boyfriend, has had one catch for a single yard. It came on the first possession, which ended up being a three-and-out. The Kansas City Chiefs hadn’t done much otherwise.

They did have a deep pass play to Hardman, which put them in the red zone, but Isiah Pacheco fumbled on the very next play — one that Kelce was surprisingly on the sideline for.

Swift and Kelce have garnered much media attention as their romance has taken off throughout this NFL season.

Swift was able to support her boyfriend at many of his games throughout the final stretch of the season, as her Eras Tour was on a break. But starting on Feb. 7, she went back on the road.

MORE: NFL World Reacts to Unbelievable Super Bowl Trick Play

Despite performing in Tokyo the night before the Super Bowl, she was able to make it in time to support her boyfriend due to the time difference and is having a good time doing so.

As the 2023 NFL season comes to a close, the 2024 NFL Draft is on the horizon. Pro Football Network has you covered with everything from team draft needs to the Top 100 prospects available. Plus, fire up PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator to put yourself in the general manager’s seat and make all the calls!

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Listen to the PFN Fantasy Podcast! Click the embedded player below to listen, or you can find the PFN Fantasy Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms. Be sure to subscribe and leave us a five-star review! Rather watch instead? Check out the PFN Fantasy Podcast on our Fantasy YouTube channel.

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What Happened to the 49ers Linebacker?

Published

2 months ago

February 12, 2024

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The San Francisco 49ers sustained a massive blow during the second quarter of Super Bowl 58, as linebacker Dre Greenlaw left the game on a medical cart.

CBS Sports confirmed that the veteran Greenlaw suffered an Achilles tear, ruling him out for the rest of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

What Happened to Dre Greenlaw?

The outside linebacker, who had already been battling past injuries to his hamstrings and calves, left with what appeared to be a leg injury.

And somehow, his left leg looked like it buckled as he tried to trot onto the field with the Niners’ defense.

#49ers LB Dre Greenlaw appeared to suffer an injury while running on the field.

pic.twitter.com/zx0l1NjTew

— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) February 12, 2024

Greenlaw clutched his left leg in agony before being helped off the field.

CBS Sports sideline reporter Evan Washburn reported that the outside linebacker left with what was ruled as a lower leg injury. He was later determined to sustain an Achilles injury.

Greenlaw was declared out for the rest of the game.

#49ers LB Dre Greenlaw (Achilles) is now officially out for the game.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 12, 2024

Greenlaw Carted Off in Passenger Seat

Even more noticeable was where Greenlaw sat on the cart.

He ended up leaving not in the back of the medical vehicle but ended up riding shotgun with his leg injury.

He can’t sit in the back? pic.twitter.com/9jpz0rdoF1

— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) February 12, 2024

One would think that with an injury like an Achilles ailment, medical officials would try to make the player as comfortable as possible before they leave. It wasn’t the case here.

MORE: San Francisco 49ers Depth Chart

Regardless, Greenlaw was replaced by Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles for the rest of the first half. Greenlaw became the most significant injury of the game.

As the 2023 NFL season comes to a close, the 2024 NFL Draft is on the horizon. Pro Football Network has you covered with everything from team draft needs to the Top 100 prospects available. Plus, fire up PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator to put yourself in the general manager’s seat and make all the calls!

Listen to the PFN Fantasy Podcast

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NFL World Reacts to Epic Super Bowl Intro From CBS

Published

2 months ago

February 12, 2024

darragh

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Super Bowl 58 is here and it’s going to be exciting. The San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs are facing off in the final game of 2023.

CBS is broadcasting the game and the opening was nothing short of amazing. How is the NFL world reacting to the electric Super Bowl-opening video?

Epic CBS Super Bowl Intro Garners Reaction From NFL World

The video, which spanned four minutes and 19 seconds, featured players from both teams talking about the big game and what it means to them. It also featured their families talking about their journeys to this point.

“Amazing intro! Reminds me of my dad! Bravo on the intro!,” one NFL fan said on X (formerly known as Twitter)

And now, the end is near.

And so, the @49ers and @Chiefs face that final curtain. pic.twitter.com/YgIEGOAMb1

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) February 11, 2024

Additionally, Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” played in the background, giving it a near-movie feel. “This was incredible.,” another person said on X. “And so, the @49ers and @Chiefs face that final curtain,” CBS Sports said.

The 49ers finished the regular season as the top seed in the NFC with a 12-5 record. After their first-round bye, they defeated both the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions to earn their trip to Las Vegas for the Super Bowl. Both of their victories came in comeback fashion, including an NFC Championship-record 17-point comeback.

The Chiefs, on the other hand, had a more uphill battle. Entering the playoffs as the AFC’s third seed, they finished the regular season with an 11-6 record. In the playoffs, they defeated the Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, and Baltimore Ravens to punch their ticket.

Super Bowl 58 is a re-match of Super Bowl 54 when the Chiefs defeated the 49ers 31-24. The win was the first in Patrick Mahomes career, as he also won Super Bowl MVP. Four years later, the Chiefs have made three more and won another. For the 49ers, this is their first trip back to the big game since.

The game kicked off at 6:30 p.m. ET with the 49ers receiving the opening kick. In addition to being broadcast on CBS, the game is also being streamed on Paramount+.