At two separate entrances to the Miami Dolphins’ locker room at their follow facility, there are three crew guidelines posted on the partitions.
No. 1 is “Protect the team.” No. 2 is “No excuses.” No. 3: “Be on time.”
Between 2 and three, in white lettering that stands out amid the grey that surrounds it, is an added rule — the Dolphins’ first modification, if you’ll, to their crew guidelines.
“Adversity is opportunity,” it reads.
The Dolphins are on a four-game shedding streak, have misplaced their beginning quarterback to a second recognized concussion this season and have a number of different gamers monitoring accidents earlier than two closing divisional video games that may decide their playoff destiny.
Now, greater than ever, this mantra might come to the forefront for this crew.
“You got to be careful what you wish for, apparently,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel mentioned jokingly in regards to the slogan established throughout the crew within the offseason.
Maybe he didn’t want this a lot adversity — coming off the franchise’s first winless December with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa out and left sort out Terron Armstead, cornerback Xavien Howard and outdoors linebacker Bradley Chubb amongst Pro Bowl abilities which can be questionable for Sunday.
But it’s how the Dolphins cope with it that may assist decide if Miami both clinches this Sunday (with a win and a New York Jets loss in Seattle), heads right into a winner-take-all matchup with the Jets for the AFC’s closing wild-card spot (with Dolphins and Jets wins) or must beat New York in a Week 18 finale, plus get assist from a New England loss in Buffalo (with a loss to the Patriots).
“It happens in varying degrees,” McDaniel continued. “It’s wonderful what occurs while you have a look at issues in hindsight and the way usually you possibly can say, ‘Wow, because of that, it really led to this.’ So, we’re within the midst of that. It’s been that manner for what has been the month of December, and you discover out so much about individuals.
“You find out a lot about your team that you’re working with, the players in the locker room, the coaches. That’s where you can’t hide. Your true colors show, and I’ve seen a team that has really, diligently attacked the adversity by working through it. We had one of our favorite weeks of practice. The locker room is very tight and pushing forward, so I feel excited about seeing what they can do together on Sunday.”
Dolphins gamers really feel like they’ve taken that strategy all through the season, whether or not it’s been shedding Tagovailoa for the primary time to concussion, which brought about him to overlook two and a half video games, having key defensive contributors like security Brandon Jones, defensive finish Emmanuel Ogbah or cornerback Nik Needham go down for the season or continually shuffling the offensive line.
Undrafted rookie cornerback Kader Kohou’s alternative this yr, with 13 video games performed and 11 begins getting into Sunday, has come about by his and his unit’s dealing with of adversity. The Dolphins haven’t had Byron Jones all season at cornerback. Needham was misplaced for the yr with an Achilles tendon tear. Kohou and Keion Crossen have missed time. Trill Williams’ season ended within the preseason.
“It’s nothing new,” mentioned Kohou, whose locker is closest to at least one finish of the room close to signage. “Mike all the time appears to evangelise that type of stuff. We’re already type of used to it, so no matter adversity comes our manner, we simply keep in mind that quote.
“That’s just something people should have in everyday life. Not just about football. Adversity is a chance for you to prove yourself. You just persevere.”
Veteran linebacker Elandon Roberts expressed how he turns adversity into alternative in fewer phrases.
“Just got to focus on New England,” he mentioned twice in response to questions on the topic.
Sunday — and presumably the finale in opposition to the Jets — is a chance for veteran quarterback and Miami native Teddy Bridgewater to doubtlessly carry his hometown crew into its first playoff berth in six years.
“The NFL is all about ‘what do you do right now?’” offensive coordinator Frank Smith mentioned. “It’s a great moment for us, at this point in the season, especially with things not going our way the last couple of weeks.”
Could it’s a chance for tight finish Mike Gesicki to rise from the ashes after a stretch of his lowest utilization in his profession? Gesicki had two of his 4 landing catches this season come on passes from Bridgewater within the Dolphins’ fourth quarter in opposition to the Minnesota Vikings on Oct. 16.
“There’s definitely some chemistry there between me and him,” Gesicki mentioned. “I think Teddy’s just an easy guy to play with. He kind of sees things before they happen, understands the game. I think, for me, as a player, I kind of play the same way. If I see space, I’m going to run to it. I’m not going to just run to get covered.”
If the Dolphins can overcome this degree of adversity and qualify for the postseason, it might bode nicely for his or her possibilities to drag off an upset or two on the highway within the playoffs — just like the San Francisco 49ers of final season that had McDaniel as an offensive coordinator. If this crew can rise to the problem, then it can miss the playoffs and we’ll by no means know.
Ultimately, McDaniel has religion due to what he sees from his gamers within the locker room.
“These relationships are real,” the Dolphins coach mentioned, “and they feel convicted to fight for this team.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com