Before most video games, the workforce coach visits Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel after pre-game exercises to report which injured gamers can be found. Not Sunday. Not earlier than this pivotal sport with this costly listing of gamers.
General supervisor Chris Grier went to his coach with this report.
“This time was pretty ominous,” McDaniel stated.
Left deal with Terron Armstead, out.
Edge rusher Bradley Chubb, out.
Cornerback Xavien Howard, out.
“Oh-for-three,” McDaniel stated.
You can begin wherever with the Dolphins’ 23-21 loss to New England. You can begin with the 2 interceptions by Dolphins quarterbacks Teddy Bridgewater and Skylar Thompson that modified the day. You can begin with the protection that received no turnovers and ranks thirtieth in that division.
You can surprise how a workforce that began 8-3 and was thought of a high contender has seen its star fall with 5 consecutive losses to the purpose they’re hoping the regular-season finale subsequent Sunday will even supply the prospect to earn a playoff berth.
Or you may say this intersection of gamers with damage histories and this late-season sport at all times got here with warning indicators. Crossing your fingers isn’t a plan. But that was a big a part of the Dolphins dangerous structure contemplating how Grier constructed this roster.
Throw in quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who was out with a concussion, and the Dolphins didn’t simply have unhealthy luck that 4 of their high eight gamers have been out within the pivotal sport of the season. They had dicey planning that allow unhealthy luck got here into play.
“I’m sure it’s up there,” McDaniel stated when requested if this was probably the most starters he’d misplaced earlier than a giant sport. “I don’t really look at it in that way just because I trust he players that we have in the locker room, and we’ve won plenty of games with guys rising to the occasion and stepping in for starters that weren’t available.”
Sure, it’s unhealthy kind to speak damage after a loss. Every workforce will get damage. The solely situation with the Dolphins is the gamers you feared would get damage due to their portfolios did so on the identical time.
Armstead, the muse of this offensive line, was signed final offseason to a $75 million deal regardless of lacking a median of 5 video games a 12 months. Chubb was traded for and given a $120 million deal regardless of lacking most of two of his 5 seasons with accidents (and, sure, I pounded the desk for that commerce).
Howard sidestepped knee issues that have been points for a number of years — properly, till Sunday. Maybe that’s simply unhealthy timing. It occurs in soccer. Everyone will get damage. The ones who’re damage typically get damage extra, too.
Tagovailoa got here out of faculty with a surgically repaired hip, had a pair accidents his first two NFL seasons and was out with one other concussion on Sunday so Bridgewater began.
Bridgewater regarded superb, too, till his 18th go was intercepted and returned for a landing as he damage his hand. In got here his alternative, Thompson, a rookie who threw one other interception.
“Just missed the throw,” Thompson stated. “Those are the worst ones because they’re in your control.”
Thompson has proven superb kind to develop this season, however the seventh-round choose could possibly be the beginning quarterback subsequent week with the season on the road towards New York Jets. That’s if New England loses to Buffalo and makes the Dolphins sport significant.
The Dolphins (8-8) didn’t simply lose a fifth sport in a row Sunday. They misplaced management of their playoff destiny. And, no, having all 4 of these high gamers on the sector wouldn’t assure a win contemplating they have been on the sector the earlier 4 weeks.
But you need your finest gamers on the market with the season on the road. You need Armstead there as an alternative of Kendall Lamm, who was signed to the observe squad in November. You need Chubb to assist a go rush that did sack Patriots quarterback Mac Jones thrice but additionally noticed him look comfy.
You want Howard at cornerback so Jones doesn’t choose on a standout particular teamer like Keion Crossen being placed on an island at cornerback. Or the protection has to depend on struggling Noah Igbinoghene.
Here’s the purpose: Any of those injured gamers’ abilities are price a roll of the cube as you construct. But all of them? It will get to the Bill Parcells’ line, “If you make exceptions, you’ll have a team of exceptions.”
Look, “injury prone,” isn’t a tag to throw on anybody. You see gamers get damage on a regular basis, then get wholesome. You see gamers with a nasty knee or a concussion situation go on and have wholesome careers.
But do you throw the best draft picks and largest {dollars} after these gamers? Maybe one. Maybe two. Maybe you noticed the issue when unhealthy historical past mixes with unhealthy luck.
Grier advised McDaniel earlier than the sport they have been 0-for-3. They’ve now misplaced management of their season. The Dolphins go to the finale questioning who will play quarterback or, much more after Sunday, whether or not their sport will even matter within the playoff chase.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com
