Omar Kelly: Dolphins grades and stock up, stock down for loss to Titans

The 2021 play revealed that the Miami Dolphins are much pretenders than contenders.

Miami (8-8) showed it tin bushed immoderate of the NFL’s mid-tier teams, but erstwhile it comes to playoff contenders — Buffalo, Tampa Bay, Tennessee — the Dolphins displayed they person excessively galore flaws to propulsion retired wins against prime opponents.

The mode Miami got dismantled by the Titans, who are closing successful connected the No. 1 effect successful the AFC playoffs, shows that this franchise is acold from being a Super Bowl contender.

Here is the South Florida Sun Sentinel’s study card, evaluating however the Dolphins performed connected Sunday:

Passing Game: F

Tua Tagovailoa played his worst crippled of the play erstwhile his squad needed him to beryllium astatine his best. The upwind conditions didn’t help, but there’s nary excuse for his 3 fumbles, and the 1 interception. Two different imaginable interceptions were dropped. Tagovailoa came into the crippled with the NFL’s highest completion percent and missed 20 passes. He was besides sacked 4 times and finished the crippled with conscionable a 53.1 passer rating. Tagovailoa needs to respond with a beardown show against the Patriots to springiness this franchise immoderate anticipation for the future.

Running Game: C

The Dolphins gained 51 of their 74 rushing yards successful the archetypal half, and lone attempted 5 carries successful the 2nd fractional due to the fact that of a 14-point shortage that yet grew to 21 successful the 3rd quarter. The 3rd 4th lone featured 1 possession for the Dolphins. Myles Gaskin had 2 carries (gaining 9 yards) connected that drive, which ended with Jason Sanders missing a 53-yard tract goal. So it’s hard to reason that Miami should person continued rushing the shot due to the fact that of the team’s 4.6 yards-per-carry mean due to the fact that that doesn’t instrumentality into relationship the circumstances of the game.

Defending the pass: D

Ryan Tannehill wasn’t stellar contempt his awesome 127.1 walk rating, but helium was efficient. He completed 13 of 18 attempts, throwing for 120 yards. But 2 of those passes were touchdowns. He was lone sacked once, and that came precocious successful the crippled connected a thrust that had nary power connected the game’s outcome. The Dolphins were ineffective applying unit to Tannehill due to the fact that of his mobility and the Titans monolithic violative line, which stonewalled Miami’s antiaircraft linemen.

Defending the run: F

The Dolphins made D’Onta Foreman look similar an All-Pro backmost due to the fact that of the 132 rushing yards and 1 touchdown helium recorded connected 26 carries. It didn’t assistance that Dontrell Hillard gained different 45 rushing yards and scored a touchdown connected 8 carries erstwhile the crippled was already decided. It was wide that Tennessee targeted wrong linebacker Elandon Roberts, and erstwhile helium was blocked, Miami’s tally defence crumbled. It’s a bully happening there’s lone 1 crippled near due to the fact that this was a blueprint different teams would physique connected to onslaught the Dolphins.

Special teams: F

Every facet of the Dolphins’ peculiar teams failed connected Sunday. Michael Palardy’s punts were short, debased and casual to field. His struggles contributed to the Titans winning the tract presumption battle. Miami’s instrumentality crippled was ineffective again, which has been the lawsuit each season. And Jason Sanders missed a 53-yard tract extremity successful the 3rd quarter, which could person helped Miami physique immoderate momentum aft trailing by 14 points. It’s wide that Danny Crossman’s portion needs a monolithic makeover this offseason, considering it has struggled each season.

Coaching: F

The discourtesy produced conscionable 256 full yards, which is the third-worst violative output of the season. The Dolphins person had 8 games this play wherever the discourtesy had gained less than 300 yards, which hints that Miami needs amended coaches connected that broadside of the ball. Defensive coordinator Josh Boyer failed to make the benignant of unit that makes Ryan Tannehill uncomfortable, and that’s disappointing considering the Titans lone had 1 unsafe walk catcher connected the field. Tannehill entered the crippled arsenic the NFL’s second-most sacked quarterback.

Stock up

Duke Johnson started his 3rd consecutive crippled and led Miami with 49 yards connected 7 attempts. He besides caught 2 passes for 16 yards. The erstwhile University of Miami standout has stepped to the forefront of Miami’s struggling rushing attack, and is averaging 4.6 yards connected 46 carries. In 4 games, he’s already go 2nd connected the squad successful rushing and has established himself arsenic 1 of Miami’s astir accordant violative weapons. The Dolphins request to powerfully see re-signing him this offseason.

Stock down

In a crippled wherever Tennessee enactment each their absorption into stopping Jaylen Waddle, it was disappointing to spot DeVante Parker not emergence to the occasion. Considering Miami threw a season-high 13 passes his way, it was disappointing to ticker Miami’s 2020 receptions person lend conscionable 4 receptions for 46 yards. Even though the crippled conditions were horrible, and 1 captious walk interference telephone was missed connected a play wherever Parker’s limb was wrapped by a antiaircraft back, bully players radiance successful these moments. The Dolphins request to springiness superior information to whether they privation to support Parker moving forward.