Miami Dolphins: Breaking Bad

In the past two decades, the Miami Dolphins have been historically bad. Despite the two seasons where they surprised the league and made the playoffs, those seasons proved to be a fluke and they reverted back to their old ways. Season after season, the hype train gets fans amped up, but eventually that train derails. So how is this season any different?

How is new head coach Brian Flores and company handling things different?

So far the one major part that Flores has pointed out in his press conferences is decisions made as a whole. Speaking on the quarterback competition, coach pointed out that he and GM Chris Grier have had multiple discussions on who the team’s starting quarterback should be. The same was pointed when it comes to trade talks with long-standing veterans. While this may be nothing new in the NFL world, too often than not, coaches like Adam Gase and his predecessors have had complete control of the team and trades.

Doesn’t it only make sense that the people evaluate the talent have more of an open opinion on who they’re bringing in and sending out? If Chris Grier has complete control of scouting and Flores is in charge of development why wouldn’t they have constant open communication and the player’s rise and fall make sense? In the past, the Miami Dolphins seemed like they’d go into drafts with stats on the brain. They draft based on where they ranked last season and not what they’ve developed.

Flores and Grier seem to have more of an understanding of what they can develop than what they need. They’re changing the culture by changing their outlook. With a stockpile of draft picks going into next season, with 20 million in cap space despite being towards the top in dead money, and money to throw around next year the Dolphins finally seem like they’re building past right now. They seem like they’re more of a collection of ideas rather than a demand for progress.

If the Miami Dolphins want to get this franchise back on track, they need a unified front. Not just a coach barking orders, but unified direction on what the team needs and what they need to do to develop. 2019 might be a long season for the Miami Dolphins but at least it doesn’t feel like they’re force-feeding their false promises.