MIAMI GARDENS — It’s been a weird week in Dolphinsland. We saw some things we haven’t typically seen. And Sunday’s 45-21 butt-kicking at the hands of the Cincinnati Bengals, a game in which the Miami Dolphins were outscored, 28-7, in the second half, goes right along with everything else we’ve seen the past six days or so, and the past six months or so.
You wonder how long this vibe is going to last. I think it’s here for the next two weeks. It’s all been a bit strange.
Start with seeing demoted, former franchise quarterback Tua Tagovailoa serving as the scout team QB in practice. Scout team is usually reserved for the third-team quarterback. The scout team guys are the backups that emulate the opponent in practice so that the starters, in this case the starting defense, is prepared. Tua was emulating Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow in practice last week.
“Yeah, that’s weird,” left tackle Patrick Paul said.
In reality, the weirdness of the past week in Dolphinsland has been symbolic of a weird year for Miami in general.
The Dolphins fired former general manager Chris Grier in November. It’s rare that NFL teams part ways with their GM in the middle of a season.
Going a step further, Sunday’s loss to the Bengals ensured the Dolphins (6-9) of a second consecutive losing season, something that hasn’t happened since 2018-19, the heart of the teardown/rebuild.
There was a sideline scene of linebacker Jordyn Brooks having a heated discussion with defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver. That’s a bizarre snapshot from two emotional yet level-headed men.
Also, the Dolphins entered Sunday’s game having already been eliminated from the playoff race, something that hasn’t happened this early in the previous three seasons of the coach Mike McDaniel era.
“This year’s been crazy,” right tackle Austin Jackson said. “I don’t even know what to say about this year. It’s been crazy. It’s just been a lot of things outside of our norm. I don’t know what it is, but a lot of things are different.”
Here’s something else that’s bizarre: it appears McDaniel, who has a 34-32 (.515) regular-season record, is returning for next season despite embodying the status quo/mediocrity, something owner Steve Ross said wouldn’t be accepted.
Nothing makes sense in this organization right now.
The usually convivial postgame locker room cleared out in record time Sunday. Interim general manager Champ Kelly and Brandon Shore, the salary capologist whose official title is vice president of football and business administration, were there, as usual. But Ross, who attended the game, wasn’t visible, which is different.
Guys such as cornerback Jack Jones, who gladly talks after every game, win or lose, scurried out while politely declining interviews.
Others, such as center Aaron Brewer, who are always around to offer insightful comments, win or lose, got out very quietly without comment.
On the sideline Tua was holding a white grease board and writing plays as a backup system in case rookie starter Quinn Ewers didn’t get the play-call in his helmet communication system. Again, that’s the job of the No. 3 quarterback. And, yes, it’s weird saying Tua is the No. 3 QB.
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The breaking point for the Dolphins on Sunday, a team that rarely gives up, came after wide receiver Theo Wease was called for pass interference, negating a 33-yard reception by running back De’Von Achane.
“In football, adversity is going to strike and it did tonight a few times,” Ewers said. “I thought we learned kind of who we are when adversity strikes and I thought we did a good job putting that series together where we went down there and scored (on a 97-yard drive) and made it (to) 21 points.”
McDaniel, without meaning to do so, disagreed. He thought tackling went downhill after that penalty.
“The biggest thing is the guys need to respond the way they’ve responded all year to situations that aren’t ideal,” he said.
The Dolphins have been good at responding to situations that aren’t ideal. We’ll see if that happens in the next two weeks when the Dolphins host Tampa Bay (7-8) and visit New England.
I’m guessing there’s a good chance that it doesn’t happen, that this team uncharacteristically says, “Screw it.”
For this team it’d be a weird reaction to adversity, but it’s been that type of season.
