PhinPhAndrew

Miami has running backs who are speed/outside guys, not power/inside guys. They have an offensive line that can't pass protect longer than 2 seconds and can't block for a downhill/inside run game. They have TEs who can block but not be a threat in the pass game. They have WRs who are speed threats, but god help us if you try and throw them a fade. And yes, they have a QB who isn't allowed to play hero ball anymore because of the concussion history, and who is both speed and arm limited in scramble situations. This is all so specific, the opposite of versatile, and so the way to make it all work was similarly specific with many precise moving parts, like a Swiss-made clock. It was an impressive display of engineering when everything was in working order. But it was like a speed skater who couldn't be beat when the ice is smooth and goes into full face plant when the ice has the smallest imperfection. And you know where those imperfections show up? On the road. Crowd noise interferes with your communication and choreography. Sub-zero temperatures interfere with...everything. Different playing surfaces, equipment malfunction, etc. Even the plane flight, you have a guy who looks like he's going to play this week but when he gets off the flight his ankle is the size of a grapefruit and now you're missing a guy who was planned for on the install. Then you account for how the establishment of this hyper-specific approach early in the season leaves you trapped into it later in the season, even as you come across smart-coached teams who have played against you multiple times on the year. Miami needs to quiet the turmoil to the extent that is reasonably possible. That starts with the QB-C exchange. It starts with putting together a HEALTHIER roster and not just accepting that so-and-so will play maybe 60% of your snaps and that's fine. But they also need to put together more inherent versatility from a personnel standpoint. The offensive line is a versatility multiplier. Miami went into the year saying we're not as worried about it as you all are, and it turned out they had some reasons for that. But at the end of the day, it was an issue.