By A to Z Sports,Kyle Crabbs

Copyright yardbarker

“On this play the #2 WR to that side MUST inside release to HOLD OFF the MLB or this play has little chance! Vs C3 the corner is dead bc it’s running to the CB, the only chance this play has is off the OSLB to the right side who covers the flat & Tua throws this about as quick as he can! They do nothing to slow the MLB down – who is the biggest problem in this play – and then everyone blames TUA,” wrote Warner. Conner is one of the organization’s long-term pet projects under McDaniel’s tenure. He’s been called upon amid the delayed start for tight end Darren Waller (another issue all together) and has struggled to make positive contributions to the game. Whether or not Conner received the coaching points needed to properly space this concept or not is unknown. But poor awareness on route landmarks has busted up a number of Miami’s passing plays this season — going all the way up the ladder to Tyreek Hill. Conner, by the way, is playing because Miami’s high-risk, high-reward pivot off of tight end Jonnu Smith, Darren Waller, has been missing in action the first three weeks of the season. And then there’s the offensive line element — Daniel Brunskill is the team’s third choice to play at right guard. He came into this game cold in the second half after the Dolphins benched Kion Smith, a tackle who the team has cross-trained at guard. And Brunskill lost his rep on this play badly. Rookie defensive tackle Deone Walker actually does get his forearm on the ball, slightly pushing the trajectory of the ball into the middle of the field and back to Bernard. Miami, of course, has dealt with crippling offensive line injuries throughout the course of the McDaniel tenure. And by the end of Week 1, the entire right side of the offensive line was on injured reserve. By the end of Week 3, a third choice at right guard was in the game.

All of the issues thus far don’t even touch on the two men at the helm — Tagovailoa and McDaniel. Miami, facing 1st & 10 with three minutes left, was averaging over five yards per carry in this contest. With three minutes left and Josh Allen looming on the other sideline, it is very easy to look back in hindsight and wish for a run. That’s been an all-too-common theme for McDaniel, a former run-game coordinator. Miami had a chance to execute this possession just as they did the end of the first half — milk the clock, force the Bills to use timeouts if they wanted to, and then score late before deciding if they wanted to try to go for the win or not. McDaniel instead chose to put the ball in Tagovailoa’s hands instead of a 1st & 10 run. And Tagovailoa, for his part, did not confirm the flow of the zone defender before throwing the ball. He discussed after the game that his feeling within the timing of the play that it was the right decision. “I thought I was in rhythm and timing of the play, seeing the flat defender go over the top of Jaylen (Waddle), Jaylen is turning around. I think that was a really good play by the defender, had some color in my face trying to maneuver the throw as well. Ten out of ten times, if we’re looking at that same thing, I think I’d still try to work that timing of hitting that spot, and I think that the linebacker made a great play on that,” said Tagovailoa.

This is the downside of a timing-based offense. Because Tagovailoa is, by the letter of the law, correct that the timing of the concept dictates the ball coming out. But without confirming the presence of the MIKE or the influence of the No. 2 receiver to that side (Tanner Conner), it no longer becomes the right thing to do. ESPECIALLY with color in your face. It was 1st & 10. Miami easily could have lived to fight another down. But that’s not how Tagovailoa plays the position when he’s at his best. And hence, when forced to decided whether to force the issue within the construct of the play or work outside of the structure of the design, Tagovailoa’s results have been too inconsistent. And it once again popped up at the wrong place at the wrong time on Thursday. So for those keeping score at home, Tagovailoa’s blind faith in his play design and lack of ability to consistently win outside of structure (and choose when to work outside of structure) was a part of the failings in the deciding play of the game. So, too, was the decision to lean into a 1st & 10 pass despite averaging 5.2 yards per carry on the night while trying to manage an end-game sequence and keep the reigning MVP on the sideline. So was the early pressure conceded due to what equates to a third-string guard playing in the third game of the season due to injury luck and the pass protection. And, per Warner’s insights, some potentially key attention to detail may have been missing by Tanner Conner. Conner, for three weeks now, has shown he is out of place in his ability to contribute to winning football hurt you, too — but yet he continues to get chances and play on the deciding play of the game because he knows the offense and the high-risk vet brought in for the role isn’t ready to play. All the things that drive you nuts about Miami. All at once.

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