The Miami Dolphins remain winless following their 27-14 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 8. There is now plenty of speculation regarding whether or not head coach Brian Flores intended to keep it that way.
Flores went viral for Miami's decision to run a zero blitz on 3rd-and-20 that resulted in a 45-yard touchdown for wide receiver Diontae Johnson just before halftime. It seems he has defended the decision, via Safid Deen of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Brian Flores says he’s not second-guessing any plays. That 3rd and 20 bust was just one play of the game.
“We need to play better,” Flores says.
Despite Flores' comments, social media had a field day with solidifying the notion of the Dolphins being in full-on tank mode.
Heady move by Dolphins Coach Brian Flores: Saw that his team was about to stop the Steelers on 3rd & 20 and called timeout to make sure that didn't happen.
— Pick Six Podcast (@picksixpod) October 29, 2019
Dolphins blitz 8 on third and 20. We sure Brian Flores knows what he’s doing? pic.twitter.com/CcVKKkKg4V
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) October 29, 2019
Perhaps even more perplexing about the call was that Miami had actually taken a timeout just before that play. It appears they actually opted to change their approach coming out of the break and it led to disastrous results as the touchdown helped spark a 27-0 run in the final three quarters of the game.
Flores certainly did not do himself any favors to disregard the notion of the Dolphins tanking. They have managed to trade away the bulk of their key players in the 2019 NFL season and recently capped the movement off by dealing running back Kenyan Drake to the Arizona Cardinals ahead of the Oct. 29 deadline. It remains to be seen whether or their breakdown on primetime television will be enough for the NFL front office to address the situation.
Follow Us
Subscribe