The Miami Dolphins were strong contenders for a playoff spot for much of the 2014 season, but losing four of their final six games dropped them out of playoff contention and saddled them with a perfectly mediocre .500 record. In a look at what went wrong, Omar Kelly of the Sun-Sentinel reports that tension between players and coaches was a constant throughout the 2014 season, and a number of players cited those issues when explaining how the Dolphins' season went south:
"It wasn't the players. We had talent on this roster," said one prominent starter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
That hints the Dolphins didn't maximize their potential in 2014 because of coaching. However, the anonymous player wouldn't come out and say that, pointing to the team's fourth-quarter losses against the Packers, Lions and Broncos as examples where the players dropped the ball, figuratively and literally.
But he did admit "there's clearly leadership issues" within the Dolphins, who are bringing Philbin back for another season.
Free agent Jimmy Wilson specifically listed communication issues when detailing what went wrong:
"The last six games I honestly don't know where it went wrong," said nickel cornerback Jimmy Wilson, another free agent. "A couple of tough losses shocked the team and we didn't finish the way we were supposed to.
"Coaches and players have to come together and communicate better," Wilson said. "We have to figure out what's going to get players to be at their best on game day."
Wilson was specifically referring to the team's practice schedule, which made Monday the player's day off. Most players preferred the 2013 season's practice schedule, which made Thursday the day off, and left their legs fresher.
Shortly after the 2014 season came to a close, Miami's front office announced the team would retain head coach Joe Philbin, who is now 23-25 in three seasons with the team. The move met with a very mixed response from the Dolphins faithful.
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