Red Zone Success Paving The Way For Miami Dolphins

I can remember back to the peak of the Dolphins mediocrity just like it was yesterday.

It was a December game in Oakland.  Chad Henne at the helm and Tony Sparano manning the sidelines, sunglasses and all.

These 2010 Miami Dolphins were 5-5 at the time.  They were led by a strong defense, a mediocre head coach, an average offense, and a below average quarterback.

Or, in other words, every Miami Dolphins team since 2000.

This was no more evident than in the fourth quarter of this game.  With Miami up by six, Chad Henne and the offense stalled inside Oakland territory, forcing Sparano to send out then kicker Dan Carpenter for a 25 yard field goal.

Carpenter would make it, and put the Dolphins up by nine with four minutes to play.

Enter Tony Sparano, or, as I've since called him, Tony Fistpump.

Take a look:

And that, right there, sums up the last decade of Miami Dolphins football.

"Fist Pumps and Field Goals:  The Story Of The 2000-2012 Miami Dolphins."

But not anymore.  This 3-0 start has signaled the beginning of a new era for the Miami Dolphins.  You see it on the sidelines with Joe Philbin, and you see it behind center with Ryan Tannehill.

However, there's somewhere else you see it as well:

The Red Zone.

Too good to be true, right?  Wrong.  Here's a stat that may make you question everything you've ever thought you believed:

The Miami Dolphins are FIRST in the NFL in red zone efficiency, scoring a touchdown 87.5% of the time.  To put that in perspective, the 2012 Dolphins scored touchdowns in the red zone 55% of the time.

Those 2010, fist pumping Dolphins?  52% of the time.

Just for good measure, I'll give you one more stat.  The New England Patriots, yes, those New England Patriots, are dead last in this category.  Tom Terrific and his band of misfits have only punched it in a shocking 30% of the time.

Do I think the Dolphins will keep up this ridiculous pace?  Absolutely not.  In-fact, since 2003, only a handful of teams have finished a season over 70%, with the highest being the 2003 Kansas City Chiefs at 76%.  However, in a society driven by the present and the "right now," you can't ignore what this team has done in their first three games.

Scoring touchdowns in the red zone is something Joe Philbin preached in the offseason, and it appears his players got the message loud and clear.

Starting with a Daniel Thomas touchdown in Cleveland to put Miami up by ten in the fourth quarter, and continuing with Ryan Tannehill's game winner on Sunday, it's evident that this team is different than that one in Oakland three years ago.

And this 3-0 start is a DIRECT reflection of that.

I expect this number to fall eventually, maybe even this Monday.  But even when it does, the message that it's sent will still be loud and clear:

Touchdowns win football games, field goals do not.  Just ask Ryan Tannehill.

"If you kick a lot of field goals, you’re giving up four points at a time. [That's] the way we look at it."

A quote that would make Tony Fistpump shudder.

My, how times have changed.