Miami Dolphins Monday musings; Cam Wake update; Ireland extended?

Still can't get over that thrilling, come from behind, last minute win yesterday by your 3-0 Miami Dolphins?

Neither can I.  And you know what, the more I've thought about it, the more impressed I am.

Lets muse:

• This was a game we've all seen before.  This was a game former coach Tony Sparano would have LOVED.  Chew up the clock, win the time of possession battle, and win the game, right?  Wrong.  This is EXACTLY why time of possession is the BIGGEST fraud of a stat in the NFL. I can remember back four years ago to a Monday night game against Indianapolis.  The Fins would dominate the TOP battle (something along the lines of 45-15 in favor of Miami), but still end up losing!  After the game Tony Sparano was shocked that his team lost.  Complete and utter disbelief.  This is a different team, folks, with a different head coach, and a different QB.  To win that game yesterday, even after losing nearly every statistical battle, was eye opening.
• Want to know why the Dolphins are 3-0 today?  Here it is in one neat sentence:  The Dolphins are outscoring opponents in the second half 41-16.  
• Well, that and Ryan Tannehill.  This kid has arrived, and he's here to stay for a long, long time.  13 plays, 75 yards, and a game winning TD pass.  3/3 on third downs during that drive.  9-12 passing on that drive.  He was poised, accurate, and smart.  He even suggested the eventual game winning TD play to OC Mike Sherman, who agreed with the call.  There should be absolutely NO doubt about it anymore:  Ryan Tannehill is your franchise QB, and he belongs in the same sentence with Andrew Luck (who he just beat), Russell Wilson (who he beat last year), and RGIII (who currently sits at 0-3).  
• How about the players who stepped up yesterday?  Dion Jordan, Derrick Shelby, Jimmy Wilson, Dion Sims, Michael Egnew, Rishard Matthews. Those are the players who helped you BEAT the Atlanta Falcons.  Yes, you read them right.  You want to talk about developing young players, just look at yesterday's contributors.  Joe Philbin loves to use the term "team win."  Well, that was a team win if I've ever seen one.  Kudos to the Fins coaching staff.
• As much as I loved Davone Bess, you're beginning to see just how much he was holding back the Miami Dolphins.  Brandon Gibson has been tremendous this season, especially in yards after the catch.  That's something Bess couldn't do, and that's why Gibson is a HUGE upgrade.
• Lamar Miller and Daniel Thomas continue to run the ball better, but the offense still needs more production out of them.
• Especially in the pass blocking game.  Ryan Tannehill took ANOTHER beating yesterday, getting sacked five times.  Some of it was the offensive line, some of it was Tannehill, but a big part of it was the poor blocking from Miller and Thomas.  This is something Miami must fix QUICKLY, especially with Rob Ryan looming.
• Paul Soliai just got A LOT more expensive, folks.  The pro bowl DT did not play yesterday with a lingering knee injury, and his absence was EXTREMELY noticeable.  Atlanta ran all over the Miami Dolphins, something I did not expect.  The defense allowed 146 yards on the ground, and a 4.9 average, to Jason Snelling and Jacquizz Rodgers.  Yikes.  This defense needs the big man back, and they need him back now.
• Another issue this defense had yesterday was tackling.  I'd need an extra hand to count how many tackles this unit missed yesterday.  I can assure you that this will be a major point of focus at practice this week.
• If ever the Miami Dolphins needed Dimitri Patterson to come back, it's this week against the Saints.  Nolan Carroll was picked apart yesterday by Matt Ryan, which led to a huge day for Julio Jones.  Carroll is just to inconsistent to start in this league, and you can bet that if I know that, so does Drew Brees.
• Quote of the day?  Owner Stephen Ross:  "We got a damn good football team."  Maybe, maybe not.  But how can you argue against that TODAY?

WAKE UPDATE

Jason La Canfora tweeted this just minutes ago:  

"More good news for Dolphins fans, the team learned today its a mild MCL sprain for star Cameron Wake, who hurt his knee Sunday"

"Dolphins will monitor Wake this week, could miss some practice time and decide his playing status late in week. good news overall for them."

Wake missed most of the game yesterday and was not happy after the game.  He's never been hurt in his four year career, but it looks like he'll be okay here.  I'd be surprised if he didn't play on Monday night.

IRELAND EXTENDED

This came out of left field.  A report came out earlier today saying that embattled GM Jeff Ireland has been extended through next season.  That's not the most surprising thing, however.  The report goes on to say that Ireland was actually extended sometime over the summer.  

How this was kept quiet I'll never know, but I guess if it's going to be leaked it might as well happen today, no?  This resigning looks great right now, as all of Ireland's offseason work has clearly paid off.  But I'll hold off opinion until January.  I advise you to do the same.