Dolphins Notebook: Coach Joe Philbin stressing ball security
Miami Dolphins coach Joe Philbin has no problem understanding how the surprising St. Louis Rams have won three of their first five games.
“I think they're ahead in the turnover margin, I believe,” Philbin said. “They're not a highly penalized team. They're playing well. They're a well-coached team and they're certainly getting better as the year's gone on and it's evident on the film. The film (against Arizona) was their best defensive performance of the year.”
Philbin will try to preach ball security as the Dolphins (2-3) host the Rams (3-2) on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET at Sun Life Stadium. So far, the team has listened.
Not surprisingly, rookie QB Ryan Tannehill hasn't thrown an interception in the team's two wins. The rookie has amassed six interceptions in three defeats. And Philbin expects his first-year signal caller to continue to make good decisions this weekend.
“Sometimes he's so controlled that you (say), ‘Come on, let's go, get going, get moving,' but he's kind of got things in his brain clicking along,” Philbin said. “He knows how to function how he functions best and, like I said, he doesn't seem to let a lot of things bother him.”
No blackout: Miami fans in South Florida don't have to worry about heading to a local bar or friend's house to watch the Dolphins.
The team has sold enough tickets to guarantee the game won't be a blackout, ensuring it will be carried in local markets on WSVN-TV, WFTX-TV, and WFLX-TV. The league stipulates home games for teams must sell a certain number of tickets in order to gain broadcast rights in the established market.
Better to receive: Receiver Jabar Gaffney is set to make his debut with the Dolphins.
The recently-signed free agent was inactive for last week's 17-13 win over the Bengals as he continued to learn the offense, but he's expected to bolster a beleaguered receiving unit against the Rams. Gaffney is coming off a career season with the Redskins but was unable to land a roster spot before the Dolphins cut WR Legedu Naanee .
“I'm still learning the offense, and they didn't want me messing up,” Gaffney told the Palm Beach Post. “So they gave me the extra week to hone in and I expect to play Sunday.”
His new coach isn't quite as optimistic.
“Part of it is getting through the terminology barrier,” Philbin said. “Part of it is learning the concepts themselves. Football's football. It's not all that much different, but still there's a little bit. He's working hard at it, staying after practice. We'll see how he progresses.”
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