Mike Wallace: Don't blame Bill Lazor, 'we have to execute better'
Bottom line: WR Mike Wallace says the team needs to play better, never mind a report of a growing rift between players and first-year offensive coordinator Bill Lazor.
By
Ryan Wilson
•
1 min read
On Wednesday, the day before the Dolphins beat the Bills, NFL.com's Jeff Darlington reported a growing rift between Dolphins players and first-year offensive coordinator Bill Lazor. A day later, wide receiver Mike Wallace said that Lazor isn't to blame for the offense's shortcomings.
“We keep leaving touchdowns on the field week after week, after week. Same story,” Wallace said, via the Sun-Sentinel.com's Omar Kelly. “Coach (Lazor) is calling good plays, getting us in good positions, and we have to execute better. We keep doing it every week.
"We sit up here and question coach about this, question coach about that, but coach can’t get us in the end zone. He’s not the person on the field. We’re the players. We have to do it," Wallace said. "(Converting) 2-of-6? You might be able to get to the playoffs like that, but you’re not going to win anything like that.
“You have to win one game at a time to get there (to the playoffs), but you don’t want to just get there. If you get there you want to do something. At (2-of-6) you’re not going to do nothing," Wallace continued. "Scoring in the red zone isn’t coaches fault. It’s our fault. He’s calling good plays in the red zone. We’ve just got to execute it."
According to Darlington, who had conversations with four unnamed Dolphins players, "(Lazor's) abrasive tenor with several starters has worn thin on some, and an inconsistent identity on offense is internally magnifying the issue."
Here's the reality: Third-year quarterback Ryan Tannehill ranks 18th in total value among all passers, according to Football Outsiders, up from 26th last season. That's progress. He's also thrown 17 touchdowns against 7 interceptions, with a 65.4 completion percentage. In 2013, Tannehill had 24 TDs, 17 INTs and completed 60.4 percent of his throws. Again, progress.
Overall, the offense ranks 13th (13th in passing, 8th in rushing), up from 18th (20th pass, 18th run) a season ago. And at 6-4, the Dolphins are in the mix for a wild-card spot. Put another way: Winning fixes a lot and quiets critics.
