For those Miami Dolphins fans who haven't yet pushed the panic button, you might as well slap that thing like you were one of the judges on The Voice ready to turn around your chair. 

Because the Dolphins might have just belted out the first few notes of their 2024 swan song on Monday Night Football against the Tennessee Titans, which Miami dropped 31-12. 

It was another ugly performance for the Dolphins, who dropped their third straight game by at least 17 points.  It marked the third straight week the Dolphins had failed to reach a meager 13 points on the scoreboard.  It also marked the third straight game with a different starting quarterback, this time Tyler Huntley, who couldn't do much of anything either until the game was in its dying embers and effectively out of reach. 

But it's not just a stagnant offense to blame.  It's hard to point to just one reason why Miami has been so uncompetitive over the last three weeks, and that's because there's not just one reason.  In reality, there's plenty of blame to go around.  

And, unfortunately, much of it is baked into what the team did – or rather didn't do – over the offseason.  And that was fortify both lines of scrimmage with quality additions as well as sign a veteran QB2 who's worth a darn. 

Addressing the QB2 issue, the Dolphins could have really used a player like Joe Flacco or Andy Dalton right now on this roster.  With the pieces in place, just league-average QB play should be enough to get Mike McDaniel's offense moving.  

An obvious 2023 issue wasn't adequately addressed

Well, hold up, that is if the Dolphins' offensive line could get a consistent push in the running game.  Which, of course, they couldn't and haven't been able to do.  The Titans' defensive line dominated the Dolphins' front in the trenches, providing yet another example of a quality defensive front being able to manhandle Miami's expensive and underwhelming offensive line. 

The free agency signing of Aaron Brewer at center was a good one, but it simply wasn't enough.  Robert Hunt was never staying, obviously. But bringing back Robert Jones and Isaiah Wynn should have been a move for your reserve spots, not starting ones. 

When the opportunities were there to perhaps secure some young talent on the interior of their offensive line, Miami decided instead it would be more fun to draft another running back and two wide receivers.  You might not find Jon Runyan in the later rounds of the draft, but you can surely try to find some linemen with upside who you could work to mold and develop.  That surely didn't happen. 

Defensive tackle acquisitions haven't stacked up

And on the defensive line, Miami signed a whole lot of free agent defensive tackles during the offseason.  None of them dudes though.  None of them can hold a candle to the shadow of Christian Wilkins.  It's just a collection of replacement-level players, none of whom have been able to make much of an impact.  Benito Jones, Jonathan Harris, Neville Gallimore, and others are some names that Miami brought in.   

That's been evident on the field, as evidenced by a healthy 4.5 yards per carry allowed coming into Monday night.  Then, to add insult to injury, a tired defense finally gave in the second half, holes opening time and again, as Tennessee RBs Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears both found the end zone. 

Like the other side of the ball, no interior defensive linemen were taken in the draft by the Dolphins.  I keep mentioning the draft because I get that the Dolphins were cap strapped.  They did what they could, signed players that they thought could help them.  I do get their limitations (self-created, but still).  That's why not trying to take some chances in the draft to help their lines of scrimmage in favor of picking up some more toys on offense is nothing short of baffling to me. 

No QB competition was a big mistake

And you think this team would love to have a Flacco right now? A Dalton? Someone who can make basic throws with timing and accuracy? The Dolphins would have a solid chance at winning that game against Tennessee with the level of quarterback play the Panthers and Colts have gotten in recent weeks from that duo.  

Instead, the Dolphins are left picking up the pieces of a flat-out embarrassing loss while having to scramble for a solution over the next two weeks until Tua Tagovailoa is eligible to return from injured reserve.  And that's because their plan of doing nothing to create competition and improvement to their quarterback room this offseason left them with the same two underwhelming options from last season.  

Special teams has been anything but that

Special teams is becoming a disaster as well.  Jake Bailey's shank punt helped Tennessee sneak to the halftime locker room with 3 more points. A Duke Riley blunder where he tried to touch a bouncing punt was almost an early disaster (was called a fumble but overturned after review, lucky for Riley). A whopping FIVE special teams penalties last week again Seattle backed up drives.  It's just not a smooth unit right now. 

But, again, it's become all too obvious that this roster hasn't improved from 2023.  In fact, it's gotten worse.  Miami is looking all too much like a team who's about to go from one of the league's better teams to one of its worst.  From the penthouse (or close to it) to the outhouse.  

And for the investments Chris Grier made in McDaniel's offensive system and his quarterback, that's something that simply can't happen.  

So, yes, Dolphins fans.  It's time to panic.  Because there's nowhere else to turn.  There are no options left to make this team better in the trenches.  

Grier had his chances to do something about that.  Unfortunately, he didn't. And it's turned out to be a very sad song for the aqua and orange faithful.