At the rate we’re going, you can expect the Dolphins’ practice facility to look like the outfield wall of a minor league baseball stadium before the end of summer — lined with signs and proving to be a longer read than a George R.R. Martin novel. First there was the T.N.T. (Takes No Talent!) wall, a large homage to all the little things players can do that don’t require physical talent.
When mistakes are made, players must run and visit the T.N.T. wall. And now there is a 4:1 sign.
The assumed interpretation is that the game of football is 80% mental and 20% physical — so play smart and let the chips fall where they may from there. It’s a nice sentiment, especially for a team that everyone knows is going to be handcuffed by a lack of physical talent in 2019.
This kind of messaging outlines the mentality the Dolphins will need if they’re going to out-pace the predictions that they’re going to be the worst team in all of football in 2019. It’s also consistent with what we’ve heard Brian Flores preaching for months — he wants smart, mentally tough football players who aren’t going to beat themselves.
Is that a long-term solution? It will certainly help. But the Dolphins do need more talent and they know it. Why else would the team put such a concentrated effort into allocating nearly 15 draft selections for the 2020 NFL Draft? But for now 80% mental, 20% physical is going to have to be enough.
