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Miami Dolphin’s New Head Coach Brian Flores Discusses Quarterback Controversy between Ryan Fitzpatrick and Josh Rosen
Introduction
The newly acquired head coach of the Miami Dolphins, Brian Flores, has broken his silence regarding the quarterback controversy in South Beach. According to sources, Flores has made some strong comments concerning who the number one starting quarterback of the Dolphins is at the moment. Currently the veteran ball slinging journeyman from Harvard, Ryan Fitzpatrick, is leading the pack of QB’s over the second year yet to prove himself quarterback, Josh Rosen.
Fitzpatrick
From what I have heard, it seems that not only does Fitzpatrick dominate on the field, but he is the front runner as a leader in the locker room as well. His teammates have always gravitated towards him even when he is in the back up quarterback role of a new relatively new system. Either way at this juncture in the 2019 Miami Dolphin’s training camp he has earned the respect of the organization and its staff.
Rosen
As I said, back at the end of April, when the Arizona Cardinals drafted Kyler Murray out of the University of Oklahoma in the 2019 NFL Draft, that Rosen may be very well on his way out to another NFL franchise. I am pretty positive that Kyler Murray will outperform Rosen during the 2019 – 2020 NFL season. The Arizona Cardinals decided to trade him to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for a second round pick in the draft. Now he finds himself losing out on the starting quarterback position to the ever resilient Fitzpatrick.
Which Quarterback Starts the Regular Season for Miami?
My guess is that “Fitzmagic” will take the first snap of the NFL regular season for the Miami Dolphins assuming that he remains healthy throughout training camp as well as the preseason. If the crafty veteran goes down for a week or so, there is a chance Rosen or whoever the third string quarterback is to sneak into the starting QB position. We should have a good idea when reassessing this issue in a month from now.
Career Passing Statistics (Fitzpatrick)
| Year | Tm | G | GS | QBrec | Cmp | Att | Cmp% | Yds | TD | TD% | Int | Int% | Lng | Y/A | AY/A | Y/C | Y/G | Rate | QBR | Sk | 4QC | GWD |
| 2005 | STL | 4 | 3 | 0-3-0 | 76 | 135 | 56.3 | 777 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 5.9 | 56 | 5.8 | 3.7 | 10.2 | 194.3 | 58.2 | 9 | 1 | 1 | |
| 2006 | STL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 99.4 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 2007 | CIN | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||
| 2008 | CIN | 13 | 12 | 4/7/2001 | 221 | 372 | 59.4 | 1905 | 8 | 2.2 | 9 | 2.4 | 79 | 5.1 | 4.5 | 8.6 | 146.5 | 70 | 50.4 | 38 | ||
| 2009 | BUF | 10 | 8 | 4/4/2000 | 127 | 227 | 55.9 | 1422 | 9 | 4 | 10 | 4.4 | 98 | 6.3 | 5.1 | 11.2 | 142.2 | 69.7 | 35.3 | 21 | 1 | 2 |
| 2010 | BUF | 13 | 13 | 4/9/2000 | 255 | 441 | 57.8 | 3000 | 23 | 5.2 | 15 | 3.4 | 65 | 6.8 | 6.3 | 11.8 | 230.8 | 81.8 | 50.7 | 24 | 1 | 1 |
| 2011 | BUF | 16 | 16 | 6/10/2000 | 353 | 569 | 62 | 3832 | 24 | 4.2 | 23 | 4 | 60 | 6.7 | 5.8 | 10.9 | 239.5 | 79.1 | 50.5 | 22 | 2 | 2 |
| 2012 | BUF | 16 | 16 | 6/10/2000 | 306 | 505 | 60.6 | 3400 | 24 | 4.8 | 16 | 3.2 | 68 | 6.7 | 6.3 | 11.1 | 212.5 | 83.3 | 43.8 | 30 | 0 | 1 |
| 2013 | TEN | 11 | 9 | 3/6/2000 | 217 | 350 | 62 | 2454 | 14 | 4 | 12 | 3.4 | 77 | 7 | 6.3 | 11.3 | 223.1 | 82 | 57.2 | 21 | 2 | 2 |
| 2014 | HOU | 12 | 12 | 6/6/2000 | 197 | 312 | 63.1 | 2483 | 17 | 5.4 | 8 | 2.6 | 76 | 8 | 7.9 | 12.6 | 206.9 | 95.3 | 61.1 | 21 | ||
| 2015 | NYJ | 16 | 16 | 10/6/2000 | 335 | 562 | 59.6 | 3905 | 31 | 5.5 | 15 | 2.7 | 69 | 6.9 | 6.9 | 11.7 | 244.1 | 88 | 63.5 | 19 | 2 | 3 |
| 2016 | NYJ | 14 | 11 | 3/8/2000 | 228 | 403 | 56.6 | 2710 | 12 | 3 | 17 | 4.2 | 57 | 6.7 | 5.4 | 11.9 | 193.6 | 69.6 | 37.9 | 19 | ||
| 2017 | TAM | 6 | 3 | 2/1/2000 | 96 | 163 | 58.9 | 1103 | 7 | 4.3 | 3 | 1.8 | 41 | 6.8 | 6.8 | 11.5 | 183.8 | 86 | 59.7 | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| 2018 | TAM | 8 | 7 | 2/5/2000 | 164 | 246 | 66.7 | 2366 | 17 | 6.9 | 12 | 4.9 | 75 | 9.6 | 8.8 | 14.4 | 295.8 | 100.4 | 64.4 | 14 |
Career Passing Statistics (Rosen)
| Year | Tm | G | GS | QBrec | Cmp | Att | Cmp% | Yds | TD | TD% | Int | Int% | Lng | Y/A | AY/A | Y/C | Y/G | Rate | QBR | Sk | 4QC | GWD |
| 2018 | ARI | 14 | 13 | 3/10/2000 | 217 | 393 | 55.2 | 2278 | 11 | 2.8 | 14 | 3.6 | 75 | 5.8 | 4.8 | 10.5 | 162.7 | 66.7 | 26.6 | 45 | 1 | 2 |
The Miami Dolphin’s 2019 NFL Schedule
Week 1
SEP 08, 2019
1:00 PM ET
Vs. RAVENS
Week 2
SEP 15, 2019
1:00 PM ET
Vs. PATRIOTS
Week 3
SEP 22, 2019
1:00 PM ET
At COWBOYS
Week 4
SEP 29, 2019
1:00 PM ET
Vs. CHARGERS
Week 5
BYE WEEK
Week 6
OCT 13, 2019
1:00 PM ET
Vs. REDSKINS
Week 7
OCT 20, 2019
1:00 PM ET
At BILLS
Week 8
OCT 28, 2019
8:15 PM ET
At STEELERS
Week 9
NOV 03, 2019
1:00 PM ET
Vs. JETS
Week 10
NOV 10, 2019
4:05 PM ET
At COLTS
Week 11
NOV 17, 2019
1:00 PM ET
Vs. BILLS
Week 12
NOV 24, 2019
1:00 PM ET
At BROWNS
Week 13
DEC 01, 2019
1:00 PM ET
Vs. EAGLES
Week 14
DEC 08, 2019
1:00 PM ET
At JETS
Week 15
DEC 15, 2019
1:00 PM ET
At GIANTS
Week 16
DEC 22, 2019
1:00 PM ET
Vs. BENGALS
Week 17
DEC 29, 2019
1:00 PM ET
At PATRIOTS
*Predictions*
Week 1
SEP 08, 2019
1:00 PM ET
Vs. RAVENS
- Week 1, at home in the South Miami heat against Baltimore, the Dolphins have around a 49% chance of possibly winning this one, but it depends upon how well John Harbaugh game plans with what he has against what he is up against. A small possibility that Miami may start the season 1 – 0 but not very sure on this game could even end up in a rare tie.
Week 2
SEP 15, 2019
1:00 PM ET
Vs. PATRIOTS
- Week 2 playing the Patriots, the chances of winning highly diminish for Miami. I predict the fish lose 34 – 10. Good luck against Belichick and Brady even if this divisional game is at home. The Dolphins will really need to surprise New England in order to pull off a major upset here.
“I think Tom said it well a long time ago,” Belichick jokes. “Which Super Bowl ring do you like the most? The next one.”
Week 3
SEP 22, 2019
1:00 PM ET
At COWBOYS
- This is not the 70’s anymore although these two franchises along with the Pittsburgh Steelers were quite spectacular that decade. I predict the Dallas Cowboys run all over the Dolphins in Arlington, Texas with or without Zeke Elliott (depending upon him holding out). Miami 17 – Dallas 27.
Week 4
SEP 29, 2019
1:00 PM ET
Vs. CHARGERS
- I believe the Dolphins win this game by a small margin. Miami 24 – Los Angeles 21.
Week 5
BYE WEEK
- At least Miami can’t lose during their bye week.
Week 6
OCT 13, 2019
1:00 PM ET
Vs. REDSKINS
- Anyone’s game in this one. Miami 13 – Washington 14.
Week 7
OCT 20, 2019
1:00 PM ET
At BILLS
- I think the Dolphins will win this one in Buffalo, New York on the last play of the game in the remaining seconds of action. Miami 31 – Buffalo 28.
Week 8
OCT 28, 2019
8:15 PM ET
At STEELERS
- The three river steel city pulls this AFC battle out. Pittsburgh 20 – Miami 13.
Week 9
NOV 03, 2019
1:00 PM ET
Vs. JETS
- I predict another close divisional rivalry type game here. This one will be won at the line of scrimmage and on the ground in rushing. Whoever wants this one more should win. Miami 17 – Jets 20.
Week 10
NOV 10, 2019
4:05 PM ET
At COLTS
- If Andrew Luck is healthy there is no question that Indianapolis should come out victorious on this November late afternoon game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Miami 14 – Colts 30.
Week 11
NOV 17, 2019
1:00 PM ET
Vs. BILLS
- Miami 20 – Buffalo 17.
Week 12
NOV 24, 2019
1:00 PM ET
At BROWNS
- This seems like an interesting match up. I am curious to find out how good the Cleveland Browns will be at this point in the 2019 – 2020 NFL season. Miami 24 – Cleveland 27.
Week 13
DEC 01, 2019
1:00 PM ET
Vs. EAGLES
- Philadelphia flips the fish on the first day of December. Miami 7 – Eagles 20.
Week 14
DEC 08, 2019
1:00 PM ET
At JETS
- Either way 50 / 50 chance. New York 16 – Miami 19.
Week 15
DEC 15, 2019
1:00 PM ET
At GIANTS
- Another close game in played in New Jersey for the second week in a row. New York “Football” Giants 16 – Dolphins 14.
Week 16
DEC 22, 2019
1:00 PM ET
Vs. BENGALS
- Miami beats those Bengals in their last home game of the year. Dolphins 13 – Cincinnati 10.
Week 17
DEC 29, 2019
1:00 PM ET
At PATRIOTS
- Dolphins finish their season with a gritty win in Foxboro, Massachusetts. Patriots are looking forward to another playoff run as they play in the weakest division in the National Football League. New England 21 – Miami 30.
*Overall Miami Dolphins Regular Season Record 6-10 (7-9 at best).
Media Statements from Dolphin’s Camp
"It's pretty clear to me that Ryan Fitzpatrick is leading the way," Flores explained. "He's done that in a lot of areas, from leadership to production on the field to the meeting rooms to the walk-throughs. This is an ongoing competition, but right now he's leading the way."
"He's been more productive, and at the end of the day that's what it comes down to," says Flores. "He runs the offense very efficiently. He has great rapport with the entire team. He has a lot of leadership ability, and we need that to continue. We need him to grow in that role."
"I never take these opportunities for granted," exclaimed Fitzpatrick.
"I would say it's just a bigger and better challenge to fight," Rosen stated. "I would much rather compete against the best guy that I can because if I beat him, I know I'm that good, and if I don't, I've got someone to learn from and build with, and he's been awesome with me and helping me out."
"It's still a competition. Every day is a competition. I think they all know that, but as we stand today, I think Ryan has done a really good job," says Flores. "Hopefully he continues to improve and is consistent and that will help this team for sure."
Sources:
“Fins coach tabs Fitzpatrick leader in QB battle”, Cameron Wolfe, espn.com, July 30, 2019.
“Miami Dolphins 2019 Schedule”, nfl.com, July 30, 2019.
“New England Patriots' Bill Belichick drops Tom Brady line about favorite Super Bowl ring”, Ryan Gaydos, nfl.com, July 30, 2019.
“Ryan Fitzpatrick”, pro-football-reference.com, July 30, 2019.
“Josh Rosen”, pro-football-reference.com, July 30, 2019.