Miami Dolphins
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NFL Team Column |
Davis and Williams, Highlight Some Of The Positives For Miami In ‘09
When the Miami Dolphins selected cornerback, Vontae Davis with their first overall pick, some experts wondered if they made a terrible decision. Davis was labeled a “diva”. None of that mattered to General Manager Jeff Ireland or Bill Parcells. They went ahead with their plans and drafted the young cornerback from Illinois.
Davis proved the so-called experts, wrong. His play over the year surprised me. All the talk of being called lazy and having a bad work ethic were greatly exaggerated. Davis finished with four interceptions and one touchdown.
Earlier in the season, Davis was having a tough time adjusting to the defensive schemes Miami was using. It took him a little more time to understand it. By week four he showed us how talented he is. He recorded his first interception and first touchdown in the NFL.
What impressed me the most was his resilience. Week after week NFL quarterbacks were targeting Vontae. Take for instance in week thirteen against the Patriots. Earlier in the game Davis was victimized by long td pass to Randy Moss. Late in the game, Patriot QB Tom Brady threw a fade for Moss in the end zone. Most of the time Moss comes down with that pass. On this play, Davis had him blanketed and made a spectacular play. He muscled Moss out of the way and pulled in the pass.
Plays like that remind me of the days when Miami had two of the best corners in the league in Sam Madison and Patrick Surtain. Time will tell if Davis turns out to be as good as them both.
When talking about RB Ricky Williams you instantly think team MVP. When Ronnie Brown was lost for the year everyone feared that Ricky Williams would not be able to carry the offense or be able to handle the work load.
Once again, we were proven wrong. Williams showed why he is a constant pro. He rushed for his first 1,000 yard season since 2005. His 13 TD’s ranked him fifth in the NFL. Ricky even contributed with 35 catches.
Williams has said on a few occasions that 2010 will be his last. I hope he will reconsider this. Without the contributions of Ricky Williams in 2009, I doubt Miami would of been lucky enough to win more then five games.
Safety Yeremiah Bell seems to be like that old train that just doesn’t give up. Bell who was ridiculed in the early weeks of the year for poor pass coverage, managed to turn it around and lead the Dolphins with 114 tackles. Bell also did manage to finish second on the team with three interceptions.
It was announced that Bell would be playing in his first pro bowl the other day. Well, If there is anyone who deserved it on this team, it was Yeremiah Bell.
Defensive end Randy Starks had a rejuvenated season for Miami. Last year some had wondered if Starks would ever reach his potential. In his first season with Miami, Starks only managed three sacks. This year was a complete break thru for him. Starks finished with a career high seven sacks. It’s anyone’s guess how many sacks Starks might contribute next season but it goes without saying, his best may be yet to come.
Rookie wide receiver Brian Hartline came to the Dolphins with less fanfare then Vontae Davis. He was penciled in as a good special teams player when he was drafted. To me the pick of Hartline was a wasted pick. In the previous round, Miami had went ahead and selected wide receiver Patrick Turner. So basically as you can imagine a lot of us were confused why he was drafted.
Boy were we wrong. Hartline proved otherwise. His doubters and haters all had to eat their crow. Finally all his hard work paid off. Brian was moved into the starting lineup in week seven.
Brian wasn’t the fastest wide out on the team but his skill for running precise, crisp routes earned him praise. Brian quickly showed corners why he belonged in the NFL. He quickly become a favorite target of quarterback Chad Henne. Brian was the team’s leader in receiving touchdowns, with three. It would seem that the future of Brian Hartline is brighter then we all thought.
Miami’s Safety Trouble Should be Fixed In-House
There were many shortcomings on the roster of the 2009 Miami Dolphins, but no area on the field was as big of a debacle as the Keystone Cops safety spot. Yeremiah Bell, Miami’s strong safety, was so bad in coverage that he was usually removed from the game on obvious passing downs, replaced by the hardly intimidating Tyrone Culver. Free safety Gibril Wilson was spared the indignity of being benched on the game’s most important down, but he was the whipping boy of opposing QB’s and Dolphin fans alike all year long, and he was a major reason for Miami’s pass defense being amongst the worst in the league. Obviously, Miami will have to upgrade at the safety position before they can challenge many of the league’s better teams. But rather than scouring free agency or the draft for a solution, I believe Miami should look to bolster the position with players already on the roster.
Option 1
Chris Clemons. The ex-Clemson Tiger will be entering his second season with Miami and mainly for financial reasons, he will probably be the favorite entering the off-season work outs & training camp. I say financial reasons because Wilson (5 yrs 27.5 million) has a much bigger contract, and Clemons (4 years 1.9 million) did absolutely nothing on the field to deserve the job on a merit based scale. Clemons saw extensive playing time twice this year, when Wilson was benched for Jets game in Week 8, and in the season finale vs. Pittsburgh. I didn’t see him make any plays, I saw no big tackles, pass deflections, or even near misses. For a guy with elite speed for a safety, Clemons never seemed to be around the ball, and he was torched for two touchdowns vs. the Steelers in Week 17. Perhaps another year to get acclimated to the pro game will help him. If Clemons is anywhere near as effective as Wilson, which isn’t saying much, he’ll have an inside track on the starting gig because he works for about a 1/10 of the price that Wilson does, and last I checked the NFL was still a business.
Option 2
Will Allen. In my view, this is the most intriguing option. In the same year that Miami drafted two corners in the first two rounds, Will Allen struggled in coverage and then tore his ACL vs. New Orleans and missed most of the season. Even if Allen returns at 100% of his former self, which is doubtful at his age (32 in August), he is unlikely to regain his role as a starting cornerback because that would retard the growth of one Miami’s younger players, Vontae Davis or Sean Smith. Allen could either serve as the highest paid nickel corner in the league this side of Ellis Hobbs, or he could move into the starter’s role at FS and perhaps extend his career by a few years in the process. At 5’10, 195, Allen doesn’t have the size you would typically want in a safety, but he’s one of the better tackling corners in the league, and I don’t think he’d be a liability physically. Many corners have moved to FS towards the end of their playing time, most notably Rod Woodson, I think Miami should take a long look at Allen as a FS.
Option 3
Jason Allen. Entering the final year of your contract whilst buried on the depth chart is hardly an enviable position to be in. Allen played reasonably well as a FS in 2007 and if I were him I’d be in the coaching staff’s ear asking for a return to safety early and often in 2010. Barring injury, Allen has little chance seeing significant action as a corner so his only chance of showing he deserves a new contract may be to move to FS and play well there. He’d have to beat out Clemons and perhaps Wilson for playing time, but he stands a better chance of doing that than he does passing Davis, Smith or Will Allen as a corner.
Option 4
Sean Smith. At 6’3 214, Smith has the size to play safety, he was an All-Conference FS in his last year at Utah, but he lacks the temperament and physicality needed for the position at the pro level. Sean’s tackle attempts look more like hugs than hits, he’s perfectly willing to loiter in the general vicinity of the play rather than stick his nose in the pile and make a hit. That being said, I believe that with proper coaching, Smith could be an eraser in pass coverage. Sean has good speed for a safety, fluid hips, long arms, good leaping ability, and tremendous ball skills. He could erase half the field in a cover 2, the middle third in a Cover 3, he can slide down to cover a WR/TE when the team is blitzing, and I’d even trust him in a single high look. Miami’s penchant for wanting physical players, coupled with Sean’s youth and inexperience might make this the least likely of the options, but it’s hard not to wonder how #24 would look roaming the depths of Miami’s secondary.
Option 5
Gibril Wilson. Wilson is due 3.85 million plus workout incentives for the 2010 season, so unless there is a drastic improvement in his play, I’d expect Miami to move on just as the Raiders did last season. Keeping him as a back up and/or special teams guy is not an option.
One of the underlying reasons why one of the above options makes more sense than an outside solution is that Miami has many other holes to fill. ILB, OLB, NT, WR, & TE are all areas of need, and it’ll be impossible to fill them all in one off season. If Miami can nab ILB Karlos Dansby or OLB Elvis Dumervil it would take a lot of pressure off of their scouting/drafting team come April and cutting Joey Porter and Wilson should clear up the cap space needed to sign one of the two with room to spare. Alabama senior ILB Rolando McClain is already a fan favorite in Miami, but I have my reservations. From what I’ve seen, McLain is an arm tackler who would rather go around blockers than go through them, and that’s not what I want in an ILB.
WR Dez Bryant is an intriguing possibility at pick #12, a better prospect than any of the 4 WRs who went in the first round last year, and possibly the piece that turns Miami’s offense into the pick your poison juggernaut that I believe they can be with the addition of a couple of receiving threats. The Dolphins are closer to having an elite offense than they are to having an elite defense, so I’m inclined to hope they go offense early in the draft. Either way, I think the safety position should be put on the back burner while in house remedies are given heavy consideration.
What Went Wrong For Miami In ‘09?
There were a few reasons why things didn’t go as planned for the fish. For starters, the play of the defense was horrendous. The two areas that need to be addressed this coming off season, are the secondary and linebackers.
Which unit was worse is anybody’s guess at this point. Both units were horrible and both could use some improvement.
Let’s start with the secondary. After giving safety Gibril Wilson a hefty new contract, Miami coaches and fans watched in horror every week as Wilson was toasted in coverage. I must admit I was more then happy to have him on board this year. After watching his play in ‘09, I wouldn’t be shocked to see Wilson cut.
Rookie cornerback Sean Smith will earn a pass this year, based partly on the learning curve for rookies playing the cornerback position in the NFL. With that said, he must improve his tackling. The thought of moving Smith to safety frightens me on many levels.
Miami would be better off drafting a new safety or just give Chris Clemons a shot at winning the job in training camp.
One major overhaul job must be done with the linebackers this upcoming season. It starts with Joey Porter. I love Porter just as much as anyone but I think with his age (33) and rumored bad attitude in the locker room, it might be wise to part with him. Porter really never showed up in big games this season. In his last six games, Porter only managed two sacks. For a guy that is suppose to be the leader of the defense, his numbers don’t reflect it.
Akin Ayodele is just another linebacker who might have played his last game as a Dolphin. Ayodele is a nice player but for a team like Miami, that lacks playmakers at the LB spot, Ayodele is expendable. Ayodele is slow and doesn’t warrant the opportunity to play for Miami next year.
For the horrible play of the defense, Paul Pasqualoni was fired. After two years as defensive coordinator, I can’t say that I am sorry to see him go. To me his defensive schemes were too passive. As I write this, news has just come in that Mike Nolan who had resigned his duties as defensive coordinator position in Denver less then 24 hours ago, has been hired to become the new defensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins. We can talk more about this hiring, next week. Finally some good news to smile about.
On the offensive side of things, things weren’t much better. Running back Ronnie Brown was injured half way through the season. The loss of Brown had a crippling effect on the entire offense. The wildcat package was no more. Brown was having an all-pro year to make matters worse.
Quarterback Chad Pennington was knocked out for the season in week three. The injury might have hurt the Dolphins chances at making the playoffs in ’09 but it also could have been a blessing in disguise. The injury permitted Chad Henne to get some much needed experience and playing time. The plan all along was to make Henne, the starter in 2010.
Now going into 2010, the Dolphins do so with a quarterback who has faced NFL caliber defenses and knows what to expect.
Even thou I Haven’t written a column in over two months, I cannot stop criticizing Ted Ginn. I think it would be prudent to move Teddy Ginn and do it now. One team that I know could use Ginn and would trade for him is the Ravens.
How do I know this, you might ask. Well let’s look at the factors shall we. For starters, the coach that drafted him, Cam Cameron is in his second year as offensive coordinator in Baltimore and we all know how much Cameron loves Ginn and his family. Number two, the Ravens are having all sorts of receiver trouble. Veteran Derrick Mason has mentioned he might retire and all the other Raven receivers on the roster aren’t that great. Reason number three, which I happen to think is the deciding factor: Ginn stands to make roughly one million this year. Not only is he expendable, he will come cheap.
After the game against the Colts, which Ginn posted a career high 11 catches, Teddy only caught 27 more passes the rest of the way. Take away his two returns against the Jets and ask yourself, what did he do the rest of the season? Anyone with a thought or answer?
Well I will share these quick hard facts with you about Mr.Ginn: Three games with no catches, only one game over 80 yards receiving after the Colts game and yes you guessed it, only one touchdown catch all season long.
Before all the hundreds of Ginn fans out there tell me that it was the fault of Chad Henne and so on, why don’t you ask Davone Bess and Brian Hartline if they had any problems getting on the same page with Henne. The answer to that would be a big fat no!
It has nothing to do with Henne or anyone else, the problem is Teddy Ginn. Once and for it is time to deal him. To me a 3rd or 4th round pick from the Ravens could get done. Let’s hope Jeff Ireland and Bill Parcells share the same sentiment as I do.
In the next few weeks and months, I will try and make up for lost time on here and talk about some of the positives that came out in ‘09. I also will talk more about Mike Nolan and of course, this years draft and free agent’s.
Remember any questions or comments you have, feel free to email me (Dave Gorman) at cocoharry@aol.com.
Miami Dolphins Fire Paul Pasqualoni
After a year of regression in almost every major defensive metric, the Dolphins have fired defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni, ending his two year run as Miami’s top defensive assistant. The Fins’ stop unit dropped from 15th to 22nd in total defense in 2009 and from 9th to 23rd in points allowed. Despite finishing tied for 3rd in sacks, Miami ranked near the bottom of the league in just about every pass defense category that matters. The Dolphins ranked dead last in yards allowed per attempt, yards per completion, and only Detroit allowed more pass plays of 40 yards are more.
Despite all of that, it may well have been Miami’s performance in the last two games of the season that sealed Pasqualoni’s fate. At 7-7, the Fins faced Houston and Pittsburgh at home, and with wins in each game they would have been in the tournament. Instead, Miami’s defense failed to show up for the first half of either contest. Both the Texans and Steelers jumped out to early leads on Miami’s sleepwalking defenders. And despite valiant comeback attempts, Miami lost both games, finishing a disappointing 7-9 and having to endure the added misery of watching the Jets waltz into the second round of the playoffs on the strength of, their defense.
I’m not one to make excuses or latch onto scapegoats. Pasqualoni’s lost his job, but to infer from his dismissal that he was the cause of Miami’s failures would be a mistake. Its not Pasqualoni’s fault that Miami’s top pass defender (Will Allen), run defender (Jason Ferguson) and linebacker (Channing Crowder) all missed large chunks of the season and finished the year on injured reserve. It’s not his fault that by Week six he was starting two rookie corners (Sean Smith & Vontae Davis), two weak outside linebackers (Joey Porter & Jason Taylor), and two strong safeties (Yeremiah Bell & Gibril Wilson). Nor can Pasqualoni be blamed for the football gods sending his overmatched secondary to face the likes of Matt Ryan, Peyton Manning, Phillip Rivers, Tom Brady (twice), Drew Brees, Matt Schaub, and Ben Roethlisberger this season. Miami was 1-7 in those games and 6-2 against the rest of their schedule. Hardly a coincidence.
I cant say for sure, but I’m confident that Paul Pasqualoni was not in Dolphin GM Jeff Ireland’s ear demanding that he sign FS Gibril Wilson last off season. Wilson spent the season barely disguising his desire to lose every game by as many points as possible. Cynical? I think not. In fact it gets even deeper. Wilson got a big bonus to sign with Oakland in 2008, then stunk bad enough to be released in 09’. Now he’s using the Dolphins as victim number two. With 2010 being an uncapped year, the Dolphins are free release him without taking a cap hit, and without the cap restraints Gibril’s next victim will likely emerge to sign him to another sizeable deal. Gibril may have trouble diagnosing route combinations, but he’s a master at gaming the NFL’s financial system. With his proven skills at juicing NFL owners for millions, I’m expecting Gibril to be named chief negotiator for players union in their fight for a new labor deal any day now.
It may sound like I’m defending Pasqualoni, but I’m not. I’m actually glad he was fired so that Miami can hopefully grab a coordinator who has more than five plays in his playbook. Cover 2 Man, Cover 3, Cover 4, man with a LB blitz, and man with a slot CB (Nate Jones) blitz. That’s all folks. No robbers, corner blitzes or safety blitzes. Very few zone blitzes, and not a single cover two all season from what I saw. Actually, I don’t blame Coach P for not dialing up the Cover 2, no one in their right mind would leave Gibril Wilson and Yeremiah Bell in charge of covering the deep half of anything besides the bench.
What I do take issue with is the fact that Miami’s blitz packages were lame and unimaginative all year long. Neither Crowder (1.0 sacks) nor Akin Ayodele (0 sacks) could beat a RB, TE, or FB in time to generate pressure or sacks. They only reached the QB when they were unblocked, which was hardly ever. That’s primarily because Coach P’s blitz packages were designed to create one on one matchups for his best pass rushers, Jason Taylor and Joey Porter, not to get free rushers to the QB like Rex Ryan’s D in New York or Sean McDermott’s in Philly. The problem is that neither Taylor nor Porter could generate pressure with these one on one matchups with enough frequency to justify leaving the already beleaguered secondary without a defender or two. Seven guys who can’t defend the pass are better than five guys who can’t defend the pass, and that’s the philosophy that Coach P used, without much success.
It will be interesting to see who Miami hires to replace Pasqualoni. Will they go with another 3-4 specialist like Romeo Crennel or Al Groh, or will they make a more radical change? Cutting Matt Roth will come back to hurt the Fins because they are hurting at OLB. Porter (33) and Taylor (35) are both old, and they both play the same position, WOLB. Roth was a SOLB, and a pretty good one before he fell out of favor with management. ILB Channing Crowder has the knees of an old woman, Akin Ayodele runs a 7.3 40 yd dash, Jason Ferguson may have played his last game, Yeremiah Bell has to be replaced on passing downs at SS, and Gibril Wilson is an abomination at FS. Miami’s defense doesn’t need to be tinkered with, it needs to be blown up and rebuilt. Apparently the rebuilding process has begun, with the firing of the defensive coordinator.
Brady And Moss Overpower Miami
It seemed like old days in New England this past weekend. Tom Brady to Randy Moss, which seems to be a reoccurring theme or nightmare to most Miami fans whenever these teams play.
If only rookie corner Vontae Davis could make the shoe string tackle on his 71 yard score by Moss, maybe the outcome would have been different. Davis for the most part played one heck of a game. He also made an impressive interception, which was done by falling to the ground and still being able to hold on to the ball.
The defense as a unit played well, much to my surprise. A few big plays here and there but overall for the most part the secondary looked good for the second game in a row.
The defense even stopped the Patriots late in the game to give the offense another chance to tie it up. Defensive tackle Randy Starks and linebacker Cameron Wake continued their good play, by notching sacks on Brady.
Sometime by the start of the 2010 season, the Miami Dolphins must trade for a legit number wide receiver. It’s more apparent with each passing week that the biggest weakness of this team is their receivers. Week after week passes are being dropped. One week it’s Ginn, then the next week it’s Bess and this week it was Brian Hartline who dropped a critical third down pass late in the game.
I didn’t forget that WR Teddy Ginn dropped a pass on forth down but, the drop by Hartline was just awful in my mind. How could he drop a pass that was right in his hands? At this point it will be a miracle if Miami doesn’t have to sign a free agent receiver or trade for someone. Trying to draft one has been a dead end.
One bright spot for Miami was the play of quarterback Pat White. Without a doubt, White played his best game in the NFL and for the Dolphins. He had the Patriots memorized and confused. If Teddy Ginn could have given him a block on his long run, he might have taken it for a touchdown.
White did run for 45 yards and did set up the Dolphins 1st score with a pitch to Ricky Williams who rumbled in from 15 yards out. At 3-5 this season, it might be time to see what some other players can do, like wide out Patrick Turner. All you have to do is ask yourself, can he be any worse then the other receivers out there?
Next week the Dolphins face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tampa is only 1-7 and their only win came last week. Rookie quarterback, Josh Freeman was inserted as the starter just two weeks ago. Freeman like Henne, seems to be the future for Tampa.
My three keys to winning:
1. Put as much as pressure on Freeman as you can. Don’t let that rookie relax in the pocket.
2. Give Patrick Turner a chance to play. He is a rookie and is probe anxious to show what he can do.
3. Love to see a new wrinkle in the wildcat. Right now it is stall and something needs to be done.
My score prediction:
Dolphins 27
Buccaneers-7
Chad Henne throws for over 200 yards along with two touchdown passes and the defense racks up 5 sacks.
Ginn Helps Phins Over Jets In Dramatic Fashion
Who says Wide Receiver Ted Ginn isn’t a playmaker. Ok I will admit that in the past I have been very harsh to Teddy but you can’t say he hasn’t deserved it. Against the Jets, Ginn returned not one but two kickoffs over 100 yards for touchdowns. It was the 1st time in NFL history that any player had ever returned two kicks over 100 yards for scores.
The two returns by Ginn and the fumble recovery returned by Jason Taylor for a touchdown were all the ammo the Dolphins needed in beating the Jets, 30-25. It marked the 1st time since the 2003 season that the Dolphins had swept the Jets.
Ginn had lost his starting receiver job earlier in the week and even admitted after the game that he was upset about losing his starting job. Ginn just wanted to prove that he could play at this level. His 1st return would come with the Dolphins trailing 6-3. He got a block or two on the side and headed for the sideline as a he zoomed by one Jet player and then took off down the field for the touchdown.
His 2nd one was much more complicated and difficult. Ginn was boxed in by two Jet players. Teddy backtracked and then made a move on Jet linebacker Larry Izzo and then got to the outside. As soon as he got to the outside of the wedge he was gone. Fans in Miami couldn’t believe what they had seen. Ted Ginn providing some heroics for the Dolphins in winning fashion.
Two other players who played crucial roles in Sunday’s win were defensive end Randy Starks and nose tackle Paul Solali. Both Starks and Solali have gone unnoticed this year but their improved play has earned themselves more playing time. Late in the 3rd quarter, Solali stripped the ball from Jets running back Shonn Greene and Jason Taylor picked up the ball and rumbled 40 yards for the touchdown. All game long, Solali was in the Jets backfield. This year Solali has been rotating with fellow nose tackle Jason Ferguson. His play lately has been quite good. He ended up finishing the game with a season high six tackles.
If Ted Ginn was the offensive star, then Randy Starks was the star of the defense. If not for Starks sacking Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez on the final drive, their might have not been a Dolphins victory. On their final drive of the game, the Jets drove down to the Miami nine yard line. On a crucial third down play, Starks stood up and made a statement. Starks sacked Mark Sanchez, pushing the Jets back to their 17 yard line and making it almost impossible for them to score.
On 4th and 15, Sanchez looked and hoped to find any receivers open but to his dismay found no one and sailed the ball out of bounds. Dolphin players they began to celebrate their hard fought win. This was a great win for the Dolphins but for Randy Starks it was quite possibly his best overall performance in a Dolphin uniform.
When Starks was signed to a free agent contract by Miami last season, many wondered who this guy was. At times last season his play could be best described as just average or mediocre. However, this year Starks looks like a new man. He is playing like a man on a mission. Trying to prove peoples doubts about his play in ’08. So far Starks has passed his entire sack total of last year and is only three tackles behind his entire total of ’08.
Quite a turn around for three players (Ginn, Solali, Starks) who not many expected much from, including me. Just goes to show you, any team or player can step up and perform well enough to help their team win.
Next week Miami travels up to play the New England Patriots. The Patriots are currently in 1st place in the afc east. Tom Brady is back from the injury he suffered in ’08 and looks poised to lead the Patriots back to the Super Bowl. Two players the Miami secondary must contain are Randy Moss and ex Dolphins Wes Welker. They make up two of the best receiving core in the league.
My three keys to winning:
1. Ball control is one way to beat the Patriots. The less Brady is on the field, the harder it will be for him to do damage against you.
2. Try to get Ginn more involved in the passing game. Yes it would nice to see Teddy be involved more if the offense someway.
3. Blitz Brady and be aggressive with the blitzes. It seems that even Tom Brady is human. In week two against the Jets, Brady looked rattled and confused with all the blitzes thrown his way. It might be the way to go.
My prediction:
Patriots-34
Dolphins-24
Brady torches the Phins secondary, 4 td passes and over 330 yards passing.
Miami Chokes Away Victory
With a 21 point lead late in the 2nd quarter, everything seemed to be going well for the Dolphins. Then all of a sudden Head Coach Tony Sparano decided to go with a conservative play calling style, which would eventually ruin any chance of Miami upsetting the Saints.
In the end, the Saints outscored Miami 36-10 in the second half. Basically the loss fall’s on the head of Sparano but there are a few other members on the team that made some foolish and bonehead mistakes on the field.
Let’s start with Sparano, the head fool in charge. Here is the scenario where all hell broke loose. New Orleans was trailing 24-3 at this point. They had the ball at the Miami one yard line and had no timeouts left. After replay showed that Saints receiver Marques Colston knee hit on the one yard line, Saints Head Coach Sean Payton ran his kicking team onto the field rather then deciding to go it.
For whatever reason Sparano called a timeout and he paid for it dearly. The Saints then decided to go for it and sent Drew Brees over the top for the score. All this could have been avoided if Sparano wouldn’t have called timeout. He did fess up and said he made a mistake. Maybe the mistake was thinking he could run a football team.
Another player who choked on Sunday was our dear friend Ted Ginn. Not only did he tip a pass to Saints safety Darren Sharper for a score, he also dropped a critical pass on the last drive and eventually showed us once again why he is not cut out for pro football.
At this point, you have to ask yourself, is Ted Ginn worth having on this team? The answer to that is no. He drops almost everything in sight and I think I speak for all Dolphin fans when I say we have had with him. For all the talent this guy was supposed to have, I just don’t see it. He should have never been drafted nine overall. He will go down as one of the worst ever draft day decisions in the NFL draft.
Safety Yeremiah Bell finally played a good game but his counterpart Gibril Wilson looked pathetic as ever again. Week after week his play gets worst. While we all sit here and wonder what it is going to take to see him get benched. Tyrone Culver, who backs up Wilson, had an impressive interception and almost scored off of it.
Wide receiver Greg Camarillo might have made the biggest mistake of his career late in the game. With two minutes and thirty seconds to go, Camarillo caught a pass and for some reason thought he needed to preserve time and tried to run out of bounds. As he attempted to do so, he slipped and lost control of the ball. He hit it out of bounds with his hand and was flagged for a penalty which killed any momentum the Dolphins had.
There was plenty of time on the clock, Miami had two timeouts left and the two minute warning was coming in only a few seconds. They went from a possible 2nd and two, towards a 1st and 15. It goes to show you that the discipline isn’t there to win games. The penalties and the turnovers are absolute killers for this team.
The loss ruined a terrific performance by Ricky Williams who scored three times, which tied a career high. Maybe next week he can get some help. At this point it is apparent there will be no playoffs at all in ’09 for the Dolphins. How sad is that?
Next week: Miami faces the Jets. Last time these teams faced one another it was one of the best Monday night football games ever. The Jets are without Defensive tackle Kris Jenkins and running back Leon Washington. Those two are going to be missed big time.
My three keys to winning:
1. No turnovers. In there two wins Miami is 2-0 when they haven’t turned the ball over.
2. Contain Thomas Jones. Last time Jones scored twice against Miami. He needs to be neutralized for the Dolphins to have a chance.
3. Stay with the hot hand. Williams deserves more carries especially after last week.
My prediction:
Jets-27
Dolphins-13
Too much mistakes doom the Phins again.
Henne Leads Dolphins Past Jets
The title of this article says it all. Yes, the wildcat played a huge role on Monday night but let’s not forget who it was that kept the Dolphins winning streak alive. Quarterback Chad Henne in only his second career start guided the Dolphins to a 31-27, victory over the Jets. Two key third down plays were the highlight of the drive for the young QB.
On third down and eight from the Jets 29, Henne hit wide receiver Greg Camarillo for a twelve yard completion, to give Miami a 1st down. Three plays later, Henne threw a laser to Camarillo again to convert another third and long situation. Three plays later, running back Ronnie Brown lined up in the wildcat with just ten seconds left in the game. He faked a hand off to Ricky Williams and took two steps forward then ran straight into the end zone as he scored the winning touchdown with just six seconds left.
As Brown scored the stadium erupted and Head Coach Tony Sparano pumped his 1st in joy. It was one of those victories that could change the outlook of a team. A win like this also has to be a confidence builder for the young QB. Henne was very poised all night.
He finished the night 20 of 26 for 241 yards, along with two touchdown passes. Henne hit tight end Anthony Fasano from one yard out for his 1st td pass on the night but it was the 53 yard bomb he threw to receiver Ted Ginn that opened some eyes. With the Jets leading 20-17 in the 4th quarter, Henne did a play action to Brown then threw deep and found Ted Ginn five steps ahead of Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis. Ginn reeled in the pass and scored. It might have been his best moment as a Dolphin.
Ginn who has been maligned every week by me on here made a great catch. Ginn finally used his speed to his adavnatge for once. If Henne and Ginn can connect on more plays like that, the balance on the AFC East could change real fast.
Let’s talk about the wildcat for a second. All the talk this past week was how Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan and the great Jets defense were going to stuff it. After defeating the Dolphins twice while he was the defensive coordinator of the Ravens, it was thought that Ryan had the perfect plan to stop it. Well I guess those so called experts were wrong along with the Jets head coach. Ryan was even quoted saying after the game he was embarrassed by the defense. My thoughts on that is that he should be.
When you run your mouth as much as him and his classless players, I.E Calvin Pace and Bart Scott, sometimes you need to be put into your place. That’s what happened on Monday night. The Jets didn’t know what hit them. Maybe next time they will keep their mouth shut, but I doubt it.
The best running backs in the league, Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams combined for over 150 yards rushing on Monday night. Brown went on to score twice adding his fifth and sixth touchdowns on the young year. Brown is having one of his best seasons ever.
The offensive line deserves to be mentioned and saluted in the performance they gave on Monday night. Tackles Jake Long and Vernon Carey, Center Jake Grove and Guards Donald Thomas and Justin Smiley all played without a doubt, their best game this season.
They held the Jets to no sacks and managed to keep Chad Henne from getting hit all night. The opened holes for both running backs and when it counted helped Miami go 9 for 13 on third downs attempts. When your line plays this good, it makes things look easy on offense. After five weeks in the season, the Dolphins are the highest scoring team in their division. Who saw that coming?
On a night with so many highs there were some lows as well. Unfortunately it was the same area that has been addressed by me since week one. After five weeks this must sound like a broken record but how bad can the Dolphins secondary get? Cornerback Will Allen dropped a sure interception and both safeties, Yeremiah Bell and Gibril Wilson look pathetic in coverage. You have got to ask yourself, how bad can it get at this point?
Play after play both Bell and Wilson were getting beat down field. Maybe it’s time to try Jason Allen and give it one more chance with him. He can’t be any worse at this point, can he?
Next week the Dolphins are off. Some may see this as a bad time for the bye to come but I see it as a blessing in disguise. Coming off such an emotional win and a high, perhaps Miami might have been a little flat going into a game on Sunday. Now they have the week off. Maybe they can even come up with a defensive game plan to stop Drew Bress and the Saints. I am sure whatever they choose to do; the time will be well spent.
Dolphins Ride Henne & Wildcat to Victory, 31-27
Monday night’s Jets - Dolphins game was billed as a battle between two stingy defenses, and two offenses that would struggle to move the ball, much less put points on the board. But as Chris Berman likes to say “That‘s why they play the games“. Miami dominated much of the night, but had to rally for the win largely because of poor tackling, poor officiating, and poor secondary play (again). At 2-3, the Dolphins are right back into the thick of the divisional race, just two weeks after many, myself included, were ready to throw in the towel on 2009 altogether.
Bracketing two quarters of scoreless futility, Miami’s offense was borderline unstoppable in the 1st and 4th quarters Monday night. The Dolphins, who came into the game leading the league in 3rd down efficiency, were once again stellar on the game’s most important down, going 9/14 (64%). That number includes an 8-8 mark on 3rd and 6 or less, and the game winning TD on 3rd and goal from the 2. Failed conversions of 9,9,14,7 and 9 prevented perfection, but I’d say Miami’s spot atop the league’s conversion stats leader board is safe for this week.
Before I continue, I have to give credit to Miami’s offensive line. Jake Long, Justin Smiley, Jake Grove, Donald Thomas and Vernon Carey were beasts on Monday night, with honorable mentions to FB Lousaka Polite and TE Anthony Fasano. The Dolphins rushed for 151 yards against a Jets D that was focused on shutting down the run from the game’s opening snap. Rex Ryan stacked the box with 8 or 9 defenders, went to the 6 man “Bear” front, used 3 defensive tackles, blitzed, and tried more looks and fronts than I could keep up with. It didn’t work. Dolphins Offensive Coordinator Dan Henning seemed to stay a step ahead of Ryan, or as my new favorite color commentator John Gruden put it, Henning “had the chalk last”. And Miami had the ball last, in a game where it seemed whoever had it last would win.
Behind Miami’s stellar blocking unit, was the league’s most dynamic running back tandem. Ronnie Brown ran for 74 yards and 2 scores, while Ricky Williams finished with 68 yards rushing and a team leading 70 yards receiving. Miami called 16 wildcat plays, including 14 runs for 83 yards and 2 passes for 21 yards. Ryan, whose Ravens silenced the wildcat in 2008, was flustered after the game, calling Miami’s attack a “gimmick”. Many analysts, especially ex-Qbs (Steve Young, Ron Jaworski, Tim Hasselbeck, Troy Aikman) seem to agree, but 16 plays for 104 yards? Gimmick or not, those are the kind of numbers that New York’s previous opponents would salivate over.
Chad Henne went 20-26 for 244 yards and 2 TD’s, without a sack or turnover. That includes a 53 yard bomb to Ted Ginn midway through the fourth quarter to put Miami ahead 24-20. Stat of the night: The Henne to Ginn pass play marked the first time all year that the Jets allowed a completion more than 25 yards. Matt Schaub, Tom Brady, Kerry Collins and Drew Brees all failed to hit anything downfield. The catch had to be sweet for Ginn, who beat 3 Jets for the score, including the soon to be All-Pro Darrelle Revis. Stat #2, Henne’s passer rating vs. the Jets, in his 2nd career start ( 130.4), dwarfs any of the four more accomplished QB’s listed above. None of them {Collins (41.1), Brady (53.2), Brees (78.9) Schaub (55.8)} hit triple digits, and Brees was the only one to even break 60.
While the offense shined, the defense was sub-par once again. Twice Miami’s stop unit was victimized by a fake punt, with both drives leading to scores. The most frustrating aspect of the breakdowns is that Miami had defenders in position to make the tackle both times. Cameron Wake is no doubt the laughing stock of the film room after he was juked out of his cleats by Jets punter Steve Weatherford. Joey Porter, aka Mr. Invisible, missed a sure tackle vs. Brad Smith on the second fake. Had those two plays been made, Miami would have been in complete control of the game by halftime. Had Miami lost the game, Porter and Wake would be hearing it from the fans and media, on this column though, they’re gonna get called out regardless.
DE Joey Porter wasn’t the only invisible man out there Monday, in fact Randy Starks was the only lineman to have a good game in my opinion. Starks had a sack, a hit on the QB, played well vs. the run, drew a holding call vs. LT D’brickashaw Ferguson and an intentional grounding vs. Mark Sanchez. Porter, Jason Taylor, Phillip Merling, Kendall Langford, Cameron Wake and Tony McDaniel all failed to properly introduce themselves to young Sanchez, allowing him time to throw strikes downfield to WR Braylon Edwards & David Clowney, and almost steal the game.
In Wake’s defense, he would likely have blocked a punt inside the Jets’ ten yard line if he wasn’t blatantly held on his way to the punter. The hold wasn’t called, in fact, Vontae Davis was called for an illegal block on the play, costing Miami a potential special teams TD as well as 20 yards in field position. That was just one of the many questionable calls in the game, apparently Alberto Riberon laid the 3 points with NY. Or perhaps Riberon’s crew was looking for revenge after the Fins crowd booed him for calling the game’s first penalty, in espanol.
Channing Crowder shot the wrong gap a few times as usual, but he did make a few splash plays as well, including a big stick vs Leon Washington on the Jets only Wildcat “gimmick” play of the night, for -3 yards. Both Crowder (3 Tackles) and Akin Ayodele (3 tackles) seemed to have trouble getting off of their blocks in time to get a hand on Washington, Miami was fortunate that the Jets only went to him 11 times (44 yards). Thomas Jones is not as quick to the hole, and the Fins bottled him up for the most part ( 13 carries for 42 yards), but Jones did score 2 of NY’s three touchdowns, which is sure to please his fantasy owners.
After a strong showing vs. Buffalo, Miami’s secondary struggles continued vs. New York. When Will Allen wasn’t being beaten for completions (3 times), he was being flagged for illegal contact, pass interference (50 yards), and dropping potential interceptions. Gibril Wilson led the team with 10 tackles, but was late getting over the deep ball as usual, and when he was on time, he dropped an easy INT, and managed to get himself flagged 15 yards for unnecessary roughness. Yeremiah Bell (3 tackles) was also hit with a pass interference call, in addition to staying flatfooted while David Clowney ran by him for a 54 yard gain. Sean Smith (1 tackle/1 missed tackle) was beaten for 2 separate 19 yard gains. Vontae Davis (2 tackles/1 penalty) and Wilson were roasted down the sideline by Edwards on a key 3rd and 22, setting up a one yard go ahead score by Jones midway thru the 4th Qtr. I shiver at the thought of this group facing Drew Brees in 2 weeks. Unless Miami can hold the ball for 40+ minutes like they did vs. Indianapolis, its going to get ugly.
That being said, all deficiencies are glossed over when a team wins, and after an 0-3 start, Miami is right back in the hunt for the division crown. If the Jets couldn’t stop Miami from running the ball, then its hard to see who, outside of Pittsburgh, can slow them down. Chad Henne showed poise, moxie, and the ability to hit Ted Ginn in stride, something that was sorely missing from the Dolphins arsenal when Chad Pennington was under center. Miami fans have cause for optimism once again, something that couldn’t be said just a couple short weeks ago. That’s a surprise for me, especially since it’s the offense and not the defense that is going to have to the heavy lifting in order for the team to succeed.
Dolphins Crush Bills 38-10
Let’s give credit where credit is due. The 2009 Miami Dolphins aren’t dead just yet. This past Sunday the Dolphins demonstrated how good of a football team they really are. They humiliated the Bills in every phase on the game, on their way to a blowout victory.
Anytime you run the ball for 250 yards, credit must be given to the offensive line. I am also ready to eat crow and ready to praise center Jake Grove. When Grove was signed from the Raiders this off –season I was furious at the front office for wasting money. I am here to admit I was wrong about him. Grove and the rest of his offensive line mates have been opening wholes that even I, you and your grandma could run through. It has been a beautiful thing to watch.
Running backs Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams have reaped the benefits of such great blocking. Brown ran for 115 yards with two touchdowns and Williams scored once while rushing for 85 yards. Even if stats don’t show it, in my mind Brown and Williams make up the best dynamic tandem in the league. Brown has rushed for over 100 in two of his last three games. Williams has gone on to rush for over 50 yards in his last three games and that’s with limited carries. So far not many defenses have had an answer for either.
Quarterback Chad Henne made his debut this past Sunday and looked decent at best. One thing that stood out was his tardiness to get rid of the ball. Like most young quarterbacks, Henne looked hesitant to make a mistake. You have to know when to get rid of the ball at times.
Taking a foolish sack from time to time can be a problem. Henne did throw his 1st career NFL touchdown pass later in the game as well to fellow rookie receiver Brian Hartline. It also happened to be the 1st NFL career touchdown for Hartline.
Speaking of rookies, let’s show some love for linebacker Cameron Wake. After signing Wake from the CFL this past off-season not many knew too much about him. He was labeled a pass rushing specialist who could put pressure on the QB. Sounds good so far but Wake was deactivated for the 1st three game on the year. This past Sunday with an injury to Joey Porter, Wake got his chance and boy did he ever deliver.
Wake finished with three of the Dolphins six sacks. On this day no one was going to have much luck blocking him. He was playing like a man possessed. Wake brought some much needed fire and life to a defense that needed it.
Vontae Davis got his 1st career NFL interception and touchdown all in the same play. He baited Bills QB Trent Edwards into throwing a short pass to the outside that turned into a quick six for the Dolphins and Davis.
A win like this was much needed. To fall 0-4 would have been a disaster but now with the win, things could be looking up. The defense has played well over the last two games and what’s not to like about the running game? This coming week will be huge if this team has any thoughts about making the postseason.
Next week the Dolphins will face off against the New York Jets. Currently the Jets are 3-1. The Jets are have one of the best defenses in the league. Linebackers Bart Scott and David Harris will be a tough assignment for the offensive line to block. Last year these teams split.
My three keys to winning:
1. Keep running the ball. Heck, it’s the only thing they seem to do right all year, why stop?
2. Blitz the heck out of Mark Sanchez. All rookies hate to be blitzed and we saw what happened last week when the Saints put pressure on Sanchez.
3. Where is Ted Ginn? Since the Monday night game against the Colts, Ginn has only one reception. It’s time to find out if this guy is your true number one wide out. Get him involved early. What ever happen to throwing this guy a screen once in awhile?
My prediction:
Dolphins-20
Jets-14
In a close one the Phins pull it out as Henne delivers late in the 4th quarter. Miami goes 2-3 before the bye week.
Henne Fizzles, Wake Sizzles, Dolphins Roll 38-10
After opening the season with three frustrating losses, the Dolphins rebounded in a major way on Sunday, dominating the Bills in all three phases of the game on their way to a 38-10 victory. First time starter Chad Henne was efficient if not spectacular in place of Chad Pennington, and quasi-rookie Cameron Wake was scary good in his pass rushing role as a replacement for the hamstrung Joey Porter. Miami avoided the costly turnovers and breakdowns that had plagued them over the first three weeks, and rode the legs of their dynamic running back combo until the Bills defense collapsed in the second half.
The big story coming into Week 4 was the changing of the guard at QB, as Chad Henne stepped into the starting lineup for the first time. Henne completed 14 of 22 passes for 114 yards with no interceptions and a 3rd quarter TD pass to Ohio St. rookie WR Brian Hartline. That’s the good. The bad is that Henne’s YPA for the game was an unimpressive 5.0, and it’d be even lower if you factored in the 6 sacks that he took. Granted, 3 of the sacks were the result of breakdowns by Vernon Carey, Ronnie Brown and Anthony Fasano, but allowing six sacks to a Buffalo team that struggles mightily to generate pressure is a reason for alarm no matter the cause.
For the season, Henne has been sacked 7 times while attempting just 41 passes. He’s also fumbled three times and thrown an INT that was returned for a TD. That’s what I call a bad omen, especially with the sack/turnover happy NY Jets coming to town next week.
When Henne wasn’t getting sacked he looked pretty good. Chad H took a couple shots downfield, one to Joey Haynos early and another to Greg Camarillo in the second quarter. Neither pass was completed, and the much anticipated deep ball to Ted Ginn never materialized. In fact, Ginn seemed to lose a chunk of his normal playing time to Hartline, Davone Bess & Camarillo. I’m not sure if his decreased reps were a result of poor play, game strategy, or some other reason, but Ginn was never a factor in the game, just two weeks after catching 11 passes for over 100 yards against the Colts.
While Miami struggled at times in the passing game, the running game was dominant once again. Ronnie Brown carried 20 times for 115 yards and 2 scores while Ricky Williams ran 16 times for 85 yards and another score. As a team, Miami ran the ball 45 times for 250 yards, with a 5.6 ypc average and 3 scores. Those are the kinds of numbers you expect to see from the 1994 Nebraska Cornhuskers, not an NFL team playing an NFL defense.
Miami’s offensive line gave its runners plenty of room to operate all game long, and for the third straight week, an opposing defense had trouble defending the Dolphins “Wildcat” look. Miami is averaging 183 ypg on the ground, tops in the league. Part of that is that they’ve played against four teams who cant stop the run, but 183 yards is very impressive nonetheless.
I thought Miami did an admirable of job of mixing their play calls in order to keep the Bills of balance, while not putting too much on the shoulders of their QB. If Buffalo was expecting Miami to come out running to protect Henne, they were dead wrong. Miami called a traditional run play just one of its initial 11 first down snaps. The other 10 plays consisted of 5 play action passes, 1 drop back pass, 3 wildcat runs and a reverse to Ted Ginn.
Success on the early downs led to 2nd and 3rd and medium-short for Miami, which is exactly what any team wants. Miami was 9-17 on third down, with conversions of 1,3,5,3,3,1,1, and 4 yards. The only 3rd and long conversion of the day was a 3rd and 10 on, you guessed it, a draw play to Ricky Williams. Miami’s eight failed 3rd down attempts were from 6,9,8,1(they converted on 4th), 14,8,18 and 12 yards out. Not much surprise there.
If the Dolphins’ game plan was solid and well executed, Buffalo’s was a nightmare. Miami #2 ranked run defense stymied the Bills’ running attack and pressured the QB in the subsequent passing situations. As we speak Bills QB Trent Edwards is calling the authorities in order to have Jason Taylor and newcomer Cameron Wake placed on the terrorism watch list.
By my count Wake had 3 sacks (2 solos and 2 halfs), a forced fumble, 2 pressures, one QB knockdown, 2 tackles for loss and drew a holding penalty vs. Bills RT Kirk Chambers. JT added 1 and ½ sacks, 5 pressures, 2 QB knockdowns and drew a false start. With that kind of production, there‘s no need for to rush Joey Porter back into the line-up. And by the way, anyone seen Matt Roth since he went on the PUP list? The world’s greatest edge setter hasn’t been seen or heard from in weeks, and after Wake’s breakout I’m starting to think Roth may not play at all this season.
With Edwards under siege, Miami’s secondary had a much easier time staying with their receivers and maintaining the integrity of their zone coverages. Vontae Davis notched his first career INT and first TD on the same second quarter play. Will Allen rebounded from a weak effort vs. San Diego to intercept two passes, one which set up a score in the third quarter, and another to ice the game late in the fourth. Gibril Wilson and Yeremiah Bell were non factors in the game, which is a very good thing for any Dolphin fan who watched the first three games.
Miami’s rookie corners continue to impress me, both Vontae Davis (25& 27yds by Lee Evans) and Sean Smith (41 yds by T. Owens) were beaten for long gains, but they were isolated in bump and run coverage with no help over the top on all three plays. The coverage scheme doesn’t excuse the negative plays, but the fact that they were left to fend for themselves speaks volumes about how much confidence the coaches have in them, even when they are matched against two of the leagues better wideouts in Evans and Owens.
Overall, Davis was targeted on 4 pass plays, with the aforementioned completions, the pick 6, and an additional INC on a pass to Owens. Smith was targeted 6 times, allowing just two completions, the 41 yarder and a 4 yarder to Owens on the games first play. Smith also had a near INT on and end zone jump ball, his third near INT of the season.
Dolphins Fall To Chargers
After three weeks in this young NFL season, two things are very clear. Number one, the 2009 Miami Dolphins are not making this year’s playoffs and number two, quarterback Chad Pennington is done for the year with a shoulder injury. Not making the playoffs is a terrible thought to begin with but losing Chad Pennington for the season might be a blessing in disguise.
The Pennington injury will now pave the way for backup quarterback, Chad Henne to showcase his skills. Henne sat on the bench much of last year but will now be given every opportunity to direct this team over the next thirteen games.
Let’s hope Henne can jump start an offense that has looked dull at best. The running game led by both running backs Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams has been superb to say the least. The passing game has been horrendous. Hopefully now with Henne as the starter you will start to see a few more passes down the field.
Let me take you back to the opening drive for the Dolphins. They started at their own six yard line. They ended up driving the ball 93 yards and used up about nine minutes on the clock and then came the play that changed the direction of the game. At the Chargers two yard line a fumble occurred. It was charged to Chad Pennington but it also could have been credited to Ronnie Brown as well. Anyway you look at it; all the momentum was lost in that one play. All the energy they used on that 1st drive was gone. Soon after that QB Phillip Rivers started picking apart the Dolphins secondary. All hope was lost.
Chargers receiver Vincent Jackson was beating corner Sean Smith down the field for big gains. Even with help from safety Gibril Wilson, they had no answer for Jackson. Once again it is very transparent to every in the building that the Dolphins secondary played poorly again. All day they seemed to be one step behind every Charger receiver.
The defensive line had a great game. The help speedy Charger RB Darren Sproles to 41 yards on 18 carries. Defensive tackles Randy Starks and Kendall Langford had solid games. Langford snatched up his 1st sack on the year. One problem for the offensive seems to be the red zone. Every time they get in the red zone they seem to get bogged down. Conservative play calling from offensive coordinator Dan Henning isn’t helping either. They may need to open it a little more and let Chad Henne makes some plays down their.
Hopefully with Henne in their as the team’s starting QB, Henning will loosen things up and be given the chance to throw the ball down the field more often. Heck if I was a defensive coordinator I would stack the line too. Especially since it would seem that they have no ambition to throw the ball more then 20 yards.
Next week Miami will host the 1-2 Buffalo Bills. This week the Bills will get back troubled running back Marshawn Lynch who had been suspended by the league for three games. Fred Jackson has started in place of Lynch and has done everything from lead the team in rushing yards and receptions. Wide Receiver Terrell Owens had been a disappointment so far. He has only five catches on the year and last week he was shut out.
My three keys to winning:
1. Play physical against Owens. Scouts are saying that Owens can not get off the ball against bump and run coverage. It would make sense to put the physical presence of Sean Smith on him.
2. Play to win! It appears that the Dolphins coaches have no faith in the offense every time they are in the red zone. The need to open it up this week.
3. Let Henne go out and throw the ball 20-25 times. Let’s see what he can do. Take off the diapers on him and unleash him.
My prediction
Dolphins-20
Bills- 10
Brown scores once and runs for over 90 yards and the Dolphin forces three turnovers.
Despite Strong Performance from Offense, Miami Falls to 0-2
Miami bounced back from a lackluster, mistake riddled performance in Week 1 to dominate the Colts on Monday night. The Dolphins controlled the ball for 45:07 and ran 84 plays to just 35 for the Colts. Miami converted 15/21 third down opportunities, ran for 239 yards, completed 66% of its passes, punted only once and never turned the ball over. But it want enough. Not enough to overcome the efforts of one of the games all time great QBs. Time and time again Miami delivered punishing body blows to Indy, but they never mustered the strength to deliver a knockout blow and in the end, Peyton Manning made them pay for their leniency.
The Positives:
1. The wildcat is back. Miami ran 12 wildcat plays for 108 yards including a 14 yard TD run by Ronnie Brown for the Dolphins first TD. Brown faked a handoff to Ricky Williams on a sweep right, then followed LG Justin Smiley into an open hole. The only defender in a position to make a play was safety Antoine Bethea and Brown rode him into the end zone.
2. Ted Ginn stepped up big. Ginn is getting a lot of flack for failing to make a play on two EZ throws, one of which would have won the game. I understand the criticism, but that shouldn’t overshadow the fact that he had the best game of his career. Ginn totaled 108 yards on 11 receptions, four of which went for 3rd down conversions. For the first time, Chad Pennington was looking for Ginn first, even in key situations, instead of Davone Bess or Greg Camarillo as had been the case in the past.
3. Jake Long recovered from his poor performance vs. Atlanta. Long was beaten twice early, and he allowed what I would call a coverage sack, but he was dominant in the run game and more than held his own against Dwight Freeney in the pass game. The entire O line looked better in this game. They consistently got to the second level on runs, and kept Chad Pennington clean for most of the night.
4. Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams were dominant. What I liked most about Miami’s running game (aside from the 239 yards/4.9 ypc avg) was the way that both Ronnie and Ricky finished their runs strong. Each carry ended with a collision and a couple additional yards after contact. By the end of the game, the Colts D wanted no parts of either back. Time constraints prevented Miami from running the ball downfield, but after a shaky start vs. Atlanta, Miami’s run game, and their running backs, looked very good on Monday night.
5. Special Teams units looking better. Patrick Cobbs took over duties as the return man, and managed to give the offense decent field position all night long. The kickoff team was outstanding, never allowing a return past the 25 yard line and pinning Manning inside the 20 on several occasions. K Dan Carpenter missed a critical 3rd Q field goal, and that was the difference between Miami needing a FG and a TD at the end of the game.
6. Sean Smith continues to impress. For the second straight week, a Fins opponent game planned to take advantage of the rookie’s presence on the left hand side of the field. Number 1 WRs traditionally line up on the right side of the formation, closer to the QB, and in his immediate line of sight as he drops back to throw. Putting Roddy White and Reggie Wayne on the left sacrifices that relationship in exchange for consistent matchups against the Rookie, and for the second straight week, it didn’t work. White caught four balls for 46 yards, and while he nearly beat Smith for a TD, Smith also had a near pick on another deep ball. The Colts O wasn’t on the field much, but Smith covered Wayne all over the field, and was in his hip pocket for most of the night. Wayne finished with 3 receptions for 37 yards, his longest reception was 16 yards, against a zone defense where he was not on Smith’s side of the field. Smith was beaten on a back shoulder throw on the last drive, but he also had a near pick when he tipped a pass into the hands of Gibril Wilson for what should have been an easy Int. More on Wilson later.
Negatives:
1. The Miami safety tandem is struggling. Gibril Wilson and Yeremiah Bell both better as strong safeties, and both become less and less effective as they are forced to operate further from the line of scrimmage. Dallas Clark split them for an 80 yd TD on the game’s first play, and he generally took turns abusing Wilson and Bell whenever he was on the field. Wilson dropped the aforementioned easy pick late in the first half, then allowed a deep ball to Clark on the next play which allowed Indy to tie the game at 13 before halftime. Bell has already lost his job as the nickel and dime safety to Tyrone Culver, and Wilson is not playing much better. Miami tried Will Allen as the cover man on Clark for the first play of the game’s second series, but after a 12 yd Joseph Addai run, the Will Allen experiment was over.
2. Joey and Jason were shut out. Joey Porter and Jason Taylor are the most accomplished OLB tandem in the league, but neither was able to generate a consistent pass rush on Monday night. Porter got a sack on a play action pass where he was unblocked and had a few pressures, but was generally ineffective. With Phillip Rivers on the horizon, Miami will need to find ways to pressure the passer or their suspect safeties will continue to get exposed.
3. Channing Crowder is not playing well. In week one it looked like fatigue, but that couldn’t have been the case in this game because Miami’s D was only on the field for 35 plays. Crowder overran plays, jumped into the wrong hole as the RB ran past where he was supposed to be, and as usual, had no sacks, turnovers, or game changing plays. I like Crowder’s style, he’s a gamer, but I’d like to see him draw attention in more ways than his catchy locker room quotes.
4. Two Minute Offense struggles. Miami had 3:18 to respond after Indy took the lead 27-23 late in the game. What followed was total mismanagement of the clock. 1yd run by Brown. 5 yd run by Brown, 2 minute warning. 1:18 seconds spent, 2 plays, 6 yards, they used a timeout and the ball is still at the Dolphin 24. Then, an 11 yd pass to Ginn, a 9 yd pass to Ginn, and a 1 yd pass to Fasano. 1:10 left. Sack allowed by RT Vernon Carey, Pennington fumble, -10 yds. 18 yd pass to Bess, a QB sneak for first down at the Indy 46, and a QB spike with 46 seconds left. Inc to Ginn in EZ, Inc to Ginn down left sideline, completion to Ginn for 12 yds with 22 seconds left. Spike with 12 seconds left. Two desperation heaves later, the game is over. Indy’s defense was gassed, Miami just needed to put the pressure on, and execute. Instead they took their time early on, wasting time and a timeout, and had no time left to finish the job.
Overall:
Even though the Fins lost, its hard to be upset after a game like this where so many things were done so well. If Miami can come anywhere near this level of performance, they will be winning a lot more than they lose.
Colts Ruin Dolphins Home Opener
In what was suppose to be an exciting night for the Miami Dolphins organization turned into a nightmare. Losing is one thing but when you control the ball forty five minutes in a game, you’re supposed to win. That wasn’t the case this past Monday night. Once again the defense didn’t show up. It was apparent from the 1st play of the game; they had no clue how to stop Peyton Manning and the rest of the Colts offense.
There were many negatives that you could take away from this game. Head coach Tony Sparano, and the rest of his defensive staff had an awful game plan. When they blitzed it backfired, and for the second game in a row, there was no pressure put on the opposing team’s quarterback.
Both safeties, Gibril Wilson and Yeremiah Bell have been absolutely horrendous and that is putting it mildly. Wilson has missed tackle after tackle since the season started. Bell has been no better. Last week tight end Tony Gonzalez had a productive game, this past week Dallas Clark had a career game against them both. Late in the 2nd quarter, Wilson dropped a sure interception. If he would have held on it, Miami would have held Indy to no points in the last two minutes. Maybe they could have only needed a field goal to win the game instead of a touchdown. The safeties were supposed to be on the strength’s for this team coming into the year but so far they have been a major disappointment. If Wilson keeps playing this poor, it might be time to bench him.
Two other glaring problems for the Dolphins is the pathetic play of their linebackers. I’m not talking about Joey Porter and Jason Taylor; I am talking about Channing Crowder and Akin Ayodele. Neither one of them could cover an old lady if they had too. They are just poor in passing coverage. Crowder to me has been a joke for three years now. He played well his rookie and after that he has done nothing for this team but run his mouth.
Ayodele does play hard but he no better. This is why I cried in horror when Miami decided not to draft a linebacker in this years past draft. There were so many talented linebackers that could have been taken. It would have made sense to take one of them but it wasn’t to be since Crowder was resigned and Sparano along with his staff, thought the world of Ayodele.
When you look at the numbers of receiver Ted Ginn (11-108 yards) on Monday night, you think he finally had a good game. I am hear to tell you those numbers are misleading.
I really hate to pick on the guy but I am. For starters, Ginn dropped a sure td pass in the 1st quarter. Another thing that makes you furious about him; where are the yac yards? (yards after catch). This is why Miami drafted him, so when he caught the pass he could take off down the field. So far the only thing he is good at doing is catching the pass and running out of bounds. If Miami is going to be a good team this year Ginn needs to step up his game.
There were two calls made by Head coach Tony Sparano they left us all scratching our head’s in disbelief. He chose to run the ball late in the game on a 3rd and six from the Colts 30 yard line. The play went for four yards and they settled for a field goal. Ok, the Dolphins did get three points out of it but we all knew in order to beat the Colts you need seven points, not three!
His excuse was that he wanted to get points. At the time he thought his defense would stop the Colts. All I have to say to that is, are you kidding? What game were you watching? In the third quarter he made the same type of call. He played conservative and this time his plan backfired as kicker Dan Carpenter missed a long range field goal. If Miami could have even put up seven points in one of those two possessions, they could have possibly won.
As mind boggling as those were, it got worse as the game went on. Calling for blitzes against Peyton Manning is like playing with fire. If you blitz, you better game to him or tackle the receiver. Late in the game, Sparano gambled and blitzed Manning. The gamble didn’t pay off and Sparano saw his narrow lead vanish into thin air.
With three minutes left in the game, Miami got the ball back with two timeouts and about 80 yards to go for the winning score. For any NFL team that should have been more then enough time to get down the field into scoring range. You would think that but hey these are the 2009 Miami Dolphins. Why go fast when you can take your time and waste timeouts. That is what exactly happened. For some reason, Qb Chad Pennington had to waste a timeout after one play. No one why, but it was even more puzzling when Miami ran only three plays before the two minute warning. As Miami finally got down the field, it occurred to me that there was no urgency at all in the offense. They just took their sweet time getting down the field.
Finally with about 30 seconds left in the game, the offense showed signs of life but it would be for not as Chad Pennington desperation pass to Ted Ginn in the endzone was to high. Some say he should of caught it but I think the only one who could of made that catch was Superman himself.
There was however some good news on this night. Running back Ronnie Brown ran for 136 yards with two scores. As a team the Dolphins had 239 yards rushing. A lot of the credit should go to the offensive line. They played a terrific game. Left tackle Jake Long, was impressive as was guard Justin Smiley.
Next weeks opponent are the San Diego Chargers, who come into the game at an even record of 1-1. The Chargers are led by Qb, Phillip Rivers. So far Rivers has been on fire in the early going. Last week he threw for over 300 yards with three touchdown passes.
Two of his favorite targets are tight end Antonio Gates and wide receiver Vincent Jackson. Gates has been a model of consistency for years and Jackson is Rivers favorite deep ball threat.
My three keys to winning
1. In order to loosen up the Chargers defense from playing eight man fronts, Pennington should try to look deep early in the game. Miami hasn’t really tried to throw the ball deep yet this year.
2. Keep it simple. If you must rush the ball 45 times to win, then do so. It seems like the only thing this team can do right is run the ball. I say run it till the Chargers prove they can stop it.
3. Must contain Gates. Are you listening Bell, Wilson and Crowder?? I hope you all are.
My prediction
Chargers-23
Dolphins17
Too much Rivers in the end, Phins fall to 0-3….
The Dolphins Open 2009 Shooting Blanks
In the aftermath of a disappointing loss, the ritual is as simple as it is predictable. Step one, over inflate the significance of the game. Step two, find a scapegoat or two. If the scapegoat happens to be the number one pick &/or team MVP from the previous year, broaden the search so as not to drastically alter the pre-determined story line. Step four, over inflate the importance of the team’s next game. Last but not least, begin calls for the back up QB.
After checking the South Florida bylines & airwaves, I found that the ritual is being carried out with a level of execution that Miami’s offense could only dream about in yesterday’s humbling 19-7 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. It’s almost too easy to take swipes at Miami’s scoring unit, Jake Long and Chad Pennington specifically, but after reviewing the tape, there is more than enough blame to go around, and not enough credit being given to a Falcons team that played solid, mistake free football for 60 minutes. Like Miami did, last year.
Jake Long struggled mightily yesterday. He was beaten around the edge, beaten to the inside, bulldozed, schooled, dominated. Just about anything you’d want to not happen to your franchise LT, or your journeyman LT for that matter, it happened to “Body by” Jake in Sunday’s game. By the middle of the second quarter, his QB had lost faith in him. Colts defensive ends Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis are no doubt salivating over their chance to go against Long this week. On the other hand, Jake saved a TD return after Anthony Fasano’s first fumble. And he has really nice tattoos.
The rest of the O line played ok, though they certainly weren’t spectacular. Justin Smiley owes Lousaka Polite an apology after he whiffed on a dive block, allowing Jonathan Babineaux to blast Polite and put him to the turf rudely. Vernon Carey was flagged for holding on Miami’s first TD of the game. Jake Grove and Donald Thomas both missed their blocks on Pat White’s sweep left out of the spread look in the 2nd quarter. White wisely headed for the turf when he saw about 500 lbs of Linebacker speeding towards his 185 lb frame. No gain on the play.
I’m not sure if it was his personal preference, the play calling, or a lack of faith in his protection/receivers, but Chad Pennington never even tried to get the ball downfield in this game. This is a surprising because, Ted Ginn ran through the Falcons secondary with ease for most of the day, but was only targeted (and overthrown) by the panicky Pat White on a play action pass out of the spread look. Chad P was content to throw check downs, curls, and a few digs all game. That explains his 4.8 YPA for the game. Terrible. add in the sacks, the fumble and the interception, and Pennington YPA would be under 4. Worse than terrible. That all this happened against one of the league’s worst defenses is cause for concern, even after just one week.
On the Bright side, Miami’s defense looked to be in mid season form, which is to say they did good job keeping the lid on one of the more balanced and dangerous offenses in the league. Matt Ryan was pressured for much of the day, especially by second year DE Phillip Merling, who almost single handedly put an end to ATL’s first drive. Merling planted Matty Ice to the turf on consecutive plays to cause overthrows as the Falcons got into the red zone, Jason Elam then missed a short FG. Jason Taylor and Joey Porter had a few pressures apiece, with JT picking up his first sack of the year. Overall, Miami got after the passer fairly well, though they failed to make any game changing plays.
Even more encouraging was how Miami shut down Michael Turner. Turner ran 22 times for 65 yards, a 2.9 yd average, and had just one run of 10 yards or more (12 yds) all game. Porter and Taylor set their edges well, the interior linemen and linebackers plugged their gaps, and the safeties were there to cast a shadow over any daylight that Turner may have found against the front seven. Miami didn’t have any players who dominated, but they played good team ball, and outside of failing to make any game changing plays, I have no problems with their performance.
With that said, Dallas Clark and his fantasy owners must be salivating over the prospects of facing the tandem of Yeremiah Bell and Gibril Wilson on Monday night. ATL TE Tony Gonzalez was Ryan’s most reliable target all game long. Wilson did tighten up in the second half, but Gonzales was the game’s high man in catches and yards with 5 for 73, and scored a 3RD quarter TD that put Miami behind the 8 ball. Wilson also had trouble with dig routes, both Michael Jenkins and Roddy White beat him on the deep in, finding seams between the outside leverage of Vontae Davis & inside leverage of Wilson. In a Cover Four look, the safeties are responsible for the in routes and posts, the corner has the outs, curls, and takeoffs. Vontae may have looked like the culprit on those plays, but he wasn’t. Coincidentally, Sean Smith, or “Sean Sanders” as Warren Sapp (mistakenly?) called him on NFL Network‘s pre-game show, played more than Davis, but never allowed such a pass. Smith/Sanders played well, though he was torched by Roddy White on the first series of the game on a pass that Ryan overshot. White scores easily if the pass was on target.
Miami’s stop unit isn’t free from blame though. The team needed them to make a play, a pick, a forced fumble, anything to help out the offense. The D failed to provide anything. ATL Linebacker Mike Peterson had a forced fumble and a pick. ATL DE Troy Bierman stripped Chad P of the ball on Miami’s first series. Those plays set up scores, or prevented Miami from scoring, and they changed the complexion of the game. Without those plays, it’d be the ATL media castigating the ATL offense, not the Miami media circling over the stumbling, wounded Lion that is Chad P’s dolphin career. But that’s life in the NFL, you win big and you die hard.
Embarrassing Opening Day for the Phins
The Dolphins performance on Sunday could be summed up in one word: Pathetic. For a team that had such a high hopes coming into the opener, this game speaks volumes. For starters, the offensive game plan was a disaster. Every time you looked up, it was third and long. It also didn’t help matters that Miami turned the ball over four times. Twice by quarterback Chad Pennington.
Tight end Anthony Fasano who was dependable last year, fumbled twice. Left tackle Jake Long, was beaten twice for sacks and looked sluggish. Safety Yeremiah Bell whiffed on a tackle and watched Falcon tight end Tony Gonzalez run right by him for the score. It was a nightmare just watching it unfold.
Miami also unveiled 2nd round pick, Pat White. The rookie QB from West Virginia looked lost to sum it up. He ran the ball once for no yards and even threw a pass that was about 10 to 15 yards ahead of an open Ted Ginn. Ok, it’s his 1st career game in the NFL, but I still maintain that Miami wasted a good early pick on him.
Some people might look at the score and think the 19-7 result was a close game. The score is a very misleading to say the least. Falcons’ kicker, Jason Elam helped Miami by missing two field goal attempts and chocking on an extra point. The Falcons also looked very flat to begin the second half. Some of that was due to the defense making good adjustments but mostly it was due to Atlanta knowing that their defense was playing superb and that they could play it safe on offense.
The defense played their hearts out and deserved a better fate. It was nice to see Jason Taylor get a sack, in his 1st game back with the Dolphins. Rookie corners Vontae Davis and Sean Smith each played and had moderate success. Davis made a nice tackle on Roddy White in the open field, which was impressive. Defensive end, Phillip Merling was perhaps the only player to deserve a star on this day. Without the play and hard work of Merling, this game could have been a lot worse. He was in the Atlanta backfield all day. He pressured Falcon QB Matt Ryan all day and should have been credited with a sack on Ryan but defensive tackle Jason Ferguson was credited with it.
To have a terrible opening day game like this, just makes it feel worse. For months Dolphin fans have waited for this day and this is what we are left with. A flat and horrible performance like this one will leave many of us just scratching our heads with many questions still left to be answered. If Miami plays like this next week I guarantee you, they will lose for the second game in a row and start the season 0-2.
Next week Miami will host the Indianapolis Colts on Monday night football. The Colts come off a 14-12 victory over the Jaguars. When you talk about the Colts you have to mention QB Peyton Manning. Even with the release of Marvin Harrison last year, Manning still has receiver Reggie Wayne to throw the ball too. With Harrison gone, I would expect Wayne to have a lot more passes thrown his way this year. He could be in for 100 catch season.
My three keys to winning
1. Repeat after me, “Don’t turn the ball over”. If Miami even turns it over two times this week, I fear the Colts will make them pay for it dearly.
2. Please, throw the ball down the field. It seemed that every passing play that was called were all short routes. Not once did they Miami try and throw the ball deep. Instead the Falcons just sat on all short routes and Miami’s passing game became non existent.
3. Must apply pressure on Peyton Manning if that’s possible. If Manning sits back their like Ryan did last week, it will be a long night.
My prediction
Colts- 27
Dolphins-10
Manning throws for two touchdown’s and Miami fans start yelling for the Chad Henne era to begin.
2009 Season Preview
With the start of the season only a week away, it’s time to break down the 2009 Miami Dolphins. They face many obstacles this season. Some wonder if last year’s 11-5 record was more of a fluke then anything else. Many are wondering if last year’s easy schedule was the reason. This year is going to be very critical for the team and the organization.
Miami did finish the preseason with a 4-0 record. How much momentum will it give them heading into the regular season? No one really knows for sure but you can bet Head Coach Tony Sparano and his staff have their work cut out for them.
Heading into camp, know one really knew for sure which player would start opposite Will Allen at the other corner spot. Some including myself thought it would 1st round draft pick Vontae Davis? The easy money was on him but it was second round pick Sean Smith from Utah who made a great impression on everyone. Smith sealed the job on Thursday when he made one of the most amazing interceptions that I have ever witnessed.
While running backwards against his man, Smith tapped the ball to him self and grabbed it with one arm and tip toed along the end zone line. Both feet came down before going out of bounds. It was truly amazing. Smith was supposed to be more of a project this coming season. Instead he is the one who has opened everyone’s eyes this camp.
To be honest, Vontae hasn’t played that well. He also was injured on Thursday night with apparent knee injury and most likely will be questionable heading into week one. It may take him a little more time to learn the system but I still feel that he will turn out to be a pretty good player too.
Another rookie that has caught the attention of everyone has been wide receiver Brian Hartline. A 4th round pick out of Ohio St, Hartline has show off a skill for having great hands and even better instincts on the field. When he was drafted, most figured Hartline would become a special team’s player. No one inviosned him having a chance to have a major role on the team in ’09. I still don’t imagine Hartline contributing much this season but it does bold well knowing that last year’s draft picks are already contributing for the team.
Everyone wondered what type of role would Jason Taylor have with the team? I was curious about that too. Matt Roth, the starter from last year will be out for the 1st six weeks of the season. This means that Taylor will have a chance to start and show everyone if he still has some of those skills that made him one of the best defensive players in the league. I happen to be one of those people who doubt if Taylor will have any impact on the team. I still think the signing of him was a huge mistake. Maybe he will prove me wrong.
Last year at this time no one had ever heard of the term “Wildcat” in relation to an offensive scheme in the NFL. Even I was clueless when I heard about it. This year it would seem that more then 50% of the team’s in the league are trying to run some form of it. Last year it was fun to watch. It dazzled the crowd and our imagination. Every week we were all left wondering what new wrinkle would be put in. Not many teams knew how to defend against it. Well this is a new season and stopping it will be on every team’s agenda this year.
What type of role will Pat White have in the wildcat? No one knows for sure but I happen to think this was one of the reasons why White was drafted. White could bring a new element to this offense. Miami could use him as a receiver if they chose too or perhaps play him in the quarterback spot in the formation. This could add a new dimension to this team.
Miami has high hopes for guards Justin Smiley and Donald Thomas. Smiley was playing well before he was knocked for the year with an injury. Thomas on the other hand only played one game. With both players healthy this season, this could be a huge bonus for the Miami running game.
Last year, towards the end of the season the running game became non existent. Too many time’s Chad Pennington was getting hit often and the wildcat experiment came crashing down. All due to not having both Smiley and Thomas healthy. Having both these players back on the line and healthy will be a huge boost to the team. If the Dolphins are going to successful, they need both these players on the field together.
Is this the year Ted Gin finally steps up and become the wide receiver we all think he can become? I personally think he is more of a number two receiver rather then a number one but, let’s give him another chance and see what he can do. At the end of last season, Ginn actually started to play some of his best ball. He averaged over five catches a game and scored four touchdowns over the last eight games. Those numbers won’t blow you away but they better then nothing.
I personally think that Davone Bess is the best receiver on the team. The un-drafted rookie out of Hawaii finished with 54 receptions last season. Bess plays very hard and with a lot more heart and passion then our own Mr.Ginn. At times it would seem that the game comes much easier to Bess. Ginn at times struggle’s to get off the line. Sure, I know Bess isn’t going to become the next Jerry Rice but I would take him ahead of Teddy Ginn any day.
Last year I predicted that the Dolphins would finish the season with a 5-11 record. I had my doubts that Sparano could change this team that quick. I am not sure he got the credit that he deserved. I gave this year’s prediction a lot of thought and came up with a record of 8-8. The way I see it, this team will have a bull’s eye on them all year. There are the defending AFC east champs. I also expect teams not to take them so lightly this year. It should be fun to watch them all year long. The expectations will be huge but are they a one year wonder, a fluke or are they finally back to being a legit NFL team? I will have that answer for in December. Check back then.
The Dolphins 1st opponent this year is the Atlanta Falcons. Just like Miami last year, Atlanta had a remarkable turn around season and made the playoffs. Coach of the year, Mike Smith did a marvelous job with this team. Rookie quarterback, Matt Ryan was superb as was running back Michael Turner. The Falcons added tight end Tony Gonzalez from the Chiefs this off-season and he is sure to become a big contributor to this offense.
Another player Miami must defend well is wide receiver Roddy White. Whoever gets the assignment to play against White will have to be on his game. White is one of the best young receivers in the game.
My three keys to winning
1. The secondary had its problems during the preseason. Now would be a good time to pick up their play. Containing White is going to be important. Gonzalez on the other hand seems to always have a big day against the Dolphins. He must be kept in check or else it could be a long day for the Dolphins defense.
2. Ball control is vital. One of the reasons the Dolphins were 11-5 last year was because of ball control. They ranked in the top 5 in the league at keeping the opponents defense on the field last year. They must do that again come this Sunday.
3. Would be ideal and wise to give Ronnie Brown the ball early and often. I think Brown is the key to this team’s success this year. Getting him off to a fast start would be a good move by offensive coordinator Dan Henning.
My Prediction
Dolphins-27
Falcons-24
What else is new, another close game win by the Dolphins to start the year. Carpenter bangs in two bombs from 40 yards plus and the Dolphins start at 1-0.
By: David Gorman
How Does Miami Stack up vs. their 2009 Opponents?
In 2008, the Miami Dolphins shocked the media, the NFL, their fans, and even themselves by rising from the proverbial ashes and making their first trip to the playoffs in eight years. Miami was quickly shown the door by a superior Ravens squad, but the fact that they made the post season at all left even the most knowledgeable observers scratching their heads.
To say that the skepticism about Miami hasn’t died down over the course of the offseason would be to put it mildly. Vegas has Miami finishing last in the AFC East with 7.0 wins, while no other division champ from 2008 is slated to finish any worse than second in their respective division. The message being sent in from the Football Gods is clear: Miami was a fluke in 2008, and they wont be making a return trip to the post season 2009. Having pored over all of the Dolphin film from last year I can say yeah they were a fluke in 2008; but in 2009 they’re going to a “fluke” all over again.
Why all the pessimism about Miami’s chances? It‘s the schedule, stupid. For starters, replace Miami’s 2008 games against Oakland, St. Louis, Seattle, Kansas City, San Francisco & Denver with 2009 games against Tennessee, Indianapolis, Carolina, New Orleans, Atlanta, and Pittsburgh. On paper that 6-0 mark in 2008 is a 3-3 mark at best in 2009, minus 3 wins right there. In an under the radar amendment to the latest spending bill, Congress passed a law mandating that all non-Patriot AFC East teams be taxed 1 victory in 2009, its called the “Tom Brady Act” (“Patriot Act” was already taken) I believe. So dock Miami another win for that, and in mere seconds Miami’s 11-5 dream season has become a 7-9 reality check.
Hard to argue with a cold, clinical analysis like that, but allow me a few paragraphs to play devil’s advocate. It’s easy to cast off Miami’s wins against lesser teams, but when you take a look at the entirety of Miami’s schedule, their losses and wins, a more balanced picture may appear. Miami’s 6 losses came against the Ravens (twice), Patriots, Texans, Cardinals and Jets. The Ravens losses are very easy to explain, like a big brother putting a beat down on little brother. The Ravens won with the same strategy as Miami did, ball control offense and suffocating defense.
Chad Pennington and C Samson Satele were both beaten senseless while Ted Ginn avoided the ball like the it was Swine Flu. The Ravens O line opened holes for their trio of running backs, and kept Joe Flacco’s pockets cleaner than the ones on one of Pat Riley’s Armani suits. The results were predictable.
Miami’s other four losses were against teams that dissected thier shaky secondary, especially in early season losses to the Jets, Cardinals and Texans. In 2009, not only has Miami upgraded it’s secondary, they also added one of the leagues better pass rushers in Jason Taylor. JT wont be winning defensive player of the year, but he’ll bring the heat a lot more effectively than either Matt Roth or Charlie Anderson,. A more effective pass rush will help the younger but more talented defensive backs, so going airborne against the Fins shouldn’t be a part of as many offense‘s stimulus packages this year .
With their Achilles heel covered, beating the Dolphins could be a lot tougher than it was 2008. Taking a look at Miami’s 2009 schedule, I see plenty of good teams, but the NFL is all about matchups, and Miami matches up favorably with many of their foes. Between now and the start of the season, I’ll be breaking down Miami’s chances vs. all thirteen of their opponents. I doubt my synopsis will cause any rumblings in Vegas, but hopefully it’ll raise a few eyebrows.
Breaking down Miami’s chances in the AFC East: I’ve got them at 4-2 in the six games, leaving open the possibility of a loss to the Bills/Jets or an upset against the Patriots:
NY Jets: The Jets are going to pound the rock, play defense, protect the ball and protect their young QB (see 2008 Ravens). Baltimore used that strategy to bludgeon Miami (and many others) into submission, but Rex Ryan will find, as Marvin Lewis discovered when he took the top job in Cincinnati, that defensive coordinators leaving Baltimore cant take the Raven’s D with them. That didn’t stop Ryan from trying though. FS Jim Lehonard and WILB Bart Scott both made the trip north to Jersey, stopping to grab ex-Eagle Lito Sheppard along the way.
Ryan’s modus operandi may work against some teams, but it’s unlikely get the job done against the Dolphins. While Miami has several different ways to move the ball and keep opposing defenses off balance, (run, short/medium pass, wildcat etc) the Jets will rely on two runs and a pass to either Leon Washington or Dustin Keller to make first downs. One trick ponies will have a tough time against the Dolphins, or any other good defense for that matter.
Chad Pennington was asked to pass on first down 50% of the time last year, while throwing just 7 interceptions. That’s air tight ball security by almost any standard. Pennington’s first down passing kept defenses honest and allowed the Dolphins to eke out a few running yards even though their O line seldom opened holes or moved the line of scrimmage.
Conversely, the Jets will find it difficult to balance the need to keep opposing defenses off balance with the equally important task of protecting their young signal callers, rookie Mark Sanchez and virtual rookie Kellen Clemens. Plainly speaking, when teams stack the box or blitz on early downs, are the Jets going to counter with passes, trusting their suspect WRs to get open and their green QBs to make the right decisions? They‘ll need to in order to beat the Fins, and I don’t see it happening. Advantage Miami.
Buffalo Bills:
Not sure where to start with the Bills, except to say that they at least will be going out in a spectacular crash a la the Hindenburg rather than quietly sinking beneath the waves like the Titanic. Terrell Owens is still a top tier WR but he’s no longer a game changer, if he was, he’d still be in Dallas. The Bills already had a deep and talented WR corps with Lee Evans, Josh Reed, Roscoe Parrish, James Hardy & Steve Johnson, so Owens’ arrival will do more to improve the team’s season ticket sales than it’s roster deficiencies.
Having 2, 3, 4 good WR’s is like having 2, 3, 4, shooting guards. It adds talent, but it can also hurt rhythm and cohesiveness (see Dallas). In addition, Buffalo is a cold weather, bad weather team (40 mph winds in the season finale vs. NE last year), so investing heavily in the already healthy passing game is a mistake both tactically and strategically.
The Bills would have been better served to shore up their O line and pass rush, two areas that actually cost them games last year. LG Eric Wood and RG Andy Levitre will be starting from day one on an offensive line where not a single starter is returning to the position they played last year. A lack of continuity and experience along the O line invites a deluge of blitzes, stunts, and D line games. I expect the Bills front to spring more leaks than the Clinton White House, and the hyper charged WR corps will find it tough to catch passes while their QB is flat on his back. Add in an average defense with a sub par pass rush, and what you have is a team unlikely to reach the 7.5 wins that they’re being predicted to finish with. Advantage Miami.
New England:
Outside of the Steelers and Ravens, this is the AFC‘s divisional marquee match-up of the year in my opinion. Miami was the last team to beat the B & B Win Factory before their 21 game win streak from 06‘-08‘, and Miami was the team that brought the streak to an abrupt end, with an assist from the wildcat. If you think the 38-13 win in Week 3 of 08’ was impressive, the 2006 win was a 21-0 win on Monday night, by a 7-9 Dolphins team, not an 11-5 division winner. Oh and yes, Tom Brady actually played in the 06’ game. Miami’s wins against the Patriots are no fluke, the Dolphins have always played tough vs. New England. But I’m not crazy. Miami is uniquely designed to counter what the Pats like to do, but the talent gap remains and Tom Brady is one of the few superstars who is underrated.
You won't hear them admit it, but the Fins’ brass probably made most of their offseason moves with the Patriots in mind. Miami’s secondary needed therapy after the abuse they took in the teams’ second meeting last year. And that was against Matt Cassel. Miami’s secondary will be new and improved, but the B&B pass attack will be old and improved, which is almost as good. In addition, the Pats made secondary improvements of their own, bringing in the ancient one, Sean Springs and ex-Lion Leigh Bodden, to hold the line while their young corners Johnathan Wilhite, Terrence Wheatley, Darius Butler, come of age.
Tyrone McKenzie was drafted to ease the sting from Mike Vrabel’s departure, and Derrick Burgess was acquired to replace McKenzie, who tore an ACL in off season work outs. The Pats wont be defensive juggernauts, but they wont need to be so long as Brady, Moss and Welker are lighting up the scoreboard. The fireworks will continue until the pass protection wears down, or the cold weather arrives, which ever happens first. The Pats will be favored in both games vs. Miami, but they’ll be hard fought contests, and I would be surprised if Miami steals one. If the teams do split, expect a repeat of last year when the home team lost both times. Advantage: New England.
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Miami Dolphins Training Camp Report: The Crowded Secondary
In 2008, the Miami Dolphins secondary was, to be frank, the weak link on the team. Chris Crocker and Renaldo Hill both struggled mightily at free safety while Jason Allen, Nate Jones, and Joey Thomas were average at best in nickel situations. Andre Goodman overcame early struggles to have a solid season, his improved play, along with solid performances from CB Will Allen and SS Yeremiah Bell allowed Miami to survive, especially against the league’s offensively challenged teams.
The gelling of the secondary over the course of the year mirrored the team’s ascent from doormat to playoff contender, as Miami overcame a 2-4 start to finish 11-5.
Nevertheless, Miami went into the off-season determined to beef up the Achilles heel of their stop unit, using two of their top three draft picks on CBs Sean Smith and Vontae Davis, and a 5th rounder on S Chris Clemons. Miami also signed (rescued) S Gibril Wilson from the purgatory in Oakland, and CB Eric Green, who spent last year in Arizona. It remains to be seen how effective these changes will be, but if all goes according to plan, Miami’s secondary will be bigger, faster, and deeper than at any time since the Jimmy Johnson days of Patrick Surtain, Sam Madison, & Terrell Buckley.
How bad was Miami’s secondary last year? Pretty awful. The Dolphins ranked 25th in the NFL in passing yards allowed, which is no crime, especially for a team who spends much of its time in the lead. But key lapses in Miami’s back end led to 4 of the five regular season losses and threatened to strangle the life out of the season before it even got off the ground.
In Week 1, Andre Goodman and Chris Crocker were torched by Jets WR Jericho Cotchery on a play action pass that led to a 56 yard score. In the 2nd quarter of the game, on a 4th and 13, Renaldo Hill got lost in coverage, allowing a wounded duck to fall into the hands of Chansi Stuckey for 39 yards and another Jets TD. Miami would lose, 20-14. The next week in Arizona, Crocker blew his coverage assignment on the game’s opening series, allowing Anquan Boldin to waltz 79 yards for the easiest TD he’ll ever score. On the next series, Crocker was totally abused by Larry Fitzgerald, suffering two broken ankles and a case of hurt feelings as Fitzgerald juked him into submission after catching a short pass over Will Allen. Fitzgerald’s 20 yard catch turned into a 75 yard gain courtesy of Crocker’s pathetic tackling attempt, the Cards would tack on another score and the rout was on.
Crocker was released, and replaced by Renaldo Hill who played poorly all year long but never gave up the long, embarrassing plays that Crocker the double agent allowed during his brief stint as the starter. In Week 6, Miami’s secondary was grilled to the tune of 178 yards by Andre Johnson, with another 168 yards between Andrew Walter and Owen Daniels. Despite scoring a go ahead TD with less than two minutes to go, the Dolphins allowed Houston to march down the field for a winning score courtesy of a series of blown coverages and poor plays on the ball, especially by Yeremiah Bell on a crucial 4th and 10.
In a week 12 showdown with the Patriots, Miami allowed Matt Cassel to pass for 415 yards, Wes Welker went for 120 yards, and Randy Moss added 125 yards and three scores, making both Jason Allen and Andre Goodman look foolish in the process. The only other team to beat Miami all year was Baltimore, so I don’t think it’s a reach to say Miami’s secondary was the main culprit in their losses and struggles on defense in 2008.
After making the aforementioned additions, Miami’s weakness now appears to be a strength. The corners who were brought in are big and fast, closer to WRs speed wise while closer to safeties size wise, a brief run down:
Vontae Davis ( 5‘11” 203; #24) was a stud at Illinois who fell in the draft in part because of concerns about his character. His older brother Vernon is a known headache in San Francisco and teams were understandably cautious. Davis has excellent size and good speed for a corner. He tackles well, gets a good jam on opposing wideouts, he also possesses the recovery speed to get back into the play should he miss the jam. Davis has had an up and down camp so far, he’s playing behind Will Allen, Miami’s clear number one corner and is being groomed to take over once Allen (31 yrs old) departs.
Sean Smith (6’3” 214; #31) is a freakishly large corner who played WR for much of his time in high school and in College at Utah. Smith moved to corner as a sophomore and played FS as a junior, so he remains a raw talent but he has played well in camp and is currently battling veteran Eric Green for Miami’s #2 CB position. Despite his size, Smith is not an overly physical player, and he struggles with smaller, quicker receivers. He does however, have elite ball skills, and with his size, reach, and wingspan, he can normally make plays on the ball so long as he is anywhere in the neighborhood when it arrives.
Will Allen (5’10” 190; #25) is clearly Miami’s most talented and consistent defender in the secondary. Allen battled a groin injury, among other things late in the season, yet he still managed to play well. Despite covering the opposing team’s best WR, Allen maintained a respectable 52% success rate on passes thrown in his direction, and even slid inside to cover dangerous slot guys like Denver’s Eddie Royal and New England’s Wes Welker. In addition to providing solid cover skills, Allen is a strong run defender and open field tackler, he often reached the ball carrier quicker than his supposed force guy, Renaldo Hill, but I wont beat Hill any more than I already have, he’s Denver’s problem at this point.
Eric Green (5’11” 196 #21) ended last year in the doghouse while the Cardinals made their improbable run to the Super Bowl. Green started early in the year but lost his job to rookie Dominique Rodgers Cromartie, unless he lights it up in camp, the preseason, and the regular season, a similar fate may await him this year.
Jason Allen (6’1” 200 #32) has the size, the speed, the physical tools to play either corner or safety, and he has the pedigree as a 1st round pick out of Tennessee. However, Allen has never been able to translate his physical tools into on field execution, and in his fourth year as a pro, his job is no longer safe. Allen was a valuable special teams performer last year, and that may save his tuna, but Nate Jones played well last year as well, so the fifth CB slot will likely be up in the air all the way until the final roster cuts are made.
Nate Jones, Joey Thomas, Will Billingsley. Jones has a legitimate shot to make the team but he’ll have to beat out Jason Allen to do it. Thomas and Billingsley are loooong shots and are likely auditioning for spots on other teams at this point.
Yeremiah Bell (6’0” 205 #37) was Miami’s enforcer in the secondary last year. Once teams figured out that running at Matt Roth and Bell (strong side) was a bad idea, they began running at Joey Porter and Renaldo Hill (weak side), often sending a TE in motion late to further the advantage. Miami’s primary adjustment was to have Bell slide over with the TE to help maintain the integrity of the run defense. Bell was Miami’s leading tackler with 120 stops, but he left much to be desired in coverage. Bell was thrown at more than any other safety in the league, yet he failed to register a single interception. In terms of pass coverage, Bell is more effective the closer he is to the line of scrimmage, if Gibril Wilson can hold down the deep middle, it’ll free Bell up to wreak havoc on digs, crossing routes and other short patterns.
Gibril Wilson (6’0” 205 #28) was the starting FS on the Giants championship team in 2007 before reaching for the riches in Oakland in 2008. Wilson was a tacking machine for the Raiders, registering 129 stops including 96 solos. Like Bell, Wilson was more effective in run support than he was in coverage, though he did manage to intercept 2 of the 46 passes that thrown in his direction.
As I was scouting Wilson & fellow dolphin Jake Grove, I noticed that Wilson had an alarming habit of allowing WRs to get behind him, especially in Cover 2 or Cover 4 defenses, he was burnt badly for a long score in a lopsided loss to the Ravens. Both Bell & Wilson are hitters, and they’ve been quiet in the non-contact Miami training camp, we’ll have to wait until the preseason games begin to see just how well they play together.
Tyrone Culver (5’11” 210 #29) came on in mid season 2008 to establish himself as a reliable safety in the nickel and dime packages. Culver’s emergence freed Bell to head hunt on underneath routes and gave Hill a reliable partner in Miami’s two deep coverages. Culver didn’t play much, but he played well when he did, and he entered the season entrenched as Miami’s dime corner, until…
Chris Clemons (6’1” 210; #30) has been all over the place ever since he landed in Miami for mini-camp back in May. Clemons was a mainstay in Clemson’s secondary but was largely overshadowed by fellow ex-Tiger and current Cowboy S Michael Hamlin. Clemons has legitimate 4.4 speed and packs a serious punch as a hitter while also flashing good ball skills and awareness. I doubt he can supplant Culver however, and with Wilson and Bell the clear cut starters at safety, Clemons will have to make his mark on special teams. He will provide excellent depth should Miami sustain any injuries on their back line.
There’s no such thing as a sure thing in the NFL, but Fins fans should take comfort in the fact that the Renaldo Hill has been replaced by an upper echelon safety, while Jason Allen, Nate Jones, Will Billingsley, and Joey Thomas, all of whom saw extensive time in 2008, are struggling to even make the team in 2009.
The influx of size, youth, and talent in Miami’s secondary is unmistakable, and it comes not a moment to soon. Miami will run the gauntlet schedule wise, facing a series of aerial attacks that would put the Tuskegee Airmen to shame. The Fins begin the season against Matt Ryan, Peyton Manning, and Phillip Rivers before facing Terrell Owens, Lee Evans and the Bills.
After a brief respite vs. the Jets, Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, Tom Brady (again), T.O. and Evans (again), Steve Smith and Andre Johnson come calling. Needless to say, Miami’s secondary will go from the frying pan to the fire in 2009. The Dolphins beefed up their back line in the off-season, come September, it’ll be time to see who‘s goose will be getting cooked.
Training Camp Preview
With the opening of training camp only 10 days away, it’s time to get back to work. For the defending division champs Miami Dolphins, this off-season was a quiet one. The signing of safety Gabril Wilson was as exciting as it got around here. The draft got off to a great start with the picks of cornerbacks Vontae Davis and Sean Smith. By the time it was over, it sort of made you feel confused.
Until camp opens the Miami Dolphins have a few issues and concerns that need to be addressed. For starters which cornerback will be starting opposite Will Allen come opening day? Well if you ask Head Coach Tony Sparano all he will say is that it’s an open competition for the spot.
Let’s look at the four contestants. There is veteran Eric Green who is in his 1st year in Miami. Green started nine games for the Cardinals last year and finished with one interception. There is three year veteran Jason Allen, who also happens to be a former 1st round pick. To say that Allen has been a disaster in Miami is an understatement. Last but not least are rookies, Vontae Davis and Sean Smith.
To me, Green is more of a dime/nickel back who can bring much needed experience at the position. Jason Allen to me is the odd man out here. They tried him at corner then safety and then moved him back to corner. They have tried and tried as hard as they can to make this guy a good player but in the end he just isn’t that good. When he does eventually get on the field it looks as he has no clue what he is doing. He has blown assignments and is not the quickest corner out their on the field. Receivers have an easy time just blowing right by him.
Rookies Vontae Davis and Sean Smith to me are the future. Davis is very quick and has great hands. The one problem that often gets Vontae in trouble is his ego. Vontae will gamble way too much out their. In the college game, you can take a few more chances on the passes. The talent level in the NFL is exceptional. In the college game, the talent is mediocre. In the NFL Davis will have to learn how to play the ball. It might take him some time but in the end, I think everyone is going to like the results they see in him.
On the other side we have Sean Smith. A second round pick from Utah, Smith is big and physical. Listed at 6’3, he is the biggest corner in the pros right now. Sean may need a year to learn to use his size to his advantage. In early May, Smith got a chance to work with the 1st team defense and impressed a lot of players and coaches with his natural talent. He is someone to keep an eye out for.
My guess is that the starting job will come down to Green and Davis. Jason Allen will most likely and hopefully be gone by September. Smith will have a huge impact on this team just not this year.
Another perplexing question that must be answered is what to do with Jason Taylor? For many years, Taylor was a starter in Miami but after one season in Washington it seems that age and nagging injuries have finally caught up to him. Taylor registered only 3 sacks last year. What role will he play in Miami? Can he still rush the quarterback effectively? That remains to be seen.
One thing that he can bring to this team is experience. Beside Joey Porter and Jason Ferguson, most of the front line player’s on defenses are very young. My prediction is that Taylor will be used in passing situations. If he stills has some speed left in his tank, watch out. One thing is for certain; Taylor is here to stay in Miami…for now at least.
When the Dolphins spent a 2nd round pick on quarterback Pat White, some experts were confused. I must admit I was too but it seems to be clear to me on what their true intention is. The writing is on the wall and the Pat White experiment might actually be fun to watch or maybe not. General manager Jeff Ireland was ecstatic to get White. I would say about 50% of die hard Dolphin fans were not. Unfortunately for us, our thoughts mean little.
So what waits ahead for White in Miami? It would seem that White will get his wish and compete as a quarterback come camp. On the flip side, while he learns to play the QB spot, the Dolphins will use his speed and athleticism to their advantage in the wildcat formation.
It would appear that White will be used in only a number of plays in the wildcat formation this year. Perhaps to just get his feet wet. He also could be used as a receiver or kickoff specialist as some scouts have predicted. He does happen to have blazing speed which would be a plus to have in the kicking game. As far as letting him try his hand as the QB, well I just don’t know about that. Let’s not forget Chad Pennington is still here for at least one more season and Chad Henne is more then likely the QB of the future.
White does have a strong arm but he is lacking consistency. Another factor may be his size. Pat is only 6 feet tall and some even question if he is smaller then that. Miami needs to keep it simple for Pat. Use him in the wildcat packages and special teams. Let him even throw a pass or two now and then. I just don’t see him becoming the future QB in Miami. At the end of the day, I just hope Miami didn’t waste a pick on a player that is going to be on the field for 5-10 plays a game. I hope for their sake they made the right choice.
Miami Brings Back DE Jason Taylor
A few weeks ago Miami took a leap of faith and signed linebacker Jason Taylor. Just a year ago Taylor was begging Miami management for a ticket out of town. It’s funny how winning makes a player want to come back to a team that he wanted no part to do with.
Taylor signed a one year deal laced with incentives. He is coming off his worst year ever in the NFL. Some scouts say Taylor is showing his age and has lost his quickness. That remains to be seen but I hoping for the best. I personally don’t like the move at all.
My only hope is that he understands his role and doesn’t take a lot of playing time away from rookie Cameron Wake, who was signed this past off-season from the CFL. If Taylor can come in and help with the pass rush I will be ecstatic. If he comes here with that lousy attitude then I don’t want him at all.
Two other players that might find themselves unemployed from the Miami Dolphins are receiver Earnest Wilford and safety Jason Allen. Wilford has been a disappointment since he signed a big contract last year. He was deactivated for most of the season last year. I would be shocked to see Wilford in a Dolphin uniform come September.
Another player that I would be happy to see go is Jason Allen. Words cannot describe how much I think this guy is a total waste of time. His attitude stinks and his work ethic is even worse. The day he was drafted by Nick Saban was the day all Dolphins fans become ill. Allen hasn’t lived up to his 1st round billing at all. From missing tackles left and right and not knowing his proper assigment when he plays in the dime packages has grown too old for me. We can only hope come July he will no longer be wearing a Miami Dolphin uniform.
With the start of training camp just about six weeks away I will be taking a much needed vacation. I shall return in late July and start getting us ready for the 2009 upcoming season.
By David Gorman
A Second Opinion: 2009 Miami Dolphins Draft Review
The most shocking thing about the Dolphins 2009 draft was not Pat White, nor the fact that they still lack a marquee receiver, but that Bill Parcells did not pull his signature move of drafting a cornerstone linebacker. One can set his watch to The Tuna’s draft habits: LT (Giants), Willie McGinest (Patriots), James Farrior (Jets), DeMarcus Ware (Cowboys)… He always takes a QB feasting linebacker and typically in the first round. I suppose the Dolphins will have to make it with Matt Roth and Joey Porter for one more year. At any rate, lets take a look at who the Fins did pick:
Round 1 (#25 overall) - Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois: This was an outstanding pick blending a team need with superior individual talent. This pick is kind of like when you got shut down by the “hot chick” in high school, leaving you single when the smoking Brazilian exchange student came mid-year and needed a study partner to learn English. Davis was widely considered to be the 2nd-best corner in this draft behind Malcom Jenkins who had the Ohio St pedigree and publicity. However Davis’ forty time was sub-4.5 (more than can be said about Jenkins), not to mention that Davis pumped out 25 bench press reps compared to 13 from Jenkins. Hopefully that upper body strength will help Vontae battle the likes of new Bill Terrell Owens in the bump-n-run. Now we can only hope Mr. Davis adapts better the pro game than his brother Vernon.
Round 2 (#44) – Pat White, QB/RB/WR, West Virginia: The Fins had two of the most intriguing picks in the entire draft, Pat White being the first. I may spend a little time on Pat as I think some people are confused as to why this was a good pick. Yea, White may not be a full time QB in the NFL… but that’s the best part about him! I have heard talk that the 2nd round is not the time to pick a “situational” player. White may only touch the ball 7-10 times a game, but I submit this to you, reader: How are White’s 7 touches (at 3 different positions) different from say, Chad Johnson’s 7 catches in a game? The point is WRs, RBs, and guys like White may only touch the ball a limited amount of time, but they create matchup problems and free up other players just by being on the field. The pick is good, but for this pick to be great, it will take creativity by the coaching staff, and I think last year they proved that they are willing to think outside the box. Hopefully they will bring Pat White with them.
Round 2 (#61) – Sean Smith, CB, Utah: And now for the second most intriguing pick in the 2009 draft… Sean Smith! This guy could potentially be a revolutionary player. Yes, revolutionary. It is no secret that for years NFL receivers have been getting bigger and bigger. CBs have not, however, which is one reason why larger receivers (see: Anquan Boldin) have flourished. Enter Sean Smith, all 6’4” 214 lbs. of him, from The University of Utah. He’s a bit of a project, however if he pans out, Smith could change the way we scout and evaluate the CB position.
Round 3 (#87) – Patrick Turner, WR, Southern Cal: Turner was an absolute beast in high school, earning 5 star status from Rivals.com. However this productivity did not transfer directly to college as he underachieved at USC (only 7 TDs in his first 3 years). Despite his slow maturation, Turner had 10 TDs as a senior and may just now be learning how to run routes and not just rely on his size (6’5” 225 lbs). If nothing else, this pick gives the Fins an immediate red zone threat with potential No. 1 WR upside. NFL Draft Dog had Turner rated a third round prospect before the draft in their 2009 NFL Draft Value Board.
Round 4 (#108) – Brian Harline, WR, Ohio St: Bit of a head scratcher here. Hartline was a moderately productive WR as a Buckeye, totaling 1,429 yards and 12 TDs in his career. He doesn’t have great speed or size (6’2” 186 lbs.) However, I believe he has the “little things” down and is a quality football player and person. Possibly a reliable, sure-handed slot guy for a team that really just needs more warm bodies to line up outside.
Round 5 (#161) – John Nalbone, TE, Monmouth (NJ): Ok, I wont even pretend to have any scouting opinion of this guy from D-IAA Monmouth University. But I hear he’s a pretty good blocker.
Round 5 (#165) – Chris Clemons, S, Clemson: Overshadowed at Clemson by teammate Michael Hamlin, Clemons boasts 4.4 speed and consistency in coverage. Likely a special teams prospect at first, this round 5 selection may develop into a productive starter.
Round 6 (#181) – Andrew Gardner, OT, Georgia Tech: Massive tackle who could potentially add weight to his 6’7” frame. Part of an O-line that paved the way for 3552 rushing yards (273 per game) in 2009, good for 4th in D-IA.
Round 7 (#214) – JD Folsom, OLB, Weber St: Rounding out the class is a gritty LB from the hills of Idaho. Folsom brings a blue-collar attitude and above average quickness to the linebackers corps.
So, ladies and gentlemen, thats your 2009 Miami Dolphins draft class. I think this could be a boom or bust class with a number of high-risk/high-reward guys like Smith, White, and Turner. I think the draft is more about filling gaps than getting the “hottest” prospect and I feel the Fins did a great job of addressing team needs. Unfortunately, there are too many “ifs” for this draft to get an elite rating. Here’s to hoping for a few more Brazilian exchange students in the 09 class.
Final grade: B.
A Closer Look at the 2009 NFL Draft
When the Dolphins selected Illinois cornerback Vontae Davis with their 1st overall pick, you had the feeling that this was going to be a great draft. Right away Bill Parcells and Jeff Ireland addressed a position they needed too. However, after the pick of Davis we were all left scratching our heads and asking why or who is that guy.
I came away feeling confused. I know Parcells and Ireland had a plan but to use picks on wide receiver’s Patrick Turner and Brian Hartline left me wanting to know why. Neither player will make any impact this coming season. Hartline is projected as more of a special team’s player. Now I ask, why would I waste a draft pick on a player who more then likely will be cut come August or just become part of the practice squad. If you wanted a player like that, you should have signed a cheap free agent or two.
The only other pick that I really liked was that of Utah cornerback Sean Smith. The 6’3 cornerback is a beast at his current position. Some say Smith would make a better safety then corner. I tend to disagree with them. With Will Allen a free agent after this year, it would seem that Smith will have every opportunity to win himself a starting role with the team next year.
With the pick of Davis, Miami now has themselves a true playmaker at the corner position. I think with all the negative press about Davis, some team’s stayed away from him fearing the worse. I think when it came down to it, Parcells and company saw a player who talents certainly outweighed all the negatives. Look for Davis to be one half of the starting cornerback tandem come September.
One pick that definitely drew me for a loop was that of Quarterback Pat White. Why would you want this guy? There is now way White beats out Chad Henne next year for the starting Qb job. His talents are more suited as a running back or wide receiver. From the look of it, Miami intends to use White in their wildcat package. I have no problem with that, but the issue that I take with them is why use one of your two second round picks on this guy.
To me a 2nd round pick should be used on a player that is going to get a lot of playing time. To be quite blunt about White, he will be lucky if he gets to be involved in ten plays or more a game. That is what makes me so confused and angry about this pick. I am not trying to take anything away from Pat White; I just don’t see how he fits into the long terms plans of this team.
In the 3rd round things went from confusing to who is that guy? The player in question was USC Wr, Patrick Turner. I’m under the impression that both Parcells and Ireland saw something special from him to even draft him. Let’s assume for a second that Turner is the big receiver threat this teams needs. Turner is listed at 6’5 and did have ten touchdowns last year.
On the negative side of things, He does not have great speed and really never lived up to his potential with the Trojans. USC receivers have not had great success in the NFL lately. Players such as: Mike Williams, Kerry Colbert and Dwayne Jarrett have all been busts. Will Turner end up like the rest of them? Time will tell but I’m banking he will join those three as NFL disappointments.
The most curious of picks on the 2nd day would turn out to be Ohio St. wide out Brian Hartline. Why you ask is this pick curious, well I shall tell you. Even thou I hate the pick of Patrick Turner, I understand it. He is a tall target; Miami needed a Wr like that. On the other hand I am clueless why Brian Hartline was drafted. He caught only 21 passes last season and doesn’t really offer much. I have read that he plays the game smart and could play a vital role to our special teams.
Well then how nice for him. My feeling is that you won’t be seeing much of Hartline come Sundays. He brings nothing to the table and I don’t see how this team is better off with him on it.
One player that I think could help Miami is safety Chris Clemons. Last year at Clemson, Clemons had two picks to go along with 94 tackles. He has great speed and has even better range. He isn’t the greatest hitter back their but you got to like his play hard type of attitude. That is something I am sure caught the eyes of Dolphins management. Even with Yeremiah Bell and Gibril Wilson entrenched at both starting safety spots, Clemons offers depth and could also play in some nickel and dime packages.
I will spare you the boring details with who Miami took in the 6th and 7th round. Chances are they won’t be around come September. If they do end up making the team, then good for them.
Last year I choose not to give a grade based on that I wanted to see how the players performed before I graded them. This year I am changing my mind and giving a grade. However I will give two entirely grades. For Vontae Davis, Sean Smith and Chris Clemons I give the Dolphins an A. For players like Patrick Turner, Pat White and Brian Hartline I give the Dolphins an D. I hope those bottom three prove me wrong but I doubt they will.
Mock Draft: Dolphin Style
In less then a week, the NFL will hold their annual football draft. All across the Untied States, football writers and analysts have been coming up with their own versions of a mock draft. Well I figured it was about time that I come up with my own. However this mock draft is a bit different. It’s geared more towards the only team that really matters to me: The Miami Dolphins.
What I tried to accomplish here is possibly pick the brain of General Manager Jeff Ireland and Head of Operations, Bill Parcells. It wasn’t easy but I think I came up with a great draft. Along the way, I tried my best to simulate what both Ireland and Parcells would do, given the situation. The one thing I can’t control is what Dolphin players or draft picks might be traded.
Bill Parcells was quoted saying he would love to have a few more picks, possibly twelve to be more accurate. Well, in order to achieve that goal, certain players might end up being traded. Two players who might be on the move are quarterback John Beck and safety Jason Allen. Another option might be to trade running back Ronnie Brown. I know there is a 10% chance of that happening but you never know with Bill Parcells. Well without further delay here is my mock draft. Please remember I welcome any feedback from it.
Round 1- Pick 25 – Vontae Davis- Illinois-CB-5’11- 203- Over the last few weeks Davis has seen his draft stock fall. It was 1st thought Davis would be a top 15 pick but lately his past troubles with coaches have caught up to him. During this past year at Illinois, it was rumored that Vontae clashed with coaches on a regular basis. Also factor in that some scouts say Davis has a poor attitude and work ethic. With all these problems some wonder if Jeff Ireland and Bill Parcells would even consider drafting him. I think the answer is very easy. His talents simply outweigh all the negatives. Davis has been compared to Ty Law. One thing that Parcells will definitely like about Davis would be his tackling ability. He is considered to be one of the best tackling corners in this year’s draft. Those qualities should be enough to entice Parcells to draft Vontae.
Round 2- Pick 44 (From Washington) - Clint Sintim-Virginia-OLB-6’3-256- Clint Sintim is an absolute beast. He finished the year with 11 sacks but I think the stat that really impresses me is his 13 tackles for a loss. He has a great attitude and could become that great pass rusher the Dolphins solely need. Getting Sintim would a blessing. He also would be an immediate upgrade over Matt Roth. Those are factors that are hard to over look.
Round 2- Pick 56- Kenny Britt-Rutgers-WR-6’2-218- It’s no secret that the Dolphins need a tall, physical receiver. It would seem to me that Kenny Britt would be a great fit for the Miami Dolphins. Britt knows how to use his size to his advantage. He would be the perfect red zone target for Chad Pennington. The only negative about Britt would be his attitude. He has been labeled a diva by some. I like to think some of these issues can be taken care of immediately with a disciplined coach. Once again his talents are too great to pass up. Given the proper discipline I think Britt would make a fine addition to this team.
Round 3- Pick 87- Antoine Caldwell- Alabama-C-6’3-309- It would be a nice pleasant surprise to find Caldwell still available in the 3rd round. Chances are he might be off the board. Caldwell is a bit of jack of all trades. He can play his natural position center but he also can play some guard. He is an intelligent player and his best assets might be his run blocking skills. With injuries to both guards last year and with the signing of center Jake Grove this pass off-season, Caldwell would be a great pick. Even if he had to sit and watch for a year, it would still be beneficial to have him on the team.
Round 4- Pick 108- (From Oakland) –Terrance Taylor-Michigan-DT-6’0-306- Taylor might be a bit undersized to play in a 3-4 scheme but his run stopping abilities quickly make you think otherwise. With Jason Ferguson getting older by the minute, Taylor would make a great replacement for him now. Taylor is a very tough and fierce competitor. You cannot have enough of those types of players on your team.
Round 5- Pick 161-Curtis Taylor-LSU-S- 6’2-209- Curtis finished the year with 43 tackles and two picks. Very quick and plays great both against the run and pass. With Yeremiah Bell and Gibril Wilson both entrenched at the safety spots, Taylor would be drafted more or less to add depth to the position. Another bonus to having him on the roster could be as a special team’s player. Taylor played some at LSU and his speed could be a great asset to that unit.
Round 6- Pick 181- (From Oakland) – Sammie Lee Hill-Stillman-DT-6’3-329- Bill Parcells old adage is that you can never have enough depth at one position. Also how can you pass up on a player like Sammie Lee Hill? Last year at Stillman, Hill had 7 sacks to go with 59 tackles. Not bad for a guy playing defensive tackle. Sammie Lee is very strong and powerful and does a great job at getting a great push upfront which is very important for a defensive tackle. I think he has all the tools that Bill Parcells looks for a in a tackle.
Round 7- Pick 214- Bear Pascoe-Fresno St.-TE- 6’5-241-Very good blocker who finished the year with 40 catches and four touchdowns. Could improve on running routes but for the most part is a good tight end. With both Anthony Fasano and David Martin free agents after the year, it would only make sense to draft one. Pascoe needs some work but in the long run he could become a steal.
Round 7- Pick 237- (From Arizona) - Joshua Mauga-Nevada-ILB-6’1-243- Great speed for some one his size and plays very aggressive. Plays the game very smart and doesn’t miss too many tackles. He played in the 3-4 scheme at Nevada and also could become another candidate for a special team’s role. Could end up being a player that Parcells could really grow to love.