Sunday's Gameballs

I'm baaaack!  What a great win, and it was even more fun being at the stadium to witness it.  Even though I was sitting in the nosebleeds.  The place was as loud as I think I've ever heard it for a regular season game, and I'm giving 75,000 mini gameballs to everyone in the crowd yesterday. (Including the Charger fans to rub it in, and the lone Jet fan just to piss him off.)  And for anybody else who went to the game, tell me that Darren Sproles doesn't damn near give you a heart attack everytime he gets his hands on the ball.  He was the only guy yesterday that had me seriously frightened.  But, on to the real point of this whole thing...

5. Greg Camarillo, Ted Ginn Jr, and David Martin - Camarillo and Ginn combined for 13 catches and 123 yards, and Camarillo scored our first TD of the game on a great catch in the endzone.  Chad P put the ball a little high, and Camarillo went up in front of the defender, brought the ball in, and took a shot on the way down.  He seemed like he was open all game long.  Ginn had one of his better games, even though there wasn't a long gain or TD, he was heavily involved, and made a terrific catch on the sideline to pick up a 3rd and 4 on our last drive to kill the clock.  And David Martin gets special mention for making a tough, tough grab on our 2nd TD drive, picking up 25 and getting whacked in the process.  He went out with his bell rung after the play, but showed alot of spunk hanging on to the ball.

4. The Kick Coverage Unit - Like I mentioned earlier, Darren Sproles is a heart attack waiting to happen, except it never happened yesterday.  Our kick coverage, which has been pretty bad so far this season, held one of the most explosive players in the league to 71 yards on 3 KRs.  I was extremely happy with the way we kept him from beating us with a ST TD.  All in all, their biggest (or smallest, depending on your point of view) threat was held in check in the kicking game, and I think it deserves recognition.

3. Chad Pennington - Honestly, what can you say about the guy?  76% completions against the San Diego Chargers?  Ridiculous.  I was absolutely shocked when I heard he was the most accurate passer in NFL history, but after watching him play this season, I can see why.  He just doesn't make a bad decision, doesn't put guys in bad spots, and rarely if ever makes a bad pass.  Every ball is on target and catchable.  And he shares well, 7 different players caught a pass, which I believe qualifies him for some Madden Challenge points.  I can't comprehend why the Jet fans hated him so much, the guy is incapable of making a killer mistake.  I'm sure they love the INT-machine gunslinger they got now though.  Silly Jets fans...  Anyway, back to Chad.  He even had a 5 yard run, which took about 13 seconds to happen, but damn.  Go Chad Go.  And I LOVED the excitement outta him after the first kneel down to end the game.  He is fully bought into winning as a Dolphin. 

2. Ronnie Brown and The Offensive Line - Once again, the running game was THE story on offense.  Indukwe played great, Carey was his usual beastly self, Satele is proving himself as a terrific player every week, and Smiley talks the talk and walks the walk.  But my favorite player of the day had to be Jake Long.  He is a Man.  It seemed like every 3rd down run went UJA (Up Jake's Ass) and they converted.  And putting him and Vernon on the right together in the Wildcat is scary.  They simply collapsed that side of the defense nearly every time.  As for Ronnie, he's all but locked up the Comeback POY award, leads the league in rushing TD's, and has a swagger about him that all great backs have.  He's a walking contradiction in the backfield, showing incredible patience and vision, then exploding through holes and defenders with anger and violence.  Favorite snippet of the day from Ronnie: before his TD run, he was pointing and laughing at a LB, like he was telling the poor sap the TD was coming right through his chest.  Ronnie Brown, he laughs at defenses. 

And the Number 1 Gameball goes to...  The Defense - Let's recap.  Last year's AFC Championship teams, the Chargers and Patriots, both boast explosive, high-powered offenses capable of putting 40 points up against any team on any day.  In back to back games, the Dolphins Defense held those 2 offenses to 23 points COMBINED.  San Diego has an offense stacked with Pro Bowlers, a sure-fire HOFer, and a former Dolphin (significant because they always seem to kill us when they return).  We hold them to one TD and one FG.  We go scoreless in the second half, and win anyway.  We give them 4 chances at a TD from inside the 5, and give up 0 points.  This was a vintage performance, reminding me of the days of Madison-Surtain, Zach in his prime, Timbo, D-bo, Ogunleye, JT, and the rest of the vaunted defenses of years ago.  They controlled the game, all game, limiting LT to 35 yards rushing, sacking Rivers twice, and holding Gates to 1 catch, for 12 yards.  The Goal Line Stand, a thing of beauty.  Happened in the endzone I was sitting in (albeit 3,000 rows up) and we were loud as can be when LT got stoned at the line. 

Let's not forget the Turd Sandwich of the Week.  I wanted to give it to our Return game, because of the lost fumble and Ginn's refusal to field a punt in the air, but Ted and Davone both contributed throughout the game in a big way, so I can't send them a Triangular TurdBurger this week.  So I'm giving it to the Lonely Jet Fan in the crowd.  What a loser.  Who wears a Brett Favre Jets Jersey to a Dolphins-Chargers game?  Needless to say we booed him and threw peanuts at him all game til he left with about 9 minutes to go.  So our whole section gave him a hearty J-E-T-S SUCK SUCK SUCK!! on his way outta the stadium.  Good times.  Enjoy your turd sandwich Jet fan.  And Go Phins!!!