We're "Play makers" Not Powerhouses
by The Phinisher on Dec 1, 2008 11:51 PM EST
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PrintBeen a long time since I've posted or commented here, but I have still been looking over this wonderful blog.
Matty I, you truly run a great shop here. How you deal with all these nuts is beyond me.
;-)
The one way the Dolphins are in the conversation with all those elite teams is turnovers.
We're tied for second in the league with a +10 turnover ratio. The top three are the Titans (+11) and then the Giants and the Dolphins.
I really think that is the number one reason this team has won so many games.
I mean, we're a team with a very weak offensive identity. We don't dominate in the running game and if anything, we're a scrappy (not powerful) passing team.
The offensive line has many questions along it. Samson Satele can't handle 3-4 nose tackles. Vernon Carey is underachieving. Ndukwe stinks. Smiley and Long have been the heart and soul of the line and now Smiley's gone (and some credit has to go to the improved blocking of David Martin and Anthony Fasano - those of you that have been around this site know how I feel about Martin - he nearly got John Beck killed last year).
The key is that our defense can play very stubbornly and we take the ball away at the right times. On the offensive side Chad Pennington is incredible at not turning the ball over. He also makes the plays when they're needed.
The 2008 Miami Dolphins are play makers, not powerhouses.
Just think, one pick thrown by CP on last Sunday against the Rams and the game could have ended completely differently.
My point is that I think that the Phins protecting the football and creating turnovers is as good as an extra 1,000 yards on offense.
This fanpost was written by one of The Phinsider's registered users.
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Any Thoughts?
On this outrageous claim, issued by I, The Phinisher, that we’re related to elite teams?
www.thephinisher.com
I can't argue
that’s one of the most telling statistics in the league, because turnovers give your opponent an extra chance to score, and takes away a scoring chance for you. It more than likely gives your opponent good field position. It’s a crippling thing to happen for a team.
"I throw better than anybody in college and I can throw with anybody in the pros. There, that's what I think."
"I've been a Dolphin for 17 years, and I'll be a Dolphin for the rest of my life. That will never change."
- Dan Marino aka Quarterback God
by Little Nicky 21 on Dec 2, 2008 11:29 AM EST up reply actions
Plus Turnover Ratio...
definitely a positive metric. But as your title implies…‘Play making’ that leads to the plus t/o ratio needs the talent behind it to consistently convert that advantage into convincing wins. IMO, our Dolphins are showing tremendous commitment to executing a well crafted/coached gameplan on both sides of the ball. Maximizing the talents they bring to the field.
"Lighten Up Francis"
SGT. Hulka (Stripes)
and coupling that
with a very W E A K schedule they are winning…
seriouly had they played last season’s schedule this year, would they have 5 wins right now?
the phins haven’t played nor beaten a good team all year… it’s a shame that this isn’t the rotation for next season
when the talent level should be a little better/deeper.
by W NY Fins Fan on Dec 3, 2008 3:04 AM EST up reply actions
NE in week 3,
currently 7-5. SD in week 5, who has since underacheived this season Buffalo in week 8, at the time 5-1, Denver in week 9, currently in first place in their division…
give credit where credit is due.
"I throw better than anybody in college and I can throw with anybody in the pros. There, that's what I think."
"I've been a Dolphin for 17 years, and I'll be a Dolphin for the rest of my life. That will never change."
- Dan Marino aka Quarterback God
by Little Nicky 21 on Dec 3, 2008 11:09 AM EST up reply actions
nah
none of those teams really are very good…
denver will make the playoffs, but only because they play in the west…. the others wont.
by W NY Fins Fan on Dec 3, 2008 2:24 PM EST up reply actions
really why
is it such a bad thing to point out that the fins haven’t exactly played murders row?
they’ve beaten 1 team that will make the playoffs, and they were missing maybe their best player.
by W NY Fins Fan on Dec 3, 2008 6:00 PM EST up reply actions
so who do you consider really good?
If it’s just Giants and Titans.. than 95% of the league hasn’t beaten a very good team.
"I throw better than anybody in college and I can throw with anybody in the pros. There, that's what I think."
"I've been a Dolphin for 17 years, and I'll be a Dolphin for the rest of my life. That will never change."
- Dan Marino aka Quarterback God
by Little Nicky 21 on Dec 3, 2008 5:04 PM EST up reply actions
well as I said
had they played last years schedule this year (nfc east – all good to great teams) and the AFC North (pitt/baltimore great to very good) I suspect they would have 2 less wins right now…
So once again, i don’t see why this is such a horrible thing to point out. the phins have 7 wins against the teams they’ve played… the teams they’ve played, for the most part, haven’t been very good…
my guess as to who the serious superbowl contenders are Pitt & Tenn, followed closely by Indy and maybe the Jets (had they not taken that last game off i would have had them up with pitt & tenn) I still don’t believe in baltimore but they are proving me wrong… so that’s 5 in the AFC…
NFL – NYG & Dallas are the cream – haven’t seen enough of TB to know if they can match up, but they are in the next tier with washington & carolina – maybe philly with a healthy westbrook… and i really don’t have a handle on why minn isn’t as good as they should be (other then a bad coach and one of the miami 13 QBing)
so you have ~ 6-10 teams
by W NY Fins Fan on Dec 3, 2008 6:11 PM EST up reply actions
I like it
play makers not power houses.
In the end, all it takes is one play no matter how powerful your team is.
I've been a Dolphin for 17 years, and I'll be a Dolphin for the rest of my life. That will never change. - Dan Marino
I've said the same thing all along
The turnover ratio has been a HUGE difference maker and true sign of turnaround for this team…that and our discipline with respect to penalties..up until two weeks ago! The New England game and now this Rams game has shown a frightening tendency that just reared it’s ugly head recently and that’s dumb and untimely penalties..this has to be corrected IMMEDIATELY! Because the discipline and the turnover ratio has been a huge reason for our success this year and I sure hope it continues.. it’s simple fundamentals of the game and as a team and as individuals, it’s been played out very well this season..
by dolphinsfan4life on Dec 2, 2008 2:14 AM EST reply actions
Totally agree with your article here
We’re making plays and getting breaks; we’re not some elite team. Nor should we expect to be yet. That time will soon come. Yes, as sure as the movement of the tides, that time will come.
Football isn't a matter of life and death - it's far more important than that.
WHOA WHOA HOLD ON THERE!!!!!!
1st Our running game isn’t always weakest!!!!!!
2nd Our passing game isn’t “scrappy”
3rd Our offense is pretty darn good compared to last year………………think about it.
"Any Sunday any team can win 1 game at a time thats all that matters"
(Armando Selgeuro)
Hold On Yourself - :)
1st: I didn’t say it is weakest. Our running game is solid, but let’s not lie about this. Running the ball was supposed to be our identity. Neither of our two very good backs are having a pro bowl season (though I’m voting for Ronnie). Those guys are studs though, don’t get me wrong. They break a lot of tackles to get just four yard runs. Some of their 9-14 yard runs are like miniature operas.
Then Ndukwe holds on the backside and negates them. Turd.
2nd: How isn’t our passing game “scrappy?” Short crossing patterns and tight end by committee? We have no dominant no. 1 receiver. Ted Ginn is shaping up nicely but he’s hardly elite yet. Greg Camarillo was our best receiver and if you look up scrappy in the dictionary it reads: “Greg Camarillo, Dolphins wide receiver. Better than Wes Welker.”
Davone Bess? Scrappy. Brandon London? Scrappy. Derek Hagan? Gone.
We have almost no vertical threat. We Dolphins fans still get overly excited every time we see a fifteen yard pass.
How many times did you almost burst out into tears watching Ginn make those long catches against Buffalo?
3rd: Amen. It is. There isn’t an aspect of this team that is not improved. Tony Sparano is already one of the best coaches in the league and he’s a rookie. Chad Pennington has kept this team within striking distance in every game (except on ill fated Sunday).
How many games could have been won early last year if Trent Green hadn’t thrown 2 picks a game before kissing someone’s knee?
Chad Pennington has been the MVP of this team. I’ll say it again though: He is a scrappy MVP. This team capitalizes on turnovers and gets the big stop when its needed.
www.thephinisher.com
by The Phinisher on Dec 2, 2008 10:06 AM EST up reply actions
guess you missed a couple games
Chad Pennington has kept this team within striking distance in every game (except on ill fated Sunday).
by W NY Fins Fan on Dec 3, 2008 3:06 AM EST up reply actions
like..?
"I throw better than anybody in college and I can throw with anybody in the pros. There, that's what I think."
"I've been a Dolphin for 17 years, and I'll be a Dolphin for the rest of my life. That will never change."
- Dan Marino aka Quarterback God
by Little Nicky 21 on Dec 3, 2008 11:12 AM EST up reply actions
AZ and baltimore
come to mind off the top of my head
by W NY Fins Fan on Dec 3, 2008 2:24 PM EST up reply actions
when you give up 56 points
nobody’s keeping you in striking distance. And we couldn’t run the ball for nothing against BMore.
"I throw better than anybody in college and I can throw with anybody in the pros. There, that's what I think."
"I've been a Dolphin for 17 years, and I'll be a Dolphin for the rest of my life. That will never change."
- Dan Marino aka Quarterback God
by Little Nicky 21 on Dec 3, 2008 5:06 PM EST up reply actions
so let me get this
straight – we can’t count CP’s poor games because that was other parts of the teams fault all so we can say he’s been perfect… ok my bad… CP is the best QB to ever play for miami… sheesh i know you’re not really old enough to have seen a great QB play for miami, but we can be a little realistic around here right?
by W NY Fins Fan on Dec 3, 2008 6:15 PM EST up reply actions
Just stop now
Don’t tell me that I haven’t seen great QB play in Miami since I watched Marino growing up. Never have I ever said that CP is the best QB to play for Miami, but he’s been the most consistent part of this team by far. And all you do is come on here and try to tell everyone that he isn’t any good. You’ll find any opportunity to bash him, and I’m not the only one that notices. It’d be nice if you actually recognized his good play instead of constantly harping on the few negatives about him. Sure he wasn’t that good against AZ, but it didn’t matter how well he played that game, because EVERYBODY was bad that week for us. He played very well against BMore, going 24/35 for 295 and a TD and INT each. But maybe that’s not good enough…
"I throw better than anybody in college and I can throw with anybody in the pros. There, that's what I think."
"I've been a Dolphin for 17 years, and I'll be a Dolphin for the rest of my life. That will never change."
- Dan Marino aka Quarterback God
by Little Nicky 21 on Dec 3, 2008 6:46 PM EST up reply actions
why do i hear "dueling banjo's" in my head?
"You found that word today......and that word is Character"- Coach Sparano 11/9/08
by HuskerDolphin on Dec 3, 2008 6:55 PM EST up reply actions
you callin me a redneck??
lol
"I throw better than anybody in college and I can throw with anybody in the pros. There, that's what I think."
"I've been a Dolphin for 17 years, and I'll be a Dolphin for the rest of my life. That will never change."
- Dan Marino aka Quarterback God
by Little Nicky 21 on Dec 3, 2008 6:58 PM EST up reply actions
nope....
just think its good theme music when you guys debate that’s all. : )
"You found that word today......and that word is Character"- Coach Sparano 11/9/08
by HuskerDolphin on Dec 3, 2008 7:11 PM EST up reply actions
lol
"I throw better than anybody in college and I can throw with anybody in the pros. There, that's what I think."
"I've been a Dolphin for 17 years, and I'll be a Dolphin for the rest of my life. That will never change."
- Dan Marino aka Quarterback God
by Little Nicky 21 on Dec 3, 2008 7:30 PM EST up reply actions
really
how old were you when marino retired?
seriously – his last 3-4 years weren’t that good… injuries/age took too much out of him…
by W NY Fins Fan on Dec 4, 2008 12:13 AM EST up reply actions
I know I really started following the Dolphins
at about 4 years old. That was 1990. I saw him play. I remember the end vividly, because it broke my heart that my all-time favorite player couldn’t be great forever..
"I throw better than anybody in college and I can throw with anybody in the pros. There, that's what I think."
"I've been a Dolphin for 17 years, and I'll be a Dolphin for the rest of my life. That will never change."
- Dan Marino aka Quarterback God
by Little Nicky 21 on Dec 4, 2008 12:22 AM EST up reply actions
so my point exactly
you’ve never seen a good QB play for the dolphins….
so obviously, CP one of the 2 best of the 13 dwarfs, but really he isn’t much above an average NFL QB, but that speaks volumes about the QB’s that have been run through this franchise the last 20 years.
by W NY Fins Fan on Dec 5, 2008 1:16 AM EST up reply actions
doh
not enough sleep – while marino may have been past his prime after the ankle surgery
implying that the QBing for miami hasn’t been stallar for the last 20 years is a little excesive…
once i hit post – i kind of went DOH!!!
so change that to 10 years
by W NY Fins Fan on Dec 5, 2008 1:24 AM EST up reply actions
which
10 years
seems so much longer and so much more futile.
by W NY Fins Fan on Dec 5, 2008 1:25 AM EST up reply actions
Chad Pennington has been the MVP of this team.
i totally agree w/ this statement… i don’t think it has to do so much w/ the turnovers we’ve gotten, its the turnovers our opponents haven’t gotten, that’s the biggest difference… we do have the makings for a monster running game, though it’s not quite together yet, and i believe that our defense can be an elite one, w/ time [give it another draft or 2]… if, by chance, we could pull this all together at once, i dare say we would be quite a deep playoff threat…and though i don’t think we will be able to do that [yet] i do think we have the capacity to pull 1 or 2 playoff upsets, if we can get in, which is one hell of a fine turnaround for a 1-15 team… agreed that those penalties havta stop this week or else we may not need to have this convo….
"I'm not near as deep and complicated as people think" ~Mike Tyson~
Satele
He showed himself last year to improve and he handled Wilfork all game the first game. He’ll bounce back, he definitly is better than what the Fins had in a while. Plus everyone strugled against the Pats that game.
The Patriots Suck
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