Miami Dolphins: Playing tough; playing scared
by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 27, 2010 5:00 AM EDT
in 2012 Miami Dolphins News
Email
PrintOn Sunday, the Miami Dolphins stood toe-to-toe with the Pittsburgh Steelers; the team many are calling "the best team in the league" right now. They battled it out; traded blow for blow; and hung with this championship caliber team right to the bitter end.
It was bitter because they lost.
We've heard all the cliches:
- "They came in second in a two horse race."
- "Second place = first loser."
- "Almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades".... yada yada yada....
As a Miami Dolphins fan, last season "almost", in this situation, might have still carried a bit of satisfaction.
This year.... not so much.
It is just too painful to go back and re-watch the game to get specific details this week, but here are some impressions from the game:
- The Dolphins had the game won in the first four minutes. By playing tough, they forced two turnovers in Pittsburgh's first two possessions - one at the Steelers 22 yard line, the other at the Steelers 13, gathering the momentum and energizing the crowd.
- The Dolphins lost the game in the first four minutes. By playing scared, they failed to take a single shot at the end zone, or throw a single pass to their best offensive playmaker, Brandon Marshall. Immediately after these first two take aways, on an extremely short field, the Dolphins ran the ball 4 times, threw one short pass to a running back, and threw short pass incomplete - accumulating a grand total of 9 yards and settling for two field goals instead of two touchdowns.
- Jason Allen got burned by Mike Wallace on that long TD pass in the 2nd quarter, but it wasn't really Allen's fault. Wallace just flat-out outran him. Where was the over-the-top safety help?
- Why was Chris Clemons (9 Tckls, 2 FF, 1/2 Sack by the way) playing up on the line so often, with Yeremiah Bell as the deep safety help?
- It has already been said, but I'll say it once more - the game should never have come down to that last controversial call be the refs.
- Nolan Carroll is currently our best kick returner. He always looks like he has a chance to break it for a big one.
Play calling is just off. On both sides of the ball. Again.
Why? Because on offense, Dan Henning is a power run oriented play caller - which worked in 2008 and (sort-of) in 2009. But the Miami Dolphins have morphed into a pass oriented team, and the O-line is better at pass protection than run blocking. Henning's play calls do not play to the Fins' new strengths. Personally, I think it was a mistake to shake up the entire interior O-line this offseason, but what's done is done. But now you have a pass oriented team, so call a pass oriented game!
Henning is still calling a game as if our O-line can knock people off the ball. Pssst.... Dan.... they can't.
Play calling on Defense - what the heck is up with that? How many times did the Fins have the Pittsburgh Steelers in 3rd and long and couldn't bring the heat or cover the WRs? Dolphins fans where I was watching the game started rooting for 3rd and short... where we might have a chance to stop them!
It galls me to say so, but take a page from the New York Jets! On 3rd and a million - Make a decision - Bring the heat, or fake it and drop 8 into coverage! Rushing four just ain't gonna get it done.
Play calling, not lack of execution lost this game. If you have a young team that is not consistent in their execution,
it is even MORE important to call a good game and play to their strengths.
*************************
Many people say "give it time". I ask, "How much time should it take?" Usually, when a team goes through a rebuilding process, the hardest position to fill is QB. As we all know, a team can go for years trying to find that guy who can lead an Offense through the playoffs. But three years into a "rebuilding", after three complete Free Agency
periods, and three NFL Drafts, you would generally expect that the rest of the team is pretty solid.... wouldn't you?
So, what's the problem? While you can question whether or not Chad Henne is the right guy at quarterback, I have a hard time deciding what to think when the coaching staff won't seem to turn him loose. After the team goes out and gets a "go to" guy like Brandon Marshall, you would think they would want to unleash that big arm of Henne's and try to put some points on the board.
Do you believe that Dan Henning is just calling the wrong plays?
Or do you believe that the coaching staff just does not think Henne is the answer at QB?
Because in the 3rd year of rebuilding, when most of the other pieces should be in place, including the big spending in Free Agency for two ELITE level players, one on each side of the ball, I would think that the coaching staff would want to find out whether or not Henne is "the guy"... and the only way to find out is to put the ball in his hands and see what he can do.
Right?
But either way, don't try to tell me that, because we only lost by 1 point to the Steelers, there is no problem. It one
thing to be outclassed by another team, but for the past two seasons, the Dolphins have been developing a habit of losing games that are within their ability to win.
Let's call it like it is... the Fins will not take the next step to a serious playoff caliber team while they are playing scared... playing not to lose, rather than playing to win.
And I am starting to believe it is becoming a part of their culture, being instilled by the coaching staff. If they don't start learning how to "play to win" - how to take their foot off the brake and stomp on the accelerator right from the start of the game, and keep the pedal to the metal for a full 60 minutes - I just don't see how they will
ever be real contenders in this league.
What I wouldn't give to see the Miami Dolphins actually come out and CRUSH an opponent....
181 comments
|
1 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
i think if henne
is going to be “the guy”. then he needs to start being the unquestioned leader of this team. he’s going to have to start throwing his wieght around and taking control not only on the field, but on the sideline as well
member of the bikini strap beach bandits
by frostyphinfan on Oct 27, 2010 5:25 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
It' hard to be the unquestioned leader when
The OC and HC call plays as if they’re not confident in your abilities. Players are as human as any of us. If the coaching staff doesn’t show faith in how can you expect the rest of the team to do so.
inishe8 = initiate
I meant what I said. And I said what I meant. Phin fan faithful 100%
I swear it don't cost much, to pay attention to me; I tell it how it is then I tell it how it could be. (Andre 3000 - Outkast)
Perhaps the have tony romoitis
As of right now,Henne is in the middle of the pack. He is no Tony Romo,but hes no Phillip Rivers either. That sounds bad,but P.R is having an off year.
What I mean is,you cant put the shoulder reigns on Tony romo to carry the team,and thats what this coaching staff is used to,and im sorry,unless Henning sees Phillip Rivers like stats from Henne,hes not going to feel comfortable putting the game in his hands.
Ground and pound has been drilled into this guys head,so what do you do? If Grove is still out there,you resign him to a lesser contract than the one you did before. You let him play the first two quarters,and bench him during the second half,when passing becomes more frequent. Keeping him fresh.
by dolphinfan4lyfe on Oct 27, 2010 10:32 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
he's still out there
-LCFF
DotJPBW
(under protest)
by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 27, 2010 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions
Agreed, but if the HC and OC don't trust you
Why should your team. You’ve got to prove it with what you are given and in practices.
I am a bear of very little brains and big words bother me.
i agree 100%
Pretty hard to throw the ball or do anything for that matter in handcuffs. I just don’t understand how you see what you have in Henne if you don’t give him a chance to show off his stuff. As for playcalling……..WTF! Offensively this is along the lines of what I expected for Henning. True he had some good years for the Panthers, but it wasn’t long before the fans in Carolina grew tired of his conservative playcalling. Now here in Miami we’re seeing why. But Mike Nolan has been a total shock with some of the things he’s called during the course of a game. Thiswas supposed to be the best offseason aquisition we made this year and there are times when it shows. But the are times when I see plays and I wonder if maybe he picked a defensive playbook from last year’s DC. Overall, playing to our stregths and using a little more common sense should go a long way in getting this team on the right track.
inishe8 = initiate
I meant what I said. And I said what I meant. Phin fan faithful 100%
I swear it don't cost much, to pay attention to me; I tell it how it is then I tell it how it could be. (Andre 3000 - Outkast)
i am also very surprised at what I am seeing from our defense.
i love the fact that they swarm to the ball, and we have (for the most part) much better tackling.
BUT, i am not impressed so far with the schemes, disguises, or timing of the blitzes
-LCFF
DotJPBW
(under protest)
by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 27, 2010 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions
Mike Nolan has been handcuffed by our personnel
Jason Allen and Yeremiah Bell are liabilites in the secondary,.
We HAVE to keep Dansby in coverage since none of our other LB’s can cover which means we cant blitz him.
Misi is a rookie and wasnt a great pass rusher in college which lets teams double and triple Wake.
Our D-line is dealing with a lack of depth now that Odrick is gone and Soliai is under-performing.
I have complete faith in Mike Nolan. His scheme’s are sound its just our personnel really are terrible in certain areas on defense. We need to get Mike Nolan some better pieces to work with
I probably know Judo! How many of you can make the same boast?
by Souwantmyname on Oct 27, 2010 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions
Wow!
I understand JA hate but Bell a liability is a bit too much. He had a hell of a game sunday.
Dansby is in coverage cause thats his primary responsibility no blitzing.
Misi has done above average for a rookie and these game a saw him bring some pressure by himself.
Our D-Line is not suffering anything and Soliai did great against Pitts. You don’t hold Mendenhall with your NT under-performing.
I think Nolan has made some wrong calls at some times and that has bited back on us. He has a really good personnel to work with IMO.
I got it wrong Tebow was a 1st rounder... Mau you won on this one... Damn!
I'm pretty sure Crowder's reappearance is the main benefactor
to our Run Defense on Sunday, not Soliai.
'Phins phor Liphe!
Driver of the Make David Lee OC Bandwagon
Driver of the Trade-Ronnie-Brown Bandwagon.
The game plan is right. Our run first approach is when we win games, the problem is Henning has to be the worst clutch play caller I’ve ever watched and we have some really questionable routes out there. They really should have some more plays that allow for more passing yards and not quick short passes that go incomplete.
Maybe it just works when the other team lets it work
To say we only win games when we have the run first mentality is like saying when we only win when we out score them.
Of course when you dominate another team on the ground you will have a good chance to win. But can you win when they don’t let you run the ball? Can you win when you have the ball and 2 minutes to score a field goal? I’m not comparing Henne to Marino but when Marino had the ball with 2 minutes to go and down by 3 the other team was scared. With Henne (maybe Henning) they are confident. That makes a big difference.
i agree with the run first approach, and we used to be built for that game.
the problem is that our interior line is now better at pass blocking than run blocking. this is different today than it has been over recent seasons, so you have to call what you can do.
-LCFF
DotJPBW
(under protest)
by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 27, 2010 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions
Football has evolved Henning has not.
Our team has evolved as well and Henning has not. Our OC has been there, he has years and years of experience. He should know what he is doing. But the fact remains the same. Henning is a fossil and should be showcased in a museum. His staunch refusal to pass first is proof positive that the modern NFL game has passed him by. This is especially evident with the personell we have available this season.
As for our DC. He is quality. It is his first year with new personell. He will only improve. We need to be just somewhat patient here. Allow him to insert his personell over then next year or two and our defense will be dominant. It is already much improved over recent years.
Special teams look somewhat better after the release of our ST coach. Thank goodness. We could have been a whole lot better if we made the right moves. I will never forgive our FO for not picking up Bobby April from Buffalo last year when they cleared house. IMO he is the best ST coordiator in football and we missed an opportunity there to be sure.
Rebuilding reshmilding. We are rebuilt. We have a young talented team. Now it is up to the coaches to take advantages of our strengths to be successful. Maybe they will wake up this morning and just “get it”. I am with all of you when I say I certainly do hope so.
Nolan turned Denver's defense around in a single offseason.
They started ’09 with the best defense through the first third or half. Just sayin.
'Phins phor Liphe!
Driver of the Make David Lee OC Bandwagon
Driver of the Trade-Ronnie-Brown Bandwagon.
yeah, but I DO like what Nolan has done with the fundamentals so far...
on any given tackle, you see 3,4,5 Fins defenders around the ball. There is better tackling by far… not as many “Gerbil Whiffs” (sounds like a drink).
-LCFF
DotJPBW
(under protest)
by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 27, 2010 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, I like Nolan too.
I’m just wondering what happened to really bringing the pressure (like we did in the first two weeks). I’m wondering if Sparano maybe said something to him about a different game plan.
'Phins phor Liphe!
Driver of the Make David Lee OC Bandwagon
Driver of the Trade-Ronnie-Brown Bandwagon.
We have that Gibril whiff this week courtesy of Benny Sapp and it was to force a 4th down.
Instead we took a TD
I got it wrong Tebow was a 1st rounder... Mau you won on this one... Damn!
true, but they are less often since Sapp is not the starter
=)
-LCFF
DotJPBW
(under protest)
by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 27, 2010 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Overall I agree with you the tackling has been much better.
Problem is I didn’t see Pittsburgh whiffing tackles, DBess scored cause he out muscled everyone and had a hell of a block of Hartline.
But I didn’t see someone breaking loose because someone on the Steels D whiffed.
I got it wrong Tebow was a 1st rounder... Mau you won on this one... Damn!
Bell has been whiffing all season
I probably know Judo! How many of you can make the same boast?
by Souwantmyname on Oct 27, 2010 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions
then why do you put him back as the deep safety and Clemons up on the line?
Clemons is better in space, with better range. Bell is better close to the line.
-LCFF
DotJPBW
(under protest)
by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 27, 2010 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions
dont ask me
I dont know why you put him on the field let alone as a deep safety. Right now the Dolphins have a Roy Williams effect on the defense. Offenses will just find Yeremiah Bell if they want a big play or third down
I probably know Judo! How many of you can make the same boast?
by Souwantmyname on Oct 27, 2010 10:19 PM EDT up reply actions
Because they won't be expecting us to use our pieces
in a less efficient fashion! Wait…
'Phins phor Liphe!
Driver of the Make David Lee OC Bandwagon
Driver of the Trade-Ronnie-Brown Bandwagon.
I, for one, did not want to see the Dolphins completely get away from being a power team
i LOVE a smashmouth, “line ‘em up and mine can beat your’n” mentality.
I was hoping the Fins would maintain that this year (run the ball, control the clock) but ADD the vertical passing threat that allows them to score quick and get ahead early, or compete in a shootout when needed.
Let’s face it, Bess is awesome, but you can (usually – not forgetting his awesome play this past week) not really call him part of a vertical game. So you HAVE to get Marshall involved. And if not Hartline, then bring in that kid Wallace more often. He is Marshall’s size, but faster. If he can also catch (which we really don’t know yet) he would be an awesome target for Henne AND take some heat off of Marshall.
Anyway, it’s a moot point now because we HAVE to go this direction of a pass first offense now, because our O-line can’t open up the run first. You have to scare teams back away from the box with the pass, in order to establish an effective run game.
IMO
-LCFF
DotJPBW
(under protest)
by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 27, 2010 11:33 AM EDT up reply actions
I feel like Ronnie is the problem more than the line
But I too would like to see smash mouth football. That takes a lot of the uncertainty out of the offense. Far fewer fumbles than picks, and even great quarterbacks lose games throwing interceptions. But we’ve got tot take what is there, and use what is there for our greatest advantage. If Henne/Marshall/Bess work, then focus on that every week. Don’t keep trying to run it in obvious passing situations. Henning finally stopped using the wildcat in those places, but now he just runs it conventionally, as if it makes a difference.
Dan Marino (13) and Steve Nash (13) will go down in history as being the greatest passers to never win the last game of the season.
3 more losses and we should be seeing our young guys
it doesnt look like 10-6 will do it this year
I probably know Judo! How many of you can make the same boast?
by Souwantmyname on Oct 27, 2010 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions
...read Dan Hennings interview before the vikings game with the Miami Herald...
And you will see…The article quotes Dan Henning as saying" if i could have my way..i would run the ball the entire game and still get us tot he Superbowl." Just goes to show how much He is reluctant to change, and has No vision…
Well said
Just one thing to add. If we “CRUSH” the Bengals this weekend; please don’t post that we have turned the corner. Beating the Bengals should be a given. Let’s see what happens as the season goes on. My prediction is, that NOTHING will change. Some past posts have suggested that you can’t change the OC during the season, because that would affect the play of the offense, learning a new system. Hey, check out the points scored this year in our conference, we are LAST behind The Bills. I’d rather lose fighting, then meekly making field goals because we might turn the ball over.
Beating the Bengals is not a given by any means.
It’s going to be a tough game on the road against a good team. Who is even more desperate to win than us.
All that said Miami right now believe it or not is the better team.
I got it wrong Tebow was a 1st rounder... Mau you won on this one... Damn!
Yeah, beating the Bengals is far from a given
And I’d be surprised if we blew them out. If we did that I think fans could have their fifteen minutes to say we turned the corner. As long as none of the players believed that.
I’m adamantly against the idea that firing the OC would be a bad thing midseason. Like you said, we’re last. How worse can it get? Last isn’t getting us into the playoffs.
Dan Marino (13) and Steve Nash (13) will go down in history as being the greatest passers to never win the last game of the season.
i promise i won't post any such thing based on a single game =)
it’s not really a “corner” we have to get around…. it is more like a “20 mile bend” in the road. It’s gonna take some time to get there.
-LCFF
DotJPBW
(under protest)
by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 27, 2010 12:09 PM EDT up reply actions
lefty maybe we can get sum timming, down "with the reciver's" that wood great!
wopper "the king" computer
by wild zion beaver on Oct 31, 2010 2:15 AM EDT up reply actions
Bengals are a tough team
We can beat them, but it will likely be a shootout.
I am a bear of very little brains and big words bother me.
One more thing
Defenses that don’t fear you, will KILL YOU.
Play calling is HORRIBLE
Under 2 minutes to go, the ball on your own 20, down by 2 with no timeouts and we run the ball??? Than on 4th down we have the fullback on the field??? Either the game has passed Henning by or he is thinking way too far out of the box. At least we have dumped the momentum killing wildcat . Henne has all the physical tools but I am not sure about the cerebral side…..
i could understand a run, from a spread formation
as the last play before the 2min warning. Just to see if you could get 5-6 yds.
But to run the ball and then hurry up to throw a pass, ESPECIALLY when you might have concerns about your young QB, seems like you are setting yourself up to fail. i didn’t like that run play at all, but i MORE disliked trying to get another play off with like 3 seconds or whatever it was.
-LCFF
DotJPBW
(under protest)
by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 27, 2010 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Henning
Guys,
Watch Mayock talk about our playcalling here http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-playbook/09000d5d81ba4fe8/Playbook-Steelers-vs-Dolphins-recap
The first play says alot about all those blaming Henne. Play action pass and only ONE player is a recevier on this play (Marshall). WTF is Henne supposed to do?
He comments on alot of the odd calls by Miami.
Get off Henne back already
It takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile
I agree
But what I am afraid of. Is there a reason Henning only sends out 1 or 2 receivers on a play? Because if he is trying to protect Henne in his 3rd year than we have a problem.
So when do the training wheels come off?
If that’s true Henning (and Sparano) are pretty much saying we can’t win this season because our QB can’t handle it. A fireable offense if you ask me.
I was playing the same devils advocacy a few days ago but I’ve thought about it a little more and, like the wild cat, if that was the plan by Henning and Sparano it was a good one….last year. They take SO long to realize they need to evolve. Slow on the uptake to say the least.
Dan Marino (13) and Steve Nash (13) will go down in history as being the greatest passers to never win the last game of the season.
Sparano practically has to be beaten with a stick to make a change that is not caused by an injury
-LCFF
DotJPBW
(under protest)
by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 27, 2010 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Lets cut the BS
After looking at that sequence of plays. Henning is kind of retard and has just been exposed. He simply give his QB and his team NO chance to success on those series.
Is he protecting Henne, that’s nonsense if you want to protect him give him a chance to success and not to receive all the fans and media HEAT ’cause he is not giving results.
Now I think higher of Henne he did made all the right decisions on those situation by no risking the ball when NO ONE was open and he has no chance to do anything.
Henne can handle the load, the blitzes and everything I just saw evidence that he is not given a chance to bright (Also saw evidence that Carey need a beating talk from the coach)
I got it wrong Tebow was a 1st rounder... Mau you won on this one... Damn!
yep, at this point i would rather see the Fins open it up and see what Henne can do
losing by 1 point or 21 points makes little difference, but lose we will unless our QB/Offense is allowed to take the next step.
-LCFF
DotJPBW
(under protest)
by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 27, 2010 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions
It's really worrisome looking at that analyse.
When Mayock says “This route here I don’t get it” Wow! Thats a blow directly to the OC.
I got it wrong Tebow was a 1st rounder... Mau you won on this one... Damn!
1 reciever on play action
Do I need to comment on this one?
Dan Marino (13) and Steve Nash (13) will go down in history as being the greatest passers to never win the last game of the season.
That might have been one of the worst schemes I've ever seen, hands down.
Dan Mullen needs to be Miami's next Offensive Coordinator.
Driver of the unofficial "Draft LaMichael James" Bandwagon.
dude, i am not sure who you are talking about, but nothing I wrote is criticizing Henne.
-LCFF
DotJPBW
(under protest)
by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 27, 2010 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions
and i didn't see any other comments critizing Henne.
-LCFF
DotJPBW
(under protest)
by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 27, 2010 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions
LOL call it a instinct reaction.
Like “Fire Dan Henning” “Jason Allen is a bust” “TCP is old” “Nicky likes men” and so…
I got it wrong Tebow was a 1st rounder... Mau you won on this one... Damn!
ROFL!!!!
-LCFF
DotJPBW
(under protest)
by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 27, 2010 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions
Right on LCFF
Being too conservative is sending a strong message to Henne and it is saying that we are not sold on your abilities, even though you are our starting qb. We can keep blaming Henning, but as long as Sparano sit idly by with no change in playcalling or even giving Henne the notion that he beleives in him, then Sparano’s job has been marginal, as well. Yeah, LCCF, Miami blitzes fools no one and that Jet remark in your post should prove the point. That last completed pass Ben threw to the rb that came on a failed blitz was pudding in the cup. You called it like you seen it, therefore, rec’d.
Damn the sheriff, Bring on MARSHALL LAW
David Lee for playcaller
We need to start a movement. Yes we can!!!!
Dont even get me started on David Lee
He is not qualified to be a QB’s coach let alone an offensive playcaller. He hasnt produced a top level QB in his entire coaching history. http://www.miamidolphins.com/content/david-lee His biggest claim to fame is the wildcat at Arkansas and the Dolphins.
Is it any mystery that Henne hasn’t progressed as quickly as we’d like?
I probably know Judo! How many of you can make the same boast?
by Souwantmyname on Oct 27, 2010 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Top HS QBs don't go to Arkansas,
so I don’t get your point. His record seems pretty damn good from that perspective.
And how do you know Henne hasn’t progressed? He’s started staring down Safeties and making better decisions with the ball like when to take the sack or throw it away. The only knock on Henne is really a knock on Henning and our scheme… he doesn’t take enough shots down field to Marshall! Like I said, Henning, not Henne, is the problem.
'Phins phor Liphe!
Driver of the Make David Lee OC Bandwagon
Driver of the Trade-Ronnie-Brown Bandwagon.
thanks brutha
i am as steadfast a Miami fan as there is, but watching that steelers game go down was frustrating because for the first time in a LONG time, i REALLY believe we have Super Bowl capable talent!
3 quarters into the game, when it was 19-13 Steelers i turned to the guy next to me and said “i still expect Miami to win this game” I FULLY expected them to win – because I know what they have the potential to do on offense if they decide to really open it up.
but they didn’t ever open it up….. ??
-LCFF
DotJPBW
(under protest)
by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 27, 2010 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions
Totally agree !
Funny – a LOT of said these same things WEEKS AGO – we have been on the bandwagon to FIRE HENNING for quite a while, but we were labeled as “CLS” fans… How funny to me, that now so many people are seeing this team, coaching staff, and Front office for what it is. AVERAGE……….AVERAGE…….AVERAGE.
Look, we are better than a few years ago – but how long should that get this MGT team a “pass” because we were once 1-15 ??? The fans should have to settle for a .500 ball club FOREVER.. that’s what we are. I have repeated over and over, that this is a PASSING LEAGUE now – power running does not and will not win you the SB alone.
PARCELLS IS MOST AT FAULT. His bias against smaller quicker players – has hurt this team the most. Bess and Wake are the ONLY players with the quickness off the ball to make impact plays… and Bess is not that fast. With WAKE you see that SPEED KILLS…
the offense is filled with similar players big, strong… and SLOW. anyone think Dansby after 6 games is better than Zach was ? Not even close.
This coaching staff totally plays “not to lose” its sickening. tony has got to show more leadership – over BOTH COORDINATORS. Nolan’s defense looks terrible on 3rd down, and the Pitts game was our first solid effort vs the run. Many of the changes they made have backfired. Like moving Starks to NT….terrible….letting Smiley and Grove both go – as well as – juggling the OLINE all thry preseason – huge mistake. Picking up “cowboy castoffs” terrible mistakes….letting Matt roth go (for nothing) MISTAKE…
40 Year FIN FAN
DRAFT a #1 WR now.........
There was an article recently that said Miami had the fastest D-Line
in the NFL. Kinda negates your lack of speed observation on Defense. Clemons is a burner too.
Other than that, I’ve wanted Henning gone for over a season now. Check the signature.
'Phins phor Liphe!
Driver of the Make David Lee OC Bandwagon
Driver of the Trade-Ronnie-Brown Bandwagon.
thats a retarded report
Colts by a mile… they play undersized DE’s a DT
I probably know Judo! How many of you can make the same boast?
by Souwantmyname on Oct 27, 2010 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions
That's a retarded comment.
'Phins phor Liphe!
Driver of the Make David Lee OC Bandwagon
Driver of the Trade-Ronnie-Brown Bandwagon.
I cannot agree with you on the next.
- Sparano is an above average coach, so is this team. I will believe otherwise once the season finishes.
- We have speed on Defense, Davis, Clemmons, Wake, Dansby have speed.
- A comparision between Dansby and Thomas is not fair, 3-4 vs 4-3, different responsibilities and assignments.
- You cannot call the movement of Starks a terrible move since he is not even playing there.
- Smiley and Grove are half time players because injuries that will not cut in here nor many teams on the league.
I agree on everything else about Sparano leadership on OC and DC, Dallas castoffs, speed on Offense, Parcells faulst about the type of player, Henning son of Satan…
I got it wrong Tebow was a 1st rounder... Mau you won on this one... Damn!
well yes! but you got my point
I got it wrong Tebow was a 1st rounder... Mau you won on this one... Damn!
henning son of satan
lmao, great stuff, too bad it’s true
by daytonadolfan on Oct 27, 2010 5:57 PM EDT up reply actions
That's some good avatar there!
I got it wrong Tebow was a 1st rounder... Mau you won on this one... Damn!
I want Henne to call his own plays. Let the man play, enough with the blinders!
I’ve seen enough from him to know that if they set him free, he can and will shred apart defenses. Call me crazy, but I have an eye for these things.
Gieco Needs A New Slogan...So Easy A Jets Fan Can Do It LOL
I got a legacy that can't help but survive, even when I die they gonna bury me alive! -Drake
by EverybodyLovesDolphins on Oct 27, 2010 9:36 AM EDT reply actions
no crazy talk
He can barely run plays that are called for him. David Lee for play caller.
Yes we can!!!!
"He can barely run plays that are called for him"
Do you have evidence on this or is just a hater comment.
I do not agree he should call his own plays but I don’t believe he is not capable of doing it.
I got it wrong Tebow was a 1st rounder... Mau you won on this one... Damn!
with a lot of developing QBs, they will give them two plays and let them decide which to run
rather than just letting them completely freelance.
-LCFF
DotJPBW
(under protest)
by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 27, 2010 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions
from what I understand thats what Henning does too
As for “He can barely run plays that are called for him”. I imagine if he could handle more the coaches would not call such simple plays. Like the 1 or 2 recievers going out on a play action.
I want them to let Henne loose and see what happens but calling his own plays. Come on.
But this is something we don't know.
I believe Henning will call for those plays regarding Henne or whoever is under center.
But we are in the same boat it’s needed for the offense to get loose.
I got it wrong Tebow was a 1st rounder... Mau you won on this one... Damn!
That just seems crazy to me. counterintuitive?
A simple play is one thing. One reciever on a passing play is ridiculous to me. That’s one reciever against three or four guys. You’re setting ANY quarterback up to fail.
Dan Marino (13) and Steve Nash (13) will go down in history as being the greatest passers to never win the last game of the season.
I don't disagree.
He seems to be comfortable enough in reading the defense that he can make his own adjustments.
I mean, I’d still rather see Lee play-call, but Henne can handle himself out there and should not be restricted so damn much.
Gonna take a fortnight at least to get this herd down to St. Louis on Mississippi. This glen's gonna be tough to traverse, and that river's got to be 50, 60 meters wide. And God knows how many fathoms. To hell with parliamentary procedure. We've got to wrangle up some cattles!
by Dave.Phuller on Oct 27, 2010 10:09 AM EDT up reply actions
I would start with him getting a better play calling. Maybe just maybe
he can get better results with just that, before making his own calls.
I got it wrong Tebow was a 1st rounder... Mau you won on this one... Damn!
Maybe your right, it's best to take this in steps.
But I have no doubt in my mind that Henne can take over and flourish.
Gieco Needs A New Slogan...So Easy A Jets Fan Can Do It LOL
I got a legacy that can't help but survive, even when I die they gonna bury me alive! -Drake
by EverybodyLovesDolphins on Oct 27, 2010 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions
I do believe that either, I believe in Henne.
But I don’t remember Manning or Brady making his own calls in his 2nd year as starters.
Henne does change some little things right now but just that little things.
I got it wrong Tebow was a 1st rounder... Mau you won on this one... Damn!
Why are we asking for david lee?
You are basically saying that just because two years ago,this guy said “hey,why dont we try the single wing to try and score points” this guy should be calling plays? Im sorry,im all for replacing Hennings responsibilities,but with our WR coach?
No,id rather give the headset to Pennington,let him coach Henne into picking the plays,if we are allowed to do so. Hes on the sidelines anyways,and when Henne is more comfortable in his reads,let him pick the plays. It gives us the best of both worlds,Hennes arm,Pennes brains,and most importantly,it puts the read in the hands of the smartest player on our team.
by dolphinfan4lyfe on Oct 27, 2010 12:55 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
David Lee is the QB coach
Well he’s the only coach I know that has shown some imagination. He invented the wildcat when he was a college coach.
Last I checked,
The single wing was invented before lee was born
by dolphinfan4lyfe on Oct 27, 2010 1:04 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I think Lee is the man, cause he has been QB coach, OC and HC at College level
Also was Offensive assitant in Dallas and now QB coach here in Miami. He has grown and sometime we will deserve a chance to move on to OC at the Pro level, if not here, somewhere else.
I got it wrong Tebow was a 1st rounder... Mau you won on this one... Damn!
Precisely
and I’d rather it be here.
Wonder if anybody has any statistics on Lee’s time as an OC
Gonna take a fortnight at least to get this herd down to St. Louis on Mississippi. This glen's gonna be tough to traverse, and that river's got to be 50, 60 meters wide. And God knows how many fathoms. To hell with parliamentary procedure. We've got to wrangle up some cattles!
by Dave.Phuller on Oct 27, 2010 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Before anyone was born, maybe
Dan Marino (13) and Steve Nash (13) will go down in history as being the greatest passers to never win the last game of the season.
I rather have Pennington being hands on with Henne not in a booth with a mic.
Gieco Needs A New Slogan...So Easy A Jets Fan Can Do It LOL
I got a legacy that can't help but survive, even when I die they gonna bury me alive! -Drake
by EverybodyLovesDolphins on Oct 27, 2010 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions
That's a bad idea
It took Manning and Marino years before they could call their own plays and they are likely much better then Henne will ever be. You don’t give a guy a tool he can’t use yet.
I am a bear of very little brains and big words bother me.
Being too conservative....
Mistake. thats what Wank-stedt gave us….but with a younger R. williams and better defense… the power run game and defense – didnt win us anything because we were too conservative on offense.
this team needs to draft and sign some SPEED OFF THE EDGE…. Misi is average too…. Odrick…..AVERAGE….My best hope is that A J EDDS brings some more speed to the defense next year – but you cant count on that after his injury.
Draft us some FAST LINEBACKERS – dont worry about their size !!! Draft us someone to bring speed to the offense (not a Long strider like Ginn) someone like WELKER quick off the line – I SUGGEST looking more at the 10 and 20 yard times at the combine and the 3 cone shuttle. We need a “scatback” for 3rd downs – a true #2 WR – Hartline is also….AVERAGE…
This team is making me crazy….. also take the training wheels off Chad Henne – sink or swim…. we are past waiting. This next draft is DEEP at QB – we msut know if he is the “man” before next years draft… he gets until the end of the year to improve his reads, and progressions. Dan Henning is hurting his develpoment too…. fire this douche soon.
and yea……….CALL THIS CLS SYNDROME NOW…. ha haaaaaaaaa
Sad but the joke is on ALL of us true fans, as we have to watch this the rest of the year, with little hope for change.
40 Year FIN FAN
DRAFT a #1 WR now.........
We are at a crossroads
We need to find out in the next week or two whether Henne is the future. If not lets put in CP.
I personally believe that given the chance he will thrive. Sure he will throw a bunch of interceptions but the kid has to learn. We will never beat a quality team in max protect on every passing down.
And please someone show him how to do play action. That should be first lesson in QB 101.
I don't think int's will be a problem and at least 3 resulted from play calling
2 against the pats and the 1 at the end of the game against the jets come to mind. If a defense knows 99% of the time that they only have to defend 15 yds and in on pass plays, you are giving Henne a small window to be effective. He is our qb and his poise thru all of this has clearly proven that to me.
Damn the sheriff, Bring on MARSHALL LAW
by fin4three5yrs on Oct 27, 2010 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions
i actually agree with this
We need to find out in the next week or two whether Henne is the future. If not lets put in CP.
i don’t think CP is the answer, but if we are not going to use Henne’s big arm, you might as well have CP in there, because he is better at reading Ds and driving the short passing game.
don’t interpret this as a QB controversy… i firmly believe they should use Henne and open it up. I’m just saying that the way they are using him now, CP could probably do better.
-LCFF
DotJPBW
(under protest)
by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 27, 2010 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Exactly, they are playing Henne like if he was CP.
But my guess is as the season progresses we will see Henne taking more shots down field. (I hope).
Gieco Needs A New Slogan...So Easy A Jets Fan Can Do It LOL
I got a legacy that can't help but survive, even when I die they gonna bury me alive! -Drake
by EverybodyLovesDolphins on Oct 27, 2010 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Problem is the season already has progressed
7 weeks and 6 games through the season is time enough for me to unleash the guns.
3-3 is sink or swim. “The time has come”
I got it wrong Tebow was a 1st rounder... Mau you won on this one... Damn!
I meant by like week 10-12.
But the sooner the better, we need to see what we have in Henne.
Gieco Needs A New Slogan...So Easy A Jets Fan Can Do It LOL
I got a legacy that can't help but survive, even when I die they gonna bury me alive! -Drake
by EverybodyLovesDolphins on Oct 27, 2010 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions
I think all of us concur on that
I got it wrong Tebow was a 1st rounder... Mau you won on this one... Damn!
YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME!!!
Driver of the "DRAFT RAS-I DOWLING IN 2011" bandwagon!!!
"The only difference between dissapointment and depression is your level of comittment."
NICE =)
i was thinking about this as i was writing
;^)
-LCFF
DotJPBW
(under protest)
by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 27, 2010 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions
The Steelers non-conservative offense scored only 1 more point than we did.
I agree that some of the play calling is conservative on offense, (how about throwing the ball 40-50 yards down field once in a blue moon just to make it appear like we have a deep threat), but I’d point to the fact that we scored more against the Steelers than any other team they’ve played this year.
I’m a pass first kind of person, but if we had taken it to the house on either of the first 2 drives on a run play, many would have praised the play calling since we scored a TD. It’s called execution, regardless of the play called.
My larger concern is our ST lapses and how our defense permitted the Steelers to convert so many 3rd and long’s to keep drives alive, when we should have shut them down and put our conservative offense back on the field…lol
not execution if the defense in not fooled
Someone else posted a NFL network clip where they go into the play calling. A great view.
On the first drive they had a play action where marshal was the only receiver. He had 5 guys covering him.
On another red zone attempt there was marshal in the flat and fasano Two targets being covered by 5 or 6.
tell me how execution is the problem
Finally we agree on something! THIS^
I got it wrong Tebow was a 1st rounder... Mau you won on this one... Damn!
look at the video link placed by MoLimits UP in this comments.
You will see WHY it was playcalling and not execution what prevent us from scoring on those drives.
I got it wrong Tebow was a 1st rounder... Mau you won on this one... Damn!
or how about something as simple as taking a couple of shots to your best offensive play maker
in the endzone? we were in the red zone twice (okay technically once since the other turnover occurred at the 22 before we got it all the way down to the 21), and we don’t even TRY to put it in the endzone before settling for FGs???
-LCFF
DotJPBW
(under protest)
by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 27, 2010 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions
You have the beast itching for TDs
And you not feed it. An animal with no food will get anger sooner than later.
I got it wrong Tebow was a 1st rounder... Mau you won on this one... Damn!
i was also thinking this..
if this keeps up, i wonder how long it will be before Marshall blows up?
-LCFF
DotJPBW
(under protest)
by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 27, 2010 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions
According to this he is getting a little impatience (2nd question)
I got it wrong Tebow was a 1st rounder... Mau you won on this one... Damn!
You mean, this?
Here’s what Sparano said about the need to take more shots downfield: "I think we’re trying to get the ball down the field, we’re trying to take shots at times. This team [the Steelers] played a ton of two-deep. They weren’t going to let Brandon get the ball down the field. … So you work the tight end, which has been an area that needed to be better. We worked the 15-yard-area … and you’ve got to work the checkdowns. Ronnie had a couple of those. Fasano makes a nice one on that ball he brought down into the red area. But to throw the ball over the top of what they were running, you’re not going to get many of them to go over the top."
Of course, Marshall, speaking to Michael Irvin on his weekly WQAM radio show Tuesday, didn’t seem to agree. Marshall called it an "excuse" to blame two-deep zone for his limited opportunities.
-LCFF
DotJPBW
(under protest)
by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 27, 2010 6:24 PM EDT up reply actions
lefty; marshall has already said that "heene throw's more ball" then alot of the QB's he's played with!
More accurescy, better spiral, compleat with velosity & the whole 9 yd’s!
wopper "the king" computer
by wild zion beaver on Oct 31, 2010 2:48 AM EDT up reply actions
What I wouldn't give to see the Miami Dolphins actually come out and CRUSH an opponent....
I agree. I went back and looked at last years scores, and the only game they’ve won by more than one touchdown between last year and this year was a 34-10 victory over Buffalo.
I totally agree they need a better mentality on offense. Playing not to lose is the feeling I’ve had about them for more than 2 years.
me too
-LCFF
DotJPBW
(under protest)
by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 27, 2010 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Good article...
But its the middle of the week. Can we start talking about the next game and stop harping on the loss?
Stephen Ross is to be seen, not heard.
The Jets make up 12.5% of our schedule, there is no reason for them to take up more than 12.5% of our discussion.
by dolphinfanatic717 on Oct 27, 2010 11:46 AM EDT reply actions
Seems like a good idea for me.
I got it wrong Tebow was a 1st rounder... Mau you won on this one... Damn!
whadday want???
i only get to talk on Wednesdays!
;^)
-LCFF
DotJPBW
(under protest)
by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 27, 2010 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Making lemons out of lemonade
So nice work.
I am a bear of very little brains and big words bother me.
BTW, for the record
i am not really “harping on the loss”
i am talking about the mentality of the team, that we have seen/are seeing developed as we go along. It will impact this coming week as well, unless some things change
just saying… =)
-LCFF
DotJPBW
(under protest)
by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 27, 2010 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Like I said, I liked the article
Don’t think I’m attacking you! I am just getting sick of talking about that game, I have felt nauseous about it for days and I just want to forget. Keep up the good work Lefty, I’m not a hater.
Stephen Ross is to be seen, not heard.
The Jets make up 12.5% of our schedule, there is no reason for them to take up more than 12.5% of our discussion.
by dolphinfanatic717 on Oct 27, 2010 1:34 PM EDT up reply actions
no, all good... =)
i felt the same way, and had a hard time trying to pick a topic that was not exactly rehashing everything already covered over the last few days.
-LCFF
DotJPBW
(under protest)
by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 27, 2010 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions
Lets go "All In"...
At this point, why not decide to put the games in Henne’s hands, and just see what happens. We are quickly getting to the point that we have to know what we have, and we still really don’t know, despite all of the ‘Expert" QB scouts that frequent this site. If we start treating him like a big-time QB, one of two things will happen.
1. He shines, and starts putting points on the board, and finally shows that he can take this team on his back, and we make a serious playoff run, and actually are a threat to win some playoff games.
or
2. He can’t handle it, the rest of the season is a really bumpy road, and we know that we need to use what will most likely be a top-ten draft pick on the deepest QB draft class in recent memory in April.
Either way, we get our answer, and the next step is clear…
The only reason I watch Jets games is to see if TODAY is the day Rex Ryan's fat heart gives out on him...
Let me be a bit more specific...
By “in his hands” I dont mean allow him to call his own plays, as has been suggested here. I mean let him throw deep, and not just in obvious third-and-long situations. Call some plays with more guts, and let’s see what he’s got…
The only reason I watch Jets games is to see if TODAY is the day Rex Ryan's fat heart gives out on him...
Actually I saw a comment yesterday I think which I agree a lot.
We don’t risk on 2nd and short downs. We have a great 3rd and short team. So 2nd and short is time to look for something big and we never do it.
I got it wrong Tebow was a 1st rounder... Mau you won on this one... Damn!
Because second and short is a free play
Was what I read someone say
Dan Marino (13) and Steve Nash (13) will go down in history as being the greatest passers to never win the last game of the season.
well said!
i very much agree (with the supplemental post below as well).
-LCFF
DotJPBW
(under protest)
by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 27, 2010 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions
Thank you lefty
It’s nice to see someone else actually sees this coaching staff as scared of making mistakes. And as shit rolls downhill, when your boss is scared, the employees get scared, i.e. Chad Henne. He will be an elite quarterback if he loses this fear of fucking up he seems to have(probably instilled in him from pennington) which was fine as a rookie, and last year as a first year starter, but now this is his third year pro. Time to get up from the kiddie table and sit down at the big boy table Chad!!
"Bears, Beets, Battlestar Galactica" - Jim Halpert as Dwight Schrute
good example, eli manning monday night
the kid throws three picks out of the gate, but comes back firing and wins the game.
i agree, a QB can’t play scared.
-LCFF
DotJPBW
(under protest)
by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 27, 2010 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions
It odd but Henne does seem to play better when we are in a hole or after he's thrown a couple Int's
He has that attribute as a QB at least
I probably know Judo! How many of you can make the same boast?
by Souwantmyname on Oct 27, 2010 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Maybe the Dolphins should
reassess being considered a “power run first” team as they have a whopping 1 rushing td in 6 games. We are tied with Buffalo and Dallas for last in rushing tds.
we all know they aren't that team anymore
everyone except for Dan Henning, apparently ;^)
-LCFF
DotJPBW
(under protest)
by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 27, 2010 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
This^
Stephen Ross is to be seen, not heard.
The Jets make up 12.5% of our schedule, there is no reason for them to take up more than 12.5% of our discussion.
by dolphinfanatic717 on Oct 27, 2010 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions
I have said this for 3 years now
The Dolphins just dont have the killer instinct. We won’t be a playoff calibre team until we figure out how to dominate other teams and put our foot to their throat when they are down. I can’t even remember the last time we’ve done that? Its always a nail-biter whether we are playing the Steelers or the Detroit Lions.
yes, but it hasn't really been until now that we actually have the talent to do it.
that’s what is frustrating to me… i think we could BE that juggernaut today.
-LCFF
DotJPBW
(under protest)
by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 27, 2010 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions
I dont know about juggernaut but we certainly have the ability to be WAAAY more effective on offense
Especially with the way Bess has stepped up this year
I probably know Judo! How many of you can make the same boast?
by Souwantmyname on Oct 27, 2010 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions
The last time we did it
Is when we unleashed the Wildcat in 2008 on the Pats, imo.
Stephen Ross is to be seen, not heard.
The Jets make up 12.5% of our schedule, there is no reason for them to take up more than 12.5% of our discussion.
by dolphinfanatic717 on Oct 27, 2010 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions
that's probably about right
-LCFF
DotJPBW
(under protest)
by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 27, 2010 5:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Before the season started
I was real excited about our offense because I thought BM was the missing piece. The threat of BM would open up the whole middle of the field. The thought of Bess Marshall and even hartline would mean less attention is paid to the run. Making big running lanes for Ricky or Ronnie.
But that only happens if the other team is affraid of you and not the other way around. Instead we are affraid of them. Sending out 1 or 2 recievers on play. Max protecting on every passing down. At worse if they get burned we get a 20 yard play and that might only happen once or twice a game. What is there to be affraid of. NOTHING. If we don’t open up this offense we will be 8-8 at the end of the year.
We need to stretch the field with hartline, make them double cover BM and have Bess work that 10-20 yard area and not the 5-10 yard area. Then the running backs will see running lanes and something will have to give. We need to make them protect the whole field and not just inside 20 yard from line of scrimage.
by sdelinois on Oct 27, 2010 1:45 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
▲▲▲This!
-LCFF
DotJPBW
(under protest)
by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 27, 2010 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions
This comment is ON THE SPOT! Rec'd
I got it wrong Tebow was a 1st rounder... Mau you won on this one... Damn!
This is the problem
We need to stretch the field with hartline, make them double cover BM and have Bess work that 10-20 yard area and not the 5-10 yard area. Then the running backs will see running lanes and something will have to give. We need to make them protect the whole field and not just inside 20 yard from line of scrimage.
Hartline doesnt scare anyone deep, I dont understand why some people expect him to stretch the field when thats not his game. I would like to see if Roberto Wallace can stretch the field though that would be nice…
"And who are you to tell me how to conduct myself? Why don't you practice safe sex and go f@#! yourself." -Loso
"Randy Moss is still victimizing teams that passed on him in 98', and Dez Bryant will do the same." -Me
"2010 is Year of the Ginn" -Me
Loading Swag... ████████████████ 100% Complete
by Deuce Black on Oct 27, 2010 11:07 PM EDT up reply actions
LCFF
Sorry dude was talking about Henne bashing in general .
Btw, do you remember how conservative our play calling was with Pennington? Were we also keep training wheels on him?
Henning is a disaster. Enough already, we need to move on.
It takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile
i think that the reality is that CP only had a short to medium range in which he was effective
not so much “training wheels” as that was his game. That is also (supposedly) the reason that we needed a QB who could stretch the field. Which i why I don’t understand how come they are calling the same game now as they would call with CP playing.
-LCFF
DotJPBW
(under protest)
by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 27, 2010 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions
I find it hard to question the playcalling on the
defensive side of the ball. I mean if you take away the 28 points the pats scored on special teams and defense than you have the 7th best scroing defense. The steelers were 6/16 on third down. Is that great third down defense? No, but it certainly isn’t awful. I have been impressed with our defense this season. Not to mention lot of young players who will surely get better. I strongly believe they are a top 10 defense.
About the offense. Well, it’s pretty simple we haven’t scored three touchdowns this season and we are averaging 20 points. That’s not going to get the job done. Too much proven talent on this offense to be an average offense. Granted we have played some pretty good defenses. The offense will determine the rest of the season. We aren’t seeing the wildcat anymore so maybe the playcalling will countinue to improve.
Lastly, I feel much better about this game than the two last year (Colts and Saints). I think that in the Saints and Colts game we played our best fooball (the entire colts game, and lst half for the saints game). I don’t think we have seen the best football from this team yet.
maybe i expect the defense to improve as well.
I’m not sure if Henne’s limitations are decidating Henning’s playcalling, or Henning’s playcalling is limiting Henne. It’s hard to say for sure. But whatever it is it needs to be fixed or we may very well be a .500 team.
..If Only Mr Ross and Sparano read these postings...
Yesterday the address and E-mail info for the Refs from Sundays game was posted all over these pages….People were calling from all over….That was wrong, .Our play calling did , has done so before, and more then likely will continue…All these post should be sent to our front office….or maybe planted directly on Coach’s desk….( Insert fist punch here) .
Field Goal Fins Stirke Again!
Nothing new! For years our offense has played for field goals, that’s why Pete Stoyanovich (Pistol Pete’), Olindo Mare, and now Dan Carpentar (DC$) are house hold names for phin fans. We live and die by the field goal. But what make this so dis-heartening is that for the first time in years we have not one but two great running backs, a top 10 WR, One of the best slot recievers in the game, and a “raw” but strong armed QB and we can’t put up more than 2 TD per game. Answer me this, If we now in 2010 have better talent than 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 how come it feels like we’re still playing like the same ole’ dolphins.
agreed
we had 2 chances early in the game, 2 turnovers in the freakin red zone and all we can get is 6 points. come on maaaan!! let the boys play dammit
by daytonadolfan on Oct 27, 2010 6:01 PM EDT up reply actions
WTH?
I think you’re my twin brother or somehow read my thoughts. lol
Can't remember the last time Miami had so much talent.
Rusty Smith! (Titans future qb)
Camarillo trade made 0 sense. A starting clutch WR for a 29 year old back-up CB? Someone found Rickey's old stash.
WTH?
i was just thinking that!
-LCFF
DotJPBW
(under protest)
by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 27, 2010 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Play calls have little to do with Henne
Dan Henning is and pretty much always has been a proponent of power running and game management. His play calls have more to do, in my opinion, with Ronnie and Ricky than they do with Chad Henne. He sees two good running backs and feels like he needs to feed them the ball. Its just what he does.
Henning calls wildcat plays after Henne strings together completions. Or how Henne will throw two or three bullets in a row to get the chains moving, then he’ll go to two consecutive runs to lull the whole thing. Its Henning’s over-commitment to running the football that leads to this kind of stuff. Its also his insistence on getting a little too clever from time-to-time.
I’ve been in Henning’s corner up until this point — hell, turning the franchise around with the wildcat bought him an awful lot of goodwill. But he’s treading water right now.
Interesting point you make here.
Even if Henne is on fire he will give the ball to the RBs ’cause they are, in his mind, the must dangerous weapons.
Seems like a senile way of thinking so I can believe that from Henning
I got it wrong Tebow was a 1st rounder... Mau you won on this one... Damn!
Enough
Quite frankly Ive had enough of the bashing of the coaches by the fans.
I log onto this site to see what other fans have to say about my favorite team in the NFL. To discuss the progress our players are making, and where we think this team is heading. I log onto this site to feel better about my team, not worse. Because I am a dolphin fan whether they win, or lose. Whether they make the playoffs, or have the worst record in the league. Enough of the coach bashing guys honestly. 2008 when Henning introduced the Wildcat and took our average team to the playoffs, you were probably talking about what a genius he was. News flash- Genius doesnt disappear in 2 years, but the wildcat is disappearing. We were still running it at the beggining of the season, and now we’re just adjusting to life without it.
I am a miami dolphins FAN. Im not a coach and I am not the owner, but a FAN. Do I agree with all the decisions the team makes? of course not, everybody is going to have a different perspective. But I am 100% confident they are making these decisions with the teams best interest at heart. Im not going to pretend I know whats going on the locker room, and Im sure that the players arent going out on the field saying:
“Hey guys, lets not lose this game.. common lets not lose guys”
I know our players play to win, and I KNOW our coaches coach to win. They have their own reasons for the decisions they make, and we have to live with those decisions and support our team no matter what. That is our responsibility as fans. Think you can do a better job? Then take your billions of dollars, buy the team. And when you start losing, take a look at what kinda criticism your getting. But for now, shut up with the negativity. Instead lets talk about what a great job Nolan has done with our defense! which was awful in the 4th qtr last year, what strides its taken, and what a good job he’s done with Paul Soliai at NT. Sparano called him out at the end of last season, and hes really stepped it up and made some big plays with the absence of our 1st rounder Jared Odrick. And what a good job Jason Allen is doing, who really stepped up and is now leading the team with ints.
Lets be positive about the team we love guys…
bottom line
On sunday I saw a team do its best to not turn the ball over against a team who likes to take it away, and a team try to get points against a team that doesnt allow very many.
If you got a better way, submit your resume!
Do you even know why we went to the Wildcat?
We HAD to because our base offense (Henning’s offense) was getting destroyed by teams. The Wildcat was implemented by QB’s coach David Lee not Henning. Now that the Wildcat has been figured out we are right back to where we started with Henning. A vanilla predictable offense that every defense we face is prepared for.
I probably know Judo! How many of you can make the same boast?
by Souwantmyname on Oct 27, 2010 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions
News flash- Genius doesnt disappear in 2 years,
it can when you are already 118 yrs old…
-LCFF
DotJPBW
(under protest)
by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 27, 2010 5:44 PM EDT up reply actions
i understand where you are coming from, but i respectfully disagree
i don’t think being a fan means you have to ignore the problems and pretend that everything is hunky dory. And the corollary to that is that i don’t think you are less of a fans by being upset at things the team is doing wrong.
The teams, owners, and leagues are often influenced by fan opinion, because without fans, they don’t make money. And since we make them lots of money, I think it is fair to demand that they work hard to bring us a championship. And if it ain’t workin, fix it!
I have been a Fin fan for over 40 yrs. I have only been a Fin fan. i have never been a fan of another team (although there are a couple of other teams I would root for as long as they aren’t playing the Fins), and I have been through many ups and downs with them over the years.
And for the record, i tend to look for the positives. in fact, i have often been accused of being a downright homer. ;^) And the positive right now is that this is the most TALENTED team we have fielded in at least 10 years! It would be a shame and a pity to squander this opportunity to shoot the works!
-LCFF
DotJPBW
(under protest)
by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 27, 2010 6:14 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
That's beautiful
Dan Marino (13) and Steve Nash (13) will go down in history as being the greatest passers to never win the last game of the season.
I agree wholeheartedly with all you said
These guys absolutely NEED to come out and play with attitude and killer instinct and maintain it for 60 minutes. Period.
Coordinators need to start calling a game thats both inclusive of the teams offensive strengths and also exploitative of the oppositions weaknesses. The team literally kills their own drives rather than forcing the opposition to HAVE TO stop them. We are far too predictable.
To paraphrase Dan Marino in an old (censored, of course) game highlight – “Lets get this ball in the endzone and score some Goddammed points.”
Sometimes it feels like this team leaves a lot behind in practice and in the film room.
BUT – the biggest thing here is that the team is very young. I think we can get on a roll and make some noise.
I fart in your general direction. Your mother was a hamster and your father reeked of elderberries. Now go away or I shall taunt you a second time.
Well said.
-LCFF
DotJPBW
(under protest)
by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 27, 2010 5:47 PM EDT up reply actions
LMAO!!!
Quack!
-LCFF
DotJPBW
(under protest)
by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 27, 2010 5:46 PM EDT up reply actions
shhh..... not so loud... you'll upset matty...
;^)
-LCFF
DotJPBW
(under protest)
by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 27, 2010 5:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Playing scared
That is Sparano. Stay alive into the 4th by playing the conservative percentages when you have serious playmakers. Wow, this team talent is championship – why are we playing scared.
"Appreciate the target you put on my back...We just have a lot of work to do" Tubberville
in '08 it looked genius, because of the talent he had to work with...
this season, not so much…
-LCFF
DotJPBW
(under protest)
by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 27, 2010 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions
"Taking the foot off the brake and putting on the accelerator" = Getting rid of HENNING!
Either that or him completely his philosophy which is not likely.. gotta get a new guy in there to really change the culture and ramp this up! We’ve got the people to do it!
by dolphinsfan4life on Oct 27, 2010 7:00 PM EDT reply actions
This is hands down
The most accruate article on the dolphins I’ve ever seen on this blog. 1) YOU NEED TO PLAY TO WIN.!!! Stop being the conservative wimpy team. Did you see the patriots take their starters out when they were playing the titans and beat them by 50+ points? I don’t think so. Did the saints last year stop playing when they are winning by 14+ points? NO! They secure the win and keep playing good football. You play agressive and try to have the defense stop you, not play wimpy and take what the defense gives you. They won’t make it to the playoffs til they go out on the field and make the defense adjust to them, not the other way around. That won’t happen for awhile though, cuz that is, in fact the mindset instilled by the coaching staff. Dude, whatever you were doing when you wrote this…keep doing it.
i was on a plane between Denver and SoCal.
i would keep doing it, but i would get too expensive…. ;^)
Thanks man!
-LCFF
DotJPBW
(under protest)
by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 27, 2010 7:40 PM EDT up reply actions
You guys see what you want to see!
You’ll have to stop pretending to yourselves that Henne is this amazing QB. That if they just take the reigns off of him, he’d turn into a great QB. Not so! Henne is average at best, and you have to stop hyping him up. That being said maybe he could turn out to be a real good one, but he’s not even close yet. You’ll seem blame whatever goes wrong on Sundays game, and constantly scream for a change. I don’t agree with everything Henning calls, but I do believe he trys to have a balance game plan. It also falls on Henne, receivers, running backs & o-line to produce. I know we joke but Henne has to stop playing like a Robot, and be able to go through his progression faster, and don’t be indecisive about throwing the ball, especially to Marshall. I think the coaching staff are trying to play to Hennes strenghths. We can’t turn into the amazing passing team with Henne at the helm. The pro of this Idea is Manning w/colts, the con of this idea is Orton w/broncos. Do you see where I’m going with this. We have to have the QB produce Consistently to make it a pro. And Henne’s not there yet, wish he was! So there not handcuffing him, but he is wearing training wheels. We are still trying to have a winning season, they don’t want him to cost us the game. Cause as you know, we don’t play so well from behind. One more thing I think Roberto Wallace should be are no#2 receiver instead of Hartline, or at least share the same amount of reps. You cannot be the no#2 guy and catch two to three balls a game, when you know the No#1 is double teamed. I’m just sayin!
I think the real point is that we will not KNOW what Henne is until we let him try to make some plays.
there is ZERO excuse, in my mind anyway, for not taking a few shots at the end zone when we got those turnovers on a short field. an INT from Henne at that point would hardly have cost us the game.
No one that I see, is saying Henne is an “amazing QB”, but almost everyone is saying that it would be nice to find out.
Totally agree about Wallace. At least that he should be given a chance over Hartline.
-LCFF
DotJPBW
(under protest)
by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 27, 2010 8:15 PM EDT up reply actions
If you're referring primarily to Sundays game then I concur.
They could have done less running and more passing in the endzone on the short field. But less be honest, it’s not like we were playing the Bills here. And he had a hard time moving the ball against them. I agree with you, we should have taken a chance in the endzone. I go back to what I said b4, they don’t want him to cost us the game! The real problem is not so much moving the ball passing or running, It’s getting stalled in the Red zone! Now if it’s calling running plays over pass plays and we can’t get in, you’ll can start the “Fire” Dan Henning Mob, which I hear is growing very rapidly. But if it’s because Henne cannot connect with his receivers which I see more & more, then we’re in for a very long season. :( And I think that is what they need to be working on in training camp the most! As well as 2 min drills! I’m just sayin!
Man, where have you been?
It’s already BEEN a long season.
Dan Marino (13) and Steve Nash (13) will go down in history as being the greatest passers to never win the last game of the season.
Apparently you see the glass half empty!
It’s only been 6 games. And the teams we lost to are 5-1 teams. Besides people had us at .500 almost half way through the season, so we’re not disappointing anyone lol. It’s just rough b/c Pats & Jets are in our division. One thing people aren’t realizing is that the Jets have a better team than us, and Pats are a better coached team than us, and we still almost beat them. I got to be honest, if we keep playing physical I like our chances. And stop calling for the OC to be fired. Tony Sparano just needs to let him know we need to pass a little more and take chances here & there, that’s it. We are like solid sparring partner still learning how to knock some one out. But good enough to go the distance and lose on a split decision. That’s what happens when you have a young team, it takes minute before you can develop a winning atmosphere. I’m just sayin!
by Shinobi_Shogun on Oct 27, 2010 10:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Been on the edge of my seat for 7 weeks and the days drag to the next game
I feel like we’re right where I thought we’d be, but playing way better than I expected, even though we have a lot of things to fix. We have been showing an effort to fix mistakes all season.
I hope Sparno and Henning had a good talk this week.
Dan Marino (13) and Steve Nash (13) will go down in history as being the greatest passers to never win the last game of the season.
A fly on the wall reports the following from Todays coachs meeting:
TS: So, got your game plan for this week Dan?
DH: Yup! Run Run,,Run .with a long punt….hows that ?( great big smile)
TS : Perfect! Same as always Coach! been working so far, so why change?
DH: Thats right…and why should we?…Its our team..right? ( downing a 5hr energy)
TS: Didn’t forget my Field goals..did ya Dan?
DH: Hell no! Our philosophy..right?
TS: So..good practice today?
DH: yup….6 field goals today.. ( Big grin)
TS: Nice! way to Coach ( insert fist punch here)
by paul j on Oct 28, 2010 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
LMAO
Thanks, Paul! I needed that :D
Dan Marino (13) and Steve Nash (13) will go down in history as being the greatest passers to never win the last game of the season.
couldnt resisit....
….Sometimes sarcasm is the only answer for frustration…besides the “other” option Lol
That's true. I've been very sarcastic this week.
But I did thank a Steeler yesterday for the good game. I’m beginning to put it behind me. I haven’t thought about the Bengals once this week though.
Dan Marino (13) and Steve Nash (13) will go down in history as being the greatest passers to never win the last game of the season.
LMAO i was thinking the same thing
when it came to 3rd and long. Was hoping for 3rd and short cause we seemed to stop them on 3rd and short and couldn’t stop them on 3rd and long..Pretty bad!! lol
I also agree with getting rid of Henning!! The play calling is just to conservative from the 30 yd line in. We move the ball through the air pretty much at will until we get inside the 30 then it’s run, short pass, run … The play calling is killing me!!
Was at the fake spike game against the Jests !!
Thanks Lefty, I was wondering when someone was going to finally call out Mike Nolan.
Did no one else see Hines Ward time and time again humilitaing Benny Sapp and Karlos Dansby to the tune of 7 catches for 131 yards and a TD? Most defensive coordinators would have made an adjustment, whether it be change out Sapp for Smith, or shadow him with the SS over the top.
I’m also confused as you are Lefty as to why our safeties are still playing so close to the line. I understand why it was done last year, our LB corp was horrible containing the run and it was necessary to augment them with a safety playing the 5th/6th LB. That was supposed to change this year with the addition of Dansby. Yet here we are, 6 games into the season and 3 out of our top 4 tacklers are DBs. We all wanted a ball hawking FS, but the real question is even if we had one would the defensive schemes we run allow him to do that?
I used to think I had a drinking problem.
So I stopped thinking.
Glad somebody else has mentioned defensive playcalling too. A couple of times on 3rd and long and we’d see Cameron Wake ‘faking’ a blitz – I mean what’s the point?! Just let him charge the QB, he gets the job done almost every time. Fake other guys instead.
You also touched on something really important regarding offense that few people are mentioning — this is a different O-line now, and it just doesn’t seem to have worked. The pass protection was excellent last week, but we’re supposed to be a running team and they aren’t getting the job done. It’s not been a disaster, but I don’t think everybody has gelled in that unit yet.
And yeah, without question get rid Henning. I feel so sorry for Henne (and Marshall) at the moment.
i forgot about that
i did see Wake in coverage once and though “what the heck?”
-LCFF
DotJPBW
(under protest)
by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 28, 2010 1:05 PM EDT up reply actions
You play to win the game
2009 NY Phin PhansFantasy League Champion
2009 Best Regular Season Record in NYPPL.
2010 The Jim Mandich NewsFlash Award Winner.
""It only ends once. Everything that comes before is just progress"
lol @ PS
-LCFF
DotJPBW
(under protest)
by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 29, 2010 9:54 AM EDT up reply actions
Great Post
Especially the last part
What I wouldn’t give to see the Miami Dolphins actually come out and CRUSH an opponent….
Every win has been too close. Barely got past the winless Bills, and the overrated Vikings. I want to see a blowout. The kind of blowouts caused by great play from our team. Force turnovers, long plays, dominant special teams…you know…sort of how the Patriots did us.
"If winning isn't everything, then why do they keep score?"
-Vince Lombardi
Agree with that!
"Appreciate the target you put on my back...We just have a lot of work to do" Tubberville
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on The Phinsider
Related FanShots on The Phinsider
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Shutdown Corner - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
- The Shutdown Corner Podcast: Greg Cosell on the NFC South Draft
- BREAKING: Tim Tebow did not become a great quarterback today
- Jerry Jones says Cowboys championship window is closing; Tony Romo disagrees
- Lawrence Taylor was told his Super Bowl ring was bought by Charlie Sheen
- Chad Ochocinco gets robbed, mourns loss of Starbucks gold card
