Dolphins close preseason with loss to (backup) Cowboys

 I seem to really trash Hartline alot. I just set my expectations for him so high after we got the beast. It’s like he never gets open, and when he does it’s a drop but…. He has alot of potential and is a threat inside the rezone for sure! Great play by odrick, starting to see why we drafted him! Oh and last but not least, and I know you guys r gona trash me for this but idc anyways! Please stop making excuses for Sean Smith!!!!!!!!!!! He’s not good … “Oh it’s only preseason” , I thought that was the only time he’s good? “Good holding penalty saved us from a touchdown” , He should of never got beat off the line! “Perfect throw good coverage in the endzone”, Good coverage??? Are u serious

Same thing I’ve been telling all my buds who think the Heat are going all the way this year. Some things take time, and good for us that a lot of our starters had most of last season to get in sync. Henne needs to work on his touch, and Marshall/Hartline need to work on their drops, but all in all I’m not worried (yet).

He’s had some stupid drops this preseason, but if you watch him play, he’s a really good route runner and has a knack for getting open. If Henne had made a better throw, Hartline would have taken that long pass for a TD easily – he was what, like 4 yards ahead of his man in single coverage?

What worries me most is our offensive line. Sad to say it, but it’s true. Like you said Matty, they’re getting pushed into the backfield by BACKUPS. I’ve been steadily impressed with our passing game but our runners just don’t seem to have anything to work with.

And tell me please: WHY can’t we run a damn halfback screen? We’ve gotta be the worst in the league at running slip screens.

-Hartline, I have always liked and I agree what a knack to get open in the Endzone.
-Offensive Line. I just don’t think Berger has it. He stays healthy and he is quick. Thats the only positive I can see over Grove. If Grove doesn’t start as the Center week 1 he’ll take it over eventually.
-Pass Rush…. where was it? I was preaching it was vanilla defense base defense, blitz 1 or 2 guys that it no stunts no nothing, but 4 guys should get to the QB. On the long pass to Hurd for the TD the Fins blitz the ROLB both ILB and the LOLB rushed in once his man stayed in for protection. Maybe they got there and put pressure on the QB but for 300+ yds and only 1 sack it didn’t work the best. Plus Dallas had 5 sacks to the Fins 1.
 
Not all too concern it it preseason, and in 2003 Ricky’s first year he did pretty poor and ended up leading the league in rushing

Both WRs are raw and need development. Wallace is just as big a target as Turner, but faster. From the limited highlights I saw of the game, Wallace was having no trouble getting by his defender. Yeah, he dropped a pass, but he made big catches when he was called upon. Wallace plays special teams and Turner doesn’t. IMO, Turner is dead weight and needs to go.

I am just hoping they can check their EGO’s and dump the draft pick failure… ya failure.
Turner was a mid 3rd round pick and hasnt shown he belongs in the NFL… BESS, and now MOORE and WALLACE were all undrafted – and are much better. I dont know WHY the FO wants to hang on to failed draft picks so long ? They have done a GREAT job in the FA WR market (Moore and Wallace this year) – so PLEASE keep Wallace over Turner… its no shame Tuna…and Pat White ? Show the GUTS necessary – cut our losses… we need the roster slot.
I don’t care how we aquire talent – just keep the best player ! In this case that’s Wallace – Moore is a NO BRAINER – he has earned the #4 ahead of them both.

What has been a strength is looking like a weakness.

I think the season’s success will likely start and end on its effectiveness.

I missed the game last night but between Twitter and the game summary on the major paper’s sites I was starting to feel a little despair.

Anderson seems to be becoming the Nate Garner of the defense—the kind of versatile role player that defines good depth (too bad we lost Nate).

Drops and recent troubles notwithstanding, I am so freaking excited about our WRs this year. We finally have a diverse skill set to attack the field in a ton of ways. Should be fun.

His performance pleased me a lot, although the rest of the team was not exactly great during his time on the field. Very athletic, good game view. I’m not sure what’s going on with Henne, but I think we’ll be fine with the Penne/Thigpen combo. (If they don’t trade Thigpen, that is. Please don’t!)

And yes, Penne rules. Yes, he’s got more nfl years on his back than Henne, he’s got a noodle arm, yes. But he’s the man.

As for the OL…it’s funny, ‘cause you would always hear that our OL was the only part of our team that was “ready”, that didn’t need much improvement. For now, I’m concerned. But again, it’s just preseason, who knows.

First and foremost I don’t believe this is the game you want to judge your starters with. Even if they did do some good things we must remember this was the Dallas 2nd team. So if your going to have an accurate evaluation of anyone its going to be our own backups (Marlon Moore, Roberto Wallace, O-line, Micah Johnson, Tim Dobbins, John Nalbone,etc.)

As for the wide receiver battle, we already know Marlon Moore is a lock. The last spot is a battle between Patrick Turner and Roberto Wallace. Though Turner has the edge because he’s a former draft pick, Wallace should get the last spot. Unlike Turner, Wallace actually plays like he’s 6’4". And if he continues to improve Wallace could potentially be a #2 (just sayin).

i think they are playing the pre-season so vanilla and it has to do with the schedule.

3 of the first 4 games division rivalries plus a trip to Minnesota. they don’t want to show anything and I don’t blame them.

Look this team has some question marks i understand that – but i also beleive this is a good young football team. They are going to be physical and they are going to battle.

the first 10 weeks of the season are brutal – we will know soon how good this team is – i would not be shocked if they win 8-9 games but I would love to see 10-11 wins.

I do come out of the preseason with some concerns. Granted a comfortable win next week would do away with that, but the point here is….how much did we see during the preseason from our young players, that make us think they can flip t he switch and walk over buffalo…..? Ok, complete homers need not respond :-)

We’re still seeing a great many of the same problems…..mediocre o-line play, dropped passes, poor timing in the passing game…

All of these things can be corrected but you’d like to see them sorted out before the games count, rather than hoping they resolve themselves when the games are for real!

Best hopes for a much better performance in week 1.

One thing that I remember reading is that Sparano hammers Henne in the practices following games on what he struggled with. Same approach with the team and these preseason games. What were seeing is Tony putting people in situations they’re struggling with…….until they get better. They’re doing what they need to do, no worries.

Not to open the “S. FL. media sucks” box, but I seriously wonder how much Omie and Argoofdo work against the a positive Fin culture. It’s one thing to be a “no B.S./get to the truth” type reporter, but these guys just half-ass their way through whiny crap they call sports blogs.

Not to rant but seriously, wouldn’t informative and hard-working reporters covering our team make for a better “culture”? It feels like Dolphin fans are a bunch of spoiled brats walking around Walmart with no shoes and melted slushie all down their shirt, crying for their mommies (Omie and Argoofdo), who just proceed in feeding more crap and setting them off to cry around the store some more!

Sorry guys, pre-coffee, and I just made the S.S. and M.H. loop and thankfully I made it here.

but in my opinion I think Thigpen gets traded, I think that is the main reason we have seen so much of him durring the preseason to showcase what he can do, I could see someone trading for him and us keeping White, honestly I could see him going to the Bills and starting right away or even the Cardinals and starting

Dallas’ second- and third-string guys were out there last night. Some of those were guys trying to fight to earn a starting spot, where any open camps may be (or just to show Coach that they are a better fit with the first team unit). Some of those guys were fighting to earn a roster spot, and we all know there are plenty of cuts a-comin’.

Come on guys, I don’t care if you’re a vet to this site or a rookie—we know damn well that a veteran player such as players on our O-Line or a guy who knows he’s going to be starting is not going to work his ass off in a game where most teams don’t play their starters. It’s the final preseason game, a mere tune-up, a way to settle the final spots on your roster. This isn’t a game where coaches generally have their guys gel and work on confidence heading into the season. The guys know they’re going to get banged up enough when the real games start, why would a first-team player give his all before starting a 16+ game season? Why? It doesn’t make any sense. Nobody on our team had as much urgency as their guys, and there is plenty of reason for that. None of our guys were fighting for anything, they were just going through the motions.

And that’s why our second/third teamers looked much better than our first team. It’s the most simple aspect of the preseason, and so many of you CLS-mongers are missing it.

particulalry, that of the offensive line.

But you know what? Screw it. I have faith that these guys will put together a good year, regardless of how they have played so far in preseason.

I got tickets to go see them at the Bills week one. I’m going to stay upbeat and enthusiastic about it. Until proven otherwise, Miami is a good team.

and like they all say, they are tied with the rest of the league right now 0-0.

Bring on the real games!

Now the real worrying and complaining can start…

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& DON’T PAY REVIS ************************************

I didn’t see the game, but I didn’t have too with a great write up like this!