SB Nation - Patrick Cobbs

5 Questions: Patriots @ Dolphins

MaPatsFan — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:09:41 -0000

Moving on. Divisional game. Miami Dolphins at home. That's all that matters right now. Just as our favorite team and players are doing, it's time to stop mourning and start figuring out how we can make this a W. I'm not simply being nice when I way Miami gives New England trouble. More than any other division rival, they seem to know us pretty well and know our tendencies. However, in the last 5 games, we're 4-1 against the Fins and with Tom Brady under center, 3-0. That being said, Miami has managed an impressive 3rd in yards per game rushing...and that's WITHOUT Ronnie Brown. I also believe Head Coach Tony Sparano has been burning the midnight oil watching game film from our Saints matchup.

But on to the Dolphins. As is our custom, Head Blogger Matty I of The Phinsider and I exchanged questions on our upcoming matchup. Matty offered some excellent insight into how his team is doing this year and how some of the young guys have progressed.

Read on after the jump...

What impact has Ronnie Brown's absence had on the Dolphins? Can you think of any situations where his presence might've swung a game in your favor?

Well the Dolphins have only played two full games since Brown went down with his foot injury. In those two games, the Dolphins are 1-1. But I'll admit I can't help but think that if Ronnie was still healthy, the Dolphins wouldn't have lost to Buffalo last week.

Why? First off all, the 'Wildcat' really lacks any teeth without Brown. Ricky Williams is a talented back and all - but he's not nearly as good as the 'Wildcat' triggerman as Ronnie is. Truth be told, Brown is the 'Wildcat.' Secondly, I get the feeling that offensive coordinator Dan Henning doesn't attempt that ridiculous 'Wildcat' pass on first and goal from the three yard line against Buffalo on their first drive of the game last week - which resulted in an interception, of course. If Brown was healthy and the 'Wildcat' was as effective as usual, I think they decide to just pound it in. Also, if they were planning on throwing it there out of the 'Wildcat,' at least it would have been Ronnie - who has experience and some success throwing the football - rather than Ricky. In fact, Ronnie might decide to not even make the throw after seeing how the defense reacts. Ricky, on the other hand, doesn't have the experience and tried to force it in.

Most importantly, though, is how I think too much of the load is falling on Ricky's shoulders. The Dolphins got away from running the ball in the second half. And I can't help but think that if the Dolphins had a healthy Brown to go with Ricky, Dan Henning wouldn't have gotten away from the running game.

The bottom line is simple: Ronnie Brown was this offense's best player. And they aren't the same offense without him.

The Dolphins are #3 in rushing yards per game. Tell us about some of the guys who have stepped up in Brown's absence.

Well since Brown went down, it's mainly been Ricky Williams as the guy who has stepped up. Beginning with the game against Tampa Bay three weeks ago, Ricky has three consecutive 100 yard rushing games. He had just one all of last season. In fact, he hasn't had a run of 100 yard games like this since November of 2003. Dolphin fans everywhere just hope that he can keep it up as the increased workload takes its toll on him.

The other player who has stepped up - and who will probably see more carries on Sunday than he ever has - is running back Lex Hilliard. Hilliard is a second year player (spent '08 on practice squad) out of Montana who is a big, physical runner with lots of power. And he got his first career carry just two weeks ago against the Panthers. It was a 3rd & 16 and Hilliard ran up the middle, bouncing off defenders, for 18 yards and a first down. But in his two weeks of experience, he has just 9 carries for 46 yards. The coaches, I'm sure, just wanted to ease him into the role. Keep in mind that Hilliard is this team's fourth running back and just narrowly made the cut out of training camp. But injuries to Brown and to third running back Patrick Cobbs has thrust Hilliard into a bigger role. So far, he's looked promising in limited action. But I think he'll see a good 7 to 10 carries on Sunday - his biggest test yet.

Now that Jason Taylor has been around for a while, do you feel like he's been able to make significant contributions on the field or do you feel he's more valuable as a veteran locker room guy?

It's hard to know for sure how much of an impact in the locker room Jason Taylor has had this year. Keep in mind that this is a team that is not short on locker room leaders, especially on defense (Jason Ferguson and Joey Porter, for example). But it says a lot that Taylor was voted one of the team's captains back in the preseason by his teammates even after that ugly 2008 offseason mess that resulted in his trade to Washington.

On the field, Taylor has made significant contributions. Has he been as good as he was when he was younger? Of course not. But to even expect that is crazy. He's still an effective pass rusher, though. He is tied for second on the team with 6 sacks and probably gets more pressure on the quarterback than anyone else on this team other than Cameron Wake. Throw in a fumble return for a touchdown and an interception that set the Dolphins up deep in opponent territory - and yes, I'm pretty happy he's back in Miami.

Chad Henne was going to ease into the roll of starting quarterback until Chad Pennington's season ended abruptly. Was Henne's "instant" promotion a positive or a negative? Where have you seen Henne improve and where has he struggled?

I don't want to say his promotion was either a positive or a negative. He obviously brings something to this offense that they didn't have with Chad Pennington under center - a big arm. But that doesn't replace all of the things that Pennington brought to the table. His accuracy, his knowledge of the game, his leadership. With all that said, however, Henne's promotion to the starting role this season is definitely a positive in terms of what it means to this franchise's future.

As far as his play is concerned, his big arm comes as advertised. He can make all of the throws. We've seen his decision making improve. He had a tendency of holding onto the ball too long. But recently, we've seen him throw the ball away when necessary. And outside of last week's game, he hasn't really had issues with forcing the ball into coverage. I've also been impressed with Henne's ability to roll out and throw on the run.

But there are two main areas that Henne still needs to improve in. One - his accuracy. Sometimes he's perfectly on the money. Other times he's off. It's more of a consistency issue than an accuracy issue - which is a good thing. He has the ability to be extremely accurate. He just needs to be more consistent. Two - his tendency to stare down receivers. This is the biggest issue, in my opinion. He still tends to telegraph where he's going to throw by staring down his receiver. But I've seen him do this less and less as he has gained experience. Hopefully this is just something that goes away as he gets more comfortable in this offense with these receivers.

In our last matchup, Brady threw for 332 yards, 147 of those to Randy Moss. Do you feel like the Dolphins' young secondary has made some positive strides? Is Vontae Davis the guy who will get Moss and if so, will Randy Moss have a tough day?

I think that Vontae Davis and Sean Smith have definitely made some positive strides. And every time either one gives up a big pass, I see it as a learning experience for those two kids. With that said, I'm very worried about Sunday because it's beginning to look like both of those two young corners are hitting the dreaded "rookie wall." Most rookies only played in 12 or 13 games per year at the college level. We're now getting to that point where their bodies aren't used to taking this weekly pounding. And if either of them are a step slower because of this, Sunday could be a long day.

As far as who covers who, I'm still not too sure. I thought we'd see more of Sean Smith on Randy Moss last time - simply because of his size. But Vontae got the duty last time and didn't play poorly outside of one or two plays. Unfortunately, you can't give up one or two big plays per game and hope to win. The only thing I can guarantee you is that we'll see plenty of Nate Jones covering Wes Welker whenever Wes is lined up in the slot. Outside of that, it's anyone's guess.

A big shoutout to Matty I from for his most excellent answers. Head on over to The Phinsider for my answers to his questions.

Despite win over Bucs, Dolphins still have plenty of work to do

Matty I — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 05:39:57 -0000

More photos » by Brian Blanco - AP

Yes - Pennington can throw deep from time to time!

Browse more photos »

Usually I am a firm believe that you take a win any way you can get one. After all, we saw just how hard it is to win in this league back in 2007. But in the preseason - especially in the third game of the preseason - I'm a firm believer in seeing crisp, efficient play on both sides of the ball rather than just focusing on the end result. Yes, the Dolphins knocked off the Buccaneers on Thursday night to remain unbeaten in the preseason. But if you're a Dolphins fan, you certainly aren't satisfied with your team's performance.

RUSH DEFENSE DOESN'T IMPRESS
During the first two preseason games, the Dolphins were very impressive defending the run - much more so than many anticipated. But on Thursday night, the Bucs consistently pushed around Miami's defensive line at the point of attack. And for the second consecutive week, there were a couple of missed tackles that led to big gains on the ground for Tampa.

All told, the Bucs' three-headed running back committee of Cadillac Williams, Derrick Ward, and Earnest Graham combined for 96 yards rushing on just 17 carries (5.65 ypc average) - an unacceptable number when you consider these three only played 2 and a half quarters.

SECONDARY STRUGGLES AGAINST MEDIOCRE RECEIVERS
The thinking going into this game was that the Dolphins would be able to really shut down Tampa's passing offense considering they were playing without their two starting receivers - Antonio Bryant and Michael Clayton. But then the game started and, for some reason, there were suddenly Buccaneer receivers running wide open down the field. By the time the game was delayed due to lightning, Byron Leftwich had thrown for 100 yards through the air in just over one quarter. And that number would have been even higher if he wasn't so inaccurate throwing the ball - missing at least two wide open receivers, including one in the corner of the endzone.

No - this wasn't how it was supposed to be, at least in many of our minds.

Who was the biggest culprit among the starters? The blame is probably equally shared between Will Allen and Sean Smith. Neither could apparently contain Maurice Stovall - who has just 20 career receptions over three seasons. Stovall caught six balls on Thursday night for 73 yards. Of those six catches, 5 came when either Smith or Allen were in coverage. The other was a short one yard pass. But here's how Stovall's night breaks down outside of that one reception:

Quick slant for 7 yards against Smith.
Skinny post for 18 yards against Allen.
Fly pattern deep down right sideline that is overthrown - but Stovall definitely beat Allen.
Quick slant for 5 yards against Smith.
Skinny post for 21 yards against Allen.
Post for 21 against Smith.

If this is how our corners perform against Stovall in the preseason, they have a lot of work to do in preparing for some of the outstanding receivers they face in the regular season.

OFFENSIVE LINE UNIMPRESSIVE
After a solid performance last week out of the starting offensive line, we were all hoping to see even more improvement this week. That's didn't happen. The starting unit surrendered two sacks, a handful of quarterback hurries, and failed to generate any running lanes for Miami's running backs. The starters played together into the fourth quarter. In those 3+ quarters, the Dolphins ran for just 62 yards on 19 carries - a putrid 3.26 ypc average. For a line that has $80+ million guaranteed between four of the starters, these kinds of performances are not close to being acceptable.

Make no mistake about it - this offense is only as good as the offensive line allows it to be. And we really didn't see anything encouraging for the first-team on Thursday night.

CONSISTENT PASS RUSH ONE OF THE POSITIVES
I was definitely satisfied with the pressure the Dolphins were able to get on the quarterback for most of the night. The defense tallied four sacks (including two against Tampa's starting offensive line in the first two quarters) and numerous QB hurries. I really love watching Nathan Jones blitz from his cornerback position - he has a knack for finding the quarterback. Jason Taylor also was a step or two away from a couple of sacks. All in all, it was a solid night for Miami's pass rush. And I expect that we've seen just the tip of the iceberg regarding some of Paul Pasqualoni's exotic blitz packages.

PENNINGTON MAKES SOME PLAYS, HENNE DISAPPOINTS
Can we end the "dink and dunk" stereotype of Chad Pennington. Yes - some of his throws float. And there's no question that his arm strength is less than ideal. But this idea that some have that CP can't throw it more than 10 or 15 yards is just ridiculous. On Thursday night, while he wasn't very sharp by any means, he played in poor conditions, didn't turn the ball over, and made some things happen.

While it was a high-arcing throw down the sideline, Pennington put the ball right on the money to Brian Hartline 30+ yards down the field on a 3rd down in the first quarter. But Hartline did indeed push off - good call by the ref. Pennington showed he can throw downfield again in the third quarter when he hit Hartline perfectly in stride 45 yards down the field. Two plays later, Pennington eluded the rush and gave himself enough time to find Anthony Fasano wide open for the touchdown.

Pennington wasn't great by any stretch of the imagination. But he didn't turn the ball over and he did enough to put his team in the lead.

I was really looking forward to seeing how Chad Henne would perform tonight, too. I was hoping to see what so many other Dolphin fans claim to see in Henne. And while I saw a very strong arm, Henne was very inaccurate, held onto the ball too long once or twice, and made a simply terrible mistake by throwing an interception in the redzone. Henne finished the night completing 2 of 8 passes for 55 yards (but if not for Greg Camarillo's run after catch, it would have been more like 12 yards) and that costly interception. Not a very good night for the second-year QB.

QUICK HITS
Here are some of my quick thoughts on various aspects of Thursday's game:

Third down is the money down. The Dolphins were 3/14 (21%). Eww.
Yes - Brian Hartline stood out a little. But I'm not ready to go overboard. Hartline's big play came against Tampa's backup defense. Has anyone heard of Torrie Cox? That's who Hartline beat on his 50+ yard reception. Cox wasn't even in the NFL in 2008. So let's not go crazy, folks. Yes, Hartline also made a key play earlier by turning an 8 or 9 yard gain into a 17 yard gain. But he also dropped a would-be first-down reception along the right sideline on third down despite the ball hitting him right in the hands. So I need to see more out of Hartline before I christen him as the second coming.
Ted Ginn was only targeted twice, from what I remember. The first time resulted in a 19 yard reception when Ginn found a hole in Tampa's zone. The other was an overthrow from CP in the endzone in which Teddy was open after his defender fell down. I was hoping to see more out of Ginn, though.
What's the deal with Greg Camarillo? Why does it seem like he's so far down on the depth chart? Did the coaches forget what he did last year before his knee injury? I need to see more Camarillo, to be honest.
Great job by Patrick Cobbs to block that punt. But what the hell was Charlie Anderson thinking? You don't touch a blocked punt that goes beyond the line of scrimmage. It's that simple. Just let it die.
Has Dan Carpenter locked up his job yet? He nailed his 34 yard FG attempt and, on his two opportunities to kick the ball deep, he hit it 2 yards deep into the endzone to start the game and to the 4 yard line later in the game. Connor Barth, meanwhile, didn't see any action. I think it's a done deal.
Brandon Fields has a ridiculous leg. His first two punts traveled 64 and 50 yards respectively. IF he can just become more consistent, we will have found a damn good punter for a long time.
Punt coverage remains a problem. The Dolphins again allowed a long punt return this week - a 30 yard return to be exact. These kinds of mistakes cost you in the battle for field position. And in bad weather, field position becomes even more important.
I like Ted Ginn as our kick returner - always have. But Davone Bess isn't doing it for me as punt returner. Who else do we have? Anyone?

CLOSING THOUGHT
Clearly, there's still a lot of work to be done. But that's what the preseason is for. And hopefully the Dolphins can learn a lot about themselves and improve from what they see when they watch this game film.

I also wouldn't rule out the idea that fatigue played a part in this. Thursday night's game was the Dolphins' third game in just 11 days.

Regardless, there are still two weeks before the games actually count. I have full confidence in Tony Sparano and his coaching staff - they'll take care of what needs to be taken care of.

Weekend Roundup: Talking Ernest Wilford, running backs & more

Matty I — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 04:15:08 -0000

I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend - though it was saddened by the tragic killing of Steve McNair.

We're now less than four weeks away from the Dolphins' first training camp practice on August 2 down in Davie. And while it's going to be a very slow few weeks, I'll do my best to keep things interesting as we near the kickoff of camp.

As for now, let's see what made news this past weekend.

THE ERNEST WILFORD EXPERIMENT
As you all know, Ernest Wilford - last season's major free agent bust - has been working to make the transition from wide receiver to tight end this year. And Wilford seems excited about the move:

"It's been interesting. Defenses don't know if they're going to play me at receiver or tight end. It will create mismatches. I've got to know what I'm doing in protections and the running game. That's the biggest transition. Anything that will help me be a value to this team, I'm willing to do. I'm very confident."

Media reports from OTAs indicate that Wilford has been successful doing just that - creating mismatches. I can't recall right now which beat writer said it, but he said Wilford being on the field working as a tight end has confused the defense at times - either creating an opportunity for himself or for one of his teammates.

But Wilford will have to prove he can block linebackers for this to really work. He has gained some weight - currently tipping the scales at 240 pounds. But that's still 10 to 15 pounds lighter than Miami's other tight ends. And if he can't be at least a marginal blocker, defenses won't have to respect the possibility that the Dolphins will run the ball when he comes in at tight end.

Wilford could also lose his roster spot simply thanks to the numbers crunch. The Dolphins currently have four legitimate tight ends on the roster. Anthony Fasano is a lock to start. David Martin was a key contributor last year - but he's currently recovering from a hernia and didn't practice at all during OTAs and minicamp. The Dolphins spent a 5th round pick on Monmouth TE John Nalbone. And it's believed that this regime is very high on Joey Haynos - a 6'7, 266 pound young, athletic tight end with good hands.

Where does this leave Wilford? His best chance to make the team is to probably prove he can play two roles - the team's third tight end and their sixth wide receiver. This regime does love players who can do multiple things. However, Wilford isn't a special teams contributor at all - which hurts his case. And they have far more talented and promising receivers on the roster. Perhaps if David Martin lands on the PUP list, Wilford would have a better chance. Then he could just beat out either Haynos or Nalbone - and the Dolphins could then attempt to stash one of those two on their practice squad.

But when all is said and done, I'm not really expecting Wilford to stick around. It's expected that David Martin will be back for training camp and I don't see the Dolphins releasing two young players with potential to keep a 30 year old converted tight end on the roster.

FOX SPORTS: DOLPHINS HAVE BEST RBs IN AFC EAST
You'll remember that a week ago, each of the four AFC East bloggers had to rank the division's running back stables. Obviously, I ranked the Dolphins at the top. Of course, the other 3 blogs disagreed. But at least I found someone who agrees with me.

FOX Sports' Adrian Hasenmayer has ranked the running back packages of all 32 teams. He placed the Dolphins at #9 - one spot ahead of the Jets, six ahead of the Patriots, and eight ahead of the Bills. And this is even with Hasenmayer selling Patrick Cobbs short. He says of him, "Cobbs is listed as the current third-stringer, but he's more important as a return threat. Miami could use a better No. 3 piece, but as long as the Ronnie-Ricky combo stays healthy, the Dolphins should be set in the backfield."

I obviously disagree about Cobbs. He doesn't get the credit he deserves, but he'd be a very capable #2 running back for a number of NFL teams. Being behind the likes of Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams means he doesn't get enough carries to show off his skills. His versatility, however, as a runner, receiver, blocker, and return man make him a very valuable part of the Dolphins.

QUICK HITS
-The Miami Herald is reporting that the Dolphins are interested in extending the contract of Matt Roth, who is a free agent following the 2009 season. But his agent says the two sides aren't close yet.

-AOL Fanhouse ranks "Pennington vs Henne" as the number 10 QB competition heading into training camp. But let's get real - there isn't a QB competition in Miami right now.

Around the AFC East: Ranking the division's running backs

Brian Galliford — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:00:42 -0000

More photos » by David Duprey - AP

Browse more photos »

It's Friday. If you're a veteran in this little corner of the Internet, you know that today is traditionally the day where we interview SB Nation's AFC East bloggers about their respective teams in an effort to better know the Buffalo Bills' biggest rivals.

Forgive me for saying so, but those posts have gotten a bit dreary over the past few weeks. I get it - it's June, and y'all have some difficulty drumming up football-related vitriol for the enemy when the sport is on the backburner for the better part of two months. But that doesn't mean we can't try to spice things up a bit. We'll do that this morning.

We, along with our friends at The Phinsider, Pats Pulpit and Gang Green Nation, have decided that rather than just do the typical question and answer format, we'd ramp up the energy a bit. Today, the four SB Nation AFC East blogs will be talking divisional running backs; more specifically, we're ranking them. There's going to be controversy. There will most definitely be disagreements, and a bit of homerism. So forget that it's June. Let's talk football, and let's do it with a bit of Bills team pride.

My rankings of the AFC East's running backs are after the jump. Be sure to check out the rest of the blogs for their rankings as well. Then leave your thoughts on the rankings in the comments section - no holds barred.

1. New York Jets
Yeah, I know. I'm supposed to be a homer. But I'm trying to be fair, here, and I truly believe that the Jets have the best stable of running backs in the division.

Why? Simple - the Jets have the only home run threat at the position in the entire division. Leon Washington is a completely unique talent at this position in the AFC East. He's not a workhorse, but he's got a dash of Brian Westbrook in him. Add in Thomas Jones - as dependable a veteran as you can find in this league - and a physical, talented rookie in Shonn Greene, and the Jets are simply loaded at this position. They have an excellent mix of veteran and youth, size and speed, and different skill sets. They're the best.

2. Buffalo Bills
I'll put the Bills second ahead of two more excellent groups of running backs. I honestly believe that Marshawn Lynch is the closest thing to a "complete" running back in this division (with Ronnie Brown a very close second). That doesn't exactly set the Bills too far apart from Miami, however; trust me - there's a reason I ranked them ahead of the Fish.

That reason is Fred Jackson. Yeah, I know Ricky Williams is a heck of a football player, and despite his checkered past, he's one Miami player that I respect the hell out of. But Fred Jackson does more for a football team than Ricky Williams does. He does more for an offense. (The fact that the Bills have a far more proven third back - Dominic Rhodes - helps as well.)

3. Miami Dolphins
I love Ronnie Brown in terms of pure football talent. He's big, strong, and fast - and he can pick up yardage in big chunks. The fact that he's capable of running the Wildcat offense only enhances his value. But he has a tendency to get nicked up, and he has never quite reached the level one might expect a former No. 2 overall pick to achieve.

I've mentioned Williams. People forget about Patrick Cobbs, too - he's a very solid receiving threat, and honestly could do with a few more touches. Miami is third on my list, but there's clearly talent here.

4. New England Patriots
The Pats have to finish last at something, right? I'll be the first to admit that the Patriots' spread offense makes having an overly talented stable of running backs a lower priority. But that Pats do have talent here. They go four deep with Laurence Maroney, Fred Taylor, Sammy Morris and the ever-irksome Kevin Faulk. The problem isn't quantity, clearly; it's not quality, either. These are some good football players, and each guy brings something a little different to the table. The problem is that there isn't a workhorse. That's not a problem for the Patriots, but in a ranking like this, it's good enough to put them at the bottom of the list - particularly when the division is so loaded at the position.

Agree? Disagree? Let us know - and if you've got a gripe about anyone else's AFC East running back rankings, we'd love to hear about it here, too.

Around The AFC East: Ranking the running back stables

Matty I — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:00:41 -0000

View full size photo »

This week's edition of "Around The AFC East" is going to be a little bit different. Instead of going around the division and talking about various team-related topics, we're all writing the exactl same post - sort of. Each week, we will rank the four AFC East teams in various categories - and then let the debate begin.

This week, we will rank the division's running back stables from top to bottom. My rankings are below. But the bloggers for the other three teams also have their rankings posted on their blogs. So make sure you head over to Buffalo Rumblings, Pats Pulpit, and Gang Green Nation to see their rankings of the division's running back committees.

MATTY'S RANKINGS OF THE AFC RUNNING BACK STABLES

1. Miami Dolphins - Ronnie Brown, Ricky Williams, Patrick Cobbs

When three of the four AFC running backs to make the Pro-Bowl last season come from the same division, you know you got some horses to choose from here. But there isn't one back in the AFC East that is more talented than Ronnie Brown. Less than a year removed from tearing his ACL during a career year, Brown broke out against the Patriots in week three as the Dolphins introduced the 'Wildcat' to the world - running for 113 yards on 17 carries and 4 touchdowns (while throwing for another as well). But while Ronnie's 2008 season was certainly a good one, running for over 900 yards and 10 touchdowns while averaging 4.3 yards per carry, Brown himself admits that he wasn't himself. Said Brown a few weeks ago about a DVD highlight reel he requested the team put together that featured every snap he took in 2008, "I looked at that, and I could see I wasn't 100 percent. I just wasn't. I feel right now I'm more explosive right now in the things I'm doing."

And it wasn't just his injury that held him back in 2008. The offensive line really took a hit when Donald Thomas went down in week one. Justin Smiley was lost for the season as well after 12 games and center Samson Satele just wasn't a very good run-blocker. But the line is improved now and Ronnie admits he's stronger and faster now than he's ever been - meaning he could be in store for the kind of season he was on his way to having in 2007 before the knee injury ended his year prematurely.

The bottom line with Brown, though, is that there isn't one running back in this division which you can make a case for being clearly better than Ronnie. And there isn't one back who can do any more than Brown can do.

But Ronnie is only part of the reason why I have the Dolphins at the top of this list. Their depth at the RB position is the main reason. Ricky Williams, while he isn't the same Ricky as 2002, is still explosive and he showed that at times last year. His 659 rushing yards is more than any other backup running back from the AFC East last year. He also added 29 receptions for 219 yards through the air - and scored 5 total touchdowns. And at the age of 32, Ricky still has plenty left in the tank.

Rounding out Miami's RB stable is the versatile Patrick Cobbs. He doesn't have impressive numbers by any stretch of the imagination. Cobbs only had 275 yards receiving and 88 yards rushing in 2008 (though he did average 7.3 yards per rush and 14.5 yards per catch). But he scored 3 touchdowns and his versatility is one of the key factors to the Dolphins' 'Wildcat' success.

While the Dolphins may have finished just third in the division in rushing last season, I don't see any other backfield with as much talent from one through three as Miami has. With improved health (and play) from the offensive line in 2009, there's no reason why the Dolphins shouldn't be the top rushing team in the AFC East this season.

2. Buffalo Bills - Marshawn Lynch, Fred Jackson, Dominic Rhodes

While I think that Marshawn Lynch is overrated, that doesn't mean I don't think he's good. He has a lot of talent - as proven by his two 1,000 yard seasons. But in his 28 career games, he's only averaged over 4 yards per carry in 10 games. Meanwhile, he's averaged 3.5 yards per carry or less in 10 games. From what I've seen from Lynch in the limited times I've watched him play, he looks hesitant at times with the ball in his hands. And his off-the-field troubles are well documented.

I do really like Fred Jackson. He's an under-the-radar player who simply makes plays. He had 888 yards from scrimmage last season - 10 more than Ricky Williams - and is every bit as explosive as Ricky. He's a terrific #2 running back for any team and an excellent compliment to Lynch.

The acquisition of Dominic Rhodes will provide the Bills with a reliable veteran to act as Jackson's backup while Lynch is suspended to begin next season.

3. New York Jets - Thomas Jones, Leon Washington, Shonn Greene

I know what Jet fans are thinking: how can I have the Jets ranked so low when their top back led the AFC in rushing last year? Well that answer is simple. He's going to be 31 years old in August and after four consecutive 290+ carry seasons, he's not going to put the same numbers again. After all, isn't that why the Jets traded up to take Shonn Greene in April's draft?

Leon Washington is as explosive a player as there is in this league - no doubt about that. We Dolphin fans know first hand how talented he is. And in other divisions, this unit probably wouldn't be ranked only third. But top to bottom, I don't think the Jets' running backs are as physically talented as Miami's or Buffalo's.

I also believe that a big part of the Jets' success on the ground is their offensive line. Alan Faneca and Nick Mangold are as good as any guard/center combo in the league. And I think that a big part of New York's success on the ground last year was because of those big guys up front - as well as the threat of Brett Favre and the deep ball. When defenses are preparing more for the passing attack, it's easier to run successfully. It's that simple.

4. New England Patriots - Laurence Maroney, Fred Taylor, Kevin Faulk, Sammy Morris

I'm sure Patriot fans aren't going to be happy here. After all, they did average 142 rushing yards per game in 2008. But I believe that's more because of the weapons at receiver than it is because of the talent of their running backs. When a defense has to prepare for Randy Moss and Wes Welker, it's much easier to run the ball. And New Englans' offensive line is very good - which makes it even easier for the running backs.

The bottom line here is that we know what Sammy Morris - the Pats' leading rusher last year - is. He's a marginal NFL running back who, in the right situation, can perform well. But he isn't a great running back.

I do like Kevin Faulk, though. He's basically the perfect model for a guy like Patrick Cobbs. Some would even call Cobbs a "poor man's Faulk." And I think Laurence Maroney should not be written off yet because he's had to battle some injuries. I also feel like Fred Taylor still has some gas left in his tank.

But I simply wouldn't take New England's running backs over any of the three other AFC East teams. Whoever you put as their top back isn't as good as any of the other three top backs in the division. And while they are fairly deep, I can't say any of these backs would worry me on any other team. But when your defense is forced to defend the pass like they are against New England, these guys can get the job done.

So that's my list. Agree? Disagree? Let's hear it.

Dolphins survive scare in KC; now one win away from division title

Matty I — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 05:25:19 -0000

These Dolphins seem to defy logic, don't they? Last week, they won a game in which they held the ball for 17 fewer minutes than their opponent. This week, the Fins went on the road and won a game in which they allowed almost 500 yards of offense. Oh - and it was the coldest game the Miami Dolphins had ever played in.

And now, after winning just one game last year, the Miami Dolphins have 10 wins and are staring a division championship right in the face.

Wow.

Onto the headlines:

PENNINGTON THE EPITOME OF THE TERM "MVP"
Chad Pennington is officially one of my heroes. It's that simple. And he needs to be heavily involved in the league MVP talk. Because there's no doubt in my mind that without him, this amazing turnaround doesn't happen.

On Sunday in Kansas City, Pennington led the Dolphins in freezing temperatures and subzero wind chills to one of their biggest wins in years. And he led his back from a halftime deficit. His stat-line may not be overly impressive - 26/34, 235, 3 TDs, 1 Int - though it's definitely nothing to brush off. But what's more important is how Pennington leads this team in key moments - making all the key plays.

And I have two specific moments to highlight.

The firs,t of course, is when he led the Dolphins on that epic, championship-caliber 13 play, 85 yard drive in the 4th quarter with the score tied at 31 - a drive that ate up 8:33 off of the clock and resulted in what would be the game-winning touchdown. Earlier this season, Pennington might have had to say something before the start of a drive like this. But this time was different. Pennington said after the game:

"I didn't have to say a word. I could see it in our guys' eyes. 'This is it. This is what we've gotta do.' Earlier in the season you didn't see that. Now you see that, guys having a sense of urgency, understanding what the situation's all about."

On this "championship-caliber" drive, Pennington was perfect - literally. He connected on all 7 of his pass attempts for 65 yards - including a 14 yard TD pass to Anthony Fasano on a play where the Chiefs were blitzing and Pennington read the defense and knew exactly where he had to go with the ball. He got rid of it quickly to Fasano, who made a terrific catch on a pass that was slightly behind him because of how quick Chad had to get rid of it, who then carried KC defenders into the endzone with him. What a way to cap a season-saving drive.

But that drive might not have been possible if not for the second "CP" moment I want to quickly highlight. The Chiefs had just kicked a FG on their first possession of the 2nd half to take a 7 point lead. The Dolphins were facing a 3rd & 10 after starting the drive off with two incompletions. That's when Pennington dropped back to pass and calmly connected with Davone Bess - who is quickly becoming a damn good receiver - for a 12 yard gain and a first down. Two play later, the Dolphins had tied the game up thanks to a Ricky Williams 4 yard TD run.

I don't even dare think about how this game plays out if Pennington doesn't convert that 3rd & 10 play. A "3 and out" there would have been absolutely disastrous. But leave it to CP to save the say - with a little help from D-Bess.

AT LEAST THE DEFENSE SHOWED UP FOR THE 2ND HALF
We all know that the defense was damn disappointing on Sunday. The first half was especially ugly. The Dolphins allowed 347 total yards in a half to a 2-win team - which resulted in 28 first-half points for the Chiefs.

But the 2nd half was different. The defense played much better - and you have to credit the coaching staff for whatever adjustments they made at halftime and whatever they said to the team at halftime. It worked. It worked tremendously.

The Chiefs gained just 145 yards in the 2nd half. Sure, that sounds like a lot. But following their opening possession of the 2nd half - which resulted in the only 3 points of the half for KC - the Dolphins allowed the Chiefs to gain just 71 yards on 19 plays the rest of the half. And the Chiefs converted just 1 third down in the entire half. The defense was able to make plays to get off the field in the 2nd half - especially in the 4th quarter, which helped the Dolphins have a 9 minute advantage in time of possession in the decisive final quarter.

And the one player who stood out defensively all game long was cornerback Andre Goodman. Goodman had as good of a game as I've seen all year from any Dolphin cornerback. His interception on KC's first possession set up the Fins for a field goal and an early 10-0 lead. And then for the rest of the game, Goodman played "lights out" defense, blanketing his man - whoever it happened to be at the time - for all 4 quarters. He ended the game with a career-high 5 pass deflections to go along with his interception. And whenever a Chiefs' receiver or tight end made a big play, I never noticed Goodman being the player at fault. That's when you know you had a stand-out game.

But other players also made some plays at key moments. Jason Ferguson, who might have played his worst game as a Dolphin in terms of his run-stuffing, made a huge play when he got in the face of Tyler Thigpen and forced Thigpen into a terrible throw that resulted in a Nathan Jones interception. That was a key moment - possibly the biggest defensive play all game. The Dolphins had just tied the game at 31 on the previous drive and the Chiefs were again driving on the Fins - down to Miami's 26 yard line at the time of Thigpen's hurried throw.

Matt Roth also made a huge play at a key moment, reading the rollout on 4th & 1 late in the 4th quarter and stopping Thigpen, who slipped down when trying to avoid Roth, to give the ball back to Miami. Roth even said after the game that he knew the bootleg was coming - yelling it out at the line of scrimmage to alert his teammates. That just goes to show you how prepared Tony Sparano and his staff have this team on gameday.

QUICK HITS
-Despite the win, there are still things that need to be said. First off, why did the Dolphins decide to single-cover Tony Gonzalez often with a linebacker? Gonzo easts linebackers for lunch. And even using Yeremiah Bell on Gonzalez isn't good enough. He should have been double-teamed all game long.

-I loved the idea to go for that 4th& 1 inside the 5 yard line late in the 2nd quarter. But I was hoping for either a run p the middle or a bootleg, rolling out Pennington and letting him look for one of their 3 tight ends rolling to the right as well. A fade pass to a third string TE? Terrible call - especially in that wind. But I'm sure Sparano and Dan Henning will learn from this mistake. Remember - Sparano is a rookie, too.

-Yes, Nathan Jones had a crucial interception (that fell right into his arms, basically, thanks to pressure up the middle). But he got beat a lot on Sunday. Same for Will Allen. Allen looked lost at times. And can somebody get that man some cleats that help him stay on his feet?

-Earth to Joey Porter and the rest of the pass rush. We could have used some pressure on Thigpen - who had all day and night to throw most of the time. Can't do that next week against Brett Favre.

-Enough with the gripes, though. Patrick "WildCobbs" is the prototypical "Parcells kind of player." He does it all - making big plays in many ways. It could be on the ground. It could be through the air. It could be as a return man. It could be as a member of the coverage unit. What a player!

-Anthony Fasano = Mark Bavaro. If you're too young, research Bavaro - the popular Giants' TE during the Parcells era in NY. They are eerily similar players.

-David Martin strikes again! Where was this last year?

-Kudos to this offensive line! They played well today. The blocking on that end-around to Ted Ginn was amazing. Same on the reverse to Cobbs. All told, the Fins ran for 168 yards and Chad Pennington was never sacked - and rarely touched. And here's something to keep in mind. The same 5 players played the entire game along the offensive line. That means Samson Satele was at center all game, Andy Alleman was at left guard. And Ike Ndukwe was at right guard. And it worked well. They might be gelling - finally.

-All of a sudden, Miami's special teams coverage units are damn good. Nice job by this front office to find key cogs to the coverage units during the season.

FINAL THOUGHT
I could easily go on and one about this game and this team. It's been an amazing season - possibly the most enjoyable season in my lifetime. Their 9-game improvement over last season is the best turnaround ever for a 1-win team and is the second best single-season turnaround in history, regardless of record. The record is held by the Colts, who went from 3-13 to 13-3. A win next week matches that record.

Enjoy this next day or so. And then get ready to turn all of your attention to the Jets - a game that is quite possibly the biggest game the Dolphins have played in a decade!

One win stands in between the Dolphins and immortality!

Defense fails as Dolphins fall to Pats

Matty I — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 05:14:58 -0000

First off, let the record show that this game was far closer than the final score would lead you to believe.

With that said, it was sure tough to watch those final 8 or 9 minutes. But the first 3 quarters were entertaining - and it felt good to be playing a big game this late in the season once again.

Onto some of the headlines:

TWO BIG TURNING POINTS
When I think back to the "ebb and flow" of the game, there are two key turning points that really stand out. The first one was towards the end of the 3rd quarter with the Pats leading 24-21. It's the drive in which Jake Long hurts his ankle and has to leave. The Dolphins had gotten down to New England's 27 yard line. But a holding penalty by Samson Satele and a sack by Richard Seymour (who was quiet most of the day when Jake Long was in) would put Miami back at NE's 41 and force them to punt rather than tack on 3 with a Dan Carpenter FG, which would have tied the game.

The other key turning point, the biggest of the game, came 3 drives later. With the score 31-28 Patriots, and with the crowd as loud as they've been in years, the Dolphins had New England in a 3rd & 10 situation at their own 42. A stop on that play would have forced NE to punt and would have kept momentum squarely on Miami's side. However, Jabar Gaffney caught a 23-yard pass in front of Jason Allen from Matt Cassel for a first down. Randy Moss scored his 3rd TD just 2 plays later and the Dolphins would never get back into this game. You know - if Jason Allen can't defend Jabar Gaffney on one of the most important plays of the season, then what good is he?

DEFENSIVE PLAY IS OFFENSIVE
I seriously am offended with how this Miami defense performed on Sunday. The Patriots drew up the perfect gameplan and executed it beautifully. The Dolphins had no answer.

Did anyone really expect the Pats to line up in the shotgun right from the beginning with 4 and 5 receivers? Is the "spread offense" something you thought Bill Belichick would use? Clearly, the Dolphins didn't think so. Both Jason Ferguson and Yeremiah Bell said after the game that they were surprised. But what worries me more is how the coaching staff failed to adjust to New England's offense at halftime.

This was the first time that I would say this coaching staff got out-coached.

And what was with the one-on-one coverage on Randy Moss? He's the game's best receiver. You don't cover him one-on-one? Sure, we can complain about how Jason Allen was put on Moss for much of the game. But when Andre Goodman lined up to cover him, the results weren't any better. The bottom line is that you need safety help over the top of Randy at all times. Moss even said that he felt "disrespected" by being matched up with a corner one-on-one. Disrespected. Well 125 yards and 3 touchdowns later, there's nothing left to say. The coaches blew this particular matchup - and it was costly.

Oh - and I'm not buying Yeremiah Bell's theory here. He said that doubling Moss would have created holes elsewhere because of NE's use of the spread. That's true. But you need to take away the opposing team's best player. Teams stack 8 in the box to stop Ronnie Brown against us. And we should have doubled Moss all day and took our chances elsewhere. Would the results have been different? Probably not because this entire secondary really played like crap. But I just hate getting beat by the one player that you can't let beat you.

INJURY UPDATES
I'm sure they'll be more info on Monday. But it seems like both Jake Long and Greg Camarillo avoided any devastating injuries. Long got his ankle rolled up but said he'll be all right. Camarillo said he has a "twisted knee" with an MRI to come on Monday. But he expects to be OK as well. If both of these guys are practicing on Wednesday, then I know even more I'll be thankful for on Thursday at dinner.

PORTER LOSES HIS COOL
It'll be interesting to see how Tony Sparano deals with Joey Porter this week following his mini temper-tantrum towards the end of Sunday's game. Porter was called for an "unnecessary roughness" penalty and an "unsportsmanlike conduct" penalty within a minute of each other late in the 4th quarter. Porter also refused to leave the field following these penalties when Charlie Anderson came out on the field to replace him. That kind of insubordination is really a direct shot at the head coach. It's Porter telling Sparano that he's not going to listen to Tony.

After the game, Porter didn't speak with reporters.

This will be Sparano's first test with one of the team's best players. How he handles the situation will be very telling.

QUICK HITS
-Chad Pennington is still the man. He had quite the day, throwing for 3 touchdowns and running for another. Of course, that interception in the 4th was killer. But he was just trying to make a play. Bottom line: he led an offense that accounted for 392 yards and 28 points, personally having a hand in all 4 of Miami's touchdowns. CP10 has nothing to be ashamed of. He was outstanding.

-Davone Bess made up for his two dropped passes from last week by making a couple of big plays. If Camarillo has to miss any time, it'll be interesting to see how Bess does filling in. Hopefully, though, that's not the case.

-Speaking of drops, I forgive Ted Ginn. Yes, he had 2 dropped balls. But those are very rare for him and I think it was a case of him looking to do too much and try and look upfield to make a big play before he looked the ball into his hands. His 5 catch, 88 yard performance was still a solid day and I think he's really on track to become a very, very good player.

-Samson Satele was dominated all game long by Vince Wilfork. I'm beginning to wonder just how good Satele really is. Was he just a player who looked better last year because of how bad everyone else was around him?

-Where the hell is the pass rush? The Dolphins got no pressure on Cassel, which allowed him to sit back and pick apart Miami's secondary.

-Just how bad was the defense? They forced 2 turnovers and held the Pats to 3/8 on 3rd down....and still surrendered 48 points.

-Why no Patrick Cobbs at all today?

-Ronnie Brown needs the ball more. (Why does it feel like I say this every week?)

-What a catch in the endzone by Ricky Williams!

-That whole Channing Crowder/Matt Light thing was ridiculous. Crowder didn't even do anything wrong. He was just trying to not get his hair ripped out. Seriously, who pulls another man's hair? If Channing gets suspended at all by the league, I'm going to flip out.

-Jason Allen isn't good. I know this will spark debate, but what the hell. I'm speaking my mind. Jason Allen is not a good player.

FINAL THOUGHT
Yes, this loss hurt. But this team is still only one game out of the playoffs. And with a winnable game upcoming, all is not lost.

But even so, we should all be proud of this team. They've come such a long way from last year's disaster. This was just going to be a "rebuilding year" back in August. For this team to still be playing meaningful games this late into the season is something we should all just enjoy.

Thoughts below...

Dolphins find way to win; improve to 6-4

Matty I — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 05:29:45 -0000

Make no mistake about it: this one was ugly. But in this league, you never, ever apologize for a win. You simply take the "W" and move on to the next game.

And that's what the Dolphins will do. Despite the nail-biting, and nearly heart-breaking conclusion to this game - another game where the Dolphins, as favorites, failed to ever pull away - the Dolphins simply won a game that they had to have. And in the process, they set up a huge game next week against the Patriots. I know this phrase has gotten thrown around a lot, but next week's game is probably the biggest game the Dolphins have played in years.

But let's not go there just yet. There's plenty of time for that in the coming days. For now, let's just talk about some of the headlines from Miami's win over the Raiders:

SHOWING US SOMETHING NEW
So by now, all of us knew that this Dolphins team has the ability to to put together that key game-ending drive to either kill the clock or score the proverbial game-clinching TD. We've seen that happen a few times already in '08.

But this game - and this late-game drive - was different. The Dolphins had just surrendered the lead with about 4 and a half minutes left on a 93-yard punt return for a touchdown. The Dolphins found themselves trailing despite only allowing 177 yards of offense and 6 offensive points. I don't think many of us would have been too surprised to see this Dolphins team wilt away under these circumstances - especially considering the demoralizing way the Dolphins gave up the lead.

Instead, Chad Pennington and company showed the kind of character this team possesses, marching down the field and into field goal range. They came out firing - rather than playing conservative. Starting at their own 20, Pennington quickly completed two passes and the Dolphins found themselves at the Raiders' 40 yard line. But 4 plays later, the Dolphins faced a tough decision: 4th & 5 from Oakland's 35. Do you trust the rookie kicker? Do you trust the veteran QB and the weapons at his disposal? Tony Sparano made the right decision, and Ted Ginn made the reception - probably the biggest 7 yard reception Teddy has ever made.

Three more runs got Miami in position for a 38 yard FG - the first "critical, pressure-packed" kick that rookie Dan Carpenter has ever had to attempt this year. And Carpenter effortlessly knocked the kick home - giving the Dolphins their 2 point lead with 38 seconds remaining.

Clearly, this is a resilient and confident team. And both of those things bode well for us as the Fins enter the home-stretch of the regular season.

CP10: A 4TH QUARTER PLAYER
I'll admit that I was a little worried heading into this game upon hearing that Chad Pennington was a late addition to the injury report with a mysterious foot injury. And his play through the first 3 quarters was, well, un-Pennington like. He was 10/15 for 101 yards. He had been sacked 3 times, including the one that resulted in a safety. But Chad turned it on in the 4th quarter - right when he had to to save this team's playoff hopes.

Make no mistake about it. I'm sure Pennington knew exactly what was at stake as this game played out. I'm sure he understood the difference between 6-4 and 5-5. And he delivered in the 4th quarter, completing 6 of his 7 passes for 73 yards.

When was the last time you had as much confidence as you do now in Miami's QB late in a tight game?

DEFENSE IMPRESSES IN A BIG WAY
I think that one thing that has been overlooked is the defensive performance by the Dolphins today. Yes, I know it was the Raiders. But anytime you surrender just 186 yards in a game, just 3.9 yards per play, and just 6 points, you deserve recognition.

The run defense was what most impressed me. The Raiders possess a top 10 rushing offense in the NFL. And the Dolphins held them to just 70 yards and just 3.5 yards per carry. Credit Jason Ferguson for a lot of the success this team had stopping the run. He was a monster, constantly pushing the middle of Oakland's offensive line backwards. He made three official tackles (for gains of 1, -1, 0), but also ate up blockers numerous other times. He commanded a double-team and forced the Raiders to run to the outside because there was just nothing up the middle.

The Dolphins were also able to get after JaMarcus Russell, sacking him 5 times. Joey Porter and Vonnie Holliday each picked up 1.5 sacks to lead the pass rush. But the Dolphins also pressured the QB many more times, using timely corner blitzes and safety blitzes.

Oh - and I've officially seen enough from Channing Crowder. Time to get the man locked up with a contract extension. He's become as active as I've ever seen him this season - both against the run and in coverage. He's also the QB of the defense - as the designated player to receive the defensive calls from Paul Pasqualoni. Let's get it done and pay the man - assuming he isn't asking for an unreasonable amount of money.

PEOPLE BETTER APOLOGIZE TO TEDDY
I'm sure many of you remember when Dolphin fans from around the country were bad-mouthing Ted Ginn. They said he's not a play-maker. They said he's soft and that all you need to do to tackle him was to blow on him. I hope those fans out there now officially apologize to Teddy.

We saw his play-making skills for the 2nd week in a row when he broke a reverse for a 40 yard TD run - breaking 2 or 3 tackles in the process. He also caught 4 passes for 51 yards. But the story here is just when he caught those passes.

One was a 23 yard gain on 3rd & 10 in the 2nd quarter to get Miami to Oakland's 35 yard line. Unfortunately, this was the drive that resulted in Ronnie Brown's lost fumble.

Another reception was on a 3rd & 7 play. Ginn picked up 12 to keep the drive alive - a drive that resulted in Patrick Cobbs' TD run.

And the biggest reception he made was that previously mentioned 7 yard catch on 4th & 5 to keep the Dolphins hopes alive late in the 4th quarter.

Yeah - he's a play-maker afterall.

QUICK HITS
-I love the job being done by Dan Henning and the offensive coaches. They are doing a fantastic job with the game-planning (like getting Cobbs more involved) and in play-calling. The defense has no idea what might be coming next. And though it might get a little conservative at times, that's just part of the plan.

-Speaking of Patrick Cobbs, what can this guy not do? He catches passes. He blocks. He runs for touchdowns. He makes tackles on special teams. He's your typical "Bill Parcells kind of player." All who have a secret "mancrush" on him, please raise your hand.

-Why is the offensive line so damn inconsistent? At times, they can't open up any running lanes. Then they open up a nice hole for Ronnie to run through and pick up 20+ yards. Then they can't keep Pennington on his feet. But then they keep Chad untouched in the 4th quarter. I don't get it. One thing I do get, though, is that Vernon Carey is broken. He needs to be fixed. This isn't the same player we all saw play the two previous seasons.

-Davone Bess with 2 drops? Did that really happen?

-Miami's coverage units are going to be the death of me. I nearly have a heart attack every time the Fins are ask to cover a kick or punt. We saw changes made last week, with Courtney Bryan being re-signed and Renaldo Hill being placed on the coverage teams. Expect heads to roll again this week.

-At least we know that we have a potentially very good kicker and a promising punter. Brandon Fields, who many wanted to have cut, punted 5 times. Their distances? 57, 48, 56, 26, 48 - good for a 47 yard average. And that short punt was downed at Oakland's 8 yard line. In total, Fields had 4 punts inside the 20 - with 2 of those inside the 10.

-Yet again, the Dolphins win the coin toss, defer, and then go 3 and out to open the 2nd half. Sparano is going to be pissed about that.

-Was that the quietest 100-yard game from Ronnie that you've ever seen?

-These refs were terrible. First, they call a phantom pass interference penalty that gets Oakland in FG range. Then they waste precious seconds off of the clock before halftime because Ed Hochuli didn't see Pennington calling for timeout. Said Pennington about that, "I'll have to come up and tackle him next time or something."

FINAL THOUGHT
Sure, it took 7 Raider penalties, a missed FG, and a late 4th quarter comeback, but the Dolphins got to 6-4. They're now in the thick of the playoff race and just one game back of the Jets. Wasn't this team 0-10 this time last year? What a difference a year makes.

Enjoy it, drink it all in, and then get ready for an enormous game next week when the Pats come to town seeking revenge from their week 3 loss to the Dolphins.

Should be a fun week.

Dolphins hold on to defeat Seahawks and improve to 5-4

Matty I — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 05:09:08 -0000

In a game that was a lot closer than most would have hoped, the Miami Dolphins held on, made just enough plays, and escaped with a 2 point victory over the Seattle Seahawks.

It was a very entertaining game - if by entertaining, I mean a stressful, "too close for comfort" kind of game. But a win is a win - and in this league, you take wins however you can get them.

Let's talk about some of the headlines:

A LESSON LEARNED
If nothing else, here's what we, as fans, learned about the Dolphins: don't ever "expect" a win.

I don't think the players themselves took this game for granted - mainly because I don't think this coaching staff would ever let them - but I know I was one of many fans who probably did think of this game as an easy win. But we learned today that nothing about this potentially improbable season will come easy. Somebody said during the game thread that the Dolphins are the kind of team that these struggling teams will really get up to play against - and I agree 100%. These struggling teams will certainly circle the Dolphins on their schedule as a potential win - and might be a bit sharper against the Fins than against a team that is clearly better than them. That makes these teams even more dangerous against the Dolphins than some of the better teams that this Fins team has played or will play.

And though it isn't likely that the players would ever admit it, it sure does seem like the Dolphins either play up to their competition (when they face good teams) or down to their competition (when they play the not-so-good teams). But this shouldn't come as any shock to us Dolphin fans. In fact, this game on Sunday was the 6th straight time that the Dolphins - as favorites - failed to cover the point spread. And all that shows is that when the Dolphins are "supposed" to win, they tend to struggle a little bit more than typical "Vegas favorites."

But I think this game will prove to be beneficial to the Dolphins in the long run. It was a game that they could have easily lost - but they stepped up when they had to. For a team that is learning how to win, games like these tend to be invaluable to the rebuilding process. And this game will also likely prove to be a benefit in terms of preparation for upcoming games. I fully expect the coaching staff - despite the win - to really chew this team out and get on them in practice this week.

Let's just hope the players themselves learned from this game - just as the fans did.

A DAY OF BIG PLAYS
There were moments during this game that were downright ugly for the Dolphins. But we're seeing an encouraging sign out of this team this season - the tendency to create big plays when absolutely necessary.

Obviously, two plays that stick out are the Ted Ginn TD catch and Ricky Williams' long TD run. And both were tremendous plays - especially Teddy's. He had no right catching that pass, but showed great concentration despite being surrounded by 2 defenders. He located the ball beautifully, made a terrific catch with his hands, and made sure he got both of his feet in when he could have easily have made a mental error and stepped out of the back of the endzone. And even Ginn himself confessed that he'd "never made a catch like that." It was a thing of beauty - which was aided by a perfectly placed pass by Chad Pennington.

But some of the game's biggest plays occurred during that 4th quarter. And yet again, the Dolphins showed that killer instinct and put together a drive that they absolutely had to put together. It was a 16 play, 9 minute drive and it provided the breathing room that this team would ultimately need to escape with the win. And that drive saw the Dolphins convert a 4th down (I love Tony Sparano's guts these last 2 weeks, passing up on FGs to help put the game away during these 4th quarter drives) and 3 3rd downs. And none were bigger than that 3rd & 8 pass from Pennington to Davone Bess. Pennington did an amazing job of avoiding the pass rush, rolled out to his left, and found an alert Bess - who was coming back towards Chad to make the play. It went for 12 yards and quite possibly saved the game for the Dolphins. And then that drive would be capped off with another big play - a bruising 16 yard TD run out of the Wildcat formation for Ronnie Brown, who was patient and let his teammates set up their blocks on that left side. Big plays by these guys on offense - especially late in the game.

Of course, not to be outdone, the defense - especially the secondary - made some big plays in key moments. Yeremiah Bell's breakup of that 2-point conversion pass attempt to John Carlson was huge and really shows how valuable Bell is to this secondary. Bell also contributed 9 tackles (8 solo). Time to lock up Bell with a contract extension, eh?

Will Allen also made a huge play, diving to break up a long pass on 3rd down from Seneca Wallace to Bobby Engram on 3rd down of that final Seattle possession. Allen was beat on the play, but got a little lucky with a slightly underthrown ball and was able to make a lunging pass deflection to keep the ball from the hands of Engram. Big, big, big play from Allen.

CHAD PENNINGTON LIKES BIG MOMENTS
Pennington got off to a good start, throwing for 59 yards on that first drive that resulted in Ginn's TD off of the flea-flicker. But he got cold after that and struggled. Entering the 4th, Chad was just 16/27 for 152 yards. He missed some spots and made one very bad decision - which resulted in a pick 6 for Seattle.

But Pennington stepped up in a big way yet again - leading the key 4th quarter scoring drive. He was 3/3 on 3rd down during that drive and, in total, accounted for 49 of the 79 yards on that drive - going 5/8. And we can't forget that remarkable play that we talked about above, avoiding the rush and making the perfect throw to Bess. This is why we brought CP10 to Miami and he hasn't disappointed.

QUICK HITS
-You have to feel bad for Ted Ginn, having a kickoff return for a TD called back for the 3rd time in his young career. But even still, you have to love the excitement Teddy brings as our returner. On the other two returns he had, Ginn picked up 37 yards and 31 yards. Not too shabby. He needs to be back there for every single kickoff return.

-Speaking of returns, I like having D-Bess back there because he is better at making defenders miss than Teddy is. But what the hell was he thinking when he fielded a punt from his own 3 yard line? Let the ball bounce and hope it finds the endzone, my man.

-The offensive line is really worrying me. Vernon Carey seems to be really struggling - and that's my biggest concern. We know this team's RG, whoever it is, will struggle this year. And the line as a whole just seems to be struggling to pick up some blitzes. Improvement is needed. Oh - but Jake Long is still going to be a beast. I'm impressed with him every time I see him.

-Who said the Wildcat was dead? For those scoring at home, the formation was used on 6 plays and resulted in 80 yards and two touchdowns. I love the new wrinkles. Ricky's TD run was nice because all of his previous handoffs from that formation went outside of the right tackle. The TD run was well designed - as the defense was shifting to the right to defend Ricky and the play was designed for him to hit it up the middle. Great blocking on that one, too. And the TD run by Ronnie was equally as impressive from a design standpoint. Having Ronnie flanked by two backs makes a 3-headed monster back there. And getting Cobbs out in front to block was a great idea.

-Speaking of Patrick Cobbs, I'll admit that my "mancrush" on him grows each week. He gets involved in the passing game. He throws blocks left and right. And he makes terrific tackles on special teams. He's definitely a "Parcells type of player."

-Brandon Fields is looking better - but Dan Carpenter is really impressing me. His first 3 kickoffs were all beauties. One was a touchback, one was taken out from the endzone, and the other landed at Seattle's 3 yard line. His last kickoff, though, only landed at the 13, as I think the Dolphins were trying to help cover up their coverage deficiencies.

-Speaking of which, this team's special teams coverage is atrocious - and that's probably an under-statement.

-Run Ricky Run. It was nice to see a rejuvenated Ricky Williams out there today. But even still, Ronnie Brown needs more than just 14 touches - with many of them coming in 3rd and short situations which don't allow Brown to get out in space.

-Good news: the Dolphins were 7/15 on 3rd downs. Bad news: the Seahawks were 7/15 on 3rd downs as well.

-I had a feeling that Seattle's ground game would be a problem, which is why I highlighted it a couple different times this past week. But I didn't think it would be that effective. Average yards per carry for Seattle: 5.5.

-Walter Jones is a beast - and that's why Joey Porter only picked up a half sack. But his 12 is still a league high.

FINAL THOUGHT
Make no mistake about it. The Dolphins might have been lucky to win this game. They were aided by about 6 or 7 Seattle dropped passes - one of which would have been a key 3rd down conversion and the other would have been a touchdown. But that's the way this game is. And sometimes, it's better to be lucky than good. After all, this team lost 6 games by 3 points or less last year - so karma still owes us.

But you take a win any way you can get it. In this league, at this stage in the season, there's no wrong way to win a football game. But I think the most interesting thing about this game will be how the Dolphins respond to it next week at home against another team that the Fins "should" defeat. Their response next week, in a game that is the very definition of a "trap game" - as New England comes to town in two weeks - should tell us a lot about this team, its players, and its coaches.

As always, your thoughts below...

Miami Dolphins Mid-Season Awards

Matty I — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 05:31:33 -0000

This has been quite a half-season, hasn't it? I bet it would be hard to find many Dolphin fans who honestly thought this team would be 4-4 and just one game back from the division lead at the midway point. But that's why they play the games, I suppose.

And with this being one of the more memorable and more fun first halves in recent memory, let's take a deep breathe and look back at these 8 games - giving out a little hardware. Well, imaginary hardware, that is.

Team MVP: Chad Pennington
There's a few players who could be considered for this award. But when you're talking about the most valuable player to this team's success, you have to top the list with Chad Pennington. No individual player has meant more. Pennington has come in here and stabilized the quarterback position. He's playing the best football we've seen from a Dolphin QB since Dan Marino. His stats alone are impressive - 1,991 passing yards (7th in NFL), 8.2 yards per attempt (4th), 95.2 rating (7th) - but his poise and leadership have been simply priceless. And if you really want to think about what Pennington has meant to this team, all you have to do is think about where this team might be right now if the Dolphins hadn't acquired Pennington back in August.
Honorable Mention: Joey Porter, Ronnie Brown

Offensive Player of the Half: Ronnie Brown
It's hard to believe that Ronnie is just a year removed from tearing his ACL against the Patriots. Brown has bounced back and cemented himself as the most talented player on this offense. His 465 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns (oh - and a passing TD) aren't eye-popping numbers by any means. But what he's meant to this offense is immeasurable. He can pick up tough yards when asked. And teams gameplan around stopping him - opening up the rest of the offense (see last week's game against Denver for an example). Brown's talent and ability is also what has made the Wildcat formation work. And I expect an even more productive 2nd half of the season now that teams are going to have to really respect the passing attack much more than they have.
Honorable Mention: Chad Pennington, Greg Camarillo

Defensive Player of the Half: Joey Porter
I don't think many Dolphin fans were expecting a season like this out of Joey Porter after last year. But Porter is thriving in Paul Pasqualoni's defensive scheme and is definitely back to being one of the game's most feared defenders. His 11.5 sacks leads the league and is a new career high for Joey. His 3 forced fumbles are tied for the most in the league - with one of them resulting in a safety. And he's been a force rushing the passer even when he doesn't reach the QB. Offenses must gameplan around containing him - which is the ultimate compliment as a pass-rusher. And right now, he's definitely among the top 5 in the Defensive Player of the Year award conversation.
Honorable Mention: Yeremiah Bell, Channing Crowder, Will Allen

Breakout Player of the Half: Greg Camarillo
We all thought that a Dolphins wide receiver would be breaking out this year. But not many of us thought it would be Greg Camarillo. But last year's "hero" has shown that he's more than a one-hit wonder. Instead, Camarillo has really opened up our eyes and is proving that he is indeed a legitimate starting wide receiver. He's a terrific route runner and has very reliable hands. And Greg already has 43 catches for 483 yards and a touchdown. That's impressive considering Camarillo had just 8 career catches heading into the season and had just 46 in his entire collegiate career at Stanford. Now, Greg has a realistic shot at a 90+ catch and 1,000+ yard season. Who would have thunk it?
Honorable Mention: Anthony Fasano

Rookie of the Half: Jake Long
He was the #1 overall pick in April's draft and is proving to be worth both his draft status and financial investment. Though he has struggled at times, Long has proven that he has what it takes to become a true franchise LT - something the Dolphins haven't had since the Richmond Webb days. Though he's allowed 3 sacks (one of which not really being his fault, but rather more of a coverage sack), Long still wins over 90% of his blocks and has only been penalized 2 times. He's also proven to be that mauler that we all expected in the running game, with the Dolphins averaging over 5 yards per carry when running behind Long (prior to last week's game - unsure of the numbers from the Denver game at this point). Considering the coaching he's going to receive here in Miami and his no-nonsense work ethic, we have a lot to be excited about in terms of Jake's future.
Honorable Mention: Kendall Langford, Dan Carpenter

Performance of the Half: Ronnie Brown vs. New England
There have been quite a few impressive performances here, but I don't think any can top the kind of day that Ronnie had back in week 3 against the Patriots. Thanks in large part to the unveiling of the Wildcat, Brown scored 4 rushing touchdowns while also throwing a 19 yard TD pass to Anthony Fasano. Rushing for 113 yards on just 17 carries (6.6 ypc) to go along with those 5 total touchdowns is simply the icing on the cake. This was one of those individual performances that we could very well never see again in this league for a very long time.
Honorable Mention: Joey Porter's 4 sacks and 1 forced fumble vs NE, Chad Pennington's 314 yard, 1 TD performance vs Buffalo, Ted Ginn's 175 yard performance vs Buffalo, Greg Camarillo's 11 catch day vs Denver

Moment of the Half: Chad Pennington connects with Ricky Williams on 23-yard pass play vs. Denver
There have been a number of moments that stand out in my head from these past 8 games. But the one that I feel is the most important and has had the greatest impact on the season is Ricky Williams' phenomenal catch on 3rd & 13 that went for 23-yards and set up the Ronnie Brown TD run that sealed the win last week in Denver. Just think about the situation. I had little confidence that if Denver held the Dolphins to a field goal on that drive, they could have easily went down the field, scored a TD, and won the game. But the Dolphins did something they hadn't done all year: convert on a 3rd and 10+ situation. Pennington was under a lot of pressure and made the best throw he could and Ricky made a truly ridiculous catch - and made it look easy. This was the kind of win that sets the tone for the 2nd half of the season and there's a good chance the outcome could have been different if not for Ricky's remarkable catch.
Honorable Mention: Dolphins kill final minutes of game vs Chargers, Joey Porter's sack and forced fumble that results in a safety vs Buffalo

Play of the Half: The Wildcat Flea-Flicker vs. Houston
Again, there were a lot to choose from here. But this play stands out to me even despite losing - which says a lot about the play. We all were wondering what we might see next out of the Wildcat formation. And what we got was the reverse flea flicker and a 50+ yard TD pass from Chad Pennington to Patrick Cobbs. And when you watch the play below, notice how well Cobbs sells his blocking assignment before going downfield for the pass. A great design and great execution.

So those are my mid-season awards. Tell us all what you think below...