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The Dolphins won the second NFL battle of Florida today. Like the score indicates, it was a close run thing.
Both Miami and Jacksonville are 7-6 now and in the playoff hunt. I’m just not convinced either team is playoff worthy.
Miami jumped out to an early 14-0 lead and then went about finding any way possible to let the Jaguars back into the game. Jacksonville had 4 first half possessions, three of which were 3 and out. The other was a touchdown drive and Miami led at halftime 14-7.
Statistically, Miami dominated the first half. Two Dolphin turnovers, fumbles by Ricky Williams and Davone Bess, kept them from widening their lead. In all Miami turned over the ball three times today, two fumbles and one interception. In all Williams made three fumbles and he had made only one such miscue for the first 12 games of this season. I’ll get back to that later.
The play in the second half was much closer in its over all quality. That’s to say both teams played mediocre football. Chad Henne made 17 straight completions at one point, but then spent the last 20 minutes of the game doing almost nothing right.
A Josh Scobee field goal with 4:55 left in the third period made the score 14-10. The 4th period saw both teams spin their wheels most of the time. A sack of Jaguar QB David Garrard as he attempted a Quarterback draw on a 4th and 2 with less than two minutes in the game basically wrapped up the win for Miami.
Miami is 7-6 now and have three games remaining to be played. At Tennesee, then Houston and Pittsburgh in Miami. All 3 of these teams have losing record but the Titans have bounced back from a 0-6 start, Miami has never beaten Houston the four teams the two teams have played, and the Steelers still have Ben Rothlisberger. That makes no pushover. Notwithstanding how the playoff picture stands now, I still have little confidence in the Dolphins making the playoffs.
Jacksonville doesn’t impress me either. Their QB Garrard should probably be an NFL backup. Yes he has a 86 passer rating but today Garrard was 11 for 26 for 139 yards against Miami’s inexperienced defense. 63 of those passing yards came on one completion.
A couple of notes on today’s game
*- A superstitious NFL fan may have concluded from today’s broadcast that the CBS announce crew were doing their darndest to put the hex on Miami. For instance-
Early in the game they noted how Rickey Williams had only one or two fumbles all year long before today.
That Placekicker Dan Carpenter had made 17 consecutive field goal attempts.
Williams promptly laid the football on the field twice in the game and Carpenter missed a FG attempt about half way through the 3rd period.
The announcers said something else during the game that went the other way. I just can’t recall it at this time.
*- Today’s game was played in Jacksonville and there were many empty seats in the stands. The Jaguars were 7-5 coming into today’s game and coming off five straight home wins, but fans don’t want to watch the games in person. Yes I know the present economy is bad, but I still think NFL football may not have a long future in Northern Florida.
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OTB Sports linked with 14-0= Indianapolis beats Jacksonville 35-31...
Nearly 1/5th of NFL players surveyed said they hidden or downplayed the effects of a concussion. From AP-
NFL teams now have new, stricter instructions for when players should be allowed to return to games or practices after head injuries, guidelines that go into effect this week.
In the latest step by the league to address a hot-button issue, commissioner Roger Goodell sent a memo to the 32 clubs Wednesday saying a player who gets a concussion should not return to action on the same day if he shows certain signs or symptoms.
Those include an inability to remember assignments or plays, a gap in memory, persistent dizziness and persistent headaches.
The old standard, established in 2007, said a player should not be allowed to return to the same game if he lost consciousness.
Wednesday’s memo also says players “are to be encouraged to be candid with team medical staffs and fully disclose any signs or symptoms that may be associated with a concussion.”
The new guidelines sound good in practice(I think they were overdue. A player not able to think clearly has no business being on a football field.) but I doubt they will be adhered to. Coaches are under pressure to win and most NFL players aren’t inclined to challenge these people who have authority over them. A person is also more likely to press on and shrug off any ill feelings they have. I know I have for maladies large and small, including a slight concussion I suffered six years ago after an auto accident.
A groin injury or something else limited him to play in four 2009 games. From the Miami Herald-
A strange, four-month span for Dolphins linebacker Matt Roth came to an unexpected conclusion Tuesday — the team has decided to move forward without him.
Roth, who became the center of an odd saga when he missed all of training camp with a groin injury, was released after totaling just four combined tackles during his four games this season.
The move was “strictly a football decision,” one source said. Although no other outside factors are believed to have contributed to his departure, the drama of training camp surely will follow Roth in the wake of Miami’s choice to cut him.
It’s a saga that has remained mostly unexplained. When Roth arrived for training camp this year, he blamed a failed conditioning test on being ill — only to later come forward with an admission about a groin injury.
After trainers struggled to diagnose the issue, Roth was sent to Philadelphia to meet with a leading groin specialist, Dr. William Meyers. The evaluation did not reveal any significant issues, and Roth returned with what seemed to be an optimistic report.
But according to multiple sources at the time, Roth continued to sit out of practice. with no further explanation other than to say his groin was still sore. The strange situation caused the team to go forward without him, moving Jason Taylor into the strong-side linebacker role where Roth served as a starter throughout 2008.
Roth, who was a defensive end in college, never seemed to be even an adequate NFL linebacker. He was big but not fast enough for the position. This should have been obvious to Nick Saban when he took Roth in the 2nd round of the 2005 NFL draft, but like so many other selections Miami made then, players(Anyone remember Eddie Moore? Jamar Fletcher?) were selected that would need to be over acheive in the NFL if the Dolphins were to reap any benefits from them.
Roth is a certified draft bust. So is the Dolphins first round selection of 2006 who has never been able to crack the Dolphins starting secondary except when it was decimated by injuries in 2007. Allen only plays special teams at present. As soon as his contract expires, I expect Miami to show Allen the door just like they did with Roth.
The Dolphins get to 5-5 after starting the year 0-3. From AP-
Ricky Williams showed he’s still got it.
The 32-year-old Williams rushed for 119 yards and scored three touchdowns, and the Dolphins beat the Carolina Panthers 24-17 on Thursday night for their fourth win in six games to get into the AFC playoff picture.
A day after learning Brown is lost for the season to a foot injury, the Dolphins (5-5) continued their surge after an 0-3 start behind Williams. The 2002 NFL rushing champion had a receiving and rushing touchdown in the same game for the first time in his career that included a couple of lost seasons.
*****
DeAngelo Williams rushed for 122 yards for the Panthers (4-6), but Jake Delhomme had his streak of three games without an interception snapped. His desperation pass into the end zone was knocked down as time expired.
*****
Dolphins coach Tony Sparano hinted his team might abandon the wildcat without Brown, who was placed on injured reserve Wednesday. Miami didn’t use the formation until the second quarter. It coincided with the Dolphins’ first touchdown drive — Chad Henne’s 14-yard touchdown pass to Williams, who wrestled away from linebacker Na’il Diggs.
Miami took a 14-3 halftime lead when Williams took the direct snap at the 1 and got to the end zone ahead of linebacker Jon Beason.
Carolina narrowed the score to 17-14 but a Ricky Williams 46-yard touchdown run with a little over minutes left in the game essentially locked it up for Miami.
The Dolphins rarely used the Wildcat. It isn’t the same without Ronnie Brown. Brown can throw the football as well as run it. Williams so far as I know is no threat with his arm. Backup Quarterback Pat White wasn’t seen last night.
Miami has turned it around this year but I remain pessimistic for the year. They have games left with New England, Pittsburgh, and Houston which they will be lucky to win one of. The rest of the schedule, including Buffalo a week from Sunday, is weak. I predict Miami to finish 8-8 for 2009.
This news comes as no surprise in light of the short week.
Miami Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown will miss Thursday night’s game at Carolina because of an injured right foot, and his status for the rest of the regular season is uncertain.
Coach Tony Sparano says Brown will see a specialist for further evaluation. Brown is the Dolphins’ leading rusher.
Ricky Williams will replace Brown and start for the first time this year. He’ll also become the primary triggerman in the wildcat.
The Wildcat isn’t the same with Williams running it. Brown can pass the football, Williams can’t so far as I know.
I’m concerned about Brown’s status for the rest of the 2009 season. A specialist isn’t necessary for a minor ankle sprain. Two years ago Brown’s season was cut short by a knee injury. Dolphin fans may be seeing a repeat this year.
He has only nine receptions so far for the 2009 NFL season. From ESPN-
The San Diego Chargers have waived veteran wide receiver Chris Chambers.
Chambers must clear waivers in order to play for another team. Each team will have chance to claim him by 4 p.m. Tuesday.
Chargers coach Norv Turner said the Chargers released Chambers because of the emergence of Malcom Floyd and the need to sign a linebacker because of an injury to Tim Dobbins on Sunday. If another team claims Chambers, the Chargers won’t have to pay the $2.25 million they owe him.
Chambers had one catch for 20 yards Sunday against Oakland. He has only nine catches for 122 yards and one touchdown this season.
The Chargers acquired Chambers from the Miami Dolphins in 2007. Would Miami be interested in Chambers services? The rumors have already begun. Miami has a young and inexperienced receiving corps. If I were Dolphins management, I’d sign Chambers.
Run Ted Run! From AP-
Ted Ginn Jr. was angry, his ego bruised by an embarrassing benching.
The Miami wide receiver took out his frustration on the New York Jets, returning two long kickoffs for touchdowns in the third quarter, and the Dolphins’ defense held on for a 30-25 victory Sunday.
Ginn was the first player since Green Bay’s Travis Williams in 1967 to return two kickoffs for touchdowns in the same quarter.
One of the most questionable moves Tony Sparano has made since becoming the Dolphins coach, has been his use of other players than Ginn as return men. Ginn has always been explosive on kick returns, including when the Dolphins were stinking up the NFL at 1-15 in 2007. There is no other Dolphin who is threat to bust one for a touchdown. So why doesn’t Sparano always have Ginn returning kicks?
I think Sparano is letting his other assessments of Ginn color his judgment when it comes to his use on special teams. Ginn has problems as a receiver, he wasn’t your personnel decision, but benching him for kick returns in favor of people like Davonne Bess and Brandon London is not puzzling but idiotic instead.
Miami really was fortunate to pull out a victory yesterday.
Maybe so, especially when the Jets’ defense shut down the Dolphins’ wildcat formation and held Miami to just 104 yards of total offense compared to New York’s 378.
*****
Miami’s second-ranked running attack rushed for just 52 yards, and Chad Henne was 12-of-21 for 112 yards and a late touchdown to Joey Haynos.
Miami’s other touchdown was a Jason Taylor fumble return.
Next up for Miami is the New England Patriots. I will be surprised if the Dolphins win 9 or more games this year.
Note- In 2007 at least two Ginn returns for touchdowns were called back by penalties.
I have seldom watched a wilder football game in my life than the one played yesterday afternoon in South Florida. The outcome was depressing for Miami Dolphin fans. How could it be anything else? The team was up 24-3 but were outscored 44-10 over the last 30 minutes and five seconds of the game.
A couple of comments on the game.
With five seconds left in the first half and the score 24-3, New Orleans was about two feet from the end zone. The Saints sent their kicking crew on the field. So what does Dolphin Coach Tony Sparano do?
He calls a time out! I always thought icing the kicking is a dumb strategy and this really backfired on Miami. Given time to re-consider what they wanted to do, New Orleans sent their offense back on the field. Drew Brees sneaked it into the end zone to make the game 24-10 instead of 24-6 at halftime.
Great move Coach Sparano. NOT! I blame Sparano for last night’s defeat. He overcoached at just the wrong moment. His excuse of “We wanted to be in the right personnel, and we called a timeout to bring in the right personnel” doesn’t work in my opinion. The referees had just taken a touchdown away from the Saints, the kicking crew was on the field. Don’t ever give a team a 2nd chance to score a touchdown should be drummed into Sparano’s head by Dolphin fans for the rest of 2009.
Another duh moment happened late in the game but this time it involved the officiating crew. Joey Porter got called for a personal foul after a short gain by New Orleans. Why the flag? He pushed off on a Saint player after the play ended. That’s a personal foul? Porter didn’t level the guy or throw a punch or anything. Besides the Saint player had first pushed off Porter. The NFL and its officiating crews seem hell bent to keep the game colorless(don’t celebrate a touchdown or turnover by spiking a football or we throw a flag! Then why didn’t the officials throw a flag on the Saints after a player heaved the ball in the stands after a touchdown? Isn’t that another form spiking?) and wuss like if players deviate in the slightest from the sanitary football you want played.
Additional bad news- Cornerback Will Allen suffered a knee injury last night and will miss the rest of 2009. The Dolphin pass defense which is poor already is about to get worse.
Last night’s game was so aggravating on many levels. Miami is 2-4 and has New England up next. This is no time to rest.
What a night the second year NFL Quarterback making only his second start had tonight. 20 for 25 with 241 yards and two touchdown throws. Henne did not throw a interception.
Miami may have finally found the person to replace Dan Marino. Henne has looked more than solid every game he has had the chance to play with the exception of the San Diego game where he replaced Chad Pennington.
Miami ran for over 150 yards. With Rickey Williams and Ronnie Brown sharing the load almost 50-50. The Wildcat offense earned 110 yards on 16 plays and scored two touchdowns. People call The Wildcat a gimmick. If so, why do NFL teams have so much trouble defensing it?
The Dolphin defense and special teams still look suspect. How many times does a team run two fake punts in a game? Miami’s pass defense is getting beat far too often. There’s some talented young players in the secondary, Sean Smith and Vontae Davis, but they are rookies and prone to mistakes as they learn the league.
A few other notes-
Chad Henne was 7 for 7 with 140 yards passing and two touchdowns when Miami used play action. For 10 years the Dolphins have been looking for the person to fill the shoes of Dan Marino. Is Henne it? He played great last night and showed great poise.
I spent most of the first half flipping channels between this game and the Florida Panther-Tampa Bay Lightning game, won by Tampa 3-2. The Panthers are 1-4, their worst start in franchise history.
They also placed Chad Pennington on the injured reserve list. From ESPN-
The Miami Dolphins placed Pennington on the reserve-injured list to create a roster spot for quarterback Tyler Thigpen, who was acquired Tuesday from the Kansas City Chiefs for an undisclosed 2010 draft pick.
Pennington hurt his right shoulder in the third quarter Sunday at San Diego, an injury that leaves his career in jeopardy. At 33, he likely faces a third operation on the same shoulder — the previous two coming in 2004 and 2005.
Pennington will seek a second opinion from orthopedic specialist Dr. James Andrews, who performed the other two operations. On Tuesday, Jeff Darlington of the Miami Herald told ESPN’s “First Take” that the appointment is scheduled for Friday.
Thigpen shores up depth behind second-year pro Chad Henne, who is expected to make his first NFL start Sunday against Buffalo. Henne went 10-for-19 for 92 yards with an interception after replacing Pennington. Rookie Pat White is the Dolphins’ other quarterback.
Thigpen, a third-year pro, went 1-10 as a starter for the woeful Chiefs last year after both Brodie Croyle and Damon Huard went down with season-ending injuries. He threw for 2,608 yards with 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
I think the Thigpen trade was a good one for Miami. He played well last year with a bad team. I also remember the game he played against the fins. Thigpen leading the Chiefs to 31 points, but throwing 3 INTs also. Miami won that game, 38-31.
As for Pennington, his days in Miami are almost certainly over. His contract is up after this season, and I think Chad Henne is the Dolphins QB of the future. We’ll start finding out just how good Henne is beginning this Sunday.
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