http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2011/08/25/pff-preview-2011-miami-dolphins/ Here's a VG read on the Phins. .
Uhhh....Kevin Curtis ?? I don't think he's still on the team....could be wrong... I'm glad they are awfully high Fasano. Not so sure that I concur, though. There is no doubt that he's rather underrated, he seems to not come through when he should come through. then again, maybe it's just sour grapes from the couple of drops he's had this preseason.
That is a bit of a myth, the current jest team was built by Mangini and started their rise under him, Rexxy just stepped in when he was let go after 08.
I'm really not sure on that d22, Mangini had player personnel duties as well, not sure when Tannenbaum took over. What I'm poking at is the myth that the Jest were bad until Ryan arrived, that is not quite how it was, they were a younger team on the rise prior to the Rotund One stepped in as HC.
I think their run down was fair and accurate. Nice to see someone at least giving us a chance to be good. I disagree with Colombo being a move in the right direction, and believe Hartline will be much better than they do. Oh yeah, and really like the Fasano part.
That's gotta be the best web-based article I've read and it clarifies what I already thought. Good to know Fasano isn't such a slouch...
Fasano is a more complete TE than Vernon Davis? (I'm not sure why Miami hasn't accepted the "Davis + a 4th rounder for Fasano trade yet". We must be holding out for a 3rd.) j/k. If he's our "#2 reason to be confident" ahead of Wake, Vontae, Sean, and our Dline, then we're in trouble. lol. To be a "total package" you need to be able to catch the ball consistently and make the tough catch, not be the guy whom fans make excuses for b/c the pass wasn't perfectly placed. Does PFF know he caught 39 passes b/c we had no #2 to throw to?
Sean Smith & Vontae a more complete pair than Nnamdi & Asante? Oy vey. These guys are on a roll! I love our cornerback tandem, and they have a bright future, but cmon now.
It's hard to dispute their analysis, as they base it on watching every player, every play, and every game. They were fair with Henne in saying he may have taken a step backwards but, also said that the OL and running game had something to do with it. They put the weight of the team's success or failure on his shoulders, while recognizing the surrounding talent we have. That's as it should be. Do or Die for Henne, coaches, FO, many players, and the team. I believe there will be more doing than dying, and Mike & Mike, among others, can KMA.
Since when is losing Ricky & Ronnie a reason to be concerned? Did PFF even watch us play last year? Do they know 2010 Ronnie couldn't find a hole in a cemetery with two gravestones?.... or that I could jump-start a 1960 VW van faster than Ronnie can make it through the second level? I loved R&R, too...... but..... really?
I also feel our MLB unit is one our strengths. This should be flip-flopped with Fasano. If there's a potential concern, it's at pass rush depth, which I would treat independently from our LB unit.
PFF does not grade or count preseason games or practices, only games that count. Does Todd know that he caught 39 passes because he was forced to stay in and block? I expect Fasano to catch around 6o this year.
I agree that R&R were horrible last year. The question is IF a rookie and an injury prone Bush will be better. The jury is most definitely out.
I'd have him stay in and block, too, if he's better at that than he is catching the ball or converting 3rd & long.
Maybe my memory fails me but asante isnt really known for his tackling...I recently lived in the heartland of PHI fans, and there was much lamenting over his inability to tackle when it was on the line. Hes a hell of a ball hawk and a great player, but the keyword in that sentence was "complete pair". Outside of coverage Samuel is at times a liability - or so many Eagles fans and pressers claimed haha. Just my $0.02 - trying to take all phins bias out of it, I don't think thats as far fetched of a statement as it sounds when you first hear it.
I thought it was a good write up but the Fasano part felt like a stretch. Fasano isn't compared to those guys b/c he doesn't scare defenses. Fasano doesn't put up the same receiving numbers b/c you can't throw the same passes and expect him to catch them. Fasano catches passes when he's open, but those guys catch passes even when they're covered. Fasano has strengths, but there's a reason people would think he's crazy for comparing Fasano to those receiving TEs.
I really like our ILB's as well. Dansby, Burnett, and Edds should wreak some havoc, and I like "Starvin Marvin" as well. They still have to prove they can stop the run,which none have excelled at.
I wont be surprised if we see little difference between Johnson and R&R. Personally, I'd rather have an injury prone Bush than an injury prone Ronnie..... and I'd rather have a talented 230 pound rookie who can run & catch than an old 230 pounder in his final chapter.
Don't see where catching 39 of 41 is a bad thing, and his average was better than Bess or Marshall. Why is it that some pick on Fasano for dropping two passes last season, and Marshall gets a pass for dropping 13?
Agreed. Some do not look at a players overall game. In some cases it's a fair thing to do. In others, not so much. At CB, coverage is the most important thing but, someone's overall game does matter.
Fair points.... to which I'd counter---- to be complete you also have to limit or prevent the big pass and take advantage of INT opportunities. Sean & Vontae had problems in both of these areas. If I recall correctly, Vontae also ranks in the top 10 for missed tackles per opportunity during the past 2 years. IMO, defending the pass trumps stopping the run if you're looking at CBs, so I wouldn't call Vontae & Sean a more complete pair until they become more consistent in coverage.
It's not about the drops. Fasano just isn't one of those guys that will make the catch while covered. He's pretty much limited throws inside the frame of his body.
because the passes that were thrown to him were typically from plays designed to get him the ball in the open. As Raf said, most of his receptions came from simple passes, not a higher degree of difficulty involved like you see from legitimate receiving TEs.
overall game? Is "defending the pass" not a part of a corner's overall game? It seems like you're crediting Vontae & Sean's run defense toward being "complete" players, but you're not using their inconsistent coverage against being complete players.
Your memory appears to be working just fine! Not only was Asante the worst DB percentage wise at missing tackles...111 tackles, 9 assists, 36 missed tackles amounting to 1 miss every 4.36 attempts...Nnamdi was the 4th worst DB...84 tackles, 5 assists, 20 missed tackles amounting to 1 miss every 5.45 attempts. Maybe the Eagles tandem should be called "Air".
He graded out a bit below average, which is the case for many ST's players, as they have few chances to make a play. He did have 9 tackles (VG) but missing 3 tackles hurt him on the grades.
The routes, coverage, and catches involved are entirely different. The only analogy I can think of is "diving". Fasano can't dive from the 3 meter platform; he's a spring board kinda guy doing low degree of difficulty stuff. If a diver is still randomly botching these, it doesn't speak favorably for his diving ability. It also detracts from his diving team's ability to pick up more points from the occasional outstanding dive, and it limits the types of dives he can perform.
Not sure on that Raf. I've seen him make catches outside his frame, although not many. It's a hard thing to judge when getting very limited throws. I expect to see much more of Fasano this year, and that will be a better indicator. Are you saying that Henne threw 41 passes within his frame, with him catching 39? If so, Henne should be targeting him 200 times a year.
Throwing passes on plays designed to get him the ball in the open? What a novel thought. We should do that more often. LOL I could care less on who may be legit or not, just that the ball is caught, and the plays work. Fasano's average say that they do, although he may may have been an "adopted" TE.
That's a good point Todd. It's a bit like Marshall being more of a possession WR than a game breaker. Ya know, like taking 100 catches to get 1,000 yards, when some others can do the same with 70 or 80.
OT i don´t know if this was already out there but in his latest press conference sparano just said, that chad henne has the final call at the LOS, so he is allowed to call audibles, i think this is different from last year no ?