1) There's nothing like a loss to bring out the hilariously over the top threads/posts about this team and its future prospects 2) Dropping interceptions at key junctures in football games are one of the main reasons why this team is so mediocre at this point in the season. That issue has to be fixed (preferably via an upgrade in secondary talent) 3) Ronnie Brown gashed the Ravens defense in the first half, so of course we completely get away from running the football as soon as the second half begins. 4) I've been a very vocal Henne supporter, but even I recognize that missing wide open guys in the endzone at key junctures is not acceptable at the NFL level (it negates the 7 solid throws that got them in position to score at the 1 yard line and then some) 5) Another special teams miscue that resulted in points? I thought we got past that in week 6. 6) One silver lining was the fact that Henne threw deep downfield three times in the second half (with one real good throw that resulted in a completion and another that might have been a TD had Marshall not gotten tripped up) 7) Nobody's perfect. Not even Carpenter. 8) The defense never did figure out how to stop, or even slow down, Ray Rice out of the backfield. The defensive adjustments just never panned out. 9) Another silver lining was the pass pressure the young Miami front was able to generate, led by Pro Bowler in the making Cameron Wake. 10) Henne has 8 games to showed marked improvement in terms of production (particularly in the TD department). If the Dolphins don't see that improvement, it might be time to consider a QB on the first day of the 2011 draft. P.S. And here's a bonus... 11) The reality is that Miami is 4-4 and it's two division rivals are both 5-2. They have a shot to make up a full game on both those teams later this season, so the fat lady hasn't sung on this season yet (but she's definitely warming up those vocal chords)
we lost to the likely AFC representative in the Super Bowl. Everyone stunk but honestly that was just a damn good team, best one we've faced this year. They are the team in the North not Pittsburgh. Next week is a must win if we want to entertain wildcard possibilities but really this season is just about getting more experience for our young players. Frustrtating as it is, 2011 is the first season where we will be able to have realistic playoff expectations for this team. You simply dont build championsship teams as quickly as some people believe we should. Of course with our luck they'll have a lockout next year lol
hugo, didn't see anything that bad about the 'floater' Henne put up for Fasano to catch .... there was plenty of time for him to react and grab that ... as ugly as it looked, he threw it in the open lane for Fasano to get. it's been my biggest complaint in the WR compartment for a while, most specifically when we had the million threads on Ginn ... but our WRs have got to have a mentality to go get the ball in the air. Ours just don't .... in fact, they more frequently just give up on it. Brandon has his moments, but he isn't always consistent about it. Yes, it would be preferred that Henne hits them in stride - but Manning he will never be, nor do we need him to be. on 'D' .... it's all about getting better at LB .... plain and simple. Forgetting how horrendous the tackling is ....
Put down the kool aide, the ball was spinning sideways on the throw to Fasano. And it was not tipped, the throw was that terrible.
I am less upset about this loss than any so far this year. Baltimore is a top tier team, a very complete team, and they seem to have our number. We can't win them all, and this is one I thought we certainly had a possibility to win but would be one of our toughest games all year. Tougher than Jets or Pats. We had a clear opportunity to beat the Jets but failed. We should have won against another very strong team in the Steelers but were on the losing end of bull**** officiating. Come on Dolphins, 8 more games to go! Let's clean up the sloppy play, execute a strong game plan, and get some wins!
The throw to Fasano was garbage. Cost us 4 points. The previous throw to Bess could have been placed better as well. Overall that was a great 2 minute drive, but two poor throws cost us 4 points and the lead into halftime.
padre, yep -- it was a terrible throw, but he wasn't going to drop it over the head of the LB sitting in front of Fasano .... if Favre does that and it's caught -- it's brilliant .... i don't care how much it was wobbling, it was about an easy a loft pass that can be thrown to give a chance ....
i agree. thats the first game this year where i had no doubt we got beat by a better team. no shame in that. they are a legit super bowl team and the best team we have faced imo.
Wait, I'm confused. Are you stating that the ball Henne threw to Fasano in the end zone was catchable? Or that it was so easy to place that Henne blew it big time
I actually think that the Steelers are as good as the Ravens (it's a toss up in my opinion). We played the Steelers at home (and executed much better) which is why we won (I mean lost) that game. Today's game turned on just a few key plays: a) Henne leaving 4 points on the field at the end of the half (didn't give Bess a throw that put him in a position to get in the endzone on second down and flat out missed Fasano on third down) b) Smiths' dropped INT for a TD (that was a 10-point swing at a key juncture in the game) c) Carpenter's missed field goal You're talking about a 17-point swing on those three plays alone. Enough for a victory. As of right now, Miami is clearly a team that can beat average to mediocre teams but cannot beat elite teams. Hopefully, they'll get over the hump in the second half of the season.
Yeah Henne sucked today and he will have another stinker or two before the season ends. That's what you go through with a 2nd year starter. Flacco and Ryan had the same type of games last year. Now look at Flacco and Ryan in their third years. If we made a mistake it was not playing Henne his rookie season. Not saying it was a mistake but he would be further along by now.
i think baltimore's offense gives them the edge but its very close. we lost to arguably the four best teams in the NFL. Next week is the first must win of the season as far as playoffs go. we have to beat tennessee. hope we got our mistakes out of our system
jdang, not to beat a dead horse, but yes - it was catchable ... Fasano was basically standing there flat footed and whilst it was an abominable throw -- it was catchable ... not easy, but not a circus either ... it was about 3 feet away from him. Again, i'm not blaming Fasano for not catching it ... just saying it was indeed catchable no matter how terrible a throw it was.
Nah, the mistake was in thinking Henne was the future, he is not, he shows that on a weekly basis. Sorry Adamp, dude is a fish, the sooner you realize it the easier the move will be.
i just dont see it yet. i expect far less of him this year than you. if he's playing like this next year i will agree with you but this year is just about learning coverages, improving decision making and hopefully accuracy. its about learning consistency.
Here is how I see it... We have a ton of talent.....A TON!!!! Our biggest problem is coaching. Henning needs to retire. Period. Sporano needs to re-evaluate his staff and his own motivational skills. Too many times we come out flat and never really recoup. And we need to be more like the wolf than a crying puppy.
i think our biggest problem is youth. everyone is a 1st, 2nd or 3rd yr player it seems and they are still learning how to play consistently week in and week out
The real problem is really simple. This team despite whoever is coaching or being the GM won't invest a top draft pick into the single most position on the field.
Dan Henning= Drve Killer Thats what ive taken from most games this year including this one. He called an excellent opening drive and the rest of the game went down hill.
Fasano is no Gates or Gonzalez why we throw this failure the ball so much is beyond me. We got 3 recievers that have proven that they are fully capable of catching the ball. We got a big *** young receiver that hasnt even seen playing time in Roberto Wallace and a shiney young guy in Marlon Moore so why the EFF are we throwing to butterfinger Fasano. PS.. F*ck Screens
Henning did not: -throw a knuckleball to fasano -slip on an out route leading to an Int -drop a key pass on 3rd down -allow the ball to deflect off of his hands for an Int. Henne is not leading this team, he has to sit on the bench. finis.
We came out and marched right down the field for seven points, which was how we ended last week. Baltimore outplayed us on both sides of the ball; that's the only explanation that matters.
Why did we get away from Brown after halftime?? We always do that, I do not understand Henning at all.
OK...I understand that. But he is the OC of the Miami Dolphins. If he can't coach his offense during the week and get them in the game mentally, then he needs to step out and let us find someone who will. Henning has made a ton of questionable calls this year. I am not saying or have I ever said or blamed him for throwing interseptions.
And they can make fingerpaint pictures and macaroni necklaces while waiting for Henne to learn. Bull****.
Henning Does - Call PA on 1 and 10 with under 5 mins on the clock (no one's fooled, how about you pull out the rb and toss another wr in there) - Call an excessive amount of screens that NEVER work - call plays too conservative (5 yards to the flats aint going to cut it) - call too many gimmick plays (although i didnt see any today)
i agree to an extent too part of coaches description is actually coaching as opposed to playcalling. its just hard to know how much is on the players and how much on the coaches. as an example, Sparano has said his defense practices interceptions and hands drills every week even to the detriment of other drills. he says they catch everything in practice but for whatever reason in games they drop sure interceptions. he admitted he doesnt know what else to do to improve it other than more hands drills. and i feel for him. what else do you do to improve it? the problem is probably adrenaline. these guys just get too amped when they see a chance for a pick and end up dropping it. its probably psychological more than physical
Funny I can imagine Henne being the gullible doofus making pretty macaroni necklaces for papa henning
well eight more games and the defenses get much easier after tennessee. i dont think we'll even have to wait till next year. henne should improve dramatically just due to the poorer defenses he will start facing
Well hopefully we can pull it together and wrap this second half up on a better note. It seems like we never field the same team twice. This is a completely different team than last year. We could use some continuity.
best i can tell is 1) john jerry started messing up after dominating the 1st qtr possibly due to conditioning problems 2) we put in pat mcquistan who isnt a good run blocker 3) our defense couldnt stop baltimore's offense so it became necessary to score often as opposed to ball control