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No more excuses for the running game

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by Trowa, May 1, 2011.

  1. Trowa

    Trowa A world of pain

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    This is all speculative at this point, but if I was a betting man I would say our opening day offensive line will be Jake Long at LT, Mike Pouncey at LG, Richie Incognito at C, John Jerry at RG and Vernon Carey at RT. We've now invested three 1st round picks on the line, including a #1 overall selection on Long, plus a 3rd on Jerry and a fat FA contract on 3rd round pick Incognito. Factor in Ronnie and Ricky and that's 3 more 1st rounders we've invested in running backs, including a #2 overall selection, making it 6 total 1st rounders we have invested in the running game.

    Over the past several years we've made excuses for Ronnie not to perform up to his billing. Be it injuries, poor QB play or inadequate blocking all those excuses are out the window now as far as I'm concerned. If we're going to ignore the QB position, and I still subscribe to the theory that taking any of the QBs in this draft was a suckers bet, then we must get production out of the running game. With all the money, draft picks, and wasted time Sparano has invested in the offensive line, his ultimate downfall may be what many perceived to be his biggest strength.

    It's still uncertain who we're going to be starting at RB, or who we will even have under contract this season. But one thing is clear, to me at least, and that is that if we fail again this year with the running game then there is no excuse that can be made and we will know once and for all that Sparano has no idea what he's doing.
     
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  2. padre31

    padre31 Premium Member Luxury Box

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    I think they are serious about Pouncey playing C, which means G is wide open, but suspect Richie I goes to RG, LG would probably be Garner.

    If theDolphins offense is to improve we have to run the ball better, it really is that simple.
     
  3. CitizenSnips

    CitizenSnips hmm.

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    Ronnie and Ricky are probably gone. And to be fair, we got a lot out of them. It's a little harsh to judge them entirely on last year alone compared to the seasons they had given us prior. I think their time here is done and so be it. Ricky can go find some inner peace and stop doing this job that he honestly doesn't really care for, and Ronnie can definitely go be a serviceable guy for another team still. I have both their jerseys, im thankful for 2008 still. Pennington was huge but so were Ronnie and Ricky. The wildcat was a blast for one season and its because of them. I wish them luck.

    But Daniel Thomas (and maybe Deangelo williams...?) will have to step up for sure. this oline can be very good and seeing fresh legs in there could be just what the doctor ordered. If thomas can manage 4-5 yds a carry, this offense will be scary IMO. Gates over top, bess and marshall underneath AND a functioning running game, its hard not to get excited at the idea at least.
     
  4. Trowa

    Trowa A world of pain

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    If Pouncey plays center it's more of a wasted pick than I already think it is. Why give incognito a big contract to come back and play a position he already demonstrated he wasn't able to play last year? Why take a guy who was much better in college as a guard and move him to a position he's unfamiliar with? And what of John Jerry last year's 3rd round pick? The skill sets match up so much better across the line in what I projected as our starting offensive line. Anything else just doesn't make any sense, unless they still think they can bring in a LG in free agency. Which would just be more wasted picks and more money invested in the line.
     
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  5. CitizenSnips

    CitizenSnips hmm.

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    i dont understand why you care about the money. It aint your money. let em spend it. The picks i understand, but we wont be trading picks for olineman.

    Also Richie had a pretty good season at G for us. The problems mostly came from center. RG didn't help but Richie was a bright spot usually. He just isn't a pulling G.
     
  6. padre31

    padre31 Premium Member Luxury Box

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    Richie played LG last yr, his career was at RG and C, he was out of position.

    JJ had a bad rookie season..they happen, same happened to Vern Carey as a young player.

    As for Pouncey, his movement is what mades him the #15 overall, I thought he would play LG but without drafting a Center that means he will play C with Berger moving back to backup C/G and maybe competing for LG with Garner with the loser becoming the backup.
     
  7. Trowa

    Trowa A world of pain

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    For Ricky those seasons include 2 years where he didn't play for us. And for Ronnie those seasons include only 2 full seasons with 16 games played while missing nearly 20% of the games in his career. Not exactly the type of production you expect for investing 3 first round picks.
     
  8. Trowa

    Trowa A world of pain

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    The reason I care about the money is because it could be spent elsewhere to upgrade other positions on the team. By continually throwing money away on players that don't pan out that's a guy we possibly missed out on who could have made an impact. For someone who came in with Sparano's "pedigree for offensive line" you would think he would, you know, actually know what he's doing on the offensive line.
     
  9. adamprez2003

    adamprez2003 Senior Member

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    Depending on how long the lockout lasts I'm not sure how much impact the rookies will have this year. I wouldnt be surprised if we dont start any rookies the first game. Its going to be really tough for them to be ready for the season the longer the lockout goes
     
  10. CitizenSnips

    CitizenSnips hmm.

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    not ideal, no. But to credit Rickys two first rounders to this regime is kind of ridiculous. That trade took place almost ten years ago under Dave Wannstedt. Three regimes have come and gone since then. Ronnies injuries were very unfortunate but he also wasn't drafted by this regime. Man time flys. Cant believe its been that long.

    realistically this regime can only be judge at HB for Daniel Thomas.
     
  11. ASUFinFan

    ASUFinFan Uh huh

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    Long-Robert Gallery-Pouncey-Incognito-Carey

    I'd try to bring in Gallery. That takes care of the left side. And then at RG let Incognito/Garner/Jerry/Berger battle it out. Would make for alright oline depth regardless.
     
  12. dolfan22

    dolfan22 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    Jerry was young in nfl experience , not so much in years. He is 25 next month , so this to me is John Jerry's key season. No dramatic improvement would severely lessen any chance to be a long term answer. He is actually older than his brother who was drafted a year before him.
     
  13. padre31

    padre31 Premium Member Luxury Box

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    Watkins was 26 and taken in rd #1, if he develops, if JJ develops, being 25 won't matter D22.

    Must admit though, his terrible play surprised me as nothing I'd read or seen about him suggest the man could not play in the NFL, yet on the field he was so bad Sparano had pull out old reliable "he is sick" to yank him from the lineup.

    I semi have him slated to be Carey's replacement at RT.
     
  14. Phinatic425

    Phinatic425 MIA State of Mind

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    Poor Qb play affecting the run game? Who's made that excuse? It is the other way around.
     
  15. finfansince72

    finfansince72 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    If this Oline can't play then its time to move on from this regime, bottom line. We've made it a priority every offseason to spend top picks and money to build a Oline that fits this team's vision on offense. And our coach is a oline "guru"...supposedly. If they can't gel and we can't run the ball its time to move on, you can't honestly tell fans after 4 years of making it a priority in the draft and FA to build a power Oline and running game that it will take another year and more talent. We've tried harder than any team I can remember to build a quality Oline and its actually pretty pathetic that the oline was as bad as it was last year. I agree about the running game, no more excuses, if we can't run this year its time for people to lose their jobs and for a regime with a new vision to come to town.
     
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  16. GMJohnson

    GMJohnson New Member

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    Take a look at the vid, Henne "severly underthrows" Marshall at about the 1:33 mark:

    [video=youtube;FkLp6gULaXY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkLp6gULaXY[/video]

    The ball in Buffalo was thrown into a 15-20 mph wind, the same wind that blew Carpenter's FG off the mark before half time and allowed Lindell to nearly make a 60+ yarder in the opposite direction a few seconds later. Regardless of the underthrow, the ball hit Marshall in his hands, most objective people would say he should've caught it.


    I think it's rude to try and hijack someone's thread about the RUNNING GAME with your anti-Henne drivel, especially when you don't even know what you're talking about. JMO.
     
  17. MonstBlitz

    MonstBlitz Nobody's Fart Catcher

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    This regime is out of excuses, period. They have hitched their wagons to Chad Henne and spent most of this year's draft picks on improving the offense. If we get pathetic production out of that unit again this year it's time to bring in another coaching staff that can do the job, and another FO than can find us a QB.
     
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  18. Dol-Fan Dupree

    Dol-Fan Dupree Tank? Who is Tank? I am Guy Incognito.

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    I think that depends on if there is an offseason or not.
     
  19. dolfan22

    dolfan22 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    As you said pads, IF he develops.

    To me the chance to do so decreases with every additional year. Watkins is indeed older but he has different circumstances , plus he played a higher level than Jerry did in their draft years. He also is CANADIAN ! ;)

    So as older rookie he didn't show much at all , with at least 2 extra years he should have shown at least something imo. Not saying he won't improve and provide production , however I am not counting on it at all. It would be a huge turnaround imo , again he may do it , but I don't see that as a realistic chance.
     
  20. GARDENHEAD

    GARDENHEAD Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Who cares where Pouncey/Incognito play?!?!

    The OP is right. We've invested too much into this o-line for it to fail in 2011.
     
  21. Dol-Fan Dupree

    Dol-Fan Dupree Tank? Who is Tank? I am Guy Incognito.

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    That is an interesting take. So when things go bad it is Sparano and when things go good, it is someone else.
     
  22. texanphinatic

    texanphinatic Senior Member

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    Life at the top.
     
  23. Dol-Fan Dupree

    Dol-Fan Dupree Tank? Who is Tank? I am Guy Incognito.

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    Today in Seattle it is 50 degrees. That information is as relevant on Sparano's job title in Dallas was.
     
  24. Jaj

    Jaj Registered

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    Wrong. It matters a lot. It also depends heavily where Miami plans on pulling from. Back around 2007 with Cameron Miami pulled their C Samson Satele far more. When Sparano came in it switched to the LG being the primary guy to do it. Perhaps Miami plans on heading back in that direction? If that's the case I'd love to see them pickup a RT and move Carey to LG and Incognito to RG.
     
  25. VanDolPhan

    VanDolPhan Club member Club Member

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    Incognito's best position is RG. Hence why I suggested our LG might not be on the roster yet. Or it could be that Garner wins that job. Long/FA or Garner/Pouncey/Incognito (unless Jerry rises up)/Carey.

    Also Incognito's contract is 3 years at between $2-$3 million a year depending on incentives etc. That's not a big contract in any sense of the word.
     
  26. Dol-Fan Dupree

    Dol-Fan Dupree Tank? Who is Tank? I am Guy Incognito.

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    That is more of the offensive gameplan than the Head Coach in the past being an offensive line coach.

    John Fox used to be a linebacker, do you expect the linebackers to get a boost in Denver? This isn't Madden.

    Sparano is the head coach. he is in charge of the entire football team. The line coaches job is to work with the line's technique.
     

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