I could swear that during Hard Knocks, and in press otherwise, that the coaches said Sean Smith was improved. Really? What I saw of Smith tonight was pretty much what I have seen from him since he has been here. Out of position, getting beat, and not making tackles. He wiffed on one big tackle on the Bucs first drive. Then he didn't wrap up Martin on a running play that allowed a first down. He lets the WR get behind him on the big pass play, that Wilson should have intercepted. Smith totally got beat on that play, which let the WR get in position to make a play. A play that Wilson should have won, but he didn't and his inexperience at S is showing. Vonte wasn't much better...but Smith was HORRIBLE! Chad Johnson dropped his only pass thrown his way. Child please. It isn't a good book of work to grade from since it was only one play. Maybe it was nerves, maybe he just f'ed up, maybe it is a sign of things to come. Whatever it is...he needs to shake that crap off and quickly. That pass would have been a first down. Instead it is 4th own and Carp missed the FG. Figured as much would happen with the bad karma from the dropped pass. Pass rush...non-existent. The Tampa QB's have had all the time in the world back there to make plays. I am worried about this move to 4-3. With the 3-4 we were able to rotate more and keep guys fresh. We aren't as deep at the DT and DE positions and this could bear watching if we continue to not put pressure on QB's this preseason. Play calling has been pretty vanilla, and not sure how much the loss of Garrard affected the script. I would assume Philbin kept the script the same, but I guess we won't know until possibly Hard Knocks. I am curious to see the coaches reactions and hear them during the game. The TV coverage hasn't really shown much of them. Watching online and it was the Dolphins coverage for the first quarter and a half. It then siwtched to Tampa's coverage for some reason. I know it is just 1 preseason game, but until the muffed punt recovery....there just wasn't anything to be happy about. Well, I guess other than Tannehill getting more reps with the Garrard injury. Speaking of which....First series 3 and out for him. After the muff he has a very nice pass to Clay for a big gain. Then he floats one to Pruitt, who was held, and he makes a beautiful catch. 2 plays later a TD pass to Wallace, that was taken away by the refs (which was the right call). It wasn't a pretty pass and he will need to clean those up. Not sure about the call on 4th down and the pass from Tannehill was awful. You can't lay that out there in the flat. A better defensive player will pick 6 it every single time. At this point I would give Tannehill the start next week and then let the 2 of them battle it out for 3rd preseason game vs Atlanta.
I hope the coaching staff views things in terms of reality and focuses on developing young talent. When I say that I mean young talent, in particular, at wr. What a poor showing by the secondary tonight. Really the defense in general. I did like some of the second team performances.
No coach wants to take on a rebuild situation, but this team really is at that point. This team simply doesn't have the talent this year, and tonight showed why so few out there in the media have much confidence in them to win. And this isn't about the first preseason game. It is deeper than that. I have watched a lot of Dolphin preseason games and know the reality of what to expect. There just seems to be a lot of cobwebs on this team that come with being a new regime. To some extent there appears to be a lack of on-field leadership as well. Do you keep older guys with the idea of winning a few or do you just acknowledge the need to rebuild and play your youngsters on both sides of the ball. The tough part about this team is there are some guys in their prime on defense (Starks, Dansby).
Beside Rishard Mattews`punt return, the tacle by Trusnik and those 3 passes by Tannehil, it has been a horrible night for the dolphins. For the next game i would like to see the Tannehill with the first team.
I don't think I agree with nearly anything here. Taking in some cases literally a single play out of maybe a dozen snaps as important or indicative isn't really reasonable at all. If they scored 3 touchdowns and shut out defensively it would be the exact same thing.
I don't have a problem with that throw. I thought Tannehill put the ball in a good spot. Wallace needs to come up with that.
Jonathan Martin looked terrible, I think taking him in the 2nd round over a WR was a mistake. Lydon Murtha is probably better at this point.
Way to overreact everyone. Last year, our first string looked pretty good in the preseason, look what that yielded. We have a new system on offense and defense.
Oh good, you've judged our rookie tackle's career based on his first couple of drives in his first preseason game. Good job
Wow, did I miss some games or is this the first game of the preseason???? Lighten up you guys. Nothing to see here, this is a scrimmage.
Don't think so at all. It isn't like this is a team of first year players. These are vets and seasoned players for the most part. Like Schiano said at halftime, "you don't have time to rebuild in the league, it is win now or you aren't coaching long'. We need to see improvement now. This isn't a building process, like you can do it other sports. They have had all spring and summer to get this in gear. For them to come out, especially on defense (which was 6th ranked last year) and play as horribly as they did is a huge statement. It is reason to be alarmed.
Well in that case, using your logic, Chad Johnson is worthless and Roberto Wallace should be the starter.
No it isn't, you're whole assessment is essentially useless at this point. If they look like this by week 4, then I'll listen to these rants
You play to win the games. Maybe you are one of those guys that doesn't keep score and is ok walking away from the game with a "good job guys". I don't operate that way. Highly competitive and everything is about winning and losing. You have players here fighting for starting positions, holding on to positions, and trying to make the team. Every snap matters. These guys are trying to impress the coaches and Ireland on every play. Every play you fail on is HUGE. Good plays build momentum. Playing good helps the players buy into what the coaches are putting forth. Play bad, heads hang low, and the shiznit rolls downhill.....fast. Sure the games might not count in regular season standings. But everything they do in these games is "not just a scrimmage". Every play is a win or a loss for every player.
You are right. The coaches won't take anything away from this game about the players. Just let them play and the coaches won't care about those missed blocks, the dropped passes, etc. It is just week 1 and jobs aren't on the line at all. You are right.
I'm not as right as you are wrong. Guess what, you can evaluate players regardless of whether you win or lose in the preseason.
And to further the point, remember last preseason, week 3 vs Bucs. Our first string with Chad Henne looked terrific, how did that translate to the season?
Miami Dolphins @MiamiDolphins Ryan Tannehill's final stats: (14-21 for 167 yards. 1 TD, 0 INT) Mostly against the 3rd string defense, also he had a TD pass that was reversed
I wasn't aware that the Lombardi trophy was handed out after the first preseason game. Guess we blew it. See you next year!
There are not many things more predictable than preseason overreaction. At some point during week 1 of the regular season, players and teams play so fundamentally different than they did through the preseason, that we smack ourselves in the head for overreacting all August long. Some apparently smack themselves so hard that come the following August they don't remember week 1 from the previous year. Preseason doesn't matter, never has, never will. But it is Kinda-Football, and we miss Football. Just don't overreact.
I would say that maybe a poor attendance on top of a lackluster performance by the first teams, particularily the defense, left a sour taste in the mouth. Tannehill was sweetner for the night in an otherwise sour experience.
In the third preseason game if Chad and Nanee don't show up and Davis and Smith are playing like they did tonight then it will be worry time. Honestly, I prefer to start Tannehill, with most of the young receiver corp. That is just my preference.
Offense was fine. So long as they continue to improve and adapt. Very excited about Tannehill. The defense was a big let down. Defenses are always further along that the O in the early goings. This was a piss-poor performance and needs to get better. And I wonder if Danny Thomas even makes the team.
You guys realize defense is always a step behind in preseason because it's intentionally vanilla right?
Yes, any 2nd rounder who doesn't play like a Pro Bowler in the first preseason game of their rookie season should be cut.
Im worrying because today many weaknesses were exposed and we need to fix them quickly. The first few weeks of the season we have an easy schedule (Except week 1 of course) so we need to start strong if we want to make noise. Sure it is only week 1 of preseason but I saw too many issues that we need to fix in a few weeks
I will say that Wilson's botched interception was horrific, CB or otherwise. I hate to sound cliche' but c'mon, man!
Philosophically I wonder if you go younger or older or a combo. This has nothing to do with the preseason game. I think it has more to do with the Garrard injury. It is a huge circumstance that could lead to a more youthful direction. Problem is you have some guys in their prime like Starks, Soliai, Dansby, and Burnett. I really don't like what I see in the secondary. I hope Vontae and Sean plan on showing up this year.
Cam Newton was utter **** in the 2011 pre-season. The year the Lions went 0-16, they were 4-0 in the pre-season.