Watched the game last night. Here's my view. First the positives: Ryan Tannehill looks like the real deal. He drove the team down the field essentially by himself for that TD. You can say he almost threw a pick-six, but I contend that his knowledge of his own ability prevented that. Someone with less zip on the ball would've been picked off. He knows what he's got, and he knows when throws are safe and when they aren't. Reggie Bush looks like he's going to pick up where he left off last year. That's good news, especially if Ryan Tannehill starts. Tannehill is going to need a running game to take the defensive focus off of him. As good as Tannehill looks to be, I don't think he's yet ready to carry the team on his shoulders and win games when opposing defensive coordinators are gameplanning to stop the run and make him win the game. We'll need to run the ball well even when they're playing to stop the run. Anthony Fasano looks to have an increased role in this offense that he's ready to step into effectively. That again is important if Ryan Tannehill starts. Not only will Tannehill need an effective run game, he'll need an effective security blanket over the middle in the form of a tight end who's getting open and playing well. Despite the fact that it's manned by two newcomers, one a rookie (Johnathan Martin and Artis Hicks), the right side of the offensive line looks to be doing a much better job in pass protection than what we saw last year. Of course from last year, the only direction was up. The defense appears to be playing well against the inside running game, which can probably be attributed to Paul Soliai and Randy Starks. I like Joe Philbin's demeanor on the sideline. At least we won't have a cartoon going on in that area this year. Now the negatives, and unfortunately these are going to be this team's demise this year IMO: That near-pick-six Ryan Tannehill threw would've been taken to the house by the elite corners in the league, which would equal a huge momentum swing that often wins games in this league. If he starts, he has to be careful to protect the ball and play a little more like Chad Pennington, especially in the red zone where you want to come away with at least three points. The defensive backfield appears to be in a crisis of poor play and a total lack of leadership. You saw on Hard Knocks how Jake Long has stepped up and taken on a leadership role of the offensive line. This should've been the year Vontae Davis did the same thing with the defensive backs. Not only has he not done that, he's been demoted. Consequently, the defensive backfield to me appears to be lacking anyone who establishes a high bar of play that the other members of that unit can strive toward. Letting Yeremiah Bell go was a mistake for that reason IMO. The defense appears susceptible to outside runs. I suspect that's a function of linebackers who are all playing new positions. Koa Misi, Kevin Burnett (when he plays), and Karlos Dansby are all playing positions they've never played. It's going to take a while for them to get used to responding to what's going on in front of them in a way that's more instinctual. Until then, I suspect they're going to continue to look slow to react, which will allow runs to spring outside for bigger gains than usual. Let's hope the combination of that and the poor defensive backfield doesn't make the entire unit swiss cheese in response to the pass, since the linebackers will have new and different roles in defending the pass, as well. Overall, as much as I'd like to see Ryan Tannehill start, I don't think you can throw him out there as a rookie with a pass defense this poor. I suspect other teams will pass almost at will on this team, and that would leave Tannehill in the position of having to throw the ball tons and bring this team back from large deficits with his arm. Obviously not the ideal way to break a rookie into the league. Ben Roethlisberger was so effective as a rookie partly because the Steelers' defense was so effective, and he was able to couple that with a very good ball control run game. I don't want to thrust Ryan Tannehill into the opposite set of circumstances, where the defense is so poor that it doesn't even matter how good your running game is. Again, these are all very early and very tentative observations, but I don't think it hurts to throw them out there and discuss them.
Another thing that I think should be noted is how well Marshall looked at CB. He made a ton of good plays last night.
Another player offensively thats worthy of mention is Charles Clay. He, along with Wallace (to a somewhat lesser degree), really got open for Tannehill and made some big catches.
Yes, and I think it's very worthy of mention that his play against the run game was so good that it won't make us miss how good Vontae Davis is in that area. His supplanting of Davis appears to be based on his play against both the pass and the run, which is atypical for a corner.
I think he played well, yes, but it was curious to me why he didn't play at all with the first team. Not even a single play.
You would expect that by regular season Clay will play plenty with the first team. Maybe at this early stage they're playing as they practice, with two distinct teams at least for the first and second teams. In practice they run plays with the two teams in succession. Just a guess.
I think Olivier Vernon deserves mention as a positive. He will rush the passer trust me, but he looked great last night against the run.
I thought JMart had a rough night, also thought the 1st team defense played with -0- intensity. Preseason and all that, but if SS24 is not tackling during the preseason, what makes anyone think he will begin tackling when the season begins? Jimmy Wilson got out fought for the football, which really surprised me. Positives were the cast of Wr's on the bubble all were making plays, including Matthews with the nice punt return.
I agree, and that kind of thing makes me question leadership, and makes me wonder just who the leader of the defense is. Karlos Dansby is the captain and the middle linebacker, traditionally a leadership position, but he's playing a new position and is probably doing more thinking than usual because of that, which detracts from his playmaking ability. If you don't have anybody out there making plays, there's also no one who can rally the troops on the heels of those plays. Intensity IMO comes from guys who make plays and then use that to emotionally inspire the guys around them. I have to question at this point who exactly is going to make those plays. I certainly don't see anyone in the defensive backfield who's going to do that, and Dansby may not be able to until he's fully adjusted to his new role. Someone on the defensive line is going to have to step up IMO.
Anyone hear anything on Garner's injury? At one point I did not see him making the cut, but have since changed my mind. Thought he looked OK in limited snaps and losing him means there is no full swing guy, to include center. If they keep 3 active guys after the top 5 and one is Murtha ( swing tackle), the next is Steinbach (swing guard), the third shoud be Garner who can also play center. Losing him for any length of time means that Samuda is next and ahead of Cook apparently. That leaves them fairly vulnerable if there is one injury to an interior guy during a game. Need to see Samuda some at guard to feel better about that, although they will likely carry nine and he woud be inactive anyway. Any serious injury to Garner may elevate Cook back in to the mix, that spot was probably between he and Garner anyway. Overall I thought the whole team looked more athletic, quicker and lighter on their feet, and that includes the OL, EXCEPT for J. Jerry who is bye bye. Man he looks out of shape.
He started. He was pretty much invisible when he was in there. Which isn't bad for a DB, but on either the 1st or 2nd play after Wilson came in, they threw that long pass to Underwood. Wilson was in perfect position to either make a pick or break up the pass, but just didn't. The catch was made, and the Bucs had a 1st and goal inside the 5.
Another player who disappointed me was Daniel Thomas, as much as I believe in DTrain, I would have liked to see more from him.
I thought Samuda outplayed Garner and was already ahead of him as inside reserve. On game days there are usually 2 backup OL dressed. On the 53, there are 8-10 total, usually 9. Before the injury, I'd have put Garner as the 9th one, behind Murtha, Samuda, and Steinbach.
JW did not attack the ball, he tried to basket catch it and it looked like Underwood literally took the ball out of his hands for the reception.
I thought he had 0 chance for success on his carries. Moore got him killed on 1 run by not audibleing.
I agree with a lot of what you say, however I do not agree about the pick six. The cornerback had to make an amazing play to pick off that ball. Practically would have had to make a Oronde Gadsen type spider-man catch or tip the ball back to him. Both would have given the wide receiver plenty of time to make the tackle. It was a really good pass into really good coverage. My problem with that play is the decision making. If the pass was a little behind, it could have been a pick six.
MM didn't change the play and in a similar situation 17 did . We saw the future , hopefully the future is very soon.
Jones took a poor angle on the fade to Underwood over Vontae, I didnt see anything else that was glaring (good or bad).
Jimmy needs to jump and attack that ball, but instead he tried to catch it on the bread basket. He needs to realize that if he attacks it, he will at least get the pass defense if he can't hold the ball. I was so disappointed by that play because he had all the time in the world with the ball floating down.
He also was slow to react to the ball/receiver , he didn't locate the ball nearly soon enough . That is a pass safeties dream of , because 99.9% of the time they intercept the damn ball. Lots of questions in the secondary , not enough answers imo.
I agree. I thought the ball was thrown ahead of the receiver where the receiver could catch it... and if that defensive back made the play it would have been top ten worthy for the catch alone.
A top corner might've had better coverage and gotten a better jump on the ball, though. Hopefully Tannehill, if he starts, won't be so cocksure of his zip on the ball that he challenges a top corner with a throw like that on that part of the field.
I was not a big fan of taking Tannehill with the eight pick in the draft. Right now though, he appears to be the best QB on the active roster since it is not known when Garrard will be back to full health. Moore is nothing but backup talent and Devlin will only make the roster if the coaching staff and Ireland decide to trade or cut Moore or Garrard. Since the Dolphins are going no where this coming season but to the bottom of the AFC East. They should go ahead and see what they have in Tannehill by naming him the starter immediately. If he plays well and appears to be the long term answer at QB, the Dolphins can always start rebuilding the defense in next years draft. If he doesn't appear to be the answer, they can always do what is necessary to get into a position to draft Matt Barkley in the 2013 draft. The defensive backs are a liability for this team and nothing has been done in the last few years to upgrade this unit with quality players except for the signing of Marshall. The safety play is subpar and Smith and Davis are merely mediocre cornerbacks in the NFL. The Dolphins showed no ability to put any pressure on Tampa Bays QB when both first units were on the field. I see this defensive unit being in the bottom third of all defensive units in the NFL this coming season.
Hahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. Death. Taxes. And jw3102 will make a post that either blasts Ireland and/or calls for Barkley. Set your clocks by it. I wonder if he posts on like, gardening sites: "You have to water your annuals during dusk and don't use Round Up on the weeds or it will seep in to the roots....much like Ireland's ineptitude has the Dolphins organization. The only pleasure I allow myself is watering my lawn, and waiting for the Dolphins to finish 4th in the East and draft Barkley next April...which is also the perfect time to plant roses."
Only bottom third? That is optimism coming from you. I'd have expected you to say this is a bottom 3 defense.
I have considered using it dozens of times myself. I have temporarily 2-3 times. But for my masochistic side the temptation becomes too much and I remove the ignore status. It is my form of self flagellation. You could also say it is similar to when you pass a horrific accident along the highway, as you slowly pass the scene, no matter how badly you tell yourself not to look, you cannot help to at least glance over for a second or two.
Yup I've got him on it. He's gotten so ridiculous that he's become a parody of himself. Like the 180th copy of Somebody That I Used to Know ridiculous.
