realistically they're more than just a playoff team. IF they're healthy (which they were today) they're a top 5 team. Honestly, we were holding our own for the first half until tragedy struck. even in the 2nd half there were still good things to be seen from the team. it was just that final 4 minutes before half time where allt he damage was done.
I can only speak for myself but I don't care that we lost to Houston or even that we got blown out. I didn't expect us to be any good this season and we won't be. The question is about the talent level currently on the team and whether the right people are in charge moving forward
JJ Watts won that game in 6 minutes by playing volleyball...He's a tremendous player. I was kinda wondering why they never rolled Tannehill out.
Definitely, but if we ran out the clock and went into halftime down 10-3, with Thigpen returning the punt to make it 10-10, the entire game changes and Houston doesn't have a chance to get comfortable, and we could've continued running the ball [which we were doing successfully] while trying operate a balanced offense, which we couldn't do after the huge defecit.
Green Bay, New England, Baltimore, New Orleans, Giants. Colts, Rams, Jaguars. We're closer to the bad than the good, but we're certainly not well below average.
I did not expect us to win. A large part of that was expecting our safeties to play as they did , our corners to play as they did , our lack of downfield receiving threats , our inability to cover TE's , the lack of speed and most of that was not on rookies. So it was based on players , for the most part , already here and more than less , deemed to be good enough by some. I do expect a win next week though , and if I was Reggie Bush I would enact my own leadership group , a group of one. His work ethic is producing results. Production matters. He is producing , in large part due to his focus on his craft.
Speed at Cb, or Safety, will not make up for 4 turnovers on our side of the 40. Sorry D22, that is a fact, we've both watched enough football to know that if a Qb plays that badly, you are not going to win against a top flight team. Point to Wr, interesting as THill could not seem to get the ball past the LOS, we could have had Jerry Rice out there and it would not have mattered.
Ok thanks. Now the Rams were about 15 seconds away from a win today on the road against a playoff team. But you would still agree they have an overall talent problem right? And even I think we have more talent than STL. But take the Jags, they lost but have a superstar RB and they actively upgraded the WR position to help out their young QB. Gabbert looks like a completely different guy. These are the types of steps we still need to take. We have too many glaring deficiencies even though we have some good players here and there
I don't think you're having the same conversation as D22 and myself Pads. You are focused in what we could've done to win today and this season. I don't think we have that same concern. I don't think we'd be doing much inning whether or not Garrard was playing so may as well let the kid take his lumps when you're not going to be good anyway
If you say so. You're not talking about overall talent though. To Dolphins are much more talented than those teams, and it really isn't even close.
Do you really think MMoore throws 3 straight picks in that situation? You say talent, perhaps, to base on this game would be mere bias.
Well you made a large point about how we played well but that we got blown out because of turnovers and drew the conclusion that we are not talent deficient. The Disgustipate of the STL Rams board could write a very similar post to yours with more evidence, but he would still be wrong, STL still would be talent deficient.
Wow. Moore had his chance, let it GO. He was HORRIBLE last year vs any good teams. He had his chance in the preseason and did NOTHING. The horse is DEAD.
Didn't say those were the reasons we lost Pads, those were the reasons I did not expect to beat a quality opponent like Houston in their house. If the oline blocked better that changes drops , timing, and if they wereon their blocks better it doesn't allow such an easy net block, and if our receivers threatened defenses downfield that means less men in the box etc. etc. Now I agree 17 brought a lot or enough of that on himself . Houston did not play well , nor did Schaub imo , and they coasted to be honest , so that also comes into play. I hope that those who believe the way this team is currently constructed has top third talent are correct . I don't , I hope I am wrong.
Well it was 2, then a Thomas fumble. And I guess not but I saw him turn it over plenty last year. And even if he didn't and we end up loing by 3 or 7 what's the difference? We were unlikely to score a ton regardless of ho the QB was
Oh yeah you're a texican lol from one texican to another good luck to you guys. Hope you do better then the cowgurls.
Qb looking off the Wr helps that..nah, couldn't be. As for men in the box, by the time the second half rolled around we were down 20 pts, do you think they were worried about running the ball?
do you honestly think that thigpen still returns that punt for a td - if all the previous plays dont happen????
Your thesis, would then be provable, however until THill plays better we cannot really know what the offense has in terms of talent at the skill positions.
I didn't at any point argue that the Texans weren't more talented than the Dolphins? I'm not sure what your point is.
Who knows. Regardless, it'd still be a close 10-3 game entering the 3rd quarter with our defense playing Houston extremely tough when their offense wasn't awared great field position. Houston would've still won, but it would've been a much more respectable game.
Change the subject somewhat , because I don't really know if you feel this team is talented enough or that you believe Ireland has done a good enough job and feel staying the course is the proper direction?
Just saying, through the first 27.5 minutes, there probably wasn't a Dolphin fan around who thought we weren't in the game. We didn't lose b/c we were severely outplayed. We lost b/c 2 minutes of football completely changed the nature of the game, and with a rookie at QB playing from a quick 3 score deficit, it would be impossible to recover vs that defense.
Honestly think it is to early to tell D22, do think they finally are putting offensive players on the field who offer explosive play capability, think we had little to lose by starting Jones and Clemons at Safety Think trading Vontae was a mistake. Give it 8 games, win or lose, then we should have a really good idea what the talent level is, and there should be systematic excuses, guys can play or the cannot. BTW, watching Travis Lulay develop was much like this, I know what a young starting Qb can mean even with loads of talent around him it just takes time for them to learn the game of pro football, there is no way around it. Difference is Wally B was smart enough to not just stick him out there, this is where IMO, Philbin is making a huge mistake and throwing away a season unneccessarily.
Hey all, I am a Finheaven reject. I basically blew a gasket over there several times due to the insanity that goes on over there on the boards. For that reason i am currently banned. Just reading through this thread and others, i was compelled to join and think i will stay here, this board seems much more down to earth and seems like people can actually have a decent conversation. That being said, i am 100 Percent with the people who are contending this game at least, was not about "talent" Ireland is the big scapegoat this season, like Sparano was last year, (and maybe that was rightfully so) however, i agree with the poster who said "that is a way to still feel in control", that is all it is, you want a singular "easy to fix" person to be the sole reason we are not winning, but it simply is not true. The point is, Ireland may not be a genius, but this team does in fact have talent. We went 6-3 last year once the coaching strategy changed and once matt moore got going and we "gelled" Hartline looked solid today, and so did bess, armstrong was open on at least one nice route that Tanney missed him on. Bush has really proven time and time again that he can be a full time tail back, Daniel thomas has grown leaps and bounds since his rookie year, Lane looks to be a very good fullback ( i know its early) the line looked pretty good today, Tanney looks like he has serious potential, i know people do not like fasano for whatever reason, but he made a few solid catches as always and was open in the endzone on one play where tanney did not see him. Defensive front 7 speaks for itself. The bottom line is that we hung with one of the best teams in the NFL today if we didnt commit FOUR STRAIGHT turnovers. These turnovers had nothing to do with "talent" i.e. it was not because the wide receivers couldnt get open or the OL just blown up (except for the DT fumble) Tanney has a problem with balls being deflected - what is good is that he had a bunch of them in game 1. the coaches will get to work to fix that, it has nothing to do with lack of talent. you do not win games in the NFL when you commit that may turn overs and the ratio shakes out the way it does. that is a fact. After seeing this game, im not happy obviously, i dont have "aqua colored glasses" on, no, but i saw a team that did actually have some talent, start to gel at first, and not seem to dejected after the game. We have our home opener next sunday against a team that we can play with. I expect us to put a good game together and im excited about that, more than anything i want wins for the guys on the field, who are talented, but constantly are bashed by their own fans.
I remember that special teams meltdown against the Patriots. "If we hadn't given up 3 ST TD's, we wouldn't have lost that game 41-14" **** happens. We need to do better and be better.
There are a few trolls here, bench Tannehill, fire Philbin etc. But they have this cool ignore feature! Most of the guys here are very cool, and very knowledgeable. Welcome!
Opinions I have about the football game played at 1:00 EST today.. ...I liked a lot of what I saw from QB Ryan Tannehill. And saw some that I didn't. Did anyone else notice he'd get his passes tipped at the line of scrimmage? I did, and he did it too much today. Gotta fix that Ryan! But despite his struggles, he didn't melt down, he threw some of his best passes in the 4th of the quarters. He's a good first round pick. Dolphins should have drafted him years ago. Did you all see the one punt return that went all the way for 6? That was great. I noticed it. I also noticed that the guy who returned that punt, RB Marcus Thigpen wears #34. Just like RB Ricky Williams did. But RB Ricky Williams never scored a TD on a punt return. Just sayin. I did not like the way the other team's WR Andre Johnson was catching all those passes thrown by the other team's QB Matt Schaub. The Dolphins shouldn't let him do that anymore. Gotta fix that Gibril Wilson! I heard LB Koa Misi lead the team in tackles today, but I don't think he is a good leader. LB Karlos Dansby should be the tackles leader next week. It was good to have real football back after preseason even if the Dolphins gave up more points than they scored. I can't wait to see it all again on Hard Knocks this week. Gonna be epic! Anyway, those are my football thoughts for today. Gonna hit up 7/11 for another six pack, glad they are always open. (Did you see what I did there?)
For me, I did thinking starting Tannehill, in a brand new offense to the players we had, was a good idea. But the choice has been made and I can live with it, just do not say he played well today because he really did not play very well at all. Some of that, imo, is the rest of the offense is just trying to find their way and cannot really support THill the way a rook Qb has to be supported. Personally I also don't care for Naanee and hope he is just warming a chair for Armstrong/Matthews/Moore.
Don't want to be overly simplistic, but remember: We have no offense. We scored three points except for a housed punt return.
Love Reggie Bush , love him . Partly because he does have talent , mostly because he has talent and may be the hardest worker on the team. He could coast , he could make some plays on talent alone , but he has and is showing leadership by working like a street free agent who went to Augustana. You mentioned putting offensive players on the field who offer explosive play capability, besides him who are you referring to? I get the trades , I for one would love to get rid of the bad actors , but talent is talent . Like JJ said , like it or not how you are treated depends on how talented you are . I know coach wants his type of guys and that isn't Marshall or Vonte , ok ... but you have to replace the talent and production imo. They haven't , that to me doesn't sit well . Futures may do that , but based on track records not likely. That I have issues with. I get this is a redshirt year, don't like it , but get it. We all are passionate for this team , wait a long long off season for that renewed hope of a new season , so already looking ahead to 2013 isn't my idea of fun. I can accept it if I feel/felt the direction was right and that I/we should have confidence in the one leading that. I am not saying to make a change now or half way through the season , but I fully expect a much better base of players at the end of the year than the beginning, and if that isn't then for me , the change happens at GM. I long ago brought up Einstein's definition of insanity , a year and a half a go I called Sparano dead coach walking , when it is time it is time. Listen to Alex Marvez with Joe Rose on WQAM to hear some insight to how bad a decision that was.
I suspect we see more of AArmstrong to replace that dude. He offers big play potential, so does Thigpen, Hartline does a bit, as does Clay DTrain has a concussion so once again with him.. I do not believe in a "redshirt" yr, to me at that means is you are screwing your fans over. This is why I did not want Tannehill to start, but he is, which means it could get even worse for us..that comes with the territory.
If he can do that every week, I think you're thrilled. Misi didn't have 11 tackles because someone else screwed up, and him getting tackles isn't really indicative of a problem. If anything it's noteworthy because doing that from his position is kind of hard.
I've watched the game twice now and I don't see any of what you're describing. I thought the secondary played well for most of the game. I saw a couple of coverage sacks (Starks) and several times where Schaub held the ball longer than he'd have liked. What plays are you talking about where our talent at safety looked deficient? Dansby and Burnett are faster and more agile than the average NFL LB, better too IMO. Misi is adjusting to playing WLB and he looks a bit stiff at times but again, I didn't see anything in the game where he was attacked or seen as a liability. Obviously we have a problem at WR, no one disputes it. Other than that I think you're seeing ghosts.
We had two minutes of problems against one of the best teams in the league in the first game of the year also with a rookie QB & HC. I'd say at this point, we are nowhere near as bad as was advertised.
Exceeded whose expectations? If you didnt think our defense could hold Houston's offense in check then you missed the game last season. If you didnt think we could run the ball on them you missed the game last season (Bush didnt even play). Our passing game was a bad joke other than a couple screens and a fade, cant say we exceeded expectations there either. The only unit that played better than advertised was ST from what I saw.
