Random ramblings... Good: -Hey we won 27 to 3!! That's not good, that's grrrrrrrrrrrreat -From the third offensive drive on -The first team defense was solid -I thought Ellerbe looked great in the limited time he was out there, side to side speed is very apparent -I actually thought Jon Martin was okay... which puts him on the good side in my book here -Dion Sims... looks the part -Will Davis... wonderful INT where he high pointed it. Also had some other nice plays, pressure on the qb forcing a tipped pass. A little soft in run support though if I'm being honest -Don't give up on Daniel Thomas. He's a nice change of pace to Lamar Miller (who is still the starter) but I think DT is entrenched as the #2 guy -I thought Richard Marshall was okay tonight. Good tight coverage... good run support. Pretty solid -Dmitri Patterson was also okay. Brent Grimes... must have been great because the Jags qb's didn't even throw his way -Dustin Keller was spectacular tonight. Two great routes, two big plays down the field to get Tannehill going. Spectacular TD, Tannehill made a great decision -when he saw the LBers head was turned and threw it up for #81 to make a play -Chad Bumphis... certainly making the most plays from any of the wide receivers so far in these two games -Sturgis 58 yard field goal... had another shorter one later. Kickoffs were also very deep. Carp is history. -Reshad Jones had a great breakup on a screen play. Really hustled to beat the OL from getting on top of him. -four turnovers forced tonight by our team!! Can we play the Jags every week? Bad: -Josh Samuda had his moments. The first sack on Tannehill was either him or Pouncey's fault or both -I wouldn't say it was bad, just that Dion Jordan was quiet tonight for the most part... limited reps -After the first sack, RT looked nervous and quick to escape the pocket -Mike Wallace didn't catch a pass... just a fact... not "BAD" -Nolan Carroll... after the INT, struggled mightily.. the INT was really forced by I think it was Freeny getting out in the flat and putting pressure on the Jags receiver who then promptly popped it up in the air for Carroll to snag -We have some guys at LB who are better than Trusnik and Spitler IMO. Robinson... Freeny... yet our coaching staff continues to play them ahead. -There is no clear cut 3rd back behind Miller/Thomas. Gray has some power but I want more from him. Gillislee... his name is just too hard to type. I mean he looks okay but nothing earth shattering. I'm wondering if we might go out and sign a veteran to push for #3. I mean Gillislee... 12 carries 37 yards... Gray, 14 carries 32 yards... they are not separating themselves IMO -Did Thigpen leave trash in Philbin's locker room or what? He barely gets reps on ST's as a returner... and doesn't see the field at all on offense. shhh... maybe he's our secret weapon... -Those Jags helmets -I still don't know how to say #66 and #69's names... The O and O brothers.. similar to me in their styles. one should make it to the practice squad... maybe both.
forgot to mention I thought Kheeston Randall had some nice plays in run support. He's a keeper. But won't be taking any time away from our top 3 DT's. Neither will Vaughn Martin
oh and I think #66 is ahead of #69... Tristan Okpaulogo () had a real nice move at the end of the game... he did get called for the 15 yarder (which was bull**** btw) but he really went around their left tackle like he was standing still... it was impressive. I think he also had a sack before that. He might actually make the team.
I will say this for the Jags helmets, from straight on in the front, with that matte black, they look awesome. But when you see the two tone, it makes you want to wear babies as boxing gloves and then punch a different group of babies. Also, Jaguar Television Production Team....pro tip free of charge....show the goddamn down and distance at all times on the goddamn screen.
Another way of looking at it... areas of depth vs areas that could use some additions: Depth: QB TE DE DT CB (dare I say it? and we haven't even seen Jamar Taylor yet) Thin: LB S and of course the Oline rest of the positions I wouldn't say we are deep, nor are we thin... certainly WR/RB are untested to a degree.
-Tannehill to Keller td was great. That's what you do with a playmaker. You give him a chance to make a play. -Thomas solidified his spot tonight. -offensive line is troublesome. We've got options. Hopefully Louis takes the rg position from samuda. -Martin actually wasn't a problem though -mark Sanchez threw a pick six tonight -sturgis won a job tonight
Though Tannehill stats werent bad, over all he did not play too well. He looked scared in the pocket, constantly threw behind receivers and got lucky when Keller caught a wobbly duck in the endzone. Goodbye Carpenter and Hello Sturgis.
I'm not seeing the Thomas thing you guys did. He looks like he's falling down stairs when he runs. Its why he drops the ball. Its why he gets injured. He benefited from playing the Jags in their first preseason game.
Did anyone else think that Keller TD got very slightly tipped? That was a weird throw. I'm gonna have wood for weeks the first game we win as Sturgis nails one from 50+
Yea that tends to happen when your interior lineman fail you like they did on the opening drive. He played solid. I'd give it a B+. The pass to Keller tho was right where it needed to be. I don't give a **** what it looks like.
BTW, I'm just happy we are having an open debate about our SECOND string running back and that Lamar Miller appears to be the starter moving forward.
Sturgis and Fields gives us the best kicking game in the NFL. The Starting D was awesome - Jags have one of the worst starting offenses in football and looking forward to the Atlanta game but still, thats how your suppossed to look against bad offenses. Coach Philben was pleased with several areas - Turnover margin - Penalties - The Starting D. He was calmly aggreivated with the Starting Offense - The slow start - The protection breakdowns - ETC. Jonas Gray will likely make the team, so we'll keep an extra back or the Gator is gone. (Very Early assessment.) I just think Gray carries more value because of his goal line abilities. We'll see... Tannehill had one really nice throw that hopefully is a glimpse of whats to come and that was the seam to Keller, where he put the ball right on the money in stride. For me, he still takes to long to get a read. We need significant improvement from the offense. GO DOLPHINS! Nice win
Tannehill had a solid game, I did think the two sacks he took had to do with waiting too long to get the ball out though. Sturgis could have made that FG from 60+. John Mother ****ing Denney ladies and gents.
Honestly how do you even measure Gray and Gilli? The third string offensive line is terrible. I'd like to see what they could do with at least the 2's.
Our defense is legit, Sturgis made team, Tannehill showed improvement, Jonathan Martin did a good job, the rest of the oline sucked so bad that its scary; Will Davis plays the ball nicely, Bumphis continues to impress, Daniel Thomas needs to go... The oline better fix their $** or its going to be a long season. Side note: The Patriots don't look they have missed a beat losing all those playmakers so far...the have really good rhythm already.
Actually those two are easy to measure...Gray is bigger, slower, more likely to get the yard in short yardage packages. Gilli is lighter, faster, and more likely to fit better in 3rd down packages. (Which we won't need since Miller will be on the field on 3rd down.) If Gilli could return punts or kicks, he could increase his value but as it stands, this team needs a 1-yard back more. Who knows, Philben wasn't happy at all with Thomas last season and it certainly showed on many different occasions and Thomas could be the guy out. I really think Gray makes the team and is the starter on short yardage packages. If he keeps getting the Yard, he's a keeper and so far he keeps getting the yard.
I thought Martin was a lot better than just ok. #66 is much more athletic than #69. I like #66, the Fresno St kid, a lot better of the two.
Daniel Thomas is still the #2 and likely will remain so, which is why he's receiving limited carries- they're trying to keep him healthy b/c he's the "veteran" of the backfield whom coaches don't need to see in action as much as the other youngens, nor does he need as many developmental reps as the youngens either.
I'm with Fin D on this one, Gray imo has pulled ahead of Thomas as our short yardage back. The dude hits the hole, and keeps his feet moving, and pushes forward. I'm not seeing that from Thomas, nor have I ever really.
If your sure of this statement, then Gilli is gone or they keep an extra back, which I don't think they will do when it looks like already, we may have to keep an extra WR.
I don't see how anyone can really say Gray or Gillislee has been better than Thomas at the moment. DT, IMO was easily the best running back on the field tonight. Understandably so, a lot of people are down on DT, but he's going to make the team and unless Gray or Gillislee play lights out the rest of the way he'll be Miller's primary backup. Finny D, I'm pretty sure DT was pretty good around the goal line and in short yardage situations last season. I'm also not saying one of the other 2 RB's won't end up being better than Thomas, but they really aren't right now. As for the kicking battle, Sturgis easily has the advantage for 2 reasons: He was a relatively high draft pick and Carpenter is making like $2 million more. But the battle isn't over yet. Watching Sturgis kick is fun though. What a leg.
How did he go from doing the Rose Bowls to this? I remember there was a time he was one of the top color guy for college football. Now he's unlistenable.
I also get the feeling they are keeping Mike Wallace under wraps for the regular season. I think they have some things for him that they don't want to show in meaningless games. Not saying they're ignoring him, but it's not something that worries me at the moment. And Dustin Keller is going to be a big player for us this year.
I understand your liking DT - I really loved the kid at Kansas State. I have not liked him thus far in Miami and neither has Philben. DT fumbled twice last year in short yardage situations, including once on the goal line. He may indeed be Miller's backup but more by defaut than anything he has done here in Miami. In all, I'm in agreement. I think the three backs we keep will be Miller DT and Gray and if there weren't so many young WR's looking promising, perhaps we would keep the extra HB. I doubt we will. BOOOT the Gator! (GO U !)
I agree here, there's no sense in showing our cards, I bet we run read option in the first game, something has to be done to get Ryan comfortable in the beginning of a game... We will move the pocket once the real stuff happens..