I'm still working on getting a true opinion of RJF, but I'm sure Pouncey could throw around Franklin. However, if that does happen then it won't take long to send Chapman out there.
I just finished watching the Raider's/Colt's game and I have to say that Indy was lucky to pull off that win. They had a great deal of trouble with the called runs for Pryor, specifically the read option. Pryor was excellent at extending plays with the school yard stuff and getting some key completions. I doubt we can duplicate that aspect of the game, but we could employ the read option. And Pryor is no where near Tannehill's level in terms of attacking a defense with passes from the pocket. I thought their run D was okay at best. McFadden didn't do a great job of picking the right holes but he did pick up some key first downs. Against the pass, I thought they brought some pressure, but it was inconsistent. On O, Luck was his typical self, actually not much different than last year. Maybe fewer passes into coverage. They had some nice runs by Ballard where he made something out of nothing. Not a lot, but something. If Janikowski doesn't miss that early 38 yard FG then I think the Raiders win this one 23 - 21. Honestly, I think that Cleveland may be as good of a team as Indy when all is said and done. I know that sounds silly as Indy looked superior in that third preseason game, but that would be my take off of the one regular season viewing. Obviously that's just one game so you can't really draw anything conclusive, but my guess at this point would be that Indy takes a step back and falls into that 8-8 range. I'm a big Luck fan and I think he gives them a shot to win any game, but beyond Luck and his receivers, I don't see much there. I think I see the rest of that team being a liability against most opponents.
I couldn't really tell you what the rhyme or reason is behind the rotation. To be honest, and I think I've said as much already, but I think Chapman should be the starter now, especially any time the run is a possibility. Franklin is still the starter pretty much only because of his experience. Chapman definitely has more raw physical ability. As for Moala, I'm not sure he's 100% yet. I really wish we would have kept Nevis instead of Moala but nothing we can do about that now. We also still have Ricardo Matthews, who's best asset is getting penetration into the backfield on passing downs. As for RJF, like I said I'm still guaging him but I think of all the FA's we brought in this offseason, he's the most likely to be a bust. As for Werner, he's definitely still a work in progress and right now the goal is to have him primarily in on passing downs when we go to a 4 man front. Prior to training camp, Pagano said a couple of times that they were only going to be using Werner in the Rush LB role this year so they wouldn't be throwing too much at him. They weren't going to have him learn the Sam LB role. However, our primary Sam LB backup, Lawrence Sidbury, was injured and placed on IR and we really don't have anyone else suited for the position so they were forced to start teaching Werner that position as well. So he's essentially the primary backup at both OLB positions. We also have Cam Johnson now from San Fran but he's still very new to the team. He could probably play as a situational pass rusher but not sure about much else. The dolphins' best chance for success running the ball will be off tackle to Mathis's side. He's improved his technique somewhat but still is a liability against the run more often than not.
ah well that explains it...I wouldn't put Cleveland's front 7 in the top 10 group as of now...they definitely have the potential to be and overall I think that team could be the sleeper team this year, but, just like the Colts front 7, they need some time to play together to see how they'll truly work as a unit. I think both Colts and Browns though have the potential to be very good on the defensive side.
Practice Report....Patterson and Taylor and Devlin not participating....Will Davis returns http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/thed...atterson-jamar-taylor-out-will-davis-returns/
Ya he'd stated in his post-game that he was going to need to rest and take it easy on his groin but that he'd be back for the Colts game.
We can expect Vantae Davis to have his brains spill out his head at least once or twice in the game and we need to take advantage of that
Meh...they sound a lot like us when we're talking about the Dolphins playing them. I wouldn't expect any different from fans...gotta support your team full time or you're fair-weather. There was some funny statements there too...just like in ours...stuff like "Miami's secondary can't run with our WRs" and "Vontae's gonna shutdown Wallace and the #2 CB will shutout Hartline." Hmm.....
much appreciated I'm impressed with the types of responses I've gotten and the posts in general that I've read on here. Seems like you guys have a lot of actual level-headed people around here. I wish I could say that's the norm. lol I've seen some pretty ridiculous comments but that would take the cake. If a Colts fan said something like that after watching guys like Harrison and Wayne all these years then I'd be....ok yeah I probably wouldn't be all that surprised. Fortunately we do have some good peeps over there too that would quickly call someone out for that type of comment. lol
The more I think about it, the more I think the middle of the field is gonna be payday for Luck. I don't think he'll make a career off the deep stuff this week, but the middle should be prime for the picking, unless we can get mad pressure quick...which is possible...I just think he'll have 250+, most of which on short-mid middle stuff.
I dont think the COlts has a whole are better than us. Definitely don't have our defense, or front 7. I think we need DJ back this week because Luck tore us up last year with his ability to avoid the rush and buy time and make plays. We need speed there to help wake and I don't care how good Vernon played, he is not a pass rusher of that calibre. If we control Luck in the pocket, we will win this game by 7-10 points I believe. If he has time to free lance, it will go down to the wire again like last year. I really believe Miami winning this, has a chance to start the season at least 2-3 at WORST but I believe htey will be 3-2.
With our running game, I'm sure the Colts think that they can make us one-dimensional. Our key is to do that to them. It took Brandon Weeden 53 attempts to rack up his 289 yards, and that's not accounting for any of the sacks, hits, and pressures that come with having to throw the ball that much. We need to do the same to Luck. I think we'll see some success in the turnover department if we do. On a totally different tangent, I also kind of feel the situation with Mike Wallace is similar to the situation in the pre-season before the Tampa game (except for Wallace's mental disposition, which shouldn't matter that much). Reporters were questioning the chemistry between he and Tannehill, fans were wondering, and the players hadn't seen it in games yet. Then, in the first half, Wallace blew up (in a good way). Long catch, a TD, another couple catches. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Of the first five teams we see (and one is down), the Colts defense is probably the one where Wallace has the best chance of going off. I think he'll be targeted early and often. We'll see what happens, but I tend to think Wallace is in for a big day.
This is great. Last week we were going to lose to the Browns, open the season in a giant hole and now the board is quite confident to beat the Colts. I'm not above it by any means, don't get me wrong. Next to the Pats, the Colts would be the sweetest win.
Andrew Luck is one burly mofo. My buddy (raider fan) just lamented to me how hard he was to take down on Sunday.
I have always thought that both the Browns and the Colts were beatable. In fact only two of the first five games I thought were going to be tough. The Saints and the Falcons.
I was less worried about losing to the Browns than I was for the implication of losing to the Browns. I am very much worried about losing to the Colts. I'm feeling a little bit higher against the Falcons because we have them at home
Methniks we need a very strong, exciting win in Indy to reap any home-field advantage for the Falcons game. Fill them seats!! I would if I was there, for certain...6 of em anyway.
I am more worried about the Colts than the Browns, however I do feel that the Colts, while a decent team, are not a great team. They have a much better quarterback, in that Luck can make plays in the clutch and they have a better deep threat, which the Browns were missing. However, I don't see why Miami couldn't defeat them. While I will not be surprised if they lose, since any given Sunday, however I am confident that if Miami plays well they have a great chance of winning.
Off topic but it baffles me how RG3 gets all this ridiculous attention yet Luck is 10 times the quarterback.
Whoa! Calm down there CBSSports.com: "Dolphins 23-20 over Colts" Y'all can't go jinxin' us like that! http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on...s-chiefs-over-cowboys-peyton-manning-over-eli
Too bad it's not the Patsies this week...their IR/injured list is getting more impactful by the week...Vereen (IR), Amendola (out). Ya ya ya...wanna beat them at their best...bla bla...I do too, but I'd take it nonetheless!
I don't care if every quarterback available was out and they had to put in Robert Kraft as the quarterback. I want to beat them.
i just rewatched the oakland indy game, for a team that was supposed to be really bad, the raiders gave the colts all they could handle, coming out of nowhere 3 weeks ago, i was really impressed with pryor, he made some mistakes, but man did he gave the indy D trouble all game, ryan is not good of a runner with that read option, but this play should be in the gameplan anyways this week
We have to win this game! IF we do, we only need to steal one of the next three. 3-2 at the bye will set us up nicely for the division games and the cupcake second half of the schedule.
This should make Dolphin fans salivate.... http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9...indianapolis-colts-protect-andrew-luck-better Jim Irsay ✔@JimIrsayDolphin/Colts-Make no mistake about it/The Fish CAN and WILL bring the HEAT...We gotta MAN-UP and confront HEAT with a NASA-like Heat-Shield
good news, patterson and davis (again) in pads at practice, taylor still on the sideline, i think he will miss the 2nd game as well
Really? You don't think the Colts game will be a tough one? I think you're way underestimating them. I do think the Colts will win the game..I'm a colts fan, of course I do. lol I definitely acknowledge though, admittedly unlike many of my fellow colts fans, that this will be a very tough game between what I consider to be 2 equally matched teams. I think both the Dolphins and Colts (along with the Bengals, Chiefs) are in a similar group of teams that are very young but also very talented and definitely on the up-swing. They just need more time playing together gaining experience before they'll reach the top tier of teams in the league. The Colts absolutely are beatable, just as the dolphins are. This is going to be a tough game for both teams.
Stephen Holder @HolderStephen 2h Not seeing #Colts TE Dwayne Allen as practice gets underway. So far no Kavell Conner either. thats 2 starters missing practice
I'm of pretty close to the same mind, with the exception of who I think will win I don't think it'll be a cakewalk...neither team is the Jags or Raiders...but then again...ANY given Sunday............I have Miami, Cincy and KC picked this week.