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Ronin's Review: Patriots Game

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by RoninFin4, Dec 15, 2013.

  1. RoninFin4

    RoninFin4 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Just straight to it today:

    Good:
    - HUGE, HUGE win today for Miami's playoff hopes. Historically, those are the kinds of games Miami has dropped over the years at home.
    - Ryan Tannehill has ice in his veins. That was a superb effort today. There were still some dangerous throws sprinkled in, but the balls he dropped to Rishard Matthews and Marcus Thigpen were sublime.
    - The running game in general. It wasn't the output we saw against Pittsburgh last week, but Lamar Miller and Daniel Thomas were effective. I can only think of one or two negative run plays, and they generally kept the ball moving forward. It's been nice to see Thomas bounce back from the ankle injury. Lamar Miller should continue to be fed, he was running with some pretty good authority today.
    - Marcus Thigpen made an outstanding catch. (Hope you got a sip of victory beer when it got spilled on you).
    - Mike Wallace, Brian Hartline, and Rishard Matthews. This is a 3-for category (No, not what you're thinking FinD, maynard, and SICK). I thought collectively today's game was the best they played as a unit the entire year. Even Marlon Moore got in on the action with a key catch. Wallace did some really nice things today - the TD catch and run, and the cutback on the end-around were nice. Rishard Matthews might be my new favorite underrated player on the Dolphins' roster. How Brian Hartline hangs in there on some of those slants is pretty impressive.
    - Charles Clay made the biggest play of the season to this point converting that 4th down play. HUGE.
    - Michael Egnew had a good day.
    - The pass-rush was effective today despite only landing Wake's sack. They made Brady's day pretty rough for stretches.
    - I think the run defense was pretty good today, especially since Soliai was knocked out of the game. I think that's 3 straight games of limiting opponents under 100 yards total running.
    - Dannell Ellerbe played a pretty good game overall today.
    - As did Koa Misi - I thought he handled some pretty tough assignments in coverage well enough today.
    - Jelani Jenkins played better today than Philip Wheeler did by a good stretch. He's a coverage specialist and I'd expect him to see the field more.
    - Reshad Jones I thought played one of his better games this year.
    - Michael Thomas, welcome to Miami! Glad to have you here!

    Bad:
    - Both Miller & Thomas were beaten, badly, in pass-pro today on plays that caused Tannehill to be sacked. That's got to be tightened up.
    - The O-line had some wobbles in pass-pro. I think both McKinnie and Clabo were beaten pretty badly on one-on-one matchups that let up sacks.
    - The tackling at times was pretty spotty.
    - Philip Wheeler...I don't even know. I think you have to consider biting the financial bullet this offseason if he continues to play like he did today.
    - Jimmy Wilson played out on the perimeter and had some tough matchups today and took some lumps, but that effort on Edelman's TD was putrid. You can't try and knock the ball out there, you've got to at least stand him up and wait for help.
    - Brent Grimes had a rough outing today. Was he hurt early on and tried to play through it? He wasn't himself today; though that hit was sweet.
    - Will Davis isn't ready for the big-time and is still a pretty atrocious open-field tackler.
    - The field goal gaff...I'm pretty sure that's hitting ESPN's Not Top 10. Enough said there. Don't let it happen again. There must be some kind of bad mojo the Patriots have against Miami kicking field goals. New England blocked one the first game and now that today.

    Noteworthy:
    - Phil Simms said today's game was the loudest stadium they've been to all year. Um, cool - I mean that in a good way.
    - Mike Wallace made a superb adjustment catching one pass on the sideline today. We haven't seen that to this point.
    - Injuries: Whatever it is you gotta do to get some good mojo Miami needs Carroll, Grimes, and Soliai back. Sacrifice some live chickens like Cerrano if you have to. I missed a lot of the in-game commentary as I went to my parents house to watch the game and it was a bit of a madhouse with neighbors over - anyone have an updates on those guys? Editing this, just from the Club Thread, it sounds like Soliai's is the most serious of the three. Probably shouldn't post any more than that.

    Game Balls:

    1) Ryan Tannehill - That was pretty damn impressive sir. And, I played you over Brady in the fantasy playoffs today. Thanks.
    2) Joe Philbin - I told my brother that if Miami punted on that 4th and 5 we weren't going to win. That took some onions to go for it and it paid off.
    3) Michael Thomas - You're well on your way to being a cult hero with the pass breakup and interception on the last drive. Welcome to Miami.
     
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  2. BigDogsHunt

    BigDogsHunt Enough talk...prove it!

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    I would have liked to see Miami move the pocket on designed rollouts, today to help buy time...and surprised not a single read option play, or naked boot play to aide in Tannehill and OL issues once it was clear our RB had problems with stuffing the blitz pick ups, etc.
     
  3. The Rev

    The Rev Totus Tuus Staff Member Administrator Luxury Box Club Member

    Good stuff, Ronin.

    For the year in receiving yards, Hartline has over 900 yards, Wallace over 800 and Clay almost 700. Can't remember the last time a WR combo for the Dolphins had a chance to get 1000 yards for the year.

    Mr. C., help me out...was it Clayton and Duper?
     
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  4. MrClean

    MrClean Inglourious Basterd Club Member

    That was mentioned earlier in the season, the last 1k yards pair of WRs we had was the Marks bros. 1991.
     
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  5. Sumlit

    Sumlit Well-Known Member

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    He's spreading the ball all over the place. I think 10 different players caught passes from Tannehill today.
     
  6. dolfan22

    dolfan22 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    17 had a tonne of synergy with his offense today . Improvement with 11 and that made a difference today,if that continues it will be huge for this team. A lot of productivity today :) oh yeah and a WIN !
     
  7. invid

    invid Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Did the Pats purposefully try to take Clay and Hartline out of the game? If so, even more important that Wallace had the day he did.
     
  8. NyPhinfan

    NyPhinfan Season Ticket Holder

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    You put that lack of a tackle by Wilson and Nolan Carroll jumping out of the way of another tackle....and you have to wonder how those guys can show their faces in the film room this week
     
  9. RoninFin4

    RoninFin4 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    I think they did so with Clay. Though, I did notice Clay staying in on pass-pro far more often today than he has all year in the 2nd half.
     
  10. 77FinFan

    77FinFan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Yeah, pretty disgusting.
     
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  11. MrClean

    MrClean Inglourious Basterd Club Member

    The 3rd leading receiver that year was FB Tony Paige with 459. The combined yardage of our top 3 receivers may be the best ever at the end of the season since 1984 when Duper, Clayton and Nathan combined for 3274. I guess Hartline, Wallace and Clay could combine for that, possibly, though Clay's yardage took a hit today. Right now the 3 have a combined 2476. 800 yards combined in two games isn't likely. Still impressive totals though.
     
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  12. Oghma

    Oghma Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Good:
    We won, that's always sweet.
    Tannehill was a beast.
    Some guy I had never heard of played well in the secondary.
    Wallace, Mathews, Hartline all played well. That looks like a legit receiving corp now.

    Bad:
    I disliked the amount of off coverage we played today. They almost nickel and dimed us to death. We should have tried to take away the short game.

    Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk
     
  13. MrClean

    MrClean Inglourious Basterd Club Member

    That was Wilson, if you mean on the last Pats TD play.
     
  14. TooGoodForDez

    TooGoodForDez Deion Sanders for GM

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    Wallace should get the gameball consideration for that TD. That was a YAC TD between 2 defenders.
     
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  15. NyPhinfan

    NyPhinfan Season Ticket Holder

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    No. I know the Wilson play. Earlier in the game Nolan Carrol literally jumped out out of Lagarrette Blounts way near the goaline. I had to replay it a few times to believe my eyes!
     
  16. Fin-Omenal

    Fin-Omenal Initiated

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    Haha, if so they sure did a bad job on Hartline...he was money in the 2nd half.
     
  17. MrClean

    MrClean Inglourious Basterd Club Member

    Tannehill on the season now, passer rating 86.59
     
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  18. MrClean

    MrClean Inglourious Basterd Club Member

    Was that on the opening drive? I'll look for it when I watch the Game Pass replay tonight.
     
  19. padre31

    padre31 Premium Member Luxury Box

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    Thigpen *****es...Thigpen....:lol:

    Mr Padre had a loong night and did not catch the second half....
     
  20. MrClean

    MrClean Inglourious Basterd Club Member

    Thiggy done good. Had a clutch 3rd down catch plus the TD.
     
  21. Deerless Dice

    Deerless Dice Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    There were read option plays, but Tannehill didn't keep any of them.
     
  22. padre31

    padre31 Premium Member Luxury Box

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    When I made the Thigpen 2k APY sig pic, that was the role I thought he'd have

    Guy can catch the football and make things happen
     
  23. Fame

    Fame Well-Known Member

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    One negative I would add is that Tannehill did not keep the ball a single time on the read option. If we're going to give teams that many option looks going forward Tannehill should keep one or two early in the game regardless of the read just to show that threat, even if the play goes nowhere.
     
  24. KeyFin

    KeyFin Well-Known Member

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    That's because I don't think Brady EVER held the ball more than 2 seconds the entire game. It was all short, precision passes that were rifled in there before Wake and company could take him down. Man I hate the Pats, but Brady is one heck of a competitor.
     
  25. maynard

    maynard Who, whom?

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    Really disappointing on the punt returns though
     
  26. NyPhinfan

    NyPhinfan Season Ticket Holder

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    I am not home but will give you the time and the qtr. When you see it you will know what I am talking about. Think it was then drive when NE kicked a FG to make it 17-13. Down by the goaline
     
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  27. Disgustipate

    Disgustipate Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    I think probably 50% of the "read option" plays they are running are fake read options- It's a regular hand off out of a specific formation that appears like a real read option.
     
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  28. MrClean

    MrClean Inglourious Basterd Club Member

    He has chunk yards ability. He needs more touches on offense. Not just returns.
     
  29. Fame

    Fame Well-Known Member

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    Probably, but the defense doesn't know that. I just think it's a better idea for us to threaten with the option early to help the entire run game as opposed to keeping that threat chambered for only some opponents.
     
  30. padre31

    padre31 Premium Member Luxury Box

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    Yessir, the O is not really built to suit what he does, his talent and playmaking ability is obvious
     
  31. NyPhinfan

    NyPhinfan Season Ticket Holder

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    I just found the play by Carroll watching the game again. 8:35 to go in the 4th qtr. 2nd and 10 for the Pats around the 12yd line going in for a FG. Watch Carroll when Blount runs through the line. Then watch the angle on the replay. I almost fell over
     
  32. CaribPhin

    CaribPhin Guest

    That was mostly throw whether intentional or not. The throw slowed Wallace enough to take him out of the safety's angle and the breakaway was just poor tackling by the backup CB. Wallace's best play I'd say was the sideline back shoulder catch. He showed good control and good hands for a one tricl pony.
     
  33. rafael

    rafael Well-Known Member

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    Correctly, I thought. NE's edge player was staying home rather than crashing down (on the ones I noticed).
     
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  34. Disgustipate

    Disgustipate Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    I think the defense is going to know it, though, and I don't think it's all that valuable. If you keep running option-looking plays where the QB is making the "wrong" read, then I think you're tipping your hand. I'm also not sure Miami is in a situation where teams are coming in running anti-option measures on the backside of a formation, so faking an option basically means you've got an unblocked defender who probably is going after the correct player, and you're not really taking the linebacker out of the play on the scrape exchange.

    They should certainly be willing to do it for real every game, I think.
     
  35. finwin

    finwin Active Member

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    Wallace broke 100 yards receiving. Is Clay ok. Why did he motion to come out of the game after the first down. What is the status of Caroll, Grimes, Taylor, Thomas, Miller and Sturgis. Why were they able to run so effectively up the middle? Why were their receivers wide open on so may 1st and 10's?
     
  36. Fin D

    Fin D Sigh

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    How is that a negative on a day he posted 120 rating and beat the Pats?

    I think we, as a fan base, can't see the forest for the trees sometimes.

    You keep the ball on the read option, when it helps you win. you don't keep it just to keep it.
     
  37. Deerless Dice

    Deerless Dice Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Will Davis is a project, he may be something eventually but today is not that day. Brady abused him in the second half after Carroll and Grimes went out. Good thing we have EJ Manuel and Geno Smith coming up in the next couple of weeks.
     
  38. invid

    invid Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    He'll be fine, he and Taylor need experience. This coaching staff is becoming quite notorious for their reluctance to implement their rookies. They should, however, play Davis in the slot when he's ready.
     

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