GAME WEEK IS HERE.....New England vs Miami 1:00 Sunlife Stadium

Honestly, I'm impressed with NE's ability to unearth these nondescript guards and centers, and develop them into effective players for their scheme. That may not continue as well with the absence of Dante Scarnecchia from here on out.

 

He was the 4th lowest rated. NE's Center, Ryan Wendell, was the 5th lowest rated.

 

Why did Siliga sit out the preseason?

 

No problem. I don't believe in fairy tales myself, but to each their own.

 

Personally I'm just amazed a new season is upon us again.
As an older fan now, the off seasons just keep getting longer and longer for me. Maybe it has to do with anticipation or the 'unknown' of what the Fins will bring us again the next year? I don't know, but it keeps me going though.... As always I wish them well.
Since I've never mentioned it before, I want to say thanks to the fans here who keep it interesting and keep me reading with their intriguing points of view.
It's good to know that there are people out there that share the same passion I do and want to see this team succeed.
Here's to a very successful year, win or lose may you always be a dedicated and loyal Dolphins fan.

Lets get this thing started...
GO DOLPHINS !!!

 

The funny thing is, when the preseason starts, people say finally football is here. Three weeks later they say, thank god it's over.

 

Back at ya 54...and regarding the bolded part above...it's in the DNA...can't be helped.

 

I'm older too, and while I love to still watch the games and follow the team, I don't take it quite so badly when the team loses as I did when I was young. I very seldom ever get upset when one of our players makes a mistake. I just figure they're trying their best. For some reason the only thing that makes me explode anymore are ridiculous calls made against our boys. I still despise Ron Marinucci, and John Parry, (Saints 2009), Gene Steratore and Jerry Bergman, (Steelers 2010), and Marinucci was on that crew too btw. I used to think Walt Anderson was a pretty fair ref, until that clusterfck BS call he made on Vernon in the first Pats game last year. Now, I despise him too.

 

NFLTradeRumors.co ‏@nfltrade_rumors · 1m
Patriots Claim DB Don Jones Off Waivers From The Dolphins http://ow.ly/3pIfhq

 

Both of those losses last year cut me deep...

But it's a new year, new OC, new OL coach, new system, new weapons on offense...I'm all kindsa excited! We'll sweep AT LEAST one of those teams this year.

 

I'm shocked... Really. /sarcasm.

Bet he's cut either just before the game or shortly after.

 

Another pats fan who doesnt think the refs love them. So comical. Can we get a gif of the illegal batting the ball penalty? Will stand as one of the worst calls of all time for me. Just going off memory i think it was on vernon in game 1 last year.

 

Dolphins will win 27-24.

 

Go Mud Dogs!

 

What if we cut Jones because we knew NE would sign him and he is sabotaging them only to be resigned after Im kidding obviously.

 

I'm still bitter about them blowing a 3-0 start and only scoring 1 TD in the final two games against beatable rivals with 9-7 being a wild card guarantee...and a date with the Bungles who haven't won a playoff game since the 1st season of The Simpsons. Talk about silver platter for finally getting that 14-year long wait of a playoff win. And managed to beat the Pats, Steelers, Chargers, Colts & Bengals! It really has to be a first that a team beats 4 playoff teams including 3 division champs, and still missed the playoffs. The torture...

An opening win over the Patriots would help make me forget, for the short term anyway.

 

That was an absolute joke. Our guys were just demoralized after that timely ruling and the rest is history as we know it.


Boston is a sports city with a huge market, cool, great, fine, we get that and we expect the NFL to throw less **** their way and more in our direction. But when they need this kind of transparent, obvious, unabashed rigging to secure division titles, it makes me just want to piss all over everything that city holds dear.

 

lol... an "illegal bat" penalty was called exactly twice last season.

http://www.nflpenalties.com/

NE was the 2nd most team on the beneficiary count at 118 penalties "for" behind Baltimore, who was #1. Miami was 24th on the list of penalties "for".

 

you are right


Sent from my iPhone 5 using Tapatalk

 

Expecting a tough match-up as usual this week.

The Dolphins D seems to have a pretty good record against Brady - interior push is always a big thing against him and we do have some uncertainty on the O-line right now.

Personally, i'm excited to see how much the WR corps has improved (2nd year WR's Dobson and Thompkins, plus a (rarely) healthy Amedola) and if we now have a defense that can be destructive rather than just another 'bend-don't-break' vintage.

I don't think Gronk will do much other than play in the red zone packages - perhaps the odd 3rd down.

It'll be interesting to see if Tannehill and Wallace can get their chemistry going - Clay and Hartline always seem to bring out the clutch catches.

If there is a good time to catch the Miami O-line it would be early in the season before they gel - they appear to have had a good influx of talent - especially at the tackle spots.

I won't wish the Dolphins luck, bceause it would be a lie - but here's to an injury free game

 

Sure, its definitely a concern for most Pats fans i'd say.

The Dolphins have found ways to give very established Patriots O-lines fits - this week we'll have personnel turnover.

Another factor that shouldn't be underplayed is how much of a locker room leader and trend setter Logan Mankins was - he was always the first guy into any ruckus.

Mankins has definitely detoriorated in pass pro recently but his run block will definitely be missed and his replacement (probably Josh Kline) really is quite an unknown at this stage.

 

Thanks man - I have no time for people who come onto oppostion forums just to try and sh*t talk em.

Belichick has only just recently moved away from the old style 3-4 defense in terms of recruitment - LBer coverage has been a huge hole for quite a few years and TE's have carved us up many times. Tony G had a huge game against us only last year 12/150/2 TD.

Until recently we were still picking up guys like Brandon Spikes and Dont'a Hightower who are really 2 down thumpers who get exposed in coverage.

The key to our LBers in pass coverage is going to be Jamie Collins - he had a huge finish to the year culminating in an All-Pro type of performance vs the Colts in the playoffs - he showed some pass rush but also the ability to play like a safety in coverage and read the QB - the guy is also a physical freak in terms of measurables.

He is the guy we think can take away the opponents shifty TE - in this case; Clay.

Mayo is strictly average in pass coverage and Hightower (as mentioned) will be picked on with ease.

Our safeties have often struggled with athletic, physical TEs under Belichick - perhaps Browner might get a look as a CB matched up 1 on 1 on the line with a big bodied WR (Gates/Gonzalez type).

I don't think we have anyone at safety we could rely on to reliably cover the better TE's in the league.

 

With the transition from Mankins, and Browner being suspended.....are Unbiased PAt fans worried about this possibly being a trap game against Miami? Our receivers are pretty stout, and our offensive scheme is a bit of a unknown at this point. I'd like to think the Pats would've much rather of seen us week 3 or 4, than week 1....just based on a multitude of things.

 

I don't think i'd class any divisional game as a trap game, to be honest.

Even with Buffalo sucking it up for years they still find a way to play us very close at least once a year.

I think most unbiased Patriots fans know this is going to be a tough game - Belichick tends to excel when he has some relevant data to work with (definitely not a reference to Spygate ) - and has a great record in 2nd game match-ups.

As you say its going to take awhile to work out what Miami is bringing on offense -hopefully that will be offset by Miami also getting themselves aquainted with the new schemes at genuine full speed with serious opposition for the first time.

Preparation of their own team is also another area the Patriots tend to do well - we don't often turn up confused or caught out - the Miami Wildcat game springs to mind as one of the few times that has happened.

I don't think I would be as confident that Philbin will have them as prepared.

 

Ya as far as coaching goes, at the HC level at least, y'all got it all over us. Philbin hasn't inspired that we can tell, but he has made some changes this year so we're kinda hopeful he can have more of an impact. That's blind faith of course, since we haven't seen any results of it yet (with just the pre-season to go off of).

This game will, IMHO, come down to adjustments at the half. We tend to lose that match against the Patriots most times. If we can adjust and scheme well after the half, I like our chances. It's an entirely new offense, and our guys at least know what it looks like...even if they haven't perfected it yet, which is to be expected.

Time to test-drive the train!

 

Yeah, for sure no team wants to be punched in the throat first game of the season.

Even if the Patriots do run a train on Miami, it should be remembered that the season is a long one. The Patriots have been a pretty dominant AFC force for quite awhile so they are a pretty tough measuring stick - and they do always possess that extra gear to pile it on when they sense a weakened opponent.

Miami really needs to take care of business vs the Jets and Bills - win the games they are supposed to and they'll be right in the hunt for a playoff spot at the end of the year.

How do you guys feel about the loss of Reshad Jones?

I remember him being one of the best safeties in the league in 2012 but he fell off a bit last year.

Who have you got replacing him?

 

Losing Jones and Pouncey both really sucks. Jones struggled last season due in part to having to make up for coverage deficiencies elsewhere. Jimmy Wilson is filling in for Jones currently until we get him back.

I'm really expecting our DLine to get after the pats Oline. Mankins may have slipped some in his overall play, but Kline is not a mauling guard. He reportedly has good footwork and hand technique, but Starks, Mitchell, Odrick, Wake, and OV should dominate the pats Oline and pressure Brady most of the game.

 

It seems many don't think Gronk will be a major presence in the game, showing for minimal snaps. Even if he's in there a lot, he can't be 100%...not after that injury 9 months ago. That stuff takes a LONG time to heal fully.

 

For whatever its worth it seems Belichick has been trying to wind back Gronkowski's pronouncement.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...decision-on-rob-gronkowski-playing-this-week/

Doubt we'll know more than that until Sunday

 

I think Gronk is trying to get himself pumped and in a positive frame of mind.

He's had a few seasons derailed by big injuries now - I truly believe the guy absolutely loves playing football - I think it hurts when he can't get on the field.

Belichick has been a lot more circumspect about Gronks chances of seeing the field this week - I don't think this was an orchestrated effort to smokescreen the Dolphins or anything.

It will be interesting to see how Wilfork goes this year - I think he was in decline even before he got injured (maybe he was carrying the injury before it totally went on him) but he is carrying quite a bit less weight this year.

This will likely make him less of the immovable object of the past but perhaps a little better at lateral movement and penetration.

Pouncy would have been an extra tough assignment for Wilfork in his first game back from a big injury on a big guy.

 

My guess would be red zone action mainly - maybe the odd 3rd down.

The short field on redzone should stop guys building up enough momentum to hit him like TJ Ward did last time.

 

Has cbs released the coverage map yet?

 

After considering this game for a couple of days, here is what I expect.

- Lazor will have a creative and aggressive game plan that gives the team the opportunity to win.
- the defensive front will be aggressive and disruptive.
- the offense is going to score more points than last year's average.
- the interior of the offensive line is not going to do enough to win this game