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Ravens at Dolphins Game Thread

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by KeyFin, Sep 6, 2019.

  1. KeyFin

    KeyFin Well-Known Member

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    It's exciting that it's finally time to talk actual football and our opening home game of the season. As you probably know or have figured out on your own, not a single analyst around picks the Fins in this game since most think this will be an 0-16 season. I don't like our chances either BUT here's a few reasons we can win this football game-

    1) It's hot and humid for tomorrow's game- humidity has always been our 12th man in Joe Robbie stadium. Combine that with how hard Flores has worked our players and we have a physical advantage on the field tomorrow. We will be the better team in the 4th quarter and we'll have to cross our fingers that we're within striking distance for Grant or Drake to save the day.

    2) It seems like we traded everyone the past few months, but our defense is largely still in tact other than our defensive line. In that ridiculous Wide-9 defensive linemen had to make plays to stop the run, but our new formation will use speed at LB to stuff holes and create pressure. I don't think we'll be perfect folks BUT there's a chance this won't be a blowout like everyone expects. If we can contain then we have a shot at making this a respectable game.

    3) On offense, Miami is going to unveil a quick-strike game plan with lots of runs and short passes. Fitzpatrick is likely in for a tough afternoon, but Baltimore is not as talented as recent years on their D-line and our new quarterback has put in a ton of extra time this season so far. Drake will be the workhorse on Sunday and if we can get him going early, I think we're going to shock some people around the league.

    4) We have two big targets at WR this season that can go up and get the ball over defenders. We also have two ridiculously quick options that can create near instant separation on any play. Our receiving corps are highly under-rated and it's not going to take miracles for them to move the football as long as Fitz is delivering quick strikes. That's the key to the ballgame and honestly the season.

    Folks, this should be a blowout and on paper, we have zero chance of winning. The line will look bad and opportunities will be limited. Yet we all know that if you get Grant or Drake a short pass in space, it's a TD waiting to happen. So that's the game plan- pound the ball, control the clock as much as possible, let our secondary force turnovers and survive until one of our speedsters has a step on someone.

    Miami wins this game 24-21 with a 4th quarter comeback. It won't be pretty folks and at times we'll be tempted to turn the TV off, but stick around for the full 60 minutes. As they say, it will get worse before it gets better but this is actually a winnable game.
     
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  2. cbrad

    cbrad .

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    I'm going to have to put up with the taunts from Ravens fans here in Baltimore. At least you don't have that problem lol.
     
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  3. Not So Fast

    Not So Fast Well-Known Member

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    KeyFin likes this.
  4. The Guy

    The Guy Well-Known Member

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    This team stands to win games this year only as a function of turnovers. The hope this Sunday is that Lamar Jackson can provide a few.

    Then again I’m on board with the tanking effort, so I don’t really want to see a win.
     
    KeyFin likes this.
  5. TheHighExhaulted

    TheHighExhaulted Well-Known Member

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    Ravens win 19-6. I just hope that Fitzpatrick plays so bad ala Trubisky last night and the few hundred fans of ours down there boo the **** out of Fitzpatrick like they did Trubisky.

    And Rosen comes in at halftime and the team can actually be watchable no matter if Rosen is bad or good.
     
  6. Dolphin Dundee

    Dolphin Dundee Well-Known Member

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    I just started the Ravens on my fantasy team so either way i won't be too upset.
     
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  7. KeyFin

    KeyFin Well-Known Member

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    I would like that too- but I'm always on board with our starting QB no matter what. Fitzpatrick has worked super hard and been nothing but a true pro so far in Miami, so I'm hoping he stays upright and gets a chance to shine. I'm not worried about him being booed off the field- I'm worried about him being carried off the field on a stretcher.

    Realistically, Miami has almost zero chance tomorrow but I tried to stay positive for the OP and focused on how we COULD win...that's not necessarily my personal opinion though. As fans I think we need a little positive starting out a new year with a really depleted offensive line.
     
  8. Surfs Up 99

    Surfs Up 99 Team Flores & Team Tua

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    I am hoping we come away with a victory because the Ravens overlooked us and thought with all the cuts and changes we were easy pickings.
     
    KeyFin likes this.
  9. KeyFin

    KeyFin Well-Known Member

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    Not sure if you caught my story earlier this year in the off-topic section, but my brother now lives with me and he's a lifetime Pats fan. So I can definitely feel your pain and I'm dreading week 2. I mean, my own Sunday Ticket subscription is being used to cheer for the Pats in another part of my house. There are simply no words for how much that pisses me off....
     
    Last edited: Sep 6, 2019
  10. The_Dark_Knight

    The_Dark_Knight Defender of the Truth

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    Whether we win or not, I think the Dolphins are really going to surprise everyone. I really think you’re going to see old fashioned, on the ground smash mouthed football with Drake carrying the ball at least 25 times. Offensively, THAT is the key to winning. The team that can effectively run the ball wins.

    Defensively, Miami actually did quite well in the turnover department coming away with wins in every game they got 2 turnovers. Jackson coincidentally turned the ball over quite frequently last season.

    Miami wins in a low scoring game, 16-13
     
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  11. texanphinatic

    texanphinatic Senior Member

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    While I am on board with tanking and getting the first overall pick, I want nothing to do with an 0-16 season, so a win would be great. Just get one on the board.

    That said, the path to victory is TO's and stout defense. If we can bottle Jackson, force him to throw and he has not improved ... then we can get some INT's or forced fumbles. If he HAS gotten better throwing the ball, we are ****ed.
     
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  12. AGuyNamedAlex

    AGuyNamedAlex Well-Known Member

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    Fitzpatrick is hurt on the 3rd series, Rosen comes in and looks good but also gets injured in the late third quarter.

    Our line should be illegal.

    In all seriousness though, I'd love to pull this one out so I dont worry about 0-16 every week lol
     
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  13. The Guy

    The Guy Well-Known Member

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    Pay attention and see if the offensive line looks bad even when the scoreboard isn’t imbalanced in favor of the other team. My suspicion is that it won’t be all that bad under those circumstances.
     
  14. KeyFin

    KeyFin Well-Known Member

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    The line coach they brought in has 3 stints in Miami- including when the line rapidly turned around in 2016 around week 6. You can only do so much with backups but I have a feeling that they'll be okay overall. Fitz will get laid out on occasion on missed blocks, of course, but I think that we will have some opportunities as well....especially running the ball on the left side. That rookie guard impressed me in the run game and I'm not at all easily impressed (since I played the position and then went back to coach line as an assistant).
     
    The Guy likes this.
  15. jdallen1222

    jdallen1222 Well-Known Member

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    Is it sunday morning yet? **** I can't wait.
     
  16. Hooligan

    Hooligan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    I picked the Ravens to win on a "pick 2" pool that I'm in so, I can take comfort either way. I'm expecting a hard fought, low scoring 6-3 win by Miami.
     
  17. Surfs Up 99

    Surfs Up 99 Team Flores & Team Tua

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    I think this game is critical for Flores and his coaching staff. In a way, it might be more important than coming away with a win because the players are evaluating them, too. If our scheme is sound, and we have a good game plan for the Ravens, and our coaches do well with their in-game adjustments, then I think our players will continue to buy-in and work hard. They say, winning cures all, but the players know that on paper our team is deficient. However, if we are well-coached and fundamentally sound, and play together as a team, I think the players will pick up on that and regardless if we win or lose will have confidence that we are heading in the right direction. IMO, this is a big game and sets the tone for Flores coaching tenure this season and beyond.
     
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  18. AGuyNamedAlex

    AGuyNamedAlex Well-Known Member

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    It's going to be hard to judge that in the minute and thirty seconds we are in the game though.
     
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  19. Galant

    Galant Love - Unity - Sacrifice - Eternity

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    You know what? Something happened today and I'm now looking forward to watching the Dolphins play football again. Up until now, for a little while at least, I was beginning to think I might skip a lot of it, that my interest this year was waning. Not any more though. I know, of course, that we're probably going to lose a lot. That hasn't changed. Instead, what has changed, is the realisation that this is still the Dolphins. It's the beginning of a new chapter. Whatever happens, more changes are in store, more is to come, and I'll get to sit and watch it happen. Maybe it'll turn out to be a horribly written story - that's possible - but maybe not. No one knows. I certainly don't. Instead, I get to watch all these guys, these Dolphins, take the field, and play their game, and try to win, every week. And maybe a lot of these guys are new, and maybe they're cast-offs, and maybe a lot of them won't be around for long. Right now though? They're Dolphins. The one and only Dolphins. And I'm going to be happy to watch them and root for them. And that's okay. Every year in the NFL is different. That's true this year too. It might be ugly, but that's just what this year is like, and that's okay.

    And you know what else? There's actually still a lot to be excited about this year. Maybe the hope of winning isn't there, but what we do get to see is action and character development. This is a story, and there are a lot of new characters on board. These past few weeks have all been the off-season, that horrible period of speculation and chatter and non-stories. And yes, some of it matters. But this Sunday is when football starts. The football these guys, players and coaches alike, live for, have loved, and continue to pursue. This is what they've been training and looking forward to. It's a return to the field of battle for some, and the first time to step onto it for others. It's the first time this team of generals and soldiers have come together, and together will wage warfare and look for ways to win.

    We'll see whether Parker has developed, how X performs with his contract, we'll see if Jones still has it, and if Baker can step up. We'll hopefully see Grant streak down the field, and we'll see whether even a rag-tag o-line can come together and be, if not good, better than the sum of their parts. Speaking of which, we'll start to see just how Flores and his team play football and what new shape the Dolphins being to take.

    It'll be rough. There will be problems. But that's okay, because this is a beginning. We might not have hoped for it to come quite this way, but these are now our Miami Dolphins, and I'll be hoping for great things and rooting for their victory. Whatever happens next year with Tua and the others is a long year away. None of them are Dolphins, and may never be. But the guys taking the field on Sunday, they really are our guys, and I'll be happy to see the aqua, orange and white take the field again.

    It's the beginning of the story. The end is not yet written. I'm excited to see how it is told.

    I look forward to seeing it unfold with all you guys!

    Fins up!
     
  20. Vertical Limit

    Vertical Limit Senior Member

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    We got to force Lamar to pass the football.

    So leave our secondary do work, and throw 6-7 guys at lamar.. dont give them a run game, and keep the pressure on him to make plays with his arm.. dont let him beat you with his legs or else itll be a long 4 quarters for our defense.. stack the box.

    On offense... i dont have any idea what we can do there.. our offense sucks and our offensive line blows.. wouldnt shock me if we give good field position to baltimore all game because of turnovers we caused
     
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  21. invid

    invid Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Though the team might not have a great record, we'll still get a pulse on the coaching staff, and there are a lot of personal development storylines to pay attention to!
     
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  22. Vertical Limit

    Vertical Limit Senior Member

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    Note theres a soccer game being played at hard rock tonight... less than 40 hours away from kickoff.. should be interesting what the field conditions are Sunday
     
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  23. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    “he's not building a losing team but rather creating a blank canvas on which to build a winning team. Part of that is cutting dead weight and another part is trading assets in order to gain draft/trade flexibility. That's a different thing from wanting to lose, wanting to reach the bottom. It's similar, related, but different”


    This is the best take I’ve seen...
     
  24. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    I have to tell ya, I’ve never been more excited about the dolphins..

    I have my reasons but finally, I feel like the future has promise, a real chance to be a dynasty..got a long way to go, but the capitol to get there..
     
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  25. ExplosionsInDaSky

    ExplosionsInDaSky Well-Known Member

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    I don't think we win this game, but hopefully we can at least keep it competitive. I really like the idea of Kenyan Drake being the focal point on offense. I was extremely disappointed last season when that crackhead Gase didn't use him like he should have. I know everyone is worried about the O-Line as I myself am. I think a lot of us are going to be saying Monday morning that Laremy Tunsil would have made a huge difference had he been here. It doesn't matter at this point. I'm hoping for a miracle, i'm hoping that we can surprise some people. I'm hoping that coach Flo is a genius and i'm hoping that our "scheme/style" is executed as best as it can be. Prayers for no injuries on either side for either team, and I hope it's competitive and entertaining. I really want to see Kenyan Drake with a full opportunity. Maybe we can make some plays on defense too? Either way, i'm super excited win or lose.

    Also...I love Fitz...As a backup. The sooner Rosen plays, the better. But whatever...Fins Up!

    Baltimore 21
    Miami 17
     
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  26. plc001

    plc001 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Baltimore - 62
    Miami - 7
     
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  27. Mafioso

    Mafioso Air Force's #1 Phin Fan

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    So i get that all the analysts are picking the ravens....i would too! But did you guys see MJDs official expert prediction for the game? 35-0 Ravens... that's just disrespectful lol.
     
  28. Surfs Up 99

    Surfs Up 99 Team Flores & Team Tua

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    I am not sure why they even bother asking these guys anything. It's not like they are following the teams. Besides, when it comes to the Dolphins, we're an unknown. They have four pre-season games to evaluate where we generally played a vanilla scheme with a lot of guys who aren't even on the team anymore. Sure, I get that the Ravens have a year under their belt with Jackson and should be the better team. If they win, I won't be surprised. Heck, I won't even be disappointed as long as we play hard as a team and make progress. However, if it's a complete clown show then yeah I will be pissed as hell.

    Note: Got to work today so after the games start I am going blackout until I can watch the game using the NFL Game Pass.
     
  29. Vertical Limit

    Vertical Limit Senior Member

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    All kinds of surprises happen in the first game of the season.. many times coaches get their first win.. so idk how anyone can predict a blowout..

    I will say, I havent seen a bad dolphins camp like the one we just had in a while... neither Fitz or Rosen got any time to get some sort of rhythm with our first team offense.. there was a week where rosen took the starting job, limiting game time for fitz with the first team.. we let go of some Good players, we will see how that decision turns out..

    I think our chances are low of winning today, but it is Week 1.. anything and everything happens in Week 1..
     
  30. KeyFin

    KeyFin Well-Known Member

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    Yeah, I think the Dolphins "can win" today if that offensive line can create enough time to throw the ball. It's impossible to guess if that happens though- we likely signed out starting left tackle yesterday. I'm just glad it's football season and we're watching game 1 today!

    Anything can happen in week 1...literally anything.
     
  31. Dorfdad

    Dorfdad Well-Known Member

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    man if that happens Everyone who is accepting this year as a tank season will be stressed out. Imagine this team wins 5 games this year and isn’t in contention to draft their QB.

    that said I don’t see any way this offensive line moves the ball on the ground against the Ravens. I’m goi g to say 24-10 ravens.
     
  32. Tin Indian

    Tin Indian Rockin' The Bottom End Club Member

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    Well it's not n around me, I get the jags instead. Hooray.
    For the 1st time since I can remember I'm not worried about missing it.

    I'll let you guys fill me in later.
     
  33. Vertical Limit

    Vertical Limit Senior Member

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    If the dolphins gets a top 10 pick they’re in position to move up to #1 for their quarterback.

    The thing is there is no quarterback in this upcoming draft worth moving up like that.. there’s good prospects but none that should blow anyone away. We just gotta make sure we don’t draft the next Trubisky... which would be Herbert or Tua IMO.. and take a closer look to a guy like Jordan Love.
     
  34. MikeHoncho

    MikeHoncho -=| Censored |=-

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    Sacks. As far as the eye can see.
     
  35. Vertical Limit

    Vertical Limit Senior Member

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    We definitely have a speed disadvantage today.. we are gonna have to figure out how to slow the game down..
     
  36. Rhody Phins Fan

    Rhody Phins Fan Well-Known Member

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    I'm curious to see which receiver gets the most targets, or if it will be very evenly spread out.
     
  37. Deus ex dolphin

    Deus ex dolphin Well-Known Member

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    It depends on HOW Miami loses.

    I'd expect the Ravens to run the ball until Miami stops it -if they can. Quick, easy passes for their QB and just grind down the defense, while our offense goes three-and-out at least five times during this game. Seeing our players look lost, or the coaches struggling to adjust to what the Ravens do will be salt on the wound.

    Now, if we lose a close hard fought game, then I'll at least feel better about the overall team direction. Losing badly and without a clue is the thing that will fill me with dread for the future.
     
  38. brandon27

    brandon27 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    That's the start I expected. :lol:
     
  39. Vertical Limit

    Vertical Limit Senior Member

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    Yea that first play is a prime example of what I’ve been *****ing about.. theyre much faster than us
     
  40. adamprez2003

    adamprez2003 Senior Member

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    fire evrybody lol
     

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