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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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. -
I just started the Ravens on my fantasy team so either way i won't be too upset.
Puka-head likes this. -
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. -
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. -
Last edited: Sep 6, 2019Claymore95, Irishman, Tin Indian and 3 others like this.
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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, 16-13KeyFin likes this. -
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.Tin Indian and KeyFin like this. -
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 lolIrishman and Tin Indian like this. -
The Guy likes this.
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Is it sunday morning yet? **** I can't wait.
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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.
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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!Surfs Up 99, LI phinfan, Irishman and 4 others like this. -
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 causedMakados10 likes this. -
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
Irishman likes this. -
This is the best take I’ve seen...Tin Indian, rafael, The Guy and 1 other person like this. -
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..The Guy likes this. -
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 17Irishman likes this. -
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.
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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. -
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.. -
Anything can happen in week 1...literally anything. -
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. -
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. -
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. -
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We definitely have a speed disadvantage today.. we are gonna have to figure out how to slow the game down..
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I'm curious to see which receiver gets the most targets, or if it will be very evenly spread out.
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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. -
That's the start I expected. :lol:
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Yea that first play is a prime example of what I’ve been *****ing about.. theyre much faster than us
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fire evrybody lol
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