Romo Likes Dolphins

"cbrad wrote:

I think COVID-19 favors better coaching. Play well when the normal planning and preparation process is disrupted and I think you have evidence of a good HC.

So the first few weeks of play is for me a litmus test of how good Flores is. Not win or lose, but how well prepared and competitive we are regardless of scoreline. So I really hope to see competitive and smart play regardless of scoreline in these first few weeks as I think that suggests we may have a keeper at HC.

Well, the Patriots and Jaguars defenses look like they can be dealt with. But facing Buffalo, Seattle, San Francisco, and Denver over the span of five weeks is going to be ugly.

"Bumrush wrote:

I know your stance on him.. And that's OK.. But have an open mind to him elevating the offense this year too. He did last year.

My stance is based on his history where every time he has zero expectations he is amazing and each time people start believing in him he is tragic.

I am not some "Leopard cannot change his spots" type of a guy. However, Fitz has had almost 15 years to show he can change this habit and has failed every time.

"Dol-Fan Dupree wrote:

My stance is based on his history where every time he has zero expectations he is amazing and each time people start believing in him he is tragic.

I am not some "Leopard cannot change his spots" type of a guy. However, Fitz has had almost 15 years to show he can change this habit and has failed every time.

Well he held up pretty damn well last year. I saw enough to at least give him a chance this year. Factor in the fact that he also had literally no help on the OL and was the teams leading rusher. It would have been beyond ugly with someone less mobile and instinctual in the pocket.

So I have faith even if past history dulls his achievements from last year.

It may wind up being like Pennington in 2009 - Except this time instead of Chad Henne we have Tua.

"Bumrush wrote:

Well he held up pretty damn well last year. I saw enough to at least give him a chance this year. Factor in the fact that he also had literally no help on the OL and was the teams leading rusher. It would have been beyond ugly with someone less mobile and instinctual in the pocket.

So I have faith even if past history dulls his achievements from last year.

It may wind up being like Pennington in 2009 - Except this time instead of Chad Henne we have Tua.

He also did extremely well with Tampa Bay. He had one of the best starts of all time. Then when the talk of keeping Winston on the bench started up, he folded.

Almost everywhere he goes he has achievements.

I love Fitzpatrick, one of the most colorful guys in the NFL at the moment. But he is what he is, Fitzmagic and Fitztragic and you never know which one is going to show up. The Jekyl and Hyde of QB's.

"tirty8 wrote:

I think Sunday's game will be a good litmus test to see where we are.

I completely get that we got A LOT of talent, but I also think that we are essentially an expansion team. We are very, very young, and a lot of our vets were not here last season. I think that are probably the team that was hurt the most by missing preseason games.

Is it possible that we come out and get destroyed? Yup. It took Flores time to get THAT team together last season. The problem is, I essentially think that team is gone.
Is it possible that we come out and lose a competitive game? Yup.
Is it possible that we come out and win? Yes. I think the Patriots are the opposite of us. I think their best players are getting older and regressing whereas our best players are young and getting better.

Like you said, we've upgraded almost every skill position this off-season and we have a ton of youth on the field. That could be good or bad, and there's simply no way to know if this is a 1 win team, a 15 win team or anything between those #'s. COVID is also the great equalizer since this NE game is basically a pre-season test that actually counts in the record books.

For this match-up, I think we keep things simple and try to run the ball as much as possible with a dose of play action mixed in...and I wouldn't be surprised at all to see some Wildcat emerging this week. NE is also going to rely heavily on Cam's experience to make safe plays with his legs, so this could end up being a low-scoring game if our secondary makes things difficult. The one thing I hate about being a Carolina/Newton fan is that he will take unnecessary risks at times and throw ill-advised balls down the field, so I'm hoping we win the turnover battle and take an early lead.

I don't think we'll get destroyed since NE is just as unproven as we are and Cam will try to be Superman right out the gate. Maybe he has one of his career-defining performances but I'm honestly not expecting it this early on. And on the flip side of that, I think Fitz will be pressured often and early...meaning we'll keep the football on the ground for the most part with only occasional shots downfield. I think Miami wins this game off a few deep passes to Williams and Grant while we rack up about 150-200 total rushing yards...and my "bold" prediction is that Fitzpatrick is not the guy throwing one of those bombs.

I really think we win this one though with a close, low scoring game...maybe like a 16-13 or a 20-17 type of contest.

Well the way I figure is we beat them at home in our last game last season. A game they had to win to get Home Field advantage in the Playoffs. They had a better team than we did with our patchwork bunch of 2nd string rejects. Everything was going for them and we still beat them.

This year it's different. They lost a number of guys in the off season including their All World QB and 3 of the guys that ended up on our squad. On top of that 8 of their guys including a number of key defensive guys bailed out thru the Covid Opt Out, most of any team. We are a young unproven team with an unfortunate lack of off season preparation but in truth the only thing going for them is Bill Belichick. I am thinking we have a real shot in this thing.

"Tin Indian wrote:

We are a young unproven team with an unfortunate lack of off season preparation but in truth the only thing going for them is Bill Belichick.

Honestly, I think the young talent with a new offense plays heavily in our favor because of Belichek...he's had absolutely no way to prepare for the looks we'll give this Sunday. That's why I've said for months that we'll win this game.

"KeyFin wrote:

Like you said, we've upgraded almost every skill position this off-season and we have a ton of youth on the field. That could be good or bad, and there's simply no way to know if this is a 1 win team, a 15 win team or anything between those #'s. COVID is also the great equalizer since this NE game is basically a pre-season test that actually counts in the record books.

For this match-up, I think we keep things simple and try to run the ball as much as possible with a dose of play action mixed in...and I wouldn't be surprised at all to see some Wildcat emerging this week. NE is also going to rely heavily on Cam's experience to make safe plays with his legs, so this could end up being a low-scoring game if our secondary makes things difficult. The one thing I hate about being a Carolina/Newton fan is that he will take unnecessary risks at times and throw ill-advised balls down the field, so I'm hoping we win the turnover battle and take an early lead.

I don't think we'll get destroyed since NE is just as unproven as we are and Cam will try to be Superman right out the gate. Maybe he has one of his career-defining performances but I'm honestly not expecting it this early on. And on the flip side of that, I think Fitz will be pressured often and early...meaning we'll keep the football on the ground for the most part with only occasional shots downfield. I think Miami wins this game off a few deep passes to Williams and Grant while we rack up about 150-200 total rushing yards...and my "bold" prediction is that Fitzpatrick is not the guy throwing one of those bombs.

I really think we win this one though with a close, low scoring game...maybe like a 16-13 or a 20-17 type of contest.

So you're thinking run heavy, eh? Woulda said you were crazy a few days ago. Smythe getting the nod as the starter on the depth chart might be a hint that you could be right. Essentially, Smythe was drafted to be a pass blocker, and we all know Gesicki is not moving anybody. Also, Kindley starting may be another clue. It sounds like he has been super strong at moving bodies in the run game, but the pass game seems to be a question mark. Parker and Williams being limited again seems to be a feather in your cap.

I know Gailey's specialty is the spread. I think our interior receivers are iffy at best. I am curious to see how snaps are divided between Grant and Ford. Bowden is exciting, but I doubt he even dresses.

I could also see Breida lining up as a slot receiver out of the gun. Who knows? Maybe we see Perry.

Do you think we are gonna run out of the shotgun or are you seeing more traditional sets on early downs?

"The Guy wrote:

Best ever in the business in my opinion, and his salary reflects that.

I would say for NFL it’s him at the top and for College it’s Gus..

"djphinfan wrote:

I would say for NFL it’s him at the top and for College it’s Gus..

Well and you could actually put them together and have one hell of a tandem, because Gus does play-by-play and Romo does color commentary.

"tirty8 wrote:

So you're thinking run heavy, eh? Woulda said you were crazy a few days ago. Smythe getting the nod as the starter on the depth chart might be a hint that you could be right. Essentially, Smythe was drafted to be a pass blocker, and we all know Gesicki is not moving anybody. Also, Kindley starting may be another clue. It sounds like he has been super strong at moving bodies in the run game, but the pass game seems to be a question mark. Parker and Williams being limited again seems to be a feather in your cap.

I know Gailey's specialty is the spread. I think our interior receivers are iffy at best. I am curious to see how snaps are divided between Grant and Ford. Bowden is exciting, but I doubt he even dresses.

I could also see Breida lining up as a slot receiver out of the gun. Who knows? Maybe we see Perry.

Do you think we are gonna run out of the shotgun or are you seeing more traditional sets on early downs?

It's so hard to even guess what formations, etc we'll roll with, but here's why I think we'll be run-heavy-

1) Our line was drafted for their run-stuffing abilities the past two seasons. None of these rookie linemen (3 may start) have the NFL experience to handle consistent pass blocking without a moving QB (Bowden/Perry/wildcat?)

2) If we're going to go with a mobile QB, that would play into Tua starting sooner...which I don't think Miami wants to force. In fact, I don't know if the front office wants Tua anywhere near the field with 2 or 3 rookie lineman and a 2nd year player. So I just don't see passing being a big part of the scheme in week one.

3) As you said, Williams and Parker both have boo-boos, and they take our offense to a different level since they don't have to be open in order to throw it to them. Who knows how healthy they actually are, but we're not going pass-heavy to Grant, Ford and a rookie. I love Grant, don't get me wrong, but unless we're going to use him like an Edelman-type receiver with 12+ three-yard slant route passes per game, he'll never be a #1.

4) So what can we do with Fitz and a rookie line that can't pass block? Run the football. Wildcat. Screens/slants. Gimmick plays. And keep doing that stuff until you have Williams without safety help over the top. I mean, if Williams develops and Parker plays like last season, we're going to have one heck of a passing offense around week 10...but I just don't think it's there this Sunday. Parker/Williams will be checked/doubled and it will be the screen game to Grant or one of the rookie QB/RB/WR/Punters and whatever else they can do, LOL!

I agree with you, Bowden probably doesn't dress and we have no idea how much they've designed for Perry. My gut tells me that the Wildcat is coming though because you have two of those types of players and Fitz is going to need serious help. That all changes if we can run the football though and move the chains on the ground...which I think will be the plan this first month as the offense gets up to speed. So yeah, I see traditional formations with Fitz and Wildcat with Perry.

Again, just marginally educated guesses based on a COVID year and so many young linemen. They have to protect Fitzpatrick at all costs because I don't think they're 100% convinced Tua is ready to start today.

Tua isn't a mobile quarterback.

"TheHighExhaulted wrote:

Tua isn't a mobile quarterback.

Compared to Fitzpatrick he is.

"TheHighExhaulted wrote:

Tua isn't a mobile quarterback.

Underrated mobility outside, excellent mobility inside, instincts to navigate are off the charts good.

"KeyFin wrote:

Compared to Fitzpatrick he is.

Fitzpatrick had the 5th most rushing yards in a single season by a QB in Dolphins history, btw. And at 37, he was the only Dolphins QB over 31 to ever run for more than 108 yards.

Even though he's only played one season with the Fins and was 37 years old, he's also 5th all time among Fins QBs in rushing yards.

So he's fairly mobile.

"TheHighExhaulted wrote:

Tua isn't a mobile quarterback.

Tua is very mobile. He just isn't as mobile as he thinks he is and that's when he seems to get injured.

"Tin Indian wrote:

Tua is very mobile. He just isn't as mobile as he thinks he is and that's when he seems to get injured.

Hopefully the line will protect him so well that he'll run as often as Marino did.

"Unlucky 13 wrote:

Fitzpatrick had the 5th most rushing yards in a single season by a QB in Dolphins history, btw. And at 37, he was the only Dolphins QB over 31 to ever run for more than 108 yards.

Even though he's only played one season with the Fins and was 37 years old, he's also 5th all time among Fins QBs in rushing yards.

So he's fairly mobile.

LOL, if you watched last season (which I know you did), Fitz would have the pocket collapse and he'd trudge forward for as much as the other team would give him. There weren't any LB's staying home to stop the great one from scrambling, so he often picked up 7-10 yards uncontested in the ugliest of fashions.

I'm not knocking Fitz at all...he's an amazing guy for everything he's done for this organization (and continues to do)...but a runner he's not. Him leading the team in rushing is a testament to our offense as a whole and our lack of commitment to the run game; mainly because we couldn't pass block.

The 5th in a season doesn't impress me much, but 5th all-time in rushing yards is kind of surprising. I mean, we did have Marino for a big stretch and he was actually fined when he ran without permission, and it's pretty obvious that Tannehill should be #1 on that list (or Griese...thinking RT would have more but I couldn't find that exact stat online). Who else was there to round out that top 4 since we had so much QB turnover after Marino? Maybe Fiedler due to the # of games he played?

The thing is, Griese and Marino started pretty much all but three years from 1967 to 1999. So it has to be RT, Griese and Fiedler...but I can't guess #4. Maybe Henne? Or Woodley? Heck, could it be Marino from all those seasons?

"KeyFin wrote:

LOL, if you watched last season (which I know you did), Fitz would have the pocket collapse and he'd trudge forward for as much as the other team would give him. There weren't any LB's staying home to stop the great one from scrambling, so he often picked up 7-10 yards uncontested in the ugliest of fashions.

I'm not knocking Fitz at all...he's an amazing guy for everything he's done for this organization (and continues to do)...but a runner he's not. Him leading the team in rushing is a testament to our offense as a whole and our lack of commitment to the run game; mainly because we couldn't pass block.

The 5th in a season doesn't impress me much, but 5th all-time in rushing yards is kind of surprising. I mean, we did have Marino for a big stretch and he was actually fined when he ran without permission, and it's pretty obvious that Tannehill should be #1 on that list (or Griese...thinking RT would have more but I couldn't find that exact stat online). Who else was there to round out that top 4 since we had so much QB turnover after Marino? Maybe Fiedler due to the # of games he played?

The thing is, Griese and Marino started pretty much all but three years from 1967 to 1999. So it has to be RT, Griese and Fiedler...but I can't guess #4. Maybe Henne? Or Woodley? Heck, could it be Marino from all those seasons?

Well, I don't want quarterbacks running unless its a situation where the field is wide open and they can run for the first down and then get out of bounds anyways. If the QB is the one with the ball instead of the receivers or backs, then I generally see it as something having gone wrong and the offense failing on that play.

"KeyFin wrote:

LOL, if you watched last season (which I know you did), Fitz would have the pocket collapse and he'd trudge forward for as much as the other team would give him. There weren't any LB's staying home to stop the great one from scrambling, so he often picked up 7-10 yards uncontested in the ugliest of fashions.

I'm not knocking Fitz at all...he's an amazing guy for everything he's done for this organization (and continues to do)...but a runner he's not. Him leading the team in rushing is a testament to our offense as a whole and our lack of commitment to the run game; mainly because we couldn't pass block.

The 5th in a season doesn't impress me much, but 5th all-time in rushing yards is kind of surprising. I mean, we did have Marino for a big stretch and he was actually fined when he ran without permission, and it's pretty obvious that Tannehill should be #1 on that list (or Griese...thinking RT would have more but I couldn't find that exact stat online). Who else was there to round out that top 4 since we had so much QB turnover after Marino? Maybe Fiedler due to the # of games he played?

The thing is, Griese and Marino started pretty much all but three years from 1967 to 1999. So it has to be RT, Griese and Fiedler...but I can't guess #4. Maybe Henne? Or Woodley? Heck, could it be Marino from all those seasons?

Have to be Tannehill at #1. The guy can actually run pretty well. Griese would most likely be #2 but I don't recall him running very much either. I couldn't even venture a guess on the rest. Marino's real skill like that was his uncanny ability to slide away from pressure. I remember seeing one of those 10 Best whatevers on the NFL Network and the one on mobile Qb's had Marino like 9 or 10. The reasoning was his ability to move in the pocket.

1. Tannehill: 1210 yards, 6 TDs
2. Bob Griese: 994 yards, 7 TDs
3. Jay Fiedler: 884 yards, 11 TDs
4. David Woodley: 771 yards, 9 TDs
5. Ryan Fitzpatrick: 243 yards, 4 TDs
6. Chad Henne: 196 yards, 2 TDs
7. Ray Lucas: 132 yards, 3 TDs
8. Damon Huard: 124 yards, 0 TDs
9. Earl Morrall: 120 yards, 1 TD
10. Cleo Lemon: 109 yards, 4 TDs

Marino had 87 yards on 301 carries, for a 0.3 average, and scored 9 touchdowns. His career long was a run of 15 yards his rookie season. He actually had a career total of -18 yards heading into the 1990 season, then ran for 127 yards over the next three seasons. In 1992, the last time the Fins went to the AFC CC, he had a career high of 66 yards, and averaged 3.3 YPC. He actually ran for 10+ yards in five out of six games in one stretch that year. After his injury in 93, he mostly had negative totals naturally.

"Unlucky 13 wrote:

1. Tannehill: 1210 yards, 6 TDs
2. Bob Griese: 994 yards, 7 TDs
3. Jay Fiedler: 884 yards, 11 TDs
4. David Woodley: 771 yards, 9 TDs
5. Ryan Fitzpatrick: 243 yards, 4 TDs
6. Chad Henne: 196 yards, 2 TDs
7. Ray Lucas: 132 yards, 3 TDs
8. Damon Huard: 124 yards, 0 TDs
9. Earl Morrall: 120 yards, 1 TD
10. Cleo Lemon: 109 yards, 4 TDs

That's career for Miami. For single season:

1. Fiedler 2001 - 321 rushing yards
2. Tannehill 2014 - 311 rushing yards
3. Woodley 1981 - 272 rushing yards
4. Fiedler 2000 - 267 rushing yards
5. Fitzpatrick 2019 - 243 rushing yards

"cbrad wrote:

That's career for Miami. For single season:

1. Fiedler 2001 - 321 rushing yards
2. Tannehill 2014 - 311 rushing yards
3. Woodley 1981 - 272 rushing yards
4. Fiedler 2000 - 267 rushing yards
5. Fitzpatrick 2019 - 243 rushing yards

Sorry, misunderstood the question. But again, i'd be delighted if Tua never breaks 50 yards.

"Unlucky 13 wrote:

Sorry, misunderstood the question. But again, i'd be delighted if Tua never breaks 50 yards.

lol.. Oh c'mon, Tua's a Dolphin now. You'll come to like him! (waving hand like a Jedi..)