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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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.
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The Rev Totus Tuus Staff Member Administrator Luxury Box Club Member
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?RoninFin4 likes this. -
dolfan22 Season Ticket Holder Club Member
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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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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 -
MrClean Inglourious Basterd Club Member
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Wallace should get the gameball consideration for that TD. That was a YAC TD between 2 defenders.
DPlus47 and Fin-Omenal like this. -
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MrClean Inglourious Basterd Club Member
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MrClean Inglourious Basterd Club Member
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Thigpen *****es...Thigpen....:lol:
Mr Padre had a loong night and did not catch the second half.... -
MrClean Inglourious Basterd Club Member
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Guy can catch the football and make things happen -
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.
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The Rev likes this.
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MrClean Inglourious Basterd Club Member
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They should certainly be willing to do it for real every game, I think. -
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?
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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.