I believe most would agree our defense is young and only getting better. However there are starting to be more and more concerns on the offensive side of the ball. Only 15 points against the Bills? Only 14 points against the Vikings and Pats? And now only 10 points against the Ravens?
Here's an interesting fact: After Sebastian Janikowski, Dan Carpenter has the most field goal attempts in the NFL.
Wasn't Brandon Marshall supposed to make our offense more explosive? You'd be hard-pressed to find a better running tandem in the NFL than Ronnie and Ricky. Yet we haven't scored more than 23 points in a single game this season! Just this weekend the Saints put up 34 points against the Panthers, the Browns put up 34 points on the Pats, the Giants put up 41 points on the Seahawks, and the Packers put up 45 points against the Cowboys?
Maybe it's the level of competition we're facing but the question needs to asked: What is wrong with our offense?
1. Is it talent? We have some elite talent on our offense. Brandon Marshall, Jake Long, Ronnie Brown, Ricky Williams, and I'd even include Lou Polite. But after a loss like the one against the Ravens yesterday fans start clamoring for better wideouts, better running backs, or a better QB. Is that the answer? Do we need more talent on offense? Or do we have enough to get it done?
2. Is it the offensive line? Long is a stud. Carey is better than most. But the interior players are starting for us for the first time this season. Are we all set at OG with Incognito and Jerry? Is Berger the answer at Center? Is this group only going to get better with time or do we need an upgrade?
3. Is it the tight end? Every year I hear fans clamoring for an elite receiving tight end who can pick up chunks of yardage in the seam? Is that the missing piece of the puzzle? Or can Fasano be that guy?
4. Is the play-calling? Is Henning too old? Too conservative? Is he holding Henne back? Does he abandon the run too early to stick to some preconceived game plan or to get Marshall more involved? Is Sparano involved enough? Or is he involved too much?
5. Is it our overall philosophy? The Jets like to "ground and pound." The Packers run the West Coast offense. And it doesn't seem to matter who you plug into San Diego or New England's offense. Are our coaches making the best use of our talent or are they trying to fit square pegs into round holes?
6. Is it the QB? Every great offense has a great quarterback. Is Henne the guy? Is he capable of greatness? Or is he a turnover machine unwilling or incapable of making big plays down the field?
Look at the top QBs this season: Rivers, Brees, Orton, Rodgers, Schaub, and Eli Manning all developed over time. As did Romo, Cassel, Hasselbeck, and Garrard. Brady, Favre, McNabb, Vick, Palmer, and Peyton Manning developed much quicker but even they have gotten better over time. (Although Palmer seems to have regressed.)
Flacco, Ryan, Freeman, Sanchez, Bradford, and Stafford are Henne's contemporaries. Are any of them clearly better? (Maybe they are. Maybe they aren't. I'm not sure. Just posing the question.)
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1 talent, yes we have some but in Marshals case, we do not have a QB willing to take chances down the field to get him the ball and the QB is supported by the OC and the OC issupported by the GM and HC
2 Oline. IMO Long, Incognito Carey are fine. We need a better center and have to see if Jerry works out. Right now apparently we are playing sub the RG like we do with RBs
3 I was always in support of Fasano but now I even have doubts. In the RARE times he gets the ball thrown his way, if its a good pass to him, he drops it the majority of the time. Not a great blocker in the run game either.
4 Play calling, I agree 100% Henning has to go. He got fired in Carolina for calling so so games his final season and a half
5 is it overall philosophy, not even sure anymore what that philosophy is. Its certainly not pounding the ball, we did that yesterday, was successful and then completely stopped. Its not passing because anyone in their right mind knows you cannot be successful on checkdown passing routes.
6 Is it the QB, at this stage I am sorry to say, yes it is. Too many teams that are decent give too many QBs too much time to " develop " I think what we see in Chad Henne right now is the best we are going to see in Chad Henne. I cannot remember the last time, rookie or experienced, good or bad QB, a QB slide as many times combined with a pissss pooor passing performance as I saw yesterday. Henne will not throw a deep ball even its its single coverage if the defender is close to his receiver. That is how you go downfield. You have to throw that ball up there. Even when in a rare instance our receivers get behind the defender, Henne does not even look at him. Do not want to ramble on, IMO, Chad Henne has progressed as far as he will progress. I mean helllll, when a QB like the kid in Buffalo passes for 3-4 TDs a week with a lesser Oline and one good decent receiver, then yeah, Henne needs to go, do not want Fitzpatrick either but at this stage he is doing better then Henne is.Big Red likes this. -
BTW Finley and Driver didn't even play yesterday.
I would like to see us go long on 1st down at least once a quarter. If you hit that just once it's 6 points.
I also like the Wildcat in the redzone. Put the ball in Ronnie's hands and let him score. I hate that fade pass to the corner. I don't believe we have ever hit that. Ever.
Beyond that I think you look at your opponent's weaknesses. If they're susceptible to the screen, run screen passes. If they're susceptible to play action, run play action.
But, yeah, I couldn't tell you what the Dolphins' offensive philosophy is right now.
Flacco's 2nd year: 315/499 for 3613 yards (63.1%) 21 TDs and 12 INTs for a QB Rating of 88.9
Ryan's 2nd year: 263/451 for 2916 yards (58.3%) 22 TDs 14 INTs for a QB Rating of 80.9
Roethlisberger's 2nd year: 168/268 for 2385 yards (62.7%) 17 TDs and 9 INTs for a QB Rating of 98.6
Brady's 2nd year: 373/601 for 3764 yards (62.1%) 28 TDS and 14 INTs for a QB Rating of 85.7
Favre's 2nd year: 318/522 for 3303 yards (60.9%) 19 TDs and 24 INTs for a QB Rating of 72.2
Henne's 2nd year: 176/277 for 1900 yards (63.5%) 8 TDs and 10 INTs for a QB Rating of 78.2
If you doubled his numbers:
Henne's 2nd year: 352/554 for 3800 yards (63.5%) 16 TDs and 20 INTs for a QB Rating 78.2
(Of course we all know it doesn't work like that.)
Anyway, it's safe to say Henne isn't going anywhere this season. I am curious to see how he finishes. -
Our QB isn't playing very well. Thats really the biggest issue right now.
We also can't run the ball.
But our QB isn't playing well. Can't be good on offense in the NFL when the QB isn't playing well.adamprez2003 likes this. -
2. We have zero playmakers/homerun threats to stretch the field or gain chunk yardage, and we're bypassing them in the draft for conservative possession guys. Marshall and Bess are NOT playmakers when they DON'T have the space to actually make plays. Without the needed space, they're reduced to ONLY possession receivers.
3. We have a mediocre #2 who should be a #4 who poses no real threat to single coverage.
4. We have a #4 & #5 WR who are undrafted rookies with 2 catches for 18 yards combined.
5. We have an inconsistent ground game.
6. We have backs who aren't a serious threat catching the ball like a true COP back can be (like a Jhavid Best).
7. We have an OC who's time has passed him by.
8. All of this is making us play inside a 20 yard box at a time.
9. We have a horrendous punt/kick return game that doesn't allow us quality field position.
10. Our defense is ranked 31st in turnovers which is creating more pressure for the offense and not providing as many short field opportunities.
11. We have a 2nd year starting/developing QB facing 5 of the 6 best defenses who's being asked to make up for ALL of the above and carry the damn team on his shoulders. A QB can only be as good as the resources he has to work with, which is why teams like Indy, NO, NE, Giants, etc surround their franchise QBs with playmakers b/c they KNOW that a QB can't do it by himself no matter how talented he is.
Did I miss anything? LOLdolfan22 likes this. -
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Whats wrong with Our offense??? Simple.
Execution
Chad Henne -
i just think its inconsistency. at times its henne, at times its a missed block, other times its a dropped pass. what's frustrating is that when the blunders come they seem to come at crucial times and kill scoring opportunities or drives.
i think the coaches have given henne an opportunity at times this year to be a playmaker but so far he has failed when given the opportunity. we still have to call plays that baby him. i think the reason we arent trying to throw deep is because henne simply isnt that good at it. they are low percentage plays even when you have peyton manning throwing. to have someone like henne throw who is in the bottom half of long throwers makes it a wasted play in all likelihood.
one thing that seems to be a promising development lately is that the run blocking seems to be improving every week. if we can establish the run again, then i think we have the type of team that can win alot of games with our play action philosophy -
I could write a novel on the instances where we have had open receivers, and the QB hasn't got them the ball. He's not being asked to carry anything on his shoulders, just carry his own weight. There are plays being left on the field by the QB.adamprez2003 likes this. -
Very dumb.ToddsPhins likes this. -
You could also write a novel on every QB in the league where they had open receivers and didn't get them the ball. Until we get that cast, it's not very fair to say it's the QB's fault. If we get him an appropriate cast that takes us out of the 20 yard box and he still has problems, then I'll be the first to focus the blame on him.
Again, a QB can only be as good as the cast that he has to work with. -
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Killerphins likes this.
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Welcome to what I am seeing, the "darkside" as it were, Henne is not playing well at all, and is mostly the largest problem on offence.
To his credit, his play action passing motion has really improved, I watched for it during the Ravens game, and he was spot on.
Though the int to Hartline..off of playaction...though it was on Hartline for slipping..that is why his Heart is there, his Mojo is not on the totally positive side of the ledger just yet.adamprez2003 likes this. -
Now one of the best receivers in the league is rendered a possession receiver b/c defenses can basically drape defenders all over him so he cant utilize his YAC ability. That's gotta be EXTREMELY frustrating for Brandon!!!! Is it too late to trade our 3rd round for Jacoby Ford? :lol:adamprez2003 likes this. -
GMJohnson and ToddsPhins like this.
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:tongue2: j/k. -
whats killing henne and our offense IMO is he still doesnt know how to attack zone coverage aggressively. every time he tries he seems to get picked. so he ends up looking for the dump offs. i think he also gives up on routes too quickly. if someone isnt instantly open he moves on to his next progression. i think thats leaving alot of plays on the field. sometimes a receiver may be covered one second but open the next. i think that comes with experience and knowing your matchups. maybe its too much to expect from a guy with 20 starts -
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I wonder if we have the checkbook/room to sign Sims-Walker AND Carl Nicks or Mankins. It would be so nice if we only needed a COP back and a TE from the draft as our main offensive needs. -
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ToddsPhins likes this.
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4.2 Bey
4.2 Ford
4.3 Murphy
4.3 McFadden
4.5 Miller
They don't even have an elite line yet the threat of their speed is opening up their ground game. Imagine if we drafted Wallace & Ford. :cry: -
The last rushing play of the game was with 8:22 left in the 3rd quarter, down by 10. Why was the run completely abandonded at that point, when it was successful early in the game? In my opinion that is way too early to start throwing on every down, with a 2nd year QB starter, against the Ravens. Down by 10 with over 20 minutes of football left to play? It didn't work... 0 points in the 2nd half.
This team has run for over 120 yards in all 4 games we've won this year, and run for less than 100 yards in all 4 games we've lost. Sparano usually obsesses over stats like that. -
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Todd, i'm with you .... Henne will surely make his share of mistakes -- but i'd rather have him be a gunslinger and learn that way, then to have the Parcells rules over his head .... but this regime wants to win now -- obviously we aren't, but we 'should' over this 2d half of the season, so the box mentality is not about to change.
ToddsPhins likes this. -
ToddsPhins likes this.
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:ban:
That is why I'm a proponent of Pennington, I see him as a home run, Thiggy vs Henne is 50-50, I think Thiggy's mobility and guts would give us a spark, but I also think it is hard to play like that successfully for more than tops..4 games. -
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i would never put in thigpen. the guy is too wild. with pennington he isnt the future and all my hopes are for next year so i want henne too have as much experience as possible. this year for me is just about watching the team compete. next year i want resultstexanphinatic likes this. -
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Ravens 2nd drive, they go down the field converting some first downs, get in the red zone, force Flacco to scramble on 2nd down, then on 3rd & 1 at the 7 yard line they stuff McClain for a loss. Field goal is kicked, 3 points instead of 7.
Ravens 3rd possession, after Henne interception is returned to the Miami 4 yard line for 1st and goal, a stuffed run and two sacks leads to a field goal attempt which is a botched snap. Zero points instead of 7.
Ravens 4th possession, after Dolphins punt, Ravens take over at their own 40 yard line, get mauled by Rice and McGagee, then two Raven penalties leads to 3rd & 11 at Miami 14, Wake sacks Flacco. Field goal is kicked, 3 points instead of 7.
At this point the Dolphins get the ball for their drive at the end of the first half, then get the ball after half time. The score is 13-7. The Ravens had three red zone possessions after their opening drive, and came away with six points on those possessions. The score could have easily been 28-7 or 24-7 or 21-7, but even though the defense gave up some plays, they made a stand in the red zone when they had to.
With two possessions down by only 5, Miami has no reason to take the lead at this point, except their offense didn't execute once again. Field goal in the red zone and a punt is how those possessions ended.
At some point the offense has to take control of a game. We can't win them all with scores like 14-10 or 22-14. -
frozenfin likes this.
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The most important possession of the game was after halftime, having just moved down the field and scored to make it 13-10. Problem is, we went 3 and out.
Without the defense holding the Ravens to field goal attempts in the first half, none of that means squat.
I still have a problem with zero running plays after midway through the 3rd. We pulled out enough play-action fakes in the 4th, but couldn't hand the ball off once to keep the defense a little honest? We have a knack for handing off in unexpected circumstances, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I'm surprised we didn't try, not even once in the last 22 minutes of the game. Miami had two possessions with the score 20-10 with a lot of time left on the clock, play calling on those possessions was 2 runs, 13 passes. The first of those two runs was a nice 9 yard pickup by Ronnie on 1st down. Then he picked up the 1st on 2nd & 1. Then we called 12 passing plays in a row. Put the game not in Henne's hands, but rather on his shoulders. It didn't work. Zero points in the 2nd half.
One last thought from me for the evening, think about the 3rd and 3 play at the Ravens 22 before Carpenter's missed field goal. Henne got sacked for a 6 yard loss. Could some kind of running play have been attempted to get that 1st down? Maybe, maybe not. Don't think many running plays would have lost 6 yards, and maybe then Carp wouldn't have missed a 40 yard field goal vs the 46 this time.
But at the same time, yes you are right, we would have still lost the game 26-13 instead of 26-10, whoop de doo. A loss is a loss. But at that time it would have been 20-13, maybe the D can actually make a stop and give the offense a chance to tie. But none of that happened.
I understand your point of view though and respect it, thank you for the discussion. Go Dolphins! :hi5:Big Red and adamprez2003 like this.
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