I did miss the first half of the game, but nonetheless I am very opinionated and decided to post this thread anyway.
- Jordan Phillips has had a lot to say since he left Miami, but once again it seems that his best conditioned body part is his mouth. I had to laugh when he encouraged the crowd to get loud... after he had just committed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. This guy is a flat out moron. All-Pro talent with replacement level brain.
- The NFL has a rulebook problem. Apparently, you can't even square up to tackle someone anymore. I know the league wants more offense, but perhaps someone should consider that college football puts a great product on the field every Saturday without resorting to this nonsense. I like college's targeting rule, but that will never be adopted in the NFL for one key reason: An official's call on the field would have to be reviewed. With terrible officiating and garbage calls on a weekly basis, there is simply no way that the League is going to open the black and white clowns up to that kind of scrutiny.
- Bobby McCain almost certainly should have been called for roughing the passer in the 4th quarter. He was not. I don't think McCain did anything wrong or it was a dirty play, but that was a lucky break.
- Offensive Line looked pretty crummy today from what I saw. Absolutely washed out in the running game, and some guys getting whipped in pass blocking. They just can't get this thing fixed.
- I'm not sure if I like or dislike Ryan Tannehill's "**** it, I'm throwing this football" metamorphosis here. On one hand, I think he's at his best when he's aggressive, but on the other hand, his arm is just not there. And with guys like Kenny Stills (and I'm not being critical here), that sort of play is going to be hit or miss for Miami. Fortunately, the second half miss was basically a punt, while some hits resulted in touchdowns.
- The wildcat call on 3rd and 1 late in the 4th quarter, what was that crap? Why telegraph that you are going to run the football and let Buffalo load everyone into the box? Put your quarterback out there and at least force Buffalo to respect a pass play.
- Matt Burke had no answers whatsoever for Josh Allen's scrambling, which is definitely something that Miami should have been prepared for. To still be unable to come up with any answers for it in the 4th quarter... is a little ridiculous. Allen did the Dolphins a big favor on that drive that ended in a missed field goal by sitting patiently in the pocket against Robert Quinn and Cam Wake on a 3rd and long play. He almost certainly could have done some big damage with his legs again if he had taken off with the ball.
- Is it a good or bad thing that Miami won today? The Dolphins don't look like a playoff caliber football team. In all honesty, Buffalo should have won this game if not for a couple of missed kicks and a Charles Clay drop in the end zone on 4th and 11.
- Josh Allen is a pretty good rookie quarterback. It was fashionable to rip on this kid from basically the moment he was drafted, and after a tough preseason everyone declared him awful, a bust, crap, etc. Yet if you've actually watched him play football, the kid's got a lot of promise. I don't know if he's going to realize it, but like Sam Darnold I think the team that drafted him was right to take a chance on him.
- Finally, my thoughts on this Xavien Howard guy:
- Jordan Phillips has had a lot to say since he left Miami, but once again it seems that his best conditioned body part is his mouth. I had to laugh when he encouraged the crowd to get loud... after he had just committed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. This guy is a flat out moron. All-Pro talent with replacement level brain.
- The NFL has a rulebook problem. Apparently, you can't even square up to tackle someone anymore. I know the league wants more offense, but perhaps someone should consider that college football puts a great product on the field every Saturday without resorting to this nonsense. I like college's targeting rule, but that will never be adopted in the NFL for one key reason: An official's call on the field would have to be reviewed. With terrible officiating and garbage calls on a weekly basis, there is simply no way that the League is going to open the black and white clowns up to that kind of scrutiny.
- Bobby McCain almost certainly should have been called for roughing the passer in the 4th quarter. He was not. I don't think McCain did anything wrong or it was a dirty play, but that was a lucky break.
- Offensive Line looked pretty crummy today from what I saw. Absolutely washed out in the running game, and some guys getting whipped in pass blocking. They just can't get this thing fixed.
- I'm not sure if I like or dislike Ryan Tannehill's "**** it, I'm throwing this football" metamorphosis here. On one hand, I think he's at his best when he's aggressive, but on the other hand, his arm is just not there. And with guys like Kenny Stills (and I'm not being critical here), that sort of play is going to be hit or miss for Miami. Fortunately, the second half miss was basically a punt, while some hits resulted in touchdowns.
- The wildcat call on 3rd and 1 late in the 4th quarter, what was that crap? Why telegraph that you are going to run the football and let Buffalo load everyone into the box? Put your quarterback out there and at least force Buffalo to respect a pass play.
- Matt Burke had no answers whatsoever for Josh Allen's scrambling, which is definitely something that Miami should have been prepared for. To still be unable to come up with any answers for it in the 4th quarter... is a little ridiculous. Allen did the Dolphins a big favor on that drive that ended in a missed field goal by sitting patiently in the pocket against Robert Quinn and Cam Wake on a 3rd and long play. He almost certainly could have done some big damage with his legs again if he had taken off with the ball.
- Is it a good or bad thing that Miami won today? The Dolphins don't look like a playoff caliber football team. In all honesty, Buffalo should have won this game if not for a couple of missed kicks and a Charles Clay drop in the end zone on 4th and 11.
- Josh Allen is a pretty good rookie quarterback. It was fashionable to rip on this kid from basically the moment he was drafted, and after a tough preseason everyone declared him awful, a bust, crap, etc. Yet if you've actually watched him play football, the kid's got a lot of promise. I don't know if he's going to realize it, but like Sam Darnold I think the team that drafted him was right to take a chance on him.
- Finally, my thoughts on this Xavien Howard guy: