- Joined
- Mar 13, 2006
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That's what I feel being a fan of this team, and after this game in particular. Well, it's mostly anger. After a few minutes of that, it's just resignation. Then it builds back to anger.
IMO, this game was lost in the last two minutes of the first half when Carroll picks off the pass and the Dolphins take over at the 10. Not only do we not score the touchdown, we fall asleep at the wheel and let LaFell get loose for a 29-yard gain in six seconds to set up a field goal that negated Carroll's interception. That gave the Panthers some life, and then they built on that and drove down the field for the TD to start the second half.
The IQ of this team is ridiculously low, too. I don't want to hear anything about how good Lamar Miller is or might become. Twice in the second half he turned losses into monumental losses -- lucky for him a penalty wiped out the one. Reshad Jones? What the heck were you thinking? The indecision on the time outs while on defense in the closing minutes cost at least 10 seconds and maybe more.
I guess I shouldn't be surprised. I've been seeing the team wrestling defeat from the jaws of victory so many times over the last couple of decades that I'm practically numb to it. This team desperately needs a player with that killer instinct who makes plays and elevates his teammates. A Ray Lewis-type of playmaker. The Dolphins have some good players who would be good complementary pieces on a good team. But they don't have anyone who can be counted on to make a big play when the game is on the line, and they haven't had a player like that since Marino.
Please don't tell me about this team making the playoffs. I realize it might. But that's fool's gold, at this point. I want a team that can win consistently, compete week-in, week-out with good teams and step on the throats of the bad ones. The only reason this team is in the playoff hunt is because the league is so watered-down and mediocre this season. I could see this front office, coaching staff and group of players making the playoffs this year and doing a swan dive next season and the season after if they are still around. I'm sick of seeing one game that shows promise and then two that make the promising performance look like the fluke. Good teams maintain that. Good teams are consistent. This is not a good team.
A friend of mine who's a Dolphin fan called me right after the game to say he hates these Dolphins. Not the team, but the personnel, coaches, etc. I hate to say it, but I agree. I just don't see anything that this collection has to offer to make me optimistic that the Dolphins will be better than a 9-7 team anytime soon ... and maybe not considerably worse. People want to give Philbin and his staff more time, fine. I don't care. I don't think he's the guy to turn it around, and I have doubts that Ross can ever lead a winning sports franchise. But keep them around if you want. I can take them or leave them. I don't think the Dolphins would be losing much if they got rid of Philbin. I just don't see him as anything special.
IMO, this game was lost in the last two minutes of the first half when Carroll picks off the pass and the Dolphins take over at the 10. Not only do we not score the touchdown, we fall asleep at the wheel and let LaFell get loose for a 29-yard gain in six seconds to set up a field goal that negated Carroll's interception. That gave the Panthers some life, and then they built on that and drove down the field for the TD to start the second half.
The IQ of this team is ridiculously low, too. I don't want to hear anything about how good Lamar Miller is or might become. Twice in the second half he turned losses into monumental losses -- lucky for him a penalty wiped out the one. Reshad Jones? What the heck were you thinking? The indecision on the time outs while on defense in the closing minutes cost at least 10 seconds and maybe more.
I guess I shouldn't be surprised. I've been seeing the team wrestling defeat from the jaws of victory so many times over the last couple of decades that I'm practically numb to it. This team desperately needs a player with that killer instinct who makes plays and elevates his teammates. A Ray Lewis-type of playmaker. The Dolphins have some good players who would be good complementary pieces on a good team. But they don't have anyone who can be counted on to make a big play when the game is on the line, and they haven't had a player like that since Marino.
Please don't tell me about this team making the playoffs. I realize it might. But that's fool's gold, at this point. I want a team that can win consistently, compete week-in, week-out with good teams and step on the throats of the bad ones. The only reason this team is in the playoff hunt is because the league is so watered-down and mediocre this season. I could see this front office, coaching staff and group of players making the playoffs this year and doing a swan dive next season and the season after if they are still around. I'm sick of seeing one game that shows promise and then two that make the promising performance look like the fluke. Good teams maintain that. Good teams are consistent. This is not a good team.
A friend of mine who's a Dolphin fan called me right after the game to say he hates these Dolphins. Not the team, but the personnel, coaches, etc. I hate to say it, but I agree. I just don't see anything that this collection has to offer to make me optimistic that the Dolphins will be better than a 9-7 team anytime soon ... and maybe not considerably worse. People want to give Philbin and his staff more time, fine. I don't care. I don't think he's the guy to turn it around, and I have doubts that Ross can ever lead a winning sports franchise. But keep them around if you want. I can take them or leave them. I don't think the Dolphins would be losing much if they got rid of Philbin. I just don't see him as anything special.
