Dolphins, Pennington start the 2009 season the way they ended 2008

[hugoguzman]

For those of you scoring at home, the Miami Dolphins have turned the ball over nine times in their last two games that counted. Coming off a five-turnover performance in last year's playoff loss against the Baltimore Ravens, the Dolphins coughed it up four times on Sunday, facilitating a 19-7 stomping at the hands of the Atlanta Falcons, which looked much worse than the final score suggests.

As bad as that sounds, what's even more concerning is the fact that the usually steady and efficient Chad Pennington is responsible for six of those nine turnovers over this two-game span, including two against the Falcons on Sunday. That's simply unacceptable for a quarterback with clear physical limitations that lessen his chances for connecting on long, game-changing plays.

http://www.realfootball365.com/articles/dolphins/14397

Give it a quick read and let me know what you think. Thanks!

 

[NJPhinFan21]

didn't know Pennington could throw with Atlantas D-LINE in his face ALL GAME LONG!!!
you wanna blame someone blame the O-LINE.

 

[Kdawg954]

It's what it comes down to with Chad Pennington. We like him because he "manages" the game and "does not" turn the ball over. Problem is, because of his physical limitations . . . when he has a bad game, like he did against ATL, we criticize him more because we all know how perfect he needs to be for us to win.

The question comes down to . . . would u rather have a QB with a "noodle" arm that can manage and dink and dunk us down the field to win games against the teams we should beat . . . . . or do u rather take a chance with a guy with much more physical talent arm strength wise . . . obviously lose out on leadership, experience and accuracy and undoubtly have more lumps but can make the play down field more often than the incumbent.

When u have games like yesterday, the second option sure looks enticing.

 

[emeraldfin]

Pretty fair article that. Basically sums up what will determine how well we do this season. Without many explosive offense players, ball control will be the key.

But that was always the way it was going to be this season. Yesterday just proved it.

 

[RealDriscoll]

The fact is that managing the game doesn't cut it. We need a gun-slinger; someone who can make plays.

 

[Rhody Phins Fan]

The fact is that managing the game doesn't cut it. We need a gun-slinger; someone who can make plays.

Calling someone a game manager is really just damning with faint praise. It means that the player is only capable of winning a game if everything else goes right.

 

[Dtronic]

Calling someone a game manager is really just damning with faint praise. It means that the player is only capable of winning a game if everything else goes right.

That sums it up nicely.

 

[fishypete]

For those of you scoring at home, the Miami Dolphins have turned the ball over nine times in their last two games that counted. Coming off a five-turnover performance in last year's playoff loss against the Baltimore Ravens, the Dolphins coughed it up four times on Sunday, facilitating a 19-7 stomping at the hands of the Atlanta Falcons, which looked much worse than the final score suggests.

As bad as that sounds, what's even more concerning is the fact that the usually steady and efficient Chad Pennington is responsible for six of those nine turnovers over this two-game span, including two against the Falcons on Sunday. That's simply unacceptable for a quarterback with clear physical limitations that lessen his chances for connecting on long, game-changing plays.

http://www.realfootball365.com/articles/dolphins/14397

Give it a quick read and let me know what you think. Thanks!

Sorry Hugo, but this loss was a total team loss, from the top down.

 

[hugoguzman]

Sorry Hugo, but this loss was a total team loss, from the top down.

Well technically, every loss is a team loss.

The fact is that Miami's defense completely shut down Michael Turner, which is no small feat considering the number of times he carried the football (22 carries) and considering that he led the lead in rushing a year ago. They also kept Pro Bowler Roddy White in check and did generate pressure on Ryan (though not as consistently as I would have liked, but still).

In addition, the unit was able to get some key stops that helped keep Miami in the game up until that final TD late in the third quarter.

As mentioned, it would have been nice to force a turnover or two, and they were exposed on two deep throws that Ryan missed, but the bottom line is that the defense held up their end of the bargain, on the road against one of the league's more explosive offenses.

If Fasano doesn't cough the ball up deep inside the red zone at the end of the second quarter, the halftime score would have likely been 7-3 or even 7-7, and that would have completely changed the complexion of the game and all of the postgame banter manifesting on these boards.

 

[fishypete]

Well technically, every loss is a team loss.

The fact is that Miami's defense completely shut down Michael Turner, which is no small feat considering the number of times he carried the football (22 carries) and considering that he led the lead in rushing a year ago. They also kept Pro Bowler Roddy White in check and did generate pressure on Ryan (though not as consistently as I would have liked, but still).

In addition, the unit was able to get some key stops that helped keep Miami in the game up until that final TD late in the third quarter.

As mentioned, it would have been nice to force a turnover or two, and they were exposed on two deep throws that Ryan missed, but the bottom line is that the defense held up their end of the bargain, on the road against one of the league's more explosive offenses.

If Fasano doesn't cough the ball up deep inside the red zone at the end of the second quarter, the halftime score would have likely been 7-3 or even 7-7, and that would have completely changed the complexion of the game and all of the postgame banter manifesting on these boards.

I agree the defense played well enough to a point...but Ryan missed plenty of plays that just made it close enough to tease...again...this team was not ready to play. One could "what if" all day long...but I feared after watching the offense during preseason that they weren't playing well..and this game just proved my fears correct. Both Tackles were used by Atlanta...the receivers didn't help again...and I don't see the easy answer to fix this...Henne is just another problem waiting to happen...he's another Bledsoe to me...great arm...but a statue...with the way the O-line is playing...he will be an easy target....the difference between him and Penny is...unlike Penny for the most part...Henne won't just throw the football away...he'll force it and just cause more problems.
The strange part is one would expect this type of play last year, not this year after two years in to the system. Why is it that the Dolphins always have the best so called O-line coaches but they can't coach up a great O-line? Why is it that it takes trick plays to get anything on the offense...without flea flickers or end arounds...the offense just can't move....and when they get two decent running plays together...they stop running the football. When you see teams that were bad last year..as in Detroit and K.C. but they are capable of scoring more than 7 points...you just have to wonder why can't the Dolphins.

 

[hugoguzman]

I agree the defense played well enough to a point...but Ryan missed plenty of plays that just made it close enough to tease...again...this team was not ready to play. One could "what if" all day long...but I feared after watching the offense during preseason that they weren't playing well..and this game just proved my fears correct. Both Tackles were used by Atlanta...the receivers didn't help again...and I don't see the easy answer to fix this...Henne is just another problem waiting to happen...he's another Bledsoe to me...great arm...but a statue...with the way the O-line is playing...he will be an easy target....the difference between him and Penny is...unlike Penny for the most part...Henne won't just throw the football away...he'll force it and just cause more problems.
The strange part is one would expect this type of play last year, not this year after two years in to the system. Why is it that the Dolphins always have the best so called O-line coaches but they can't coach up a great O-line? Why is it that it takes trick plays to get anything on the offense...without flea flickers or end arounds...the offense just can't move....and when they get two decent running plays together...they stop running the football. When you see teams that were bad last year..as in Detroit and K.C. but they are capable of scoring more than 7 points...you just have to wonder why can't the Dolphins.

I hear ya, but just remember that it's one road game. If it becomes a game to game pattern, then I'll start to worry.

For now, just like the players and coaches, I'm starting to think about Indy on Monday night.