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Dolphins Reach Critical Point

Daytona Fin

Daytona Fin

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Andy Cohen
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They are coming off a disheartening last second loss to the Green Bay Packers. The events of that wild fourth quarter have been dissected over and over into tiny little pieces. But it is time to move on and that means Sunday’s appointment with the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.

At this precise moment, the Dolphins are sitting at 2-3. The resume they have compiled through five games is inconclusive and inconsistent. They have done some nice things and have shown an upgrade in talent. But they have also struggled far too many times – especially early in the game -- and, in some cases, at the worst possible moments.

If there is a crossroads to an NFL season, this could very well be it. If the Dolphins win on Sunday, they are back to .500 and have a real chance to make something of this season. If they lose, they are at 2-4 and the task over the final 10 games will be much more formidable.

Or as Ryan Tannehill so aptly put it in his weekly press conference: “We have to put a whole game together. We’re coming to a critical point in the season. We can’t wait until the end of the season to start playing well. There is a real urgency for this game. I think we saw it on the practice field this week.”
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But of all the matchups, perhaps the most imposing, appears to center around a pair of 5-10 cornerbacks who will be training to contain a pair of giant-like receivers in Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery. This, I believe, is where the game could be decided, a potential mismatch the Bears will try to exploit.

There is nothing Cortland Finnegan and Brent Grimes can do about standing 5-10. The key question for Sunday: Can they do anything about Marshall and Jeffery? When Cutler fires one of those altitude friendly passes – maybe a fade route in the end zone – will the height differential simply be too much for Grimes and Finnegan to overcome?

“I’m 5-10, Brent is 5-10,” said Finnegan. “Unless we sign Luol Deng, we’re going to have to stay with what we have and that means being smart, using the right technique and anticipating what the Bears are trying to do.”

Finnegan paused, before continuing. “The red zone is the real problem area. A high pass when the receiver tries to get body position on me, that’s the real challenge. But we’ll figure it out.”
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http://www.miamidolphins.com/news/a...3-e2b3-dd11-933d-0019b9d743be&cm_medium=email
 
Not really worried about Grimes. But if Finn blows. sorry time to sit him down.
 
If we stop Forte and force Cutler to beat us we'll be fine. With no running game our D line should chase his butt all over the field and though Marshall may catch a few passes i'll bet Grimes and the secondary get a few picks and keep us in the game.
The offense must of course do it's part but I like our chances for the upset. We caught a break playing them in October instead of when it's cold.
 
I want this one bad. Wifey finds out Monday if she can get vacation and I'll probably be heading down for the Buffalo game, would suck if we're in a race for the first pick instead of the playoffs.
 
Its really hard to get a gauge on where we stand based on who we've played:

*People expected the Pats to be good, we beat them handily so it was hard to say where either team stood.

*The Bills were expected to be a tough matchup, they've been up and down looking good against Lions, Bears and us but looking not so great against the Pats and Chargers

*The Chiefs were an unknown despite almost beating the Broncos, they crushed us and the Patriots. It was still unknown where any of those teams stood though it was looking like the Chiefs were good and Pat were finally done.

So now into week 7 we have some clarity I'd say the Pats win was indeed impressive. Losing to the Chiefs wasn't terrible. Bills are a mediocre team. The Packers are a really good team and Rodgers was playing at a super bowl MVP level. Where does that leave us? Still a complete unknown.
 
roy_miami said:
Its really hard to get a gauge on where we stand based on who we've played:

*People expected the Pats to be good, we beat them handily so it was hard to say where either team stood.

*The Bills were expected to be a tough matchup, they've been up and down looking good against Lions, Bears and us but looking not so great against the Pats and Chargers

*The Chiefs were an unknown despite almost beating the Broncos, they crushed us and the Patriots. It was still unknown where any of those teams stood though it was looking like the Chiefs were good and Pat were finally done.

So now into week 7 we have some clarity I'd say the Pats win was indeed impressive. Losing to the Chiefs wasn't terrible. Bills are a mediocre team. The Packers are a really good team and Rodgers was playing at a super bowl MVP level. Where does that leave us? Still a complete unknown.
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Good points roy . I think we'll find out one way or the other in the next three games. We need to win two of them to stay relevant at 4 and 4. Beating Chicago would be a great start.
 
We've really been in most games, even the KC game. It seems it's a matter of getting all on the same page and playing as a team. It remains to be seen if it will happen. If they don't gel in the next two games, it's over.
 
For the love of Pete, can we stop saying "Critical?" If Joe hears this it'll make him queasy. Let's just call it a nice friendly football game. With that said, I'm not worried about the height of our cormers. They time plays and can jump pretty high for the ball. I'd like our premier defense get to Cutler and rattle him.
Our offense must come out hitting and stop this bad first half stuff.
 
Joe thought this week of practice was good so that means they get steamrolled. LOL.
 
We have a good shot in this game! Lets get our pass rush working and Cutler will help us out with some picks!
 
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