Friday buzz column

[datruth55]

I for one was hoping Wheeler would continue to screw up so we could get Jordan Tripp or Chris McCain to take over his spot. But it seems the tackling drill the Dolphins had before the Cowboys pre-season game may have helped him a lot. It was also good for Jenkins who has also tackled very well since.

It's a long season and Wheeler has really only played one full game and parts of two others. I'm not convinced a career of poor tackling, bad angles, and lack of awareness in the passing game is all of a sudden fixed in that small a sample size. I'm happy with the way he's playing so far but lets just say I'm waiting for the bottom to fall out too. If it is fixed then Duffner is every bit as good of a position coach as Kacy Rodgers is with the D-line...maybe better.

I think the Dolphins have McCain working on packages. They used him early in the same type of packages they had for Dion Jordan last year, some DE, some dropping back and McCain looked effective in his one game where he wasn't hurt or missing. Tripp just got back and only got 4 snaps on defense against the Raiders...had two tackles as well. That kid finds the ball but he's got a ways to go yet before he starts seeing the field in more than blowout opportunities.

 

[hoops]

I think Cincinnati goes into Foxboro and handles NE. Cincinnati is better in every direction. I can't see NE putting up enough resistance to the 1-2 punch of Bernard and Hill plus the Bengals will sprinkle enough pass even if Revis can cover AJ Green which is no sure bet. As regards NE's offense, the Bengals D is one of the better D's you will see and will have a significant advantage.

By the way, Duke Tobin is a star personnel guy for Cincinnati. They already have Gresham and he grabs Eifert. They have Bernard and he gets Hill. He has AJ Green. He understands the playmaker concept and he hits. I'd like to see that vision and those types of moves in Miami.

they should handle the pats...but you never know with andy dalton

 

[datruth55]

they should handle the pats...but you never know with andy dalton

 

[mnphinfan]

I think Cincinnati goes into Foxboro and handles NE. Cincinnati is better in every direction. I can't see NE putting up enough resistance to the 1-2 punch of Bernard and Hill plus the Bengals will sprinkle enough pass even if Revis can cover AJ Green which is no sure bet. As regards NE's offense, the Bengals D is one of the better D's you will see and will have a significant advantage.

By the way, Duke Tobin is a star personnel guy for Cincinnati. They already have Gresham and he grabs Eifert. They have Bernard and he gets Hill. He has AJ Green. He understands the playmaker concept and he hits. I'd like to see that vision and those types of moves in Miami.

Agreed, I just don't see how the Patsies O-line is going to handle the Bengals front 4. That offensive line has been atrocious this year and facing Peko, Atkins and Dunlap is going to be very tough for them. If Burflict is out though, which is appears he will be, it will definitely help though.

I also don't see how the Patsies are going to stop the Bengals O. Wilfork has been a shadow of his former self and they have no one to keep up with Gio. Also, Revis has shown that he doesn't have that top gear anymore so I have no doubt that Green will be able to take advantage of that.

Like hoops said, if the Red Raider doesn't **** the bed, I don't see Cinci losing.

 

[finfan54]

small sample size as mentioned but if he is playing well with Trusnik then maybe Misi makes him look even better.

He is good pass rusher in packages.

He could have picked one off when he had good coverage on the WR vs. Raiders but its like he was oblivious of being able to make a play on the ball by tackling the guy instead.

 

[Sons Of Shula]

"When you have too much time, I’m prone to doing too much."

Coach speak or not. Hate him or like him.

I've stated time and time again that Philbin needs to have a Tom Coughlin moment to save his job and get us over the hump and moving forward.

I can't say he's doing everything right. And he still has his bone head moments, but it does seem Philbin is trying to change some tendencies.

Will it be enough? Time will tell. But at least he is not doubling down on stupidity and stubbornness right now. I think he's trying to correct himself. But it just needs to be less transparent on game day and during the week. Le's hope he stays out of his way.

I believe it happened this year. At least the beginning of that transformation. Sometimes when you suffer a great loss, like Philbin did in losing his son, you deal with it by conforming to strict regimes as to avoid changes around you and try to control every aspect of situations you're involved in. Most head coaches are like this anyways but I wonder if it compounded the problem. In a way, and for some of the same reasons, I'm sure Andy Reid welcomed the change of scenery in leaving Philly for KC. Says a lot about a man for his ability to change his ways for the betterment of others like Philbin has done and we saw him loosen up in some of his ways this off-season. It's a process and time will tell, but I like what we've seen so far.

 

[roy_miami]

Patriots normally come out with a big win when people start to doubt. After we beat them they stomped the Vikings 30-7, Vikings were without Peterson and there were probably some distraction with that whole deal but Patriots did what they normally do. I expect them to come out this week and beat the Bengals...if they don't then I think we can officially call the AFC East up for grabs.

Add to that Dalton is going to feel a little extra pressure to perform and the Pats could easily spank them.

Oh, and Jenkins, Von Miller and Phillip Wheeler are rated as the three best LBers in the league? I understand the season is still short but holy **** batman!!

 

[LANGER72]

"When you have too much time, I’m prone to doing too much."

Coach speak or not. Hate him or like him.

I've stated time and time again that Philbin needs to have a Tom Coughlin moment to save his job and get us over the hump and moving forward.

I can't say he's doing everything right. And he still has his bone head moments, but it does seem Philbin is trying to change some tendencies.

Will it be enough? Time will tell. But at least he is not doubling down on stupidity and stubbornness right now. I think he's trying to correct himself. But it just needs to be less transparent on game day and during the week. Le's hope he stays out of his way.

Philbin needs a Howard Dean moment just to show he has a pulse...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5FzCeV0ZFc

 

[malzacher]

You are not gonna be happy with that combo against Chicago, but fortunately we only play Chicago once every 4 years.

Im very intrigued about those matchups. Two smaller but yet very athletic cb's vs bigger and stronger wr's that are still extremely athletic. Could see cutler being a little reckless and our qb's captializing on it