- Joined
- Jan 5, 2009
- Messages
- 30,987
- Reaction score
- 1,249
Positives
Negatives
Overall Assessment
- Plus 2 turnover differential.
- 38 Points
- The team got off to a fast start. 10 points for the offense early and the defense held the Titans to 3 points.
- 434 total yards for the offense.
- Played with balance. 32 runs to 29 passes.
- 180 yards rushing for Miami. 5.6 yards per carry.
- The offense was 5-9 on 3rd down.
- The offense was 3-4 in scoring TD’s in the Red Zone.
- Overcame penalties on a few occasions.
- Pass protection. The team yielded on two sacks. Pressure was limited. Blitzes were picked up. Mike Pouncey had the right protections called. Ryan Tannehill had time throw throughout the game. Branden Albert held down the blindside effectively.
- 97 yard drive in the 4th quarter. After an interception by Brent Grimes, Miami was backed up. Tannehill went up top for a perfect strike to Kenny Stills for 38 yards. On the drive RT connected with Matthews and Jarvis Landry for explosive plays. They continued to run the ball as well. The drive ended with a TD throw to Dion Sims.
- Lamar Miller. 113 yards on 19 carries, 5.9 yards per carry and 1 TD. Miller grinded out yards all game. He got tough yards and demonstrated strong vision.
- Rishard Matthews. He had 85 yards on 6 catches. He showed toughness on the opening driving catching a 3rd down ball to move the chains as he took a shot to the chest.
- Sims presence as a blocker and receiver.
- Billy Turner. He brought toughness in the run game and appeared to hold well in pass protection. Jurrell Casey had been a disruptive force in recent weeks. Casey did not make the stat sheet.
- Holding the Titans to 299 total yards.
- Rush defense 63 yards, 3.5 per carry.
- 2-10 3rd down defense.
- 1-3 Red Zone defense.
- The defense held the Titans to a field goal on the opening drive.
- The defense held the Titans to no points after each of Miami turnovers (2).
- Cameron Wake. What a game. 4 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 2 TFL’s and drew a few holding calls on Titan linemen.
- Grimes laying out for a game changing interception as Tennessee had a lot of momentum.
- A much improved Olivier Vernon. He had a sack, 4 TOT and 3 solo tackles.
- Reshad Jones. He set an early tone by popping a Titans ball carrier out of bounds. Jones’ biggest play came when he read a Marcus Mariota pass perfectly, cut in front for a pick and returned the interception for a TD. Jones had 8 TOT, 5 Solo and 2 TFL to along with his pick six.
- Koa Misi. 8 TOT, 6 Solo, 2 TFL. Misi read a screen pass perfectly for one of those TFL. Strong game for Misi.
- Jamar Taylor returning a fumble the other way.
- Love the fight in the team. There a few occasions that the team did not back down and shoved back at the Titans. Also, when a player got into an altercation, other Dolphin players came to the aid of the teammate.
- Love the resolve of the team when Tennessee started to gain momentum. The team did not melt. In fact, they continued to play hard and the players stepped up and made big plays.
- Dan Campbell and the staff continued to attack. While up three scores, they continued to pass the football and it eventually led to a TD throw to Jordan Cameron. In garbage time, Ken Whisenhunt and the Titans kept throwing the football. Lou Anarumo called a blitz and Jordan Kovacs sacked Zach Mettenberger to end the game.
- Campbell’s review that lead to a reversal of an incompletion to a forced fumble and turnover
- Being committed to the run.
- Use of screen plays.
- Creative plays such as the TD run by Landry. Tannehill used a full arm fake and almost looked like a Statue of Liberty play as Landry took the handoff to paydirt. Earl Mitchell used as a FB showed some ingenuity. Bill Lazor had a tremendous game.
- Lou Anarumo called a great game for the defense. He had his unit playing hard.
Negatives
- Tannehill’s interceptions. One went off the fingers of Jordan Cameron. Another Cameron was not turned as RT anticipated the throw to him. Tannehill almost threw another away when Miller broke outside and RT attempted to check it down.
- Dallas Thomas. Got beat for at least one sack. Had a holding penalty. Allowed some penetration.
- No backup Center with Sam Brenner inactive. Either someone is taking snaps in practice we do not know about or the team took a major risk if Mike Pouncey went down.
- Terrible block in back call on a long Landry return.
- The Andrew Catalon, Steve Tasker and Steve Beuerlein TV crew. This TV crew is constantly late with replays, getting names wrong and missing rule interpretations. Too many times they have the facial shots of the players and coaches and the viewer does not know the down in distance of the upcoming play. I am always going to my computer to tell me the yards to go because it is flashed up so late with this broadcast and the constant zoom ins to the player’s reaction.
Overall Assessment
- It was great to see the team having fun today.
- I love the approach that Campbell took this week. He talked about building relationships with the players. We heard how vital it was to him to build a “culture” with the team. Hearing him talk about playing physical and wanting his team to compete right on. Campbell stated he wanted his players to “walk the line”. He did not want dirty, but play just on the other side of it. I love the borderline “chippiness”. His team did just that today. He understood the team had to run the ball. He got his defensive to attack and play fast. Campbell identified the specific issues plaguing the team. Campbell’s adjustment to the practice schedule was perfect in that he had a practice Friday and a walkthrough Saturday. It was great he said that Friday night he was leaving the office to see his son play high school football. He had a vision and the team and coaching staff followed.
- I was impressed with how Campbell kept attacking. He attacked at the end of the 1st half. They attacked with their backs up against their goal line. They attacked multiple scores up. They continued to play aggressive on defense even though they led. It was brilliant on his part. He showed complete faith in this team. Not only did they reward him, but Campbell increased his creds with his players even more after today.
- Do not ever discount the impact a leader can make when the a team believes in him.
- There were the right amount of lineup changes with Billy Turner going in at RG and Kenny Stills starting at WR. They also featured some players that have not been to this point and it made a big difference.
- Good to see Tannehill play a game in which he was supported with a running game and strong defensive performance.
- Interesting the two the TE passes went to TE’s.
- The team did the right thing in giving Branden Albert the time off to come back healthy. He was a rock at LT.
- Dallas Thomas has to come out from LG. It seems like the team has doubled down on him. However, I wonder if Jamil Douglas would have more success on the left side considering that is where he played his entire college career. Jeff Linkenbach needs to be considered as well. Thomas is a complete liability.
- I understand that Andrew Franks is kicked okay to this point, but I think Miami should look at veteran kicker to help Campbell in close games in the 4th. I would keep Franks as a kickoff specialist and sign a veteran to make clutch kicks.
- How much better did this team look without Joe Philbin and Kevin Coyle around? Anyone else want to question whether they were the issue or not? Yes, Miami still has a lot to work and of course adversity will hit at some point. However, today proved once again what the issue has been for the past three years and it was the head coach.
- Joe Philbin was really having a walk through on Friday and a practice the day before the game? You wonder why they started slow?
- How poor of defensive coordinator was Kevin Coyle?
- Nice to have a game late in the 4th quarter, ahead on the scoreboard, without the result in any doubt.
- Hayden Fox is coming to Miami next week. My wife and I are coming down. This team is going to get its first win ever versus the Texans and get the season complete back on track at 3-3. Fins up!
