- Joined
- Jan 5, 2009
- Messages
- 30,987
- Reaction score
- 1,249
Positives
Negatives
Overall Assessment
- Got off to a fast start
- 41 points
- 503 total yards of offense.
- 8.5 yards per play.
- 248 yards rushing with 7.1 yards per rush.
- 1-2 scoring TD’s in the Red Zone.
- Won time of possession 32:05-27:55.
- Got multiple big plays from the offense and defense.
- Ryan Tannehill was great and historic finishing 18-19, for 282 yards, 14.8 per attempt, 4 TD’s, no interceptions and a perfect QB Rating of 158.3. He set an NFL record for 25 straight completions (over 2 games).
- Lamar MIller was dynamite. On the ground he provided 175 yards on 14 carries for 12.5 per rush. Miller had an unbelievable 85 yard run near the end of the half. Miller was a factor as a receiver has had 61 yards on 3 catches with a long of 54 that ended in a TD.
- Jarvis Landry was magical after the catch. He had 83 yards on 5 receptions and 2 TD’s. On both touchdowns, Landry ripped off yards as he ran by and through Texans defenders to get in the end zone. Other catches and his lone run, Landry ran hard setting a physical tone for the day.
- Rishard Matthews. 75 yards on 3 receptions and a TD. Matthews got the game going by catching a ball over the middle, splitting the defense and taking it to the house for six.
- The YAC that Landry, Matthews and for that matter, Miller provided was off the charts.
- The offensive line had another great game. Going against a dangerous front they controlled the action. They provided big holes for Miller and the running game. Between the line’s pass protection and quick throws, the passing game thrived. Branden Albert held down the blindside well. Dallas Thomas seemed to hold up well and did a good job helping Miller score on his screen. Mike Pouncey was athletic and drilled many Texan defenders.
- The right side of the offensive line is what stood out to me, however. Going up against J.J Watt, Ja’waun James, with help at times from Dion Sims, held up well. Yes, Watt made some plays, but they were late in the game and did not yield big results for Houston. Billy Turner was impressive all game. He was strong inside and many times he was pulling and getting out in front for Miller. Some of the biggest runs game on the right side of the line. Great work by the two second year players.
- The defense in the first half forced five, 3 and out’s on the first six Texan drives. The one that did not go three and out was a pick 6 for Miami. The other possessions in the first half for the Texans ended in turning it over on downs and two more punts. The 3rd down defense was simply outstanding in the 1st half. Dominating team defense was on display.
- Rush defense: 71 yards on 25 carries for an average of 2.8 yards.
- Pass rush that earned 4 sacks and got consistent pressure.
- Held the Texans to 4.7 yards per play.
- Holding Arian Foster to 59 yards on 18 carries which averages to 3.3 per rush.
- The work done against DeAndre Hopkins was excellent. Many DB’s worked against Hopkins. Hopkins had 50 yards on 6 catches, but on 12 targets.
- Ndamukong Suh had his best game as Dolphins player. 2 sacks, 3 QB hits, 6 TOT, 5 Solo, 3 TFL and 2 PD’s. He consistently got pressure up the middle.
- Cameron Wake had another strong game. 2 sacks, 2 total tackles, 2 solo and 1 PD.
- Reshad Jones. Another week, another interception return for a TD. He finished with 8 TOT, 8 Solo and 1 TFL.
- Andrew Franks nailed a 53 yard field in the 4th to put the team up 24. The Texans showed some life and Miami was flat and rotating young players through. Dan Campbell showed faith in the young kicker and drilled the long kick. Franks’ kickoffs, outside his first one, were excellent.
- Matt Darr had a good day punting. He had a 49.2 average with a long of 55. A pair of punts were downed inside the 20.
- Bill Lazor had tremendous offensive design today. He attacked with the pass some, and came back to the running game. He used the Texans aggressiveness against them. The screens were great calls and executed perfectly.
- Lou Anarumo had another strong game as the DC. The defense held Houston’s most two explosive players in check and did so without exposing other parts of the defense.
- Dan Campbell. He had his team ready to play at home. The team played disciplined and continued attacking all the way through the first half. He showed “onions” by sending his rookie kicker out to attempt a long field goal as the Texans had shown some life late in the game. A miss and Houston would have had nice field position. Make it, and the team was back up by 24 points. Campbell went for the FG and it paid off.
Negatives
- The offense was 1-9 on 3rd down.
- The defense allowed 3 TD’s on 4 Houston trips into the Red Zone. .
- Jamar Taylor was abused by Nate Washington.
- Lost concentration in the 2nd half. The team got out of sorts. Between offensive penalties, jumping offsides on defense, leaky pass pro, the momentum from the first half was not there.
- Subs were put into the game a bit early. I would have liked to see the starters play through the 3rd quarter before sitting. The mass substitution help lead to the sloppiness.
- Damien Williams fumble which the Texans turned into a TD.
- An offside penalty nullified a Michael Thomas pick.
Overall Assessment
- What a job Dan Campbell is doing. Without question, he and his team have a lot more work to do if he is to keep the head coaching job full-time. However, I love the angles he has taken each week. I loved that he called this week the “home opener” at Sun Life Stadium. It was a perfect re-set for the season for his team and the fans. The debate of whether what he is doing is a good coaching or a gimmick is asinine. Campbell has identified what this team needs in terms of its culture after being coached by Joe Philbin. Campbell is simply identifying what is going to engage his players during the week to prepare them for Sunday. At some point, “lightning is going strike” on the Fins and Campbell. An embarrassing loss, a close defeat, letting a lead get away...the media and fans will be so quick to state that Campbell’s run is over. That is not going to be the story, however. What we will have to see is if his team rebounds quickly the following week. Does the team cleanup the mistakes from the previous week? That is a mark of a great coach. Eventually, there will be adversity. How does Campbell lead his team after a tough game or two? I have no doubt right now that he and this staff will pass that test as long as his team is relatively healthy.
- 79 points over the past two games. With only two games left to play this week, the Fins again be the highest scoring team in the league for Week 7.
- Good to see the team stack victories. The team had a frustrating trend of winning and losing the following week. This week they followed last week’s performance against the Titans into another strong showing against the Texans. I have criticized the Fins in the past for “not knowing prosperity”. Whether it was scoring points and then yielding them back on the opponent’s next possession or if it was winning a big game and following it up a week later with a clunker. Today, the Dolphins showed some progress by playing two very strong games in a row.
- Huge to be at 3-3. After being at 1-3 with a fired coach, Miami was left for dead. Now, they are back in it. The key will be getting at least one of the next three road games. Without question playing three in a row is a tall task in the NFL. If they can win three of the next five and be 6-5 going heading into December, they will be in good spot considering the home games they have remaining. The bottom line is the Miami Dolphins have everything in play going forward because of the last two weeks.
- The Miami Dolphins finally got their first win against the Houston Texans. I can remember in 2006 the Dolphins lost to the Texans in Houston in mind numbing fashion. Between Matt Schaub scoring on QB draws, to Ronnie Brown option passes on 2 point tries to an onside kick squirting through the arms of Yeremiah Bell, it was a frustrating loss. So frustrating I destroyed a file cabinet in my man room. I kicked and stomped that thing in. I will be proud to say I was in the crowd for the first win ever versus the Houston Texans.
- I thought the drive that ended with Franks kicking the long field goal was important. The offense did much of nothing in the 2nd half and it was good to see, the offense show some signs of life and move the ball down the field. Miller, Landry and Matthews did not play or played little in the 2nd half. Nonetheless, the offense did not show much to that point in the 2nd half and it was good to see them rally just a bit.
- Jonas Gray needs to be the 2nd running back. It is not just because of Williams’ fumble, but Gray’s running style. He is a strong back that keeps moving forward and is tough to bring down. As the season goes on and weather becomes and issue, a RB like Jonas Gray can really help this team.
- Tough prediction weekend for Heath Evans.
- What a great fan experience I had today. Sun Life Stadium, inside and out, is just great. The people tailgating are having a good time. Everyone seemed well behaved. I enjoyed the warm weather considering I was coming from 27 degrees. Inside the game the amenities were great. Everything looked clean. Most importantly, the team played spectacularly and we got to see a win. Those fans that live in South Florida and do not go to games, what are waiting for!?! Get there and support the team while having some fun with family and friends at the same time.
- By the way, I hunkered down during the mini rain storm that came through. I did not budge and stayed in the trenches.
- On that note, thank you to the Finheaven people I met this weekend. “Albert Romano” and his family were incredibly generous to my wife and I and an awesome time at the game with them. “Henrik” and “Wild Bill” and other members of this site, were so welcoming to us. It was great to get to know them and the other members and their friends and family. Simply great people and I am so pleased to have met you.
- Now this week I go from great, welcoming people in 80 degree weather, to going into the bear’s den in Foxboro. Figuratively, I will be “grabbing my helmet, shield and spear” as I enter that place.
