* The same betting group that moved Buffalo from +1 to -1.5 last Sunday tried the opposite route today. They pounded the Dolphins from -3.5 to -5.5 in the final hour before kickoff. Even in a short sample it's remarkable how going with or against the big picture logical route can cleanse or burn. There's value in taking a home team in the pick-em range among two moderate teams, but there's no value in giving 4 or 5 points with the home team in the same type of situation. When benefit of a doubt is in question, don't align with Sun Life Stadium and home field impact.
* Russell Wilson in one overtime possession managed as many touchdowns as Ryan Tannehill in 60 minutes.
* Speaking of Wilson, that was another game that played out logically to Fury of Anti Revenge (FAR) standards. Seattle's energy and motivational edge carried to a 17-3 halftime lead. But once FAR wears off it can become ugly and desperate. Denver scored 17 points in the fourth quarter and I'm very confident they would have scored in overtime if given an opportunity.
* Joe Philbin is far superior in clock management strategy when the other team has the ball than when the Dolphins own it. That final time out of the first half should have been used with 41 seconds remaining as soon as the long play ended at the 13. If you don't call it there you waste half your time scrambling to get downfield and line up. Sure enough, the next snap came at 18 seconds. Ridiculous. Tannehill is not sharp enough to understand he can't run down to the 2 on second down. Philbin had to bail him out earlier with ideal strategy.
* Rushing yards don't mean anything if they aren't accompanied by at least a moderate number of rushing attempts. It's the point I've made on this site since 2005 and on Las Vegas radio shows beginning in 1988. At these number of rushing attempts and with our current yards per pass attempt, we're headed for a disastrous season unless something changes. I'm not sure we've ever been so poor in that combo after 3 games.
* Our tackles were guaranteed to regress. I mentioned that last week. When you read that Albert is first and James is 6th, that hardly means that we have the best bookends in the league. That type of flawed mindset is what leads to an expensive extension for Reshad Jones. It means we have briefly overachieved in that one area and needed to take 2-0 advantage.
* That game was special teams hilarity. I'm not sure I've ever seen so many kickoffs run back when they should not have been, and punts fielded when they should not have been. I kept thinking that there's no way Tannehill can cost me this +4.5 bet on Kansas City, but the Chief return men and all the geniuses determined to hold or block in the back inside the 5 yard line certainly can blow it. The Don Jones absence is more significant than I estimated.
* Colquitt is a mismatch against virtually anyone, including Fields
* There couldn't have been 65,000 people there, based on those crowd shots. Who gets the leftover T-shirts? Perfect opportunity to bunch them together in the wee hours and burn down the stadium.
Good post.
* Jimmy Wilson is awful. Simply awful. You have been calling for him to get cut for a long time and I think its long overdue. At least send him back to special teams where his crazy recklessness can be used to some positive impact for us.
* Tannenhill didn't look as bad as everyone thinks, but he didn't look good. He needs to play with some damn passion and fire. I saw it once. The 2 min drive before half. We moved the ball and then that passion was gone yet again. If he can give that fire and passion the entire game, we will be much better because it will help hide his deficiencies.
* Charles Clay was getting open consistently against the defense.
* Jelani Jenkins is turning out to be a nice find and extremely aggressive and compact player. Genuine, humble, and puts the team first. Always in on the play as well.
* Trusnik is so overmatched and out of place its ridiculous. I would rather have Chris McCain start at the Mike because at least he can make some flash plays. He would do awful as well because he isn't a Mike but you would still get something out of it ( Sarcasm, but honestly it would be better off with him there)
* Sturgis looking like Sturgis. Nothing new. Want him gone. Unclutch is his nickname
* What the hell is Coyle doing? His schemes and gameplans are something a high schooler would come up with playing Madden.
* Rishard Matthews needs to be playing over Landry. I know Landry is showing some promise but Matthews is the only big WR on this team that can actually start to get RAC and dominate the opposing corner
* Reshad Jones and Louis Delmas is going to be a horrific combo.
* Daniel Thomas did what I said he would do. Get positive yards on catches and have nice runs. He needs the ball more.
* Oliver Vernon has NOT been criticized enough. Not getting any pressure at all.
* Lamar Miller looked nice on some runs, but again when he hits the second level he has no idea what to do.
* Hartline still can't catch with his hands.
