- Joined
- Jan 5, 2009
- Messages
- 30,987
- Reaction score
- 1,249
Positives
* Jarvis Landry got open early and I was impressive with the way he snatched the ball in the air. He looked polished and ready to contribute to the Fins.
* Matt Hazel made an impression. Hazel had 79 yards on catches and 1 TD.
* The offense was 2 for 2 scoring TD's in the Red Zone.
* The defense totaled 5 sacks.
* Chris McCain was a beast. 2 sacks and a pressure. He was active coming from multiple spots.
* Anthony Johnson and Kemal Johnson shared a sack early.
* Garrison Smith showed well with 4 tackles and 1 sack.
* Dion Jordan was a bit more active in this game.
* Jelani Jenkins was productive totaling 6 tackles, 1 TFL and a sack.
* Walt Aikens had 5 tackles playing with an injured hand
* Brandon Fields perfectly put inside the 5 yard line.
* Marcus Thigpen had an explosive 32 yard punt.
* Don Jones had a great special teams tackle on terrific Fields punt in the 4th Quarter.
* I like how Kevin Coyle brought the house on the last few plays of the game to synch the win.
* Joe Philbin did a nice job with how he handled playing time. While I was not crazy even exposing Matt Moore, he kept the starters out, played younger players that need repetitions and allowed vets on the bubble show what they have with plenty of snaps. The two players suspended for four games got a ton reps which they will need to pocket while they are jettisoned from the team for a month. Once again, Joe managed a preseason game perfectly in terms of PT.
Negatives
* Lost turnover differential 0-1.
* Daniel Thomas ran hard, but had little to show from it. It looked remarkably like his other runs from his career.
* The team gave Thigpen opportunities in the passing game tonight and he did little with the reps. Thigpen alligator-armed a ball that was picked by the Rams. He also botched a punt return that he had to dive on for a negative loss.
* Dallas Thomas still got beat again tonight.
* The defense gave up some 1st downs on 3rd and long plays.
* I thought the DB play was sloppy early.
* Along those lines, Michael Thomas struggled badly. He was late in coverage on the TD to Austin Pettis and had a holding penalty.
* It was disappointing that Jordan Tripp missed valuable reps with a chest injury that occurred early in the game.
* Simply another game in which the Dolphins defense did not create a turnover. Even though all of the prime players did not play, the defense must take the ball away at a high rate this year for this team to have a chance.
* I was not sure why there was not a PR when the Rams were pinned deep in the 4th quarter. I am sure Darren Rizzi went for a block, but they yielded close to 70 yards of field position because of no return man being in the game.
Overall Assessment
* I am very uneasy about the kicking situation. I think it is risky to allow Caleb Sturgis be the guy. His health is of real concern. Philbin was right to allow Sturgis to try a long field go to see how it would go. Two roster spots for kickers is a waste. Can you imagine a competitive game with the Pats in which Sturgis has to "tap out"? The team needs to find a solid veteran kicker to steady the position.
* I am still concerned with the DB depth on the roster. It is my philosophy that a team cannot have enough quality DB's. However, upgrading from players like Michael Thomas or picking up a CB to compete with Will Davis or Jamar Taylor is an intelligent move for the roster.
I am interested what young DT sticks on the roster. Is it one of the Johnson kids? Smith? Aaitul? Should be interesting. Those kids have worked at very hard.
* Hazel can stick on the 53 man roster. I think he could be poached. A small school player, Hazel has a lot of attributes that you cannot coach. If Miami keeps 6 receivers, I wonder if Hazel is one of them.
* Seth Labato is not PS worthy to me. Bring in another young QB to the PS to develop or I would bring back Pat Devlin to help in the film room. He supposedly worked well with the other QB's, so you might as well bring him back to help in that capacity again.
* NFL Preseason Live was terrible this year. Simply flat-out atrocious.
* Props to those fans that watch or listened to preseason game #4. Good stuff. True fans.
* Next week starts for real…another season is upon us. Excited for another year with everyone here…FINS UP!
* Jarvis Landry got open early and I was impressive with the way he snatched the ball in the air. He looked polished and ready to contribute to the Fins.
* Matt Hazel made an impression. Hazel had 79 yards on catches and 1 TD.
* The offense was 2 for 2 scoring TD's in the Red Zone.
* The defense totaled 5 sacks.
* Chris McCain was a beast. 2 sacks and a pressure. He was active coming from multiple spots.
* Anthony Johnson and Kemal Johnson shared a sack early.
* Garrison Smith showed well with 4 tackles and 1 sack.
* Dion Jordan was a bit more active in this game.
* Jelani Jenkins was productive totaling 6 tackles, 1 TFL and a sack.
* Walt Aikens had 5 tackles playing with an injured hand
* Brandon Fields perfectly put inside the 5 yard line.
* Marcus Thigpen had an explosive 32 yard punt.
* Don Jones had a great special teams tackle on terrific Fields punt in the 4th Quarter.
* I like how Kevin Coyle brought the house on the last few plays of the game to synch the win.
* Joe Philbin did a nice job with how he handled playing time. While I was not crazy even exposing Matt Moore, he kept the starters out, played younger players that need repetitions and allowed vets on the bubble show what they have with plenty of snaps. The two players suspended for four games got a ton reps which they will need to pocket while they are jettisoned from the team for a month. Once again, Joe managed a preseason game perfectly in terms of PT.
Negatives
* Lost turnover differential 0-1.
* Daniel Thomas ran hard, but had little to show from it. It looked remarkably like his other runs from his career.
* The team gave Thigpen opportunities in the passing game tonight and he did little with the reps. Thigpen alligator-armed a ball that was picked by the Rams. He also botched a punt return that he had to dive on for a negative loss.
* Dallas Thomas still got beat again tonight.
* The defense gave up some 1st downs on 3rd and long plays.
* I thought the DB play was sloppy early.
* Along those lines, Michael Thomas struggled badly. He was late in coverage on the TD to Austin Pettis and had a holding penalty.
* It was disappointing that Jordan Tripp missed valuable reps with a chest injury that occurred early in the game.
* Simply another game in which the Dolphins defense did not create a turnover. Even though all of the prime players did not play, the defense must take the ball away at a high rate this year for this team to have a chance.
* I was not sure why there was not a PR when the Rams were pinned deep in the 4th quarter. I am sure Darren Rizzi went for a block, but they yielded close to 70 yards of field position because of no return man being in the game.
Overall Assessment
* I am very uneasy about the kicking situation. I think it is risky to allow Caleb Sturgis be the guy. His health is of real concern. Philbin was right to allow Sturgis to try a long field go to see how it would go. Two roster spots for kickers is a waste. Can you imagine a competitive game with the Pats in which Sturgis has to "tap out"? The team needs to find a solid veteran kicker to steady the position.
* I am still concerned with the DB depth on the roster. It is my philosophy that a team cannot have enough quality DB's. However, upgrading from players like Michael Thomas or picking up a CB to compete with Will Davis or Jamar Taylor is an intelligent move for the roster.
I am interested what young DT sticks on the roster. Is it one of the Johnson kids? Smith? Aaitul? Should be interesting. Those kids have worked at very hard.
* Hazel can stick on the 53 man roster. I think he could be poached. A small school player, Hazel has a lot of attributes that you cannot coach. If Miami keeps 6 receivers, I wonder if Hazel is one of them.
* Seth Labato is not PS worthy to me. Bring in another young QB to the PS to develop or I would bring back Pat Devlin to help in the film room. He supposedly worked well with the other QB's, so you might as well bring him back to help in that capacity again.
* NFL Preseason Live was terrible this year. Simply flat-out atrocious.
* Props to those fans that watch or listened to preseason game #4. Good stuff. True fans.
* Next week starts for real…another season is upon us. Excited for another year with everyone here…FINS UP!
