- Joined
- Jan 5, 2009
- Messages
- 30,987
- Reaction score
- 1,249
Positives
* Ryan Tannehill showed a ton of toughness. He got hit a lot, but he did not flinch. His hustle on an interception return stopped a Lion's TD.
* Jarvis Landry was excellent in all phases. He had 57 yards receiving on 7 catches. He also provided a ton of energy and field position on kick and punt returns. His play helped get Miami back into this game.
* Damien Williams 34 yards on 7 carries and 27 yards on 3 catches. He ran hard and with some wiggle. He looked like he belonged.
* Charles Clay had 45 yards on 7 catches.
* The line settled in after getting whipped early, losing Branden Albert and the subsequent shuffling of the line. Ja'Wuan James was excellent considering he was flipped to LT and the D-line he was facing. Shelley Smith was solid subbing for Dallas Thomas at LG. After getting benched earlier in the game from LG, Dallas Thomas was good at RT. While they did not do much in the run game, they did provide better protection for the QB as the game went on.
* The offense after struggling most of the 1st half, got points going into intermission.
* The defense held the Lions to 5-14 on 3rd down.
* The Lions were held to 1-3 in the Red Zone.
* The rush D held the Lions to 63 yards on 19 carries for 3.3 per rush.
* The defense came through by forcing a punt after a Dolphins fumble in the 2nd half.
* Brent Grimes. He matched Calvin Johnson all game. Grimes had a spectacular grab on an interception in the end zone. He also had two PD's. Simply a great game.
* Cameron Wake was disruptive all game. He had two sacks, two QB hits, two tackles both solo, one tackle for a loss and caused a Lions holding penalty. Wake's second sack came on 3rd down.
* Earl Mitchell was active. He had three total tackles, one solo, one QB hit. He had early penetration all game.
* Koa Misi had six tackles, four solo, one TFL and one PD. The tackle for a loss came on a Lions Red Zone trip on the opening drive forcing a FG.
* Jelani Jenkins. seven total tackles, seven solo, two TFL, 1 sack and two QB hits.
* Dion Jordan breaking up a pass in coverage vs. Calvin Johnson.
* On both Lions' TD's, the Dolphins coverage was really good.
* Kick and punt coverage was excellent against the Lions' good return teams.
* Walt Aikens stopped the second fake punt attempt.
* Mitchell blocked a punt in which Jordan returned 55 yards.
* Caleb Sturgis took advantage of the indoor setting and banged out two FG's, with one coming from 50. His kickoffs showed a strong leg.
* Brandon Fields 55 yard punt.
* The play design that got the ball to Wallace for a TD.
* Kevin Coyle called a game that kept a potentially explosive offense down for much of the game.
* Jenny Dell.
Negatives
* - 1 Turnover Differential.
* Miami had terrible Red Zone execution. They were 1-4 overall. There were tipped passes, drops and not enough push in the run game.
* 3-12 on 3rd down was Miami on offense.
* Miami ran for only 50 yards on 19 carries for 2.6 per rush.
* Miami had a chance to put the game away with a 4 minute drill and they went three and out.
* Tannehill's interception. It was terrible timing between him and Gator Hoskins. It killed a scoring chance for the Fins.
* Got over-matched up front too often in the run game. The line allowed too much penetration especially early in the game.
* Ndamukong Suh got the best of Mike Pouncey.
* Charles Clay drop in the end zone in the 4th quarter.
* Deep ball miss to an open Mike Wallace.
* Daniel Thomas' fumble.
* Fooled early by Matt Stafford's hard counts.
* Getting fooled on the fake punt that eventually led to three points.
* Illegal Shift penalty on Miami's fake punt attempt.
* Joique Bell trucking over Finnegan.
* Lost field position battle early in the game.
* Terrible, terrible, terrible review decision as Golden Tate was about six inches short of a 1st down on the Lions' final drive. How Bill Leavy gave him that spot was simply awful.
* Terrible helmet to helmet call on Phillip Wheeler.
* Miami could not finish in a close game. Between the offense not scoring enough points or the inability to kill clock and the defense allowing the opposition to score on the final drive, Joe Philbin's Dolphins could not finish.
* Injuries. Miami had some major injuries today. Albert looks like he is done for the season after getting his knee rolled up on. Finnegan looks like he will be on the shelve for awhile with an ankle. Misi hurt his back on the last play, but was probable to return. Lamar Miller did not look himself with his shoulder.
Overall Assessment
* I do not blame the defense today. Yes, it would have been great for them to turn away the Lions in the closing stages. However, more is needed from the offense. There is too much pressure on the defense to come through. Whether it is scoring more points or killing the clock in the closing moments of the game, the offense needs to do much more heavy lifting in helping this team win.
* Very worried about the injuries and typical nicks after a physical game with the Lions. Lamar Miller should have sat today considering it was a non conference game and date with the Buffalo Bills coming Thursday.
* I want to see more of Damien Williams and would like to see Orleans Darkwa get the call up to the 53 man roster. I like what I see of Williams. He has quick feet and nice vision. He needs to get more touches.
* There is no depth at CB. My fear of Taylor and Will Davis having to play important snaps is upon us. I do not think either is up to the task and they will end up hurting the overall production of the defense.
* Figures Megatron comes back for a game with the Dolphins.
* Matt Stafford is elite.
* The Lions have a dirty football team.
* It is all about Buffalo right now. A win today would have helped the overall standing of this team and give it some flexibility toward the end of the year. However, win or lose today, the Dolphins had to beat the Bills. The season is on the line this week. Win Thursday, get to 6-4 and get another division win.
* Ryan Tannehill showed a ton of toughness. He got hit a lot, but he did not flinch. His hustle on an interception return stopped a Lion's TD.
* Jarvis Landry was excellent in all phases. He had 57 yards receiving on 7 catches. He also provided a ton of energy and field position on kick and punt returns. His play helped get Miami back into this game.
* Damien Williams 34 yards on 7 carries and 27 yards on 3 catches. He ran hard and with some wiggle. He looked like he belonged.
* Charles Clay had 45 yards on 7 catches.
* The line settled in after getting whipped early, losing Branden Albert and the subsequent shuffling of the line. Ja'Wuan James was excellent considering he was flipped to LT and the D-line he was facing. Shelley Smith was solid subbing for Dallas Thomas at LG. After getting benched earlier in the game from LG, Dallas Thomas was good at RT. While they did not do much in the run game, they did provide better protection for the QB as the game went on.
* The offense after struggling most of the 1st half, got points going into intermission.
* The defense held the Lions to 5-14 on 3rd down.
* The Lions were held to 1-3 in the Red Zone.
* The rush D held the Lions to 63 yards on 19 carries for 3.3 per rush.
* The defense came through by forcing a punt after a Dolphins fumble in the 2nd half.
* Brent Grimes. He matched Calvin Johnson all game. Grimes had a spectacular grab on an interception in the end zone. He also had two PD's. Simply a great game.
* Cameron Wake was disruptive all game. He had two sacks, two QB hits, two tackles both solo, one tackle for a loss and caused a Lions holding penalty. Wake's second sack came on 3rd down.
* Earl Mitchell was active. He had three total tackles, one solo, one QB hit. He had early penetration all game.
* Koa Misi had six tackles, four solo, one TFL and one PD. The tackle for a loss came on a Lions Red Zone trip on the opening drive forcing a FG.
* Jelani Jenkins. seven total tackles, seven solo, two TFL, 1 sack and two QB hits.
* Dion Jordan breaking up a pass in coverage vs. Calvin Johnson.
* On both Lions' TD's, the Dolphins coverage was really good.
* Kick and punt coverage was excellent against the Lions' good return teams.
* Walt Aikens stopped the second fake punt attempt.
* Mitchell blocked a punt in which Jordan returned 55 yards.
* Caleb Sturgis took advantage of the indoor setting and banged out two FG's, with one coming from 50. His kickoffs showed a strong leg.
* Brandon Fields 55 yard punt.
* The play design that got the ball to Wallace for a TD.
* Kevin Coyle called a game that kept a potentially explosive offense down for much of the game.
* Jenny Dell.
Negatives
* - 1 Turnover Differential.
* Miami had terrible Red Zone execution. They were 1-4 overall. There were tipped passes, drops and not enough push in the run game.
* 3-12 on 3rd down was Miami on offense.
* Miami ran for only 50 yards on 19 carries for 2.6 per rush.
* Miami had a chance to put the game away with a 4 minute drill and they went three and out.
* Tannehill's interception. It was terrible timing between him and Gator Hoskins. It killed a scoring chance for the Fins.
* Got over-matched up front too often in the run game. The line allowed too much penetration especially early in the game.
* Ndamukong Suh got the best of Mike Pouncey.
* Charles Clay drop in the end zone in the 4th quarter.
* Deep ball miss to an open Mike Wallace.
* Daniel Thomas' fumble.
* Fooled early by Matt Stafford's hard counts.
* Getting fooled on the fake punt that eventually led to three points.
* Illegal Shift penalty on Miami's fake punt attempt.
* Joique Bell trucking over Finnegan.
* Lost field position battle early in the game.
* Terrible, terrible, terrible review decision as Golden Tate was about six inches short of a 1st down on the Lions' final drive. How Bill Leavy gave him that spot was simply awful.
* Terrible helmet to helmet call on Phillip Wheeler.
* Miami could not finish in a close game. Between the offense not scoring enough points or the inability to kill clock and the defense allowing the opposition to score on the final drive, Joe Philbin's Dolphins could not finish.
* Injuries. Miami had some major injuries today. Albert looks like he is done for the season after getting his knee rolled up on. Finnegan looks like he will be on the shelve for awhile with an ankle. Misi hurt his back on the last play, but was probable to return. Lamar Miller did not look himself with his shoulder.
Overall Assessment
* I do not blame the defense today. Yes, it would have been great for them to turn away the Lions in the closing stages. However, more is needed from the offense. There is too much pressure on the defense to come through. Whether it is scoring more points or killing the clock in the closing moments of the game, the offense needs to do much more heavy lifting in helping this team win.
* Very worried about the injuries and typical nicks after a physical game with the Lions. Lamar Miller should have sat today considering it was a non conference game and date with the Buffalo Bills coming Thursday.
* I want to see more of Damien Williams and would like to see Orleans Darkwa get the call up to the 53 man roster. I like what I see of Williams. He has quick feet and nice vision. He needs to get more touches.
* There is no depth at CB. My fear of Taylor and Will Davis having to play important snaps is upon us. I do not think either is up to the task and they will end up hurting the overall production of the defense.
* Figures Megatron comes back for a game with the Dolphins.
* Matt Stafford is elite.
* The Lions have a dirty football team.
* It is all about Buffalo right now. A win today would have helped the overall standing of this team and give it some flexibility toward the end of the year. However, win or lose today, the Dolphins had to beat the Bills. The season is on the line this week. Win Thursday, get to 6-4 and get another division win.
