ciscoholgate
Winning is a Habit
Just thought I'd write some observations from the preseason and give my opinions on what we need to do to repeat as AFC East Champs.
Just looking to kill some time until the Falcons game, enjoy.
Preseason Recap - Defense:
The defense looks solid. Our pass rushing should be awesome this year. JT and JP both look good and super quick. I also noticed Channing getting his number called more on pass blitzes. He got close quite a few times and I think he is poised for a stellar year.
Sean Smtih is something else. The guy is a freak of nature. Players his size are not supposed to me that quick and agile. His INT on Brunell showed how special he can be. The WR looked like he was the one playing CB, not Smith. Still, he is a rookie so there will be some tough spots this year, but overall I think we got a great player.
Our Safties struggled in the passing game. Particullarly in over the middle to the TEs. If they play like that when the season starts, Tony G will shread us for over 100 yards.
I like the fact that we only gave up 10 points in the first quarter of all four preseason games. Our D may have been exposed to some extent this preseason, but at least they found ways to keep the opponents off the scoreboard. Last year we were 8-3 when we held opponents to 3 points or less in the first quarter.
The mystery of Roth. Not too sure what to make of this situation, but one thing is for sure, we will be tested in the running game. Teams will attack our pass rush specialists and JT has to be able to seal the edge. He is playing at 265 lbs, so hopefully that will help a bit.
Our depth seems to be solid this year. Soliai had a fantasic preseason and Moses was a great suprise. I have more confidence this year than I did last year about our defensive depth.
Preseason Recap - Offense:
Chad Pennington looked sharp and poised. He had no INTs all preseason and I like that. Miami went 8-1 last year when Chad had a game with zero INTs. Also, chad did not have a single game with more than one INT (regular season).
Ronnie and Ricky look strong. The two didn't put up huge numbers or have may holes to run through, but I suspect a big year from both of them. Ronnie's stiff arm in the New Orleans game was just sick. I have a feeling these two will wear down opossing defenses in the third quarters and hopefully this means another Pro Bowl nod for Ronnie.
I have a lot of faith in Ginn, Camarillo and Bess. Especially after what I saw from them in our last preseason game. Chad P should be happy to see Camarillo back as he targeted Cam often before his injury.
The OL looked a little slow and disorganized, especially in the run game. But I expect them to get things turned around by the start of the Falcons game. If they can't, we will struggle mightily.
Fasano and Martin's names were hardly mentioned this preseason, but I expect both to be as solid as last year. Haynos edged Nalbone and his big frame should warrant him some redzone looks.
With all the good things I saw this preseason from our O, I was trouble to know we could not come out and put up more points. We still struggle a little in the redzone, but I have a feeling our coaches have some tricks up their sleeze.
What needs to happen in order to win the AFC East:
We have to have some luck to avoid the injury bug. Last year we had a lot of guys stay healthy, we need that to happen again.
We have to be able to run the ball. Last year we were 8-0 when our running game eclipsed 100 yards. That is as a team total and even includes Ginn's reverses. We were 3-5 when we did not reach the 100 yard mark.
We have to stop the run. Sounds cliche, but the mantra "establish the run, stop the run" rings true for our team. We were 6-1 when we held our opponents to under 100 yards rushing and were 5-4 when we didn't.
We need to force turn overs. Our defense has enough talent to get a lot of takeaways like last year. Last year we were 7-2 when we forced at least two turn overs. We were 5-3 when we did not. Our offense is more succesful when they have the ball more than the opposition and are not built to get qucik scores.
Our team may not be high octane like the Patsies or Cardinals, we may not be dominate defensively like the Steelers or Ravens, and we don't tout any big name players like Owens or Moss, but when our team is executing (which happens a lot now thanks to Sparano and Co.) we have a great chance at beating those "elite" teams.
I for one am excited for this year and I expect another playoff birth. So, good luck to us and hopefully we will still be watching our Phins playing in January and maybe even into February!
GO PHINS!:up:
Just looking to kill some time until the Falcons game, enjoy.
Preseason Recap - Defense:
The defense looks solid. Our pass rushing should be awesome this year. JT and JP both look good and super quick. I also noticed Channing getting his number called more on pass blitzes. He got close quite a few times and I think he is poised for a stellar year.
Sean Smtih is something else. The guy is a freak of nature. Players his size are not supposed to me that quick and agile. His INT on Brunell showed how special he can be. The WR looked like he was the one playing CB, not Smith. Still, he is a rookie so there will be some tough spots this year, but overall I think we got a great player.
Our Safties struggled in the passing game. Particullarly in over the middle to the TEs. If they play like that when the season starts, Tony G will shread us for over 100 yards.
I like the fact that we only gave up 10 points in the first quarter of all four preseason games. Our D may have been exposed to some extent this preseason, but at least they found ways to keep the opponents off the scoreboard. Last year we were 8-3 when we held opponents to 3 points or less in the first quarter.
The mystery of Roth. Not too sure what to make of this situation, but one thing is for sure, we will be tested in the running game. Teams will attack our pass rush specialists and JT has to be able to seal the edge. He is playing at 265 lbs, so hopefully that will help a bit.
Our depth seems to be solid this year. Soliai had a fantasic preseason and Moses was a great suprise. I have more confidence this year than I did last year about our defensive depth.
Preseason Recap - Offense:
Chad Pennington looked sharp and poised. He had no INTs all preseason and I like that. Miami went 8-1 last year when Chad had a game with zero INTs. Also, chad did not have a single game with more than one INT (regular season).
Ronnie and Ricky look strong. The two didn't put up huge numbers or have may holes to run through, but I suspect a big year from both of them. Ronnie's stiff arm in the New Orleans game was just sick. I have a feeling these two will wear down opossing defenses in the third quarters and hopefully this means another Pro Bowl nod for Ronnie.
I have a lot of faith in Ginn, Camarillo and Bess. Especially after what I saw from them in our last preseason game. Chad P should be happy to see Camarillo back as he targeted Cam often before his injury.
The OL looked a little slow and disorganized, especially in the run game. But I expect them to get things turned around by the start of the Falcons game. If they can't, we will struggle mightily.
Fasano and Martin's names were hardly mentioned this preseason, but I expect both to be as solid as last year. Haynos edged Nalbone and his big frame should warrant him some redzone looks.
With all the good things I saw this preseason from our O, I was trouble to know we could not come out and put up more points. We still struggle a little in the redzone, but I have a feeling our coaches have some tricks up their sleeze.
What needs to happen in order to win the AFC East:
We have to have some luck to avoid the injury bug. Last year we had a lot of guys stay healthy, we need that to happen again.
We have to be able to run the ball. Last year we were 8-0 when our running game eclipsed 100 yards. That is as a team total and even includes Ginn's reverses. We were 3-5 when we did not reach the 100 yard mark.
We have to stop the run. Sounds cliche, but the mantra "establish the run, stop the run" rings true for our team. We were 6-1 when we held our opponents to under 100 yards rushing and were 5-4 when we didn't.
We need to force turn overs. Our defense has enough talent to get a lot of takeaways like last year. Last year we were 7-2 when we forced at least two turn overs. We were 5-3 when we did not. Our offense is more succesful when they have the ball more than the opposition and are not built to get qucik scores.
Our team may not be high octane like the Patsies or Cardinals, we may not be dominate defensively like the Steelers or Ravens, and we don't tout any big name players like Owens or Moss, but when our team is executing (which happens a lot now thanks to Sparano and Co.) we have a great chance at beating those "elite" teams.
I for one am excited for this year and I expect another playoff birth. So, good luck to us and hopefully we will still be watching our Phins playing in January and maybe even into February!
GO PHINS!:up:
