MERGEDX2: Dolphins leave too much time on the clock

[dolphans1]

TWO critical mistakes may have caused this game to slip away.

1) taking a challenge on a 4th and inches, and losing a timeout (did not matter in the end)t. There was no need to challenge it. If you get get a first down with 6 inches left, then you do not deserve to win.

2) We left too much time on the clock scoring so soon 1:45 minutes left.

We should have kept the ball in play a while and run some clock.

Houston came up with 2 huge plays during the end, both on 4th downs.

Very disappointing loss as the Dolphins fall -04 to the Texans and 2-3 in the AFC east.

One word, "unbelievable".....

If not for getting Pennington's INT back off a fumble, we probably would have lost, but wow, what a disappointing game.

d-1

 

[SpaceMountain16]

How about using time outs with 12 minutes left by challenging stupid plays? This is the second time Sparano has done this and i am already tired of it. Not that we ran out of time today, but it might have helped us at the end there if we could have called some time outs during that Houston drive and saved time for our offense at the end.

 

[Lilseb93]

How about using time outs with 12 minutes left by challenging stupid plays? This is the second time Sparano has done this and i am already tired of it. Not that we ran out of time today, but it might have helped us at the end there if we could have called some time outs during that Houston drive and saved time for our offense at the end.

Sparano is still a rookie coach, don't forget that.

 

[DeeperImage]

Our clock management was horrible, reminiscent of the first 2 games. Also, I'm sick and tired of these 5 yard passes on every freaking play. Seriously, we need a deep threat and our front office should be scrambling to get us some deep threat.

 

[SpaceMountain16]

Sparano is still a rookie coach, don't forget that.

Yeah but come on,

I've never coached a game in my life and i know this stuff. I know it's easier to be an arm chair critic here, but he's just not doing the job of getting plays in on time or making them clear or whatever if we're burning time outs when we don't have to be. Plus whoever is in charge of challenging calls needs to be fired.

 

[Greatness920]

freakin horrible all around how bout go for 6 inches instead of putting the game on the defense which didnt show up all game please... 6 INCHES i coulda made it

 

[Lilseb93]

Yeah but come on,

I've never coached a game in my life and i know this stuff. I know it's easier to be an arm chair critic here, but he's just not doing the job of getting plays in on time or making them clear or whatever if we're burning time outs when we don't have to be. Plus whoever is in charge of challenging calls needs to be fired.

I agree. Poor clock management. We blew that 4th and 10 play. That still hurts.

 

[gota]

I had a feeling they would get in position to win when we left that much time on the clock. We were down by ONE point! Why do we score so quickly?? Hell, we could've KNEELED 3 straight times and that probably would've been enough to make them burn ALL their timeouts before we kick a winning field goal. So stupid.

And yes I am SICK of Ginn NOT returning kicks! One of his returns could be the difference in a game this close! Different team... same old results. I am so tired of being on the losing end of these close games.

 

[Rhody Phins Fan]

If Ronnie had gone down inside of the two we would have been guaranteed the victory. We would have kneeled three times and then kicked a 19 yard field goal.

 

[kooter54]

I had a feeling they would get in position to win when we left that much time on the clock. We were down by ONE point! Why do we score so quickly??

I dont get it....If there is a big wide open hole for Ronnie he isnt supposed to run through it??? They were trying to run the clock out. If they score then so be it. Its the defense job to stop them from scoring. And apprenly Porter and the rest of the line was doing there job.....The secondary cant swat, cover, block, or intercept. Why do we score so quickly??? Because thats what your supposed to do...then let the D take over!

 

[WVDolphan]

If Ronnie had gone down inside of the two we would have been guaranteed the victory. We would have kneeled three times and then kicked a 19 yard field goal.

Glad Im not the only one who realized this.

This cost us the game plain and simple because it was right at the end and IF we wouldve done this the victory was ours so long as we make the FG. I cant see us missing from 20 yards.

So where does this blame lie? Well first and foremost its on the player. Ronnie MUST be aware of the game situation. Im not so certain Houston didnt purposely allow us to score a td on that play, knowing that if we get a first down we can milk it to around 15 seconds before trying a FG. Ive used this method for years and last year when Westbrook utilized it was the only time ive seen a player smart enough to do it. He credited his lineman for telling him to, but he was the one who ultimately made the concious choice to kneel.

So #1 this loss falls on Brown and his boneheaded score there. Secondly, like the lineman made Westbrook aware, the coaching staff and people in the huddle must let the guys know, HEY the mission here is to simply get to the 2 yard line and get down on the ground. All scoring a TD accomplishes is give us a lead that Houston will have a chance to overcome. Getting the first down and kneeling on the ball however, will force Houston to call their 2nd TO. Then we can take a QB kneel, Houston takes their last TO. Then kneel on the ball again, which will take the clock to around 1 min when we snap 3rd and goal. After a kneel down on 3rd and goal, the clock will run all the way to around 15-20 seconds remaining before we kick the go ahead FG. This would leave Houston with between 10-15 seconds to take the KO and find there way to a score with no TO's. Good luck with that. Ronnie cost us the game.

Sure there were a ton of plays we could point to and say if we do this or that we PROBABLY win. Like if Hill gets that INT. But, Ronnie kneeling is EASY to do and it wouldve GUARENTEED that we won. So basically it was stupid and everyones hero cost us a key victory. Just bad.

 

[WVDolphan]

Ronnie Brown's boneheaded score cost us a victory!!

I dont know why only one other person has brought this up, but its pretty simple to see. Ronnie simply had to take a knee after gaining the first down in front of the goal line to seal the victory.

This cost us the game plain and simple because it was right at the end and IF we wouldve done this the victory was ours so long as we make the FG. I cant see us missing from 20 yards.

So where does this blame lie? Well first and foremost its on the player. Ronnie MUST be aware of the game situation. Im not so certain Houston didnt purposely allow us to score a td on that play, knowing that if we get a first down we can milk it to around 15 seconds before trying a FG. Ive used this method for years and last year when Westbrook utilized it was the only time ive seen a player smart enough to do it. He credited his lineman for telling him to, but he was the one who ultimately made the concious choice to kneel.

So #1 this loss falls on Brown and his boneheaded score there. Secondly, like the lineman made Westbrook aware, the coaching staff and people in the huddle must let the guys know, HEY the mission here is to simply get to the 2 yard line and get down on the ground. All scoring a TD accomplishes is give us a lead that Houston will have a chance to overcome. Getting the first down and kneeling on the ball however, will force Houston to call their 2nd TO. Then we can take a QB kneel, Houston takes their last TO. Then kneel on the ball again, which will take the clock to around 1 min when we snap 3rd and goal. After a kneel down on 3rd and goal, the clock will run all the way to around 15-20 seconds remaining before we kick the go ahead FG. This would leave Houston with between 10-15 seconds to take the KO and find there way to a score with no TO's. Good luck with that. Ronnie cost us the game.

Sure there were a ton of plays we could point to and say if we do this or that we PROBABLY win. Like if Hill gets that INT. But, Ronnie kneeling is EASY to do and it wouldve GUARENTEED that we won. So basically it was stupid and everyones hero cost us a key victory. Just bad.

 

[NorthFloridaFin]

You score when you can, who's not to say that the next play Ronnie could have fumbled. Any time you can get into the endzone you go for it. Me personally I like the attitude of the team this year. We have a legitimate chance to score every time we get the ball, and that is something we have been missing the past 3-4 years.

It's a tough loss, but the team is playing 10 times better than they were last year and it has been refreshing to not be the laughing stock of the league this year. We may or may not make the playoffs but we have something special going for us for future purposes and I for one am loving it.

 

[GRYPHONK]

I dont get it....If there is a big wide open hole for Ronnie he isnt supposed to run through it??? They were trying to run the clock out. If they score then so be it. Its the defense job to stop them from scoring. And apprenly Porter and the rest of the line was doing there job.....The secondary cant swat, cover, block, or intercept. Why do we score so quickly??? Because thats what your supposed to do...then let the D take over!

I agree completely.

Too many things could go wrong if Ronnie kneels down. Fumbled snap. Bad snap on a FG try.

Ronnie did what he should have done. End of story.

The defense let this game slip away. If anyone really wants to look at one play that defined the game how about that QB sneak by Schaub. Everyone at the WINGHOUSE was yelling QB sneak well before he snapped the ball. Yet not 1 player or coached decided to call a timeou or realize only 2 Defenders were in the middle.

If you wanna look at another play. How about if Hill comes down with that INT.

No reason to blame Ronnie for doing what he should have done.

 

[PerfectFinz72]

Glad Im not the only one who realized this.

This cost us the game plain and simple because it was right at the end and IF we wouldve done this the victory was ours so long as we make the FG. I cant see us missing from 20 yards.

So where does this blame lie? Well first and foremost its on the player. Ronnie MUST be aware of the game situation. Im not so certain Houston didnt purposely allow us to score a td on that play, knowing that if we get a first down we can milk it to around 15 seconds before trying a FG. Ive used this method for years and last year when Westbrook utilized it was the only time ive seen a player smart enough to do it. He credited his lineman for telling him to, but he was the one who ultimately made the concious choice to kneel.

So #1 this loss falls on Brown and his boneheaded score there. Secondly, like the lineman made Westbrook aware, the coaching staff and people in the huddle must let the guys know, HEY the mission here is to simply get to the 2 yard line and get down on the ground. All scoring a TD accomplishes is give us a lead that Houston will have a chance to overcome. Getting the first down and kneeling on the ball however, will force Houston to call their 2nd TO. Then we can take a QB kneel, Houston takes their last TO. Then kneel on the ball again, which will take the clock to around 1 min when we snap 3rd and goal. After a kneel down on 3rd and goal, the clock will run all the way to around 15-20 seconds remaining before we kick the go ahead FG. This would leave Houston with between 10-15 seconds to take the KO and find there way to a score with no TO's. Good luck with that. Ronnie cost us the game.

Sure there were a ton of plays we could point to and say if we do this or that we PROBABLY win. Like if Hill gets that INT. But, Ronnie kneeling is EASY to do and it wouldve GUARENTEED that we won. So basically it was stupid and everyones hero cost us a key victory. Just bad.

I'm sorry, I dont see this as boneheaded at all. If it was so boneheaded, why is NO ONE else talking about it? And what happens if the FG is missed? I dont think they could run out the clock completely either because they still had at least 1 timeout left.

You take the knee if it seals the game. We still needed to execute something (a FG or TD) to take the lead. You're looking to place blame on one guy for SCORING on the play when so many others, particularly on defense, screwed up left and right.

Sorry, this is a MAJOR reach.