Miami Dolphins ready to put it all on the line

[DKphin]

The sentiment came from Dolphins guard Justin Smiley, so it would no doubt lack the sugar coating some might come to expect from a pro athlete. Smiley is known for speaking the truth.
``It's nobody's fault but our own,'' Smiley said of Miami's underachieving offensive line. ``Enough is enough. Offensive lines take time, but we don't have time.''
Tough stuff, right? There's still one clarification that needs to be made about those comments: Smiley didn't say them in the wake of Sunday's season-opening loss to the Falcons. He made them in 2008, after Miami started that season 0-2.
This is where a fine line must be drawn. The lesson that can be learned from Miami's most recent woes (which also included an underachieving performance from the offensive line) is that last year showed that it was too early to panic.
``Last year, we did the same thing,'' tackle Vernon Carey said. ``We had miscues and stuff like that. We're going to get it together. We're going to get it right.''
Now for the other side of that line, the one that probably made more than a few fans wince in reaction to Carey's comments. Nobody wants to rest on the security of what happened a season ago. The team already has made that clear.
So although it is worth noting that left tackle Jake Long had committed two penalties and gave up one sack two games into last season, it only matters if Long realizes how much hard work it took to fix the problem rather than just expecting it to happen because the same thing happened in 2008.
None of this excuses Long's game Sunday, which coach Tony Sparano said ``wasn't a winning performance,'' but it does provide a reason for Long to stay confident. Nothing wrong with that, as long as confidence isn't confused with contentment.
``There is some history there, some history of being able to do some of these things that maybe not too many people think that you can do,'' Sparano said when asked if he can draw off last season's start to keep spirits high.
Sparano still knows as well as anyone how much has come to be expected from this offensive line. Miami didn't invest $156 million in this unit to be satisfied with a slow start to the season. That's the same reason Smiley was back to preaching his mantra from last year, noting that the line needs to get things fixed in ``days'' because ``we don't have the luxury of waiting around.''
So rather than simply expecting things to get fixed because they did last year, Sparano got to work Monday morning to diagnose the problem. After breaking down the film, he provided a detailed explanation about the team's need to ``do a better job of shortening the edges a little bit.''
He wants Long and Carey to shorten the distance between them and the incoming defender so they aren't making their initial contact only a few yards away from quarterback Chad Pennington in certain situations. The point of engagement needs to occur sooner.
``We can fix that,'' said Sparano, a former offensive line coach. ``Other than that, we need some more communication inside, better communication.''

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/football/miami-dolphins/story/1233931.html

 

[gfish24]

Hopefully this is just some adjustments that need to be made to get us competitive offensively... I really think once the pass blocking is figured out we'll be fine

 

[ciscoholgate]

We were effective rushing on the edges, so once they get the pass blocking fixed, they should be fine. Hopefully they get it fixed by monday.

 

[fishypete]

There going to be ready next game...er...what happened yesterday?

 

[72champagne]

yeah, don't make contact with the defender too close to noodle cause he needs time to throw it into the turf if his primary receiver 3 yards down the field isn't open.

 

[3rdandinches]

Run the ball!!!!!!

 

[fishypete]

Run the ball!!!!!!

Now don't get into any bad habits...like using common sense...

 

[dlockz]

I dont buy this excuse. Im sure Long and Carey played tackle last year.

 

[Dtronic]

There going to be ready next game...er...what happened yesterday?

They had all offseason and preseason to get ready for the first game and now they are going to fix it for the next game?

Wouldn't it make more sense to fix it for the first game?

 

[finbeerfan]

Did they ever fix it last year? I thought the line was pretty bad all last year, That's why they went out and got a new center. With the players returning from injury they were supposed to be better this year.