Well, since we are now a quarter of the way through the season and have experienced yet another loss, I need to vent. Here are my random thoughts/musings/questions about the Fins:
Offense:
1. Can anyone on this team catch the ball on a slant?
2. Will we ever be able to attack the middle of the field?
3. Randy McMichael continues to earn my most overrated player award for his dissappearing act everytime we need him to step up the most. He was invisible yesterday, and he had at least one drop. He is no Shockey, Heap, or Gates.
4. Wes Welker is my current MVP on this team. He has a limited role, but he absolutely makes the best of every opportunity. Smart, fast, and slippery...Welker is quickly becoming my favorite player.
5. The much maligned offensive line continues to deserve its criticism. A touchdown called back on a hold this week, and a complete failure to open any running lanes.
6. Ronnie Brown. This kid has lots of potential on paper, but has yet to do much consistantly on the field. No doubt he is suffering from a bad OL and a pass happy O, but maybe he isn't making enough plays himself to switch us into a run first O? At this point, Ronnie has not justified his second overall pick in the draft...still a first round pick, maybe, but not the wonderchild the pre-draft hype made him seem.
7. Ricky looks faster than before. He will supplant Ronnie as starter by mid-season.
8. Chambers is a #2 receiver. It is time to finally acknowledge that fact and look for a legit #1 this offseason.
9. Can we all finally agree that a caretaker at the QB position simply isn't enough in today's NFL? Frerotte is slipping into a Fiedler-esque performance each week. 3 picks and 2 fumbles in the last 2 weeks...is he really that much better than Feeley? This position demands top priority this offseason.
Defense:
1. Two weeks in a row we have come out flat in the first 1/4. Why? Saban is the master disciplinarian...the first 1/4 should be our strongest. This offense needs an early lead if they are going to win. Our first 1/4 defense needs major improvement.
2. Donnie Spragan is no Seau. As old as Seau is, he is still the best option we have at his position. Please recover quickly, Jr.!
3. Zach Thomas continues to overachieve. This man is our defensive MVP.
4. Why is it our blitz packages are so innefective? Our blitzes are routinely picked up...frustrating.
5. Our secondary isn't just weaker than it has been in a while, it is one of the weakest in the NFL. Every player in our secondary has been exploited so far this year. Lance Schulters is the lone standout.
6. I can't comprehend how an opposing offense's best receiver always gets paired up on a rookie or Howard. Why?
7. JT has the best motor on this team. Unfortunately, it sometimes causes him to overpersue. Still a beast with the best playmaking ability on the team.
8. Tackling and hitting. When Saban first took this team over, I thought hard hitting, solid tackling would be a given for the rest of the year. I was wrong. The secondary looked like they were made of glass against Tampa. Lots of extra yardage after poor tackling and hitting. Where is the fire from earlier?
Overall:
1. Discipline is still a problem. Lots of players will be hitting the road after this season.
2. Players continue to tell us this isn't the same Dolphins team. I say it is. Sloppy play, poor tackling, lots of penalties, bad passing, and no open run lanes. What's different?
3. I will not pick the Dolphins to win another road game this year...Maybe I am jinxing them :eek:
Offense:
1. Can anyone on this team catch the ball on a slant?
2. Will we ever be able to attack the middle of the field?
3. Randy McMichael continues to earn my most overrated player award for his dissappearing act everytime we need him to step up the most. He was invisible yesterday, and he had at least one drop. He is no Shockey, Heap, or Gates.
4. Wes Welker is my current MVP on this team. He has a limited role, but he absolutely makes the best of every opportunity. Smart, fast, and slippery...Welker is quickly becoming my favorite player.
5. The much maligned offensive line continues to deserve its criticism. A touchdown called back on a hold this week, and a complete failure to open any running lanes.
6. Ronnie Brown. This kid has lots of potential on paper, but has yet to do much consistantly on the field. No doubt he is suffering from a bad OL and a pass happy O, but maybe he isn't making enough plays himself to switch us into a run first O? At this point, Ronnie has not justified his second overall pick in the draft...still a first round pick, maybe, but not the wonderchild the pre-draft hype made him seem.
7. Ricky looks faster than before. He will supplant Ronnie as starter by mid-season.
8. Chambers is a #2 receiver. It is time to finally acknowledge that fact and look for a legit #1 this offseason.
9. Can we all finally agree that a caretaker at the QB position simply isn't enough in today's NFL? Frerotte is slipping into a Fiedler-esque performance each week. 3 picks and 2 fumbles in the last 2 weeks...is he really that much better than Feeley? This position demands top priority this offseason.
Defense:
1. Two weeks in a row we have come out flat in the first 1/4. Why? Saban is the master disciplinarian...the first 1/4 should be our strongest. This offense needs an early lead if they are going to win. Our first 1/4 defense needs major improvement.
2. Donnie Spragan is no Seau. As old as Seau is, he is still the best option we have at his position. Please recover quickly, Jr.!
3. Zach Thomas continues to overachieve. This man is our defensive MVP.
4. Why is it our blitz packages are so innefective? Our blitzes are routinely picked up...frustrating.
5. Our secondary isn't just weaker than it has been in a while, it is one of the weakest in the NFL. Every player in our secondary has been exploited so far this year. Lance Schulters is the lone standout.
6. I can't comprehend how an opposing offense's best receiver always gets paired up on a rookie or Howard. Why?
7. JT has the best motor on this team. Unfortunately, it sometimes causes him to overpersue. Still a beast with the best playmaking ability on the team.
8. Tackling and hitting. When Saban first took this team over, I thought hard hitting, solid tackling would be a given for the rest of the year. I was wrong. The secondary looked like they were made of glass against Tampa. Lots of extra yardage after poor tackling and hitting. Where is the fire from earlier?
Overall:
1. Discipline is still a problem. Lots of players will be hitting the road after this season.
2. Players continue to tell us this isn't the same Dolphins team. I say it is. Sloppy play, poor tackling, lots of penalties, bad passing, and no open run lanes. What's different?
3. I will not pick the Dolphins to win another road game this year...Maybe I am jinxing them :eek:
