Phil Simms on the Fins -especially Ronnie

[Finfan80]

Sorry if this has been posted before, haven't seen it:

"I answered this [Monday] to somebody," Simms said on 790 The Ticket. "I said let's take their team and match it up against the New England Patriots, and start naming [players]. All of a sudden they go, 'Oh yeah, wow, what a difference.' Let's match the Miami Dolphins up against the New York Giants. The Giants have potentially All-Pro players at almost every [position]. Can you say that about the Dolphins?"

Simms also was critical of running back Ronnie Brown.

"I don't look at him and go 'Oh, wow,' said Simms. "When I saw Laurence Maroney of the New England Patriots, I can tell you right away as soon as I saw him, I said, 'My gosh.'

"It's not about blocking," he said. "I understand sometimes there could be great running backs that are going to average three yards a carry if the opportunity is just not there ever. I don't think [Brown's] opportunities are great, but I don't see physical qualities that stand out tremendously like I do with a Laurence Maroney, a Tiki Barber and all the great backs in the NFL."

guys, I've got to say we all know that to be true about the team, but what most of us are still coming to grips with is where Ronnie fits into the picture. He is not an elite back deserving of the #2 overall pick in the draft. He is a good back -possibly a very good back at times -but essentially, he is Brandon Jacobs with a little less bulk and a little more speed. He doesn't have the vision to hit the lanes when they are there, and he doesn't have the speed to turn it outside. He's a good blocker but occasionally struggles there, too

 

[BuGaLoU]

Why in the heck to people keep bringing up Ronnie Brown?

Sure, Ronnie could be better but aren't there, oh I dunno, a least a dozen other problems MUCH more pressing than our 2nd year running back?

 

[Finfan80]

more pressing than scoring points and controlling the ball? uh, yeah

 

[BuGaLoU]

more pressing than scoring points and controlling the ball? uh, yeah

Yes, like keeping the other team from doing exactly that. Ehem, secondary.

 

[DolfinDave]

I thinks its a little premature to say he isn't worthy of the number 2 pick. He had just as good a year as Cadillac last year while splitting carries. He is also a better receiver than Cadillac. I don't know what else we should have done with that pick. He might not turn out to be a great running back, but he should be very good. It would definitely help if he got the freakin ball a little more instead of calling 60 pass plays. No one questioned Edgerrine James' vision before he got behind a bad offensive line in Arizona. He is getting the ball more than Ronnie and is still not putting up a whole lot better numbers. I bet the vision of running backs improves with better blocking.

 

[testtubetimmy]

Ronnie is not playing like the number 2 selection overall. When Joey Harrington throws the ball 62 times a game because we have absolutely NO running game, thats a problem.

We keep bringing it up because no one is willing to say we made a mistake last year. Everyone still thinks ronnie is going to break out and be big.

Sorry. He doesnt have the vision, he doesnt have the moves. He just runs straight ahead and plows into a line, getting maybe a yard or two every time.

Come to grips with that like we've come to grips with the secondary sucking, and people will stop bringing it up

 

[byroan]

When Joey Harrington throws the ball 62 times a game because we have absolutely NO running game, thats a problem.

The problem is NOT Ronnie. Ronnie isn't the one calling the pass plays. The reason we have NO running game is because of the playcalling, NOT because of Ronnie Brown. Ronnie averaged almost 4 yards a carry and we still threw the ball 62 times.

I find it funny that with all of our problems on this team, people still put down one of the bright spots.

 

[gish]

The running games lack of success is due to horrible offensive paly calling. We just arent calling the plays that catch the defense at the right time. We are being very unoriginal in our play calling and very predictable. How can you blame the oline or the running back for doing something that everyone on the field knows is going to happen.

Ronnie is fine. Mularkey is not.


I miss Linehan. Lucky Rams! We should have demoted Saban to DC and made Linehan our HC, I bet we would be at least 5-2 right now.

 

[Boik14]

Sorry if this has been posted before, haven't seen it:

"I answered this [Monday] to somebody," Simms said on 790 The Ticket. "I said let's take their team and match it up against the New England Patriots, and start naming [players]. All of a sudden they go, 'Oh yeah, wow, what a difference.' Let's match the Miami Dolphins up against the New York Giants. The Giants have potentially All-Pro players at almost every [position]. Can you say that about the Dolphins?"

Simms also was critical of running back Ronnie Brown.

"I don't look at him and go 'Oh, wow,' said Simms. "When I saw Laurence Maroney of the New England Patriots, I can tell you right away as soon as I saw him, I said, 'My gosh.'

"It's not about blocking," he said. "I understand sometimes there could be great running backs that are going to average three yards a carry if the opportunity is just not there ever. I don't think [Brown's] opportunities are great, but I don't see physical qualities that stand out tremendously like I do with a Laurence Maroney, a Tiki Barber and all the great backs in the NFL."

guys, I've got to say we all know that to be true about the team, but what most of us are still coming to grips with is where Ronnie fits into the picture. He is not an elite back deserving of the #2 overall pick in the draft. He is a good back -possibly a very good back at times -but essentially, he is Brandon Jacobs with a little less bulk and a little more speed. He doesn't have the vision to hit the lanes when they are there, and he doesn't have the speed to turn it outside. He's a good blocker but occasionally struggles there, too

Normally I agree with Phil Simms but hes forgetting that at this point in tiki's career he was struggling just to hang on to the ball. To compare Ronnie now vs tiki now isnt fair...compare the 2 at the same points in their career. Ronnie is far more polished. Ive watch Tiki his whole career and he didnt really blossom until the NYG made their run in 2001. SO it took Tiki about 5 years to solidify his starting role and 7 years to really take it up to the level where he can be considered elite. And that isnt the norm for a back.

As far as Maroney, no question hes good but to place him in the same group as Tiki is insane. Tiki leads all NFL backs in yards over the past 3 years. Hes arguably the best back in the league over that span and these past 3 (not including this year) are as good a 3 year run are in the top 1% you can find. Maroney will never be the pass catcher that tiki or ronnie is and he wont be the blocker that either is. Hes a better runner then ronnie now but ronnie probably has a bigger upside and will probably take time, like tiki to fully blossom. Im surprised simms doesnt see the similarities that do exist but yet claims there are similarities that dont exist.

Also he talks about the NYG having all pros everywhere but you cant show me 1 on their OL. However I can show you an Ol that has worked together for a few years and developed chemistry unlike our revolving door on the left side and constant shifting of players. Make no mistake that matters. Pettigout and McKenzie are solid LT/RT and Snee is going to be an all pro G for years. The Giants have a better overall team and a big part of that is because they have a way better Ol and way better QB play right now

 

[Boik14]

The problem is NOT Ronnie. Ronnie isn't the one calling the pass plays. The reason we have NO running game is because of the playcalling, NOT because of Ronnie Brown. Ronnie averaged almost 4 yards a carry and we still threw the ball 62 times.

I find it funny that with all of our problems on this team, people still put down one of the bright spots.

Agreed. And we're falling behind because we arent doing enough to control the clock early. We simply cannot run the ball or hit big plays downfield in the passing game until late in the game.

 

[DolfinDave]

Normally I agree with Phil Simms but hes forgetting that at this point in tiki's career he was struggling just to hang on to the ball. To compare Ronnie now vs tiki now isnt fair...compare the 2 at the same points in their career. Ronnie is far more polished. Ive watch Tiki his whole career and he didnt really blossom until the NYG made their run in 2001. SO it took Tiki about 5 years to solidify his starting role and 7 years to really take it up to the level where he can be considered elite. And that isnt the norm for a back.

As far as Maroney, no question hes good but to place him in the same group as Tiki is insane. Tiki leads all NFL backs in yards over the past 3 years. Hes arguably the best back in the league over that span and these past 3 (not including this year) are as good a 3 year run are in the top 1% you can find. Maroney will never be the pass catcher that tiki or ronnie is and he wont be the blocker that either is. Hes a better runner then ronnie now but ronnie probably has a bigger upside and will probably take time, like tiki to fully blossom. Im surprised simms doesnt see the similarities that do exist but yet claims there are similarities that dont exist.

Also he talks about the NYG having all pros everywhere but you cant show me 1 on their OL. However I can show you an Ol that has worked together for a few years and developed chemistry unlike our revolving door on the left side and constant shifting of players. Make no mistake that matters. Pettigout and McKenzie are solid LT/RT and Snee is going to be an all pro G for years. The Giants have a better overall team and a big part of that is because they have a way better Ol and way better QB play right now

Good call on Tiki. He just became an elite back a couple of years ago and he is what, like 30 years old now. So it took a little while. And Maroney looks good but he has played like 6 games. That is even more premature than labling Ronnie a bust. I agree with the other posts that blame the play calling for the lack of running game. Ronnie was running very well in the last game and just didn't get a chance to establish anything. The best backs in the league get 20-25 carries a game. How can we compare Ronnie to those guys when he is only getting 10-15 carries a game?

 

["D"olphinBomb]

Phil Simms is an {mod edit - removed} Ronnie has not been utilized properly this year at all. Yes, he has 1 game of 100+ yards (with a horrible O line) which he actually had 20+ run but he only has 1 other game he had 20+ runs and 90 yards against the Jets. Phil Simms is a hated man in south Florida and actually shouldn't be quoted on FH.

 

[BlaznRoarn]

Fine what were we to have picked? Edwards? Great now we have no running back. Trade? No im pretty sure we would have traded down given a deal. We picked Ronnie Brown because he was what we needed at that pick. Ricky is not our running back. Not when he is so random a character. Im glad we picked Ronnie. He's has been more than servicable and quite the stud when given the chance especially with the kind of offense we are running. Im very happy with every pick last year. So far it was a great draft for starting personal. And to those who say Brown is Jacobs i scoff. That is rediculous.

 

[fishypete]

Normally I agree with Phil Simms but hes forgetting that at this point in tiki's career he was struggling just to hang on to the ball. To compare Ronnie now vs tiki now isnt fair...compare the 2 at the same points in their career. Ronnie is far more polished. Ive watch Tiki his whole career and he didnt really blossom until the NYG made their run in 2001. SO it took Tiki about 5 years to solidify his starting role and 7 years to really take it up to the level where he can be considered elite. And that isnt the norm for a back.

As far as Maroney, no question hes good but to place him in the same group as Tiki is insane. Tiki leads all NFL backs in yards over the past 3 years. Hes arguably the best back in the league over that span and these past 3 (not including this year) are as good a 3 year run are in the top 1% you can find. Maroney will never be the pass catcher that tiki or ronnie is and he wont be the blocker that either is. Hes a better runner then ronnie now but ronnie probably has a bigger upside and will probably take time, like tiki to fully blossom. Im surprised simms doesnt see the similarities that do exist but yet claims there are similarities that dont exist.

Also he talks about the NYG having all pros everywhere but you cant show me 1 on their OL. However I can show you an Ol that has worked together for a few years and developed chemistry unlike our revolving door on the left side and constant shifting of players. Make no mistake that matters. Pettigout and McKenzie are solid LT/RT and Snee is going to be an all pro G for years. The Giants have a better overall team and a big part of that is because they have a way better Ol and way better QB play right now

Trying not to sound too negative....Ronnie has had his fair share of fumbles. Trying to compare Tiki to Ronnie is like trying to compare the bus to Ronnie...they are different in many ways. Tiki is much faster and makes moves that helps him avoid defenders....Brown is a slugger...pure and simple...and doesn't have that extra gear...to out run the defenders. Ronnie is a work horse....he'll slug his way for his 4-5 yds....but rushers like Tiki may get stopped a few times....but he'll get his long runs...in the game.

It just depends on what you like...in a runner.

 

[Phantom]

Boy i wish we had a crystal ball, because it would sure be nice to have Braylon Edwards and be able to pick Adrian Peterson this year..... wishful thinking though.......