ckparrothead
Premium Member
On September 23rd, at 9am Pro Football Talk posted this...
Not wholly unreasonable in my opinion. Our WRs aren't where they need to be right now, they need to improve. They're YAC/R figures and their YPC figures are far below where they should be when the Norv Turner offense is firing on most/all cylinders.
But now, today, Pro Football Talk posted this...
So it would seem that the Patriots and Dolphins are eyeing each other with concerns in their mind about their own shortcomings, despite the magnitude of BOTH teams' success on offense and defense. This will be, a REALLY good matchup!
FINS FAR FROM PERFECT
Sure, they're 3-0. Sure, they've got their most dominating running back since the days of Larry Csonka. Sure, the defense is still suffocating the opposing teams, even without Patrick Surtain in the lineup.
But the Miami Dolphins need to address a couple of key areas if they hope to get past the reigning kings of the AFC, the New England Patriots.
A league source tells us that, despite their overall success, there are two key components of the passing game that could drag the fish (okay, mammals) down as the season unfolds. First, the offensive line isn't consistently buying enough time for quarterback Jay Fiedler to unload the ball. Though he was sacked only one time by the Jets, Fielder passed for only 185 yards on 30 attempts.
The other problem is that the wideouts aren't getting enough separation in their routes. Oronde Gadsden had a highlight-reel catch on Sunday -- but it was his only reception of the day, for 23 yards. Chris Chambers caught four passes for 33, and Dedric Ward caught two balls, for a mere 17 yards.
Rookie tight end Randy McMichael has been picking up the slack nicely, with five catches for 79 yards on Sunday (and a touchdown). However, the Dolphins are concerned that future opponents (i.e., the Pats) will try to shut him down.
As the Dolphins prepare to play teams who will be better equipped to contain Ricky Williams -- who suddenly looks better than ever -- Fiedler will need time and open targets in order to keep the chains moving. It's an issue that bears watching as the weeks unfold.
Not wholly unreasonable in my opinion. Our WRs aren't where they need to be right now, they need to improve. They're YAC/R figures and their YPC figures are far below where they should be when the Norv Turner offense is firing on most/all cylinders.
But now, today, Pro Football Talk posted this...
PATS CONCERNED ABOUT D-LINE
On Monday, we outlined some problems that the Miami Dolphins need to address if they hope to compete with the New England Patriots. However, a league source tells us that the Pats have concerns of their own regarding the Dolphins, especially with Ricky Williams suddenly looking like the dude who nearly persuaded Mike Ditka to turn fruity three years ago. (Not that there's anything wrong with that.)
According to the source, the Patriots realize that their D-line is composed of several guys who had career years in 2001. On Sunday, however, the unit was dominated by the Chiefs and running back Priest Holmes. Though Holmes has emerged since moving from Baltimore to K.C. after the 2000 season, no one should confuse him with the new, improved Ricky Williams, who arguably is the leading early candidate for MVP honors.
Given the quiet concerns regarding the Dolphins passing game, look for the Pats to stack up against the run on October 6, forcing Jay Fielder to try to beat them with his arm. Either way, it'll be a good one to watch.
So it would seem that the Patriots and Dolphins are eyeing each other with concerns in their mind about their own shortcomings, despite the magnitude of BOTH teams' success on offense and defense. This will be, a REALLY good matchup!