Saban looks for improvement after shaky start by Dolphins

[TotoreMexico]

DAVIE, Fla.--Daunte Culpepper looked erratic, unreliable blocking and pass coverage validated preseason concerns, and coach Nick Saban made a costly mistake as his team squandered a late lead in the NFL opener.

Other than that, the Miami Dolphins are off to a good start.

Miami's 28-17 loss at Pittsburgh left plenty of room for improvement, Saban said Friday. He'll have 10 days to address the problems before Miami's home opener Sept. 17 against Buffalo.

Even with spotty performances in many areas Thursday, the Dolphins still held a 17-14 lead and had the Steelers pinned deep with 7 minutes left. But little went right for Miami after that.

``In everything you do, you have to be able to overcome adversity,'' Saban said. ``That's what we didn't do late in this game, and that's what we have to learn to do. If you can't manage what's hard, it's always going to be hard.''

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/football/pro/dolphins/sfl-0908saban,0,5125944.story?coll=sfla-dolphins-front

 

[kashbo]

hey I think they will improve

 

[TX-FinFan]

I think Culpepper had some good throws along with some bad ones. That can be expected after not playing for a while in a 'real game' situtation.

 

[Majpain]

Lets hope we run the ball more than we did, and less plays in shotgun.

 

[FinsFanatic54]

I'm not worried about Culpepper. He had some nice throws yesterday

 

[DearbornDolfan]

Then again he had some severely underthrown ones and complete lame ducks to way open recievers. Taken together he did decent the first three quarters, but he completely imploded in the fourth. To me it looked like he either doesn't know or doesn't trust his recievers yet, especially Chambers.

 

[Avalanche of Wins]

Then again he had some severely underthrown ones and complete lame ducks to way open recievers. Taken together he did decent the first three quarters, but he completely imploded in the fourth. To me it looked like he either doesn't know or doesn't trust his recievers yet, especially Chambers.

or it could have been our horrendous offensive line, and the fact that from the halfway point in the third quarter on pitts pinned their ears back and blitzed us every down it seemed with [pass rushers coming free from every direction

 

[Regan21286]

Even with spotty performances in many areas Thursday, the Dolphins still held a 17-14 lead and had the Steelers pinned deep with 7 minutes left. But little went right for Miami after that.

That was the turning point right there. The secondary slipped ever further and it seemed the whole team just lost it from there. Saban really needs to re-tinker that secondary and hope Daniels returns.

 

[EndZone13]

All my friends were coming up today saying who's that Wr? They were excited about Welker, and we all should be as well. He looked at the top of his game last night, and all the naysayers who wanted Vick, and Campbell to take his place should be now hiding....
Welker did it all last night besides selling tickets to last nights games... He may have sold a few more to later games this season with his outrageous play last nite.. I thought he was Jim Jensen on nitrous as he cut and turned, running the ball, catching the ball and returned kicks as well. he had to have gotten the game ball for the evening.

:dolphins:

 

[rainmaker1313]

One thing that puzzles me is why arent we throwing the ball up and down the sideline where Chambers is one on one and let him outjump, outplay his defender ,maybe even resulting in Pass INT???

 

[rainmaker1313]

All my friends were coming up today saying who's that Wr? They were excited about Welker, and we all should be as well. He looked at the top of his game last night, and all the naysayers who wanted Vick, and Campbell to take his place should be now hiding....
Welker did it all last night besides selling tickets to last nights games... He may have sold a few more to later games this season with his outrageous play last nite.. I thought he was Jim Jensen on nitrous as he cut and turned, running the ball, catching the ball and returned kicks as well. he had to have gotten the game ball for the evening.

:dolphins:

I like Welker....he has his heart 110% into the game!

 

[miaD5499]

if you really take a look at the scheadule it only gets easier from here, i mean i know for one im expecting no less than a 5-2 record heading into our bye week

 

[jlfin]

I think Culpepper had some good throws along with some bad ones. That can be expected after not playing for a while in a 'real game' situtation.

Tell that to Charlie Batch.

 

[Mike13]

``I didn't realize that no one would see me throw the flag at that time,'' Saban said. ``I promise you that I do have the speed and athleticism to get to them

 

[whatsburning]

That was the turning point right there. The secondary slipped ever further and it seemed the whole team just lost it from there. Saban really needs to re-tinker that secondary and hope Daniels returns.

Nope... the turning point was right before the punt, when we couldn't get 1 1/2 yards to extend the clock and keep our drive going. Remember, that drive started on like the 3 or 4 yard line, and we were just milking the clock. We probably could have gone up by 6 at that point (minimum Mare FG), and with something like 3 - 4 minutes left in the game. At that point, we would have gone strictly nickel, and a catch and run to the TE would have been unlikely. Pittsburgh would have had to pass, and would have had to score a TD, and the outcome would have been just the opposite... pick by Zach for the TD!