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- Mar 13, 2006
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Not everything tonight was a negative... so mixed w. clouds here's some silver linings:
1. Penny made a couple nice throws to redeem a very dismal outing.
I never watch a game w. Penny at QB that I don't beg for the ball to hurry up and get to the WR... watched some WRs take huge hits b/c the ball hung up enough for the defender to close and attack through the WR. But that said, Penny always shows a feel for the game, and good resolve.
Tonight showed that he's gonna keep hanging in there, even when he starts dismally. That's the positive way I'm gonna frame it. Sorta like Sparano saying, "He can make every throw we need him to make." A lot of hidden assumptions in that statement, lol. But the positives are there.
2. Moses looked good.
3. Langford looked really good.
4. Wake is gonna be great, eventually.
5. Hartline did just enough to show that he's closer to an NFL number two than Bess or Cam, better speed than both. He could show better hands though, imo.
6. Bess. Nice one handed grab OB... trying to make up for the embarrassing drop last week? lol. ooohh... but watching Bess on PR is as painful as watching Penny's throws, sometimes. Bess is simply SLOW. He has a quick first step but watching him trying to turn the corner against LBs is like watching Penny's wounded ducks flutter through air that has suddenly turned heavy, lol.
7. Which brings up STs... putting Bess on PRs is like giving up on challenging the other team. It's like saying, "I want to be safe more than I want to be great." Hmm... anyone else think this is the wrong philosophy for long term success? STs are the hidden yards of a team, so many games turn on STs... to give up at the outset with a returner that simply doesn't offer the threat of home run -- it's counterproductive.
8. What happened to Turner?
9. London was in on a lot of STs but didn't get a lot of looks at WR, either. Have they given up on him at WR? He's got better speed than anyone except Ginn and Armstrong, right now.
10. Jason Allen made some ST plays. But he's an expensive STeamr.
11. Henne. Good arm, not great QB, imo. Needs work and experience to develop into a serviceable QB.
12. HUGE TROUBLE SPOT: Base pass rush. I was really surprised that the base pass rush generated so little pressure. Anytime Byron "Wind UP" Leftwich is stepping up and making plays on you down the field, your pass rush is in trouble. Key: Porter looked old and slow, imo. Not effective tonight, overall. Not until they started keying blitzes did consistent pressure come.
13. This secondary is prime for the taking, imo. After watching Leftwich only end drives with mistakes, does anyone think Brady wouldn't pass for 300 yards with ease? Troubling.
Question marks: base pass rush, secondary, WRs. We supposedly upgraded hugely at WR and DB this off-season. Did we?
And are we always gonna have to blitz to get pressure on the QB? The first two preseason games were very hopeful on this front... this one looked like some guys were in quicksand. Porter didn't have that jump, imo.
Maybe they WERE leg tired, as someone said. Certainly possible!
14. Big impressive person tonight: SPARANO! Gotta love this guy, up or down, win or lose, he's a fiery leader.
15. Offensive line: I'd love to hear someone break down their play, because I'm bothered that the best performer on the OL right now seems to be one of the least paid ones: Thomas.
It makes sense that Sparano should overspend for a position close to his heart, but spending so dearly on one position w.o major returns is eventually going to take its toll, imo.
Anyhow, go Phins!
LD
1. Penny made a couple nice throws to redeem a very dismal outing.
I never watch a game w. Penny at QB that I don't beg for the ball to hurry up and get to the WR... watched some WRs take huge hits b/c the ball hung up enough for the defender to close and attack through the WR. But that said, Penny always shows a feel for the game, and good resolve.
Tonight showed that he's gonna keep hanging in there, even when he starts dismally. That's the positive way I'm gonna frame it. Sorta like Sparano saying, "He can make every throw we need him to make." A lot of hidden assumptions in that statement, lol. But the positives are there.
2. Moses looked good.
3. Langford looked really good.
4. Wake is gonna be great, eventually.
5. Hartline did just enough to show that he's closer to an NFL number two than Bess or Cam, better speed than both. He could show better hands though, imo.
6. Bess. Nice one handed grab OB... trying to make up for the embarrassing drop last week? lol. ooohh... but watching Bess on PR is as painful as watching Penny's throws, sometimes. Bess is simply SLOW. He has a quick first step but watching him trying to turn the corner against LBs is like watching Penny's wounded ducks flutter through air that has suddenly turned heavy, lol.
7. Which brings up STs... putting Bess on PRs is like giving up on challenging the other team. It's like saying, "I want to be safe more than I want to be great." Hmm... anyone else think this is the wrong philosophy for long term success? STs are the hidden yards of a team, so many games turn on STs... to give up at the outset with a returner that simply doesn't offer the threat of home run -- it's counterproductive.
8. What happened to Turner?
9. London was in on a lot of STs but didn't get a lot of looks at WR, either. Have they given up on him at WR? He's got better speed than anyone except Ginn and Armstrong, right now.
10. Jason Allen made some ST plays. But he's an expensive STeamr.
11. Henne. Good arm, not great QB, imo. Needs work and experience to develop into a serviceable QB.
12. HUGE TROUBLE SPOT: Base pass rush. I was really surprised that the base pass rush generated so little pressure. Anytime Byron "Wind UP" Leftwich is stepping up and making plays on you down the field, your pass rush is in trouble. Key: Porter looked old and slow, imo. Not effective tonight, overall. Not until they started keying blitzes did consistent pressure come.
13. This secondary is prime for the taking, imo. After watching Leftwich only end drives with mistakes, does anyone think Brady wouldn't pass for 300 yards with ease? Troubling.
Question marks: base pass rush, secondary, WRs. We supposedly upgraded hugely at WR and DB this off-season. Did we?
And are we always gonna have to blitz to get pressure on the QB? The first two preseason games were very hopeful on this front... this one looked like some guys were in quicksand. Porter didn't have that jump, imo.
Maybe they WERE leg tired, as someone said. Certainly possible!
14. Big impressive person tonight: SPARANO! Gotta love this guy, up or down, win or lose, he's a fiery leader.
15. Offensive line: I'd love to hear someone break down their play, because I'm bothered that the best performer on the OL right now seems to be one of the least paid ones: Thomas.
It makes sense that Sparano should overspend for a position close to his heart, but spending so dearly on one position w.o major returns is eventually going to take its toll, imo.
Anyhow, go Phins!
LD
