Still Concerns

[fishypete]

Well Preseason is over, all the vanilla is also gone...now teams fully game plan for both the offense and defense.

Did we see anything new from the offense so far? I can't honestly say that we have.

Most of the rushing yards from last night came from runs outside the tackle positions...nice runs by Ricky and Cobbs...but between the Tackles it appears that the rushers still can't make good gains. While the O-Line for the most part played well in the passing part of the offense, the Dolphins still dink and dunk...the passing yards per reception average isn't very good...only 5.6 for Henne and 5.2 for Penny....and that's against mostly players who won't be playing the Dolphins the next time they meet.

While most of us will agree that all teams play vanilla during the preseason..frankly I was expecting to see more gains...more production especially from the players who were on the roster last season.

This leads me to the next topic...where were the rookies? Did we not already know what Bess and Cam can do on the field? Why wasn't the rookie receivers playing more...why didn't we see more of Turner...heck he didn't play until the game was almost over...and against the scrubs of the Saints that won't be on the team. When you have only have one reception from Turner and none for Hartline...what did you prove...what possibly could you see that would help evaluate those players, especially in the last preseason waste game.

The Dolphins averaged 14.75 points per game...and that of course is including the 27 points acquired against the Panthers...I'm not sure how games the Dolphins can win by just scoring 14.75 points. Can we count on the defense in every game to keep the other offense's from scoring less? Can we ever hope that our un-special teams play won't give up cheap points in every game?

I still have concerns. Concerns like will the O-line finally play better than years past, will our receivers finally get on page with our QB's, will our QB's be able to improve not only their play but throwing averages, will the Dolphins be able to score more points per game?

We will find out soon enough. We have the talent..not only as starters but now the reserves...the Dolphins just have to get it together.

GO PHINS!

 

[DuderinoN703]

The starters didn't play the entire game all preseason so why concern yourself over points scored, especially when you admit to knowing they played with a vanilla offensive scheme?

I think people worry themselves just to have something to do.

 

[fishypete]

The starters didn't play the entire game all preseason so why concern yourself over points scored, especially when you admit to knowing they played with a vanilla offensive scheme?

I think people worry themselves just to have something to do.

The starters played most of the game against Tampa...how many points scored...10.

The point of the thread is that to me, the team still has concerns...if your content..I'm happy for you.

 

[oasis]

Of course the team has concerns. And if I felt that how they played in preseason will be an accurate reflection of what they will do in the regular season, I'd be worried.

But I really think you're going to see a much different team when the plays are called for real. These guys are the ultimate strategizers and they were NOT going to give anything up to opponents who we will see again in the regular season.

Do we need to rehash the plethora of examples proving, aside from evaluating individual efforts and some gelling of units, preseason doesn't mean much?

 

[DuderinoN703]

The starters played most of the game against Tampa...how many points scored...10.

The point of the thread is that to me, the team still has concerns...if your content..I'm happy for you.

What team doesn't have concerns? No team is perfect. And yeah the game against Tampa was poor but poor games occur in the NFL. I'd take a 10-6 win in the regular season any day.

When it comes to playing a vanilla offense and defense scheme in PS, I personally am not that concerned about anything that happens. Now when you use your full playbook and things are still so-so, that's when you start to question the team and how the season will go.

IMO

 

[fishypete]

What team doesn't have concerns? No team is perfect. And yeah the game against Tampa was poor but poor games occur in the NFL. I'd take a 10-6 win in the regular season any day.

When it comes to playing a vanilla offense and defense scheme in PS, I personally am not that concerned about anything that happens. Now when you use your full playbook and things are still so-so, that's when you start to question the team and how the season will go.

IMO

One team was perfect. Yes every team has problems in preseason...the point that I made was and I guess you missed, was that I, for one didn't see much improvement in the Dolphins offense.

 

[DuderinoN703]

One team was perfect. Yes every team has problems in preseason...the point that I made was and I guess you missed, was that I, for one didn't see much improvement in the Dolphins offense.

Oh I missed that point did I? Hmmm, I remember saying that you yourself admitted the team was vanilla in their offensive scheme. Yet you say you didn't see an improvement in the offense.

How can the two of those statements be made and make sense?

 

[fishypete]

Oh I missed that point did I? Hmmm, I remember saying that you yourself admitted the team was vanilla in their offensive scheme. Yet you say you didn't see an improvement in the offense.

How can the two of those statements be made and make sense?

You can be vanilla and still score more points...can't you? You can be vanilla and still run between the tackles...you can still be vanilla and make receptions.

Again..I didn't see much improvement in the offense from this preseason from last's preseason. Does that mean that the offense won't show better..of course not...but you can't write about what you haven't seen..yet.

 

[Dr. Phin]

I am beginning to be less and less impressed with Grove...

Grove was absolutely pushed right back into the QB last night...which was one area I thought that he might be better than Satele

 

[arcane1229]

Are there concerns? yeah, but I dont think they are as bad as many want to believe. Preseason is used to evaluate talent and to get Vets in some kind of rythym. What I got out of the preseason was alot of positives and I'll name a few.

Penny looks like he is getting it together picking up his accuracy,, reading the defenses, and most noticable throwing some more deep balls and hitting recievers. Henne is picking it up too and as you can tell is learning from Penny. Reading defenses and checking down not forcing stuff.

Ronnie and Ricky look good. Ronnie will be involved in the passing game more and Ricky runs the sidelines better than I have seen in a while.

Ginn looked good in one game and is capable and I think they stopped going to him for a reason. Bess had the droppsies but is back and Cam has picked it up. Hartline was a good pick. Turner a work in progress.

Oline needs to keep working but the big plus there is Thomas has looked good, i really am not worried about Long, Carey and Smiley. Lets watch Grove some more.

Our tightends are good.

Defense was very vanilla this preseason. Taylor looks good and Joey played the run alot better compared to last year. The inside backers are playing well. Defensive line is going to be really good, as long Soly keeps working. DB are good but need to keep playing together.

Special Teams needs work, with all the size and speed onthis team I am starting to believe it may be a special teams coaching issue. I would think Sparano would fix that. We'll see what happens.

 

[fishypete]

I am beginning to be less and less impressed with Grove...

Grove was absolutely pushed right back into the QB last night...which was one area I thought that he might be better than Satele

I'm not concerned as much as one player as the unit itself. I hope in time together they will get better.

 

[Dr. Phin]

I'm not concerned as much as one player as the unit itself. I hope in time together they will get better.

I understand. I am just looking for specific points. All of them on the line have had their issues...

Let's hope that they stay healthy and get a chance to "gel"...maybe then we will see a real line develop...

 

[3rdandinches]

I'll look after our first game and then decide about concerns. Afterall our game plan will be to win not just to work kinks out. Atlanta will test our overall defense and should allow our offense to show what they can really do.

 

[BobDole]

i agree. the starters on the o-line haven't been impressive - especially for what they're making. i don't like how we threw the ball 5 yards almost every time as well. it's preseason - let's see what the young QB and receivers can do. hard to tell what areas need improving when you do the same damn thing every time. preseason is there to evaluate players strengths and weaknesses. the only thing i saw is that we can sometimes complete 5 yard passes. sure - we tried a few deep balls - but not nearly enough to evaluate or keep defenses honest. turner and hartline are still huge question marks to me largely because they weren't really given a chance to show anything one way or the other. henne is kind of the same - it was the same thing over and over again. the guy's got a cannon - let him show it off and see how accurate he is with it.

i'm not overly concerned with offensive production this year though - i think a lot of it was them not wanting to let the cat out of the bag. but the o-line needs to get it together. and quick.

the defense is going to be sick. have absolutely no worries there. we are 100% better than last year - and we weren't all that bad last season. opposing QB's are going to fear playing the fins. about fugging time.

 

[FinHopeful]

I am beginning to be less and less impressed with Grove...

Grove was absolutely pushed right back into the QB last night...which was one area I thought that he might be better than Satele

1st Play - Gave up two half-steps in pass protection. That is a win.
2nd Play - Stands NT straight up during pass protection. No ground lost. That is a big time win.
3rd Play - Got stood up while trying to pull to right. Thomas missed his blockdown and Grove did not get out of there quickly enough. Grove was unable to get to his assignment, so the fullback was not available to throw a block in the whole. Loss equally blamed to Grove and Thomas.
4th Play - Saint switch to a 4 four-man front. Responsiblity for NT (Now DT) passed off to Smiley. Grove correctly changes to supporting role. He actually places a hand on both DTs. Win for helping out.
5th Play - Fantastic pass protection with help from Smiley on a stunt. Davone Bess circus catch. Big time win.
6th Play - Incredible pass protection from entire line. D line barely took a step forward. Pennington three it away prematurely. Solomon Wilcox counted to 5 before the ball was thrown. He had all day. Why not check down to Ronnie? Big time win.
7th Play - Very good fake run pass blocking. Nice play developing but Ted Ginn does a poor job blocking the CB that trips up Bess. C'mon Teddy get some brass ones!! Big win for Grove.
8th Play - Good pass block but Pennington runs out of the pocket. Win for Grove.


1st Drive:

Loss 1
Win 3
Big Time Win 4

Looks pretty good to me. Further, he showed the ability to disguise a block. Satele gave major tells when he was play-action blocking (fake run block). I have yet to hear anyone have a fact based criticism on Grove's blocking.