I know every play is important in a game but if we could throw out 3 plays of this game I think we would have had a good chance of winning. Despite the poor play of the oline and all the other problems we had(both real and perceived). Here are the plays and the impact I feel they had on the game.
1-10-ATL 16 (2:00) 10-C.Pennington pass short right to 80-A.Fasano to ATL 10 for 6 yards (53-M.Peterson). FUMBLES (53-M.Peterson), RECOVERED by ATL-29-B.Williams at ATL 16. 29-B.Williams to MIA 31 for 53 yards (83-G.Camarillo). FUMBLES (83-G.Camarillo), ball out of bounds at MIA 26. Ball went out of bounds at MIA 26, spotted back at site of fumble by rule.
Without this fumble we likely go into half at the worst 3-7 and possibly 7-7. Not to mention we then have some momentum on our side when we get the ball after half.
2-9-ATL 37 (2:17) (Shotgun) 10-C.Pennington pass short right to 82-B.Hartline pushed ob at ATL 29 for 8 yards. PENALTY on MIA-82-B.Hartline, Offensive Pass Interference, 10 yards, enforced at ATL 37 - No Play.
We go from in fg range with a first down to a pealty and a pick on the following play. If we have no penalty and get the first down most likely we have no turnover. Likely we kick a fg and we are looking at 3-10. Instead they return the pick to the 20 yd line and end up with a TD and go up 16-0.
1-10-MIA 28 (:39) (Shotgun) 10-C.Pennington pass short left to 80-A.Fasano to MIA 38 for 10 yards (50-C.Lofton). FUMBLES (50-C.Lofton), RECOVERED by ATL-95-J.Babineaux at MIA 38.
At this point we still have hope. We need two td's and two 2 point conversions. We just need to get something going. Ronnie slams up the middle for 14 yards and then this play happens. Not only putting our defense back out on the field in crappy field position again but just as bad at this point taking time off the clock. After our d holds we go 3 and out. They get the ball back kill about 4 minutes more and get a 50yd fg. At this point there really isn't enough time to dink and dunk...... we need some big plays...... and that just didn't happen.
So what's the moral to the story........ go back and look at the play by play. We beat ourselves. We had negative plays that led to turnovers, forced punts, and put our defense in horrible position all day long. The very things Sporano always says will get you beat.... got us beat. Our defense played good enough for us to win...... our offense just needs to clean up the negative plays, not turn the ball over, and in doing so will help our defense by possibly getting some points, good field position, and a little rest wouldn't hurt. The sky is not falling. The mistakes we made are correctable and aren't so much a skill problem as an execution problem. Not saying we will beat the Colts but I don't think we will beat ourselves like we did this week. This week will be a good week to see what this years team is made of.
1-10-ATL 16 (2:00) 10-C.Pennington pass short right to 80-A.Fasano to ATL 10 for 6 yards (53-M.Peterson). FUMBLES (53-M.Peterson), RECOVERED by ATL-29-B.Williams at ATL 16. 29-B.Williams to MIA 31 for 53 yards (83-G.Camarillo). FUMBLES (83-G.Camarillo), ball out of bounds at MIA 26. Ball went out of bounds at MIA 26, spotted back at site of fumble by rule.
Without this fumble we likely go into half at the worst 3-7 and possibly 7-7. Not to mention we then have some momentum on our side when we get the ball after half.
2-9-ATL 37 (2:17) (Shotgun) 10-C.Pennington pass short right to 82-B.Hartline pushed ob at ATL 29 for 8 yards. PENALTY on MIA-82-B.Hartline, Offensive Pass Interference, 10 yards, enforced at ATL 37 - No Play.
We go from in fg range with a first down to a pealty and a pick on the following play. If we have no penalty and get the first down most likely we have no turnover. Likely we kick a fg and we are looking at 3-10. Instead they return the pick to the 20 yd line and end up with a TD and go up 16-0.
1-10-MIA 28 (:39) (Shotgun) 10-C.Pennington pass short left to 80-A.Fasano to MIA 38 for 10 yards (50-C.Lofton). FUMBLES (50-C.Lofton), RECOVERED by ATL-95-J.Babineaux at MIA 38.
At this point we still have hope. We need two td's and two 2 point conversions. We just need to get something going. Ronnie slams up the middle for 14 yards and then this play happens. Not only putting our defense back out on the field in crappy field position again but just as bad at this point taking time off the clock. After our d holds we go 3 and out. They get the ball back kill about 4 minutes more and get a 50yd fg. At this point there really isn't enough time to dink and dunk...... we need some big plays...... and that just didn't happen.
So what's the moral to the story........ go back and look at the play by play. We beat ourselves. We had negative plays that led to turnovers, forced punts, and put our defense in horrible position all day long. The very things Sporano always says will get you beat.... got us beat. Our defense played good enough for us to win...... our offense just needs to clean up the negative plays, not turn the ball over, and in doing so will help our defense by possibly getting some points, good field position, and a little rest wouldn't hurt. The sky is not falling. The mistakes we made are correctable and aren't so much a skill problem as an execution problem. Not saying we will beat the Colts but I don't think we will beat ourselves like we did this week. This week will be a good week to see what this years team is made of.
