The missing ingredient

[jhortondj2]

Confidence in short yardage situations only comes with success, and finding the right formula that allows us to gain 1 tough yard when we need it, and they know we are coming (ala Csonka) could really put this team over the top. We have some tough, young, strong lineman on the right side and if we add a fullback and put an extra tackle(lined up as an eligible tight end) on that side, we should be able to tell the D where we are going and still gain 1 yard when we need it. That's smashmouth, that's dominance, that's building confidence, that's maintaining momentum, that's picking up a first down, that's controlling the clock, that's punching it in, that's 100,000 people screaming because they know.......that's what made an undefeated season! Add this Tony and you help every other part of your gameplan. Rest our D, tire out theirs. Go Dolphins!!!!

 

[SpaceMountain16]

I really didn't understand the play calling last night. They wouldn't go for the throat in a pre-season game when they are about a half yard away from the endzone. Jeeze all you have to do is hand it straight up the middle to Ricky or Mauia or Grigsby and there is about a 70 percent chance they fall forward for that half yard. Then there was a 4th down they punted on that was even closer. I mean at least find something that works for you in the pre-season on short yardage situations so you can try it in the regular season. A sneak, a draw, something.

 

[BenchFiedler]

I really didn't understand the play calling last night. They wouldn't go for the throat in a pre-season game when they are about a half yard away from the endzone. Jeeze all you have to do is hand it straight up the middle to Ricky or Mauia or Grigsby and there is about a 70 percent chance they fall forward for that half yard. Then there was a 4th down they punted on that was even closer. I mean at least find something that works for you in the pre-season on short yardage situations so you can try it in the regular season. A sneak, a draw, something.

Do you know that teams do not reveal their entire playbooks during pre-season.
I'm sure we have goal-line packages and I believe that Wilford is part of these packages.
I'm sure during the regular season, we will score even though we had a formation with 3 Tight Ends....

 

[flounder97]

Do you know that teams do not reveal their entire playbooks during pre-season.

This was my first thought...but after a few minutes, I thought that maybe Tony is just following his own mantra...cut down on mental errors and don't try to force anything. Sure they could have gone for it and it was the preseason and all of that, but most of the time, it is better to get the points or punt the ball away. Tony made the right call in my mind.

 

[Finfang]

I really didn't understand the play calling last night. They wouldn't go for the throat in a pre-season game when they are about a half yard away from the endzone. Jeeze all you have to do is hand it straight up the middle to Ricky or Mauia or Grigsby and there is about a 70 percent chance they fall forward for that half yard. Then there was a 4th down they punted on that was even closer. I mean at least find something that works for you in the pre-season on short yardage situations so you can try it in the regular season. A sneak, a draw, something.

Kickers have to practice too. :D

Seriously though I was a little baffled too.

 

[jhortondj2]

This was my first thought...but after a few minutes, I thought that maybe Tony is just following his own mantra...cut down on mental errors and don't try to force anything. Sure they could have gone for it and it was the preseason and all of that, but most of the time, it is better to get the points or punt the ball away. Tony made the right call in my mind.

Point I'm trying to push is, we need to build confidence in a front line push. The goal line debacle and the 4th down passing play are good examples of just the opposite, i.e. ...conceding lack of convincing preparation.... undermining confidence. Knowing the count and the hole gives the O a decided advantage and we need to KNOW we can take advantage of that successfully.

 

[retarmyfinfan]

Do you know that teams do not reveal their entire playbooks during pre-season.
I'm sure we have goal-line packages and I believe that Wilford is part of these packages.
I'm sure during the regular season, we will score even though we had a formation with 3 Tight Ends....

If Wilford is part of the goal line package there is about a 70% chance he will drop the ball if it is thrown to him and he is uncovered. That guy needs to step up his game or get the h!!@ out of town.

 

[fishfan34]

The play calling on 2nd and 3rd down surprised me, but, I say kick the FG. You don't want an opening drive like that and not come away with points. It sets the tone for the whole game. Get the points. I know we all wanna see them go for it and it's preseason and why not, but, he went with his gut in what I think he'd do if this was a real game. You had a very good opening drive, get some points and play defense.

 

[jhortondj2]

I am so thrilled with the direction this team is headed in, and the consistency they display in their pursuit of the goal. I am an old timer where Dolphin fandom is concerned and I really appreciate the renewal of this teams historical identity. Shula was a mastermind coach who put his players in position to win battles and never took his opponents for granted. A hard nosed coach with a steely chin whose unwavering dedication to his gameplan translated itself to confident teamwork. Most impressive to me as a young fan in the early seventies was not the bomb to Warfield, or the misdirection sweep to Morris, but the 1-2 yard conversions by Kiick and Csonka....these were something I could count on, a predetermined outcome defined by the hard work that got them to that point. The best part was on third or fourth and inches, when the Defense sold out to stop the Dolphins vaunted conversion machine with all 11 defenders at the line (literally) and we still ran Csonka off guard...and we still converted. Often times Larry wouldn't stop at 1 or 2 or 10 or even 20 yards. The Dolphins shocked the league with an offensive line and a three headed backfield that didn't lose battles very often (as we all know) and this group of young men we have before us now seem to be on that type of path. Sure, there is a new identity with the Wildcat and these players have earned the right to call it theirs, but it does reminds me of those great days of our early championships in many ways. .............see what the bye week does to me!

My original call for the missing ingredient came before the unveiling of the wildcat and is really what inspired this stroll down memory lane, thanks to all my fellow fans who believed in august of last year that we would turn this around, and thank you to Tony Sparano for leading this team in this direction.

 

[jhortondj2]

****BUMP****
Once again excited to see us putting the O-line as our #1 priority offensively with the Incognito and Jerry additions.... I believe we really are getting close to beating the best out there with our ball control mentality (even when they aren't resting their starters!). We gave Indy and New Orleans real scares against their best efforts and would have vaulted to division champions if we had held on for wins in those games.
This year I am calling on the spirit of defensive play executed by our legendary safeties Scott and Anderson, 1) Pain over the middle and 2) Nothing and Nobody gets behind us. These guys played smart and they controlled their area of the field, there was never a question as to whose property it was or where the punishment came from when receivers dared to trespass. Say what you want to about Jason Allens history with us, I believe their is a good chance the light comes on for him and he takes control of the deep area of the field. We need him to deliver the same downhill punishing mentality he displays in the return game on every down. Just remember Jason, do not play the ball until you have destroyed your opponents focus through repeated punishment, stay behind him and let him catch it but always be that force that ends the play. Showcase some good hits in the preseason and the job will be yours, no one can argue your physical skillset, you just need to let everyone know you are ready to take charge of your area.