Thoughts On The Win Today. | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

Thoughts On The Win Today.

McMichael

McMichael

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We obviously shot ourselves in the foot a few times in the 2nd half with the ridiculous fumbles, but we won! This team plays hard. The jets were fired up for their home opener and we matched their intensity and then some.

Want to start out by addressing who should be the most talked about Dolphin this week as usual, Ryan Tannehill. If I had to give him a grade today it would be a C. His pocket presence at times was just awful. Back to back sacks in field goal range. Held onto the ball too long more than once...Missed the deep ball to Wilson that would have sealed the game. The ball slipping out of his hands like it did on a beautiful, dry day is obviously not what we want to see.

However he ran the ball very well today and his accuracy is an extremely redeeming quality. The TD pass to Derby was an exquisite throw, although he did have flawless pass protection on that play. His stats looked great but for me this was one of Tannehills worst games in a while, I think he will bounce back next week. I still love him as our QB for the foreseeable future and when he's playing his best he's a top 6-8 QB imo.

Our defense played an excellent game. The INT by Xavien Howard could have easily been the game saving play. Kiko Alonso forced 2 fumbles by my count? He has been playing very well. Bobby McCain had a touchdown saving hit at the goalline and Fitz played another good game.

Our D-Line deserves some praise for how well they played today. Quinn looked great, he had 1 or 2 tackles for loss as well as the sack. Godchaux and Hayes looked good as well as Phillips. We put our defense in terrible positions all throughout the 2nd half and they came up big and then some. Huge game by our D and I was fired up watching them play with such energy, they were crushing people out there.

Shout out to Jakeem Grant who had some nice returns and always looks so damn dangerous with the ball in his hands on offense. Albert Wilson was another great young signing.

Last words of praise go to our punter who had an all pro level game today. Let see if he can keep it up.

2-0 alone in first in the division hows that for worst team in the league! Time to really change the long culture of losing football around here and get back to being a perennial contender!!
 
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Win feels even better after watching the Jags handle NE and the Bills failing miserably again. We have a good chance to make the playoffs I think....my official prediction was 10-6 wild card hope it comes true or maybe even better!
 
good analysis. I thought the defense was the biggest bright spot, especially the defensive line. Godcheaux stood out and Philips was playing pretty well too. I'd give Tannehill a bit of a higher grade. He did have some ugly plays (that fumble was unacceptable in year 7) and continue to look uncomfortable in the pocket (again, after year 7). He did make good plays on the ground and was a good game manager. I think we can all agree that Tannehill does best in a reduced role. Our best wins come from the defense and the ground game since Gase took over.
 
jnozag said:
good analysis. I thought the defense was the biggest bright spot, especially the defensive line. Godcheaux stood out and Philips was playing pretty well too. I'd give Tannehill a bit of a higher grade. He did have some ugly plays (that fumble was unacceptable in year 7) and continue to look uncomfortable in the pocket (again, after year 7). He did make good plays on the ground and was a good game manager. I think we can all agree that Tannehill does best in a reduced role. Our best wins come from the defense and the ground game since Gase took over.
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Agreed and when then run game is working it makes play action much more effective
 
Good analysis other than none of the 4 sacks of Tannehill were in FG range. All happened on MIA side of the field...33 yard line of scrimmage, 42, 48 and 29. There was one in Jets territory but it was nullified by a D holding call. We went on to score a TD.

Point is taken that it may have been better to get rid of the ball on a couple of them...as long as he was not rushed into a pick, of course. Missing the fly to Wilson was tough...that would have put the game away without the drama in all likelihood!
 
Nice write-up. I'm just enjoying watching a play making defense that actually steps up when we need them and an offense that closes out a game making plays when they count... i.e. Winning football in all phases of the game... Long may that continue!

In years past:

- We would have been the team forcing a fumble at the 12 and then throwing a pick in the endzone the next play.
- We would have been a team that gets the ball with 5min left and squanders the lead by not closing
- We would have been the team in a 1 score game, with 5min left, who watches the other team march down the field, converting 3rd down after 3rd down and killing the clock

So refreshing to see its the other way round and I hope and pray the fins can just keep winning...
 
A thought about why Tannehill is holding the ball too long.

This may be the first time in his career that the front line has given him more then 2 seconds of time in the pocket on a consistent basis. When other QB's have had, as part of their initial NFL playing experience, time to develop a "know when to hold it and know when to throw it", is now being made available to Tannehill for the first time in his career. When I couple this with the higher number of times he found the team playing from behind scenarios during his career, it is more understandable why he has been holding the ball way too long. Having much more extended time in the pocket, due to better protection from the offensive line, must be something for Tannehill like being a kid in a candy store and not knowing where or when to stop.

I think Tannehill will get better at knowing when to get rid of the ball during this season, assuming the offensive line can consistently maintain good pass protection. It seems each year he makes a substantial improvement in some part of his game. This year it may be getting better at knowing when to quit waiting for receivers to get open and knowing when to take an alternative action as opposed to getting sacked.
 
Eight_one said:
Nice write-up. I'm just enjoying watching a play making defense that actually steps up when we need them and an offense that closes out a game making plays when they count... i.e. Winning football in all phases of the game... Long may that continue!

In years past:

- We would have been the team forcing a fumble at the 12 and then throwing a pick in the endzone the next play.
- We would have been a team that gets the ball with 5min left and squanders the lead by not closing
- We would have been the team in a 1 score game, with 5min left, who watches the other team march down the field, converting 3rd down after 3rd down and killing the clock

So refreshing to see its the other way round and I hope and pray the fins can just keep winning...
Click to expand...

In the past, Miami goes 3 and out on that 4th quarter drive, and the Jets drive right down the field on their possession to tie the game EVEN on the zack-JT-madison defense
 
Ece
Ray R said:
A thought about why Tannehill is holding the ball too long.

This may be the first time in his career that the front line has given him more then 2 seconds of time in the pocket on a consistent basis. When other QB's have had, as part of their initial NFL playing experience, time to develop a "know when to hold it and know when to throw it", is now being made available to Tannehill for the first time in his career. When I couple this with the higher number of times he found the team playing from behind scenarios during his career, it is more understandable why he has been holding the ball way too long. Having much more extended time in the pocket, due to better protection from the offensive line, must be something for Tannehill like being a kid in a candy store and not knowing where or when to stop.

I think Tannehill will get better at knowing when to get rid of the ball during this season, assuming the offensive line can consistently maintain good pass protection. It seems each year he makes a substantial improvement in some part of his game. This year it may be getting better at knowing when to quit waiting for receivers to get open and knowing when to take an alternative action as opposed to getting sacked.
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Excellent point about Tannehill seeming to get better at/work on a specific part of his game each season. He has improved year to year in many different areas and I'm so glad he is the QB of our Miami Dolphins!
 
jnozag said:
.....,,He did have some ugly plays (that fumble was unacceptable in year 7) and continue to look uncomfortable in the pocket (again, after year 7......
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Point taken, but you dont need to distort and twist to make it worse.

Be intellectually honest- this is after 5 seasons and an 18 month layoff. RT will complete his 6th Season in January of 2019.


and whatever happened to the 99% who umderstood there would be rust? he's been so amazing in other areas we are grading him like a 7th yr vet who hasnt missed a lick.

remember where we are- game 2 after 21 months away from live football. thats almost 2 years im pretty sure.
 
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problem is, this isn't rust. he's always looked uncomfortable in the pocket so 6 or 7 years is a moot point. he's a good qb, but this is a gaping hole in his game that still needs work. def not trying to be a hater, just saying there's a lot of room for improvement there. I was critical of his deep ball as well, but he worked on that and now haters can't say anything. Looking for the same adjustments here.
 
jnozag said:
problem is, this isn't rust. he's always looked uncomfortable in the pocket so 6 or 7 years is a moot point. he's a good qb, but this is a gaping hole in his game that still needs work. def not trying to be a hater, just saying there's a lot of room for improvement there. I was critical of his deep ball as well, but he worked on that and now haters can't say anything. Looking for the same adjustments here.
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Its true that its always been a weak point of his but I think this past game was worse than what he is capable of on his best day. For that reason I do think rust could potentially be a factor. Im hoping that his recent return indeed played a role, otherwise I think you have to say he's regressed in that area.

Unfortunately I was unable to see the Titans game, anyone remember if he was better/worse/same regarding pocket presence in that game?
 
jnozag said:
problem is, this isn't rust. he's always looked uncomfortable in the pocket so 6 or 7 years is a moot point. he's a good qb, but this is a gaping hole in his game..,,.
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So you're saying that a 21 month layoff has nothing to do with some of his play in the pocket Sunday, and the RT we were seeing 21 months ago who was doing some great things in pocket is the same RT we saw Sunday?

Okay, buddy, we'll let the jury decide, but please dont think RT just improved his game all of a sudden when he looks really sharp in a few weeks.
 
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