ciscoholgate
Winning is a Habit
Two steps forward, three steps back...but hold your breath
Tonight was not a good night for our Phins. The final score will say otherwise, but from what I say at the start of the game, we were not the same team that took the field in the first two games of the year. I am mostly talking about the first half. Here are a few of the things that concerned me the most:
I do think we played down to their level. We have a lot more talent than them and we have already shown in this preseason. This cannot happen in the regular season, if it does, it will end up in a "L" in the loss column.
On the flip side, it is just a preseason game and it will not count against us. We can now just put this mess of a game behind us and get ready for the final week of preseason and onto the regular season.
One reason I am not as worried as most, is the fact that we started 0-2 last year. We opened with a loss to the Jets and the Cardinals. We played like crap in both games and should have won the game to the Jets. Despite that 0-2 start, we ended up 11-5 and crowned AFC East champs. Our coaches are great at getting these guys to over achieve and you can count on one thing, this week's practice will be a tough one. These coaches will get our guys focused and ready for the next week.
So, let's shake off that horrid game and remember that these Fins have at least 18 more weeks of football ahead of them. It is a long season and this was definately a step back, but I know they will have another great year. How great? Only time will tell, but it is gonna be fun!
GO PHINS!
Tonight was not a good night for our Phins. The final score will say otherwise, but from what I say at the start of the game, we were not the same team that took the field in the first two games of the year. I am mostly talking about the first half. Here are a few of the things that concerned me the most:
- The pass defense. The middle of the field was wide open all night. I don't know if it was the scheme or the fact that we could not locate the WRs and TEs over the middle, but that is where the Bucs two QBs were looking.
- Tackling. Our first string D missed some tackles and that they should not have. It is something we need to have mastered by now. This was the main cause for our struggles in the rush defense.
- Pass rushing. Our first team D did not get as good a pass rush tonight. I think I saw a lot of three man rushes. Not sure why the coaches choose to do this. Possibly to evaluate our coverage, but we did not get any pressure when we rushed three.
- Our offense looked bad. From drops, to missed blocks, and errant throws, our O was off key for most of the first half. I did not expect this from a Pennington led offense.
- Our OL still is not dominating the run game. Something we need in order to have success this year.
- The damn rain delay and the wierd punt block that actually ended up hurting us. This game was so long and very hard to watch.
- The first team defense, as bad as they were, did not allow a TD.
- The D made some adjustments and started to shut down the run, get some pressure on the QB, and keep the Bucs scorless late in the second half and into the first part of the third quarter.
- Pennington led the O down the field at the end of the first half and got us some points.
- We finally scored a TD in the third. Not sure how many of the Bucs starters were in, but it was a TD none the less.
- Camarillo! This guy may not be the flashiest, but he knows how to get open and almost always catches the ball. I think, if he is healthy, he will make a big difference for our other WRs.
- Carpenter and Fields. Both had good games. Brandon had a lot of practice tonight and did a fine job. The guy has a leg and is getting more avurate and getting the ball out quicker to avoid a block.
I do think we played down to their level. We have a lot more talent than them and we have already shown in this preseason. This cannot happen in the regular season, if it does, it will end up in a "L" in the loss column.
On the flip side, it is just a preseason game and it will not count against us. We can now just put this mess of a game behind us and get ready for the final week of preseason and onto the regular season.
One reason I am not as worried as most, is the fact that we started 0-2 last year. We opened with a loss to the Jets and the Cardinals. We played like crap in both games and should have won the game to the Jets. Despite that 0-2 start, we ended up 11-5 and crowned AFC East champs. Our coaches are great at getting these guys to over achieve and you can count on one thing, this week's practice will be a tough one. These coaches will get our guys focused and ready for the next week.
So, let's shake off that horrid game and remember that these Fins have at least 18 more weeks of football ahead of them. It is a long season and this was definately a step back, but I know they will have another great year. How great? Only time will tell, but it is gonna be fun!
GO PHINS!