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By Omar Kelly
Sun-Sentinel.Com
This analysis of the Dolphins 16-13 loss to the Commanders will breakdown the good, the bad, the ugly, the to do list, and the upcoming challenge for this week.
THE GOOD: The offense, which featured so much motion I got dizzy before each snap, was interesting and showed potential. Trent Green seemed fairly accurate (completed 24-of-38 passes for 219 yards and one touchdown) and appears to be a good facilitator of Cam Cameron's offense. Green was sacked twice but didn't make any I CAN'T BELIEVE HERE THREW THAT passes. I'm sure he would have been even more productive if the skill players didn't have five drops, and the running game got established.
THE BAD: The defense went into the game with the goal of shutting down Washington's running game, which accounted for 191 rushing yards (4.7 yards per carry). While the Commanders didn't put up many points Dom Capers was out-coached, especially in overtime when the Commanders spread his defense out and ran all but two times on the 10-play, 58-yard game-winning scoring drive in overtime.
One thing that was troublesome about that drive was that Joey Porter, who is ideally one of the Dolphins top 10 players (RIGHT?), was standing on the sidelines watching it (CLICK HERE TO READ ETHAN SKOLNICK'S TAKE ON THIS). Whether that's due to his limited practice reps during training camp, or because he'll never be part of the nickel package, you have to figure the coaches must find a way to get Porter on the field during those key drives. Maybe putting a unit that uses him at DE in that package would work.
THE UGLY: The secondary got torched, and I'm just not pointing a finger at Travis Daniels, who was largely responsible for four of Antwaan Randle El's five catches that accounted for 162 yards. Take away the 54-yard Hailmary catch Randle El made at the end of regulation and it's still a horrendous showing for the Dolphins secondary. Adding salt to the wound would be the three drops Santana Moss made because of a hand issue he was bothered by. If Moss had two good hands it would have been worse.
TO DO: The running game was nonexistent, and it's kind of the chicken or the egg conundrum (READ HERE FOR STORY). Were the Dolphins limited to 66 rushing yards because Washington stacked the box forcing the Dolphins to pass? Were Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman simply ineffective, or did the offensive line not create any running lanes for the backs? I say it's a combination of the three, and evidence that run blocking might be more of an issue for this team that pass blocking.
UPCOMING CHALLENGE: Dallas was balling in its 45-35 win over the Giants (CLICK HERE FOR STORY). Tony Romo looks like a franchise quarterback (wouldn't the Dolphins love to find one of those guys just like Dallas discovered him, by accident) more than a fluke. The Giants did tally 438 yards of offense against Dallas' 3-4 defense, but that's with Plaxico Burress, Amani Toomer and Jeremy Shockey. All the Dolphins have to counter that firepower with is Chris Chambers, Marty Booker and David Martin...insert whomp, whomp sound here.
The biggest problem the Dolphins will face against Dallas is who defends Terrell Owens, who caught three passes against the Giants, two of which went for touchdowns? If Yeremiah Bell, who suffered a serious calf injury against the Commanders, isn't available to help against Owens this could be TROUBLE considering Owens eats cornerbacks for dinner.Here are the Sun-Sentinel's Grades from the game (CLICK HERE), now how would YOU assess the Dolphins passing offense, rushing offense, passing defense, rushing defense, special teams and coaching?
Let us know.
Also I'd like to request that all who believe in the power of prayer put one up for former UM tight end Kevin Everett, who suffered a spin injury in Sunday's game making a special teams tackle for Buffalo. They say there's concern he might never walk again, but I'm a believer, and prayer changes things.
http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_football_dolphins/
Sun-Sentinel.Com
This analysis of the Dolphins 16-13 loss to the Commanders will breakdown the good, the bad, the ugly, the to do list, and the upcoming challenge for this week.
THE GOOD: The offense, which featured so much motion I got dizzy before each snap, was interesting and showed potential. Trent Green seemed fairly accurate (completed 24-of-38 passes for 219 yards and one touchdown) and appears to be a good facilitator of Cam Cameron's offense. Green was sacked twice but didn't make any I CAN'T BELIEVE HERE THREW THAT passes. I'm sure he would have been even more productive if the skill players didn't have five drops, and the running game got established.
THE BAD: The defense went into the game with the goal of shutting down Washington's running game, which accounted for 191 rushing yards (4.7 yards per carry). While the Commanders didn't put up many points Dom Capers was out-coached, especially in overtime when the Commanders spread his defense out and ran all but two times on the 10-play, 58-yard game-winning scoring drive in overtime.
One thing that was troublesome about that drive was that Joey Porter, who is ideally one of the Dolphins top 10 players (RIGHT?), was standing on the sidelines watching it (CLICK HERE TO READ ETHAN SKOLNICK'S TAKE ON THIS). Whether that's due to his limited practice reps during training camp, or because he'll never be part of the nickel package, you have to figure the coaches must find a way to get Porter on the field during those key drives. Maybe putting a unit that uses him at DE in that package would work.
THE UGLY: The secondary got torched, and I'm just not pointing a finger at Travis Daniels, who was largely responsible for four of Antwaan Randle El's five catches that accounted for 162 yards. Take away the 54-yard Hailmary catch Randle El made at the end of regulation and it's still a horrendous showing for the Dolphins secondary. Adding salt to the wound would be the three drops Santana Moss made because of a hand issue he was bothered by. If Moss had two good hands it would have been worse.
TO DO: The running game was nonexistent, and it's kind of the chicken or the egg conundrum (READ HERE FOR STORY). Were the Dolphins limited to 66 rushing yards because Washington stacked the box forcing the Dolphins to pass? Were Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman simply ineffective, or did the offensive line not create any running lanes for the backs? I say it's a combination of the three, and evidence that run blocking might be more of an issue for this team that pass blocking.
UPCOMING CHALLENGE: Dallas was balling in its 45-35 win over the Giants (CLICK HERE FOR STORY). Tony Romo looks like a franchise quarterback (wouldn't the Dolphins love to find one of those guys just like Dallas discovered him, by accident) more than a fluke. The Giants did tally 438 yards of offense against Dallas' 3-4 defense, but that's with Plaxico Burress, Amani Toomer and Jeremy Shockey. All the Dolphins have to counter that firepower with is Chris Chambers, Marty Booker and David Martin...insert whomp, whomp sound here.
The biggest problem the Dolphins will face against Dallas is who defends Terrell Owens, who caught three passes against the Giants, two of which went for touchdowns? If Yeremiah Bell, who suffered a serious calf injury against the Commanders, isn't available to help against Owens this could be TROUBLE considering Owens eats cornerbacks for dinner.Here are the Sun-Sentinel's Grades from the game (CLICK HERE), now how would YOU assess the Dolphins passing offense, rushing offense, passing defense, rushing defense, special teams and coaching?
Let us know.
Also I'd like to request that all who believe in the power of prayer put one up for former UM tight end Kevin Everett, who suffered a spin injury in Sunday's game making a special teams tackle for Buffalo. They say there's concern he might never walk again, but I'm a believer, and prayer changes things.
http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_football_dolphins/