Monday Morning Quarterback - Dallas
by Omar Kelly
Sun-Sentinel
The next day is here. The pretty chick you played with on Sunday (the Dallas Cowboys) left you with a bruised ego, but the hangover is finally gone. You've concluded she was out of your league anyway and it's time to move on.
So how much damage control is needed this week to get the Dolphins back on their game for Sunday's hot date in New York?
THE GOOD: It took me A WHILE to come up with these, but I did find some bright spots. K Jay Feely was pretty consistent kicking field goals. OLB Zach Thomas is still making plays (10 tackles) all over the field, and his protege Channing Crowder's becoming very productive (eight tackles) next to him. WR Chris Chambers caught nine passes for 109 yards, but a lot of those catches were quick hit passes that might as well had been runs, which means they produced very little impact. Everything else was garbage!
I happen to agree with Charlie Bricker's take on the Dolphins problems (CLICK HERE TO READ).
THE BAD: For the second straight week the Dolphins defense either got tired, fell apart, or quit. Neither of these choices is favorable for anyone who cares. While Dallas did enter the game as the No. 1 offense the Dolphins hung with them for most of the game while playing a vanilla defense because of Yeremiah Bell's injury. Outside of Marion Barber 40-yard run late in the fourth quarter the defense didn't look THAT bad. But they fell asleep at the wheel on the Barber run (when they were TRYING to stop the run) as Dallas tried to eat up the clock, and the Terrell Owens touchdown pass, which was just a great play.
THE UGLY: QB Trent Green tried a little bit too hard to make things happen through the air. His four interceptions proved he's either lost it, or doesn't have the weaponry needed for the Dolphins to score quickly when trailing late. I think it's a weaponry issue. Where was Ted Ginn Jr., the team's fastest receiver, in the second half? Ginn's speed would make opposing secondaries stay honest. Hell, the Cowboys squib kicked to him on kickoffs and he hasn't done ANYTHING in his entire NFL career.
I'm no longer accepting the claims that Green doesn't have enough time to find open receivers. The one thing I watch the majority of all games is the line of scrimmage (it's a habit I have) and the offensive line protected fine, especially the left side. Green just made bad decisions and his arm lacked a lot of zip. But to be fair I don't blame Green because he and his team were desperate.
TO DO: For the second straight week the running game was a joke, and this time the Dolphins can't say it was because the opponent was stacking the line. The running lanes weren't big, but Ronnie Brown wasn't making ANYTHING happen with his opportunities. I'm not saying it's time to push the panic button and start Jesse Chatman, but I'd like to know what the alternative is (Ricky Williams anyone? Or are you worried he can't put the bud down) to Brown's bumbling style.
Brown takes ENTIRELY too long to hit holes, and doesn't seem very instinctive. Where were the cut backs? Does he have the speed to run to the outside? When was the last time he barreled over a linebacker, falling forward for an extra two yards? I'm starting to conclude he's a big back (Stephen Davis type) with a scatback (Warrick Dunn type) running style, minus the speed. Either give him 25 touches and see if he can produce 100 total yards in that game or turn the page.
UPCOMING CHALLENGE: It's time for the Dolphins to face the beloved J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets, and their obnoxious fans. Luckily for all involved the Jets are also 0-2 after losing 20-13 to the Ravens, who were led by Kyle Boller in the battle of the backups (Kellen Clemens started for the Jets because of Chad Pennington's ankle injury).
Sunday's road game will help determine which AFC East team has a pulse. A win, anyway they can pull one out against a N.Y. team that's beaten the Dolphins five out of the last six meetings, will make all forgotten in Dolphins land. At least for a week.
Then comes the true test. Are the Dolphins better than a dismal Oakland team likely to be atop the draft yet again. Or will this season - and franchise - get worse before it gets better?
And if the franchise does continue this slide, Arkansas tailback Darren McFadden here we come because this offense ISN'T GOING TO WORK WITHOUT A GOOD RUNNING GAME.
Deuces.
Sun-Sentinel
The next day is here. The pretty chick you played with on Sunday (the Dallas Cowboys) left you with a bruised ego, but the hangover is finally gone. You've concluded she was out of your league anyway and it's time to move on.
So how much damage control is needed this week to get the Dolphins back on their game for Sunday's hot date in New York?
THE GOOD: It took me A WHILE to come up with these, but I did find some bright spots. K Jay Feely was pretty consistent kicking field goals. OLB Zach Thomas is still making plays (10 tackles) all over the field, and his protege Channing Crowder's becoming very productive (eight tackles) next to him. WR Chris Chambers caught nine passes for 109 yards, but a lot of those catches were quick hit passes that might as well had been runs, which means they produced very little impact. Everything else was garbage!
I happen to agree with Charlie Bricker's take on the Dolphins problems (CLICK HERE TO READ).
THE BAD: For the second straight week the Dolphins defense either got tired, fell apart, or quit. Neither of these choices is favorable for anyone who cares. While Dallas did enter the game as the No. 1 offense the Dolphins hung with them for most of the game while playing a vanilla defense because of Yeremiah Bell's injury. Outside of Marion Barber 40-yard run late in the fourth quarter the defense didn't look THAT bad. But they fell asleep at the wheel on the Barber run (when they were TRYING to stop the run) as Dallas tried to eat up the clock, and the Terrell Owens touchdown pass, which was just a great play.
THE UGLY: QB Trent Green tried a little bit too hard to make things happen through the air. His four interceptions proved he's either lost it, or doesn't have the weaponry needed for the Dolphins to score quickly when trailing late. I think it's a weaponry issue. Where was Ted Ginn Jr., the team's fastest receiver, in the second half? Ginn's speed would make opposing secondaries stay honest. Hell, the Cowboys squib kicked to him on kickoffs and he hasn't done ANYTHING in his entire NFL career.
I'm no longer accepting the claims that Green doesn't have enough time to find open receivers. The one thing I watch the majority of all games is the line of scrimmage (it's a habit I have) and the offensive line protected fine, especially the left side. Green just made bad decisions and his arm lacked a lot of zip. But to be fair I don't blame Green because he and his team were desperate.
TO DO: For the second straight week the running game was a joke, and this time the Dolphins can't say it was because the opponent was stacking the line. The running lanes weren't big, but Ronnie Brown wasn't making ANYTHING happen with his opportunities. I'm not saying it's time to push the panic button and start Jesse Chatman, but I'd like to know what the alternative is (Ricky Williams anyone? Or are you worried he can't put the bud down) to Brown's bumbling style.
Brown takes ENTIRELY too long to hit holes, and doesn't seem very instinctive. Where were the cut backs? Does he have the speed to run to the outside? When was the last time he barreled over a linebacker, falling forward for an extra two yards? I'm starting to conclude he's a big back (Stephen Davis type) with a scatback (Warrick Dunn type) running style, minus the speed. Either give him 25 touches and see if he can produce 100 total yards in that game or turn the page.
UPCOMING CHALLENGE: It's time for the Dolphins to face the beloved J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets, and their obnoxious fans. Luckily for all involved the Jets are also 0-2 after losing 20-13 to the Ravens, who were led by Kyle Boller in the battle of the backups (Kellen Clemens started for the Jets because of Chad Pennington's ankle injury).
Sunday's road game will help determine which AFC East team has a pulse. A win, anyway they can pull one out against a N.Y. team that's beaten the Dolphins five out of the last six meetings, will make all forgotten in Dolphins land. At least for a week.
Then comes the true test. Are the Dolphins better than a dismal Oakland team likely to be atop the draft yet again. Or will this season - and franchise - get worse before it gets better?
And if the franchise does continue this slide, Arkansas tailback Darren McFadden here we come because this offense ISN'T GOING TO WORK WITHOUT A GOOD RUNNING GAME.
Deuces.
posted by The Gryphon at 6:52 PM
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