Joey Porter and Ronnie Brown were selected to the 2009 AFC Pro Bowl team. Porter will start at outside linebacker, while Brown will serve as a backup running back
Great job, guys.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Congrats, Joey and Ronnie!
Joey Porter and Ronnie Brown were selected to the 2009 AFC Pro Bowl team. Porter will start at outside linebacker, while Brown will serve as a backup running back
Great job, guys.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Thoughts on 49ers Game
A reader sent in this general question about the 49ers game:
As the game wore on into the fourth quarter and Miami was allowing the 49ers to keep it close, I started to get nervous for the defense's ability to hold up after being on the field for so many plays. The fact that they held up and put the skids down when it mattered most was encouraging.
The front seven did a great job getting pressure on Shaun Hill, and on the back end the secondary did a relatively decent job of keeping the big play at bay. Will Allen struggled a bit today, as Isaac Bruce had a lot of success against him throughout the game. I don't expect that to become a trend though.
As far as the push to the playoffs is concerned, it really does seem like things are shaking up for the Week 17 game against the Jets to be for all the marbles. Obviously, Miami can't afford to overlook the Chiefs, especially since that game could be a mess weather-wise.
My concern at this point is that it is unrealistic to think that the defense can continue to shut opponents out of the endzone for the rest of the season. Teams will eventually pass the pylons, and when they do, Miami's offense is going to need to start to score more points. The offense started off tremendously today, but with limited time on the field, they never got into any rhythm and stalled out continuously throughout the second half. It's now been since the Patriots game that Miami has scored over 16 points. That likely won't be enough over these next two weeks.
The defense played a great game to keep the Dolphins in it and get another win. Davone Bess had a couple of nice returns. What are your thoughts on the game as the Dolphins make a run at the playoffs?The most encouraging thing about the defense's performance today was that it continued its strong play the entire game, despite the fact that it was on the field for over 38 minutes, a whopping discrepancy in the time of possession.
As the game wore on into the fourth quarter and Miami was allowing the 49ers to keep it close, I started to get nervous for the defense's ability to hold up after being on the field for so many plays. The fact that they held up and put the skids down when it mattered most was encouraging.
The front seven did a great job getting pressure on Shaun Hill, and on the back end the secondary did a relatively decent job of keeping the big play at bay. Will Allen struggled a bit today, as Isaac Bruce had a lot of success against him throughout the game. I don't expect that to become a trend though.
As far as the push to the playoffs is concerned, it really does seem like things are shaking up for the Week 17 game against the Jets to be for all the marbles. Obviously, Miami can't afford to overlook the Chiefs, especially since that game could be a mess weather-wise.
My concern at this point is that it is unrealistic to think that the defense can continue to shut opponents out of the endzone for the rest of the season. Teams will eventually pass the pylons, and when they do, Miami's offense is going to need to start to score more points. The offense started off tremendously today, but with limited time on the field, they never got into any rhythm and stalled out continuously throughout the second half. It's now been since the Patriots game that Miami has scored over 16 points. That likely won't be enough over these next two weeks.
Wildcat By The Numbers Week 14
Here's my latest tables for tracking the success of the Wildcat formation.
Once again, the formation was essentially shut down last week against Buffalo, with the exception of a single first down.
I get the feeling that the coaching staff has been purposefully keeping the playcalling from the Wildcat formation rather vanilla over the past few weeks, perhaps in order to catch a team sleeping in these final three weeks on a new wrinkle. We shall see.
Once again, the formation was essentially shut down last week against Buffalo, with the exception of a single first down.
I get the feeling that the coaching staff has been purposefully keeping the playcalling from the Wildcat formation rather vanilla over the past few weeks, perhaps in order to catch a team sleeping in these final three weeks on a new wrinkle. We shall see.
| Plays | Run | Pass | Yards | Yds/Play | FDs | TDs | |
| Week 3, @NE | 6 | 5 | 1 | 119 | 19.8 | 1 | 4 |
| Week 5, SD | 10 | 9 | 1 | 48 | 4.8 | 3 | 1 |
| Week 6, @HOU | 7 | 6 | 1 | 77 | 11.0 | 0 | 1 |
| Week 7, BAL | 5 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Week 8, BUF | 7 | 7 | 0 | 34 | 4.9 | 3 | 0 |
| Week 9, @ DEN | 4 | 3 | 1 | -5 | -1.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Week 10, SEA | 6 | 6 | 0 | 80 | 13.3 | 0 | 2 |
| Week 11, OAK | 10 | 10 | 0 | 52 | 5.2 | 1 | 0 |
| Week 12, NE | 8 | 8 | 0 | 25 | 3.1 | 1 | 0 |
| Week 13, @ STL | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Week 14, BUF | 6 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0.8 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 71 | 67 | 4 | 441 | 6.2 | 10 | 8 |
| Avg./Game | 6.5 | 6.1 | 0.4 | 40 | - | .9 | .7 |
| Plays | FDs (non-penalty) | FD% | TDs | TD% | Run Avg | |
| Non-WC Plays | 715 | 233 | 33% | 21 | 3% | 4.0 yds |
| WC Plays | 71 | 10 | 14% | 8 | 11% | 5.6 yds |
| Runs | Yards | Avg | FDs | TDs | |
| Ronnie Brown | 43 | 237 | 5.5 | 6 | 5 |
| Ricky Williams | 23 | 137 | 6.0 | 4 | 1 |
| Patrick Cobbs | 1 | 3 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 |
Friday, December 12, 2008
Lehan released from IR
I really don't understand the rationale behind this move, but the team has released CB Michael Lehan from Injured Reserve.
Lehan can now sign with any team.
I don't get this move, primarily because if he returned to health next year, there was a decent chance that Lehan could have made the team and improved the CB depth. Cutting him now saves the team the $600,000 roster bonus it would have owed him if he was on the team next year, but that's not a lot of money saved when compared to what Lehan might have been able to offer the team in 2009.
Stashed on IR, Lehan was not taking up a roster spot any longer, so it's not as if this release frees up another spot to sign someone.
It's a curious move, and I'll be interested to see if any other explanation comes out in the future as to why it was made.
Lehan can now sign with any team.
I don't get this move, primarily because if he returned to health next year, there was a decent chance that Lehan could have made the team and improved the CB depth. Cutting him now saves the team the $600,000 roster bonus it would have owed him if he was on the team next year, but that's not a lot of money saved when compared to what Lehan might have been able to offer the team in 2009.
Stashed on IR, Lehan was not taking up a roster spot any longer, so it's not as if this release frees up another spot to sign someone.
It's a curious move, and I'll be interested to see if any other explanation comes out in the future as to why it was made.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Practice squad: Heerspink brought back, FB added
With LB Rob Ninkovich being poached by the Saints and RB Jalen Parmele by the Ravens (that's the risk you take when you stick your sixth-round draft pick on the practice squad), the Dolphins had two open spots on their practice squad.
To fill them, the team signed T Daren Heerspink and FB Chris Brown.
Heerspink, you'll remember, was with the Dolphins throughout training camp and the preseason. He's been out of football since then.
Brown (6'1", 249 lbs.) was an undrafted rookie out of Tennessee this year. He was picked up by Jacksonville and stayed on their practice squad until November 28th when he was released.
Here's an excerpt from Brown's NFL Draft Prospect page:
Here is what the team's practice squad looks like now:
To fill them, the team signed T Daren Heerspink and FB Chris Brown.
Heerspink, you'll remember, was with the Dolphins throughout training camp and the preseason. He's been out of football since then.
Brown (6'1", 249 lbs.) was an undrafted rookie out of Tennessee this year. He was picked up by Jacksonville and stayed on their practice squad until November 28th when he was released.
Here's an excerpt from Brown's NFL Draft Prospect page:
Listed as a tight end by Tennessee, and even lines up in a three-point stance at times, but his future in the NFL is as a fullback or H-back. In today's NFL, most fullbacks are not blow-'em-up pounders but athletic position blockers who can catch the ball and play special teams. That's why Brown, who had 41 catches for 282 yards and six touchdowns in 2007, will be more coveted by teams than many people expect.
Here is what the team's practice squad looks like now:
- RB Lex Hilliard
- WR Anthony Armstrong
- LB Will Kershaw
- WR Todd Lowber
- DT Joe Cohen
- CB Will Billingsley
- T Daren Heerspink
- FB Chris Brown
Monday, December 8, 2008
Thoughts on Bills game; Reader Mailbag
I'm going to use a reader's email as a jump-off point into talking a little bit about the Bills game:
The number one thing that I took out of the Bills game was that the Dolphins truly put together a rare "complete game." By that, I mean that all phases of the game were perfectly complementing one another all game long.
Sure, the offense only had one TD, but the flow of this game dictated that long, time-consuming drives were more valuable than scoring TDs every time down the field. And as Vonnie Holliday said after the game, the best defense is the one on the sideline. The ability to take such a commanding lead in the time of possession battle played right into the defense's dominant performance.
Dan Carpenter's excellent job with his field goals ensured that Miami's clock-killing drives came away with some points and prevented Buffalo from getting the ball with a short field, if he were to have missed.
As far as the receivers are concerned, the short answer is "no" - the guys currently on the roster are not good enough to keep this team's progression going in the future. For the most part, they've done an admirable job this season, but the unit as a whole still needs a lot of work.
For starters, as I've mentioned several times here, Ted Ginn won't ever be able to truly live up to his potential until there is a stronger thrower at QB. That's not to say he can't be useful, he is and will be, but he won't be a No. 1 WR with Pennington here. And that's absolutely fine, as long as Miami can somehow find a No. 1 guy to play opposite him, but that's much easier said than done.
Greg Camarillo's injury is still a big question mark. He would make a fantastic third receiver, but he may not even be ready to go at the beginning of next season, and once he's fully healed he may not have the same quickness and speed that made him so adept at getting open.
Davone Bess has transferred into Camarillo's starting spot nicely thus far, but I don't think he's talented enough or big enough to be a starter. A starting duo of Ginn and Bess is just too small.
Brandon London is still very much a prospect. He has all the tools to be a top-3 WR guy but he still has a lot to show. And Ernest Wilford should probably be getting the boot next season.
So, I suppose it depends on what timeframe you are talking about when you say the future. Obviously, if you are talking about just the next three games (and possibly playoffs), then yes, the guys we have are good enough to be successful - heck, they have to be. But if you are talking about next year or the year after, then no, upgrades are needed, specifically that big, dominating No. 1 guy.
Now on to Lousake Polite. I absolutely love this guy. He has been lights-out for Miami in short-yardage situations and I don't think he's had an unproductive carry yet. With ten carries, Polite has converted 9 first downs. That kind of efficiency is amazing, and it has really helped this offense to have the ability to keep drives going rather than settling for a punt or FG attempt when all that's needed for the first down is a yard or so. He's also added another first down through the air for good measure. Obviously, Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams could probably have picked up some of these first downs as well, but having a guy like Polite in the backfield as well, stops the defense from keying in on either back. He also deserves praise for the solid blocking he's providing in the run game and in pass protection. The team just might have uncovered its fullback for the forseeable future when they signed Polite.
The defense did a great job and the offense was a bit weak especially in the red zone never the less they got the job done. The receivers made plays to keep ahead of the Bills. Do you think the Dolphins currently have the receivers they need to be successful with in the future? How much of an effect overall do you think that Lou Polite has had since he has been with the team?
The number one thing that I took out of the Bills game was that the Dolphins truly put together a rare "complete game." By that, I mean that all phases of the game were perfectly complementing one another all game long.
Sure, the offense only had one TD, but the flow of this game dictated that long, time-consuming drives were more valuable than scoring TDs every time down the field. And as Vonnie Holliday said after the game, the best defense is the one on the sideline. The ability to take such a commanding lead in the time of possession battle played right into the defense's dominant performance.
Dan Carpenter's excellent job with his field goals ensured that Miami's clock-killing drives came away with some points and prevented Buffalo from getting the ball with a short field, if he were to have missed.
As far as the receivers are concerned, the short answer is "no" - the guys currently on the roster are not good enough to keep this team's progression going in the future. For the most part, they've done an admirable job this season, but the unit as a whole still needs a lot of work.
For starters, as I've mentioned several times here, Ted Ginn won't ever be able to truly live up to his potential until there is a stronger thrower at QB. That's not to say he can't be useful, he is and will be, but he won't be a No. 1 WR with Pennington here. And that's absolutely fine, as long as Miami can somehow find a No. 1 guy to play opposite him, but that's much easier said than done.
Greg Camarillo's injury is still a big question mark. He would make a fantastic third receiver, but he may not even be ready to go at the beginning of next season, and once he's fully healed he may not have the same quickness and speed that made him so adept at getting open.
Davone Bess has transferred into Camarillo's starting spot nicely thus far, but I don't think he's talented enough or big enough to be a starter. A starting duo of Ginn and Bess is just too small.
Brandon London is still very much a prospect. He has all the tools to be a top-3 WR guy but he still has a lot to show. And Ernest Wilford should probably be getting the boot next season.
So, I suppose it depends on what timeframe you are talking about when you say the future. Obviously, if you are talking about just the next three games (and possibly playoffs), then yes, the guys we have are good enough to be successful - heck, they have to be. But if you are talking about next year or the year after, then no, upgrades are needed, specifically that big, dominating No. 1 guy.
Now on to Lousake Polite. I absolutely love this guy. He has been lights-out for Miami in short-yardage situations and I don't think he's had an unproductive carry yet. With ten carries, Polite has converted 9 first downs. That kind of efficiency is amazing, and it has really helped this offense to have the ability to keep drives going rather than settling for a punt or FG attempt when all that's needed for the first down is a yard or so. He's also added another first down through the air for good measure. Obviously, Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams could probably have picked up some of these first downs as well, but having a guy like Polite in the backfield as well, stops the defense from keying in on either back. He also deserves praise for the solid blocking he's providing in the run game and in pass protection. The team just might have uncovered its fullback for the forseeable future when they signed Polite.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Wildcat By The Numbers Week 13
Here's my latest tables for tracking the success of the Wildcat formation.
Last week against the Rams, Miami used the formation only twice, its fewest attempts out of the Wildcat all season.
It will be interesting, going forward, to see how Justin Smiley's absence affects the usage and effectiveness of the Wildcat, given that he was one of the strongest pulling blockers from that formation.
Last week against the Rams, Miami used the formation only twice, its fewest attempts out of the Wildcat all season.
It will be interesting, going forward, to see how Justin Smiley's absence affects the usage and effectiveness of the Wildcat, given that he was one of the strongest pulling blockers from that formation.
| Plays | Run | Pass | Yards | Yds/Play | FDs | TDs | |
| Week 3, @NE | 6 | 5 | 1 | 119 | 19.8 | 1 | 4 |
| Week 5, SD | 10 | 9 | 1 | 48 | 4.8 | 3 | 1 |
| Week 6, @HOU | 7 | 6 | 1 | 77 | 11.0 | 0 | 1 |
| Week 7, BAL | 5 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Week 8, BUF | 7 | 7 | 0 | 34 | 4.9 | 3 | 0 |
| Week 9, @ DEN | 4 | 3 | 1 | -5 | -1.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Week 10, SEA | 6 | 6 | 0 | 80 | 13.3 | 0 | 2 |
| Week 11, OAK | 10 | 10 | 0 | 52 | 5.2 | 1 | 0 |
| Week 12, NE | 8 | 8 | 0 | 25 | 3.1 | 1 | 0 |
| Week 13, @ STL | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 65 | 61 | 4 | 436 | 6.7 | 9 | 8 |
| Avg./Game | 6.5 | 6.1 | 0.4 | 44 | - | .9 | .8 |
| Plays | FDs (non-penalty) | FD% | TDs | TD% | Run Avg | |
| Non-WC Plays | 659 | 216 | 33% | 20 | 3% | 3.9 yds |
| WC Plays | 65 | 9 | 14% | 8 | 12% | 6.1 yds |
| Runs | Yards | Avg | FDs | TDs | |
| Ronnie Brown | 38 | 226 | 5.9 | 5 | 5 |
| Ricky Williams | 22 | 143 | 6.5 | 4 | 1 |
| Patrick Cobbs | 1 | 3 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 |
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