In a cost cutting decision, The Miami Dolphins released receivers Brian Hartline and Brandon Gibson this past Friday. Hartline coming off of a 39 reception, 474 yard with two touchdowns 2014 season was scheduled to count for 7.35 million against Miami's 2015 salary cap. Gibson with his 29 catches for 295 yards and one touchdown for 2014 was due 4.26 million pictures of President George Washington in 2015.
Brian Hartline's six year Miami Dolphin career included 298 catches, 4,243 yards, and 12 touchdowns. He will be 29 before the 2015 season's end. During 28 year old Brandon Gibson's 7 year career, he produced 233 receptions for 2,711 yards with 13 touchdowns.
Previous to these decisions, The Dolphins had approximately 3 million dollars available with the opening of free agency just ten days away. These most recent moves free-up an additional 6.4 million for Miami to play with which happens to be just the right amount to secure their 2013 MVP Tight End Charles Clay who is scheduled to hit the March 10th open market. Presently, the Dolphins now have a suggested 10 million dollars to make the best of with while many more millions will become available over the next ten days with the cuts of other positional overpaid underachievers. You know who they are beyond the receiver position!
Though he is not an under achiever while averaging 8 touchdowns and nearly 1000 yards per season, Mike Wallace is overpaid at 12.1 million for said production. He isn't willing to restructure his contract for the sake of the team. He has some personality conflicts with certain others. While, he may also be replaceable with a somewhat equal force at a more fair rate to the Miami Dolphins than what Jeff Ireland burdened them with. However. Few if any that may be legitimate considerations have been as consistently reliable or productive as Mike Wallace (thus-far), and most all receivers are to some extent, a diva.
Currently, Jarvis Landry, Rishard Matthews, and Mike Wallace are the only remaining 2014 Miami Dolphin receivers that saw the field.
Previously we discussed the combine/draftee prospects in the case of such a blossoming dilemma. Of 40 that will soon become available. Here are a handful of Free Agent receivers that are equatable to and/or recently upgraded replacements to fill the rolls of Brian Hartline, Brandon Gibson, and/or potentially Mike Wallace.
Hakeem Nicks 27 has missed 10 of 96 career games. His only 16 game season came this past year for Indianapolis at a pay rate of 2.2 million. His one season with Andrew Luck at Quarterback also happened to be the productively worst season of his career. In his first year away from a familiar system his 2014 numbers were 405 yards with 4 touchdowns. Such 2014 production was similar to the receiver that he is best suited skill-wise as an upgrade to replace Brian Hartline, (at a far more affordable price). Just one year ago Nicks had totaled 896 yards on 56 catches for Eli Manning and the New York Giants. His best seasons to date came in 2010 when he snatched 79 receptions for 1,052 yards with 11 touchdowns, and 2011's (76, 1,192 and 7 touchdowns) for the same Giants. For his six year NFL career, Hakeem Nicks has accrued 349 catches for 5,027 yards and 31 touchdowns.
Kenny Britt will be 27 and has missed 23 of 96 games, (basically a season and a half) of his six year career. He has been available for all 16 games in only his rookie and 2014 seasons. His best year was in 2010 with 42 catches, 775 yards, and 9 touchdowns in just 12 games while with a deficient at quarterback Titans team. His one 2014 season with the lacking at quarterback Rams was his second best year as he accounted for 48 grabs, 748 yards with 3 touchdowns. When totally healthy which has been a rare occasion to this point, he can do almost everything and more than what Mike Wallace does. He has good speed for his size while actually possessing the height 6 - 3, weight 218, and strength (23 reps of 225 as a collegiate) attributes of a true number one receiver. Landing a healthy Britt as a potential number One (at his current rate of less than 2 million), and keeping Mike Wallace as a Two (where he belongs, rather than as the one) could be the ultimately desired scenario. It would exceed by far the one, two punch potential of the Wallace/Hartline 2014 combo. As a five year Tennessee Titan, and 2014 St.Louis Ram, Kenny Britt has 205 receptions for 3,198 yards with 22 touchdowns.
Randall Cobb is 25 and has missed twelve of 64 career games. He excels from the slot position, but like Jarvis Landry (or Hartline), he is versatile enough to also be highly productive from the interchangeable number two receiver spot. Though not as fast (4.46) as Wallace (4.33), due to precise routes he's almost every bit as capable of getting beyond the coverage. Cobb is a highly competitive, motivational type player that rises to the occasion when called upon, and he is a physical player that's not afraid of contact over the middle, or in blocking. In his 2012 sophomore season with Green Bay he had 80 catches for 954 yards and 8 touchdowns. He missed 10 games in 2013, and still outproduced the 2014 numbers of Brian Hartline. For his breakout 2014 season, he caught 91 balls with 1,287 yards, and 12 touchdowns from Aaron Rodgers. Upon the duration of his four year career, Randall Cobb has tabulated 227 receptions, 3,049 yards with 25 touchdowns.
Torrey Smith at 26 years old has been relegated as active in all of his teams 64 games. Similar to Mike Wallace in size, Torrey Smith is also a true number two receiver that would desire a true number one option to complement, while with a (4.43) forty he is the fastest straight line runner of this free agent bunch. Smith has a great work ethic, passion, and displays good leadership skills. He has averaged 53 receptions for 900 yards, while his high yardage mark of 1,128 came during the 2013 season. His career touchdown season high of 11 came about this past 2014 season with 767 yards as he limped through a half season long knee issue. As Joe Flacco's security blanket over his four year Baltimore Raven career, Torrey Smith has accrued 213 catches for 3,591 yards, and 30 touchdowns.
Jeremy Maclin 27 at seasons start has been absent for 5 of his teams 80 games. He is the same size as Wallace and though he's not as fast at (4.45), he can get open and/or over the top just as easily due to great running of all routes. Over his first four years in Philadelphia (the origin of Miami OC Bill Lazor), Maclin averaged 875 yards on 64 receptions. His second most productive season came in 2010 when he gathered 70 balls for 964 yards with 10 touchdowns. In 2014 he had his breakout career year and accrued 1,318 yards for 10 touchdowns on 85 catches. With a revolving door variation of quarterbacks, Jeremy Maclin's 5 year career has accounted for 343 receptions with 4,771 yards, and 36 touchdowns.
Mike Wallace will be 29 at seasons start, he has missed one game of 96. During his first four years with Pittsburgh, Ben Rothlisberger accounted for 32 of his touchdowns while in the last two years Mike Wallace has kept up the pace as the recipient of 15 Ryan Tannehill touchdowns. Over his six year career Mike Wallace has 375 receptions for 5,834 yards with 47 touchdowns.
Wallace will count for 12.1 million as a 2015 Miami Dolphin.
He will count for 9.6 mill against the cap if he is cut before June 1st.
The cost is 6.6 mill if he's traded
(for whats being suggested to be a late round draft pick).
A 5.2 million dollar loss takes place if he's designated to be a Post June 1st cut.
He is guaranteed 3 million if he's on the team (without a June 1st cut designation) as of March 15th!!
With that March 15th guarantee of 3 million dollars!
One or more of the above options is likely to become official within the next ten to 15 days.
Free Agency opens on March 10th!!
MAYBE (over those 5 days) between March 10th and 15th?
Miami aggressively goes after and lands a free agent receiver replacement at (2 to 6 million) with a similar to Mike Wallace set of abilities?
In such a case, the potential immediate need for speed is somewhat voided.
Wallace can then be designated as a June 1st cut while Miami eats the minimum of future "dead money", and simultaneously creates additional cap space of (6 to 10 million) toward the 2015 seasons roster.
MAYBE The Miami Dolphins will prefer a reliably healthy and consistently productive Mike Wallace at 12.1 million over some other 2 to 6 million dollar wide receiver diva?
MAYBE by releasing the 11.6 million dollars due to Brian Hartline and Brandon Gibson for the 2015 season, the Dolphins can justify (to some extent) paying Mike Wallace his contracted 12.1 million? He was after all far more productive than both Hartline and Gibson combined!
THANK YOU for an Open-Minded read, and we look forward to your angle of view : )) !!
Who, How, Why, When, and What would be your preferred route??
GOFINS!!!
Showing posts with label Brian Hartline. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brian Hartline. Show all posts
Sorry Dolphin Fans, But Rex Ryan Did It To Us Again!
A season finale Dolphins versus Jets Post Game Courtesy of Tony Nicoletti.
It seems Coach Ryan had to offer a parting gift to his team in their 37 to 24 defeat of the Miami Dolphins. Old Ryan sure made Geno Smith look like the best kept, "big play" secret of the season. He had career stats with his 20 of 25 completions, 358 passing yards and 3 touch down effort. His primary receiver, Eric Decker had 10 receptions for 221 yards. (The most ever allowed by a Dolphin's defense to any receiver in a game).
Ryan most assuredly will not be back with the Jets in 2015 but he sure made a statement for Geno Smith to be seriously considered for another season. Mr Ryan will be pursuing his options with another NFL Franchise. Thank God he will not be in our division anymore. (I hope).
This victory did not happen the way some might have thought, though. Miami held New York's high powered running game to a net of 104 yards on 34 carries and a 3.1 yard average. The Dolphins actually stopped 7 of their runs for minus 12 yards in the process. But who could have known that the Jets 32nd ranked passing offense would have such success against Miami's 4th ranked pass defense. (Any more than the Dolphins 14th ranked running game would shred the 5th best run defense in the NFL for 178 yards on 20 carries for a 9.0 yard average).
Yes, we wanted to finish the season with a 9 and 7 record,but as the saying goes, "two out of three, ain't bad". We were all hoping that Ryan Tannehill would reach the 4,000 plateau in passing yards and for Lamar Miller to eclipse 1,000 rushing yards on the season. Both marks were achieved. Tannehill just barely got his goal and Miller almost finished with 1,100 rushing yards. Ryan Tannehill also surpassed Dan Marino's single season completion record. This was the first time in team history that the Dolphins had a 4,000 yard quarterback and a 1,000 yard running back in the same season.
The only thing that would have made these accomplishments even sweeter is if Mike Wallace could have gotten 130+ receiving yards to wind up with a 1,000 yards for the season as well, while contributing toward a potential Dolphin final game victory. He did not catch a pass all game long and for some reason, wound up sitting on the sidelines the entire second half.
Both teams started out with a 3 and out, but not before sacking each others quarterback once during their first possessions. The only difference being that Miami would not sack Geno Smith for the remainder of the game. The Jets however, added 6 more sacks, (particularly, late in the game) which ruined Ryan Tannehill's completion percentage. (And any chance of him leading a comeback). Tannehill was sacked 7 times for a staggering 51 yards of lost real estate. He was hurried and hit often too. It's a wonder he did not throw an interception, though he did get a strip sack late in the game which resulted in a Jets recovered fumble.
Miami started the scoring first on their second possession with a 37 yard field goal, after the Jets missed a 45 yard attempt that bounced off the goal post.
Score: Dolphins 3, the Jets 0.
The Jets rolled down the field for their first touchdown. It took all of 6 plays. Geno Smith highlighted C. Owusu's multiple talents with a 36 yard deep pass, followed by Owusu's 23 yard run for the score.
Score: Dolphins 3, the Jets 7.
Miami went 6 and out. (L. Miller had a nice 20 yard run and was setting the stage for better things to come).
A couple of minutes into the second quarter,Miami would get the game's first turn over as Reshad Jones tackles Geno Smith after a 2 yard scramble and forces the fumble which was recovered by Jason Trunsik on the Jets 21 yard line. Tannehill hits Charles Clay for 16 yards and on a 3rd and 1, Daniel Thomas goes in for the touch down.
Score: Dolphins 10, Jets 7.
The Jets start their next drive on their 21 yard line. Smith connects on passes of 17, 40 and 8 yards to take the lead on 7 plays.
Score: Dolphins 10, Jets 14.
Miami squanders it's next opportunity as Mike Wallace gets a false start penalty on 1st down, Daryn Colledge has a offensive holding penalty on 2nd down and Miami commits an illegal shift penalty on 3rd down. The Jets decline the last penalty since the Dolphins came up short of the 1st down, anyway.
Now New York starts on their own 31 yard line, but on 2nd and 7 Cameron Wake gets a questionable roughing the passer penalty. Ultimately, their drive stalls and they punt it, pinning Miami deep on their own 7 yard line.
At the 2 minute warning, Tannehill gets sack on the 50 yard line, but gets back up and hits Brian Hartline deep for 16 yards.Several good pass plays later he throws a 23 yard touch down strike to Charles Clay.
Score: Dolphins 17, Jets 14 at the half.
The Jets get the ball first in the 3rd quarter and runs the kick off from their 1 yard line, 87 yards to the Dolphin 12 yard line. Miami holds them on 3rd and 4th down needing 1 yard to score and get the ball back on their 3 yard line. It was a nice defensive stop.
Miami returns the big play favor on 1st down with a Lamar Miller 97 yard running play for the score. The 3rd longest running play from scrimmage in NFL history and the longest in Dolphin franchise history.
Score: Dolphins 24, Jets 14.
But wait! The big plays aren't over yet. On 3rd down with 4 yards to go on their own 26 yard line, Geno Smith heaves a 74 yard scoring pass to a (wide open) Eric Decker
Score: Dolphins 24, Jets 21.
On Miami's next possession Tannehill connects with a 33 yard pass to Brian Hartline, driving down to the Jets 41 yard line. On 3rd and 10 Ryan throws an incomplete pass to Brandon Gibson who is called for offensive pass interference which the Jets of course, decline. However, on the ensuing punt the Jets are caught with 12 men on the field which advances the ball down to their 36 yard line. Now Miami faces a 4th and 5 situation. They decide to go for it, but the pass attempt to Jarvis Landry is incomplete and the Jets take over on downs. A gutsy call.
On a 3rd and 9 play Geno completes a 50 yard reception to Eric Decker. Brent Grimes jumps between the receiver and the ball for the interception but Decker jumps for it too, bumping Grimes out of the away in mid air, to haul in the reception. Miami manages to hold them to a field goal.
Score: Dolphins 24, Jets 24.
With the score tied Miami goes 4 and out.
The Jets get the ball back but must start from their 17 yard line due to a offensive holding penalty. On 1st down Smiths throws to J. Kerley for 33 yards. After several more completions, the Jets drive stalls on Miami's 5 yard line and they settle for a field goal just as the 4th quarter gets under way. During the drive, both Koa Misi and Eric Decker would sustain injuries that would take them out for the remainder of the contest.
Score: Dolphins 24, Jets 27.
Miami drives down into field goal range, helped by a 17 yard pass play to Jarvis Landry. Caleb Sturgis misses the 53 yard attempt.
The Jets however, go 3 and out.
On the Dolphins subsequent drive Tannehill gets sacked on 2nd and 4 on their own 26. But on 3rd and 12 he finds Hartline for 14 yards to keep the drive alive. Tannehill gets sacked once again on 2nd and 10. They are also penalized for an illegal formation which the Jets decline so they can get the ball back.
With 5:46 left in the 4th quarter the Jets have the ball on their own 26 yard line. On 4th and 12 they line up in punt formation. However, R. Quigley fakes the punt and throw to an (uncovered) Z. Sudifeld for 39 yards to continue the drive. Jarvis Landry saves the touch down by getting an open field tackle of Sudifeld on Miami's 23 yard line. Even one of the announcers stated that we should watch out for the fake since it has been in the Jets arsenal for many years, but...
I believe the damage was done at this point as the successful fake punt for the first down swayed the momentum in New York's favor. On the very next play Geno tosses a 23 yard touch down pass to a (wide open) J. Cumberland. Olivier Vernon gets a neutral zone infraction which is enforced between downs.
Score: Dolphins 24, Jets 34.
Miami gets the ball back with 3:22 to play on their 25 yard line. (After Jarvis Landry runs it out from -9 yards in the end zone for 34 yards). Tannehill promptly gets sacked on 1st and 2nd down. On 4th and 16 Tannehill's pass to Brandon Gibson falls short but the Jets are called for roughing the passer. (With Miami being 10 points behind this late in the game, the Jets can afford to bring the house against Ryan Tannehill and he is taking a pounding in the process).
On 2nd and 10, New York sacks Tannehill and forces a fumble which they recover on Miami's 22 yard line. The Jets run 3 meaningless plays and kick a 37 yard field goal to seal the victory.
Score: Dolphins 24, Jets 37.
With 31 seconds left in regulation Tannehill completes one last play to Jarvis Landry but it's, "game over".
Most of the statistics were unremarkable in this game for the Dolphins. There where some points in the game where they played well and others where they seemed to be over matched and confused. The Miami Dolphins are a mediocre, 8 and 8 ball club that wound up splitting their games within the division this year. There is a lot of room for improvement. Having their staff intact for next season, will hopefully address the issues that need correcting. But that will be a blog for another time.
The good thing in all of this, (besides Tannehill and Miller achieving their milestones and setting team records) is that we will not have Rex Ryan opposing us on the sidelines twice a year anymore. As a matter of fact, I would just assume he gets a gig on the NFC side the NFL for a while.
It seems Coach Ryan had to offer a parting gift to his team in their 37 to 24 defeat of the Miami Dolphins. Old Ryan sure made Geno Smith look like the best kept, "big play" secret of the season. He had career stats with his 20 of 25 completions, 358 passing yards and 3 touch down effort. His primary receiver, Eric Decker had 10 receptions for 221 yards. (The most ever allowed by a Dolphin's defense to any receiver in a game).
Ryan most assuredly will not be back with the Jets in 2015 but he sure made a statement for Geno Smith to be seriously considered for another season. Mr Ryan will be pursuing his options with another NFL Franchise. Thank God he will not be in our division anymore. (I hope).
This victory did not happen the way some might have thought, though. Miami held New York's high powered running game to a net of 104 yards on 34 carries and a 3.1 yard average. The Dolphins actually stopped 7 of their runs for minus 12 yards in the process. But who could have known that the Jets 32nd ranked passing offense would have such success against Miami's 4th ranked pass defense. (Any more than the Dolphins 14th ranked running game would shred the 5th best run defense in the NFL for 178 yards on 20 carries for a 9.0 yard average).
Yes, we wanted to finish the season with a 9 and 7 record,but as the saying goes, "two out of three, ain't bad". We were all hoping that Ryan Tannehill would reach the 4,000 plateau in passing yards and for Lamar Miller to eclipse 1,000 rushing yards on the season. Both marks were achieved. Tannehill just barely got his goal and Miller almost finished with 1,100 rushing yards. Ryan Tannehill also surpassed Dan Marino's single season completion record. This was the first time in team history that the Dolphins had a 4,000 yard quarterback and a 1,000 yard running back in the same season.
The only thing that would have made these accomplishments even sweeter is if Mike Wallace could have gotten 130+ receiving yards to wind up with a 1,000 yards for the season as well, while contributing toward a potential Dolphin final game victory. He did not catch a pass all game long and for some reason, wound up sitting on the sidelines the entire second half.
Both teams started out with a 3 and out, but not before sacking each others quarterback once during their first possessions. The only difference being that Miami would not sack Geno Smith for the remainder of the game. The Jets however, added 6 more sacks, (particularly, late in the game) which ruined Ryan Tannehill's completion percentage. (And any chance of him leading a comeback). Tannehill was sacked 7 times for a staggering 51 yards of lost real estate. He was hurried and hit often too. It's a wonder he did not throw an interception, though he did get a strip sack late in the game which resulted in a Jets recovered fumble.
Miami started the scoring first on their second possession with a 37 yard field goal, after the Jets missed a 45 yard attempt that bounced off the goal post.
Score: Dolphins 3, the Jets 0.
The Jets rolled down the field for their first touchdown. It took all of 6 plays. Geno Smith highlighted C. Owusu's multiple talents with a 36 yard deep pass, followed by Owusu's 23 yard run for the score.
Score: Dolphins 3, the Jets 7.
Miami went 6 and out. (L. Miller had a nice 20 yard run and was setting the stage for better things to come).
A couple of minutes into the second quarter,Miami would get the game's first turn over as Reshad Jones tackles Geno Smith after a 2 yard scramble and forces the fumble which was recovered by Jason Trunsik on the Jets 21 yard line. Tannehill hits Charles Clay for 16 yards and on a 3rd and 1, Daniel Thomas goes in for the touch down.
Score: Dolphins 10, Jets 7.
The Jets start their next drive on their 21 yard line. Smith connects on passes of 17, 40 and 8 yards to take the lead on 7 plays.
Score: Dolphins 10, Jets 14.
Miami squanders it's next opportunity as Mike Wallace gets a false start penalty on 1st down, Daryn Colledge has a offensive holding penalty on 2nd down and Miami commits an illegal shift penalty on 3rd down. The Jets decline the last penalty since the Dolphins came up short of the 1st down, anyway.
Now New York starts on their own 31 yard line, but on 2nd and 7 Cameron Wake gets a questionable roughing the passer penalty. Ultimately, their drive stalls and they punt it, pinning Miami deep on their own 7 yard line.
At the 2 minute warning, Tannehill gets sack on the 50 yard line, but gets back up and hits Brian Hartline deep for 16 yards.Several good pass plays later he throws a 23 yard touch down strike to Charles Clay.
Score: Dolphins 17, Jets 14 at the half.
The Jets get the ball first in the 3rd quarter and runs the kick off from their 1 yard line, 87 yards to the Dolphin 12 yard line. Miami holds them on 3rd and 4th down needing 1 yard to score and get the ball back on their 3 yard line. It was a nice defensive stop.
Miami returns the big play favor on 1st down with a Lamar Miller 97 yard running play for the score. The 3rd longest running play from scrimmage in NFL history and the longest in Dolphin franchise history.
Score: Dolphins 24, Jets 14.
But wait! The big plays aren't over yet. On 3rd down with 4 yards to go on their own 26 yard line, Geno Smith heaves a 74 yard scoring pass to a (wide open) Eric Decker
Score: Dolphins 24, Jets 21.
On Miami's next possession Tannehill connects with a 33 yard pass to Brian Hartline, driving down to the Jets 41 yard line. On 3rd and 10 Ryan throws an incomplete pass to Brandon Gibson who is called for offensive pass interference which the Jets of course, decline. However, on the ensuing punt the Jets are caught with 12 men on the field which advances the ball down to their 36 yard line. Now Miami faces a 4th and 5 situation. They decide to go for it, but the pass attempt to Jarvis Landry is incomplete and the Jets take over on downs. A gutsy call.
On a 3rd and 9 play Geno completes a 50 yard reception to Eric Decker. Brent Grimes jumps between the receiver and the ball for the interception but Decker jumps for it too, bumping Grimes out of the away in mid air, to haul in the reception. Miami manages to hold them to a field goal.
Score: Dolphins 24, Jets 24.
With the score tied Miami goes 4 and out.
The Jets get the ball back but must start from their 17 yard line due to a offensive holding penalty. On 1st down Smiths throws to J. Kerley for 33 yards. After several more completions, the Jets drive stalls on Miami's 5 yard line and they settle for a field goal just as the 4th quarter gets under way. During the drive, both Koa Misi and Eric Decker would sustain injuries that would take them out for the remainder of the contest.
Score: Dolphins 24, Jets 27.
Miami drives down into field goal range, helped by a 17 yard pass play to Jarvis Landry. Caleb Sturgis misses the 53 yard attempt.
The Jets however, go 3 and out.
On the Dolphins subsequent drive Tannehill gets sacked on 2nd and 4 on their own 26. But on 3rd and 12 he finds Hartline for 14 yards to keep the drive alive. Tannehill gets sacked once again on 2nd and 10. They are also penalized for an illegal formation which the Jets decline so they can get the ball back.
With 5:46 left in the 4th quarter the Jets have the ball on their own 26 yard line. On 4th and 12 they line up in punt formation. However, R. Quigley fakes the punt and throw to an (uncovered) Z. Sudifeld for 39 yards to continue the drive. Jarvis Landry saves the touch down by getting an open field tackle of Sudifeld on Miami's 23 yard line. Even one of the announcers stated that we should watch out for the fake since it has been in the Jets arsenal for many years, but...
I believe the damage was done at this point as the successful fake punt for the first down swayed the momentum in New York's favor. On the very next play Geno tosses a 23 yard touch down pass to a (wide open) J. Cumberland. Olivier Vernon gets a neutral zone infraction which is enforced between downs.
Score: Dolphins 24, Jets 34.
Miami gets the ball back with 3:22 to play on their 25 yard line. (After Jarvis Landry runs it out from -9 yards in the end zone for 34 yards). Tannehill promptly gets sacked on 1st and 2nd down. On 4th and 16 Tannehill's pass to Brandon Gibson falls short but the Jets are called for roughing the passer. (With Miami being 10 points behind this late in the game, the Jets can afford to bring the house against Ryan Tannehill and he is taking a pounding in the process).
On 2nd and 10, New York sacks Tannehill and forces a fumble which they recover on Miami's 22 yard line. The Jets run 3 meaningless plays and kick a 37 yard field goal to seal the victory.
Score: Dolphins 24, Jets 37.
With 31 seconds left in regulation Tannehill completes one last play to Jarvis Landry but it's, "game over".
Most of the statistics were unremarkable in this game for the Dolphins. There where some points in the game where they played well and others where they seemed to be over matched and confused. The Miami Dolphins are a mediocre, 8 and 8 ball club that wound up splitting their games within the division this year. There is a lot of room for improvement. Having their staff intact for next season, will hopefully address the issues that need correcting. But that will be a blog for another time.
The good thing in all of this, (besides Tannehill and Miller achieving their milestones and setting team records) is that we will not have Rex Ryan opposing us on the sidelines twice a year anymore. As a matter of fact, I would just assume he gets a gig on the NFC side the NFL for a while.
Baltimore Ravens Poop On Miami Dolphins Playoff Hopes
Coming into week fourteen of the 2014 NFL season, though tied with five other teams at 7 - 5. The Miami Dolphins were ranked as the AFC's final 6th seed playoff team and in control of their own destiny.
In a head to head three game swing scenario Miami hosted the 7 - 5 Baltimore Ravens, and lost 28 - 13. The game started out well with the Ravens first three possessions going three and out as the Dolphins scored on their two first quarter series. Miami's first touch resulted in a 46 yard field goal. Their second drive covered 66 yards on 11 plays, and ended with a three yard Ryan Tannehill to Brian Hartline Touchdown for a 0 - 10 Miami lead at first quarters end.
On Baltimore's fourth series they drove 74 yards to the Miami twelve yard line. On third and seven, insurance agent/seventh string corner back/starter RJ Stanford claimed an end zone interception of Joe Flacco, and the Dolphins took possession of the Ravens belongings.
Some invisible lost yardage (via referee) hurt this Dolphins drive from their own 20 yard line while on four rushes and an incompletion they drove to their own 42. On second down with 10 yards to go Tannehill rolled right and hit Mike Wallace on a beautifully placed lazor, and sliding catch for a gain of 31 yards to the Ravens 27 yard line. The play was nullified by an illegal-lineman down field penalty, and cost Miami huge momentum as well as a first down in scoring range with an opportunity to add to their already 0 - 10 lead. Tannehill was sacked on the following play at his own 37 which resulted in an insurmountable 3rd and 26 which led to a 4th down punt.
Former Buffalo Bill, and well known Dolphin detractor turned CBS analyst Steve Tasker suggested the call to be ridiculous as the lineman was only a legal one yard beyond the line of scrimmage. The Ravens took the punt while closing the half with a 97 yard drive in twelve plays, and one yard Flacco to Steve Smith touchdown to pull within 7 - 10 upon going to the tunnel.
Despite several dropped balls by the men in white, and dropped calls by the men in stripes the Dolphins are winning. The Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco had accrued just 132 passing yards on 14 of 19 attempts with a touchdown and interception, while their running game has gathered 60 yards rushing on 12 carries. Tannehill is 10 of 14 for 88 yards with two sacks and a touchdown (his 21st for the year to just 9 interceptions) as Miami has 53 net yards rushing on 12 attempts.
The Ravens changed their second half pass defense philosophy, and decide to sit on the Dolphins short routes while daring Miami to go deep, but those designed deep plays resulted in four second half sacks (via the offensive line) long before the plays were able to develop.
Miami opened the third quarter with a 6 play 20 yard series that was stalled by two offensive line false start penalties on first downs, and another (according to Tasker) phantom flag of illegal lineman down field during a Tannehill to Jarvis Landry completion of 13 yards on first and fifteen. Baltimore replies with an 11 play 75 yard touchdown drive to take a 14 - 10 third quarter lead.
Heart Breaking momentum swings are beginning to take their toll on the Miami psyche.
The Dolphins next touch of the ball ends in 5 plays on a third and three from the Ravens 48 with a sack of Tannehill, and punt on fourth & nine. With 3:07 third quarter ticks to go Baltimore takes control at their own six yard line. On third and ten Miami's Olivier Vernon sacks Flacco with his knee touching down one yard deep into the end zone for what appeared to be a momentum changing safety, but with a beyond downed Flacco final lunge from his knee's the refs suggest that the ball cleared the goal line, and the visitors snap the ball from their own one to punt.
The Dolphins take control of the ball at the Ravens 48 yard line. A third and five Tannehill completion to Landry for 20 yards ends the third quarter at Baltimore's 18 yard line. The following play is a short toss to tight end Charles Clay who scampers through a multitude of defenders down the sidelines for 14 yards to the Ravens four and a Miami first down. Lamar Miller is stuffed for minus two on first down, starting Center Samson Satele is injured and Mike Pouncey steps in. On second down Pouncey's replacement at guard is hit with a false start penalty that pushes the home team back to the visitors eleven. On third and 11 Tannehill is sacked for another minus five yards, and the Dolphins are forced to kick a 34 yard field goal to close the scoreboard deficit to 14 - 13.
Through the third quarter the Miami (porous of late) rush defense has held the visitors to 75 yards on 17 carries, but the Ravens can see that Miami's numerous misfortunes on both sides of the ball are breaking them down mentally. With 12:41 remaining in the game on just two rush attempts for one yard, Baltimore passes it's way down to the Dolphins two yard line in seven plays for 78 yards. On the eighth play the home teams bubble was busted one last psyche altering time as Cam Wake sacked Flacco who fumbled the ball to Miami according to the call on the field. The replay (according to the referees) suggested that the play be reversed. On the ninth play the Ravens ran the ball for a two yard touchdown, and 21 - 13 advantage.
It was over! Miami was physically and mentally broken with 8:09 ticks to go, and replied with a three and out that included another sack of Tannehill! To make matters worse, starting safety Louis Delmas went down with what appeared to be a season ending injury on the first play of the Ravens next drive. With six minutes remaining Baltimore didn't bother to attack the Dolphins severely diminished pass defense. They simply rushed the ball for 81 yards in seven plays for another one yard touchdown run to finalize the score of 28 - 13.
Ryan Tannehill was sacked for a sixth time on the Dolphins final 5 plays for 33 yards touch of the ball, and the Ravens had one last final series rush attempt of 27 yards. The Dolphins had held the Ravens rushing attack to 75 yards through three quarters, but upon a final straw being thrown onto their back, Miami allowed 108 yards via the feet on Baltimore's final two possessions.
Tannehill was 23 of 33 for 227 yards, with a touchdown pass, and the Dolphins rushed the ball just 4 times for 10 yards in the second half to total 63 yards on 16 carries for the game. Flacco was sacked one time in 60 minutes while completing 25 of 33 attempts for 269 yards with two touchdowns passes, and the Ravens ended up with 198 more net offensive yards than their host with 120 being that of the 31 attempt rush attack!
""Playoffs? Playoffs? Playoffs?""
Due to the Dolphin loss. The previously trailing (7 - 5) field of today's (now 8 - 5) winners include Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and (7 - 6) Houston who have all leap frogged the home team in the AFC standings and detoured Miami to the 9th seed. Currently 7 - 6 Buffalo, Cleveland, and Kansas City remain behind 7 - 6 Miami while all are (one game behind the presently fifth seeded) 8 - 5 Pittsburgh Steelers, and sixth seeded 8 - 5 San Diego Chargers (who Miami holds a one on one, head to head tiebreaker advantage on). .
AFC North leader Cincinnati dropped to 8 - 4 - 1 in a home loss to inner division rival Pittsburgh. Suddenly! The Miami Dolphins are no longer in control of their own Wild Card playoff destiny as they (if able to end even with) would presently lose playoff tiebreaker scenario's to the Ravens, Steelers, and Texans. Meanwhile, the Bengals have a tie under their belt which is suggestive that the Dolphins would have to end the season with an (outright) better overall record than at least 3 of the 4 most recently mentioned teams in order to potentially get a glimpse of post season play.
Stranger things have happened, but Miami travels to (10 - 3) New England next week while two games of disturbing note have the Ravens hosting the (2 - 11) Jaguars, and Chiefs entertaining the (2 - 11) Raiders. Pittsburgh goes to 5 - 7 Atlanta, Houston goes to 9 - 4 Indianapolis, San Diego host the 10 - 3 Denver Bronco's, and Cincinnati goes to Cleveland (who Miami will need to win) as they themselves will absolutely need to win.
Not looking good folks, Raven Poop has stained the Dolphins recently shinning veneer.
Thank You for a Open-Minded Read, and we look forward to your angle of view : )) !!
BEAT the Patriots, Vikings, and Jets, or start thinking about 2015!!
GOFINS!!!
In a head to head three game swing scenario Miami hosted the 7 - 5 Baltimore Ravens, and lost 28 - 13. The game started out well with the Ravens first three possessions going three and out as the Dolphins scored on their two first quarter series. Miami's first touch resulted in a 46 yard field goal. Their second drive covered 66 yards on 11 plays, and ended with a three yard Ryan Tannehill to Brian Hartline Touchdown for a 0 - 10 Miami lead at first quarters end.
On Baltimore's fourth series they drove 74 yards to the Miami twelve yard line. On third and seven, insurance agent/seventh string corner back/starter RJ Stanford claimed an end zone interception of Joe Flacco, and the Dolphins took possession of the Ravens belongings.
Some invisible lost yardage (via referee) hurt this Dolphins drive from their own 20 yard line while on four rushes and an incompletion they drove to their own 42. On second down with 10 yards to go Tannehill rolled right and hit Mike Wallace on a beautifully placed lazor, and sliding catch for a gain of 31 yards to the Ravens 27 yard line. The play was nullified by an illegal-lineman down field penalty, and cost Miami huge momentum as well as a first down in scoring range with an opportunity to add to their already 0 - 10 lead. Tannehill was sacked on the following play at his own 37 which resulted in an insurmountable 3rd and 26 which led to a 4th down punt.
Former Buffalo Bill, and well known Dolphin detractor turned CBS analyst Steve Tasker suggested the call to be ridiculous as the lineman was only a legal one yard beyond the line of scrimmage. The Ravens took the punt while closing the half with a 97 yard drive in twelve plays, and one yard Flacco to Steve Smith touchdown to pull within 7 - 10 upon going to the tunnel.
Despite several dropped balls by the men in white, and dropped calls by the men in stripes the Dolphins are winning. The Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco had accrued just 132 passing yards on 14 of 19 attempts with a touchdown and interception, while their running game has gathered 60 yards rushing on 12 carries. Tannehill is 10 of 14 for 88 yards with two sacks and a touchdown (his 21st for the year to just 9 interceptions) as Miami has 53 net yards rushing on 12 attempts.
The Ravens changed their second half pass defense philosophy, and decide to sit on the Dolphins short routes while daring Miami to go deep, but those designed deep plays resulted in four second half sacks (via the offensive line) long before the plays were able to develop.
Miami opened the third quarter with a 6 play 20 yard series that was stalled by two offensive line false start penalties on first downs, and another (according to Tasker) phantom flag of illegal lineman down field during a Tannehill to Jarvis Landry completion of 13 yards on first and fifteen. Baltimore replies with an 11 play 75 yard touchdown drive to take a 14 - 10 third quarter lead.
Heart Breaking momentum swings are beginning to take their toll on the Miami psyche.
The Dolphins next touch of the ball ends in 5 plays on a third and three from the Ravens 48 with a sack of Tannehill, and punt on fourth & nine. With 3:07 third quarter ticks to go Baltimore takes control at their own six yard line. On third and ten Miami's Olivier Vernon sacks Flacco with his knee touching down one yard deep into the end zone for what appeared to be a momentum changing safety, but with a beyond downed Flacco final lunge from his knee's the refs suggest that the ball cleared the goal line, and the visitors snap the ball from their own one to punt.
The Dolphins take control of the ball at the Ravens 48 yard line. A third and five Tannehill completion to Landry for 20 yards ends the third quarter at Baltimore's 18 yard line. The following play is a short toss to tight end Charles Clay who scampers through a multitude of defenders down the sidelines for 14 yards to the Ravens four and a Miami first down. Lamar Miller is stuffed for minus two on first down, starting Center Samson Satele is injured and Mike Pouncey steps in. On second down Pouncey's replacement at guard is hit with a false start penalty that pushes the home team back to the visitors eleven. On third and 11 Tannehill is sacked for another minus five yards, and the Dolphins are forced to kick a 34 yard field goal to close the scoreboard deficit to 14 - 13.
Through the third quarter the Miami (porous of late) rush defense has held the visitors to 75 yards on 17 carries, but the Ravens can see that Miami's numerous misfortunes on both sides of the ball are breaking them down mentally. With 12:41 remaining in the game on just two rush attempts for one yard, Baltimore passes it's way down to the Dolphins two yard line in seven plays for 78 yards. On the eighth play the home teams bubble was busted one last psyche altering time as Cam Wake sacked Flacco who fumbled the ball to Miami according to the call on the field. The replay (according to the referees) suggested that the play be reversed. On the ninth play the Ravens ran the ball for a two yard touchdown, and 21 - 13 advantage.
It was over! Miami was physically and mentally broken with 8:09 ticks to go, and replied with a three and out that included another sack of Tannehill! To make matters worse, starting safety Louis Delmas went down with what appeared to be a season ending injury on the first play of the Ravens next drive. With six minutes remaining Baltimore didn't bother to attack the Dolphins severely diminished pass defense. They simply rushed the ball for 81 yards in seven plays for another one yard touchdown run to finalize the score of 28 - 13.
Ryan Tannehill was sacked for a sixth time on the Dolphins final 5 plays for 33 yards touch of the ball, and the Ravens had one last final series rush attempt of 27 yards. The Dolphins had held the Ravens rushing attack to 75 yards through three quarters, but upon a final straw being thrown onto their back, Miami allowed 108 yards via the feet on Baltimore's final two possessions.
Tannehill was 23 of 33 for 227 yards, with a touchdown pass, and the Dolphins rushed the ball just 4 times for 10 yards in the second half to total 63 yards on 16 carries for the game. Flacco was sacked one time in 60 minutes while completing 25 of 33 attempts for 269 yards with two touchdowns passes, and the Ravens ended up with 198 more net offensive yards than their host with 120 being that of the 31 attempt rush attack!
""Playoffs? Playoffs? Playoffs?""
Due to the Dolphin loss. The previously trailing (7 - 5) field of today's (now 8 - 5) winners include Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and (7 - 6) Houston who have all leap frogged the home team in the AFC standings and detoured Miami to the 9th seed. Currently 7 - 6 Buffalo, Cleveland, and Kansas City remain behind 7 - 6 Miami while all are (one game behind the presently fifth seeded) 8 - 5 Pittsburgh Steelers, and sixth seeded 8 - 5 San Diego Chargers (who Miami holds a one on one, head to head tiebreaker advantage on). .
AFC North leader Cincinnati dropped to 8 - 4 - 1 in a home loss to inner division rival Pittsburgh. Suddenly! The Miami Dolphins are no longer in control of their own Wild Card playoff destiny as they (if able to end even with) would presently lose playoff tiebreaker scenario's to the Ravens, Steelers, and Texans. Meanwhile, the Bengals have a tie under their belt which is suggestive that the Dolphins would have to end the season with an (outright) better overall record than at least 3 of the 4 most recently mentioned teams in order to potentially get a glimpse of post season play.
Stranger things have happened, but Miami travels to (10 - 3) New England next week while two games of disturbing note have the Ravens hosting the (2 - 11) Jaguars, and Chiefs entertaining the (2 - 11) Raiders. Pittsburgh goes to 5 - 7 Atlanta, Houston goes to 9 - 4 Indianapolis, San Diego host the 10 - 3 Denver Bronco's, and Cincinnati goes to Cleveland (who Miami will need to win) as they themselves will absolutely need to win.
Not looking good folks, Raven Poop has stained the Dolphins recently shinning veneer.
Thank You for a Open-Minded Read, and we look forward to your angle of view : )) !!
BEAT the Patriots, Vikings, and Jets, or start thinking about 2015!!
GOFINS!!!
Men Of Teal Prevail 22 - 9 Over White Buffalo
The Miami Dolphins made a rare appearance on the nationally televised Thursday night football game versus inner-division rival and nemesis of late Buffalo Bills. Each team came into the game with a record of 5 - 4, and both teams NFL playoff lives were on the line. This was especially true for the home team Dolphins who had already lost the previous head to head match-up in Buffalo. A Miami loss in this instance literally spelt doom for the teams playoff hopes, it have been a second straight loss with a trip to Peyton's Place looming. This was a must win for the Dolphins, a loss would have meant they would lose all wild card playoff tie breaker scenario's to both the Chiefs, and Bills. If it were to come down to said three teams?
One would think that the network would inauspiciously highlight the home teams first time in ten years brightly colored entrance to the field? Miami wore teal uniforms from head to toe for the first time since the days of Ricky Williams. Low and Behold, the league's Rodney (Dolphins) Dangerfield get no respect and the network cuts to commercial as Miami approaches the tunnel's exit. The analysts (for the most part) dog the Dolphins during the pregame, and continuously suggest through halftime that the visitors will do something mystical to win the game.
Miami's Men Of Teal Prevailed 22 - 9! The Victory propels the Dolphins to 6 - 4 overall with a 5 - 2 Conference record which is presently second best to only Denver's present 5 - 1 AFC head to head status. The loss drops Buffalo to the AFC's eleventh seed of sixteen teams, where Miami might have ended up.
Wheeeewww!
Instead. Miami is hot on the tail of the current 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th seeds, whom with losses this coming weekend the Dolphins can pull even with, if not ahead of. Your Miami Dolphins have now won five of their last seven games with only two last second heartbreak losses to powerhouse NFC offenses detouring the flow.
The Bills have one of the leagues best defensive fronts and humiliated the Dolphins 29 - 10 during the week two head to head in Buffalo. In week 11 (due to injury) Miami was forced to start three offensive lineman at positions that they hadn't started at the previous week, (if ever). Yards were hard to come by, and it seemed that every time the Dolphins made a prosperous play something would happen to nullify the advantage. It appeared as though every first half inch gained for the Dolphins was highly contested while Buffalo was rhythmically running around on the wide open plains. On top of that. The Dolphins tried their best to lose this game in the first half with a fumble, and penalties that killed the few momentous Miami moments.
Jarvis Landry returned the opening kickoff 37 yards, and a return team holding penalty put the ball at the home teams 12 yard line. In order to nullify the Bill's fearsome front, Miami started out with the quick short passing game on the series first three plays that gathered 25 yards, and drove to the visitors 33 before a first down sack of Ryan Tannehill at the Bills 45 followed by negative 2 yard rush attempt. With a 3rd down and 24 on Miami's opening possession the game was already looking too much like the previous meeting between the two teams, but a perfectly thrown short pass, and one handed grab up the seam to tail back Damien Williams in stride netted 32 yards for a first down at Buffalo's 15 yard line. Another pass to Williams took it to the nine while a penalty on the next play pushed the ball back to the 19 where the series stalled. Tannehill went 8 of 9 for 80 passing yards to five different receivers, and the Dolphins kicked a 38 yard field goal after controlling the opening possession for 8:20 on 14 plays for 68 net yards as Miami took a 3 - 0 lead.
Buffalo ate up all but 13 seconds that remained of the first quarter with a series of 14 plays for 67 yards and a 33 yard field goal of their own for a 3 - 3 tie.
Miami's Lamar Miller rushed for forty yards (7, 33) on two plays, and Brian Hartline caught a pass for 17 yards to the Bills 14. On first down a scrambling for yardage Tannehill was stripped of the ball from behind for Buffalo's first forced turnover of the day which ended the momentum gathering Dolphin drive of 67 yards in six plays for zero points. Ryan's fumble 2:10 into the second quarter was his first in over a year (19 games), it was the Dolphins fifth red zone turnover of the 2014 season (most in the league), Arrrghh!
The Bills march 85 yards on 17 plays in 9 minutes and 24 seconds to kick a momentum swinging field goal. The Dolphins aren't able to answer on 9 plays of 39 yards to the visitors 41, punts, and the Bills take a knee to end the first half of play with a scoreboard advantage of 6 - 3.
Tannehill is 14 of 18 for 136 yards with a fumble, and is sacked twice, Buffalo's Kyle Orton has yet to be swarmed. Miami has totaled 174 yards with 53 rushing to Buffalo's 151, and 51 on the ground. The Dolphins have converted 50% of their 3rd down plays while Buffalo has been successful 75% of the time. Miami is losing the time of possession (13:37 to 16:23), and turnover (0 - 1) battles.
2014's Miami Dolphins (for the most part) have been a slow starting, feel the opponent out, first half counter puncher. Unlike the 2013 Dolphins. Miami's o14 team has become a third quarter terror in leading the league at half time adjustments that have resulted in the leagues highest third quarter scoring output, as well as league leaders in allowing the opponents lowest rate of points produced. This Thursday Night Debut would be no different!
Buffalo received the third quarters opening kickoff, and Miami's defense forced a three and out of 3 yards gained. The Dolphin offense gains a first down on three plays before a false start penalty, and third sack of Tannehill leads to a second and 25. Miami punts two plays later as Buffalo takes possession at their own 23 yard line. The Bills drive 49 yards in eight plays to the Dolphins 28 for a 46 yard field goal, and 9 - 3 visitors lead.
Now the Dolphins are pissed off with 6:26 third quarter ticks of the clock to go, and are suddenly inspired to showoff their second half prowess. From their own 20, Miami drives 80 yards on 9 plays in four minutes 8 seconds. Lamar Miller rushes the ball three times for 21 yards while Tannehill completes 5 of 6 for 59 yards to three different receivers (Landry 11 & 5, Charles Clay for five, and the biggie to Hartline on a crossing route catch and run of thirty-one yards) to the Buffalo 16. Ryan caps the drive with a brilliant fake pitch left, roll out right to find a wide open Brandon Gibson in the end zone for the games first TOUCHDOWN, and Miami lead of 10 - 9.
The visitors second 3rd third quarter series goes three and out for negative 20 yards, and ends on a second and twenty intentional grounding penalty from within the end zone for a Dolphin defensive safety, and two more points for the good guys at 12 - 9. with 57 third quarter seconds remaining.
Mann Ohh Mann the momentum had swung, and things are looking good! The Dolphins have again outscored the opponents in the third quarter, this time by a score of 9 - 3, and they are about to get the ball back due to the forced safety. Dooahh. Upon the free kick Jarvis Landry returns the ball 21 yards to the Miami 39 but bobbles away the Dolphins second turnover of the day, and the mirage of momentum has disappeared yet again.
Buffalo is down by three points, and has a first down at the Miami 39 yard line. On first down they gain 10 yards for another first down at the Dolphins 29. Three plays later for minus one yard, and (two plays into the fourth quarter). Ex Dolphin Dan Carpenter was up to the tricks he excelled at while with Miami, in (turning momentum against the team he plays for) with a wide left field goal kick on Buffalo's attempted tie of the game. The Carpenters warped hammer keeps the game in Miami's favor at 12 - 9.
From the Dolphins 29 Lamar Miller runs three times for 14 yards, Tannehill completes a 12 yard pass to Clay, and Miami gets a 24 yard defensive pass interference upon Mike Wallace called in their favor for a first down at the Bills 13 yard line. Daniel Thomas rushes for five yards on first down, on second down Ryan Tannehill connects with Jarvis Landry for an 8 yard TOUCHDOWN, and Miami Dolphins 19 - 9 scoreboard advantage 2:25 into the fourth quarter.
During a 5 minute 43 second span between the 2:18 remaining in the third quarter mark, and 3:25 into the fourth quarter, The Miami Dolphins scored 16 unanswered points!
Buffalo had three fourth quarter possessions for 33 total yards on 13 total plays. While harassing Kyle Orton over the majority of the games second half, the Miami defense accrued it's only two sacks on the visitors final two series of four plays each. Your Dolphins sealed the game with a 32 yard field goal that took place between the Bills final two possessions that were both turned over on downs, and THE MIAMI DOLPHINS WIN 22 - 9!
Miami converted twenty four first downs to Buffalo's thirteen, 125 rushing yards to 54, 240 passing yards to 183, for a total yardage advantage of 330 to 237, and held possession of the ball for nearly 5 minutes more than the opponent.
Lamar Miller had 15 rush attempts for 86 yards.
Though he was sacked five times by Buffalo's vaunted front seven, Ryan Tannehill went 26 of 34 for 240 passing yards, with two touchdowns (Landry & Gibson), and zero interceptions with yet another game above the century mark, and overall quarter back grade of 114.8. Tannehill has 17 touchdowns to 7 interception's on the year.
Injured Courtland Finnegans replacement Jamar Taylor led the Dolphins in tackles with seven solo, and shinning again was Earl Mitchell and Olivier Vernon with sacks of the opposing quarterback.
WAYYY TO GO DOLPHINS,
THANK YOU FOR A MUST WIN THAT ENDED IN VICTORY FORMATION!!
YEEEE HAAAA, WOOOO HOOOOO, GIGGITTY!!
Thank You for an Open-Minded Read, and we look forward to your angle of view : )) !!
GOFINS!!!
Miami's Men Of Teal Prevailed 22 - 9! The Victory propels the Dolphins to 6 - 4 overall with a 5 - 2 Conference record which is presently second best to only Denver's present 5 - 1 AFC head to head status. The loss drops Buffalo to the AFC's eleventh seed of sixteen teams, where Miami might have ended up.
Wheeeewww!
Instead. Miami is hot on the tail of the current 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th seeds, whom with losses this coming weekend the Dolphins can pull even with, if not ahead of. Your Miami Dolphins have now won five of their last seven games with only two last second heartbreak losses to powerhouse NFC offenses detouring the flow.
The Bills have one of the leagues best defensive fronts and humiliated the Dolphins 29 - 10 during the week two head to head in Buffalo. In week 11 (due to injury) Miami was forced to start three offensive lineman at positions that they hadn't started at the previous week, (if ever). Yards were hard to come by, and it seemed that every time the Dolphins made a prosperous play something would happen to nullify the advantage. It appeared as though every first half inch gained for the Dolphins was highly contested while Buffalo was rhythmically running around on the wide open plains. On top of that. The Dolphins tried their best to lose this game in the first half with a fumble, and penalties that killed the few momentous Miami moments.
Jarvis Landry returned the opening kickoff 37 yards, and a return team holding penalty put the ball at the home teams 12 yard line. In order to nullify the Bill's fearsome front, Miami started out with the quick short passing game on the series first three plays that gathered 25 yards, and drove to the visitors 33 before a first down sack of Ryan Tannehill at the Bills 45 followed by negative 2 yard rush attempt. With a 3rd down and 24 on Miami's opening possession the game was already looking too much like the previous meeting between the two teams, but a perfectly thrown short pass, and one handed grab up the seam to tail back Damien Williams in stride netted 32 yards for a first down at Buffalo's 15 yard line. Another pass to Williams took it to the nine while a penalty on the next play pushed the ball back to the 19 where the series stalled. Tannehill went 8 of 9 for 80 passing yards to five different receivers, and the Dolphins kicked a 38 yard field goal after controlling the opening possession for 8:20 on 14 plays for 68 net yards as Miami took a 3 - 0 lead.
Buffalo ate up all but 13 seconds that remained of the first quarter with a series of 14 plays for 67 yards and a 33 yard field goal of their own for a 3 - 3 tie.
Miami's Lamar Miller rushed for forty yards (7, 33) on two plays, and Brian Hartline caught a pass for 17 yards to the Bills 14. On first down a scrambling for yardage Tannehill was stripped of the ball from behind for Buffalo's first forced turnover of the day which ended the momentum gathering Dolphin drive of 67 yards in six plays for zero points. Ryan's fumble 2:10 into the second quarter was his first in over a year (19 games), it was the Dolphins fifth red zone turnover of the 2014 season (most in the league), Arrrghh!
The Bills march 85 yards on 17 plays in 9 minutes and 24 seconds to kick a momentum swinging field goal. The Dolphins aren't able to answer on 9 plays of 39 yards to the visitors 41, punts, and the Bills take a knee to end the first half of play with a scoreboard advantage of 6 - 3.
Tannehill is 14 of 18 for 136 yards with a fumble, and is sacked twice, Buffalo's Kyle Orton has yet to be swarmed. Miami has totaled 174 yards with 53 rushing to Buffalo's 151, and 51 on the ground. The Dolphins have converted 50% of their 3rd down plays while Buffalo has been successful 75% of the time. Miami is losing the time of possession (13:37 to 16:23), and turnover (0 - 1) battles.
2014's Miami Dolphins (for the most part) have been a slow starting, feel the opponent out, first half counter puncher. Unlike the 2013 Dolphins. Miami's o14 team has become a third quarter terror in leading the league at half time adjustments that have resulted in the leagues highest third quarter scoring output, as well as league leaders in allowing the opponents lowest rate of points produced. This Thursday Night Debut would be no different!
Buffalo received the third quarters opening kickoff, and Miami's defense forced a three and out of 3 yards gained. The Dolphin offense gains a first down on three plays before a false start penalty, and third sack of Tannehill leads to a second and 25. Miami punts two plays later as Buffalo takes possession at their own 23 yard line. The Bills drive 49 yards in eight plays to the Dolphins 28 for a 46 yard field goal, and 9 - 3 visitors lead.
The visitors second 3rd third quarter series goes three and out for negative 20 yards, and ends on a second and twenty intentional grounding penalty from within the end zone for a Dolphin defensive safety, and two more points for the good guys at 12 - 9. with 57 third quarter seconds remaining.
Mann Ohh Mann the momentum had swung, and things are looking good! The Dolphins have again outscored the opponents in the third quarter, this time by a score of 9 - 3, and they are about to get the ball back due to the forced safety. Dooahh. Upon the free kick Jarvis Landry returns the ball 21 yards to the Miami 39 but bobbles away the Dolphins second turnover of the day, and the mirage of momentum has disappeared yet again.
Buffalo is down by three points, and has a first down at the Miami 39 yard line. On first down they gain 10 yards for another first down at the Dolphins 29. Three plays later for minus one yard, and (two plays into the fourth quarter). Ex Dolphin Dan Carpenter was up to the tricks he excelled at while with Miami, in (turning momentum against the team he plays for) with a wide left field goal kick on Buffalo's attempted tie of the game. The Carpenters warped hammer keeps the game in Miami's favor at 12 - 9.
During a 5 minute 43 second span between the 2:18 remaining in the third quarter mark, and 3:25 into the fourth quarter, The Miami Dolphins scored 16 unanswered points!
Buffalo had three fourth quarter possessions for 33 total yards on 13 total plays. While harassing Kyle Orton over the majority of the games second half, the Miami defense accrued it's only two sacks on the visitors final two series of four plays each. Your Dolphins sealed the game with a 32 yard field goal that took place between the Bills final two possessions that were both turned over on downs, and THE MIAMI DOLPHINS WIN 22 - 9!
Miami converted twenty four first downs to Buffalo's thirteen, 125 rushing yards to 54, 240 passing yards to 183, for a total yardage advantage of 330 to 237, and held possession of the ball for nearly 5 minutes more than the opponent.
Lamar Miller had 15 rush attempts for 86 yards.
Though he was sacked five times by Buffalo's vaunted front seven, Ryan Tannehill went 26 of 34 for 240 passing yards, with two touchdowns (Landry & Gibson), and zero interceptions with yet another game above the century mark, and overall quarter back grade of 114.8. Tannehill has 17 touchdowns to 7 interception's on the year.
Injured Courtland Finnegans replacement Jamar Taylor led the Dolphins in tackles with seven solo, and shinning again was Earl Mitchell and Olivier Vernon with sacks of the opposing quarterback.
WAYYY TO GO DOLPHINS,
THANK YOU FOR A MUST WIN THAT ENDED IN VICTORY FORMATION!!
YEEEE HAAAA, WOOOO HOOOOO, GIGGITTY!!
Thank You for an Open-Minded Read, and we look forward to your angle of view : )) !!
GOFINS!!!
Miami Dolphins 37 - 0 Surge Short Circuits Chargers
Through eight 2014 NFL games the 5 - 3, and AFC fifth seeded San Diego Chargers went south to face the 4 - 3 Miami Dolphins.
Miami has the Dolphins (your favorite) football team, they're moving the ball from goal to goal like (no one since thirteen), whether through the air or on the ground they've been (often) in control, and when you say Miami you're talking (on a roll)!!
Cuz we're the Miami Dolphins, Miami Dolphins, Miami Dolphins Number One !!
Today.
The Dolphins splashed about the confines of their Miami aquarium, and doused the highly explosive power grid that is the Chargers. San Diego's quarterback Phillip Rivers came into the day with the leagues third most touchdown passes (20), and only five interceptions thrown while the Charger superstar tight end Antonio Gates entered the game with nine scores in just eight games.
In case the title to this piece moistened your eye's to a blur?
The Miami Dolphins started fast, finished strong, and won the game THIRTY SEVEN to ZERO!
Since the return of starting safety Rashad Jones four games ago, the Miami defense has been catapulted to an elite level, and versus the Chargers they were even better. Rashad Jones has led the team in tackles in all four weeks since his return, and contributed an interception on this day, (his second of the season). For the second consecutive game corner back Brent Grimes had an interception, this time he had two for a season total of four to go along with a pik-six last week, and the Dolphins have six interceptions over the last three games with nine for the season.
Miami has four sacks in two successive outings with eleven over the last three games. Randy Starks set the tone early with a sack of the nearly elite Phillip Rivers on the games very first offensive play for a loss of three yards. The first, and lone substantial San Diego drive of the day covered fifty seven yards in twelve plays only to end on a fourth and one (Rashad Jones) stuff of the running back at the Dolphin twenty three yard line.
The Chargers second possession went three and out for nine yards. Rashad Jones had his interception on the first play of the visitors third touch of the ball. San Diego's fourth series went five and out for sixteen yards which happened to be identical to their fifth and final first half possession. For the first half of play, the Chargers offensive unit snapped the ball twenty five times for ninety eight yards, and ZERO POINTS in five possessions!
On six second half series, San Diego ran twenty four plays for forty eight yards, and ZERO POINTS! Their first second half possession went seventeen yards on six plays, and ended upon Brent Grimes' first interception of the day that he returned twenty six yards to the Chargers nineteen.
The Miami defense splashed again on the visitors following three and out for six yards touch of the ball. Defensive Lineman (Earl Mitchell) got his first sack of the season for a loss of eight yards, and a second Brent Grimes interception of an attempted bomb ended the series on second and eighteen.
Upon the high voltage Chargers third second half possession that netted one yard on three plays, Olivier Vernon executed a third and nine sack and a forced fumble via Rivers that Jared Odrick recovered at the Chargers fourteen.
Charger quarterback Phillip Rivers is benched with 120 third quarter ticks of the clock remaining. Kellen Clemons replaces the near elite Rivers for the Chargers final three possessions of the game, and is greeted by Cam Wake on third and five of a four play for one yard series that ended the third quarter. For the visitors two fourth quarter possessions they ran eight plays for twenty three yards, and ZERO POINTS!
And that's the way it ended, hail to the Miami Dolphin Defense.
Ohh-Wait, Almost forgot.
The Dolphin Offense splashed about through electrified hoops too!
ZERO to ZERO with 7:36 remaining in the first quarter. Miami's first possession with a first down ball at their own twenty three. On consecutive plays that started with a Jarvis Landry reception for nine yards, Lamar Miller run for seven, Charles Clay catch for twenty four, Miller rush for five, Mike Wallace grab for five, Landry for thirteen, Miller run for six, Brian Hartline reception for six, and a Miller rush for one to San Diego's six yard line. The ten play's in 5:56, seventy seven yard drive ended with a Charles Clay six yard TOUCHDOWN from Ryan Tannehill who went six of six for sixty three passing yards, and a Miami Dolphin first quarter lead of Seven to ZERO!
Next Miami possession takes 3:42 to "matriculate" sixty one yards in eight plays. First and ten at the Dolphins thirty nine, Tannehill up the middle for four yards. Following a second down and six incompletion/drop, Tannehill hits Landry for seven, then Clay for another eighteen. On first and ten from the Chargers thirty two Tannehill runs around the right end for twenty two yards and another first down, then hits Miller for an eight yard reception. Third and two from San Diego's two yard line, Lamar Miller TOUCHDOWN for a home team early second quarter advantage of Fourteen to ZERO!
Following the Rashad Jones pick on the visitors third series of one play. The Dolphins have the ball at the Chargers thirty one yard line, they gather a first down on first down with a twenty one yard reception and run for reserve running back Damien Williams to the opponents ten. The series stalls with an incompletion to Brandon Gibson (who was dragging a defender), a Williams rush for nadda, as well as a two yard pass to the running back. Miami kicks a twenty six yard field goal for a Seventeen to ZERO game six minutes into the second quarter.
The Chargers go three and out. Miami takes possession at the Dolphin thirty with 7:23 remaining in the first half. Daniel Thomas shakes and bakes a one yard reception for twelve, and on the Dolphins second third down attempt of the drive Tannehill hits Wallace for thirty eight yards to the San Diego six. They pass on first down to Thomas for two yards, but a negative rush attempt, and an incompletion results in an eleven play, sixty three yard drive in 5:36 for a twenty five yard field goal which puts the home team lead at Twenty to ZERO.
Miami gets the ball one last time in the first half with 1:03 to go. They drive forty eight yards in eight plays from their own twenty four to the San Diego twenty eight, but miss the forty five yard field goal attempt as the clock runs out with a Miami Dolphin scoreboard advantage of Twenty to ZERO!
The Dolphins have accrued 283 total yards (208 passing, 75 rushing on 13 attempts). Ryan Tannehill is 18 of 25 for 208 to seven different receivers. The Chargers have 118 total yards (14 rushing). Miami's defense has one sack, and one interception.
Third Quarter. Miami ball, first down at their own twenty eight, Tannehill to Hartline for eighteen. On the drives third first down play Tannehill runs around the left end for eleven more first down yards, and on second and ten Miller rushes for fourteen yards and the drives fifth first down opportunity at the Chargers twenty one. Second and ten, Tannehill eludes a fierce sack attack, gets creative in extending the play for an end zone TOUCHDOWN pass to Rishard Matthews, and Twenty Seven to ZERO Dolphin lead.
Brent Grimes' first interception occurs on the Chargers following possession, and Miami has the ball at the visitors nineteen yard line. Tannehill goes one for three, the Dolphins cover fourteen yards on six plays, and kick a twenty three yard field goal for a Thirty to ZERO score.
A first down Earl Mitchell sack is immediately followed by a second Brent Grimes interception, this one was of the long bomb variety, and Miami takes control at their own twenty nine. On first down Tannehill completes a pass of eleven yards to Clay, The Dolphin then take the conservative route with three rushes for nine yards, and with 2:53 remaining in the third quarter Brandon Fields has his first and only punt of the day.
Charger ball at their own eleven, third down and nine, Olivier Vernon sacks and forces a Phillip Rivers fumble that is recovered by Jared Odrick at the San Diego fourteen yard line. Miami ball, first and ten. Ryan Tannehill completes short pass to Jarvis Landry who tip-toes down the sideline while towing a double-wide Charger trailer for another Miami Dolphin TOUCHDOWN, and THIRTY SEVEN to ZERO scoreboard final!`
With two third quarter minutes remaining Phillip Rivers is benched. Kellen Clemons reluctantly replaces him and is greeted by Cam Wake for minus five yards on third and five. The sack was Miami's fourth and final of the day, and the third quarter ended upon the punt.
With a Thirty Seven to ZERO Dolphin Victory in hand!
The Miami Dolphins Franchise Quarterback Ryan Tannehill is sat down in order to preserve his health. Not a whole lot took place in the fourth quarter, though Matt Moore did drive the team forty six yards into the Chargers red zone, as Miami exhibited professional courtesy in turning the ball over on downs rather than taking a chip shot field goal of the rub it in your face variety with 26 ticks of the clock to go.
Miami ran 74 plays to accrue 441 yards for a six yard per play average via (309 passing on 39 attempts, and 132 rushing in 35 carries) with 28 first downs (17 through the air, and 10 via the rush) in 36:07. San Diego had 49 plays for 178 yards (128 passing, and 50 on the ground) in 23:53. The Dolphin Defense had four sacks, a forced fumble, and three interceptions.
Lamar Miller ran 11 times for 49 yards with a touchdown, and Tannehill had 4 attempts for 47 yards. Charles Clay led the receiving game with 5 catches for 65 yards and a touchdown while others were also equal to the task. To name a few of the nine different receivers that Tannehill connected with. Hartline had 5 for 50, Wallace snagged 3 for 50, Landry caught 5 for 46 with a touchdown, and Rishard Matthews had one reception for 21 yards and a touchdown.
Ryan Tannehill had his career day two weeks ago in Chicago. Today he eclipsed that performance while going 24 of 34 for 288 yards with three touchdowns, zero interceptions, zero sacks, and a QBR of 94.5 with an overall RTG of 125.6. He has fourteen touchdowns to six interceptions on the year, and the Miami Dolphins are 5 - 3 at the mid season point.
Thank You for an Open Minded Read, and we look forward to your angle of view : )) !!
THIRTY SEVEN to ZERO, GIGGGITTTYYY!!
Beat The Lions!!
GOFINS!!!
Miami has the Dolphins (your favorite) football team, they're moving the ball from goal to goal like (no one since thirteen), whether through the air or on the ground they've been (often) in control, and when you say Miami you're talking (on a roll)!!
Cuz we're the Miami Dolphins, Miami Dolphins, Miami Dolphins Number One !!
Today.
The Dolphins splashed about the confines of their Miami aquarium, and doused the highly explosive power grid that is the Chargers. San Diego's quarterback Phillip Rivers came into the day with the leagues third most touchdown passes (20), and only five interceptions thrown while the Charger superstar tight end Antonio Gates entered the game with nine scores in just eight games.
In case the title to this piece moistened your eye's to a blur?
The Miami Dolphins started fast, finished strong, and won the game THIRTY SEVEN to ZERO!
Since the return of starting safety Rashad Jones four games ago, the Miami defense has been catapulted to an elite level, and versus the Chargers they were even better. Rashad Jones has led the team in tackles in all four weeks since his return, and contributed an interception on this day, (his second of the season). For the second consecutive game corner back Brent Grimes had an interception, this time he had two for a season total of four to go along with a pik-six last week, and the Dolphins have six interceptions over the last three games with nine for the season.
Miami has four sacks in two successive outings with eleven over the last three games. Randy Starks set the tone early with a sack of the nearly elite Phillip Rivers on the games very first offensive play for a loss of three yards. The first, and lone substantial San Diego drive of the day covered fifty seven yards in twelve plays only to end on a fourth and one (Rashad Jones) stuff of the running back at the Dolphin twenty three yard line.
The Chargers second possession went three and out for nine yards. Rashad Jones had his interception on the first play of the visitors third touch of the ball. San Diego's fourth series went five and out for sixteen yards which happened to be identical to their fifth and final first half possession. For the first half of play, the Chargers offensive unit snapped the ball twenty five times for ninety eight yards, and ZERO POINTS in five possessions!
On six second half series, San Diego ran twenty four plays for forty eight yards, and ZERO POINTS! Their first second half possession went seventeen yards on six plays, and ended upon Brent Grimes' first interception of the day that he returned twenty six yards to the Chargers nineteen.
The Miami defense splashed again on the visitors following three and out for six yards touch of the ball. Defensive Lineman (Earl Mitchell) got his first sack of the season for a loss of eight yards, and a second Brent Grimes interception of an attempted bomb ended the series on second and eighteen.
Upon the high voltage Chargers third second half possession that netted one yard on three plays, Olivier Vernon executed a third and nine sack and a forced fumble via Rivers that Jared Odrick recovered at the Chargers fourteen.
Charger quarterback Phillip Rivers is benched with 120 third quarter ticks of the clock remaining. Kellen Clemons replaces the near elite Rivers for the Chargers final three possessions of the game, and is greeted by Cam Wake on third and five of a four play for one yard series that ended the third quarter. For the visitors two fourth quarter possessions they ran eight plays for twenty three yards, and ZERO POINTS!
And that's the way it ended, hail to the Miami Dolphin Defense.
Ohh-Wait, Almost forgot.
The Dolphin Offense splashed about through electrified hoops too!
ZERO to ZERO with 7:36 remaining in the first quarter. Miami's first possession with a first down ball at their own twenty three. On consecutive plays that started with a Jarvis Landry reception for nine yards, Lamar Miller run for seven, Charles Clay catch for twenty four, Miller rush for five, Mike Wallace grab for five, Landry for thirteen, Miller run for six, Brian Hartline reception for six, and a Miller rush for one to San Diego's six yard line. The ten play's in 5:56, seventy seven yard drive ended with a Charles Clay six yard TOUCHDOWN from Ryan Tannehill who went six of six for sixty three passing yards, and a Miami Dolphin first quarter lead of Seven to ZERO!
Next Miami possession takes 3:42 to "matriculate" sixty one yards in eight plays. First and ten at the Dolphins thirty nine, Tannehill up the middle for four yards. Following a second down and six incompletion/drop, Tannehill hits Landry for seven, then Clay for another eighteen. On first and ten from the Chargers thirty two Tannehill runs around the right end for twenty two yards and another first down, then hits Miller for an eight yard reception. Third and two from San Diego's two yard line, Lamar Miller TOUCHDOWN for a home team early second quarter advantage of Fourteen to ZERO!
Following the Rashad Jones pick on the visitors third series of one play. The Dolphins have the ball at the Chargers thirty one yard line, they gather a first down on first down with a twenty one yard reception and run for reserve running back Damien Williams to the opponents ten. The series stalls with an incompletion to Brandon Gibson (who was dragging a defender), a Williams rush for nadda, as well as a two yard pass to the running back. Miami kicks a twenty six yard field goal for a Seventeen to ZERO game six minutes into the second quarter.
The Chargers go three and out. Miami takes possession at the Dolphin thirty with 7:23 remaining in the first half. Daniel Thomas shakes and bakes a one yard reception for twelve, and on the Dolphins second third down attempt of the drive Tannehill hits Wallace for thirty eight yards to the San Diego six. They pass on first down to Thomas for two yards, but a negative rush attempt, and an incompletion results in an eleven play, sixty three yard drive in 5:36 for a twenty five yard field goal which puts the home team lead at Twenty to ZERO.
Miami gets the ball one last time in the first half with 1:03 to go. They drive forty eight yards in eight plays from their own twenty four to the San Diego twenty eight, but miss the forty five yard field goal attempt as the clock runs out with a Miami Dolphin scoreboard advantage of Twenty to ZERO!
The Dolphins have accrued 283 total yards (208 passing, 75 rushing on 13 attempts). Ryan Tannehill is 18 of 25 for 208 to seven different receivers. The Chargers have 118 total yards (14 rushing). Miami's defense has one sack, and one interception.
Third Quarter. Miami ball, first down at their own twenty eight, Tannehill to Hartline for eighteen. On the drives third first down play Tannehill runs around the left end for eleven more first down yards, and on second and ten Miller rushes for fourteen yards and the drives fifth first down opportunity at the Chargers twenty one. Second and ten, Tannehill eludes a fierce sack attack, gets creative in extending the play for an end zone TOUCHDOWN pass to Rishard Matthews, and Twenty Seven to ZERO Dolphin lead.
Brent Grimes' first interception occurs on the Chargers following possession, and Miami has the ball at the visitors nineteen yard line. Tannehill goes one for three, the Dolphins cover fourteen yards on six plays, and kick a twenty three yard field goal for a Thirty to ZERO score.
A first down Earl Mitchell sack is immediately followed by a second Brent Grimes interception, this one was of the long bomb variety, and Miami takes control at their own twenty nine. On first down Tannehill completes a pass of eleven yards to Clay, The Dolphin then take the conservative route with three rushes for nine yards, and with 2:53 remaining in the third quarter Brandon Fields has his first and only punt of the day.
Charger ball at their own eleven, third down and nine, Olivier Vernon sacks and forces a Phillip Rivers fumble that is recovered by Jared Odrick at the San Diego fourteen yard line. Miami ball, first and ten. Ryan Tannehill completes short pass to Jarvis Landry who tip-toes down the sideline while towing a double-wide Charger trailer for another Miami Dolphin TOUCHDOWN, and THIRTY SEVEN to ZERO scoreboard final!`
With two third quarter minutes remaining Phillip Rivers is benched. Kellen Clemons reluctantly replaces him and is greeted by Cam Wake for minus five yards on third and five. The sack was Miami's fourth and final of the day, and the third quarter ended upon the punt.
With a Thirty Seven to ZERO Dolphin Victory in hand!
The Miami Dolphins Franchise Quarterback Ryan Tannehill is sat down in order to preserve his health. Not a whole lot took place in the fourth quarter, though Matt Moore did drive the team forty six yards into the Chargers red zone, as Miami exhibited professional courtesy in turning the ball over on downs rather than taking a chip shot field goal of the rub it in your face variety with 26 ticks of the clock to go.
Miami ran 74 plays to accrue 441 yards for a six yard per play average via (309 passing on 39 attempts, and 132 rushing in 35 carries) with 28 first downs (17 through the air, and 10 via the rush) in 36:07. San Diego had 49 plays for 178 yards (128 passing, and 50 on the ground) in 23:53. The Dolphin Defense had four sacks, a forced fumble, and three interceptions.
Lamar Miller ran 11 times for 49 yards with a touchdown, and Tannehill had 4 attempts for 47 yards. Charles Clay led the receiving game with 5 catches for 65 yards and a touchdown while others were also equal to the task. To name a few of the nine different receivers that Tannehill connected with. Hartline had 5 for 50, Wallace snagged 3 for 50, Landry caught 5 for 46 with a touchdown, and Rishard Matthews had one reception for 21 yards and a touchdown.
Ryan Tannehill had his career day two weeks ago in Chicago. Today he eclipsed that performance while going 24 of 34 for 288 yards with three touchdowns, zero interceptions, zero sacks, and a QBR of 94.5 with an overall RTG of 125.6. He has fourteen touchdowns to six interceptions on the year, and the Miami Dolphins are 5 - 3 at the mid season point.
Thank You for an Open Minded Read, and we look forward to your angle of view : )) !!
THIRTY SEVEN to ZERO, GIGGGITTTYYY!!
Beat The Lions!!
GOFINS!!!
Miami Dolphin Bus Driver (Ryan Tannehill) Runs Self Over.
The Miami Dolphins special teams were severely out punted with an astounding hang time and yardage effort by Dustin Colquitt, and the Chiefs had numerous returns of big yardage for naught reversed due to penalties. The penalty match up was lost by the Dolphins with 65 yards to the Chiefs 23 yards, and Kansas City won the time of possession game by seven plus minutes.
Miami's defense missed a plethora of drive discouraging tackles while allowing 342 total yards, though only ten more yards than the Chiefs defense allowed. Kansas City superstar running back Jamal Charles was inactive for the game, and their backup Kniles Davis scampered for 132 yards on 32 carries with a touchdown.
The Dolphin defense won the turnover battle (2 - 0) with forced fumbles in the 3rd quarter by Jared Odrick, and 4th quarter by Brent Grimes while giving the offense an occasional short field to work with. Jelani Jenkins led the team in tackles with 15, eleven solo, and 1.5 sacks. Miami sacked the Chiefs quarterback five times including a safety for two defensive points while the Dolphin quarterback was sacked on four occasions.
The Miami Dolphins play calling was suspiciously questionable on many occasions, and the pass blocking wasn't overly efficient while once again there were numerous dropped balls.
Lamar Miller had a good day with 108 yards on 15 carries which one would think would have opened up a productive scoring game through the air. For a third straight week Mike Wallace led the Dolphin receiving corps with 74 yards on five receptions while in this game Brian Hartline had the one Dolphin touchdown reception.
However. On this particular day!
The Miami Dolphin quarterback Ryan Tannehill failed miserably in connecting on fewer than 50 percent of his 43 attempts for 205 yards at home versus the Kansas City Chiefs. Miami had possession of the ball on fourteen occasions and mounted 332 total yards of offense, at a mere twenty three yard average per possession.
Tannehills lone three scoring drives came in succession for a whopping, mind blowing thirteen offensive points. The first was a second quarter ending drive of 74 yards on eight plays in one minute thirty five seconds for a 22 yard Calib Sturgis field goal as time ran out. Earlier in the second quarter Sturgis missed a 48 yard field goal attempt, and Miami went to the tunnel trailing by a score of 14 - 3.
On the Chiefs opening third quarter drive, Jared Odrick sacked and forced a fumble by the Kansas City quarterback that was recovered by Derrick Shelby at the oppositions 19 yard line. Four plays and nineteen yards later, Tannehill connected with Brian Hartline for a one yard touchdown and a 10 - 14 deficit.
The Chiefs followed with a ten play, 66 yard, five minute touchdown drive for a 21 - 10 lead. Upon the Kansas City kickoff, Miami return man Jarvis Landry gave Ryan Tannehill another golden opportunity with a 74 yard kick return to the Chiefs 33 yard line. Miami went zero yards in 3 plays and kicked a 51 yard field goal to pull within eight points at 13 - 21.
Following a three and out for the Chiefs. Miami went 3 and out. On the Miami punt, the Dolphins got a reprieve from a 48 yard Chiefs return after a KC penalty pushed their backs up against their own goal line at the one.
The Dolphins were down by eight points with 2:42 remaining in the 3rd quarter. Miami fans throughout the world were screaming, ""give us a safety to pull within six, and give the offense an opportunity for a touchdown drive and a one point lead to end the quarter"". On first and ten Randy Starks and Jelani Jenkins got the sack and safety for a 15 - 21 scoreboard. The game was taking a positive turn.
Ryan Tannehill and the Miami Dolphins final five offensive possessions covered a total of eighty two yards with the longest drive being of twenty nine yards and zero points. Kansas City scored two additional touchdowns of the short field variety due to the Miami Dolphins four down territory offensive ineptitude and a final discouraging score of 34 - 15.
Thank You for a (Not So) open-minded read, and comments of which you have every right to "On This Particularly Disgraceful Day of the Dolphins quarterback" Ryan Tannehill!
Off to London for a road game against the Oakland Raiders.
GOFINS!!!
Miami's defense missed a plethora of drive discouraging tackles while allowing 342 total yards, though only ten more yards than the Chiefs defense allowed. Kansas City superstar running back Jamal Charles was inactive for the game, and their backup Kniles Davis scampered for 132 yards on 32 carries with a touchdown.
The Dolphin defense won the turnover battle (2 - 0) with forced fumbles in the 3rd quarter by Jared Odrick, and 4th quarter by Brent Grimes while giving the offense an occasional short field to work with. Jelani Jenkins led the team in tackles with 15, eleven solo, and 1.5 sacks. Miami sacked the Chiefs quarterback five times including a safety for two defensive points while the Dolphin quarterback was sacked on four occasions.
The Miami Dolphins play calling was suspiciously questionable on many occasions, and the pass blocking wasn't overly efficient while once again there were numerous dropped balls.
Lamar Miller had a good day with 108 yards on 15 carries which one would think would have opened up a productive scoring game through the air. For a third straight week Mike Wallace led the Dolphin receiving corps with 74 yards on five receptions while in this game Brian Hartline had the one Dolphin touchdown reception.
However. On this particular day!
The Miami Dolphin quarterback Ryan Tannehill failed miserably in connecting on fewer than 50 percent of his 43 attempts for 205 yards at home versus the Kansas City Chiefs. Miami had possession of the ball on fourteen occasions and mounted 332 total yards of offense, at a mere twenty three yard average per possession.
Tannehills lone three scoring drives came in succession for a whopping, mind blowing thirteen offensive points. The first was a second quarter ending drive of 74 yards on eight plays in one minute thirty five seconds for a 22 yard Calib Sturgis field goal as time ran out. Earlier in the second quarter Sturgis missed a 48 yard field goal attempt, and Miami went to the tunnel trailing by a score of 14 - 3.
On the Chiefs opening third quarter drive, Jared Odrick sacked and forced a fumble by the Kansas City quarterback that was recovered by Derrick Shelby at the oppositions 19 yard line. Four plays and nineteen yards later, Tannehill connected with Brian Hartline for a one yard touchdown and a 10 - 14 deficit.
The Chiefs followed with a ten play, 66 yard, five minute touchdown drive for a 21 - 10 lead. Upon the Kansas City kickoff, Miami return man Jarvis Landry gave Ryan Tannehill another golden opportunity with a 74 yard kick return to the Chiefs 33 yard line. Miami went zero yards in 3 plays and kicked a 51 yard field goal to pull within eight points at 13 - 21.
Following a three and out for the Chiefs. Miami went 3 and out. On the Miami punt, the Dolphins got a reprieve from a 48 yard Chiefs return after a KC penalty pushed their backs up against their own goal line at the one.
The Dolphins were down by eight points with 2:42 remaining in the 3rd quarter. Miami fans throughout the world were screaming, ""give us a safety to pull within six, and give the offense an opportunity for a touchdown drive and a one point lead to end the quarter"". On first and ten Randy Starks and Jelani Jenkins got the sack and safety for a 15 - 21 scoreboard. The game was taking a positive turn.
Ryan Tannehill and the Miami Dolphins final five offensive possessions covered a total of eighty two yards with the longest drive being of twenty nine yards and zero points. Kansas City scored two additional touchdowns of the short field variety due to the Miami Dolphins four down territory offensive ineptitude and a final discouraging score of 34 - 15.
Thank You for a (Not So) open-minded read, and comments of which you have every right to "On This Particularly Disgraceful Day of the Dolphins quarterback" Ryan Tannehill!
Off to London for a road game against the Oakland Raiders.
GOFINS!!!
Analyzing the Miami Dolphins Verses the Buffalo Bills
I’m not generally superstitious, but the last time New England lost on opening day was to the Buffalo Bills way back in 2003. They got destroyed 31-0. The Bills were coming off an 8-8 season and things were looking mighty rosy after that convincing win. Buffalo finished 6–10 and missed the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season, while you guessed it… New England went on to win the Super Bowl.
I wrote that paragraph on the off chance a Miami Dolphin player might catch a glimpse of it. You see, as recently as last season the Dolphins started 3-0 only to lose 4 consecutive games before righting the ship in advance of a late season collapse that found them out of the playoffs.
So what’s my point? You undoubtedly think Negative Nancy is writing this article...
The point is, winning the first game even against a rival like New England does not mean a thing as Buffalo showed us way back in 2003. I find it interesting Miami plays Buffalo right on the heels of mirroring such an emotional victory. The same Buffalo team that beat Miami 19-0 when a victory would lead to a winning season and playoff berth a year ago.
The Bills are not the pushover they seemed in the pre-season. They beat the Chicago Bears 23-20 in overtime and are primed to take the wind out of Miami’s sails. Things are in flux in Buffalo where a new owner is about to take over from the Wilson family and excitement pervades years of decline. Not a whole hell-of-a-lot goes on up on Lake Erie these days. A victory over Miami would make the chicken wings a little spicier and the brew a little colder.
Buffalo won three out of the last four contests against Miami and did it twice with a QB named Thaddeus who is no longer in the league. They're a physical team, with two very good backs in CJ Spiller and Fred Jackson. They drafted Sammy Watkins whom many thought was the best WR in the country, but there are chinks in the Bills’ offensive armor…
E.J. Manuel is starting his second season and had his share of rough outings last year. Pressure can rattle Manuel and this is where Miami must take advantage using one of best defensive lines in the NFL.
Prior to the draft, the Dolphins took a long look at UM offensive tackle Seantrel Henderson, but his weight and attitude issues caused him to fall to Buffalo in the 7th round. Guess who will attempt to block Cameron Wake on Sunday? Yup - Seantrel Henderson - after 2nd round pick Cyrus Kouandjio failed to beat him out.
I imagine Henderson has a few butterflies in his belly just thinking about it. With Watkins nursing sore ribs, the Dolphins should be looking at a full frontal attack. The Bills are going to test the Dolphin run defense to the fullest and with the LB situation dire in Miami; it should be interesting to watch.
The Dolphins used some curious schemes to make up for the deficiency at LB. There was talk of the old Buddy Ryan 4-6 and even a 5-2. The reality was closer to a 3-4 with Wake and Vernon playing OLB while Starks, Mitchell and Odrick played a traditional 3-man front. These schemes work much better with the element of surprise, but Buffalo will have the tape. Miami needs to beat the Bills with a base defense if they expect to shut down the running game.
I suspect a safety will be creeping in the box all day with Grimes shadowing Watkins, leaving E.J. Manual with the ball in his hands. No doubt, Miami will want to force Manuel to win the game while attempting to blow up the Bills’ rushing attack.
Seantrel Henderson, really? If you have Wake on your fantasy team you might want to start him, I’m just saying…
Now comes the fun part, predicting the Miami offense. Buffalo handed it to the Dolphin OL in that fateful game last year, but it was a unit in complete disarray and ripe for the raping (I had to throw in something Richie would say)! Buffalo actually showed the Jets what New England failed to capitalize on; the Dolphin line could not stop an all-out jailbreak attack. The Bills simply overwhelmed a depleted Miami line, leaving Tannehill and the backs - sitting ducks.
The Buffalo defense will be no less potent, but they will be facing a vastly improved Miami offensive front. The Bills will take the same approach as the Dolphins, shut down the run and force Tannehill to win the game…
Unfortunately for Miami, Buffalo has the defensive front to make life miserable for the Dolphin rushing attack. Tannehill will need to take over the game if the rushing attack falters and it is difficult to predict how he will perform. The loss of Jairus Byrd from the Bills secondary helps Miami when the outcome could very well hinge on the success of the passing game.
Miami has an excellent corps of WRs and the new scheme under Bill Lazor will have the Bills wary of a quick strike passing attack. Buffalo coaches have seen the tape and have little fear of Miami’s deep passing ability. Judging but the attacking style last season, the Bills will force Tannehill to complete some long throws before backing off. Buffalo will press the line of scrimmage attempting to take away both rushing and short passing unless Tannehill dictates otherwise.
A few deep completions will dramatically change the game in Miami’s favor. The Bills will creep closer and closer each time Miami fails to connect on open deep passing routes. The vertical passing game may very well be the key to beating the Bills. Bill Lazor knows this and is certain Buffalo knows it as well. The feeling here is, Lazor will attempt to lengthen the field early for Tannehill.
Knowshon Moreno was the spark that lit Miami’s offensive fire against NE. If Moreno can gain the tough yards again, it will take a lot of the burden off Tannehill, but the Bills will be loading up for Knowshon.
Everyone hates it when I put too much on Tannehill… It won’t be me putting it on our boy Ryan, I fully expect the Bills to make Tannehill win this football game. Miami can still win as they proved against NE, but the team needs to duplicate the same passion they played with against the Patriots.
Indeed - emotion is the fuel that rules football any given Sunday…
Play with reckless abandon every week and there will be no need to worry about schemes or quarterbacks. If the Dolphins play with the same passion, they showed against New England, few teams will beat them.
Seattle showed the formula, passion rules and they have the shiny rings to prove it…
I wrote that paragraph on the off chance a Miami Dolphin player might catch a glimpse of it. You see, as recently as last season the Dolphins started 3-0 only to lose 4 consecutive games before righting the ship in advance of a late season collapse that found them out of the playoffs.
So what’s my point? You undoubtedly think Negative Nancy is writing this article...
The point is, winning the first game even against a rival like New England does not mean a thing as Buffalo showed us way back in 2003. I find it interesting Miami plays Buffalo right on the heels of mirroring such an emotional victory. The same Buffalo team that beat Miami 19-0 when a victory would lead to a winning season and playoff berth a year ago.
The Bills are not the pushover they seemed in the pre-season. They beat the Chicago Bears 23-20 in overtime and are primed to take the wind out of Miami’s sails. Things are in flux in Buffalo where a new owner is about to take over from the Wilson family and excitement pervades years of decline. Not a whole hell-of-a-lot goes on up on Lake Erie these days. A victory over Miami would make the chicken wings a little spicier and the brew a little colder.
Buffalo won three out of the last four contests against Miami and did it twice with a QB named Thaddeus who is no longer in the league. They're a physical team, with two very good backs in CJ Spiller and Fred Jackson. They drafted Sammy Watkins whom many thought was the best WR in the country, but there are chinks in the Bills’ offensive armor…
E.J. Manuel is starting his second season and had his share of rough outings last year. Pressure can rattle Manuel and this is where Miami must take advantage using one of best defensive lines in the NFL.
Prior to the draft, the Dolphins took a long look at UM offensive tackle Seantrel Henderson, but his weight and attitude issues caused him to fall to Buffalo in the 7th round. Guess who will attempt to block Cameron Wake on Sunday? Yup - Seantrel Henderson - after 2nd round pick Cyrus Kouandjio failed to beat him out.
I imagine Henderson has a few butterflies in his belly just thinking about it. With Watkins nursing sore ribs, the Dolphins should be looking at a full frontal attack. The Bills are going to test the Dolphin run defense to the fullest and with the LB situation dire in Miami; it should be interesting to watch.
The Dolphins used some curious schemes to make up for the deficiency at LB. There was talk of the old Buddy Ryan 4-6 and even a 5-2. The reality was closer to a 3-4 with Wake and Vernon playing OLB while Starks, Mitchell and Odrick played a traditional 3-man front. These schemes work much better with the element of surprise, but Buffalo will have the tape. Miami needs to beat the Bills with a base defense if they expect to shut down the running game.
I suspect a safety will be creeping in the box all day with Grimes shadowing Watkins, leaving E.J. Manual with the ball in his hands. No doubt, Miami will want to force Manuel to win the game while attempting to blow up the Bills’ rushing attack.
Seantrel Henderson, really? If you have Wake on your fantasy team you might want to start him, I’m just saying…
Now comes the fun part, predicting the Miami offense. Buffalo handed it to the Dolphin OL in that fateful game last year, but it was a unit in complete disarray and ripe for the raping (I had to throw in something Richie would say)! Buffalo actually showed the Jets what New England failed to capitalize on; the Dolphin line could not stop an all-out jailbreak attack. The Bills simply overwhelmed a depleted Miami line, leaving Tannehill and the backs - sitting ducks.
The Buffalo defense will be no less potent, but they will be facing a vastly improved Miami offensive front. The Bills will take the same approach as the Dolphins, shut down the run and force Tannehill to win the game…
Unfortunately for Miami, Buffalo has the defensive front to make life miserable for the Dolphin rushing attack. Tannehill will need to take over the game if the rushing attack falters and it is difficult to predict how he will perform. The loss of Jairus Byrd from the Bills secondary helps Miami when the outcome could very well hinge on the success of the passing game.
Miami has an excellent corps of WRs and the new scheme under Bill Lazor will have the Bills wary of a quick strike passing attack. Buffalo coaches have seen the tape and have little fear of Miami’s deep passing ability. Judging but the attacking style last season, the Bills will force Tannehill to complete some long throws before backing off. Buffalo will press the line of scrimmage attempting to take away both rushing and short passing unless Tannehill dictates otherwise.
A few deep completions will dramatically change the game in Miami’s favor. The Bills will creep closer and closer each time Miami fails to connect on open deep passing routes. The vertical passing game may very well be the key to beating the Bills. Bill Lazor knows this and is certain Buffalo knows it as well. The feeling here is, Lazor will attempt to lengthen the field early for Tannehill.
Knowshon Moreno was the spark that lit Miami’s offensive fire against NE. If Moreno can gain the tough yards again, it will take a lot of the burden off Tannehill, but the Bills will be loading up for Knowshon.
Everyone hates it when I put too much on Tannehill… It won’t be me putting it on our boy Ryan, I fully expect the Bills to make Tannehill win this football game. Miami can still win as they proved against NE, but the team needs to duplicate the same passion they played with against the Patriots.
Indeed - emotion is the fuel that rules football any given Sunday…
Play with reckless abandon every week and there will be no need to worry about schemes or quarterbacks. If the Dolphins play with the same passion, they showed against New England, few teams will beat them.
Seattle showed the formula, passion rules and they have the shiny rings to prove it…
Miami Victory in Pittsburgh Opens Playoff Window
The chatter circulating Miami prior to the Dolphins dramatic
victory in Pittsburgh was calling for the jobs of Joe Philbin and Jeff Ireland.
Writers from the local rags and here on Dolphinshout did an abrupt U-Turn after
the exciting win placed Miami squarely in the playoff hunt. The Miami Dolphins
enter the final three games of the season needing one more victory than the Baltimore
Ravens to clinch a wildcard berth.
The heat on the Dolphin brass was cooled by scoring a fourth
quarter offensive TD for the first time in eight games and breaking the 27
point barrier for the first time all season. Fashionably, the
game came down to a last-second desperation lateral-fest by the Steelers, which
came an inch from succeeding before the victory was secured. There was no warming up the weather in Pittsburgh, where the game opened in a driving snowstorm and the
conditions remained frigid throughout the day.
Led by a two TD performance from Charles Clay, a highlight
reel catch by Brian Hartline and perhaps the best day as a Dolphin by Daniel
Thomas, Miami weathered the storm. Clay continued his breakout season by
throwing off two tacklers on the way to a game clinching TD and 97 yards
receiving. Not even the referees could believe Hartline’s sideline circus catch
for a TD until it was verified by instant replay. When Lamar Miller went down
with a 1st half concussion, Thomas stepped up in a big way and ran
for 105 yards including a 55 yard scamper and a score.
Ryan Tannehill showed maturity in a 3 TD - 1 INT performance,
including a 48 yard dash on a seldom used read option play. When Troy Polamalu
intercepted an errant throw and gave Pittsburgh the lead with a diving TD
leap, it looked like the pick six would KO the Dolphins, but Tannehill was unfazed
and calmly led the team to victory.
The Dolphin defense had an uneven day allowing 21 points,
but remained stout after a 3rd quarter letdown and enabled a 34
to 28 Miami victory. After allowing only 1 TD by a wide receiver all season, the
Dolphin secondary gave up 3 in Pittsburgh. The snowy conditions attributed to
much of the secondary issues as the DBs had trouble maintaining footing on the
slippery turf.
In all it was an impressive win for the Dolphins and kept
their season alive. For Miami fans unused to being relevant in December, it was
reason to smile. Through the bullying allegations and bumpy start, Joe
Philbin has maintained the locker room and likely secured his job. Calls for Jeff
Ireland’s job will continue to subside with each Miami victory.
The Dolphins arrived home to beautiful sunny conditions after
weeks of weathering the storm. With New England coming to town, the Dolphins
have an opportunity to silence their critics and prove they are a team looking forward
to a bright future.
Report: Miami Dolphins Re-Sign Brian Hartline
The Miami Dolphins have re-signed Brian Hartline to a 5 year deal worth $31 million ($12.5 million guaranteed), according to Pro Football Talk. Hartline is coming off of a year where he had a career-high 1083 yards off of 74 receptions.
Hartline had established a repertoire with rookie Ryan Tannehill this season, so it makes sense for the Dolphins to bring him back to help their rookie quarterback.
Miami re-signing Hartline now means that the Dolphins will probably only add one more big receiver this offseason. They will likely either sign a big name free agent (Mike Wallace or Greg Jennings) or draft a receiver early on in the draft (Cordarrelle Patterson, Keenan Allen, or Terrance Williams).
Now that Hartline and Starks have both been retained by the Dolphins it will be interesting to see what happens to Jake Long, Sean Smith, Anthony Fasano, and Chris Clemons.
Thanks for stopping by. Email me at paul@dolphinshout.com. I'm on twitter @PaulDSmythe.
Hartline had established a repertoire with rookie Ryan Tannehill this season, so it makes sense for the Dolphins to bring him back to help their rookie quarterback.
Miami re-signing Hartline now means that the Dolphins will probably only add one more big receiver this offseason. They will likely either sign a big name free agent (Mike Wallace or Greg Jennings) or draft a receiver early on in the draft (Cordarrelle Patterson, Keenan Allen, or Terrance Williams).
Now that Hartline and Starks have both been retained by the Dolphins it will be interesting to see what happens to Jake Long, Sean Smith, Anthony Fasano, and Chris Clemons.
Thanks for stopping by. Email me at paul@dolphinshout.com. I'm on twitter @PaulDSmythe.
Dolphins Tannehill Playing Like a Rookie
There was a lot of discussion about criticizing Ryan Tannehill in my last post and I thought I would demonstrate some of the reasons why I'm beginning to fall off the Tanny train. Here is the breakdown of Tannehill's first 4 passes of the New England game.
On Tannehill's 1st attempt, you can see by the coaches film, Mike Sherman has this one dialed up. Davone Bess is wide open.
See the 1st down marker, see the defender on the ground!
Tannehill completely missed him. He threw it at Matthews' feet, uncatchable. On the next play, Fields bumbles a low snap and the Dolphins are looking like dolts. This is not coaching, the play calling was exceptional. This is on Tannehill, both plays were perfectly schemed and wide open. We can't compare Mike Sherman to Dan Henning.
Tannehill's 3rd attempt...
The important thing to recognize here is the area in yellow. It looks like Tannehill is focused entirely on Fasano coming across the middle tightly covered. Hartline and Bess are both covered at the top, Clay is wide open, but Tannehill stares down Fasano.
Tannehill has grown into a tendency to bale to his right, but this is ridiculous. There is so much space if he had taken one step up as the rush was coming, look back and forth between this and previous picture, one step and he has the amount of time associated with Tom Brady. Is this the lack of line play I hear so much about? Is this the poor play calling I hear about? No, sorry this is very poor play from the QB position, so if fans want to say the kid will grow into it, I'm okay with that, but put it where it belongs.
Hartline ended up catching the ball on a come back to rescue Tannehill, but it was short of the 1st down and another punt. Please stop making excuses is all I ask. Hope this is rookie lack of understanding, hope Sherman and Philbin can coach Tannehill up, but please don't sugar coat what is right in front of your eyes.
Okay, now you see why I'm only going to show the 1st 4 passes... It keeps getting more painful. Here's number 4.
Look at Tannehill's head, we can't see his eyes but it's pretty obvious he's zoned in on Davone Bess. I don't know who the corner is, but he's got Bess locked up. Now look at the top, holy crap!!! Reggie Bush is in single coverage on a Linebacker and he is about to go house on a wheel route! But Ryan has decided come hell or high water he's throwing to Bess.
The ball is nearly picked because Tannehill decided prior to the snap which receiver he was throwing to. Again look in the pocket, one step forward and one step right and Tannehill has all day to find Bush.
I will not say too much about the sequences presented here, simply because I don't need to. Remember one thing, these are only the first 4 passes. The folks who make excuses will say that he settled down or whatever. I will say what I said in the last post...
Tannehill needs to step up his game.
On Tannehill's 1st attempt, you can see by the coaches film, Mike Sherman has this one dialed up. Davone Bess is wide open.
Bess may have been able to catch this ball, but a decent pass from Tannehill and this was an easy catch for Bess. Tannehill left Bess at the mercy of a charging DB aiming at his ribs and the pass was incomplete. The Dolphin offense was very tight to start this game and that usually starts with the QB...
Tannehill Tries again throwing to Rishad Matthews...
See the 1st down marker, see the defender on the ground!
Tannehill completely missed him. He threw it at Matthews' feet, uncatchable. On the next play, Fields bumbles a low snap and the Dolphins are looking like dolts. This is not coaching, the play calling was exceptional. This is on Tannehill, both plays were perfectly schemed and wide open. We can't compare Mike Sherman to Dan Henning.
Tannehill's 3rd attempt...
The important thing to recognize here is the area in yellow. It looks like Tannehill is focused entirely on Fasano coming across the middle tightly covered. Hartline and Bess are both covered at the top, Clay is wide open, but Tannehill stares down Fasano.
Tannehill has grown into a tendency to bale to his right, but this is ridiculous. There is so much space if he had taken one step up as the rush was coming, look back and forth between this and previous picture, one step and he has the amount of time associated with Tom Brady. Is this the lack of line play I hear so much about? Is this the poor play calling I hear about? No, sorry this is very poor play from the QB position, so if fans want to say the kid will grow into it, I'm okay with that, but put it where it belongs.
Hartline ended up catching the ball on a come back to rescue Tannehill, but it was short of the 1st down and another punt. Please stop making excuses is all I ask. Hope this is rookie lack of understanding, hope Sherman and Philbin can coach Tannehill up, but please don't sugar coat what is right in front of your eyes.
Okay, now you see why I'm only going to show the 1st 4 passes... It keeps getting more painful. Here's number 4.
Look at Tannehill's head, we can't see his eyes but it's pretty obvious he's zoned in on Davone Bess. I don't know who the corner is, but he's got Bess locked up. Now look at the top, holy crap!!! Reggie Bush is in single coverage on a Linebacker and he is about to go house on a wheel route! But Ryan has decided come hell or high water he's throwing to Bess.
The ball is nearly picked because Tannehill decided prior to the snap which receiver he was throwing to. Again look in the pocket, one step forward and one step right and Tannehill has all day to find Bush.
I will not say too much about the sequences presented here, simply because I don't need to. Remember one thing, these are only the first 4 passes. The folks who make excuses will say that he settled down or whatever. I will say what I said in the last post...
Tannehill needs to step up his game.
Dolphins Tannehill Overwhelmed by the Spotlight
In a must win game for the Dolphins, Ryan Tannehill performs like a rookie and not even a good one. Perhaps playing against his childhood hero was a little overwhelming for the Miami quarterback, but losing to the Patriots falls squarely on the shoulders of Ryan Tannehill.
Unfortunately, the Dolphins playoff hopes were dashed by their QBs lack of big-game experience. Tannehill has performed admirably for most of the season, but when he needed to step up, he made critical mistakes that cost Miami a shot at victory.
The Dolphins lost by a single touchdown to one of the most prolific teams in the NFL, with the defense holding Tom Brady to his worst 74.8 rating of the season. Three times Tannehill had Brian Hartline open for score and three times he missed badly.
Aqib Talib was unable to cover Hartline and midway through the first quarter found himself trailing Hartline by several steps down the middle of the field.
“I just overthrew it; it was a bad throw,” Tannehill said. “You’ve got to hit those; you don’t get many shots like that.”
With Miami trailing 17-10, in the third quarter when Hartline came open again, this time down the right sideline. The throw was uncatchable and Hartline had a wide open field down the sideline.
“It was designed to be a hook up,” Tannehill said. “I looked off the safety and set my feet to throw short. He stuck his hand up and went deep. I just didn’t get enough on it.”
In the fourth quarter, with second-and-4 from the New England 7, Hartline ran a slant over the middle again beating Talib. Tannehill’s throw was late and Hartline couldn’t get his feet down inside the back of the end zone.
“It was a look we weren’t prepared for,” Hartline said. “It threw me off a little bit and I think it threw him off a little bit, too. Just a little hesitation. We ran out of space in the back of the end zone.”
Tannehill also had a sack fumble midway through the 2nd quarter that gave the Patriots the ball on Miami's 25 yard line. Tannehill needed to take one step forward in the pocket and he could have released the pass, but he was unable to feel the pressure and took the sack.
The Dolphins have been patient with Tannehill who has thrown only 2 TD passes and 6 INTs in the last 18 quarters. There has been no hint of replacing Tannehill with Matt Moore and it would seem the Dolphin organization is telling the fans they must endure the rookies' growing pains.
“We just didn’t hit the shots that were there,” Tannehill said. “The early one to Hartline, I’m still kicking myself. You have to make that throw.” The Dolphin faithful would like to kick Tannehill as well when each week they hear how Andrew Luck made the plays that brought his team to victory. Perhaps the Colts "Suck-for-Luck" campaign wasn't such a bad idea.
It has been somewhat taboo to criticize the rookie, but when Tannehill completes just 13 of 29 passes (44.8 percent) for 186 yards and a 66.2 passer rating. The faithful begin to wonder when it will be okay to proclaim Tannehill is another Jeff Ireland bust.
Dolphin coach Joe Philbin is well aware of the stakes, but he downplayed the performance with his usual aloof undefined comments, “against a team like this, you’ve got to make those plays. If you’re wide open and you’ve got a guy like that, you’ve got to make those plays.”
Miami fans cannot bare the thought of Tannehill being a bust, it is the single most disheartening thought any true Dolphin fan could have. It is better to just stick with the rookie proclamation that he will learn from his experience.
The true question looming for Tannehill is, how long are the fans willing to wait? The whispers are getting louder, and in Miami, when they get to a full blown roar, it will not be pretty.
Unfortunately, the Dolphins playoff hopes were dashed by their QBs lack of big-game experience. Tannehill has performed admirably for most of the season, but when he needed to step up, he made critical mistakes that cost Miami a shot at victory.
The Dolphins lost by a single touchdown to one of the most prolific teams in the NFL, with the defense holding Tom Brady to his worst 74.8 rating of the season. Three times Tannehill had Brian Hartline open for score and three times he missed badly.
Aqib Talib was unable to cover Hartline and midway through the first quarter found himself trailing Hartline by several steps down the middle of the field.
“I just overthrew it; it was a bad throw,” Tannehill said. “You’ve got to hit those; you don’t get many shots like that.”
With Miami trailing 17-10, in the third quarter when Hartline came open again, this time down the right sideline. The throw was uncatchable and Hartline had a wide open field down the sideline.
“It was designed to be a hook up,” Tannehill said. “I looked off the safety and set my feet to throw short. He stuck his hand up and went deep. I just didn’t get enough on it.”
In the fourth quarter, with second-and-4 from the New England 7, Hartline ran a slant over the middle again beating Talib. Tannehill’s throw was late and Hartline couldn’t get his feet down inside the back of the end zone.
“It was a look we weren’t prepared for,” Hartline said. “It threw me off a little bit and I think it threw him off a little bit, too. Just a little hesitation. We ran out of space in the back of the end zone.”
Tannehill also had a sack fumble midway through the 2nd quarter that gave the Patriots the ball on Miami's 25 yard line. Tannehill needed to take one step forward in the pocket and he could have released the pass, but he was unable to feel the pressure and took the sack.
The Dolphins have been patient with Tannehill who has thrown only 2 TD passes and 6 INTs in the last 18 quarters. There has been no hint of replacing Tannehill with Matt Moore and it would seem the Dolphin organization is telling the fans they must endure the rookies' growing pains.
“We just didn’t hit the shots that were there,” Tannehill said. “The early one to Hartline, I’m still kicking myself. You have to make that throw.” The Dolphin faithful would like to kick Tannehill as well when each week they hear how Andrew Luck made the plays that brought his team to victory. Perhaps the Colts "Suck-for-Luck" campaign wasn't such a bad idea.
It has been somewhat taboo to criticize the rookie, but when Tannehill completes just 13 of 29 passes (44.8 percent) for 186 yards and a 66.2 passer rating. The faithful begin to wonder when it will be okay to proclaim Tannehill is another Jeff Ireland bust.
Dolphin coach Joe Philbin is well aware of the stakes, but he downplayed the performance with his usual aloof undefined comments, “against a team like this, you’ve got to make those plays. If you’re wide open and you’ve got a guy like that, you’ve got to make those plays.”
Miami fans cannot bare the thought of Tannehill being a bust, it is the single most disheartening thought any true Dolphin fan could have. It is better to just stick with the rookie proclamation that he will learn from his experience.
The true question looming for Tannehill is, how long are the fans willing to wait? The whispers are getting louder, and in Miami, when they get to a full blown roar, it will not be pretty.
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