Some of the off-season moves have brought a significant difference in the Miami Dolphin leadership and this change of the guard has flown under the radar of most fans and media. The Dolphins have not been near the top of the NFL since Dan Marino hung up his cleats but they may be closer now than at any point since. Tony Sparano did some soul searching this off-season and from that introspect he realized his team lacked explosion due to his conservative coaching; he also came to the conclusion his team leaders were not what he needed them to be.
Ricky and Ronnie may not inspire Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid like Czonka and Kick once did but Dan Henning’s offense was clearly centered around their talents. Channing Crowder never seemed to be in the right place at the right time to make big plays but he was the defensive play caller and the defense seemingly played better when he was in the game. Chad Pennington’s body never allowed him to play for consecutive seasons his entire NFL career, but his knowledge and presence loomed large on the sideline, in the locker room and in the meeting rooms.
Fans may notice of the absence of Henning, Williams, Brown, Crowder and Pennington because each had past moments of greatness but there will be no press conferences honoring their time in the Dolphin organization. There is probably a thought about where this is leading and the word “leading” would be the clue. What happens when a team has enigmatic leadership? What happens when a team has blasé leadership? What happens when a team has leadership that cannot stay healthy enough to remain on the field?
Dan Henning covers the enigmatic pretty well. He was a mysterious cantankerous dictator who was beyond reproach. If his offense was not performing it was not his system or his play calling, it was because the players were not good enough to make it work. How dare the media or even his boss insinuate he change something in his system, if ten offensive linemen cannot seem to make it work, bring in more. If Chad Henne’s strengths do not fall in line with this playbook, Chad Henne needs to be gone. Henning was an inflexible tyrant and that is exactly what a coach in the modern NFL cannot be. Many of the lowest paid players make more money than Henning but he could not see this polar shift from coach centric to player centric football. Removing this influence was pivotal for Sparano and it will show.
Ricky Williams never wanted to be a leader. Ricky Williams is a philosopher in a football player’s body. Thrust into the position of leadership under Dave Wannestedt, Ricky balked and worse, he quit. When a team deals two first round picks for a player there are bound to be expectations and if the player is not on board with those expectations, issues are soon to follow. Even though Ricky put that chapter behind him, the shadow of it lingered in the sense that Tony Sparano knew he could never place too much responsibility on Ricky’s shoulders. It is clear to see Ricky was not a leader but there was no way his presence and veteran wisdom could not be influential. Ricky was not a bad influence but he quit once and there was always the sense that if too much responsibility fell on Ricky’s shoulders he would just as soon live in a tent then get too caught up in leading a football team. On a veteran team Ricky would have been fine but on a young team Ricky’s presence drew players to him and he was not a person who would carry the banner into the fight.
Ronnie Brown is a prime example of why many NFL people view running backs as a dime a dozen. Ronnie was a good back who had moments of brilliance, but he was never worthy of the second pick in the draft. It is hard for players picked early in the draft to live up to their draft status. Being picked high is a guaranteed pocket full of jingle but the danger of the jingle is the incentive lost once the prize is won. One of the reasons Nick Saban thought Brown would be a good pick was because he had shared time in college with Cadillac Williams and did not have the wear on his body that a pure feature back would have had. It turned out not to matter as Brown spent as much time injured as he did on the field. Even when healthy Brown’s personality never was an inspiration to the players around him and hence he was never a leader. Being a veteran on the team Brown was looked up to by the younger players but his example was not one Sparano felt could provide the leadership his young team needed.
Dreadlocks, tattoos and his mouth moving a mile a minute are the lasting impressions Channing Crowder left on Dolphin fans. There are few who would argue the Miami defense played better when Crowder was on the field, but the oft injured Crowder exemplified a defense that never seemed to make big plays. Crowder was somewhat of an enigma, he could get his teammates properly lined up and had a good sense of what play the offense was about to run, but somehow he was never in position to make the play. Compared to a player like Zach Thomas who could line up the defense and fly to the ball, Crowder was missing half his game. Crowder was always willing to speak his mind and he was the center of attention in the locker room but big plays and nose for the football eluded him on the field. His off the field banter and on the field jawing were not backed up by big plays, which led to Crowder not being respected by his peers around the league. The leader of a team must not only be respected by his own team but by his opponents as well. Crowder was not and Sparano knew it was not going to change.
Whenever I think of Chad Pennington I think of Herdfan and it is hard to be too critical of a player who could bring such a great fan to the Miami Dolphin faithful. The truth is there is not much to be critical of; Pennington’s was a career of what could have been. He is one of the most accurate passers in NFL history. Every year he stayed healthy he led his team to the playoffs. Pennington was the consummate professional and a great leader, but he could not stay healthy. Pennington never completed back to back seasons without injury and because of that he could never guide an offense long enough to make it to the big show. He certainly had the tools and leadership to get there but his body would not allow it. If Pennington had a flaw during his final seasons in Miami it was the notion that he could be some form of a player-coach. Pennington wanted to play and being a leader in the locker room caused his teammates to follow him even though he could not take the field. Chad Henne could not take over the reins of leadership because of the respect everyone in the organization held for Pennington. If Pennington had remained healthy he would definitely be a part of this football team today, but he could not.
When Tony Sparano and Jeff Ireland got together after the tumultuous beginning of the off-season that saw Steven Ross courting an unproven college coach, they knew the veteran presence on the team had to change. For Henning it was his inflexibility to modernize his offense in accordance with the changes taking root in the NFL. For Williams it was his lack of buying in to the coaching staff and his willingness to voice his opinion in his own subtle way. For Brown it was his natural timidity, injuries and poor practice habits born of those injuries. For Crowder it was simply about putting his play where his mouth was and staying healthy. For Pennington it was a matter of health. The team was desperately in need of a change in leadership.
Sparano knew he had to change, he knew he had to become less conservative and more explosive. He also knew it was essential his coaching staff spoke with one voice and for those reasons he replaced Dan Henning with Brian Daboll. Daboll was fresh, his ideas were explosive and he was not a renegade. Drafting Daniel Thomas and picking up Reggie Bush brought in fresh running backs with something to prove. Why Larry Johnson, because Larry Johnson has a chip on his shoulder a mile wide. Channing Crowder worked out with one team before deciding to retire. That’s because there were not many teams beating down his door and that should say a mouthful about what the rest of the league thinks about Crowder. Aside from his injuries, letting Pennington go would allow Chad Henne to finally step up without constantly looking over his shoulder.
The issue of loyalty cannot be understated… Williams, Brown and Crowder were not their guys. Draft picks have a natural allegiance to the coaches who drafted them, but even free agents feel a breath of new life when a team seeks them out and pays them for their services. The number of players left from previous regimes should be a good indicator of how important this is to Sparano and Ireland. Pennington is the exception but in his case injuries were his undoing. It is clear, if Sparano and Ireland were going down they were going down with players of their own choosing. Everyone on this team is now under the same onus... Win or else. Don’t be surprised to see a team with a little more sense of urgency and a lot more will to win.
My question to you is, who will emerge as the new leadership core of the Dolphins?
Showing posts with label Ronnie Brown. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ronnie Brown. Show all posts
Have the Miami Dolphins Done Enough?
Hello Dol-Fans!
Take a look around, if you dare; Free Agent players are being swapped and signed everywhere! So where does this leave our beloved 'Fins in 2011. Well, until we sign a quality veteran QB to compete with Chad Henne, we're in quite a bind. Honestly, we need much more than that to be completely truthful. Let's take a look.
Positions of Need: QB, RB, OLB, DE, S
QB - Aside from signing Pat Devlin, the Dolphins are still trying to lock-up Kyle Orton. To date, that's still "in the works", so it really doesn't count.
RB - Signed Reggie Bush to a 2 year contract, but with his injury track record, it's best to resign Ronnie Brown as insurance.
OLB - We really haven't addressed this need as of yet. I believe the Front Office is hopeful that we can manage with what we've got on hand. Unfortunately, we won't know for sure until we see live action in the Pre-Season, and by then it might be too late.
DE - Resigning Randy Starks allow some shuffling along the D-Line which could open up some possibilities. We really won't know for sure what we'll have until we see some Pre Season games. I believe this is still a great area of need and concern.
S - This area has been a weak one for a few years now, and the Dolphins just haven't found the right combination to assist Yeremiah Bell. Hopefully we'll see a miracle in this area, but as of now there doesn't appear to be one on the horizon.
All being said... I believe the Dolphins will have a very competitive team this year with a lot of potential.
I'll keep my eyes peeled and ears alertly listening for additional updates, and post them ASAP.
Take a look around, if you dare; Free Agent players are being swapped and signed everywhere! So where does this leave our beloved 'Fins in 2011. Well, until we sign a quality veteran QB to compete with Chad Henne, we're in quite a bind. Honestly, we need much more than that to be completely truthful. Let's take a look.
Positions of Need: QB, RB, OLB, DE, S
QB - Aside from signing Pat Devlin, the Dolphins are still trying to lock-up Kyle Orton. To date, that's still "in the works", so it really doesn't count.
RB - Signed Reggie Bush to a 2 year contract, but with his injury track record, it's best to resign Ronnie Brown as insurance.
OLB - We really haven't addressed this need as of yet. I believe the Front Office is hopeful that we can manage with what we've got on hand. Unfortunately, we won't know for sure until we see live action in the Pre-Season, and by then it might be too late.
DE - Resigning Randy Starks allow some shuffling along the D-Line which could open up some possibilities. We really won't know for sure what we'll have until we see some Pre Season games. I believe this is still a great area of need and concern.
S - This area has been a weak one for a few years now, and the Dolphins just haven't found the right combination to assist Yeremiah Bell. Hopefully we'll see a miracle in this area, but as of now there doesn't appear to be one on the horizon.
All being said... I believe the Dolphins will have a very competitive team this year with a lot of potential.
I'll keep my eyes peeled and ears alertly listening for additional updates, and post them ASAP.
You Tell Me: Ronnie Brown Or Daniel Thomas?
I have a great "You Tell Me" today. I want to know which player you would rather the Miami Dolphins have if they could only have one: Rookie Daniel Thomas or veteran Ronnie Brown?
You must consider all things for this one, including their age, potential contracts, playing ability, etc.
Let me know what you think.
I apologize for not posting for two days, but I was unable to access my laptop during that time. Thanks for stopping by.
You must consider all things for this one, including their age, potential contracts, playing ability, etc.
Let me know what you think.
I apologize for not posting for two days, but I was unable to access my laptop during that time. Thanks for stopping by.
Ronnie Brown Leaving The Miami Dolphins Is A Shame
All signs seem to be pointing to Ronnie Brown leaving the Miami Dolphins once free agency starts.
I hate to say that it makes sense for him to go, but it does. The Dolphins need a speedy running back, and Brown doesn't really fit that mold. I don't want to say that he and Daniel Thomas are the same type of running back, but they aren't much different speed-wise and their running styles probably wouldn't work together.
The problem here is what the Dolphins did in the draft. They knew that Brown would like to come back to Miami, yet they still traded up and drafted Daniel Thomas in the second round.
Will Thomas do well in the NFL? Most likely, but why did the Dolphins have to draft him so high when they already had a similar running back who wanted to play for them. They could have just planned on re-signing Brown and signing another free agent back, but instead they used a second round pick that could have been used on someone else (and I'm pretty sure you guys know who that someone else is).
This isn't the worst mistake that Jeff Ireland and Tony Sparano have made, but I still think it could have been handled better. I can understand that they weren't planning on Ricky Williams wanting to come back, but they knew that Brown wanted to and still passed him up.
I especially hate it for Brown, because he has not complained at all. He has been consistently saying that he would like to stay in Miami, yet they have blown him off like he is nothing and hasn't done anything for them during his time there. I wish him the best of luck wherever he goes, and I really hope he doesn't go to New England or New York.
Thanks for reading, and let me know what you think about Brown, Ireland, Sparano, and the whole situation.
I hate to say that it makes sense for him to go, but it does. The Dolphins need a speedy running back, and Brown doesn't really fit that mold. I don't want to say that he and Daniel Thomas are the same type of running back, but they aren't much different speed-wise and their running styles probably wouldn't work together.
The problem here is what the Dolphins did in the draft. They knew that Brown would like to come back to Miami, yet they still traded up and drafted Daniel Thomas in the second round.
Will Thomas do well in the NFL? Most likely, but why did the Dolphins have to draft him so high when they already had a similar running back who wanted to play for them. They could have just planned on re-signing Brown and signing another free agent back, but instead they used a second round pick that could have been used on someone else (and I'm pretty sure you guys know who that someone else is).
This isn't the worst mistake that Jeff Ireland and Tony Sparano have made, but I still think it could have been handled better. I can understand that they weren't planning on Ricky Williams wanting to come back, but they knew that Brown wanted to and still passed him up.
I especially hate it for Brown, because he has not complained at all. He has been consistently saying that he would like to stay in Miami, yet they have blown him off like he is nothing and hasn't done anything for them during his time there. I wish him the best of luck wherever he goes, and I really hope he doesn't go to New England or New York.
Thanks for reading, and let me know what you think about Brown, Ireland, Sparano, and the whole situation.
Miami Dolphins Pick'em: Ronnie Or Ricky?
Imagine for a second that you are Jeff Ireland, GM of the Miami Dolphins.
Now, Stephen Ross (your boss) has told you that he wants either Ronnie Brown or Ricky Williams back for the 2011-2012 NFL Season, BUT he doesn't want both (he doesn't tell you why he only wants one, but you suspect that he is just being cheap and doesn't want to give both a contract).
Which back do you take?
Do you take Ronnie, who is 29 years old, is your main wildcat back that has put together a lot of successful seasons, but also has injury concerns?
Do you take Ricky, who is 34 years old, has a year or two of good production left in him, and averaged 4.2 yards per carry last season?
Make sure that you consider the current backs you already have on the team and the backs you could add from free agency.
Thanks for stopping by, now let me know what you would do.
Now, Stephen Ross (your boss) has told you that he wants either Ronnie Brown or Ricky Williams back for the 2011-2012 NFL Season, BUT he doesn't want both (he doesn't tell you why he only wants one, but you suspect that he is just being cheap and doesn't want to give both a contract).
Which back do you take?
Do you take Ronnie, who is 29 years old, is your main wildcat back that has put together a lot of successful seasons, but also has injury concerns?
Do you take Ricky, who is 34 years old, has a year or two of good production left in him, and averaged 4.2 yards per carry last season?
Make sure that you consider the current backs you already have on the team and the backs you could add from free agency.
Thanks for stopping by, now let me know what you would do.
Are Ronnie Brown And Ricky Williams Not In The Miami Dolphins Plans?
A couple of days ago I told you about Miami Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland's comments about the running back position and who he was looking to add to the position.
What I didn't think about at the time was that he did not mention Ronnie Brown or Ricky Williams at all, and he didn't seem like he cared to have either back.
I am a little bit disappointed in this, to be honest. I think that the Dolphins should at least try and sign Brown. I have been watching film on the Dolphins this year, and Brown has actually been pretty good. He just had some trouble because of his poor offensive line. I also like that Brown knows how to use the wildcat, which will add to his value.
The thought of Brown going to another team where they could use him for the wildcat is a scary one to me. Imagine a team with a great offensive line picking him up and implementing the wildcat into their offense. I can honestly see the New York Jets trying to get him and then running the wildcat. I think they could use another back, and they have run the wildcat pretty successfully with Brad Smith. Imagine what they would be able to do with the most experienced wildcat back in the NFL.
Brown to the Jets is a scary thought to me, but it is something the Jets would do. Partly because they see what he would be able to do, but also because they would love to capitalize on a Miami mistake.
I would also like them to at least consider bringing Williams back as well. Ricky did a good job with the amount of carries he was given. I think he deserves a chance. He has recently said that he would like to come back to Miami, too.
Thanks for stopping by. Let me know what you think about the two and the Dolphins not seeming interested in either.
What I didn't think about at the time was that he did not mention Ronnie Brown or Ricky Williams at all, and he didn't seem like he cared to have either back.
I am a little bit disappointed in this, to be honest. I think that the Dolphins should at least try and sign Brown. I have been watching film on the Dolphins this year, and Brown has actually been pretty good. He just had some trouble because of his poor offensive line. I also like that Brown knows how to use the wildcat, which will add to his value.
The thought of Brown going to another team where they could use him for the wildcat is a scary one to me. Imagine a team with a great offensive line picking him up and implementing the wildcat into their offense. I can honestly see the New York Jets trying to get him and then running the wildcat. I think they could use another back, and they have run the wildcat pretty successfully with Brad Smith. Imagine what they would be able to do with the most experienced wildcat back in the NFL.
Brown to the Jets is a scary thought to me, but it is something the Jets would do. Partly because they see what he would be able to do, but also because they would love to capitalize on a Miami mistake.
I would also like them to at least consider bringing Williams back as well. Ricky did a good job with the amount of carries he was given. I think he deserves a chance. He has recently said that he would like to come back to Miami, too.
Thanks for stopping by. Let me know what you think about the two and the Dolphins not seeming interested in either.
Miami Dolphins Keeping Ronnie Brown? Why Not?
Today I would like to put a thought by you guys that we have just been assuming won't happen, but could very easily happen:
Why don't the Miami Dolphins just keep Ronnie Brown?
I know he didn't have the best season last year, but a big reason for that was the Dolphins offensive line's inability to run block. If Miami had a better offensive line, then I am confident Ronnie would have been a lot more successful.
I also know that Ronnie doesn't really have breakaway speed, but he is still a very manageable running back. The Dolphins could just draft a fast running back late in the draft to compliment Brown. Having Brown and a speed back would solve Miami's running back problems, and it would keep them from having to draft Mark Ingram with their first pick.
Everyone is just assuming that Brown is leaving the Dolphins this offseason, and that might not be the case. Brown has said that he would love to stay in Miami, so why not keep him? He is still a very good running back.
So, I want to know whether you guys would be opposed to bringing back. His contract probably wouldn't be very high, which would be another plus.
Thanks for reading, and let me know what you think.
Why don't the Miami Dolphins just keep Ronnie Brown?
I know he didn't have the best season last year, but a big reason for that was the Dolphins offensive line's inability to run block. If Miami had a better offensive line, then I am confident Ronnie would have been a lot more successful.
I also know that Ronnie doesn't really have breakaway speed, but he is still a very manageable running back. The Dolphins could just draft a fast running back late in the draft to compliment Brown. Having Brown and a speed back would solve Miami's running back problems, and it would keep them from having to draft Mark Ingram with their first pick.
Everyone is just assuming that Brown is leaving the Dolphins this offseason, and that might not be the case. Brown has said that he would love to stay in Miami, so why not keep him? He is still a very good running back.
So, I want to know whether you guys would be opposed to bringing back. His contract probably wouldn't be very high, which would be another plus.
Thanks for reading, and let me know what you think.
Should The Miami Dolphins Pursue DeAngelo Williams?
The Miami Dolphins will most likely be looking for a new running back this offseason because it is doubtful that both Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown will return, and it is also possible that neither will be a Dolphin next year.
So, the Dolphins will have to look to either the draft or free agency to find a new starting running back.
ESPN Draft Expert Mel Kiper has Miami picking running back Mark Ingram with their 15th overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. While that wouldn't be a bad pick for the Dolphins, it isn't the best thing that Miami could do.
What they should do instead is sign pending free agent RB DeAngelo Williams as soon as a new CBA is reached. Williams had a bad season with the Panthers this year, and it is likely that the Panthers won't resign him. So, when the Panthers elect not to re-sign Williams the Dolphins must try and pursue him.
Williams' speed is exactly what Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland claims to be looking for, and Miami would be foolish not to go after him as soon as he is available. The Dolphins lacked breakaway speed this year from R&R, and DeAngelo Williams has that breakaway speed.
If the Dolphins can sign him and retain either Ricky or Ronnie, then we could have an extremely good rushing offense next season. That will, in turn, help take some of the pressure off of whatever young quarterback Miami ends up starting.
Signing Williams will also be beneficial to the Dolphins because it will free up their first-round pick and they will be able to pursue a quarterback instead. I know that Mark Ingram is a really good prospect with a lot of potential, but why not just pick up an experienced running back with a lot of talent instead and then use the pick that they would have used for Ingram to fix another problem on the offense?
As long as we don't have to worry about the running back position in the draft I will be happy. There will be other free agents available, and I wouldn't mind Miami going after one of them instead, but I think Williams is the best candidate for the job.
Hopefully, Jeff Ireland and Tony Sparano do pursue Williams. He would help the team instantly in more ways than one.
Thanks for reading, and let me hear your reactions.
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Multiple Mock Drafts Have The Miami Dolphins Drafting Mark Ingram, But Should They?
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| Please Tony, Draft Ryan Mallett |
I have been stressing for a few weeks now that the Dolphins need to take a quarterback with their first pick, and I still believe that to be the case. Mel Kiper may be the most informed and intelligent person in the country when it comes to the NFL Draft, but he doesn't know as much about the Miami Dolphins, specifically, which is why I think he is wrong that the Dolphins will get Ingram.
All Kiper sees are Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams leaving, so he figures they should worry about replacing them first. What he may not realize is how much Chad Henne has hurt Miami this year. It is much more crucial for the Dolphins to draft or trade for a quarterback with their first pick. By trading for a quarterback with their first pick, I mean trading the pick to a team like the Eagles for Kevin Kolb.
There will always be good running back talent with high potential available later in the draft, but that isn't normally the case at quarterback. Almost always, the good quarterbacks with the best potential will be taken in the first round, and the Dolphins need to make sure they pick up one of those guys.
My clear favorite candidate of the quarterbacks in this year's NFL Draft is Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett. I would rather Mallett over both Cam Newton and Blaine Gabbert. I know many of you will disagree with me on that one, but I am confident that Mallett will be the best NFL quarterback of this draft class.
The reason I would take Mallett over Gabbert is that Gabbert has been in a spread offense in college, and successful spread offense quarterbacks almost never translate into successful NFL quarterbacks.
I would take Mallett over Newton because Newton had to rely too much on his feet in college, which he won't be able to do in the NFL. I understand that he is still a good passer, but I fear that the temptation to run will be too much for him to avoid. NFL athletes are much, much faster and stronger than NCAA athletes, and Newton won't be able to be nearly as explosive because of that. I also just don't get a good feeling about him in the NFL. I know that he is supremely talented, but for some reason I just don't see him doing well in the NFL.
As for Mallett, I think he will be the best QB of this class because of his big arm and intensity. Mallett can make every pass in the NFL that he will ever need to make, hands down. He can make extremely tough passes with immaculate accuracy and make it look easy. He is also an extremely passionate and fiery competitor. His footwork needs improvement, and his decision-making isn't always the best because he is a little too confident in his arm, which is why he is considered #3 in the Draft, but I still think he is better than Newton and Gabbert despite his weaknesses.
As you guys can tell, I love Mallett, and I am thinking that he deserves to be ranked higher than he is. It would be a huge mistake for the Miami Dolphins to pass up him for Ingram with the 15th pick. Not that Ingram isn't a great running back, but I think Miami needs to worry about their quarterback first.
Thanks for reading, and tell me who you think Miami should get as well as your reaction to what I have said, because I know a lot of other people think differently.
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What Will The Miami Dolphins Running Back Position Look Like Next Year?
For those of you who don't know, there is a strong possibility that both Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams won't return to the Miami Dolphins next season.
Ricky had a "rant" of sorts complaining about Tony Sparano and his coaching style, and he said that he thought it was time to move on from the Dolphins organization. It would be a shock to me if he does end up playing for Miami again, and we might as well consider him gone.
Ronnie didn't have a rant, but all signs are pointing to him not playing with the Miami Dolphins next season. He never directly said that he wanted to leave Miami, but he does seem to be considering playing for other teams, too.
There are a few other running backs that could be available if they don't return to their teams. Two players that I would love Miami to get are Deangelo Williams and Cedric Benson. Williams is already all but gone from Carolina. Benson still has a chance of returning to Cincinnati, but it there is still a good chance he will be leaving.
Miami could also look in the draft and get a player like Mark Ingram in the first round, but I would prefer them not to because they should use their early draft pick to find a quarterback.
They could try and search for gold late in the draft and find a runner with huge potential, but I am not too confident in Miami's ability to find a player like that late in the draft. After all, we aren't the Patriots. We don't have an immaculate ability to find the perfect players late in the draft like Bill Belichick and his staff, so it might be better to just go after a proven player.
Like always, we will see what happens. Thanks for reading, and let me know who you want Miami to get next year.
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Ricky had a "rant" of sorts complaining about Tony Sparano and his coaching style, and he said that he thought it was time to move on from the Dolphins organization. It would be a shock to me if he does end up playing for Miami again, and we might as well consider him gone.
Ronnie didn't have a rant, but all signs are pointing to him not playing with the Miami Dolphins next season. He never directly said that he wanted to leave Miami, but he does seem to be considering playing for other teams, too.
There are a few other running backs that could be available if they don't return to their teams. Two players that I would love Miami to get are Deangelo Williams and Cedric Benson. Williams is already all but gone from Carolina. Benson still has a chance of returning to Cincinnati, but it there is still a good chance he will be leaving.
Miami could also look in the draft and get a player like Mark Ingram in the first round, but I would prefer them not to because they should use their early draft pick to find a quarterback.
They could try and search for gold late in the draft and find a runner with huge potential, but I am not too confident in Miami's ability to find a player like that late in the draft. After all, we aren't the Patriots. We don't have an immaculate ability to find the perfect players late in the draft like Bill Belichick and his staff, so it might be better to just go after a proven player.
Like always, we will see what happens. Thanks for reading, and let me know who you want Miami to get next year.
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Ronnie Brown Would Like To Stay With The Miami Dolphins, But Can He?
Miami Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown told the Miami Herald that he would like to stay with the Dolphins after his contract ends this year.
While I am not sure that the Dolphins are going to want to bring Brown in, I think it would be a good idea for them to. I know a few weeks ago I said that I thought Miami should get rid of Brown, but now that I think about it, he could still be a great running back.
The only catch to that is that he will be a great #2 running back. The Dolphins need a premiere #1 back who is capable of putting up big numbers every week, and Brown doesn't seem to be able to do that anymore. I wish he could, but he hasn't seemed to be able to anymore.
I am not saying that I want the Miami Dolphins to go and get a running back in the first round of the draft, though, because I want them to go after the quarterback then. Maybe they could pick up a lot of backs in the later rounds and hope for a diamond in the rough, or they could trade for a good one from another team.
I am afraid that there is a good chance that they will keep Brown as the #1 back still, though. Miami's running game has been hurting this year, but replacing our running back is not as necessary as replacing our quarterback, which is why I think the Dolphins may end up resigning Brown even if they want to go after a better back in the draft.
It is also likely that Ronnie will be willing to take a pay cut to come back to South Florida. Brown has lived in Miami since he was drafted in 2005, and he loves it there, so I wouldn't be surprised to see him take a smaller salary than what he would be able to get somewhere else.
As always, we will see what happens, and please feel free to leave a comment.
Thanks for reading.
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While I am not sure that the Dolphins are going to want to bring Brown in, I think it would be a good idea for them to. I know a few weeks ago I said that I thought Miami should get rid of Brown, but now that I think about it, he could still be a great running back.
The only catch to that is that he will be a great #2 running back. The Dolphins need a premiere #1 back who is capable of putting up big numbers every week, and Brown doesn't seem to be able to do that anymore. I wish he could, but he hasn't seemed to be able to anymore.
I am not saying that I want the Miami Dolphins to go and get a running back in the first round of the draft, though, because I want them to go after the quarterback then. Maybe they could pick up a lot of backs in the later rounds and hope for a diamond in the rough, or they could trade for a good one from another team.
I am afraid that there is a good chance that they will keep Brown as the #1 back still, though. Miami's running game has been hurting this year, but replacing our running back is not as necessary as replacing our quarterback, which is why I think the Dolphins may end up resigning Brown even if they want to go after a better back in the draft.
It is also likely that Ronnie will be willing to take a pay cut to come back to South Florida. Brown has lived in Miami since he was drafted in 2005, and he loves it there, so I wouldn't be surprised to see him take a smaller salary than what he would be able to get somewhere else.
As always, we will see what happens, and please feel free to leave a comment.
Thanks for reading.
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Winning Doesn't Mask Poor Performance By Miami Dolphins Offense
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You would think that a win against the Jets should be more satisfying than last Sunday's game actually was.
Not only did the Dolphins defense stop the Jets consistently, but they were also able to force Mark Sanchez into making turnovers that led to points. Heck, without help from our defense, Miami wouldn't have scored a single point.
That's the problem, though. The Miami Dolphins offense was so bad that they only gained 131 total yards against the Jets. What is worse is that Miami was only able to net for 30 passing yards. Numbers like that are embarrassing for any team, and they normally don't constitute a win. Thankfully, the Dolphins have one of the NFL's top defenses and were able to hold the Jets to 6 points while helping the offense get 10.
This game reinforces everything I have been saying the past two weeks about Miami's offense: Chad Henne and Dan Henning need to go, and Ronnie Brown isn't what he used to be.
Dan Henning finally relied more on the running game than he did the passing game. I know that at the beginning of the season I said that the Dolphins would be better off if they threw more than they ran, but I was wrong. Chad Henne can't take the pressure of carrying the offense, so it is necessary for Miami to keep running the ball.
Henning still isn't in the clear for finally relying on the running game, though. Any time your offense is only able to gain 131 net yards, there has to be something wrong with your offensive coordinator. There is no excuse for such a poor offensive performance, and this should be yet another eye-opener for Stephen Ross that Dan Henning needs to go after this year.
Henning also doesn't seem to know how to use Brandon Marshall. He has been pretty ineffective this year, and it isn't his fault. Yes, he has dropped a few passes, but he still isn't getting much of a chance to make plays at all. At least Marshall is going to stay longer than just this season, because he should be a lot better with a new offensive coordinator.
I'll be honest, though, I don't want the Miami Dolphins to win another game this season. I want them to get a high enough draft pick for a potential franchise quarterback. I have been doing a little research, and Ryan Mallet of Arkansas is a quarterback that the Dolphins may have a shot at getting who I really want them to get.
Thanks for reading, and please let me know what you think about our current offense and what needs to be changed.
Also, I'd like to send a shout-out to my good Dolphins friend up in New York: Anthony. I know it was an ugly win, but at least you won't be hearing a bunch of trash-talking Jets fans all week.
Subscribe to DolphinShoutMiami Dolphins Defense Sticks It To The Jets With A 10-6 Win
The Miami Dolphins defense put the team on their backs and led Miami to a 10-6 victory over the New York Jets.
Sean Smith had a really great game against Mark Sanchez with a bunch of deflected passes. If he were able to catch a football, he would have probably returned three interceptions for the touchdowns. He had countless opportunities to intercept passes by Mark Sanchez, but was unable to bring in a single one. I will not complain, though, because he did his job well and prevented the man he was covering from catching the ball almost every time it was thrown in his direction.
Cameron Wake also had two huge sacks on the Jets last drive. Not only did he help the Dolphins win the game with those two sacks, he also vaulted into the lead for the most sacks in the NFL with 14. Wake continues to show the Miami Dolphins how important he is, and I believe he deserves a nice, fat contract extension during the off-season.
Chad Henne didn't do anything special with 55 passing yards, going 5 completions off of 18 attempts. He did throw a touchdown to Brandon Marshall, but that wasn't the most important thing he was able to do. The most important thing was that he didn't throw an interception, which was a huge part of the win.
Thankfully, Miami's running game was able to do their part of the work on offense. Ronnie Brown had 55 yards off 16 carries and Ricky Williams ran the ball 10 times for 34 yards. Those aren't impressive numbers, but at least the Dolphins didn't become one-dimensional and just throw the ball.
The Dolphins offense gained a combined 131 yards from scrimmage, which reinforces my belief that we need to get rid of Dan Henning at the end of this year. He just can't make the offense work, so Miami needs to bring somebody new in that knows how to use his weapons.
Brandon Marshall still didn't do much against the Jets despite his touchdown. He only had two receptions for 16 yards, but he dropped a few passes that hit his hands. I am not sure what is wrong, but it apparently isn't entirely Dan Henning or Chad Henne's fault. Henning and Henne are both a big reason for Marshall's poor play this year, but it doesn't look like they are the only reasons. I'm not worried about Marshall, though. Once Miami gets a new offensive coordinator and quarterback, he should still be fine.
For anyone who supports Chad Henne or Dan Henning, this game proves to you that neither person deserves to be a part of the Miami Dolphins next year.
I also would like to say how much I hate the New York Jets. Somebody on their sideline stuck his leg out and tripped Nolan Carroll during a kickoff. Carroll was shaken up, but thankfully he was able to return to the game. Here is a video so you guys can see how cheap the Jets are:
Getting a win against them is always satisfying, though. It doesn't matter how it happens. I don't know who the person is, but there is speculation that they are on the practice squad.
Thanks for reading, and please leave a comment with your thoughts on the game.
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Sean Smith had a really great game against Mark Sanchez with a bunch of deflected passes. If he were able to catch a football, he would have probably returned three interceptions for the touchdowns. He had countless opportunities to intercept passes by Mark Sanchez, but was unable to bring in a single one. I will not complain, though, because he did his job well and prevented the man he was covering from catching the ball almost every time it was thrown in his direction.
Cameron Wake also had two huge sacks on the Jets last drive. Not only did he help the Dolphins win the game with those two sacks, he also vaulted into the lead for the most sacks in the NFL with 14. Wake continues to show the Miami Dolphins how important he is, and I believe he deserves a nice, fat contract extension during the off-season.
Chad Henne didn't do anything special with 55 passing yards, going 5 completions off of 18 attempts. He did throw a touchdown to Brandon Marshall, but that wasn't the most important thing he was able to do. The most important thing was that he didn't throw an interception, which was a huge part of the win.
Thankfully, Miami's running game was able to do their part of the work on offense. Ronnie Brown had 55 yards off 16 carries and Ricky Williams ran the ball 10 times for 34 yards. Those aren't impressive numbers, but at least the Dolphins didn't become one-dimensional and just throw the ball.
The Dolphins offense gained a combined 131 yards from scrimmage, which reinforces my belief that we need to get rid of Dan Henning at the end of this year. He just can't make the offense work, so Miami needs to bring somebody new in that knows how to use his weapons.
Brandon Marshall still didn't do much against the Jets despite his touchdown. He only had two receptions for 16 yards, but he dropped a few passes that hit his hands. I am not sure what is wrong, but it apparently isn't entirely Dan Henning or Chad Henne's fault. Henning and Henne are both a big reason for Marshall's poor play this year, but it doesn't look like they are the only reasons. I'm not worried about Marshall, though. Once Miami gets a new offensive coordinator and quarterback, he should still be fine.
For anyone who supports Chad Henne or Dan Henning, this game proves to you that neither person deserves to be a part of the Miami Dolphins next year.
I also would like to say how much I hate the New York Jets. Somebody on their sideline stuck his leg out and tripped Nolan Carroll during a kickoff. Carroll was shaken up, but thankfully he was able to return to the game. Here is a video so you guys can see how cheap the Jets are:
Getting a win against them is always satisfying, though. It doesn't matter how it happens. I don't know who the person is, but there is speculation that they are on the practice squad.
Thanks for reading, and please leave a comment with your thoughts on the game.
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Brandon Marshall Returns To Practice, But Does He Actually Hurt The Miami Dolphins Passing Offense?
What I want to know is does he actually help the Miami Dolphins more than he hurts them?
My answer is yes, he does help a lot more than he hurts.
While the Dolphins were able to have one of their best overall passing games with Chad Henne at quarterback last Sunday and without Brandon Marshall, that doesn't mean Marshall is the problem. Miami was able to do so well partly because the Raiders don't really have a good passing defense, and (more importantly) Dan Henning was finally willing to change up his play calling.
I am firmly convinced that Brandon Marshall's inability to score touchdowns is 100% Dan Henning's fault. Henning focused the Dolphins entire offensive strategy on getting Brandon Marshall the ball. That may not sound like a bad idea because Marshall is such a play maker, but focusing entirely on just getting one player the ball makes the offense way too predictable and makes Marshall almost useless because defense start to put double and triple coverage on him.
If the Dolphins want to be able to use Marshall effectively and get him more touchdowns they needed to learn how to spread the ball around a little more. They needed to become more like the Saints passing offense. Drew Brees spreads the ball out to so many different receivers that defenses have a hard time stopping him.
The Dolphins showed me a little bit last week when Chad Henne was able to get the ball to a lot of different receivers. Seven different players caught at least one pass against the Raiders, and the two receivers with the most receptions and yards for Miami (Davone Bess and Brian Hartline) didn't even catch a passing touchdown. That tells you how much the Dolphins were able to spread the ball around. That may not be a good sign for fantasy football owners, but that shouldn't matter. What matters is the Miami Dolphins winning games.
I think last Sunday's game was exactly what the Dolphins needed. Dan Henning saw what the offense was able to do by spreading the ball around without Brandon Marshall. Imagine how well they can do if they continue to spread it out with him in the game. He won't see as much double coverage, and he probably won't see any triple coverage at all because there will be other receivers that pose as a legitimate threat to defenses.
Pair all of the receiving threats with the Dolphins talented running backs, and you have a lot of playmakers that are finally being put to good use. Dan Henning needed a good game like this to see what the offense is capable of if he uses all of its playmakers.
I have a good feeling about Brandon Marshall's future with the Miami Dolphins. Dan Henning should know how to use him correctly now, and I am hoping he will be able to.
Thanks for reading, and please feel free to leave a comment with your thoughts on Marshall. We are paying him a lot of money, and I am interested to see opinions from Dolphins fans about his performance so far.
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| Don't Give Up On Marshall Yet |
Brandon Marshall (hamstring) returned to practice on Wednesday and is expected to play this Sunday against the Browns.
Marshall has not produced nearly as much as many Miami Dolphins fans had hoped he would this season, but I would argue that his low scoring numbers are mainly the fault of Dan Henning. He has gotten a lot of receptions and yards, but has only been able to reach the end zone once this season. He has also had two dumb penalties for delay of game and taunting, and his frustration is becoming more and more evident as the season progresses.
What I want to know is does he actually help the Miami Dolphins more than he hurts them?
My answer is yes, he does help a lot more than he hurts.
While the Dolphins were able to have one of their best overall passing games with Chad Henne at quarterback last Sunday and without Brandon Marshall, that doesn't mean Marshall is the problem. Miami was able to do so well partly because the Raiders don't really have a good passing defense, and (more importantly) Dan Henning was finally willing to change up his play calling.
I am firmly convinced that Brandon Marshall's inability to score touchdowns is 100% Dan Henning's fault. Henning focused the Dolphins entire offensive strategy on getting Brandon Marshall the ball. That may not sound like a bad idea because Marshall is such a play maker, but focusing entirely on just getting one player the ball makes the offense way too predictable and makes Marshall almost useless because defense start to put double and triple coverage on him.
If the Dolphins want to be able to use Marshall effectively and get him more touchdowns they needed to learn how to spread the ball around a little more. They needed to become more like the Saints passing offense. Drew Brees spreads the ball out to so many different receivers that defenses have a hard time stopping him.
The Dolphins showed me a little bit last week when Chad Henne was able to get the ball to a lot of different receivers. Seven different players caught at least one pass against the Raiders, and the two receivers with the most receptions and yards for Miami (Davone Bess and Brian Hartline) didn't even catch a passing touchdown. That tells you how much the Dolphins were able to spread the ball around. That may not be a good sign for fantasy football owners, but that shouldn't matter. What matters is the Miami Dolphins winning games.
I think last Sunday's game was exactly what the Dolphins needed. Dan Henning saw what the offense was able to do by spreading the ball around without Brandon Marshall. Imagine how well they can do if they continue to spread it out with him in the game. He won't see as much double coverage, and he probably won't see any triple coverage at all because there will be other receivers that pose as a legitimate threat to defenses.
Pair all of the receiving threats with the Dolphins talented running backs, and you have a lot of playmakers that are finally being put to good use. Dan Henning needed a good game like this to see what the offense is capable of if he uses all of its playmakers.
I have a good feeling about Brandon Marshall's future with the Miami Dolphins. Dan Henning should know how to use him correctly now, and I am hoping he will be able to.
Thanks for reading, and please feel free to leave a comment with your thoughts on Marshall. We are paying him a lot of money, and I am interested to see opinions from Dolphins fans about his performance so far.
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Will This Be Ronnie Brown's Last Year With The Miami Dolphins?
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| Will We See Ronnie Brown In A Dolphins Jersey Next Season? |
Sadly, though, I think this will be his last season with the Miami Dolphins. He is averaging a career low 3.9 yards per carry, and he has lacked the playmaking ability that he had in years past. He is technically a veteran player, and running backs have a short shelf life in the NFL nowadays. Six years as a running back in the NFL is like 12 years as a receiver. Running backs really take a beating, and they begin to wear down after years of playing.
I am afraid that Ronnie Brown can no longer be the premier running back for the Dolphins. He just doesn't have good enough numbers to be one. He wasn't able to reach 100 rushing yards off of 24 carries against the Raiders, He has only had four games all season where he averaged over 4 yards per carry, and he only has three touchdowns after 11 games.
His running style no longer seems to work with the Miami Dolphins offense. His main strength was running the wildcat, and now he doesn't really run it very effectively. That may be partly Dan Henning's fault because he is too predictable when he calls it, but Ronnie still can't make much of anything happen.
He just doesn't seem like an explosive player anymore, and we need an explosive back to work with Chad Henne. Henne can be really good, but he needs to have a running back carrying part of the load because he can't handle it himself.
I know that Dan Henning has been largely to blame for the running game, and consequently Ronnie Brown's, performance this year, but I just get the feeling that Ronnie's time in Miami will be limited. His contract expires at the end of this year, and I am not sure that the Dolphins will be willing to give him a new one that he would accept.
He had said earlier this year that he hadn't had any talks with Miami Dolphins officials about a new contract yet, so that tells me there is a good chance Miami won't keep him. The Dolphins organization doesn't show loyalty to players who have been in Miami (just look at Jason Taylor), so, I have a feeling that Ronnie will be another player added to the list of career-long Dolphins that end up going to another team.
We will see what happens, but don't be surprised if he ends up going to another team this offseason. Also, I wouldn't be surprised if he does go to another team and ends up bouncing back and playing like LaDainian Tomlinson has played this year. He may not do as well as LT has done, but I have a feeling that if he is put in the correct offense he can still make things happen.
Thanks for reading, and please be sure to leave a comment on what you think. I would be surprised if every Miami Dolphins fan that reads this doesn't have a strong opinion one way or the other about Brown.
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Brandon Marshall Likely Out, Chad Henne Likely In For The Miami Dolphins
| The Only Thing Harder Than Finding A Picture Of Marshall's Hamstring Injury Is Finding A Picture Of Him Scoring A Touchdown In A Miami Dolphins Jersey |
This will be a significant blow to the Miami Dolphins passing game, but I think it may actually be a good thing for the rest of the season. Losing Marshall will force offensive coordinator Dan Henning to use Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams more in the game, which he has failed to do up to this point.
Instead of putting the game entirely on the quarterback's shoulders, Henning will have to use Ronnie and Ricky a lot more, and that is a good thing. He may not want to use them as much as he will, but that's a good thing. We don't want the offense to run the way Henning wants it to anymore.
I almost get the impression that Henning doesn't care about how the offense plays anymore. It sure doesn't look like he does with the Dolphins recent offensive performance. I am actually kind of glad that Miami didn't score a point against the Bears because it brought on the "crayon and a pizza box" rant by Mark Schlereth, which brought the terrible play calling to light.
If they hadn't done so bad in that game, I don't think there would be much talk about firing Henning even though his play calling has been consistently bad for the entire season, not just the Thursday night shutout.
I have also heard good news about Chad Henne's health. He has been practicing with the team, and it appears that he will be ready to play against the Raiders. The question is, will Miami Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano allow him to start, or will he put Tyler Thigpen in as the starter again?
Nobody from the Dolphins organization has said anything, so we can't be sure, but I have a feeling Henne will be starting. He was playing really well against Tennessee before he injured his left knee, and it seems to me like he has come back with a little more fire in him.
I have a good feeling about this Sunday's game even though Miami is pretty much out of the playoffs. We could see a completely different Chad Henne(in a good way) against the Raiders, and I am excited to see what he can do. Let's just hope that the Miami Dolphins offensive line can hold up long enough for him to throw it.
That's it for now. I hope everyone enjoyed a day off for Thanksgiving. I know I did!
Please feel free to leave a comment.
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Miami Dolphins: What I'm Not Thankful For On Thanksgiving
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| Funny Picture, Courtesy of cartoonstock.com |
While most of the stuff you read today and tomorrow will be about giving thanks, I have decided to write a little piece on what I am not thankful for on the Miami Dolphins.
Let me just say first that I do, in fact, have a lot to be thankful for, and I appreciate what I have in life. I am not encouraging you to start thinking about things that you aren't thankful for, because that isn't healthy and helps nothing. I encourage you to think about everything that you have in your life and appreciate it because there are a lot of people that would love to have what you do. I will be writing solely about the failures of the Miami Dolphins and why I am not thankful for those failures.
So, with that being said, I have a bunch of things not to be thankful for in the Miami Dolphins Organization, and here are a few:
Dan Henning, Offensive Coordinator
Who else would you have me start off with? I have been writing so much about Dan Henning this past week that it is getting old, so I am going to keep this short and simple. Just know that he has been terrible this year in play calling, and he hasn't been able to work the offense around his players' strengths.
A .500 Record
Blame it on whomever you want, but a .500 record in a division with the Jets and Patriots and a tough conference like the AFC just isn't good enough. I expected a lot more from this team, and they have disappointed. It is incredible how little the Miami Dolphins have been able to use their weapons on offense.
This has made players like Davone Bess and Brian Hartline do well, but they haven't been able to make up for the mediocre numbers of Brandon Marshall, Ronnie Brown, and Ricky Williams.
Injuries
This is what has really hurt the Miami Dolphins recently. A few weeks ago I believed that the Dolphins still had a good shot at making the playoffs, but injuries have been consistently popping up all over the roster, and they have, pretty much, crippled Miami this year.
The offensive line has been hit the worst, though, and it really showed with a scoreless effort against the Bears on Thursday night. I am not completely sure what the Dolphins should try and do to prevent injuries from piling up so badly, but I hope they can figure something out before next year.
17.2 Points Per Game
That is 29th worst in the league. That is unacceptable for a team whose owner predicted the Miami Dolphins would be in the Super Bowl this year. With so many weapons you would think that the Dolphins would be scoring more than 28 other teams in the NFL instead of scoring less than 28 teams, but that isn't the case here. This is largely Dan Henning's fault, and it should be fixed by next year if the Dolphins want to be successful in the near future.
Brandon Marshall's Inability To Score
This goes with the 17.2 points per game, but it is still an issue of its own. Brandon Marshall is a beast, plain and simple, which is why I am baffled that Dan Henning doesn't find ways to use him more, and that he doesn't find better ways to use him.
Marshall has 58 receptions and 693 yards. How do you only score one touchdown with 693 receiving yards? I wouldn't have thought it was possible, but leave it to Dan Henning to find a way.
Special Teams
Special teams for Miami hasn't been really bad lately since the Dolphins promoted Darren Rizzi to Special Teams coordinator, but it cost the Dolphins early in the season. It cost them the game against the Patriots, and it hurt them numerous times before Rizzi came in. Miami's return game was largely useless, and they allowed a lot of long kick returns by other teams. Rizzi seems to have cleaned up Miami's special teams for the most part now.
Note that I am not including Dan Carpenter in this, because he has been great and has won the Dolphins multiple games that the offense couldn't.
That is most of what I am not thankful for on the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins have had a couple of things to be thankful for, like the play of Cameron Wake, Vontae Davis, Brian Hartline, and Davone Bess, but not nearly as much as things not to be thankful for.
Thanks for reading, and please leave a comment letting me know if there is anything not to be thankful for that I have left out.
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Den Henning Will Most Likely Be Gone From The Miami Dolphins After This Season
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| He Won't Be Smiling After This Season |
It has come to my attention that, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, people around the Miami Dolphins organization expect Dan Henning to be gone as an offensive coordinator after this year.
This is finally some good news amongst all of the trouble around the Dolphins organization, and hopefully it will actually happen. What I read does not say who the people in the organization are, but they must have some knowledge about the situation or the Miami Herald would not have put it up.
Henning has been terrible this year. His play calling has been atrocious, and he is too stubborn to change the game planning around the personnel he has in.
He wasn't going to change the offense when Chad Pennington came in as the starter, which tells you how stubborn he is. He was basically admitting that he had Chad Henne playing the same offensive style as Chad Pennington, even though they have completely different styles. In doing that he admitted his incompetency to all of us, and that was a big indicator for me that he shouldn't be the offensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins anymore.
Henning has turned the Dolphins into one of the worst scoring offenses in the NFL. Miami is at a 29th worst 17.2 points a game. He hasn't been able to use Brandon Marshall, Ronnie Brown, Ricky Williams, or Chad Henne to their full abilities. He turned a very talented offense into one of the worst offenses in the league. I don't know about you, but that pisses me off.
How does one of the best wide receivers in the NFL only score one touchdown after 10 games? People may blame Chad Henne, but I promise you it isn't his fault. Henning had Henne on such a short leash that he was rendered almost completely ineffective.
I can't wait to hear the news about his firing from the Miami Dolphins, and I look forward to letting you guys know about it.
Thanks for reading, and please be sure to leave a comment.
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Miami Dolphins Shut Out By Bears In Embarassing Performance In Primetime
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| Chad Henne's Injury May Have Been More Costly Than We Thought |
I was completely wrong about Thigpen. I thought that he would be a spark to the Miami Dolphins offense and help put more points on the board. Instead, he didn't put a single point on the board as the Dolphins were shut out by the Chicago Bears 16-0.
Granted, it was not all Thigpen's fault that the Miami Dolphins lost. The Miami Dolphins were absolutely decimated by injuries. On top of all the other injuries the Dolphins sustained before Thursday night's game, we saw center Cory Procter, who was in for injured starter Joe Berger, go down with an apparent season-ending ACL tear, and we saw Brandon Marshall go down with a hamstring injury in the first half.
Normally, the injury to Brandon Marshall would be considered a killer for the Dolphins, but it was nowhere near as bad of a loss as the injury to Cory Procter.
The Miami Dolphins are able to function without Brandon Marshall because they have other dangerous receivers to throw to.
Losing Cory Procter was a killer because it forced the Dolphins to move left guard Richie Incognito to the center spot, who apparently doesn't play center too much. Many of his snaps were too low, and Tyler Thigpen had to constantly reach for the ball wherever it went, and on top of those bad snaps, Thigpen had terrible protection from the beat-up line. He was sacked 6 times in just 22:09 with the ball.
The Dolphins running game also suffered extreme hardship because of the depleted line. Thigpen was the team's leading rusher with 6 attempts for 27 yards. Ronnie Brown had 3 carries for 10 yards, and Ricky Williams had 3 carries for 1 yard. Those numbers just tell you what kind of game it was for the Dolphins.
The only bright spot in the game was Cameron Wake. Wake was incredibly disruptive throughout the game. He drew countless holding penalties on the man blocking him, a sack, and a bunch of tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
As for Brandon Marshall, he dropped two passes that should have been easy catches before he left the game with his hamstring injury. Hopefully he can start to pick things up. At least the Dolphins have a bunch of talented receivers to step in for him. Now all we need is an offensive line to give our quarterback enough time to find those receivers.
I am not sure if this will be the end of Thigpen or not. He didn't get much help from the running game or offensive line, but he didn't do much himself. We will see in this extended week where the Miami Dolphins quarterback situation ends up.
I just find it weird that our 3rd-string quarterback was taking snaps from our 3rd-string center. That doesn't happen too often.
Thanks for reading, and please feel free to leave a comment.
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Ravens Running Backs Run And Catch All Over Dolphins In Loss
I don't know if there is much to say about this week's 26-10 loss to Baltimore. I can only think of a few main things.
We haven't really learned anything new about the offense. More poor play calling killed Miami in the second half. Miami's running game was working really well, and instead of continuing to run the ball they started to pass it more. Dan Henning needs to learn to call the right plays at the right time. His inability to do so really hurt the Dolphins, who didn't score at all in the second half.
I'm not trying to start any controversy at the offensive coordinator position, but something needs to be fixed in the offense, and I am convinced that something isn't Chad Henne.
The big story of this game, though, was the production of Ray Rice and Willis McGahee. Both players were able to run circles around Miami's defense as they gained 246 combined yards in the game. Most of their success came off of missed tackles by the Dolphins defensive players, so Mike Nolan better clean that up before next week's game against Chris Johnson.
As for Brandon Marshall, he had 5 receptions. That puts him at 52 for the season, and he needs an average of 6 per game for the rest of the season to get 100. He also had a poor performance in yardage with only 30. Dan Henning needs to learn how to use him correctly, and soon.
And just a bizarre side note, I am pretty sure the Dolphins lost this week because of me. This is the second week I have eaten pizza during the game, and the last time I ate pizza during a Dolphins game was against the Patriots. That means that when I have eaten pizza this season while watching the Dolphins they have lost by an average of 21.5 points. Maybe the Dan Henning can use me as an excuse before taking the blame himself.
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We haven't really learned anything new about the offense. More poor play calling killed Miami in the second half. Miami's running game was working really well, and instead of continuing to run the ball they started to pass it more. Dan Henning needs to learn to call the right plays at the right time. His inability to do so really hurt the Dolphins, who didn't score at all in the second half.
I'm not trying to start any controversy at the offensive coordinator position, but something needs to be fixed in the offense, and I am convinced that something isn't Chad Henne.
The big story of this game, though, was the production of Ray Rice and Willis McGahee. Both players were able to run circles around Miami's defense as they gained 246 combined yards in the game. Most of their success came off of missed tackles by the Dolphins defensive players, so Mike Nolan better clean that up before next week's game against Chris Johnson.
As for Brandon Marshall, he had 5 receptions. That puts him at 52 for the season, and he needs an average of 6 per game for the rest of the season to get 100. He also had a poor performance in yardage with only 30. Dan Henning needs to learn how to use him correctly, and soon.
And just a bizarre side note, I am pretty sure the Dolphins lost this week because of me. This is the second week I have eaten pizza during the game, and the last time I ate pizza during a Dolphins game was against the Patriots. That means that when I have eaten pizza this season while watching the Dolphins they have lost by an average of 21.5 points. Maybe the Dan Henning can use me as an excuse before taking the blame himself.
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