Before we get down to business Dolphins fans, try to absorb the fact that this 2016 Miami Dolphins team was left for dead at 1-4, but fought hard all season long, often without many starters and managed to win 10 games and finish 10-6. Quite an accomplishment that cannot be diminished whether we lose by 1, or lose by 24. Adam Gase looks like the HC of this team for a long time, and that means we should be relevant for quite some time. Enjoy the fact that we’re playing Sunday, hopefully this magic ride continues with a victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. GO DOLPHINS!
from Wyo
Q – 1%?
That means that we have a better chance of catching a communicable disease than winning the AFC? (Though we might have that covered already?)
I don’t agree!
But what are your thoughts?
It’s disrespectful, but pull yourself away from being a Dolphins fan for a second. We were 4-2 in the division, which means we took care of the Bills and the Jets, but what did we do against the Patriots? 0-2, and although we came back in both games, it’s clear NE was just cruising along. If we find a way to beat the Steelers this weekend, we will play the Patriots again. Rightfully so, the Patriots are the favorite to get into the SB from the AFC. We would have to beat the Patriots in their house, after they had a 1 week rest. Not impossible, but if the Steelers are a 10 point favorite this week, I’d say the point spread against the Patriots would be 2 TD’s +.
That’s my 1st reason for understanding the 1%. I love our team, but we’re a severely faulted team. We only do one thing well, and for the most part, we don’t even do a lot of things as well as average. On offense, we’re #26 in passing. We are a top 10 rushing team at #9. We’re #17 in scoring on offense. On defense, we’re #31 in yardage allowed. We’re #15 in passing yards allowed, but that’s a bit skewed, considering teams can and have just run on us all day. We finished #32 in the NFL against the rush, allowing a staggering 2247 yards rushing.
On special teams, we’re dead last in field goals made with 16 made, and only 3 teams have either equal or worse percentage made than the Dolphins. We’re #4 in kick return average at 25.1 yards per return. We’re 13th in punt return average at 9.1 per return. On defensive special teams, we’re #7 on kickoffs, allowing only 21.7 yards per return, and on punts, we’re also #7 on punt returns defense, allowing only 8.1 yards per return.
Ok, getting the stats out of the way, we have to travel to Pittsburgh missing many of our starters, most likely the list including our starting QB Ryan Tannehill. At the time of this writing, Tannehill missed practice today. They’re going to decide as to whether he practices tomorrow, and then if he does, it’s all about his ability to move well. It’s a longshot this week that he plays, but I like that they’re being cautious.
Does all this mean I think we have no shot with Moore at QB, and Byron Maxwell, along will many others out this week to beat the Steelers? No way! I do think we can beat the Steelers, but I don’t think there are various ways, I think there’s one way. Ajayi has to at least be a factor in this game. He doesn’t necessarily have to gain 200 yards, or maybe even 100, but he needs to be near 100, and hopefully, he has more than 20 carries. We need to have some time of possession. If Ajayi has some success in the game, and Moore doesn’t turn it over more than once, I think we can win this game. On the other hand, if I was a betting man, and somehow we do get by Pittsburgh, I wouldn’t bet on MIA against the Patriots, so yeah, I can kind of understand the 1%, as annoying as it is.
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from Ken
Q – I know there are still the playoffs but the end of the season is approaching so putting on your GM cap who do you think will be our notable losses from the roster this offseason?
I think there are really just a few guys we need to try and keep here, but most of the the players that will be UFA’s, I think we let go. Jordan Cameron, Jelani Jenkins and Donald Butler, are all gone IMO. Dion Jordan is complicated, because we may still have control of him somehow, I’m not positive, but odds are he’s finally gone as well.
So who do we want to keep? Not necessarily in this exact order, Kenny Stills, Dion Sims, Andre Branch, Jermon Bushrod and Spencer Paysinger. Kenny Stills is likely the most important guy on offense, and Andre Branch on defense. Sims really came on towards the end of the season, and he’s always been a solid blocking TE, so he’s likely back here. Paysinger is a very good ST’s player, but exposed having to play LB in this defense. he should remain as a special teamer. Branch has had his best season as a DE, and he did well for us. He’s not a pass rushing monster, but he can tackle, and he did get 5.5 sacks. I’d love to have a pass rushing monster to replace him with on passing downs, but either way, I want Branch back.
OK, to get specific now as to who we do lose, because after all, that was the question! Let me get this out of the way Ken, it WON’T BE MAXWELL! lol
I think it’s unlikely that Stills get too expensive for us to keep, but hey, it’s free agency, and teams throw silly money around, and maybe some team does that, so I’ll say Stills could be one of the bigger losses. Andre Branch is another candidate to get hit with silly money. Stills is still very young, he’s only 24. Branch is a little older at 27. It’s less likely for Branch to get a ridiculous contract offer than Stills, because Stills is only 24. I think we will do our best to keep Stills, but he would be a tough loss.
Kiko Alonso is a RFA, so we basically have control. We will give him the highest tender, and may possibly try to sign him to a multi year deal. Either way, I think Alonso is in MIA next year, he loves the community here, so he’s here to stay. Damien Williams is also a RFA, and I think we’ll keep him as well.
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from Jahn
Q – Hey Mike…Why do we drive on Parkways and park on Driveways? Why does inflammable and flammable mean the same thing?
Oh…football eh?
Can the Fins advance past Pittsburgh if we can contain AB, but Leveon has his typical big day? If not, how do you game plan for their big 3 (Ben, AB and Bell)?
Jahn the Phisherman
I’m confounded by the first 2 questions. Inflammable? Flammable? Is our offense flammable? Our defense inflammable? Yes on both?
If we allow Bell to go off, it could be ugly for us Jahn. I think the scenario where we can win that way is if Ajayi also goes off, and instead of a 35-31 game, it’s more like a 23-20 game and we’re in it. Pittsburgh has a lot of other guys that can make plays, but ya know what, so do WE! We need to win the turnover battle to win this one. If we can make one of those big plays on defense, or ST’s, we can take this one. Win like we’ve been winning. Find a way.
Do we get in a scenario where Franks has to kick the GW FG for us? That could be terrifying, especially if we’re down, and not tied. We handled Antonio Brown pretty good the first game, so you know he’s going to want to make things different for this game. We just need to stay close in this game, and we can win it. We can’t fall behind, or I think we’re doomed, because that effectively takes Ajayi out of the equation. It’s looking moore and moore that Moore will be the QB. Our O-line has protected Moore very well. He hasn’t been sacked in the 3 games he’s played against the NY Jets, the Buffalo Bills and the NE Patriots. That’s impressive. There’s really not one guy on the Steelers defense we have to worry about. They have 38 sacks on defense, but the leader is LB Bud Dupree with 4.5. DE Stephon Tuitt is 2nd with 4. For perspective, the Dolphins only have 32 sacks, but the Dolphins sacks are more concentrated. Wake leads with 11.5, and then Branch has 5.5 and Suh has 5. The Steelers spread those sacks around, meaning, they can come from anywhere, and Gase will have to have his team prepared for pass rushers coming from anywhere. Luckily, Moore is a seasoned veteran, and should be able to recognize quickly enough and get the ball out.
As fas as game planning against the Steelers, being disciplined, and staying where you’re supposed to be is huge. Bell isn’t a violent runner, but if we shoot the wrong gap, and leave a hole, he’ll exploit that. Cut back runs will kill us, so if we stay in our lanes, and of course, make the tackles, we can contain Bell. Brown is different, because he’s most dangerous when Ben extends plays, because he works very intuitively with Ben, and will work his way open, and Ben has the arm to get it to him. The answer to that is not to allow Ben time to do that. If we can keep Ben in the pocket, and bring him down, Brown shouldn’t kill us, as long as our coverage is sound.
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from Piggy
Q – Oinks Human,
Why does mankind insist of giving the Dolphins a 1% chance to win the AFC? I admit I don’t believe we will go to the Super Bowl, but 1%?
Are we Dolfans being sensitive? Or is cheatriots love hitting some kind of extreme that we haven’t see before?
This seems to be very disrespectful. I tend to think some of the talking heads I hear have never watched a Dolphins game.
I think we win this Sunday and lose one of the next couple of games but that’s just Oinking between us.
Trotters and Squigglies,
The Pig With No Name
(An acoustic guitar playing is heard behind an angry pig)
I honestly think it’s Dolphins fans being too sensitive. We belong in the playoffs because we willed our way to winning 10 games. Some of them were uglier than ugly (Browns), and others were close (49ers), but it doesn’t matter, we won. Now that we’re here though, we’re subject to a lot more investigation, and when you look at this team as a whole, even with Tannehill and Byron Maxwell, it doesn’t measure up to the better teams in the AFC, such as New England and Kansas City.
If they gave us a 1% chance to beat Pittsburgh, I think we’d have a gripe. They’re talking about getting past NE and probably KC, which would be stunning. NE beat us twice, the 1st time with Garoppolo and Brissett, the 2nd time with Brady. In both games, we were blown out in the 1st half. NE lifted off the throttle a bit, and the end result was closer that it really was, but in the playoffs, there will be no lifting off the throttle. I’m not saying it will be a repeat of Jacksonville’s 62-7, but it may not be that far off. I could see us losing by more than 30 to NE in a playoff game in Foxboro.
Don’t get me wrong, I love our team, and I’m so thankful they gave us an extended season, and I truly believe that extended season can be extended even one more week after defeating the Steelers, but I think that’s likely where the Dolphins 2016 storybook season ends. I think it’s pretty realistic to say it’s a long, tough hard road for the 2016 Miami Dolphins. Going on the road, already missing many players and with a few that are playing banged up, to beat Pittsburgh at Heinz Filed, the Patriots at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, and if that’s not enough, to most likely beat the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in KC. If I were an oddsmaker, I’d put us at 5-10%, and that’s just because I’m a Dolphins fan. 🙂
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Finsmob Unleashed 
You guys talking about Lovie Smith? I had him on my list one of those dozens of times we where looking for a HC
Well if he is available then thats who it will be
VJ, not Smith
HELL YEAH!
27-24 after Pitt gets a Field Goal in OT
Dolphins drive the field and get a 26 yard TD to Damien Williams
Awesome nail biter but that would be friggin fun. LOL
Oooops, I think I told too much 🙂
LOL @ Howie 🙂
Steve
At least we don’t have the Steratore crew
Thank God
How many of you are going to be asking for Lotto numbers from him if that shit goes down like that.
I’ll be so happy I’ll forget all about it. Not kidding either
Dolphins hold Leveon Bell to 84 yards rushing, 30yards receiving, AB 98 yards recieving but not TDs, Jesse James scores Pittsburgh’s only TD, they get 3 field goals, and we win 21 – 16, Ajayi hey 141 yards rushing 2 TD,s and Moor throws one to Parker, who has 108 yards receiving.
has not hey
I’d be ecstatic with either of those things (Howie’s or D’s) coming true
3 key things for both MIA and PIT:
1. Limited TOs
2. Limited Penalties
3. Playmakers making big plays
The team that does this best wins. Not that we can’t possibly match up with the Steelers. That’s nonsense. Oh yeah Big Ben was hurt when we played them, yeah we’re the defense that hurt him. LOL
Here’s another point, don’t think we don’t have the playmaking ability to match the Steelers, we do, in all phases.
My keys are hold them to under 20 points…
To late
I already won the Lotto last night
Evening Update
First Ever Playoff Edition
DOLPHINS-STEELERS
Piggy 31-24 MIA
Son 18-16 MIA
Howie 27-24 MIA
Old 30-28 MIA
Prof 33-24 PIT
Herd 30-27 MIA
B’man 42-40 MIA
UK 20-17 MIA
MikeE 26-23 MIA
D says:
January 5, 2017 at 6:44 pm
Dolphins hold Leveon Bell to 84 yards rushing, 30yards receiving, AB 98 yards recieving but not TDs, Jesse James scores Pittsburgh’s only TD, they get 3 field goals, and we win 21 – 16, Ajayi hey 141 yards rushing 2 TD,s and Moor throws one to Parker, who has 108 yards receiving.
GO DOLPHINS!!!
stang 24 – 20 MIA
“The type of force he is, the dominant presence, he’s a once in a lifetime player. The man is sure of himself. He handles business to the highest level. You have to respect that. Everybody has a misconception that he’s a bad person. He’s a good person. We are grown men. We don’t gotta say hello to each other every day.”
— Albert on Suh
Suh can get nasty, I’ve seen him do it. But he also throws guards back 3 yards deep into the backfield. He is an every 25 year type player. He’s a rare breed. He’s a modern day Hercules. It’s up to the team to build a defense around him. He is always a terror, make his time here worthwhile.
So far he’s signed in 2015 thru 2016. We’re in the playoffs. Let’s build on that. 🙂
Suh is definitely a force of nature. And what really impresses me is how many snaps he plays……hes the energizer bunny in a most big body form.
Tim Knight says:
January 5, 2017 at 7:04 pm
3 key things for both MIA and PIT:
1. Score more points then the other team
2. Don’t let them score more then you
3. See 1 and 2
Philoshoical FFR on the move. LOL
81Howie says:
January 5, 2017 at 6:18 pm (Edit)
HELL YEAH!
27-24 after Pitt gets a Field Goal in OT
Dolphins drive the field and get a 26 yard TD to Damien Williams
You left out the part where I go crazy in the stands with excitement! 🙂
Great to see Randy, FFR, & Prof Lou are so excited about this team.
Hey, we’re in the Playoffs….everybody’s 0-0! Have fun. Enjoy.
Go Phins!
Herd
Very, very cool that you’re going to the game! Represent girl! GO DOLPHINS!!!
I hope she goes topless to distract Big Ben.
C’mon Herd, take one, err two for the team! 😉
Herd — absolutely awesome you will be there. Hope you rub it in their faces after it as all over.
Tim Knight says:
January 5, 2017 at 9:37 pm
Philoshoical FFR on the move. LOL
i prefer to be know as philisherogal ffr
getterdone says:
January 5, 2017 at 10:02 pm
Great to see Randy, FFR, & Prof Lou are so excited about this team.
what is this bs putting me in with randy and lou. i dont live in a bucket or hate the qb.
and for the record, i dont hate they are in the playoffs, not expecting much but it makes all you guys happy and for that it feels good.
LMAO, I figured you’d get a kick out of being with the “special” guys on the blog. 😉
getter,
this blog is nothing but “special” guys. i can go for a hand, or a pig or a bucket dweller. i am easy that way.
Olivier Vernon played 1040 defensive snaps, 63 tkls, 8.5 sacks, 1 ff. Branch 774 snaps, 49tkls, 5.5 sacks, 2 ff.
OV had 37 hurries and Branch had 20.
Mike E. says:
January 5, 2017 at 10:04 pm (Edit)
Herd
Very, very cool that you’re going to the game! Represent girl! GO DOLPHINS!!!
What it’s going to be is very very COLD! My sister and I are going, should be fun. She’s all excited about it, in fact I’d say she has talked me into going, saying we aren’t getting any younger and all that, it will be an experience. She’s gone shopping and got her some Dolphins gear to wear. lol
GO DOLPHINS!!!
Morning Update
First Ever Playoff Edition
DOLPHINS-STEELERS
Piggy 31-24 MIA
Son 18-16 MIA
Howie 27-24 MIA
Old 30-28 MIA
Prof 33-24 PIT
Herd 30-27 MIA
B’man 42-40 MIA
UK 20-17 MIA
MikeE 26-23 MIA
Stang 24-20 MIA
“D” 21-16 MIA
GO DOLPHINS!
With the HEART not the head!
21-17
If we keep them under 20 we have a chance!
herdfan says:
January 5, 2017 at 11:18 pm
Mike E. says:
January 5, 2017 at 10:04 pm (Edit)
Herd
Very, very cool that you’re going to the game! Represent girl! GO DOLPHINS!!!
What it’s going to be is very very COLD! My sister and I are going, should be fun. She’s all excited about it, in fact I’d say she has talked me into going, saying we aren’t getting any younger and all that, it will be an experience. She’s gone shopping and got her some Dolphins gear to wear. lol
GO DOLPHINS!!!
Herd,
2 things
Looks like you won’t be doing laundry during the game then?
Dress warm…hopefully you have a warm cap to wear. Enjoy the game !
First snow of the winter here in NJ, if you can call it that. Maybe an inch of snow, if that. There’s more salt on the roads than salt.
Herd
Does your sister live near you? Closer to Pittsburgh? That’s going to be a great experience for you gals, I hope the Dolphins make you proud!
No. She’s about 1 1/2 hrs south from me. She lives across the street from our mom.
So does that mean she’s driving?
She’ll drive to my house. I’ll probably drive or rather well take my car. We’re going to P’burg tomorrow afternoon. Wooohoooo!!!!
Go Dolphins! ❄️🐬🏈
She’ll drive to my house. I’ll probably drive or rather well take my car. We’re going to P’burg tomorrow afternoon. Wooohoooo!!!!
Go Dolphins! ❄️🐬🏈
Don’t let anyone kid you that Pittsburgh has the “weather edge” in this game. When it’s 17 degrees outside neither team enjoys playing in that type of weather.
^ agree, and we’re just as equipped to play in that weather as they are.
Good luck Herd!
I’ll I get to do is wonder what if they were in Houston! 😦
How did that post twice?
You’d have to ask Twice, You’d have to ask Twice. lol
Herd
Any shot you will be visible during the game? Where are you sitting?
I have no idea. She’s in charge of getting our tickets. This all got started because someone had some tickets they wanted to get rid of. Never got an answer but we kind of talked ourselves into going. Then I hear this morning that they didn’t want me using the tickets because I’m for the Dolphins. It’s year end closing at work so I don’t have time to do any of our arrangements.
LOL! As silly as it sounds, I kind of understand that. Steelers fans are pretty hardcore, especially the ones that live there and go to the games.
No kidding. A friend of mine from Marshall lives in Pittsburgh, she knows both me and my sister. We are staying at a hotel. She offered even though I’m the ‘enemy’ this weekend.
There’s an article on ESPN that talks about the referee that’s doing our game. It says his crew called the second least PI/D holding in the league this year, and that’s good info for Pitt and Miami to have, but then says the crews are split up into all star crews.
If the guys that didn’t call many D penalties won’t be doing our game, why is this good info to have? Am I missing something or is this a retarded article?
ESPN is blocked at work, but it sounds like it’s contradicting itself
Funny
I didn’t read it
But it just sounds like ESPN is feeding irrelevant information to the audience
“Hey we know who the least penalized ref is and it doesn’t matter for the Mia/Pitt game – but aren’t you impressed that we know who it is?”
Joe Schad @schadjoe 6m
6 minutes ago
Jay Ajayi wins the official Miami Dolphins Dan Marino Team MVP Award #MiamiDolphins
I bet he wins an Oinkee too
Thoughts on Gase
“He changed my thoughts on head coaches, for sure. I never had a head coach like he is. He’s not that much older than all of us. It’s a different aspect. At Oklahoma, [Bob] Stoops was a really good coach, but I think the age – Gase just understands us.”
— Jordan Phillips
“Awesome.”
— Kraig Urbik
“Very in tune with the players. It’s something you appreciate, especially me, who’s been in the league a few years.”
— Earl Mitchell
“He’s definitely a players’ coach. I think everyone here would run through a wall for him. He made sure everyone would do it his way. He challenged me. We responded.”
— Ja’Wuan James
Full (and pretty good) article: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/how-a-thirty-something-coach-turned-around-the-miami-dolphins-080750478.html
Good for Ajayi – He definitely deserved it. I want him to win MVP this week too
Writing could be on the wall as far as what we might do if VJ leaves. Check this out.
http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/18416355/joe-vitt-amid-sweeping-changes-new-orleans-saints-coaching-staff
Vitt is Gase’s father in law, and former LB coach of the Saints. If VJ leaves, Burkes could get the promotion to DC and then Vit be brought in to fill the LB coaching vacancy. Would be a guy Gase really know and probably would feel comfortable with bringing to this team in that capacity.
I dont do game score predictions, because i generally feel it will jinx the team, so that really wasnt a prediction so much as i was goofing around with a silly level of details in my prediction. Im cool with keeping it however, lol.
There is no way to make your body accept 17 degrees better than another person, you can however condition yourself mentally to accept it and put it out of your mind, so it can help if your practice in to to play in it. I think, however, its just about focus and if you have come to do a job and put your best on the field, it pretty much leaves your mind after the first few hits, kinda like the butterflies in your stomach sensation..
We all probably played in conditions like that or worse just for the hell of it, and we’re still here. Once they get in a bunch of plays, they get warmed up, it’s a matter of staying warm in between the times you’re not on the field.
“There is no way to make your body accept 17 degrees better than another person”
D — went to college on the VA/Mass border at elevation. We would go like six weeks during the winter without a single moment above freezing. Now live in Sunny FL.
It may be psychological, but I am convinced that your body adjusts to whatever temperature you live in. When I go up North feel cold in weather that before would have laughed at.
“Hey we know who the least penalized ref is and it doesn’t matter for the Mia/Pitt game – but aren’t you impressed that we know who it is?” LMAO!!!!
Herd, that’s awesome that you’re going to the game.
I would hope that Gase is above Nepotism and wants the best coaching staff possible.
On a different note. Who do you guys realistically think are in the SB this year? Anyone thinks Dallas chokes or do they make it all the way?
If they had to travel to GB, I could see them losing, but I don’t think they’ll lose in their house
I think any of the NFC teams in the playoffs could knock off Dallas except for maybe Detroit.
SB
Did you not know what the N in NFL stands for? I’ll give you a hint, it starts with an N, there’s an epotis in the middle, and it ends with an M
F must stand for fools then
There really is a lot of nepotism and networking, just like any other business. That being said, it really depends on who’s pulling the strings. If Gase is allowed to choose as he pleases, (And he SHOULD), then I think he will take the coach that bet fits his vision of what he wants here.
Mike, Gase has full control over who he hires as assistant coaches. Any HC that isn’t allowed to do that is a puppet coach.
So is Chris Grier a puppet GM?
No why?
Tim
I think he is, going by your standards. I think Mr.T has control over everything. I know you don’t, and there’s no proof either way, so no point belaboring the issue.
All I go by is what TBaum and Gase have said. Grier ran the draft, not TBaum. Armando recently said Gase has full control over the football team and that TBaum has done a great job letting Grier and Gase do their jobs. I think TBaum only gets involved in big franchise investments.
But who has final say on personnel isn’t the same as a GM picking asst. coaches for the HC. That’s a bad practice.
I agree with that, and I do think Gase is free to choose as he sees fit, I just don’t believe TBomb is hands off the personnel, both in the draft and in FA.
I didn’t say hands off, but if he wanted to be the main personnel man why hire a GM? He’s involved in overseeing so much that goes on in the building that he would never have the time to do the personnel leg work that a guy like Grier does. That’s Grier’s main job, to find the personnel Gase is looking for. Gase has full control over the 53 man roster and who’s on the field. That has been confirmed.
Fuck!!!
What happened????
My guess is he’s referring to the shootings at Ft. Lauderdale airport.
I wonder if the team flew out yet?
Im sure they fly out of FLL being its just a few miles east of HQ’
They wont be getting out anytime this afternoon if not
Tim,
how do you feel about Mike Tomlin then?
What do you mean?
Tim
I think he hired Grier for the purpose of ambiguity. No one person gets the credit, or takes the blame
Maybe. The one thing I like is that all reports seem to suggest all three work really well together and that’s what’s most important. Being on the same page. No ego driven in-house fighting. They all seek the same common goal, winning!
I didn’t know about the FLL shooting. Was it a terrorist attack?
Not sure. It’s kind of an ongoing investigation. I think they caught the shooter though.
“Nine people are in hospital and the alleged gunman is in custody after a shooting at Fort Lauderdale airport in the Terminal 2 baggage claim area”
Exactly where we picked up our bags on Tuesday…..sorta makes stuff hit home.
Sounds like it just happened the minute I got home and sat down to eat my lunch
Multiple Dead on CNN
Ugh!
Howie — planes are taking off from the airport though. So as to your worry about the Phins, they should get off OK even if there may be delayed.
Ross will get the team to the game. 🙂
Fly them two-by-two in his helicopter? lol
LOL, I think it holds 6.
Last name of the guy is Santiago, Sounds like this ain’t a ISIS thing, more a disturbed shooter one. Not that will help the families.
Guessing when we learn about him answer will be psychotic/postal…….
You guys keep telling yourselves that Pitt doesn’t have the advantage in the cold weather, if it makes you feel better, just like Pitt fans would do playing in Miami in Sept.
We beat them in the snow a couple of years ago.
I didn’t say we couldn’t win.
I know, just saying.
Not only does it make me feel better, it’s true
When a team is at home and is favored by 3 it’s generally believed the teams are equal and 3 pts go to the home team. What they mean is the officiating crew calls the game in a way that’s worth 3 pts.
Pitt at home gets 3 pts, it being a playoff game the crew will give them another 3, cold weather give them 2 more, RT out another 2 and there’s the spread😉
I’m so nervous about this game, especially with our injury hobbled defense. I have to go 27-17 Pitt. I honestly don’t expect much from us. I’m happy we made the playoffs, but I’m not getting my hopes up. 2008 still leaves a sour taste in my mouth and again we’re playing an AFC North team in cold weather. Odds are against us.
Tough game no doubt.
Seems some one who has relevant experience agrees with steveccnv….including on the heat advantage.
————————
“My first year, I hated it. But after you’ve been here a few years, you start to adjust to it.
Heck yeah, those guys from South Beach coming up — make it 1 degree out there. It felt like it was 100-something degrees when we went down there. They didn’t lighten up the temperature when we were there.”
— Steelers tackle Marcus Gilbert, a Fort Lauderdale native who played at the University of Florida.
Ahhh, just put on your UnderArmour, and you’re golden! In the heat, it’s not like you can take stuff off. It’s different! 🙂
I wore UnderArmour to the Giants/Eagles playoff game a few years back and after throwing the football around in the parking lot we were peeling clothes off. It was about 19 degrees. But it was a good thing I was dressed properly because as the game went on it was friggin cold. LOL
No doubt, but then again, you were just sitting there, these guys are running all up and down the field.
Yeah, but when that humidity hits you you’re done.
Those new fabrics are incredible for sure. Don’t either cover the hands though or make the ball feel softer though.
Armando Salguero @ArmandoSalguero 2h2 hours ago
Obviously with Jason Jones cut now Mario Williams will play Sunday against Pittsburgh.
Did not see this coming. I wonder why we cut Jones?
WTF!! Where did that come from? What happened?
I just read he wasn’t going to be active anyway, and maybe they bring up an extra CB or LB. Maybe Lamin Barrow. They call me Lamin Barrow, quite right!
Could be no Bene too
I was exactly saying it would be purely a nepotism hire, but if we need a lb coach, and Gase feels he is decent, and knowing him helps the decision that he is as good a replacement as any other, all things being equal, vitt woukd have the inside track. When it comes to position coaches you can either go with a assistant you promote to coach, or you get an available position coaches let go by another team. Vitt has been a well respected coach, held a job with the saints for over 10 years, and served as the assistant HC during that time on top of LB coach. He also was the guy tgey named as interm HC while Payton was on suspension. I think he has tge qualifications so wasn’t really see as just a nepotism hire
Wasn’t
Vitt was fired along with a bunch of other coaches. Payton is shaking things up. Sometimes a HC has to do that.
Mike, that was what I was saying, being active we were fine. Sitting in seats as it got later was cold but I dressed for it. Keep your ass, head, hands and feet warm and you can deal with it. LOL
LOL – Yup
Yeah I just saw it on my feed too. They said it was kind of a curtsey cut so he could clear waivers and catch on With another playoff team. I’m sure there is more to it but that’s what was reported
Lamin Barrow was a guy I had wanted us to draft a couple years back. On of those athletic sideline to sideline guys who are a little undersized, though I think he was moderately sized not 220s that this recent crop has been
I just mentioned to M13 about Barrow who he was also high on. I did not know we had signed him to the PS until the other day.
He’s already bounced around a bit, what is keeping him back as a former 2014 5th rd pick?
Mike E is just mad about Sapphron.
^saffron *sheesh*
🙂
LOL
Stanger glad ya are safe you were who I first thought of..
Thanks Toba…but three days safe even if the same place.
Weird thing coming out now is that the dude legally brought the high mag rifle on the flight as luggage with him and then collected his bag and came out of a bathroom shooting somehow. Do they actually let folks collect their rifle and their ammo and then be armed and ready at baggage claim?
If that’s legal things will change.
Guess another option is he had the ammo parked in a car and then came back in with it to collect the firearm. But for sure something will change after this. They don’t even let you carry water through security.
Current TSA rules.
“You may transport unloaded firearms in a locked hard-sided container as checked baggage only. Declare the firearm and/or ammunition to the airline when checking your bag at the ticket counter. The container must completely secure the firearm from being accessed.”
I just think he hasn’t hit the right system with the right opportunity yet TBH Tim. I don’t know I’ll know for sure until we see him play a little with us. Maybe he makes it to PS next year. Our system should be a pretty decent one. I do know there were a few scouts that felt he was pretty raw and could have used going back for his senior year at LSU, so it also may be just a case if being behind the development curve and needing the extra years to catch up, and maybe he us just always finding himself behind the next group or talent
Let me say this do you who think the Steelers have a chance
GO DOLPHINS!
Is that Rex nude? LOL
stangerx says:
January 5, 2017 at 9:17 pm
Suh is definitely a force of nature. And what really impresses me is how many snaps he plays……hes the energizer bunny in a most big body form.
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That off-sides play….lol i mean sure it was a penalty but Jesus, that’s some seriously powerful explosion off the line there. They might have gotten 5 yards on us, but that shit had to set into that guards head. Getting bowled over like that makes you think hard about what every friggin snap is going to be like for you, all game long.
Also Stanger, when you were talking about the cold, as an advantage, i was pretty much saying that in my post, i just dont think its a physical advantage. Human body adjusts overtime to ertain sustained conditions like the thin air in Denver for example, yeah over the course of the season that becomes more and more of an advantage, because more and more they are acclimated to it, and others aret, but cold weather, especially extreme cold, you would almost have to stay in those conditions 24-7 to get any physical benefit from it. They go back into warm conditions, etc, so the body adjusts.
The mental aspect of playing in the cold and expecting hits to feel a certain way, or your body to feel a certain way does ive you an advantage simply because you dont lose focus as easy as a person who may be experiencing on a rare occasion. Most our guys though, this isnt their first rodeo in cold weather and they can be prepared to not let those conditions affect their focus just by coaches telling them to prepare and put it out of their mind, focus on the play at hand, then the next one and next one, etc. So its kinda true from both perspectives, it CAN give them an advantage, but only if we arent there prepared to play our best, but it can still affect those on the other team if they are the type to let themselves be distracted.
We beat them in snow in the year of the “ass fisting” incident. Wonder if Starks ever recovered or if they might be using him as the poster child for the negative effects of prison rape. Take a bad situation and make it into a positive one ya know……
Why do any of us care what the national media or anyone else thinks about the Dolphins? It was a great regular season and I loved watching my team compete every week and win some big games to lock up a playoff spot. Been a long time. Future looks brighter than it did a year ago and that’s all I can ask.
I kind of like our chances tomorrow as well. I feel like there’s a decent chance we could put up 24-31 points. No doubt our defense will give up major yards, but if we can sneak a few turnovers in there I’m confident Moore, Ajayi, and co. can put up enough points to win the game. I’ve got a decent amount of money on the Fins +10. Feel great about that bet.
Good luck this weekend guys!
I’m with ya drg!
Never really have cared much about their comments or evaluations, as a fan you know what to feel and what i feel best about isnt being in the playoffs, but that i dont think we snuck in. I really feel like every bit of this is deserved/earned. I do feel we are potentially one of the weaker teams (though i do feel we are better overall than Houston and Oakland), but i also dont think we are an easy out. Playing our best, we are capable of beating any of those other teams, we cant have any mistakes, so we arent quite to the point to where we would be the odds on favorite, capable of mistake but recovering from them easy enough. We require our best to be competitive, and im quite ok with that. You dont create a dynasty overnight.
One of the worst feelings i even learn was the first time i got my finger smashed between two face masks in really cold weather. Hands were numb from the cold so bad i didnt really feel it at first but it slowly started to ache and by time it hit its peak, the pain was incredible and just lingered.
Tim Knight says:
January 6, 2017 at 5:15 pm
Is that Rex nude? LOL
————————————–
Well if it wasn’t he should sue for using his likeness.
Evening Update
First Ever Playoff Edition
DOLPHINS-STEELERS
Piggy 31-24 MIA
Son 18-16 MIA
Howie 27-24 MIA
Old 30-28 MIA
Prof 33-24 PIT
Herd 30-27 MIA
B’man 42-40 MIA
UK 20-17 MIA
MikeE 26-23 MIA
Stang 24-20 MIA
“D” 21-16 MIA
Wyo 21-17 MIA
Vinny 27-17 PIT
GO DOLPHINS!
I guess there is peace in just being so bad that you have said fuck it many many games ago, but that team is so incredibly serene despite how amazingly awful they have looked that its odd. I mean i think most outside the organization and fan base see dumpster fire but within it, it doesn’t seem so gloomy.
D, good summary of where the team is. Win or lose, I’ll be happy with this season. Pressure is on to build on this and be a better team next year.
Tim, enjoy the game, my friend! Everyone on this board more than deserves a little success finally.
You too, bro! This is suppose to be fun. 🙂
I was listening to WFAN in NY, Mike Francesa is taking the Steelers -10, he thinks Dolphins keep it close in the 1st half, but Steelers run away in the 2nd, and win by 17+
I think the line is right at ten. But this team is screwy…..could be real close or a blow out. And guessing those are the only two options.
In that picture of Rexy, does he have a hernia, or is that his tail?
“Also Stanger, when you were talking about the cold, as an advantage, i was pretty much saying that in my post, i just dont think its a physical advantage. Human body adjusts overtime to ertain sustained conditions like the thin air in Denver for example, yeah over the course of the season that becomes more and more of an advantage, because more and more they are acclimated to it, and others aret, but cold weather, especially extreme cold, you would almost have to stay in those conditions 24-7 to get any physical benefit from it. They go back into warm conditions, etc, so the body adjusts.”
——————–
D — maybe I am just getting old and that comes with it, but pretty sure when they talk about the “thinning of the blood” it not just psychological. And that comes from a guy who used to play rugby in the show in shorts and now gets a freezing chill when he gets off a plane and it is in the high-fifties.
Mike, what Francesa said could happen if we stall on O and the D can’t stop anything. I guess anything is possible. But I can also see a very pumped up Phins team that takes it to the Steelers and catches them on their heels again. Ajayi is the key to me. If we get him going we win, if we don’t, eeehhhhh……
You have to look at their D and what Ajayi did to them last time. Yes i think they will scheme to stop he more so than last time, because that was his first break out game, and i think it caught them a little off guard. I also think their D isnt all that and despite adjustments to stop him, he rolled even harder against them the second half. That said, the strength of Matt Moore is play action pass, which is set up by the running game. If we can just come out and run the ball and be effective doing it, i think this game could really swing the other way and blow out could be on our side.
Leveon Bell, Big Rape, and AB on the bench for chunks of time is how we want this game and how we win this game.
They have some glaring vulnerabilities, as do we. Game goes to whomever exploits the others best. Wouldnt hurt to get a little help from ST’s either.
Stanger, it got me curious so i looked it up. The article i read said habituation is what happens when a person is exposed regularly and for extended periods of time to weather conditions which can cause changes to a persons body to compensate for that. It said one of the most likely benefits from it is increased blood flow to the skin keeping it warmer, and helping with some of the feelings of numbness you get sometimes when skin is exposed to cold directly.
They said the primary concern with cold is chilling of the body muscles making them less effective which has been measured and confirmed to be an actual condition of cold weather exposure to athletes. They said that no research has show it effects the motor skills of a player. They also said that this effect, however did not really apply to players who are actively moving around on the field, and that it would mostly affect a player that did not keep themselves warm while on the sidelines, and the effects would leave them not too long after they went back in and became active again.
In summary of the article it said it might provide “some” physical advantages, but it would take quite a bit to build up to those advantages and they wouldnt be significant in respect to a players ability to perform in a football game. They did say that the mental aspect of it was more of an effect, just the preparedness to face and play in those conditions, was the biggest advantage it gave them.
One thing i did find interesting was that they said they felt the style of play contributed more to the advantages in cold weather than anything, mental or physical (because they could be prepared for both of those if conditioned correctly. It said that just the nature of the cold weather and how it affect passing and catching the ball, cold weather affected pass oriented teams more than running teams, in what they believed to be a more measurable factor than anything else, kind like it does in rainy conditions, etc, of which it effects both teams in the same way.
Also looked up the thinning of blood due to climate and it said that is not the case, altitude can affect the thickness of the blood but more so because it makes the body produce more red blood cells to compensate for the lesser oxygen that is available to be carried through the body in the case of higher altitudes and lower altitudes the opposite.
Ok, someone said it, it must be true😉 I don’t need a study to know our players will have a disadvantage on Sunday. I’ve lived in both cold and warm climates, so i know the difference. How many studies have we seen where 2 different groups conclude completely different results? People believe what they want to.
Now take man affected global warming, scientist report that it’s true, so they’ll continue to get federally funded. On the side they’ll tell you there’s no proof, made up by the govt to destroy US businesses.
Sooo, if I wear everything that I’ve dug out to take to keep me warm for the game I’m going to be like Ralphie in a Christmas Story…unable to bend my arms or legs! lol
If true we need pictures of this…. Also wouldnt hurt if you had someone record you walking up and down the stairs there, because if you get to rollin’s, thats 10 grand once you submit it to AFV. 🙂
Dolphins waived DE Jason Jones.
The move is surprising two days ahead of Miami’s Wild Card trip to Pittsburgh. A big part of the Fins’ defensive line rotation, Jones posted 3.5 sacks across 14 appearances and wasn’t playing noticeably poorly. The Miami Herald reported Jones requested his release after the Dolphins’ coaching staff informed him he would not be active for Saturday’s playoff game.
Its so he could clear waivers and be picked up by another team that might want him for the playoffs.
HUH? Why do that? smh
Great to see Tanny got in a limited practice….maybe just maybe he’ll get to face NE. 🙂
How’s it going GDP? Excited about about the game Sunday? Long time coming, huh?
Hey Mike, I’m LUVIN IT!
But man O man, so wish we were a little more healthy and playing a lil better on D, especially run D!
But, everybody’s 0-0 now. Rise Up & Claim what’s yours!
Yeah, you don’t get to pick the way you get in, you just gotta roll with what ya got! Either way, it’s a great experience for the team.
Where were you praying for a Dolphins victory? Is it a sacred Flying Pig temple?
Sooo, I’m getting my gear together for the game and I’m thinking…aside from the injuries etc we have, the weather is mentioned as a factor in this game. Yeah, both teams have to play in it. But I’m going with this thought, Pittsburgh couldn’t beat us in warm weather, why does everyone assume they are going to do it in cold weather?
They’re playing much better football the last few games. We played that game with Reshad Jones and Isa Abdul-Quddus, and both of them are out. We had the home field advantage, and now they do. None of this means they’re going to beat us, but are some of the reasons why a lot of people are taking the Steelers.
I listen to far too much sports radio, and whether it’s on NFL radio, or WFAN in NY, there’s not a host to be found that thinks the Dolphins can hang in this game. It will be fun to see them all do 180’s when we WIN!
BTW – Reshad and Isa BOTH had INT’s in that game. 😦
https://twitter.com/MDCheer/status/817447672109998092
Etta is just betta, simple as that
Herd
Are you going there today, or are you leaving early tomorrow?
I thought she said yesterday that she was going there today.
Thanks, I guess I missed that
https://twitter.com/MDCheer/status/817727625133260801
It’s looking a little like Wisconsin outside right now, it’s snowing again, except it’s about 30 degrees warmer here at 23 degrees.
Yeah, well, I am in Kentucky for work. It is like 20 degrees here.
But, I cant complain as it is -2 right now at home..LOL
I went skiing yesterday. When I was in the parking lot of the ski area my car said -14 🙂
Brutal.
I went to Graceland once. When I got you my car in the parking lot, it said it was 110.
Line is Pitt 11 now. No one thinks we can win this game and are going with a blow out.
Prove all of them wrong phins!
Mike E.
Bookman is correct. We are going today. Probably leaving 12:30 ish. I want to get there in time to watch some of the other games. Relax. Have some drinks. Trash talk with the Steeler fans. Lol
nice!. Go phins!
Be careful, and enjoy the game! Have a great time!
Boulder
It’s pretty odd man. I haven’t seen one pundit pick the Dolphins yet. I think a lot of it is this feeling that the Steelers are SB contenders, and one of the few teams that could beat NE. I think the other part of it is that besides Ajayi, they really don’t see a lot to like about our team.
Yea, I agree. But I think this is good for the phins. maybe the steelers drink their own koolaid and take us lightly. When everyone thinks you;re gonna win big its gonna get to your head. I also think the dis respect puts a chip on the phins shoulder to prove everyone wrong. I mean we already beat this team once. If this was the pats I’d say we have no shot, but against the steelers, I’m not sure we get blown out. I bet it’ll be a close game.
Dak Prescott holds the ball nearly an avg of 3 seconds per pass attempt. But, his offensive line has little to do with his success. Give pretty much any qb that much time and they will be successful. ZERO pressure.
I agree giving QB time makes any QB better, but didn’t the cowboys have this same line last year but didn’t do shit when romo went down?
I think the running game is also a big factor when it comes to the cowboys this year.
Most definitely. But the Cowboys offensive line has been a huge factor in it’s success in recent years. Not just this year. When Murray was running the ball he had the same success. Wasn’t being touched until he was five yds after the l.o.s.
and don’t forget, it’s the same line that helped them go 12-4 the year before. Also don’t forget that they lost both Romo and Bryant in wk 2.
Tom Brady probably holds it for less than 2.
Looks like Jelani Jenkins is going to play. If he’s really healthy, he can help us.
he needs to cover green.
I don’t think he’s playing. My Steelers bud says he’s OUT. He’s still in concussion protocol, so it does seem unlikely he will play
Boulder
Green is listed as QUESTIONABLE, so I guess he may play if he clears the concussion protocol. He hasn’t practiced at all though.
From what I heard he cleared cp and practiced all week. He’s playing.
From what I heard he has not practiced and is not playing
Q of the day……is Boulder or Ken’s hearing better?
if Green plays, we just need to thump him once, and that will be that
I hear he may go the way of Jordan Cameron
“The Miami Dolphin’s have played in some cold game in their history but Sunday’s playoff game in Pittsburgh could come close to breaking the record.
While the record is likely safe, a 10* game in Kansas City in 2008, Sunday’s weather report calls for temperatures in the mid-teens at kick off. If that holds true, it would be the third coldest game on record for the Dolphins.
Miami has played in 10 and 14 degree weather previously. With the 14* day coming in New England way back in 1977. The next coldest game was in 1982 against the Green Bay Packers when temperatures plunged to 22…..”
Is Pittsburgh suppose to be getting snow? It’s snowing in NJ from south LBI to north by me right now.