OK, so here we are, the most important game of the 2017 season to date. Some, not all of the starters will be playing not only the entire 1st half of this game, but some will play into the 3rd quarter as well. Game 3 of the preseason is the so called Dress Rehearsal, and this will give the coaches a much better idea how the starters look, and where the team is at.
This game will not include heavy duty strategizing, at least not as far as the game plan is concerned. Neither team is going to show their true personalities, and will follow a basic vanilla gameplan. It’s all about execution. Who’s doing things right, who isn’t, and most likely, guys that aren’t doing it right will be executed. Well, not really, but they might be cut with a poor showing.
QB Jay Cutler had an excellent practice yesterday with the Eagles, and hopefully, set the tone for tomorrow’s game. It would be nice to see Cutler excel tomorrow, I think that could really boost not only his confidence, but also his teammates. For Cutler to look good, he’s going to need help from that shaky O-line. I believe OG/C Kraig Urbik is injured and out for tomorrow’s game, so that means OT/OG Jesse Davis will probably play LG, and Jake Brendel will probably play C, with Jermon Bushrod playing RG, and of course, the bookends will be LT Laremy Tunsil and RT Ja’Wuan James. We need this unit to look solid, to protect Cutler, and to give the RB’s running lanes.
On the defensive side, it’s a whole different story. We so desperately need for everyone to stay healthy. Newly acquired MLB Rey Maualuga will not be playing, but the Dolphins would really like to see some guys step up. The CB battle should be fierce, even with the season ending injury to CB Tony Lippett, we still have good talent there. Maxwell, Howard, Verner, Tankersley, McCain, Pitts, Aikens and Thomas give the Dolphins pretty good depth.
At LB, will Mike Hull be able to make the right calls, and even more importantly, not get washed out and make tackles? I’m not worried about Timmons and Alonso, but it would be nice for Hull to be stout against the run, even though we now have Maulauga. I’d also love to Godchaux continue to impress, and push Jordan Phillips back into the rotation. Phillips looks hungry all the time, but is he hungry to keep his starting spot? We’ll see tomorrow. I like what we have on the D-line, with our additions of DE William Hayes, and of course Charles Harris. I think Harris will just keep getting better and better as the year goes on, as they limit his snaps early on, and then slowly increase his workload. He’s mostly going to be a pass rush specialist this season, and with the current depth, that’s perfect.
I want to see the run game clicking, I want see Cutler upright and throwing accurate passes for scores, and I want to see this defense look tough. Our defense last year was kind, I want to see some mean. Don’t give opposing RB’s second chances, and sometimes 3rd chances, make the tackle! I want God-show to be all up in the backfield of the Eagles, disrupting everything. I want Hull stopping RB’s dead! I want Howard, Maxwell and All-Terrain shutting things down. Hey, it’s only preseason, but like a crystal ball, it’ll show you some things to come. I think we’ll have a better idea of what our team really is, and I hope for all of our sakes, it’s not like the oddsmakers say, that we’re a 7 win team.
GO DOLPHINS! Stay healthy!
Finsmob Unleashed 
“It’s not about the targets or who gets them and where they get them. It’s about making the plays when it comes to you.”
That’s why Landry isn’t getting traded. Team player. All the moneyball, wanna be GM’s should stick to baseball.
I believe Phillips might have a good year, Piggy.
Well he was on track
And Gase does play these kind of head games with players
He has the talent
I love that he is giving or helping Godauxx on the sidelines with tips. Suh took Philips under his wings.
Wow, Cleveland cuts CB Joe Haden. We could use him, but I don’t think we pick him up. I think Maxwell will come around.
I can hear Bellichick rushing to the phone trying to sell the NE chances of being a SB champion if he signs with NE
He was on the books for $11.1 million and $4 mil of that was guaranteed money. He’s been injured last couple years but he sure was special before that.
Maxwell had some low points early last season and then came on strong
I expect some low points again but that is part of the position he plays
I don’t think we need CBs, but maybe after he Lippett injury some vet depth would help
Haden would really have to take nothing and really want to play in Miami
Stanger
He won’t cost that much to whoever picks him up. I don’t think it will be us, because I think Maxwell will straighten himself out, just like he did last season. He was very good for us once he got on track.
Doubt it for us, but he’s only 28. He’ll sign a one-year show-me concentrating more on the team than the money. Heck — that $4 mil check is on it’s way from the Brown’s anyway.
We don’t have much cap room. As enticing as Haden may be, the last thing we need to do is pick up a veteran CB whose play has declined the past two years, in the hopes that he can regain his pro bowl form.
I think his point was that he COULD be a 3 down LB if needed. No one keeps all three LB’s on the field anymore in passing situations, hence the increased value in nickel CB’s in today’s NFL.
Forgot this:
pheloniusphish says:
August 30, 2017 at 7:48 am
“Consider me as THRILLED that we had THREE 3-down LBs until Raekwon went out for the year.”
McMillan was not going to be 3 down LB. Gase said he was only going to play about 30% of thee defensive snaps. Would have come out when the nickel went in.
Ivwbalways thought highly of Haden
But I don’t know what’s left
I think the Browns still take that cap hit but I guess they can afford it given how young they are
I made up a word
Weeeeeeee
I think Haden is you make room for on your salary cap. He is better than anyone we have on our roster
He WAS better and COULD BE better Ken. His last few years have not been good due to inconsistent play/injuries.
Yeah I think that is “great” past tense if you look at the last couple of seasons
But at the same time, it’s the Browns and they’ve been in this building mode that makes a vet expendable
He may still be that level or a little less so maybe…
He is still better than anyone we have and he is hitting his prime years now
I don’t know that he is Ken
I have no idea what he has left
Sometimes it’s a sharp decline
Howard has good upside but he is young and largely unproven. Lippett is done for the year. Maxwell is grossly inconsistent. The rest of our guys and unproven. To me Haden is an instant upgrade for a unit that has struggled mightily
bellichick is probably selling him on super bowl and championship probabilities with NE plus he is probably selling him on not many nfl players won college championships along with NFL championship
Armando SalgueroVerified account @ArmandoSalguero 3m3 minutes ago
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New. Miami Dolphins interested in signing CB Joe Haden
http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/armando-salguero/article170178447.html
Oh well…in that case I’m on board…lol
Adam SchefterVerified account @AdamSchefter 9s9 seconds ago
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Steelers are the favorite to land former Browns CB Joe Haden.
Figured that. They need a vet in there with hat secondary, and they one of the top three teams in the AFC not named the Patriots.
are one of.
There were also reports about a month ago that they were kicking the tires on a trade for Trumaine Johnson, which is why I figured they’d be in the mix.
Browns are so stupid to basically hand Haden to the steelers
Saw this on Twitter
Browns have also been trying to trade one of their O-Linemen.
Greg Tripp Linton @agentlinton 4m4 minutes ago
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Steelers drafted 2 this year, 1st last year, signed 1 in FA and traded for 1. I don’t see how Haden fits there. But…
Interesting that Rosenhaus is Hayden’s agent. What agent knows more about what it is like to pay for the new Phins?
If we do end up signing Haden, that’s pretty much it in terms of our cap space. We won’t be able to sign Alan Faneca — for example — unless we make an emergency cut or dip into the Bank of Suh (restructure) again.
My take? I’m not sure we really are interested in signing Haden. I think this is a motivational ploy directed at Byron Maxwell.
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