1-0 baby! The Dolphins started the season at home against the Titans, in one of the most bizarre and easily the most lengthy football games in the history of the sport. 7 hours, and 10 minutes. Wow! Lightning strikes in the vicinity of Hard Rock caused a couple of weather delays which put the total game time from start to finish at 7:10, which is the longest game in NFL history.
The good thing is that the Dolphins team remained focused on the task at hand, winning the game, and I would give some credit to Head Coach Adam Gase for keeping his team prepared, and to GM Chris Grier and VP Mike Tannenbaum for shedding the roster of the “ME” players and building a team of players who share a common goal, helping each other make the Dolphins a winning team.
The Dolphins had a nice balance on offense, Kenyan Drake getting the most touches as expected, and it was especially nice to see Frank Gore come in and spark the offense. He looks fresh, especially for a veteran RB with 13 NFL seasons under his belt, and over 3200 carries. I think it’s a great tandem, they complement each other very well. The O-line did their job well, and both backs were able to move the ball.
Ryan Tannehill looked very good in the game, but a couple of poor throws somewhat derailed his fine effort. I really thought the throw in the end zone to Gesicki, whether Mike slipped or not, was too flat, not enough arc, and also just thrown too close to the defender. Make that throw more towards the sideline, and deeper towards the back of the endzone with more arc, and there’s very little chance if any that it gets picked off. The other was either an overthrow or a miscommunication with Jakeem Grant, and without certainty as to which, I can’t blame Tannehill on that one. The play-action TD pass to Kenny Stills was a beauty, great protection, and a very accurate strike for the TD. Take away the end zone miscue to Gesicki or the other INT intended for Grant, and Tannehill has done exactly what I would hope he could do.
The Titans after the injury to starting QB Marcus Mariota were not the same team, but the injuries to starting OT’s Taylor Lewan and Jack Conklin, LT and RT respectively is really what killed the Titans. Those 2 are aggressive, mean and nasty run blockers, and the Dolphins limited the run game, especially when big back Derrick Henry was in, to 26 yards on 10 carries. Dion Lewis, who is quicker and shiftier had more success, rushing for 75 yards on 16 carries.
On defense, the first thing I noticed right away, was Minkah Fitzpatrick. He didn’t do one spectacular thing on Sunday, but damn if he wasn’t always around the ball. You just can’t teach what he has, that desire to digest football knowledge, study film to learn players and teams tendencies, and the desire to work in the weight room to become the best player he can be. Minkah had that before he got here, but he’s ours man, and I’m thrilled we have him. He was in on 6 tackles, but despite that, he just seemed to be so involved in the game, and he was out there a lot. If anyone has snap counts, I’d love to know how many, as well as for the D-line. The frequent rotation worked as well as I could have hoped, and the youngins Godchaux and Taylor look like all the world to have been brilliant draft picks. You just don’t expect a 5th and 6th RD defensive tackle to give you what Godchaux and Taylor are giving us. Think of how absurd it is to pay a player over $20M to do what these guys are giving us! Talk about value, it’s insane! The LB’s weren’t asked to do everything, as we saw 3 safeties out there often enough. Kiko led the team with 6 solo tackles, and both Raekwon McMillan and Jerome Baker had 3 solos and 3 assists. Very possible this type of thing plays out the entire season.
The Jets come off a very successful road win against the Detroit Lions. They banged up QB Matthew Stafford pretty good, and the battered QB threw 1 TD and 4 INT’s. While Matthew Stafford hurt his team, the Jets rookie QB did the opposite. Sam Darnold played a very solid game, despite throwing an INT on his very first pass attempt. The rookie bounced back well however, and helped lead his team to an impressive 48-17 drubbing of the Lions. He had a nice balanced rushing attack with Bilal Powell and Isaiah Crowell with a 1-1A type approach. Crowell finished with 102 yards on 10 carries and 2 TD’s and Powell had 12 carries for 60 yards. Quincy Enunwa has resumed his spot as the go-to-guy of the offense, after being out with an injury last year. Robbie Anderson remains the big play danger, he’s like our version of Kenny Stills, except of course Anderson threatens police officers with vulgar things he will do to their wives, but on the gridiron, they are similar threats.
Dolphins vs Jets are always crazy games, as last year’s Fest game was evidence of such. The Dolphins pulled out a last minute victory when Bobby McCain intercepted Josh McCown with 47 seconds remaining in the game, allowing Cody Parkey to kick the game winning 39 yard F to win it 31-28. What a FEST-ivious win! There will not be a MetLife Takeover Fest this time, but hopefully the NYC Dolfans contingency will be sufficient to help our boys complete another successful takeover that ends with a Dolphins victory.
If the Dolphins can continue their success rushing the football with Drake and Gore, and keep the pocket clean for Tannehill, we should be able to score against the Jets. Devante Parker should be back, but I just can’t count on him to be a big role player, so I won’t. We have enough weapons with Stills, Amendola, Wilson and the 2 backs, and anything we can get from Gesicki and Parker is just gravy. On defense, just limit Bilal Powell. Crowell doesn’t scare me, but Powell just rips off those big plays, so we need to keep him in check. Darnold probably won’t be shaken, we should treat him like any QB, not expose ourselves with a ton of blitzes. I think if we do that, he might make us pay, so just stay disciplined, keep using the 3 safeties often, and I think we can beat them. Don’t let Anderson get behind the secondary.
MIA 28 – NYJ 27
Finsmob Unleashed 
Pff OL grades
According to who? This guy? I watch every play then tell you what is what.
Minkah Fitzpatrick is trademarking the term “Fitzmagic” that they are calling Ryan Fitzpatrick.
The Media has called Fitzpatrick of the Bucs Ftizmagic for 2 weeks, He has played his ass off.
, but Minkah had the nickname for years prior.
I am happy. Being negative seems like a lot of work. It’s OD that hates Miami’s leadership like InCognito hates sports cars and morticians.
He was topless!
Kornheiser asked “who us Minkah Fitzpatrick?” and Wilbon didn’t know
Those two are senile.
I didn’t know that show was still on TV until some one posted that in twitter
Why do those guys think it’s funny that they don’t know the names of 1st round picks
That’s not a good look for “experts”
Wilbon is a real fool, he had us 32 in his preseason power poll.
Miami is 3.5 point favorites against the Raiders
THEY ARE ALREADY beating the drums about the Monday Night game between the Bucs and the Stealers here in Tampa Bay.
I, of course, would rather see the Fins!
So much for 2 game stat’s???????????
Lmao
ROTFLMAO!
What an FN idiot, similar shit to what Omar would say after 2 games. Every year it’s something like double nickels is on pace for 200 tackles 16 fumble recoveries…
Yea of course it’s dumb, that’s what makes it funny tho, lol
3 weeks ago ESPN said Miami would be one of the worst teams in the NFL after losing Suh, Pouncey, and the intern WR who got fired and incarcerated..
We are obviously not the worst at 2-0, lol fuck off ESPN
Is that Incognito’s dad’s head he wanted to cut off he’s playing catch with? Too soon?
The Dolphins defense through 2 games is first in the NFL at opponents QB rating, 56.6
Allowing only 1 TD pass and 5 interceptions is a big part of this stat, and our 2-0 record.
When RT fumbled around the 12 yard line, Howard saves the game with a timely interception.
We are 2-0 because of team play, and players making plays within the team concept
MF, the love the ballhawks dude, lol Be sure to call out Miamis ballhawks bro, tied for first in interceptions with 5, gotta luv it! 😎 BTW Minkah is due for a pick 6 IMO
Of course We can’t ignore our rushing defense,
Miamis rushing defense is third in the NFL at opponents YPC at 3.3
Dolphins offense is 6th in rushing, and Miami (RT) has the 7th highest QB rating
No fucking way! But how about the backup OL? Can they make the fucking pro bowl is all I want to know? LOL
Lol pro bowl? Well,,, let’s just say they have 14 games to do it, would be a miracle of sorts though, lol
Joking, man. I’m being snide and sarcastic purposely. Some folks will never admit being wrong. EVER!!!!
Yea, I have noticed the same thing
I can’t wait til We are 3-0 and the national “experts ” start saying more shit. Fins most overrated undefeated team left, blah blah blah, lol
It’s great because this team keeps proving them wrong, and is a much better team this year than they thought. I don’t worry what others say, just happy They are wrong
Also getting RT back is a big reason for our improvement from 2017.
Cutler and Moore didn’t have what We needed
Oops! Ryan Taennehill is now 9-1 in his last 10 starts with Gase. That fucks up everything. LOL
Nobody wants to recognize that on the national stage but the stat is real. Yes it’s a fact. Sorry haters. 😉
True that, Watching RT throw that laser strike to Derby showed Me RT has a big league arm. What an impressive toss! He had perfect footwork, good time, and delivers a missile that only Derby could catch!
No he didn’t and it’s not all about QBs – teams win games except when it comes to Tannehill. There are so many clueless pundits out there that can’t give the guy credit. One loss for them will be back to see I told you so. As if 9-2 and 2-1 will be the end all. Just make the playoffs and shut the idiots up. This is the NFL and winning and losing are always hard fought games.
Go beat the Raiders. If not go beat the Pats. I see us as no less than 3-1 after the next 2 games. Even 2-2 is okay if you can rebound and get to 3-2. If we lose 3 in a row that’s a different story. I don’t see it but call me crazy. LOL
Go Phins!!!!
For years we watched Ryan not ready for prime time, the same things I saw from Darnold and Trubisky in week 2. I think Ryan has turned the corner. If you can throw short safe passes accurately and win, then continue doing that.
Every Ryan drop back against the jets. Looks like the cheats offense, with none of his passes close to being intercepted.
Wow, that is a great feed. He does this every week. I’m bookmarking this. Thanks, Steve.
David: i too loved MOST of Landrys time here in Miami, he was a scrappy play to the whistle guy even when he did not have the ball in his hands.. BUT he too often could not/ would not turn it off after whistle which hurt us a lot.. as for his exit; We offered him VERY good money to stay 13+M / year .. HE chose to sell out to highest bidder… and the little i have seen Of what seems like Browns games being shoved down our throats, is that he still pipes off and costs them yardage with Dumb after the whistle shit .. congrats Cleveland have fun we are doing Just Fine ..
You are correct in the sense There are 2 sides to every coin , but deals done ,Its water under the bridge at this point.
Tim,
is your last name Morton? You’re being pretty salty lately. lol
Yeah I guess. When you get accused of stuff and lied about that can tend to irritate a person.
Steve – Thanks for the dropbacks video, that was excellent. Also confirmed to me a couple of things.
Wilson is an upgrade over Landry
I freak’n hate when i look down at the keyboard type a long post and look up only to find the caps lock button on!
makes me want to bust this keyboard!
Tim Knight says:
September 18, 2018 at 11:15 pm
Oops! Ryan Taennehill is now 9-1 in his last 10 starts with Gase. That fucks up everything. LOL
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That’s great going back 2 years ago when we had a run game however in the 2 games this year especially against the Jets tannehill wasn’t lighting up the scoreboard, he turned the ball over and only had 160 yards passing, i would think the win has more to do with the Defense and running game than Tannehill.
I hope he can put it together and start having some successful games, so far he leaves a little to be desired.
I do like Tanny on the RPO’s though.
The Flying Pig says:
September 18, 2018 at 8:17 pm
Btw we took Landry in the 2nd that year and went OL again I the 3rd drafting Billy Turner
Landry was a great pick
Turner – nope
In hindsight Trae Turner who was picked a little later would have been a better pick
But I do recall people celebrating the turner pick around here
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I was one of the few (i do believe there ere a couple more) that disliked Turner, i watched him at senior bowl, even watched a couple practices that year and really didnt think they hype around him was warranted.
I remember that draft rally well because i wanted us to go OL OL back to back, OT first and i got the guy i wanted the in James, my top OG for us was Gabe Jackson. I can remember arguing with Tim over his fit for our OL, and have very few in agreement other than MikeE. We took Landry in the second and bt how the draft laid out, it would have been a slight overdraft to have picked Jackson there, so i cant complain that at least the pick was a good one. Now Jackson was still on the board when we picked in the Third because we had traded upo, ironically with the team that wound up taking Jackson. I thought it was for Gabe, i was really excited and then got pissed when it was Turner. Hell i liked a Turner for us if we didnt get Jackson it was just Trai Turner not Billy.
I know that they were looking at Billy Turner as this guy with great potential, possibly could take over at OT but could fill in at OG until, but i never saw whatever they did. He was strong, and bullish but didnt have good feet, bad technique, etc. Our scouts whiffed on that one.
ocalarob says:
September 19, 2018 at 10:10 am
Wilson is an upgrade over Landry
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I didnt agree with that statement before the season started, but it is true.
sb7mvp says:
September 19, 2018 at 8:19 am
Tim,
is your last name Morton? You’re being pretty salty lately. lol
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Probably been hanging around with Mikey and his friends Rock Dirt and Sand and you know if you hand around with Sand it gets everywhere.
Ill be honest im not recognizing 9-1 in last 10 starts. I dont think a streak you had going in 2016, with more than a season layoff is at all relevant to current. Way i see it is the team is 2-0 with Tanny. Im not looking past those stats to find anything that can make the situation look any better or worse.
It’s a positive outlook, and a statement that says Tannehill turned the corner at that point. I agree with it, and hope it continues.
That’s the team’s record with Tannehill and Gase in our last 10 games. Yes this is a new season, but it is a real stat. People throw out stats like this all the time for other players.
NEW BLOG UP!
Guess what guys!? The miami dolphins have a top 10 QB. To those who said we would not / could not win without a top ten guy, well we have him.
# 5 in completion percentage
# 8 in passer rating
#10 in touch downs thrown
#12 in average per pass
# 7 in passes over 40 yards (tied with Big Rape)
Now he needs to keep on track and allow the rest of the team to win games.
Probably been hanging around with Mikey and his friends Rock Dirt and Sand
Don’t forget Boulder! He is just a much bigger rock!