2018 Season – Game 3 – Raiders @ Dolphins

2 and oh!  No misprint here, The Dolphins are 2-0.  They went into NJ to visit the NY Jets at MetLife Stadium, and came away with an impressive victory.  The Jets had thoroughly dismantled the Detroit Lions in Detroit the previous week, 48-17, and they looked pretty damn good doing it too. Don’t let anyone take away or diminish this victory.  The Dolphins were far from flawless, but this unit looks so much more like a T-E-A-M than it has in some time.  I know, it’s easy to say that after 2 wins, and there’s some truth to that, how they respond to adversity will be key as well, but at the moment, there don’t seem to be any “ME!” players.

The team is listening to Adam Gase, and they definitely seem to be more disciplined.  The Dolphins fumbled 3 times in the game, Tannehill had 2, and more on that . . .   The strip sack where Tannehill fumbled, I am now positive that he DID NOT SEE Jamal Adams beat Mike Gesicki and he was just casually rolling out when Adams got by Gesicki for the sack.  I know some have said Tannehill looks slower, lost a step or two, but I don’t really see that.  What I think Tannehill has lost is some of his cutting ability, but his straight-line speed is there.  It’s also possible he improves in this area as he gets more comfortable and trusts his knee more and more in time.

2 Penalties in the game.  Discipline.  I couldn’t be happier with the production of that D-line.  If you think I miss Suh or Godchaux following Suh’s lead jumping offsides, I freaking don’t!  If you think I miss Jarvis Landry and his patented first down gestures (I do a little bit) I don’t miss the LOOK AT ME stuff.  It’s still early in the season, but after 2 games, Adam Gase seems to have shaped the roster with his guys, and it seems to be working.  Good on him.

We were all worried about the defense, the D-line, the LB’s, and the CB’s too, because Cordrea Tankersley seems to have regressed this season, and was inactive.  So far, it’s all working.  The D-line in particular sans Suh has been better than advertised, make that much better!  Talk about T-E-A-M, this unit personifies this.  Everyone is in the action and contributing.  Godchaux (6 TKL, 3 AST), Phillips (1 TAK, 1 AST, 1 SACK), Spence (4 TKL, 3 AST), Taylor (5 TKL, 2 AST),  Hayes (2 TKL, 1 SACK).  We’ve only registered 3 sacks, and 2 of them are by the DT’s, Robert Quinn has the other.  Safe to say if this DL play continues, Suh will not be tweeting in this direction in ’18, unless maybe to say I’m sorry, and I was wrong.

Back to the CB’s.  We haven’t played a team that is deep with WR talent.  The Titans have Rishard Matthews and Corey Davis, and Matthews is still hurting.  The Jets have Quincy Enunwa and Robbie Anderson, along with Terrelle Pryor, and then Jermaine Kearse who just returned from injury.  Neither WR group is impressive, so our CB’s haven’t been truly tested yet.  That changes a bit when da Raiders come to town.  Amari Cooper had a down year last season, but he’s started much faster this season, and he already has 11 receptions.  Jordy Nelson is a big talented veteran receiver and Martavis Bryant who came over from the Steelers is another bigger receiver who is a big play threat with great speed.  The Raiders also have TE Jared Cook who has started off very fast this season, so our secondary may play a huge role in this game.  That, and the pass rush.  We have to get to Derek Carr and make him uncomfortable.  He’s been uncomfortable most of the time, and that’s why he’s struggling, but if he’s allowed to sit back there, he will make us pay.

In the secondary, it will be interesting to see if Cordrea Tankersley is active, I think he’ll have to be.  Minkah’s snap count will probably increase as well, especially if we limit Marshawn Lynch and Doug Martin in the run game.  If we force them to pass, there will be plenty of 3, 4 and maybe even 5 receiver sets.  Jared Cook is a dangerous receiver who has given us trouble before when he was with the Titans, and then also with the Rams.  Our secondary may be tested, and once again, if the run defense does it’s job, we’ll need more pass rush from Quinn, Wake, Harris and Hayes, as well as the DT’s.

The Raiders are scoring only 16 PPG, and have given up 26.5 PPG.  Small sample of course, but they have struggled so far.  You can almost flip the stats for our Dolphins, scoring 23.5 PPG and allowing only 16.  If we can keep that up against the Raiders, we should be 3-0, but . . .   The Raiders are desperate after plunking down the $100M contract for Head Coach Jon Gruden, and they will be desperate for a win, and also consider all the people who do the power rankings, how much it must be killing them for the Dolphins to be anywhere past #17 in the NFL.

I think we continue what we’ve been doing on offense, the combo of Drake and Gore has been effective, Gore really bailed us out on that 3rd and 19 play.  Neither back has topped the 100 YD mark, but the sharing is working.  I would imagine Devante Parker will see his first action this Sunday, as reports stated he was OK to play last week against the Jets.  We’ve spread the ball around so well, I wouldn’t expect Parker in the lineup changing that much at all.  I’d like to see Gesicki and Derby get more involved in the pass game, especially Gesicki, but we may have to be patient in that regard.  I think once Tannehill develops that trust that is so essential, and they understand each other, and learn what each other wants and can do, I think that Gesicki will start getting more passes thrown his way.

MIA 30 – OAK 19

 

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2,597 Responses to 2018 Season – Game 3 – Raiders @ Dolphins

  1. Wyoming85's avatar wyoming85 says:

    Damn I needed them to score a TD to get my Score right?????????????

  2. Rockphin's avatar Rockphin says:

    Coach icing the kicker

  3. Wyoming85's avatar wyoming85 says:

    Oh and now I get the dreaded page turn!!!!!!!!!!!

  4. Ken's avatar Ken says:

    Of course another 50 yard plus FG against us

  5. New Age's avatar New Age says:

    I’m glad we won but there’s a lot wrong here. Speed kills…at least this time.

  6. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    I bet the raiders get a penalty on this insides

  7. bookman11's avatar bookman11 says:

    Here we go

  8. bookman11's avatar bookman11 says:

    Wilson seals it……appropriately

  9. manitobafinfan's avatar manitobafinfan says:

    Titans beat the Jags

  10. Wyoming85's avatar wyoming85 says:

    That’s the old ball game!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  11. Rockphin's avatar Rockphin says:

    The games closed out by three victory formations bitches!

  12. Rockphin's avatar Rockphin says:

    **Three games

  13. rich0322's avatar rich0322 says:

    I’ll take it. 3-0, baby!!!

  14. Mike E.'s avatar Mike E. says:

    Dolphins gave Stanger and OD an exciting win today

  15. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    PHINS WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  16. Rockphin's avatar Rockphin says:

    DID YOU HEAR THAT!!???? ALONE IN FIRST PLACE!?? HUH?? I”m going to the bar now. LOL

  17. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

  18. steveccnv's avatar steveccnv says:

    I cant remember a win being this bad to watch, since the SD game Kiko won for us. That game had as many BS penalties.

  19. Ken's avatar Ken says:

    Well we did what we had to do at the start of the season to put us into playoffs competition. Winning the first 3 was critical and we did it

  20. Rockphin's avatar Rockphin says:

    Soooo, would you rather have Wilson or Landry?

  21. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    I want to see that crazy play to take the lead again

  22. Rockphin's avatar Rockphin says:

    Our game was a highlight reel today.

  23. manitobafinfan's avatar manitobafinfan says:

    Garoppolo carted off knee

  24. herdfan's avatar herdfan says:

    Speaking of officiating, I think I heard them say at the beginning that Sean Hochuli was the referee. I didn’t like his Dad when he called our games, seems like the son is the same.

  25. Mike E.'s avatar Mike E. says:

    New Age – It seems to me like games come down to a few plays that separate winners from losers, and we are the ones making those plays. We’ve played better overall games like the opener against SEA 2 years ago, and LOST. Take the win, and spit into the wind buddy! Or fart like Piggy! Of course there’s things wrong, but doing the things you have to do to win is more important.

  26. naplesfan2010's avatar naplesfan2010 says:

    I do not consider this a fluke. We were obviously the better team.

  27. Rhino's avatar Rhino says:

    Well. That was quite satisfying. 🙂
    Gonna savor for a few more minutes then switch to baseball to see if A’s can clinch today.

    If any of you have to work tomorrow, remember there are ways to celebrate without alcohol. pffft, yeah, right. Time to switch from beer to Victory Whiskey. 🙂

  28. steveccnv's avatar steveccnv says:

    Ryan 155 QB rating

  29. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    Other made a huge catch

    Wilson, Amendola, Parker and Grant are working well together

  30. Rockphin's avatar Rockphin says:

    Hey national media, maybe Miami has some playmakers?

  31. steveccnv's avatar steveccnv says:

    Denver and Jags drop from the unbeatens.

  32. ElephantRider's avatar ElephantRider says:

    Let’s hope we get some of our injured guys back for the “must destroy” game next week.

  33. Ken's avatar Ken says:

    We have crazy speed

  34. manitobafinfan's avatar manitobafinfan says:

    Bills have destroyed our survivor league. Im out, wife and son bith out

  35. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    We ‘MIRACLED’ our way out of that one! They had us on EVERY stat in the game! And those passing yard attributed to Tannehill? Umm… not so fast (shovels and pitches).

  36. bookman11's avatar bookman11 says:

    Son,
    I will be in Orlando the next 2 games, might be at ESPN zone to watch the games if not on local TV

  37. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    Game ball: Albert Wilson

  38. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    And Xavien Howard is for REAL

  39. Rockphin's avatar Rockphin says:

    It will be interesting watching the media spin this, especially when we beat NE next week.

  40. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    The only one fast enough to catch Wilson on the TD run was Grant

  41. The referees screwed us hard, what a Greek tragedy of officiating. But thanks to a ballhawking defense led by the 2 picks of Howard, saved the Day.
    A big key to our 3-0 is creating turnovers, and making them pay for it with TD,s

    Our defense did better than stats look, because refs were trying to help vegas or showcase their ineptitude.

    Now we can forget the Raiders game, and focus on next week, 3-0 baby, 4-0 next week is th goal!

  42. Mike E.'s avatar Mike E. says:

    M – No one takes those stats away from Drew Brees when Alvin Kamara and Mar Ingram were doing it all year long. This is the offense we run, and although I don’t always like it, it’s working, and you can’t take that way from Tannehill, it’s just not fair.

  43. Rockphin's avatar Rockphin says:

    And those passing yard attributed to Tannehill? Umm… not so fast (shovels and pitches).
    Reply

    Thus my insistence that passer rating is a measurement of the effectiveness of the passing game, not necessarily the passer.

  44. Game ball goes to Howard, without his 2 picks We likely wouldn’t get the W on this one

  45. Ken's avatar Ken says:

    Now if Gase can call a game like he did in the 2nd half

    • ElephantRider's avatar ElephantRider says:

      Right?
      1st half looked like coaching scared. 2nd half was fuck it, go out swinging. RT17 was throwing past the 1st down market and misdirections

  46. MF, Fins are still leading the NFL with interceptions, this should thrill Your ballhawkin soul, lol

    Interceptions are game changing plays IMO, change of possession, attitude, and sets up the offense to score.

  47. ocalarob's avatar ocalarob says:

    A tale of 2 QBs, we rode the arm of Tannehill today and had no rushing success, and on Defense we rode the defensive QB the X man.

    speed kills, Grant…Stills..Wilson.

    Vincent Taylor played great as well.

    I hope Hayes is all right!

  48. Randy's avatar Randy says:

    Sloppy, inconsistent performances from both teams but a nice comeback win. Take the win and keep moving on.

  49. The Wilson TD was a gorgeous playcall, and the execution of RT on the fake, and the OL opens a lane, execution was damn near perfect.
    The high five needs a little practice though, lol. Too bland

  50. Tim Knight's avatar Tim Knight says:

    LOL @ Ken

    3-0 Dolfans, 3-0!!!! I don’t care about stats just win the fucking game!!!! YES!!!!!

    However… we got banged up today and I wish Hayes and Branch well. Spence will be back after being ejected even though I thought that was horse shit too.

  51. Randy's avatar Randy says:

    ORob
    Taylor played really well.

  52. steveccnv's avatar steveccnv says:

    We botch and botch about our O, but its setup to be efficient and not turn the ball over. 3 of our 4 TOs were balls slipping g out, I dont know what to call the 2nd Ryan int.

  53. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    So it’s us and the KC Chefs*, as the only remaining undefeated teams in the AFC.

  54. Today is a day where the entire team should get a game ball. You want team play? Then reward the entire team with their play, Ross can buy more footballs if We run low

  55. Wyoming85's avatar wyoming85 says:

    That was 1 half of the ugliest football for both teams!
    As a die hard Dolphins fan that was very hard to watch!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  56. Wyoming85's avatar wyoming85 says:

    Branch can stay down as far as I’m concerned!
    Nothing but 15 yard fouls so far this season!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  57. Watching the mass quantities of never ending yellow flags being dumped like sand on a beach restoration project, I had to ask Myself.
    Did I just take a drug? I think I’m hallucinating, lol. The refs are totally worthless, we should use camera bots for refs versus this laundry crew. Thankfully We were able to overcome the bullshit today!

  58. steveccnv's avatar steveccnv says:

    Ryan 7-2 TDs to ints, comp% well over 70, these are the things we need to be successful.

  59. Tim Knight's avatar Tim Knight says:

    Like I said in the preseason, this team might have to scratch and claw early on until they really come together. 3-0 baby!!!! 🙂

  60. MF, sometimes it does feel like we are getting lucky, but 8 interceptions in 3 games, and burning the teams with score afterwards, isn’t luck IMO.
    Every win or loss is earned

  61. naplesfan2010's avatar naplesfan2010 says:

    The way the refs stole points from us at the end of first half, we deserved this victory.

  62. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

  63. naplesfan2010's avatar naplesfan2010 says:

    McTyer and TJ both dropped INTs.

  64. sb7mvp's avatar sb7mvp says:

    I won’t disparage the team on victory Sunday. We did what we needed to and got to 3-0, which is good considering the next two games are on the road against quality opponents.

  65. pheloniusphish's avatar pheloniusphish says:

    This game was about overcoming adversity. They didn’t quit.

  66. ocalarob's avatar ocalarob says:

    SEASON AVG 1ST DOWN RUNNING (runs under 10 yards)
    FRANK GORE 13 attempts 4.16 YPC
    DRAKE 14 attempts 2.39 YPC
    vs OAK
    Frank Gore 3 YPC x 4 attempts
    Drake 1.33 ypc x 3 attempts

  67. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    Give Tannehill credit Tannhaters

    I’ve been a Tannehater – he’s not the same QB he used to be

    He has come of age
    In the 1st half when he was called upon he delivered and that’s been a theme

    Gase isn’t really letting his loose
    But man – when we ask him to deliver, he does

  68. I’m still waiting for Fitzmagic to get a pick 6, it’s coming!
    , Patriots game is a PERFECT chance for Him to do it!

  69. son of a son of a shula's avatar son of a son of a shula says:

    Bookman, johndibi@yahoo.com email me so we can exchange #’s to text

    Have a great trip

  70. Tim Knight's avatar Tim Knight says:

    X is the ball hawk we’ve all been waiting for. That’s two INTs in the endzone the last two games that happened so quick I thought both were out of bounds but he pulled them both in. He is becoming a star player. 🙂

  71. ElephantRider's avatar ElephantRider says:

    Thanks Tim

    Didnt catch the end of the game. Glad to see Bobby came back in

  72. naplesfan2010's avatar naplesfan2010 says:

    How can anyone complain about Tannehill?
    No INTs today.
    And a perfect pass to Stills for a 34 yd TD.

  73. Ken's avatar Ken says:

    Speaking of Luck Andrew Luck can’t throw a ball down field anymore

  74. Wyoming85's avatar wyoming85 says:

    Tanny looked like he had a little more zip on his ball today!

    Anyone else notice???

  75. Howard is our most underrated player, but not for long!
    Also Grant has improved a lot this Year, He’s become more savvy , earned more targets, and seems to have better open field vision

  76. ocalarob's avatar ocalarob says:

    some of those calls were horseshit! Amendola clearly tried to avoid their LBer and was called for PI, the holding against Kilgore was lame as well!

  77. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    pheloniusphish says:
    September 23, 2018 at 4:40 pm
    He also threw it downfield and did so well.
    ——————
    I cannot disagree with ya on this. I think Tannehill was 2/2 when throwing the ball over 15 yards. Why isn’t Tannehill throwing the mid/deep ball more often, I ask?

    • The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

      He should be

      It’s the design of the offense

      On a high after the win, it’s easy to forget, but we could have lost the game throwing behind the LOS

  78. Play calls were horrid, Grant made a nice block and got a bogus holding penalty

  79. naplesfan2010's avatar naplesfan2010 says:

    also Tannehill’s ball handling and decoying skills on these gadget plays is very smooth. No fumbles and the D has no idea what is happening.

  80. drg's avatar drg says:

    Xavian Howard….. PAY THAT MAN HEEEES MONEY

  81. ocalarob's avatar ocalarob says:

    pheloniusphish says:
    September 23, 2018 at 4:47 pm
    Out of curiosity – what are their averages with runs over 10 yards?
    _______________________________________________________

    I don’t keep that stat because it has nothing to do with consistency, it’s great to have a big play from the running game but it doesn’t always win games, keeping your offense in reasonable 2nd and 3rd down situations does.

  82. I like the discipline RT shows. he doesn’t try to force success, He works within the team concept and takes his individual success as it comes.
    Opportunity cannot be forced, but When it comes, He is ready for it, and has learned to take advantage of opportunities instead of squander them.
    Really intelligent game manager! I’m impressed with RT, and happy he is Our QB

  83. pheloniusphish's avatar pheloniusphish says:

    I think Cower said it on one of the pre-game shows, or maybe it was Arians – Coaches script plays heavily through the first 4 games to figure out what their strength and weaknesses are. Then they adjust play calling to those strengths and weaknesses.

  84. naplesfan2010's avatar naplesfan2010 says:

    I asked us to hold Lynch to 12 for 40
    a 3.3 average
    and we held him to 19 for 64,
    a 3.4 average.
    Not quite as good, but good enough to win

  85. ElephantRider's avatar ElephantRider says:

    Piggy

    Yeah he missed that Stills TD in spot where if you miss that’s where you miss it. I think we see them connect on that in the future….(next week would be nice)

    Watched Jags game a bit too and I’m glad we have RT17. Bortles was pure garbage today.

    • ElephantRider's avatar ElephantRider says:

      I agree with you about him taking next step. These have been games he doesnt make the plays to win. He’s doing it now.

  86. naplesfan2010's avatar naplesfan2010 says:

    Tannehill hit 8 different receivers. Who are you gonna cover.
    This is just what we all predicted and hoped for in order to replace Landry.

  87. Tim Knight's avatar Tim Knight says:

    Football is never perfect, folks. Lots of crazy shit happens in games. Just focus on 3-0. 🙂

  88. ocalarob's avatar ocalarob says:

    They killed us on TOP as well, 38:31 to 21.29

  89. naplesfan2010's avatar naplesfan2010 says:

    Tannehill definitely missed Stills for a TD on that one.
    I am hoping that this is a case of the rust continuing to come off.
    No QB connects with every pass, but that one was all on Tannehill and no QB should miss that one.

  90. ocalarob's avatar ocalarob says:

    pheloniusphish says:
    September 23, 2018 at 4:55 pm
    You don’t keep that stat because it doesn’t fit your narrative. Bad statistical method produces invalid results.
    _________________________,
    Your wrong, it has nothing to do with me, Drake should have big runs in later downs as should Gore,
    I get it you don’t understand and i certainly don’t want to keep explaining it to you.

  91. D's avatar D says:

    Damn the Rams DL is sick

  92. naplesfan2010's avatar naplesfan2010 says:

    The thing about Xavien’s INTs is they are true takeaways both because of where they are on the field in terms of taking points away and because he literally runs the route better than the offensive guy. Or highpoints it better. These are the back breaking heart wrenching kind of INTs for an offense.

  93. Tim Knight's avatar Tim Knight says:

    We’re 3-0 and ORob is still all about the Drake, Gore or whoever thing. Let it go, man!!!
    The way this game went we didn’t run it well conventionally and rarely had the ball yet pulled the game off and won. Enjoy!!!! 🙂

    • ocalarob's avatar ocalarob says:

      I’m with you, i said nothing bad about either just posted their stats that concern me, we rode Tannehill today congrats, now go kiss your RT fathead

  94. Wyoming85's avatar wyoming85 says:

  95. pheloniusphish's avatar pheloniusphish says:

    The Bills just proved that records mean nothing when it comes to playing each week’s game.

  96. If we give Gore and Drake open running lanes instead of freed defenders, both will get the job done IMO
    Raiders came into this game with a renewed focus to stop our run, and did reasonably well, much to well for My liking. They were breaking off the blocks and making open tackles, like they should have done for the other 2 games and didn’t.

    In these situations, We have to block better, not worse! Hopefully we block better next week!

  97. naplesfan2010's avatar naplesfan2010 says:

    I think Gruden and his DL coach must’ve challenged their guys manhood about being so bad against the run.

    They came out fired up in the run defense like their jobs depended on it. It worked for a while.

    Only risky thing about that is if they give 125% and then lose, it can suck the heart out of a team.

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