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
Finsmob Unleashed 
Perhaps the Dolphins are ready to shock the world and win their first AFC East title since 2008. Either way, three games have only been played, and it is way too early to say the Patriots dynasty is over.
——————————-
I call bull scat!!!!!!
It is way PAST time for that shit in NE to be finished!!!!!!!!!!
From the link above
Fricken page turn
If he’s going to use my words, he should give me credit for them lol
He just says this so the players aren’t tempted to rest on their accomplishments, but everyone knows 3-0 does mean something.
It means We are undefeated through 3 weeks, lol. And , if We keep up the existing pace of wins, it will certainly Mean something then as well.
I was just browsing a Pats blog. Most of them are calling Bellicheks head. Must angst going on in NE.
SB – Did you see my message? I’m on a plane so will be dropping off for a bit.
From yesterday
which one?
FMNE, Fuck Me New England
When both your boys are playing!
SB – About getting my email from Mike E should I be able to facilitate any introductions in the DC area as I have connections in both the government and the contracting industry.
Obviously, I’m late to the “shock” about the Pats loss. I wonder how much it had to do with Lions’ coach knowing so much about Pats offense.
No matter, it’s hard to win the first three against ANY NFL teams. We get the Pats head to head. I hope the team is hungry for a 3 game lead. 😉
From the first minute and a half of the game, I was nervous, then, 3 and out. Then, another. Nothing until 2nd quarter. It will cost us games if we can’t EVER start fast.
Then, the refs decided to get into the game. I didn’t get the O penalties ending the half….wtf! We had points taken away….so pissed. Then, started with 3rd quarter bs. Again, wtf?!
RT has some wheels and connected beautifully with Stills and Parker….Gesicki getting in there. It adds another dimension, along with Amendola, Wilson, and Grant….oh my!!!
Defense has speed…it’s so noticeable, ,, DBs, Xman. Made adjustments on jordy at halftime. Lead/tied for most interception.
I could go on, but wait for Mike E. to put it all together. ☺ so thankful!
Tough game v NE, but we can do this while they are discombobulated at the moment.
Jahn
Kenny stills actually did get hurt on that play
It doesn’t sound like a major injury
JUST A FEW more comments garnered from being at the game yesterday;
1) Drake and Gore ran for a combined 15 yards yesterday!! The running game has gotten measurably WORSE since Sitton started sittin’. Many at the stadium were BOOING Gase’s play calling in the third quarter. Thankfully, he eventually opened up the playbook–to his credit–and Miami was on their way to 3-0.
2) THE RAIDERS PAID THE PRICE for being in the SUN side of the stadium in the second half while Miami was in the shade. This started way back in the Orange Bowl when, similarly, the Dolphins befitted from being in the shade while the visitors had to wear dark jerseys and sit in the sun. Joe Robbie made a point of keeping this format when the new stadium was built. –THE RAIDERS looked totally gassed on Miami’s last touchdown with 2 minutes to go as they didn’t even try to catch that white clad Dolphin sprinting down the field!!
(That should read “Dolphins BENEFITTED”)
3) RYAN TANNEHILL looked sensational from my seat on the 29-yard line. Most of his long passes were right on the money!!
4) CREATIVE PLAYCALLING is the key to beating the Patriots this Sunday. NO MORE 3 yard passes on 3rd and 8, PLEEZE!!!
5) FINALLY, IT IS WITH GREAT PRIDE THAT I CAN REPORT that Miami’s fans were as loud as I’ve ever heard them since the Fins moved to Miami Gardens in 1987!! The group of mostly young kids directly behind me helped hold up my huge Dolphins’ BANNER, which is about 4 feet by 6 feet, after every big Miami play!! The noise was DEAFENING!!!!
When we beat the Pats on Sunday we will be THREE GAMES ahead of them in the standings after four games……
GO STEALERS*!!!
BEAT THE BUCS!!!
DOH!!
I don’t like Stills the person. Wants to be cool.
Sorry MF13….
GO BUCKS! CRUSH THE STEALERS!
ALL GOOD! I just want all of the undefeated teams to go down… except for US, of course!
Ahhh, didn’t even think about them being undefeated because they are NFC.
I root for the Dolphins and against all other AFC teams.
I’m right there with ya, Rockphin. Ordinarily, I ALWAYS root for the NFC team against an AFC team. I just want to see ALL of the undefeated teams go down, to protect our legacy of the ’72 Phins.
Kong Mia 27-24
Naples Mia 62-16 (adjusted for Hayes injury)
Piggy Mia 27-20
Rock Mia 33 – 17
And ESPN you better cease and desist with the Fitzmagic shit. That is OUR fitz’s
Kong Mia 27-24
Naples Mia 62-16 (adjusted for Hayes injury)
Piggy Mia 27-20
Rock Mia 33 – 17
WYO MIA 17-13
I think it’s too early to say the running game got worse. The Raider went all,in on stopping the run. And paid the price. The Wilson 74 yard TD was essentially a running play, as was Grant’s first TD. If you ad those numbers to the stats, the run game was fine.
NO IT WASN’T. The numbers don’t lie. But, hey, if you want to call a pass a run, I say go for it. Since Sitton’s injury, Miami’s average run per attempt has gone down substantially.
The squeelers look like they took a page out of the Pet’s playbook!
Old and SLOW!!!!!!
Tampa’s defense FLYING around!
Hit a wall!!!!
If Miami is a good team, they should beat the Pats next week.
Okay, on to the next flight.
VANCE MCDONLD!!! WOW!!!
Posterized!!!!!!!!!!
DAMN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It’s like I bought their jerseys or something
LOL, I will pay to buy you a couple more in the weeks before we play their teams if this anomaly continues.
A salty tear falls down Piggy’s cheek
I wonder if he can get Malvouex on the phone?
Hey Jarvis! Tell me all about who is the better QB again?
41 / 84 48.8% 5.5ave 63.7Rat
54 / 74 73% 9.3ave 121.8Rat
HMMMMMMMMMM who is who?
which is better
3-0
1-1-1
NICE!!!
That was Grimes getting blown up.
olddolphan says:
September 24, 2018 at 8:40 pm
NO IT WASN’T. The numbers don’t lie. But, hey, if you want to call a pass a run, I say go for it. Since Sitton’s injury, Miami’s average run per attempt has gone down substantially.
————-
Whatever. Shovel pass is no different than a lateral (you remember those….you’re old,right?). They’ve had two games since Sitton went down, one good on the run one not. Two games does not make a trend. Either way. I’m sure Ross and the failure to draft pro bowl OL has something to do with it. That and it’s not 1972. BTW – Is it hard being so negative all the time? Asking for a friend.
Another WALL collision in the back of the endzone. GEEZ!
Don’t tell me momentum doesn’t count!
That stiff arm totally changed the game!
INDEED!
Maybe their season??????
Stealers* have come alive!!!
Poor Landry. He got paid, but he’ll never be a champion.
I can’t get excited about the Steelers or the Bucs.
This game has become a FLAG FEST. WOW
Fuck me. On a plane with some dude on his phone talking about God speaking to him about business. I hope h doesn’t try to save me while we are in the air.
True meaning of captive audience!
Augh!
And yet ANOTHER INT of Fitzpatrick!
Shouldn’t it have been roughing the passer? Fitz is who we thought he was.
Ok If your going to get 15 yards for 2 handed touch!
Make them count!!!!!!
This is the Fitzmagic we’re used to!!!!!!
And yet ANOTHER INT of Fitzpatrick, again!!!
MIKE EVANS… man, is he ever good!
With all the roughing the passer penalties tonight, they somehow missed Artie Burns on the long completed pass commit D holding, PI, horse collar and facemask.
all 4
Yes all 4 on one play.
I think I saw roughing the passer on that FG
This roughing the passer crap is so out of hand. The NFL has yet another problem on their hands.
The Stealers* are quickly running away with this game! Big Rape is doing VERY well.
The pathetic thing about these roughing the passer calls is that they keep trying to tell us it’s about player safety. That’s BS. It’s about money. They’ve let QBs stay on the field after questionable concussion stuff because they don’t want QBs out of the game for a number of years. It’s about money….not player safety. It’s really about QB safety only when it keeps them on the field and the cash registers cha-chinging. It’s not football. They may as well give the QBs flags to wear and be done with it.
It’s about the concussion lawsuits
If Bucs lose tonight, a distinct possibility since they are down 20 at the half, then there will only be 3 undefeated teams left.
Miami Dolphins
LA Rams,
KC Chiefs
Bucs QB. Fitz-NO-Magic sucks!
Pics Magic
Dolphins 30, Cheats 18
Bud Dupree is a bad ass, I was hoping We would draft Him, big playmaking lb, but We selected Devante Parker instead, Sigh,,,
Steve,
The QB stuff isn’t about concussion lawsuits. The NFL saw a chance to protect their moneymakers and benefit the offense at the same time because they believe moron fans love scoring. Every rule change they make or decide to enforce benefits the offense. All this tackling stuff may have started because of the concussion lawsuits, but it’s morphed from there.
Cav and the Mrs. @ the game?
I hadn’t seen the two Clay Matthews hits until last night on MNF and I was fast-forwarding the game over breakfast so didn’t listen to the comms, but was the injury to Hayes discussed in amongst the “no hitting the QB anymore” conversation?
I get that there aren’t enough good QBs to go round and make each team competitive, but this problem has been caused by the NFL forcing teams into passing and now they are making bad legislation to offset previous bad legislation. I actually prefer watching good D to anything else. Still, when did the NFL ever listen to fans. Only $ speak.
No fan of the Dolphins in their right mind would start counting chickens after seeing us fall apart for more seasons than I care to count, but there is this.
???? Is this run by ppl we know UK?
No idea Naples – can’t read the article as I’m not in the US and can’t be bothered getting a US vpn but I know there are beer lovers on here (including myself) and I think Stanger is in or close to FL. Could be a future venue for a fest night. No links to Jahndoh that I know of!
who knew superman wore a black and sliver cape?
Too bad Steelers won last night it would have been nice to see them fall further behind
on the bright side, it only leaves 3 teams undefeated. 🙂
Just for you Tim! 😉
Now, all of the sudden, Miami’s schedule is weak. USA Today is a rag.
we’re walking into a hornets nest on Sunday, we need to stay focused, I’m sure this NE team will be very well prepared, I think Bellechick disciplines these guys with tough practices, you can bet they will be hungry.
the good news is we’re playing in foxboro in sept, it’s always a huge disadvantage when we have to play in the freezing cold of december up there.
agreed. and we want to avoid any type of weather that might require a snow plow. 🙂
I think the Fins are feeling that a “moment” is at hand and there are a lot of young, hungry guys on this team that want to ‘beat the historic team’.
As weird as it seems, stopping the run and making Pats throw it is suddenly a sound strategy!
I think Brady has a lack of talent at WR, Detroit was doubling Gronk the whole game, not sure we can afford to do that with Gordon coming into the fold.
We need Rashad Jones back for this game!
it would appear to me that NE’s run D is weak, we need to give them a heavy dose of Gore.
At 1-2 the Pats are #6 in Power Rankings. lol
If the Fins beat them by 30 this weekend, the Pats will probably move UP to #4, cuz, you know, old narratives are hard to give up.
Trey Flowers and Chung were in concussion protocol last week, I bet he’ll be ready to go Sunday along with Josh Gordon, good news is i think edelman will still be suspended this week.
Edelman is out. His last game of his suspension.
Read something last week (regarding new rules to make QB a ‘non-contact’ position lol)
that the avg. QBR for all QBs in week 2 was higher than the top QBR for last season.
Marino and Elway in this era would make Brees, Rodgers, and Brady 6th round FFB picks. 🙂
Passing records no longer mean a damn thing.
Rashad Jones should be ready to go against the Pats
I think there’s a difference from landing on a QB vs driving him into the ground with your weight, Matthews sack was legit, not sure how you can call that a penalty.
I agree….. landing on the guy you tackle is a natural part of it. Penalty should be for driving into the ground.
I totally agree Rob. They were already calling that in the last couple of years re: driving them into the ground but this shit with landing on them is just f-ing stupid. Who are these fucks on the competition committee anyway?
Guy from USA Today must be a Jets or Pats fan. He seems very frustrated. That was a very snide remark about us going 19-0
I’m sure a common Q for the power rankers this week was “how low can you put a 3-0 team?” For a lot of them answer seemed to be #10, but how about this entry from Sporting News….. almost scary.
—————————–
6. Miami Dolphins 3-0 (last week: 20)
Adam Gase has silenced all the critics who questioned the team’s personnel turnover in the offseason. Their variety of playmakers has come through with Ryan Tannehill offering control.
If I’m a defensive coach I’d have to tell the team to not worry about the 15 yards and just make sure the QB can’t throw it the next play!
If they are going to call it anyway you might as well make it count!
Especially if it is Phillips! LOL
I was thinking 80’s Raider defense!
Wyoming, based on what you just showed is that the Pats only win was at home against a 0-3 team with the second to worst pass defense. Hmmmmmmmmmm….and they are where in the power rankings? SMH
We have to go up to NE every year. The only difference is we’re not usually 3-0 and they’re not usually1-2 when we do.
And it’s not 20 fricken degrees!
A lot of safety rules come with unintended consequences. If I’m a DE and can’t land on the QB, might choose to launch at him instead. Won’t be on top of him after it is over, and man is that gonna be one big impact.
It really sucks that these absurd NFL rules forces us have these discussions daily. It’s so bad that everyone is against it and the NFL knows it.
Also all these knew QB records being broken weekly are because of a lot of these rules. There is no comparing the game today to even the one 20 years ago. Before then it was like a totally different game.
You didn’t pass over the middle with Lott and Polamalu back there head hunting!!!
“He’s super frustrated with it. You can see at the end of the game how they ended the game double-covering him, pressing him off the line. He just wants to get the ball in his hands and make plays. But you just can’t do it when nobody else is getting open. You can’t have single coverage on Rob if no one else can beat single coverage.”
— Gronk’s brother Chris (who played 3 years in the NFL)
The flip flopping these pundits do about the Dolphins is because they “predicted” them to be bad and the Dolphins are making them look like they don’t know what they’re talking about so they’re scrambling for excuses. I love it!
NE is slow on both sides of the ball. Not just slow, really-really-really slow. RB who have nowhere near the speed that Miami’s have are making it to the edge on NE repeatedly. Their corners are slow. Their LB are slow. Offensively, Gronk is the only legit weapon they have. You can coach a lot of things, but you can’t coach speed. I feel a 4-0 ass whoopin’ coming on.
If we play a relatively clean game, don’t stop ourselves and the officials don’t do their best to slow us down, we can win this game.
pFT has Miami at 5 in their power rankings, CBS at 10.
NFL.com at 8
But, with exception of PFT (Florio appears to be all in), they all are slaying Miami with faint praise.
We are 7 point dogs on Sunday right now. Have to think been a long time since we were that low at Foxborough.
Miami goes into NE and beats them, it will destroy them and their fans. Neither are used to real adversity. Fans are already calling for Belichek to be fired, Brady pouts, Gronk is one step from retirement, and players are still pissed about the Butler benching.
It still makes me smile that Grant had to slow down for the high five!
https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1044625313831936001
It was almost like Grant felt that was the opportunity for the race between two players who claims to be the fastest on the team. LOL
Result, they are both really fast. So is Stills.
????????????????????????????????
well, only because the Dolphins boosted their rating by making them look good! (says the hater)
Looking forward to the game against NE this week. I want to see how we show up against them.
@AskMikeE,
How do you think the Pins will show up against NE ?
Tune in tomorrow Doggy!
I think they will first show up in a plane and then in a bus.
I think we wear our aqua pants and the white jerseys
the refs should be able to distinguish between willful and wanting to try to hurt a QB vs just trying to bring him to the ground, that was not the case with the matthews sack, it seems like the refs are robots, any landing on the QB will result in a penalty, they are unable to distinguish and use common sense between the two acts.
Wake and Quinn should bring a pillow on the field just in case they get to Brady!
I wonder if they can get a sealy posturepedic on the field? Just in case!!
10
DOLPHINS (3-0) 7
Previous rank: No. 17
The Dolphins have earned this spot, whether you believe in them or not. Ryan Tannehill has played excellent football for three weeks running, highlighted by a 17-of-23 effort with 289 yards and three touchdowns against the Raiders. No picks, either. Don’t forget Albert Wilson’s turn at quarterback. The defense was as shaky as it’s been thus far, but the unit made up for it by creating two turnovers, one of which sealed the win. Concern? Inconsistency in the run game. Miami must be effective on the ground to be more than a wild-card one-and-done.
Um, wild card? we are Division leaders baby.
Maybe defenses will be allowed to use nets to safely capture the QB and then humanely set them back on their feet. Yeah that’s the ticket! LOL
But last thing you want is your sack erased and have a new down 15 yards the other way. Have a feeling we are gonna start seeing some “hug and holds.” Could even see a DE just lifting the QB up off his feet until the whistle.
What they should do if they’re going to keep this nonsense going is make in the grasp more immediate. That will not help how these rushers go about getting to the QB using speed but once you kind of have grasp of the QB the play is over and it’s a sack. The QB no longer gets to escape it. Can’t have it both ways.
https://twitter.com/OmarKelly/status/1044683365369221120
Shore up the trenches!
Note the “Brady Pillow”
Tannehill is “in the grasp” on this play….wearing the Defenseman like a cape
What Tim said is what’s going to have to happen. QB’s like Big Ben won’t like that rule, but it’s not fair to the defense to say you can’t tackle the QB, and then one week you play a guy like Ben Roethlisberger, who just doesn’t go down, so you really have to be physical with him. They’re just going to have to blow the whistle, and once the QB is in the grasp, the play is dead.
It’s all about the safety of the QB so make it about that and stop ruining good defense. The defender gets there the officials should know the QB is going to get drilled so blow the whistle even before contact and the defender can begin to slow up or dive away without contorting himself and it’s called a safety sack. It sucks but that’s the only way.
NFL has announced a new required uniform for QBs starting next week.
This is exactly the sort of thing the NFL does not need. But they brought in upon themselves.
Man, the Titans are in QB trouble. Mariota has an injured elbow, Gabbert is concussed. They released Logan Woodside, so they signed veteran QB Austin Davis
Ouch!