The Fest, it was beautiful. Great meeting some new, very cool people. Great spending time during the week with those I’ve already met. The Game, anything but beautiful. I would say to most of our surprise, it was the defense that apparently got stuck in the team hotel, and didn’t make it to the game. Quite a few were so concerned about the play of QB Brock Osweiler, and it was our defense, which had been playing opportunistic football, that really let us down.
I, and a few others, including Bookman’s pal and Lions fan Fred, felt like the score didn’t accurately portray what we all saw on Sunday. We were thrashed, and the 10 point differential doesn’t tell the story. At the game, it’s hard to see the individual battles, but we were getting wiped out, and run over all day long. 248 yards rushing, with most of the damage coming from rookie Kerryon Johnson, but really, the Lions O-line, which was devastating our front 7.
I noticed so many damn substitutions that looked to me like we weren’t sure WTF we were doing. For instance, at least twice, I saw Minkah trot onto the field, Baker trot off the field, only to have them turn around and switch back. On the O-line, it looked to me from up on high, that Ted Larsen had an awful game, and sure enough, he was replaced by newly acquired OG/OC Wesley Johnson, who was the Jets starting C last season.
The injuries are really piling on up us and I fear what happened last year, starting the season 4-2, only to go on and lose 5 in a row is a real possibility. We lost a dynamic offensive playmaker in WR Albert Wilson. You could say he made enough of an impact to almost single handedly give us 2 of our 4 wins. Now he’s gone for the season. Our deep threat WR, who has been somewhat forgotten lately, Kenny Stills, gone for at least this week and maybe more. We will be scraping the bottom of the depth chart barrel to bring in Devante Parker and possibly LCIII (Leonte Carroo). Hey, if you can’t get onto the field at first, hang around and wait for the attrition to happen, and you’ll get your shot.
I thought Brock Osweiler played well enough, and was surprised that some thought he played poorly. Sure, Matt Stafford played better, but Stafford is a much better QB playing in his 10th season for the same team. I thought Osweiler made a couple of great throws, and yes, one particular throw should have been picked, but he wasn’t the reason we didn’t win. Even if Tannehill were 100%, I want to see more of Osweiler. My plan would be draft a QB in 2019, and try and find your backup QB. Maybe Osweiler is that guy. Tannehill doesn’t fit that bill at $26M next season, so I believe this is Tannehill’s last season here, or at least it should be.
It’s tough to overcome injuries, and this will make 2 consecutive seasons where injuries have ravaged our roster. Last season, Raekwon McMillan was injured early in game 1. T.J. McDonald was suspended for 8 games. OG Ted Larsen was on IR for 8 games. CB Tony Lippett tore his achilles and missed the entire season. Later on RT Ja’Wuan James went on IR, along with DE William Hayes. This season has been much of the same. TE MarQueis Gray started the avalanche, followed by Pro Bowl OG Josh Sitton. ST’s ace LB Mike Hull and OG/OC Jake Brendel followed suit, and were both placed on the returnable IR. William Hayes was just a little later, as he tried not to get a roughing the QB penalty by placing his full body weight on QB Derek Carr, awkwardly landed on his knee in his effort to do so, and joined the barrage of injuries and ended up on the IR. OC Dan Kilgore who we traded for with SFO in the offseason also landed on the IR with a torn triceps muscle.
The last thing we needed was a Thursday Night Effing Football game after these injuries. We’re short in the WR corps, with just Amendola, Grant, Parker and possibly Leonte Carroo, the latter 2 have 2 receptions for 40 yards on the season, and both of those are Parker’s. DE Charles Harris is OUT (Disappointing!), TE A.J. Derby DNP, TE Mike Gesicki has a shoulder injury and was limited in practice, as was WR Danny Amendola and S T.J. McDonald with an ankle injury.
We still have a winning record, but can we maintain it? We’re going to have to be creative on offense, now that 2 of our HR hitters are out (Wilson and Stills). We’re going to have to look for Grant and Drake, and maybe our old long lost pal Devante Parker becomes a hero for a day. On defense, we shouldn’t get run over by the Texans. Lamar Miller has 371 yards on 95 carries for a less than stellar 3.9 YPC. Alfred Blue has 216 yards for a 3.4 YPC average. It shouldn’t be the run game, although QB DeShaun Watson is tied for 2nd with 216 yards rushing, so we have to contain him. I’ve already mentioned DE Charles Harris is out, but DE Jonathan Woodard will be back.
DeShaun Watson lit up the NFL last year before getting injured, but this year has been a fall back to earth for Watson. Watson has thrown for 1937 yards, 10 TD’s and 7 INT’s, along with his 216 yards rushing and 1 rushing TD. WR DeAndre Hopkins is still one of the NFL’s best, but he’s been doubled quite a bit, and WR Will Fuller has been the beneficiary of much less attention on the other side. JJ Watt is back to being JJ Watt with 46 total tackles, 7 sacks, 8 TFL, 12 QB hits, and 4 FF’s already. We somehow managed to contain Khalil Mack, but the Bears didn’t have Jadeveon Clowney opposite him.
When we’re on defense, it’s time to start sacking the QB! If I told you before the season that after 7 games that DT Vincent Taylor and LB Jerome Baker would be leading the team in sacks with 2 each, you’d think I was crazy. What’s even worse is that 3 of our sacks came from William Hayes (IR) and Jordan Phillips (Waived). That leaves only 8 sacks from our current roster. Ugh!
For now, just figure out a way to get a win, and try to hold tough until the BYE week, which comes in Week 11.
I want to thank Stanger for his wonderful hospitality, Chef Warren for his chefness, and everyone who came down to make this last Fest another success. I hope to see more and more of you in the coming years, and you all know I’m older than Methuselah, so please don’t wait too long!
Finsmob Unleashed 
Buck
Buck
Buck
Is he the only announcer Fox has?
He just did both World Series games, I find him annoying.
I’d MUCH rather have Gus Johnson calling this game… and I KNOW that Mike E would agree! 😀
And yes, Gus Johnson still works for Fox Sports.
He’s good
Who is starting at TE?
mf13ss says:
October 25, 2018 at 7:21 pm
Who wins tonight between the Dolphins and the Texans?
One of the response tweets on that train says “I think if the Texans can score more points they can win” LOL
Dude standing behind Strahan and Bradshaw has a Csonka jersey. Buy him a beer!
🍻
I’d chip in on that!
McTyer is inactive? too many missed assignments
Gus es numero uno!
Primero!
What’s up FUers?
Hey, Hulkster! Are you ready for some Thursday Night Football?!!
I hate Thursday night football but I am ready for some Fins.
Let’s do this!!!
Did I say Fuck you Terry?
Well, either way, if I did or didn’t
Fuck you Terry
Rock:
Who haven’t you said fuck you too? 😉
Twittering device is… OFF
GO PHINS!!!
HELL YEAH!!!
I’m going to go throw in a load of laundry Herd.
It’s hard on me tonight as Houston has 4 great Clemson players. But I don’t even want them to have good games.
And Drake prevented Clemson from winning a national title by returning a kickoff for a TD, But I cheer for Kenyan every play now.
and no, Phish, I am not sorry we lost Miller, even though he is from Miami, as I prefer Drake.
They’re all the enemy tonight. Stay strong man.
^
I hope we remembered to bring the defense this week
I know , right?
One thing is , we can’t let Deshaun beat us running.
What about Grier
or do you not trust a UF transfer
or do you not trust any West Va QB
(cough Pat White cough)?
He’s one of my favorites. Fearless
Illegal formation on the KO?
How the fuck did we do that?
And the zebras are already messing up the mood and tempo of this game.
geez the refs are already fucking the game up on the first play.
I do hate Buck. He’s so snarky.
So after that we gained 3 yards
Make that 8
Gore
ORob on first down for 7.
Feed Gore
I love Devante Parker.
suddenly
Who’s 11? Lol
Mike Wallace
A Parker sighting
Olay
Watt flat whipped past James right out of his stance.
Amendola is such a pro.
Go for it
Holy bad playcall
Missed PI but bad play call
WTF is that play call?
Gase overthinking it
My God. Run the damn ball. Plus, that was interference.
Upon the replay, it REALLY looked like Gore was interfered with.
On 4th and inches I don’t won’t to hang my hat on a PI call
He was behind the line of scrimmage contact is allowed
Stupid play call, but that was a PI
too cute Gase. Just do a QB sneak.
I would have kicked it. We need points.
^
I think it was smart to go for it
Just a dumb play call
I don’t know why he hates QB sneak so bad
The refs owe us one back for that shit.
Bad playcall, regardless.
Alright now. Hold them on 3rd and 9.
yo Minkah nice tackle
At least the D came out strong
They should have 3 points in their pocket too
Hey that was tripping.
How do the refs miss that trip?
WTF!!! LEG-TACKLE by the Texans!!!
Man the zebras are already on this shit. Just missed a big one on that trip which was obvious as hell
Holy Hell! A 3 and out for the D? On the first drive?
Good sign!
I fist pumped
Ken I was saying all through the fest weekend that Gase makes simple things complicated
That 4th and inches call is another example don’t you think?
Drive it down again
Wow that was a really bad trip
ok let’s see Parker again
James is the only tackle who wishes he was playing Khalil Mack every week
Let’s get 70 some help before it’s too late
Clowney hurt Joseph.
Now throw over there….let’s take advantage
They both played for South Carolina.
GrAntman taking a Wilson play
First Down
Dude is lightning
Jesus…Can Gase quit trying to prove he’s smarter than everyone?
That’s what it always feels like he’s doing
Overthinking
Seems that we’re clearly playing against the zebras, once again.
Go Ballage in the wildcat.
Ballagecat
Nice
Great couple of runs by Drake
doesn’t count
What doesn’t?
Running for a 1st down on 1st down
Agree with you above Piggy
About Gase
Hey Cunningham
Remember him
Now kick the damned thing
Shitty blocking by Parker
Cool
Some where Stanger is angry
Wow. Thank you!
There’s our receipt for missed flag earlier
Gase is so smart … what a great play call
Boom 💥
🐖💨
DRAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111
Drake with a TD on a run that doesnt count!!
Do touch downs longer than 10 yards count? I’m so confused
Winkey eye!
😉
Texans look like straight up pig farts
Weak call against Houston but makes up for sine bad ones against us. I’ll take that TD and not feel bad about it. He did hit his arm to his neck but it was a weak call
refs owed us that for the tripping call they missed
Makes up for the tripping
I’ll take some terrible reffing at least once. Good run game so far.
This officiating crew is HORRIBLE.
They are drunk
naplesfan2010 says:
October 25, 2018 at 8:51 pm
Gase is so smart … what a great play call
Reply
I think you broke my yew key. I spit bear and now it wont work. 😉
What did the bear do to you?
beer lol
it got me drunk
ER you seem to think like I do and that refs will sometimes make up for a missed call or bad call by doing one to the other team at a different time in the game lol
Yep.
Sometimes its blatant…
Drake is so fast that guys who think they have the angle on him are passed while thinking they are lining up for a hit.
Grease to Marino to Osweiler
That next level blasphemy nfl network
The officiating in this game is the down fall of this game. They miss the obvious and call ticky tack nonsense. Denney got an elbow under the chin but it wasn’t bad. Grant gets leg whipped on a PR and they miss that. SMH.
James rope a doped JJ .. go Ali
Hey we have a lead in the 1st????
I think for the first time since the last time we played them?
What a juke for 34 fucking yards
Our defense is so bad.
Hold em guys
They have missed two big holds. One on godchaux and one on Spence
Spence was yanked backward from behind two plays ago.
They’re are missing both ways at least..
This crew is hating Thursday football like me
Figures….
Cant play complimentary football
ok take it right back at them Dolphins.
Man, we give up some really easy scoring drives.
too many rookies in the middle of the defense
These refs are sucking both ways.
Good 1st qtr. Usually down 2 scores by now.
That may have been the gheyest commercial I’ve ever seen.
which one? They play different commercials regionally
It was lol
Oy
That’s a terrible missed PI.
Fuck
Ah there is the Brock we all remember