No pictures necessary. I couldn’t find half our defense on Sunday. It was the first game after a very limited preseason with no games and not nearly enough practice time. I need to temper my disappointment. Once again, the team that so many have written off after the numerous COVID-19 opt outs and the defections from the team in free agency, it all comes down to the Patriots can win with Belichick and just about anybody. I didn’t fear Cam Newton the QB, I feared Cam Newton the RB. Andy Dalton scares me more passing the football than Cam Newton, but Cam didn’t beat us passing, the run pass option beat us. Time of possession: Patriots 35 minutes – Dolphins 25 minutes. That partly explains the low offensive output although the officials near the end of the game made sure it stayed that way by not calling either defensive holding or what I thought was defensive pass interference in the end zone against TE Mike Gesicki by Patriots DB Joejuan Williams with 1:35 left. We probably weren’t going to win the game but you hate to have a turnover and lose possession on a play that was clearly a defensive foul. Anyway, the fact is we got beat. We got handled by a simple game plan that we had no answer for. We knew they were doing it, and we couldn’t stop it. All the defensive players we brought in may as well have been still playing for NE (Van Noy, Roberts), CLE (Ogbah), BUF (Lawson), PHI (Grugier-Hill) because they were invisible on Sunday. We need more from these guys.
Again, the good news is it’s only one game and we face a relatively similar threat this week in the Bills with Josh Allen. Allen has shredded us in the past running all over us so we do face a familiar issue, knowing what they can do and then stopping it. This offseason, Buffalo picked up WR Stefon Diggs and paired him with speedy former Ravens WR John Brown. Devin Singletary is OK, not a guy that really scares you and Zack Moss will be their goal line threat. Allen running scares me more than either Bills RB. If it seems like I’m ignoring our offensive ineptitude, I’m going to get to that. While our O-line starting 5 looked pretty good and played 100% of the offensive snaps, all 62, which is impressive. Jordan Howard played a very minor role and it was Myles Gaskin who ended up leading the Dolphins in rushing with 40 yards on 9 carries. Matt Breida was next with 22 years on 5 carries and Jordan Howard managed only 7 yards on 8 carries. Fitzpatrick was not great either, but why Preston Williams kept slipping on the artificial turf is confounding. It’s not like he needed to change to longer spikes, and the field was dry. Once again, the nagging injury bug has bitten WR Devante Parker. It is so frustrating because we all hoped he’d follow last season with an equal or likely better one, but if this hamstring hampers him, don’t count on it.
I’m not saying Tua has to play soon, but if the Dolphins offense doesn’t start putting points on the board, it’s inevitable that Tua, as long as he’s healthy should play. He’s the superstar in the making, and no reason to protect him for no reason. The O-line looks competent, so therefore if Fitz and the Dolphins offense don’t start showing some life, the Tua chapter of Dolphins football must begin. I’d like to consider game 1 as our first action since we had no preseason. A pass for a shoddy performance, but 1 game is all they get. If we open up at home getting run over by Josh Allen and the Bills it’s not going to look good for our season.
Christian Wilkins, last year’s 1st RD pick made his presence felt. We need 4-5 more guys on defense to do that each week. We need guys on offense to step up. Not sure if Parker is going to play or not and even if he does start, how long will he play and can he even be effective. I’d like to see Jordan Howard running hard. I’d like to see Breida catch a few balls out of the backfield and get upfield. I want to see Mike Gesicki continue his growth from last season and be like a George Kittle, Travis Kelce type of player. The O-line looks ready for prime time but the Bills may be a tougher challenge than the Patriots. We need to dominate the LOS and get some push for our backs and hopefully a successful run game will open up the passing game. I expect a conservative game plan, we don’t want to keep turning the ball over. If we win this game, I’m expecting a low scoring game, maybe a 17-16 game or 20-16. I’ll take either one!
GO DOLPHINS!!!
1st & 10 at BUF 25
(0:38 – 1st) (Shotgun) J.Allen pass short left to D.Knox to MIA 37 for 38 yards (K.Van Noy). FUMBLES (K.Van Noy), RECOVERED by MIA-N.Igbinoghene at MIA 37. N.Igbinoghene to MIA 37 for no gain (I.McKenzie). Penalty on BUF-I.McKenzie, Offensive Holding, declined
This is hot garbage! I want a refund for this week!
TECHNICAL PROBLEMS AT STEVE ROSS’S “STATE OF THE ART’ STADIUM!!!
WHO’D BELIEVE THAT??!!??
Did Ross buy CBS Sports
It’s not a Dolphins issue, it’s the network.
RIGHT; TRUST ME.
We just went three and out
A power outage?
Don’t they have generators?
I’m not getting any game now. No Steelers/Broncos either.
Power outage
So far my analysis of the game is Fuck you
Lol. Wheres our secondary?
The bills just went up 14-7
The camera guy got covid
Power outage!? The corner score board / video screens are working
Fumble by Brady
Oh okay it’s a power outage. I know it was raining, is the weather that bad in Miami?
Overcast and might be T-storms…. sorta of usual summer weather.
D looking good
There is a link on NFL com that says listen live….you click it and it says available right after the game
Just saw a highlight?
OK back
My power if working…. if only I’d bought that 14-mile extension cord like I meant too.
we’re calling a lot of junky plays.and I’m ready for Tua.
haack mvp
He is at the MVP position….. and looking good today.
Haak is good at that tombstone
Now I can complain about how bad they look again
4th & 9 at MIA 43
(8:53 – 2nd) M.Haack punts 51 yards to BUF 6, Center-B.Ferguson, downed by MIA-M.Hollins
3rd & 9 at MIA 43
(8:57 – 2nd) (Shotgun) R.Fitzpatrick pass incomplete short left to I.Ford (T.Dodson)
2nd & 8 at MIA 44
(9:36 – 2nd) (Shotgun) R.Fitzpatrick pass short right to L.Bowden to MIA 43 for -1 yards (T.Dodson)
1st & 10 at MIA 42
(10:14 – 2nd) (Shotgun) R.Fitzpatrick pass short left to M.Breida to MIA 44 for 2 yards (V.Butler)
3rd & 7 at MIA 28
(10:54 – 2nd) (Shotgun) R.Fitzpatrick pass short left to I.Ford to MIA 42 for 14 yards (L.Wallace; M.Addison)
2nd & 10 at MIA 25
(11:36 – 2nd) (Shotgun) M.Breida right tackle to MIA 28 for 3 yards (J.Hughes)
1st & 10 at MIA 25
(11:40 – 2nd) (Shotgun) R.Fitzpatrick pass incomplete short left to M.Breida (J.Hughes)
Damn, not another punt inside the 20. The last 2 resulted in TD drives.
OD, whatever it is your blaming of Ross for anything and everything is getting kind of weird.
Is the game back on?
Yes it is
What was the streaming site you guys use?
FUCK this defense sucks.
Archuleta is reading script which does not apply. Idiot.
I don’t undertand how they recorded anything during a power outage
Probably wasn’t a power outage
Am I crazy?
Two years two years of bad defense two different defensive coordinators same GM & HC…. A defensive HC
Thought that was a pick. Damn. Nice catch
Whats the streaming site you guys use?
Defense is experiencing a power outage
When does this defense do something?
How is that not grounding?
Okay I got the game back.
Trash penalry
They are on pace to give up about 700 yards to the bills
D, I’m using one of the links on the sportssurge site Cav posted last week. I copy/pasted the post up the page
Thanks Herd.
Saquan Barkley Knee done for day
Pretty much you win at that point.
That ball hit the ground. No catch.
Bad challenge
Ok, lest see a successful two minute drill
By which team?
Strike that!
need a real drive here with a td so things don’t get out of hand.
Wow that looked like a tannehilll drop back
Ftannehill with 3 touchdowns
dolphins really needed a preseason.
Yeah the defense doesn’t seem to be picking up on what the Bills are running. They’re also playing a lot of man and getting beat. But in the long term that’s what the coaches want to run.
Really pathetic
We are a young team and we are seeing that so far
Agreed. The score could be worse.
That was some shit tackling
We need Fitzmagic not Fitztragic
🙌
Nice way to end the half
as Ken said, shouldn’t have burned that time out with that iffy challenge
Exactly
There’s your 2 minute drive!
we have given up 342 yards in a half. The score should be much worse.
Nice kick from Sanders to get 3 heading into the half. 17-10 isn’t so bad with how this game is gone.
We’re in the hunt, but it doesn’t feel that way.
Is Howard watching the game at Bokampers with Waldo?
I’m wearing what I call my Where’s Waldo Fins shirt 😊
Wow niners lost Garropolo and Mostert as well as Bosa
49s out: Jimmy G, Mostert and Bosa. Expect to see more injuries around the league
Also Solomon Thomas
Ackers
How is Mrs Manitoba dealing with this?
And Dolphins down Byron Jones. Like that Iggy kid though.
Drew Locke out in Denver
I just don’t see anything positive in this defense…..why is this only a 7 point game.
Is that it?
Getting a take away helps
Oh yeah….missed that during the outage.
Ken, you’re right guys are dropping like flies. Players need some game reps before the season and no teams had any.
^^^^^^*
Archuleta sounds like concussed that’s lingering.
I must ask again……
Fitzmagic not Fitztragic
This game is so 2020
LOL
Cheep ass Ross (Eyeroll) could have put a roof on and there would be no stoppage right now…..
Lol
Now we have a lightning break. Awesome! LOL
Ken : her team is up 24-3 so she’s doing okay. Has Mackinnon on a fantasy team so kind of okay with Mostert
I am not okay with Mostert. He is on my team
Now a stoppage cause of lightening. They are headed to the locker rooms.
omg what is it with electricity?
God hates sea mammals
tannehill 12 of 14 for 172 and 3 TDs
The Henry is one hell of a running back…..he he he
4 TD’s
I hope Miami is smart enough to keep there guys on their feet moving while Buff gets cold in the locker room.
Now Sterling Shepard out for Giants
Coaches better be using this time to FITFO too!
We need to mix in some zone coverage but the coaches might want to keep working on press/man for the future. That’s how they want to play.
Live reporter stanger here — just checked it out off my balcony. The rainstorm stuff is really localized in Hardrock’s area. And doesn’t even look that bad. Guess that stuff could just stick and hang there…. but not normally how it works.
Playing from behind doesn’t help Jordan see the field
2.7 feet per carry (not yards, feet) will not help you see the field.
If they were going to play Howard seems they already would have. Other than goal line and short yardage.
WOW Both kickers in the in the Jax Titans game have missed an XP off the upright. LOL
Okay we’re back.
Sun out yet over Hardrock?
I’d say 4th Q. The front is moving off to the South.
And wee about to be back
Game starting!
Nose catch by Mike G
Nice^
Gesicki looks good
Parker!
Gaskin smart enough to fall down after 9 yards so it would count
Gaskins is gashing … damn penalty
🙌..
Killer penalty
We are more experienced team after acts of God
Okay defense, time to step up!
Gaskin has been impressive. I guess he’s been impressing the coaches more than Howard and Breida. Hey if that’s the case so be it.
What a catch
Wow.