The 1-0 Miami Dolphins travel to Baltimore to take on the 1-0 Baltimore Ravens. The tide seems to have turned from years past as we annually had a nightmarish time with the Ravens and to put it frankly, we got our asses handed to us. I’ve put up the numbers of ineptitude and futility many times before, and I’ll do it again as a reminder of what was. Excluding last year’s 22-10 victory over the Ravens, the last six meetings between the Ravens and Dolphins totaled Ravens 178 – Dolphins 44. The disparity there is probably hard to find with any other 2 teams in a league where parity is the design model.
Last week’s game against the Patriots was a great start to the season. Personally, I couldn’t ask for more, but many fans just have ridiculous expectations for our offense, and of course, shade for Tua. If you watched the game, our O-line was a carousel, with both tackles coming out of the game due to injury (LT Armstead and RT Jackson). OT Greg Little and OG Robert Jones were both thrust into action, and G Robert Hunt moved to RT. If you’re a normal fan, you were hoping the starting 5 would be able to be somewhat of a cohesive unit, so beating a quality team and division foe by 13 points after losing both offensive tackles is more than enough for me. I don’t need Tua to throw for 350 yards and 4 TD’s, I just want the team to win!
I had my concerns about our defense, I had figured that Bill Belichick would find a way to exploit the weak link opposite CB Xavien Howard. I remember a game where CB Noah Igbinoghene was torched every time he was on the field, even when he had decent coverage. My thought was Iggy would start opposite X, but clearly the coaches have no confidence in him so Needham who plays the slot so well was asked to play the boundary. CB’s Keion Crossen and rookie sensation Kader Kohou played a fair amount of snaps and specifically Kader Kohou showed up very nicely in his first pro action. Kohou managed to fit in 3 tackles, 1 of them for a loss and 1 forced fumble, a huge game changing forced fumble. I thought the defense overall looked good, but there was a lot of bending going on, but thankfully, not a lot of breaking. The Patriots managed only 271 yards and one TD, 78 yards rushing and 193 passing.
What does concern me, although I suppose if I’m going to stay even keel accepting the fact that our O-line wasn’t whole and we had a few players out of position, I still have some concerns with our running game. Yes, we have a FB, but we averaged only 2,8 yards per rush, and let’s face it, there’s not a RB in our stable that moves the pile. This is a get me out in space and catch the ball and run type of RB stable from top to bottom. None of these guys are running over and through defenders, they need to run by them. The NFL is kind of set up that way with the rule changes, and teams like the Titans with Derrick Henry are the outliers, while many teams have tandem RB’s or even more commonly running by committee, meaning multiple backs. This has become a passing league, and the Dolphins are set up to do just that. Despite not being a “rushing offense”, we won the TOP battle last week 32:30 – 27:30. That’s pretty good.
The Ravens didn’t have much of a fight on their hands against the Joe Flacco led Jets. The Jets actually moved the ball pretty well against the Ravens D, but continuously shot themselves in the foot. They only turned the ball over twice, but they stalled out on too many drives. They severely outgained the Ravens, 380 – 274, and oddly enough, the Jets shared the same exact TOP advantage over the Ravens as we did against the Patriots, 32:30 – 27:30. When Mike McDaniels went for that 4th down, you can see just how important it was, and of course how important it was to actually convert it as we scored a TD. You need to score in the NFL. Yardage and TOP don’t always tell the entire story as ultimately it’s the scoreboard that tells the most important story.
I think we’re a better team than the Ravens. They do get a big boost in RB J.K. Dobbins is healthy this week and will probably be the primary ballcarrier along with RB Kenyan Drake. The Ravens have an excellent O-line, led by everyone at FMU’s favorite center Tyler Linderbaum. LT Ronnie Stanley is much like our own Terron Armstead, a solid experienced vet, along with LG Ben Powers, RG Kevin Zeitler and RT Morgan Moses. WR Rashod Bateman definitely has a connection with QB Lamar Jackson, and WR Devin Duvernay had a nice game against the Jets. We know one of these guys is getting shut down, so we’ll see how week number w/o Byron Jones goes for the guys opposite X on defense. Belichick was unable to exploit the situation, I hope the same will go for John Harbaugh, another excellent NFL coach. Good to see Jaylen Waddle back in the lineup and healthy,and man does having Tyreek Hill make a huge difference. He’s so dangerous, you have to figure Harbaugh won’t allow Hill as much single coverage as Belichick did, Waddle and other will have plenty of opportunities to make some plays.
#stangerstrong
GO DOLPHINS!!!!
Finsmob Unleashed 
Nice write up Mike Thank you!
when are we gonna have a solid and reliable oline. Hopefully this year.
Thanks Boulder! Let’s get our starting five healthy first, and then we’ll work towards solid and reliable. 😉
Where are you staying for the Fest and when are you getting in to FLA?
Austin Jackson going on IR. Out at least 4 weeks now.
SMH
Wow, that sucks!
Good job, as always Mike E.
Here’s hoping McDaniel has designed something to give the tackles some help.
Thanks Naples!
hmmm like a blocking tight end?
At least they signed that vet RT Shell right away,
so maybe he can get enough reps to be ready in case we need him.
On the good side, Eich and Robt Hunt have played tackle a lot before,
so it’s not like they don’t know what that’s like.
Keep an eye out on Sunday for a Ricky Williams jersey in Row 36 section 150. About the 50 yard line.
Make that Section 152
Aqua?
White
Drooling
This might be the break we need.
I think the DB is usually the weak link on the Ravens D.
Last year this is the game where we had that 52 yd pass to Isaiah Ford and that 64 yard pass to Albert Wilson.
Unfortunately, we no longer have those 2 WRs on our roster.
(wink)
and even if they play, injuries like those are critical for trying to keep up with speed guys. It’s not like a shoulder or hand injury.
I don’t think we really need a bowling ball running back!
Ingold got the 2 yards when we ran for it on 3rd down. With a physical straight ahead run.
Agreed
Ingold runs strong,
but he can also catch a pass,
so that keeps the defense from over-committing to some guy who is only ever in to be a bowling ball.
LOL’d at this one:
“My ex-wife wanted to humiliate me in front of her friends so she told them all that I was terrible in bed……You should have seen her face when they all disagreed”
What’s that from?
TheChive . com daily randomness
Here is another one I thought was funny:
“Flat -earther’s are so dumb. If the earth was flat, cats would have pushed everything off it by now.”
LOL, I like that one, especially because it isn’t insulting to anyone, at least no one that matters…
Harbaugh highly praised Zach Sieler, calling him a wrecking ball inside.
Then he added that Wilkins was also a wrecking ball.
Reading Firemane book 3 and having a difficult time really getting into it. I feel like he could have done a better job of reintroducing the characters and what transpired in the last book. I feel a bit of a letdown after reading the first two books of The First Law Trilogy
Justin Herbert now has thrown 4 pick 6’s in the 4th Quarter.
Brady has 4 in his entire career, Rodgers 1, Russ Wilson 2.
Tua has 1, but he followed that up by throwing the game winning TD pass (against the jest, but still …)
on that Ingold clip above, Archuletta is heard threatening Tua again, saying “he’s under a lot of pressure to try to use all those weapons.”
Implying he can’t
While he’s blabbing about not having confidence that Tua can do it, Ingold powers through for the first down.
Do the hump do the Snowman hump
Unfortunately
The clip above of Ingold getting the first down is the play in which Austin Jackson was hurt, as Ingold and the tacklers on his back fell forward onto the back of Jackson’s calves.
Nice write, Mike.
That sucks that Jackson is on the 4 week IR. We’re banged up on the OL but looking around the league lots of teams are already banged up at many different positions.
Thanks Tim!
Another good write Mike E. I’m actually more worried about this one than the first.
Thanks Stanger – I feel like you want your best guys out there. Keep Armstead, Eich, Williams and Hunt at their regular positions and play Little who actually looked good. I like Little better than Deiter and you’re not playing 2 guys out of position
Still thinking Hunt would be our best RT and he’s played there plenty. But if you like Little better than Deiter it’s a no brainer. I like Deiter, but admittedly haven’t seen enough of Little.
With Jackson out for a stretch think it time to switch Hunt back to RT. Then I’d go with Deiter at RG.
McDaniel said Greg Little will play RT with Jackson out.
Did he say that before or after the move to IR? In any event Hunt to RT would be my move, but then I’m not the coach and don’t see them play every day.
I saw a blurb that mentioned with Jackson out 4 weeks.
They placed Jackson on IR. So he is out at least 4 weeks. That’s different than a game, which is why was going into planning for that.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FcZj6msXkAEPs4S?format=jpg&name=240×240
that’s not the best version of that picture,
but
that’s a 275 pound DE getting that much air.
“If he can, he will. He has a high pain tolerance. He loves playing games. He’s played games with worse injuries.”
— McDaniel on whether Armstead will play and getting me thinking North Dallas Forty.
Lol, while watching Herbert last night I reference ND40, when the Chiefs fan next to me said, give him a shot
The book North Dallas Forty is awesome. Written by Peter Gent, who yes played wide reciever for the Cowboys. So yes a work of fiction….. but is it? At least comes from a guy whose been there.
Robert Jones is in the mix too, to play RG, when you move Hunt to RT
I don’t care that 2 guys are out of position, RT is more important, than RG, so I’m playing Hunt at RT
Baltimore is more at a disadvantage with their DBs, than we are at OL
Tua needs to work the short catch and run game
Might use some more max protect and movement with boots too.
ok
That report looks more favorable to us, but we’ll see
In their shoes I’d be afraid to cover Tyreek, with someone who has no business covering him
They can double him, but they may not help on short passes
MM seems to be cautious with injuries, especially the lingering type
Jones and now Jackson
dang I hate to see Christian Wilkins on that questionable list!!
Terron Armstead is bad enough, but I was somewhat ready to read that.
“He did some really cool stuff.“I was very, very happy with his play. The biggest thing with him is he knows he can play the position very well. I can tell internally. He’s demanding a lot of himself. At center, your demands aren’t just physical.”
— Coach Mike McDaniel on Connor Williams at Center.
“It was good to get the first one in. I feel natural at the position. I consider myself a center now.”
— Connor Williams on Connor Williams at Center
Glad that’s panning out.
Meh
That’s painful as anything. You seem OK but then turn in the wrong way and intense pain. But the North Dallas Forty has solutions for that.
Especially if he gets hit there again.
I’m seeing all these stories about Dan Marino considered playing for another team in 2000. This isn’t anything new.
RIP John Stearns
Met him at Mets Fantasy Camp 19 years ago. Great guy. So glad he got to participate in Mets Old Timers Day just a few weeks ago. That was such a great day for the organization and it facilitated “The Dude” reuniting with his former teammates, coaches etc. Loved him when he played, great defensive catcher and a pretty good offensive one as well
^
RIP John Stearns
Things always seem to happen in pairs, yesterday I mentioned Tekulve throwing a ball up to me at a Pirates game, what I didn’t mention was, it was a John Stearns HR ball
How did Tekulve get a John Stearns HR ball?
The bullpen for Pirates was down the left field line, in the corner behind the wall and inside the foul pole
I almost caught the hr ball, it was just below me
The ball sat there right below me, Tekulve threw it straight up
My house has been listed for sale for 3 weeks now, first showing is in an hour and 15 minutes from now
The market sucks here, but if I can sell it, I’ll be living in FL end of next summer, and will be attending the fests regularly
Have a lot in Vero Beach, but may hold out a while before building
Nice!!
Why is it news now, that Marino considered leaving the Fins to win an SB in 2000?
We all knew that at the time, and was rumured to be going to Minn
Yes, he also talked to PIT.
Stanger – the pitcher for the Pirates tonight Keller looks really good. Very impressive
What????????
The thing about Lamar Jackson is he’s an elite speed guy at QB and you can’t have 3 big men chasing him around. They can’t match his speed. You have to attack him and force him to make mistakes.
Watching Jackson 2.0, Louisville vs FSU
Ride for the Brand baby!!!!!!!!!!!
That’s a good win for them.
whoa Nice! AF had gotten votes to be in the Top 25!
Hey Mike,
I’m staying in South beach. I’m in a red eye that Saturday night. I get into Miami Sunday morning at 6 am :). Don’t worry I’ll be ready for the fest. I’ll probably meet you guys at the tailgate (I need info on that). I’ll be in Miami till the 20th.
Cool Boulder – look forward to meeting you
Not many good games on tomorrow outside of Penn State at Auburn.
Maybe Mississippi State vs LSU. I may watch this one to get a good look at Mississppi State junior QB Will Rogers. Last year he threw for 4739 yards, 36 TD’s and 9 INT’s. In 2 games this year he’s thrown for 763 yards, 9 TD’s and 2 INT’s. He runs their “air raid” offense, so he is going to have big numbers.
The U at TA&M tonight
I missed that one. Guess I only scrolled though the day games.
One month til the Fest 💥
Jealous I can’t make it. It’s my birthday weekend also. Got family coming to town.
Yeah you’re a dud, it’s mine too we could really party it up
Watching OU blitz Nebraska, their blitzers are getting the sack, but boy are they slow
We’re fortunate to have Jones and Holland, especially this week
No matter what we do on O, this game will have to be won on D
Complimentary football would be nice again, on any form
Bunch of 40 point blow outs today
ok
Everyone who thought Hunter Long was going to push Gesicki out the door, how’s that working for ya? The only one pushing Gesicki out the door is Gesicki himself.
Long has been disappointing but mostly because of injuries. He never plays.
Least Eric Moody has a head on his shoulders. 🙂
———————
Here’s a roundup of expert picks for Sunday afternoon’s Dolphins-Ravens matchup.
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports – Ravens
Jason La Canfora, CBS Sports – Ravens
Will Brinson, CBS Sports – Ravens
Jared Dubin, CBS Sports – Ravens
Seth Walder, ESPN – Ravens
Eric Moody, ESPN – Dolphins
Mike Florio, PFT – Ravens
Michael David Smith, PFT – Ravens
Greg Rosenthal, NFL.com – Ravens
Hey guys did you see where Oronde Gadsden caught winning TD for Syracuse over Purdue?
Last time we played Baltimore:
Jevon Holland blitzed 19 times
Brandon Jones blitzed 15
Jerome Baker blitzed 20 times (a career-high), and
Andrew Van Ginkel was sent 21 times.
I have a feeling this is going to be a tough game tomorrow. Anyway we can pull out a victory is good enough for me.
I agree. The O is not there yet with an injured OL
Could come down to the turnover battle.
Yup Tim scrap like hell and WIN!
Everyone who thought Hunter Long was going to push Gesicki out the door, how’s that working for ya? The only one pushing Gesicki out the door is Gesicki himself.
———–
I never thought that. I didn’t like the pick at all. He plays slow running his routes and getting on his block.
When does he ever play? LOL
Right! I was going off last year’s tape when I went back and watched all the running plays to see who I would like us to keep out of Gaskin, Ahmed and Duke.
I guess you don’t remember his father who played for Miami, also named Oronde Gadsden.
He is the guy who made those spectacular one-handed catches.
But he was old for a rookie and also injuries cut his career short.
I don’t think any of us forgot who he is. He definitely had some big moments for us.
Anyway, the father is the guy who caught Marino’s last TD pass.
And the son is now a 6’5 WR for Syracuse.
Hope he got Orande’s hands and ball skills. His Dad was amazing.
ND finally gets a W. Finally.
this
PSU with an impressive W.
One thing I’m happy about with this offense is the bubble screens are no longer a staple. We definitely attempt more up field routes.
I think we are going to see some more screens and reverses as the season goes on
I hear you on the old Offenses we sat through
But what I’m really happy is about is not seeing those 1st down draw plays to the RB out of the shotgun
I have nothing against the okay
But it was every set of series and we often ended up in 2nd and 9, 10 of 11
Use first down to set up second down
The old offense seemed to want to get past first down
That’s why I said it’s not a staple anymore. We may run them from time to time but we do push the ball up the field a lot more.
As for the shotgun draws with RPO, that’s another play that’s no longer a staple.
I think our WRs are going to eat the ravens secondary alive
Cocky Pork for Life!
JUST 11 MINUTES UNTIL UCF & FAU det it on at Schnellenberger Field in Boca Raton. Hoping for a competitive game.
That’s “GET IT ON!”
Get it on
Go Knights 💥
naplesfan2010 says:
September 17, 2022 at 4:27 pm
Hey guys did you see where Oronde Gadsden caught winning TD for Syracuse over Purdue?
I watched that game, but did you notice how the officiating crew went Rainbow Warrior on Purdue?
With 51 seconds left, Purdue too a 4 point lead, on the extra point they called 15 yard penalty on Purdue for jawing with an Orangeman, then another 15 yarder on the ST coach, Purdue kicked off from their 10, returned to midfield
On 3rd and 10 they called D holding no replay, the pass had been incomplete, they seemed to have missed ( Marvin Harrison Jr just scored for OSU😁) a blatant tackle on a pass rusher on the play
Then a PI on Purdue, I mean can you be any more obvious or homerish?
stangerx says:
September 17, 2022 at 4:50 pm
Last time we played Baltimore:
Jevon Holland blitzed 19 times
Brandon Jones blitzed 15
Jerome Baker blitzed 20 times (a career-high), and
Andrew Van Ginkel was sent 21 times.?
Repeat performance tomorrow, blitz the hell out of Jackson, 1 v 1 on the WRs, and keep numbers at the line at the snap, Amoeba on steroids
I think we’ll see a lot of it. Jackson seems determined to have answers for it so we might want to spy him too because I think he’s going to try to beat it with his legs.
Just get a job dude! You suck!
I wish she shot him right in the balls
Everyone who thought Hunter Long was going to push Gesicki out the door, how’s that working for ya? The only one pushing Gesicki out the door is Gesicki himself.
When drafted everyone on the board said, WTF
After that I watched his tape and said he can’t catch, while others disagreed, because of the amount od catches he had, way to use stats to prove a point
Well there is some good college video of him making plays. Haven’t seen any as a Dolphin yet though.
The ones I saw show him catching 5 or 6 passes and dropping 2 or 3 very catchable balls
Okay you might be right about him. We’ll find out but he’s definitely not off to a good start in his NFL career.
TWO MINUTES and FAU drives 87 yards for an impressive TD!!–Hope the Fins start this well tomorrow!
UCF at FAU is live on DIRECTV Ch. 221.
No TOs we win, 1 TO we’ll be in a dog fight, 2+ and we have no chance
Tua needs to respect the ball
^
OSU has their swagger back, because they have 3 tds on 3 drives
Do these idiots listen to what they sat?
OSU v Toledo, seriously?
In that case Bama got their swagger back against UL Monroe, wtf
Listen to what they say
The FAU stadium looks a lot like UCF’s
Here we go
THAT’s RIGHT, SON, Especially when the stadium is nearly full.
VERY,VERY entertaining 1st quarter ends with FAU leading 14-7.
WHEN THEY SWUNG the cameras toward the stands at FAU Stadium you probably saw more than a few Dolphin fan shirts in the stands. Schnellenberger Field is only about 30 miles or so north of Hard Head Stadium.
Up and over for the lead
NICE DRIVE by UCF, Sonny. Wonder if that missed PAT will come back to haunt them? Knights-16, FAU-14.
HUGE FUMBLE RECOVERY by the Owls at there own 5 yard line!!
THAT really saved the day after FAU player was deservedly booted from the game for targeting. This game is getting spicy now, isn’t it??
M13: 27-24 PHINS!
Whoever is keeping the (Howie’s) list, please add me to it.
Does the U have a WR, that can catch? Any WR
I believe I heard the Ravens had the least amount of rushing yards last week which is usually the opposite for them both with their backs and Jackson. Supposedly J.K. Dobbins will be back in the mix and will the Ravens try to re-establish their run game? I think so.
The guy we need to focus on in the passing game for the Ravens is TE Mark Andrews. He’s their bread and butter.
Jets dared them to pass, by putting guts up to stop the run, so throw that stat out
Oh okay but they also had no RBs. I’m saying they want to get back to that.
U making too many mistakes
Steve, the Ravens are built on a physical run game, Jackson as a dynamic improv guy both run and pass and Mark Andrews. That’s all I was saying. Make them beat us with their WRs, not their bread and butter.
When sophomore TE Brock Bowers enters the draft, I would spend a high 1st round pick on him. He’s a receiving and RAC threat and a good blocker.
That was today vs South Carolina. This is his freshman highlights (true freshman).
GAME DAY!!!!!!
shit
Melvin Ingram fit right in with this defense in week one didn’t he?
Yes! Hope Flowers does as well.
IT’S GAME DAY BITCHES!!
GO DOLPHINS!!
I’m not going to be around at game time. Gameday blog is up for use during the game. I don’t have time to add everyone’s picks, but my pick is :
Dolphins 23 – Ravens 16
I think your pick is homosexual in mathematical nature. It all about 3, 6 and 9 possibilities. I see what you’re doing there. It’s basically a numerical orgy. LOL
GO DOLPHINS!!!!
How well do you think Brock Bowers (above) would fit in our offense?
At 6’4 230+ he was clocked with a 4.5 40 and had a 40″ vertical as a freshman. He is faster than Gesicki and has great run after the catch ability to go along with being a good blocking TE.
Smythe, Bowers, Tanner Connor and Hunt(?) would be a nice TE room. I’m spending my 2024 1st on Bowers.
Dude… it’s week 2, 2022. LOL
Dude… you know I am obsessed with the draft 24/7. lol
Don’t make me post a couple mock drafts today. lol
If I had a request; it would be to see more of Morstet in the game.
Ran fast and finished strong!
^
Adam Schefter
@AdamSchefter
·
1m
Ravens continue to exercise caution with RB J.K. Dobbins and do not plan to play him today vs. the Dolphins, per league sources.
👍
Jones who?
Kader has the best change of direction/most fluid hips I’ve ever seen, he’s a star in the making
Throw em in the fire… so they don’t burn, or throw em in the water so they don’t drown I guess? LMAO!!!
Ravens say they’ll be ready for the cover-0, what they can’t account for is Jackson’s inability to read a D quick enough
He doesn’t just get out of the pocket, because he has great wheels
His loses in the playoffs have come when he’s been kept in the pocket
I agree with OD game time blog:
randydolfan1947
17m ago
THE RAVENS PICKED THE WRONG TEAM to play when you’ve got injury issues in your defensive secondary:
We may not even see much new from running game this week … go over the top !!!!!
Let’s go o-line!!
Just give Tua some time today, and we win this game.
Armstead IS playing today 👍👍
👍
Baltimore Ravens
WR James Proche
CB Brandon Stephens
RB J.K. Dobbins
OT Ronnie Stanley
TE Nick Boyle
DT Travis Jones
Dolphins inactives
RB Myles Gaskin
WR Erik Ezukanma
QB Skylar Thompson
LB Channing Tindall
TE Cethan Carter
TE Hunter Long
Good news is Wilkins, Wilson and Armstead
Think we’ll strategically see Armstead on the injury report all year
I think about weeks 5 jets we’ll start seeing the rookies
No reason to rush them in
It appears we brought up Cracraft from the PS for this game, since Wilson is a go, EZ is inactive, but would’ve been active, if Wilson couldn’t go
PHISH. CHeck yer lineup !!!
Herd, a young lady just sat down a few seats from me wearing a Pennington jersey, but from NY
The delusional guy with her is wearing a green shirt, that says lucky and has a 4 leaf clover on it🤡