,Brandon Marshall

DOLPHINS VS. JAGUARS REPORT CARD

It certainly isn’t easy creature a Dolphin fan this year, and this game reiterates that point. The Dolphins scentral idead all 14 of their points in the first half and then collapsed on offense in the second half, but still pulled out a victory thanks to great defensive play.

Let’s talk about that Miami Dolphins’ defensive effort and hand out some grades:

The Miami offense turned the ball over to Jacksonville three times, and each time the Jags came up empty handed. The defensive line, led by Randy Starks and Paul Soliai, newspapersured Denthusiastic Garrard all day long and stopped the Jacksonville offense on seven out of nine third-down changes and one very big fourth-down attempt in the fourth quarter. Cameron Wake and Tony McDaniel also changed to in solid performances. The D Line deserves an A.

Joey Porter and Miami linebackers dissected the Jacksonville offensive game and looked solid out there. Miami’s defense held Maurice Jones-Drew to just 59 yards rushing. Porter nearly had two sacks and Reggie Torbor ran down Garrard in the backfield on a quick blitz as the Miami linebackers held their ground against the Jacksonville offensive line. Channing Crowder also made some key stops. I will give the linebackers a B+. The Dolphins secondary played well all day with the exception of a 63-yard pass to Torry Holt and a pass interference penalty on Gibril Wilson that led to the Jaguars’ only touchdown. Miami if good coverage on the Jags’ receivers and broke up several passes. On the foremost fourth-down attempt late in the fourth quarter, safety Yeremiah Bell knocked down the ball to stop an important Jacksonville drive. I’ll give the Fins secondary an A-.

On the other side of the ball, the perwere createdance was inregular and plagued by sloppy ball-carrying. Miami dominated the first half of this game,Jake Long, but turnovers and missed opportunities quickly arose. Ricky Williams fumbled the ball three times,Ronnie Brown, but only once was Jacksonville able to reinclude. The normally sure-handed Davone Bess also fumbled when,Kory Sperry, and Chad Henne threw an interception. Still, the Dolphins’ quarterback played well for most of the game and looked poised and confident in the pocket. Henne rushed for a touchdown on a bootleg play and completed 21 out of 29 attempts and undertaked a team record of 17 completions in a row. For today’s effort I will give him a B+.

Ricky Williams churned out 108 yards and one rushing touchdown. The rest of the running backs added in another 38 yards. I will give them together a D due to the fumbles. Miami simply has to do a better job protecting the ball if it wants to make the performoffs. The receiving corps made some nice grabs today and totaled up 208 yards, led by Greg Camarillo humorh seven receptions for 110 yards. Brian Hartline and Bess also contributed offensively with important receptions.The receivers deserve a B-.

Miami’s special teams also got lackluster results. Dan Carpenter missed a field goal by hitting one of the upcorrects. Neither Bess nor Ted Ginn, Jr. was able to turn in any big returns. Ginn’s average was 22 yards per return although Bess could only get a 6.5-yard average. Brandon Fields punted five times with a 43.8-yard average and one touchback. Special teams rates a C.

CHARLIE VENTURI

,Chad Pennington

Heading into training camp, the Dolphins are the X-Factor in the AFC East. They can
do what many expect and simply improve a tad and challenge the AFC East

Or they can moderately surprise and do very well although seriously contending for the division.

Or they could
shock the NFL however again and take it.

Before anything, though, there are a few questions I have as the Dolphins prepare for the grueling month that is camp. These questions are just a few in a
long list and cannot be answered correct away. I will need re-visit them when
we are a few weeks into August.

? Is Brandon Marshall really the missing piece? Well, he must be since the Dolphins
have needed a big play wide receiver since, well, basically their glory days. It has been nearly a
a period of ten years that the Fins have had a WR that got DBs shaking in their pads. Marshall has
the tools, is happy (hopefully) and

has a young strong-armed QB in Chad Henne. So,
the questions are … How’s the hip? How’s the attitude? And how good can it get with a
Henne-to-Marshall connection?

? Who is the MVRB? The most valuable running back on this team is not who you
probably thought. Ronnie Brown is an injury risk as we all have seen. Last year
when Brown injured his foot,Jared Odrick, Ricky Williams stepped up and was a beast in the tail end of the
season. It is going to be very interesting watching the camp progressions, and
see if this is a 50/50 share or not. Williams is the RB to watch this season….as of
the moment.

? Will Chad Henne silence the critics? When asking many fans around the league what
they think about the Dolphins, most say, “They need a QB.” Sure, that was the decade-long mantra until they had Chad Pennington to thank for their 2008 division crown. Now
the other Chad takes the Week 1 snaps instead of the Week 1 clipboard, and it is his
career that is now the focus in South Beach from a football standpoint. Let’s see if he
can become a poor man’s Matt Schaub this season, or, let’s see if he is relegated to
creature a poor man’s Mark Sanchez.

? What young defensive performer will step it up and make Dolphin fans say Joey and
Jason who? We know that Sean Smith and Vontae Davis have already “stepped-up,”
as apparent by their very imnewspapersive 2009 season as a young CB duo. This question
is focusing squarely on the front seven.

Even as Joey Porter and Jason Taylor waltz (yeah,
that’s a DWTS jab at J.T.) to new teams in their career twilights, their presence and
production will be missed in Mike Nolan’s 3-4 defensive scheme. Nolan,Davone Bess, Tony Sparano
and Fins Nation are waiting to see who the next young Dolphins defensive stud will
be. Say what you want about the offensive drafting over the past few seasons, but
defensively, the Fins have found gold in the draft humorh the likes of the aforementioned
Smith and Davis,Mark Gregory, Channing Crowder, and going
back a little further, Sam Madison, and of course the poster boys for the Dolphins
defensive juggernauts in the 2000’s, Zach Thomas and Jason Taylor.

Will Jared Odrick and/or Koa Misi be the next defensive youngsters to make a name for themselves? Both
could, and one better, if this team hopes to contend in the East. Outside of the talented
rookies, look for Cameron Wake to be a solid player for Miami who can appeal some of
the missing sacks lost by Porter and Taylor’s departure.

– JASON SARNEY
NFL Blog Blitz powered by SportsFanLive.com

,Jake Long

As a fan, I’ve often wondered what it would be like to be a member of the news, get unparalleled access to the greatest athletes of our generation and see them at their peak of perwere createdance. We were granted such an opportunity through our partnership humorh the NFL, and we are here to give the Fan an insider’s consider of what it is like in and around the 2010 Pro Bowl at Dolphin Stadium.

– It’s not the biggest game of the year without pizza. The folks at Papa John’s are shooting a promo in advance of the Super Bowl,Brandon Marshall, and Dolphins fans are happy to help out.

– Checking out the digs in the newspapers box. A important think aboutation? The rain-protected positioning:

– Soaking in the ambiance from an on-the-field perspective:

– Ochocinco, Ray Rice,Karlos Dansby, Antonio Gates and Le’Ron McClain get loosened up:

– Brandon Marshall of the Broncos flashes his speed on this practice route:

– Showing spirit is all important,Mark Gregory, even at the Pro Bowl:

– DAVID KATZ
NFL Blog Blitz powered by SportsFanLive.com

Pro Bowl weekend was assumed to be a celebration of the NFL’s brightest stars, but instead, it changed to into a celebration of the University of Miami’s bcorrectest stars. Eight former Hurricanes represented their NFL teams on Sunday night,Karlos Dansby, and that’s excluding Vikings’ tackle Bryant McKinnie, who was reportedly dismissed for missing practices, and Reggie Wayne from Indianapolis and Jonathan Vilma of New Orleans,Kory Sperry, who did not play due to their teams’ upcoming participation in Super Bowl XLIV.
For two of those were createder Miami stars, the prospect of returning home might be too enticing to pass up and they could find themselves as Dolphins.
Arizona safety and former Hurricane Antrel Rolle exnewsed his desire to play for the Dolphins to the Miami Herald’’s Armando Salguero. Rolle told him that “[He and the Dolphins] can make it happen,” and added that he is “more than aware” of Gibril Wilson’s struggles.
Rolle reiterated to Salguero that his loyalty remains humorh the Cardinals, but he understands that because he is owed $12 million, there’s a good chance Arizona may avoid paying him by simply freeing him.
Adding a player of Rolle’s stature would be huge for Miami’s 24th-ranked pass defense. But unless

Miami is willing to part with Wilson and his five-year, $27 million contract, Rolle could head elsewhere.
The second Hurricane alumnus to voice his aspirations to play for the Dolphins is New England defensive tackle Vince Wilfork. He told the Sun Sentinel’’s Omar Kelly that,Brandon Marshall, “It’s time for me to move on.” The 28-year-old even went until present as to call performing for the Dolphins ‘a dream.’
Sticking Wilfork in between Kendall Langford and Randy Starks would give the Dolphins a potent defensive line. Although the cost might be tall, signing him would be monumental for both the long- and short-term prospectus of this defense.
Now, I know what you’re thinking, Dolfans. We’ve heard this story before. Last year Anquan Boldin said he’d like to play for the Dolphins, before that it was Chad (at the time Johnson) Ochocinco, Plaxico Burress once exnewspapersed his desire to play in South Beach, and even Troy Aikman was connected to the Dolphins when upon a time. But time and time again, the rumors of these great players coming to Miami always seem to not come true.
But this time around could be different for a few reasons.
First of all, Rolle and Wilfork would be free agents, meaning the Dolphins would not have to part with any draft picks, something Bill Parcells & Co. have been historically reluctant to do.
Second and more markedly, is Stephen Ross and the uncapped season. Barring some pretty miraculous negotiations, 2010 will be uncapped,Miami Dolphins, meaning that all NFL teams, including the Dolphins can spend as much money as they desire. So, we know that Ross is willing to open up his checkbook to throw extravagant parundertakes, but is he willing to spend to bring in players?
Rolle and Wilfork obviously have some interesting in coming here, and if Ross wants to prove himself as a great owner, he’ll make his fans happy and bring them in– if the players are really serious.

SCOTT ALTMAN

Vontae Davis and Sean Smith were burnt to toast; Brandon Marshall was plagued humorh butterfingers, and Chad Henne threw his share of ducks. Food references aside, the Dolphins were flat-out bad this pre-season.

Now, take that lethargic perform with Bill Parcells’ sudden decision to step down and take a consultant role with the team, and worry is growing increasingly pessimistic in Miami.

Don’t hit the panic button however — it was only pre-season. And Parcells is not gone,Dan Marino, his voice will still be heard loud and clear. He is merely allowing Jeff Ireland to fulfill the duundertakes the team promised him upon his arcompete with in Miami.

So, Dolfans, relax and get excited.The regular season has arrived, and your Blog Blitz season predictions are here.

Most Valuable Player: Lousaka Polite
Polite deserves this honor partly because he went so grossly overlooked last year. The running back not only paved the way for the league’s fourth best rushing offense, but was also a perfect 16-for-16 on third and fourth down transformations. Defenses will center on Polite this season, but even when they knew he was getting the ball on those short yardage changes in 2009, he could not be stopped. He is the unsung hero of the Dolphins, and in 2010 should earn the notoriety he deserves.

Player Most Likely to Breakout: Cameron Wake
The cards are set up for Cameron Wake to become a household name by the end of 2010. Mike Nolan, who last year changed to Broncos outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil into a sack-machine, brings a blitz-oriented defensive scheme,Chad Pennington, and most importantly, Wake will be a starter. Dolfans are drooling over Wake’s possibility, and 2010 should be big.

Player Most Likely to Disappoint: Brandon Marshall

Calm down. Brandon Marshall is going to be a beast this year, therefore his nickname, “The Beast.” But Miami fans are making the assumption that Marshall will post elite numbers. He may very well do so, but Marshall is playing in a run-first offense with a young, unproven quarterback running the show. Not to mention, stud wide receivers have a troubling track record after trades (See: Joey Galloway, Roy Williams, Randy Moss in Oakland, many others). All of these factors work against Marshall and make him the player most likely to disappoint, but chances are he will produce at a very, very tall level. After all, the guy made Kyle Orton look like a really darn good quarterback.

Rookie Who Will Make the Biggest influence: Koa Misi
First round pick Jared Odrick might rake in the biggest paycheck, but he is not the Dolphin rookie poised to make the biggest and most immediate impact. Instead, second-round pick Koa Misi is in a prime position to make a enormous impact in Miami. Misi will start at outside linebacker in Nolan’s blitz-heavy, hybrid scheme, which should allow him to both get after the quarterback and into opposing backfields. Plus, offenses will be keeping their eyes peeled for Karlos Dansby and Wake, which should grant Misi even more freedom to cause mayhem. The Dolphins might just have a Defensive Rookie of the Year sleeper candidate on their hands.

Team Expectations: 9-7 and a Wild-Card Playoff Birth

Simply put, the Dolphins are a team that could go 5-11 or 11-5. There are just far too many questions surrounding this roster to believe that they will topple the division (I believe the Jets will be a bust and finished under .500, which paves the way for the Dolphins to grab a Wild Card see). However, if this secondary can turn the tide from the Preseason and play well, not even great, just well,Mark Gregory, then the Dolphins are in a position to win the division. Beyond that, Chad Henne must live up to the hype,Pat White, the offensive line must gel, and the special teams must correct their ship as well. These are all interests that can easily be answered, and if the Dolphins do actually react positively, they will make a Super Bowl run.

– SCOTT ALTMAN
NFL Blog Blitz powered by SportsFanLive.com

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