,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

,Miami Dolphins

Lots of fans would kill to have the access that sportswriters enjoy on a regular basis. We got to experience this first-hand at the Pro Bowl,Karlos Dansby, mingling on the sidelines and on the field in the post-game media scrums. Ray Rice was good enough to give us some exclusive physical that might be of interest to Fantasy players.

– Moving from the newspapers box to the sidelines to watch the final five tinys:

– Rivals Darrelle Revis and Chad Ochocinco hang out together on the AFC bench:

– Hope this clip helps you appreciate the force with which a placekicker — Dan Carpenter of the Dolphins in this case — drills the ball,Mark Gregory, even just practicing:

– We storm the field with the rest of the media horde:

– Music blares, camera click,Kory Sperry, performers give praise:

– Who is taller? Ray Rice or Maurice Jones-Drew? We have indisputable visual evidence:

– Ray Rice wants to talk business humorh Fantasy owners about next season:

– DAVID KATZ
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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

The Dolphins are coming off a win for the foremost time in 2009 as they head into their Monday Night equalup with the hated New York Jets. The war of words, as usual, has been a week-long back and forth series of tirades and jabs because these two teams absolutely despise each other. So often when these two teams meet, the game comes dbecause of the wire and habitually leaves each fan base gasping for their collective breaths. Last season, the teams split,Karlos Dansby, with Miami clinching the AFC East on the last Sunday of the regular season … I remember, because I was there (in my best Chris Berman voice).

This season, however, is a bit different. The Jets got a facelift during the off-season and put together what looks to be a fresh, new team, lead by Rex Ryan’s fearsome blitz crazy defense. Rookie QB Mark Sanchez has shown signs of brilliance, in addition to some signs of any typical rookie, but nevertheless, he has already won over the hearts of Jets fans and more importantly, those of his teammates.

As for the Dolphins, the magic is gone from last year’s miraculous turnaround from 2007’s 1-15 nightmare. At 1-3, the Fins must win Monday night against the Jets if they have any thought of a playoff run. This game may be a make-or-break one for Miami. A loss would drop them to 1-4 heading

into a bye week, followed by games against the Saints, Jets and Patriots, and could be a major blow for any realistic post-season goal.

On paper, this game seems to favor the Jets especially now that they have acquired talented, but at times, stone-handed wide receiver, Braylon Edwards from Cleveland, in an early week trade. Miami has had trouble with the deep ball this year, and that is Edwards’s specialty. With Jerricho Cotchery banged up, we could be seeing a lot of Edwards against a 24th-ranked Miami pass defense.

If the Dolphins stand a chance on Monday night, they must contain the Jets pass catchers better than they have against the Falcons, Colts and Chargers during their three losses. That matchup, is one of three I am focusing on heading into this huge AFC East slugfest.

Miami Cornerbacks vs. New York Wide Receivers: Although Cotchery is dealing with a hamseries injury, he is still a solid bet to perform, and his physicality, mixed with Braylon’s size and speed, will give Miami’s young corners Vontae Davis and Sean Smith all they can handle.

The big play is something Miami can ill-afford to allow, and that will fall mainly on these two rookies, as well as veteran Will Allen. The corners will get help from safeundertakes Gibril Wilson and Yeremiah Bell, but they must display better tackling than they have therefore far this season.

If Mark Sanchez is hitting Cotchery and Edwards deep regularly, the Jets ground game is good enough to pound the Fins in their territory for scentral ideas, unlike Buffalo and even San Diego were able to do these past few weeks.

Smith and Davis must have their best NFL games to date, as shutting down or just simply limiting them to mediocre stats is important to a Miami victory.

Rex vs. The Wildcat: Teams know its coming, yet defenses have however to be able to shut it down. Over the course of a full game, as seen in Miami’s first four games, the ground game has registered a total of 183.5 rushing yards per game shared among Ronnie Brown, Ricky Williams and even
Patrick Cobb – many of these yards coming via the Wildcat.

Rex Ryan is a defensive mastermind, humorh the pedigree (he’s the son of ex-NFL defensive genius Buddy Ryan) to back him up. The Jets’ rookie coach has led this unit to the NFL’s third-best scoring defense, nevertheless until present this year, they have given up 100.2 yards per game on the ground

Miami must keep its offense on the field, using a heavy dose of the Wildcat to simply tire out this Jets’ defense. Should New York shut this rush attack and the Wildcat down, Miami will be in serious trouble if Chad Henne is forced to drop back and pass all night because the Jets’ blitzkrieg will tee off on him.

Miami Offensive Line vs. Jets Pass Rush: Even if the Wildcat is clicking,Miami Dolphins, it is likely that Henne will have to throw his fair share, and I expect about 24 pass attempts. With the heavy blitz packages Ryan throws at QBs, Jake Long and the offensive line must protect their young signal-caller, and allow him to hit his receivers down field. This will be hard enough, as cornerback Darrelle Revis is one of, if not the best, include corner in the NFL. He will most likely blanket Ted Ginn, Jr. so look for Henne to hit Greg Camarillo and Davone Bess on short slant and out routes to neutralize the pass-rush. Bess specifically is a guy who can turn a quick pass into heavy yards after the catch, and Henne could exploit those blitzers that way.

Henne must have time to make his reads, and if Miami’s line can’t keep his jersey relatively clean Monday night, this offense may not have a chance to put anything but field goals on the scoreboard. Henne is coming off of a solid perwere createdance last week against the Bills,Chad Pennington, which helped earn the Dolphins their first win,Kory Sperry, and all he has to do is replicate that game. Miami’s line will dictate if Henne even has the chance to put up a solid game.

— JASON SARNEY

Look around the scenery of NFL includeage and you will find as many power rankings as you will mock drafts in April. While teams may be a see or two apart depending on which ranking you read, a commonality seems shared at the No. 10 spot where you will find the Miami Dolphins.

Last weekend, the Dolphins lost to the New York Jets in another prime time equal-up that came down to the wire. Despite this loss,Kory Sperry, the Dolphins seem to have won. At least after you dig below the surface. Consider that at the start of the season very few gave Miami any real shot to beat the Jets, especially after the Rex Ryan proclamation that the Jets were “Super Bowl Champions.” Yet here we are heading into Week 4 and the Dolphins find themselves almost unilaterally ranked 10 of 32. Not bad.

This past weekend fans got a glimpse of what this team could be and in some ways already are. A team that can compete and play with anyone. although the offense required the spotlight away from the defense the team still managed to hang on correct dbecause of the final tiny of the game and beating the Jets was theirs for the taking. They just didn’t take it.

While the defense shoulders much of the loss it was the maturation of quarterback Chad Henne that has people talking. His lone interception came on the final 4th down play of the game when his ball to TE Anthony Fasano was thrown a hair too far to the left allowing the defender to intervene. Throughout the game, Henne displayed the kind of poise that older veterans show in big games. He

was never flustered or seemed out of his element. He simply and methodically made performs. While Henne still has a long way to go and needs to free the ball quicker,Chad Henne, the total perwere createdance against a very formidable defense should be enough to instill confidence on an offensive unit that had failed to scentral idea more than 15 points this season.

Henne displayed a calmness even late in the game that nearly bordered on boring. There was no wildly waving hands to get his team to the line, he simply called the play and executed it. Henne has been under the micro-extent since he was drafted and then took over the starting role last year. While fans want another gunslinging superstar,Miami Dolphins, the Dolphins want another game management QB who quietly leads by his own eximited. Chad Henne finally,Karlos Dansby, last Sunday, looked and played that part.

The Dolphins and their fans are not thrilled with losing to the Jets and it gets no easier this week humorh the visiting New England Patriots, but victory can come in defeat and what we saw last Sunday, while not a numerical victory, is still something more than a moral one as Dolphins may have seen the arcompete with of their franchise quarterback.

For more on the Miami Dolphins, check out
FanSided’s PhinPhanatic blog.

–BRIAN MILLER
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