Wide_Receiver

Well it wasn't QUITE as close as I thought it would be although I'm proud of our offense for hanging in there and making some plays.

What can I say about the Pats? Tom Brady. The guy is special, probably the best to ever do it. I told all of my friends to take Gronkowski and Hernandez in their fantasy drafts; I really don't know how anyone is going to stop that attack. There are mismatches all over the field and being in nickle and dime sub-packages with Hernandez flexed out wide then all of a sudden you got a 5'8'' white dude hitting you for 8 on the ground.

I really see no defense for the Pats offense.

Our defense is better than that, they'll get it fixed. I'm happy with what I saw from Henne and especially new OC Brian Daboll. I think we have something between those two, Brandon Marshall and Reggie Bush. We need an Aaron Hernandez type TE and pounder to compliment Bush and we can be pretty good.

I had the Patriots losing to the Packers in the Super Bowl this year; I feel pretty good about that pick after the first weekend.

Patriot_in_NY

Thanks.

Good game for you guys. I think Henne is probably gonna be better then we all think and Marshall is a special talent. Fasano had some nice catches too. I think conditioning is an issue for your team right now, but that'll come.

We knew Miami was gonna be a battle and we got one. I pretty much figured for the win, but the game was pretty much in doubt until the end of the 3rd.

It was a good showing for Miami and I don't think you'll be as bad people think. No shame in last night. Nobody was stopping our offense last night. They were dominant.

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Patroit_in_NY is now Patriot_in_ABQ

scott99

Thanks WR. I thought the Dolphins played very well. As far as someone stopping the Pats offense, it seems very obvious, pressure, period. Pressure any QB, even Hall Of Fame QB's, and the offense dies. I remember the NY Giants once destroying Joe Montana and the 49er's during their great years. Lawrence Taylor was in Montana's face all day and Jim Burt crushed Montana giving him a concussion. Now I'm not saying try to kill a guy, but pressure stops a great offense every time.

Last year, the Pats lost 3 times, each time they were held under 22 points. If they scored 22+, they won everygame. Can't beat the Pats in a shootout. So attack Brady, and you win. BUT if he picks up the blitz, your dead.

Wide_Receiver

Obviously the entire defensive effort was disappointing, but so is the negligence of the pass-rushing and safety positions. We ignored them this off-season. Jason freaking Trusnik and Jason **** you, you stupid Jet Taylor were never the answer. And just because ReShad Jones has better hands than Chris Clemons does not mean it's a good idea to start him.

Ray Edwards, Quentin Mikel and Eric Weddle were all out there but we refused to make a play at anyone.

That's what's disapointing to me.

spacecrime

Dolphins DLine is a mess. Pats have a hockey-like second line. All eight DLs played effectively last night. Dolphins have two good DLinesmen and a bunch of JAGs.

I had hoped the Fins would overtake take the Jets for the second spot in the division, but that ain't happening.

What happened to Wake? He goes against a rookie and spends half his time pancaked? He can't keep his feet against a rookie? The only good play he had was when he was being owned by Solder and Matt Light's man chased Brady to the right where Wake was being manhandled by Solder.

Bottom line:
- Marshall is very very good (though he needs to learn to use the sidelines when clock is important. Fighting for two yards is not a s good as stopping the clock when you are down two scores with four minutes to play).

- Henne is much better this year, nice job changing the play at the LOS, and good scrambling.

- Bush was not an everydown back at USC, or with the Saints, and he still isn't. Passing with the ball 12 inches from the goal line is embarrassing.

- Fins D is highly over-rated.

Predicted Division finish
1 pats
2 Jets
3 Bills
4 Fins

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“When we look at the board, based on everything we want in a football player at that particular time, we evaluate them and take the player that fits best for our football team. That’s what we always do, and I think the last nine years we’ve put a pretty competitive team out there on the field every year. I think that’s how you do it – you get good football players. Sometimes they are not always at the No. 1 position, but I don’t think you pass up good football players to get the guys who aren’t as good just because they’re at a position that somebody feels you need.”
BB on his draft philosophy, April 2010

Wide_Receiver

The Dolphins defensive line might be one of the best 3-4 lines in the NFL. Starks, Soliai and Langford all played at a pro-bowl level last year, Jared Odrick is essentially a rookie and Tony McDaniel is a rotaional stallion. I'd be hard pressed to say it's a "mess."

I don't think our D is over-rated, the Patriots offense is just that good. When Roy Halladay no hits the Atlanta offense, it's not because the Braves' can't hit; sometimes you just get beat by the greatest.

jmt57

I thought the Patriots no-huddle offense may have done a number on the Dolphins defense, but I haven't re-watched the game yet to make an even half-way decent evaluation.

Also on the Welker touchdown it looked like the safety (Reshad Jones?) took a bad angle, thinking pick six but getting there too late and got burnt. Not sure if that was a calculated risk, mis-read or what, but there was no doubt about the outcome after that play.

scott99

This is a very tough division this year, though the Pats and Jets have the most talent in the division, the Dolphins and Bills may shock the Pats and Jets on any given Sunday. The gap has tightened, so has the talent level. Henne is playing better and obviously so is Fitzpatrick. Both teams have improved their defenses and obviously their offenses. Should be interesting. Of course, unfortunately, injuries are the great equalizer, look at the Colts and Houston. Houston always struggled with Indy, now look.

HomerSchooled

Nice post. I love when fans can be respectful and rational to one another. Sports can get so heated. I think your team will surprise a lot of people, and Henne will prove twice the QB that is Orton is. Let's unite in our hate for the Jets, and both sweep them.

Now change your SB pick.

Wide_Receiver

Our free safety last year was Chris Clemons. He was a solid player, much like Yeremiah Bell. He doesn't cover a ton of ground, but he doesn't make horrible mistakes. He also dropped quite a few interceptions. Reshad Jones's first start saw him pick up a sack and a pick in a win over the Titans. After that, he struggled with consistency and positioning.

We dropped over 20 interceptions a year ago and the only real knock on the defense was the lack of take aways. With this in mind, we went to the guy with more "play making ability."

The problem with that is that Tom Brady doesn't make mistakes and takes advantage of defenders out of position.

A lot of Dolphins fans are calling for not only a benching of Jones, but an outright release. It's a little harsh, but I DEFINITELY think you'll see Clemons in there the rest of the year.

I think we just identified our need in the first round next April, though. That or pass rush help.