There has been a lot of talk here about how bad the Pats offensive play calling has been. I think the play calling has been ok as I put more blame on an inconsistent o-line. However you feel about the Pats offensive THANK God that the Pats don’t have the Dolphins offensive coordinator. There game plans are awful. The Dolphins have not been blown out really in any game this year. A few games go away from them at the end – the Pitt game where Culpepper threw the INT returned for a TD late to seal it – but most have been 3 point losses. YET THE TEAM NEVER RUNS RONNIE BROWN!!! I know their o-line was decimated by injuries but their play selection is a joke. Look at this week’s loss. They are playing at home against a bad GB team and they lose 34-24. Going into the game your options are running with Brown or having Harrington throw. I’d try and run it but what do I know. So let’s look at the game. Miami was winning 7-0 after the 1st and 10-6 at the half.
At the half Brown had 11 carries for 37 yards and no TDs. Harrington was 8 of 17 (47%) for 110. He was sacked 2 times, had thrown 1 TD and was picked 2 times. The 2 INTs lead to the 2 FGs by GB – GB’s only points of the first half.
So second half begins and Miami has the ball. First play was a R. Brown run up the middle for 3 yard gain. Next play was C. Woodson intercepting Harrington and returning it 23 yards for a touchdown. After the PAT, GB is up 13-10. Still only a 3 point margin. At this point Harrington has thrown 18 passes, 3 were picked and all 3 INTs lead to GB points. So what does Miami do on their next possession? You guessed it – PASS.
Miami – Ball at their own 20
1st-10, MIA20 14:04 J. Harrington incomplete pass to the right
2nd-10, MIA20 13:59 R. Brown rushed to the right for 5 yard gain
3rd-5, MIA25 13:17 J. Harrington passed to R. McMichael to the left for 8 yard gain
1st-10, MIA33 12:40 J. Harrington incomplete pass to the right
2nd-10, MIA33 12:33 J. Harrington passed to R. McMichael to the right for 6 yard gain
3rd-4, MIA39 11:55 J. Harrington incomplete pass to the left
4th-4, MIA39 11:37 D. Jones punt. C. Woodson returned punt for 11 yards
1 rushing attempt before they punt but hey, at least Harrington didn’t throw a pick.
GB scores a TD on the next possession to make it a 20-10 game but still there is almost 24 minutes left in the game. PLENTY of time. Next possession by Miami began in great field position at the 39 yard line. Play selection:
1st-10, MIA39 8:43 J. Harrington passed to W. Welker to the left for 1 yard gain
2nd-9, MIA40 8:13 J. Harrington passed to M. Booker to the left for 16 yard gain
1st-10, GB44 7:40 J. Harrington passed to R. Brown to the right for 17 yard gain
1st-10, GB27 7:23 S. Morris rushed up the middle for 5 yard gain
2nd-5, GB22 6:44 J. Harrington incomplete pass to the left
3rd-5, GB22 6:39 J. Harrington incomplete pass to the left
4th-5, GB22 6:30 O. Mare kicked a 40-yard field goal
By far Harrington’s best stretch but come on, it is F-ing Joey Harrington. Why are they not running AT ALL. At least it is a 1 score game again.
Miami holds GB and forces a punt and gets great field possession AGAIN starting at their own 46. Play selection – and I could not make this up if I tried:
1st-10, MIA46 5:30 R. Brown rushed to the left for 9 yard gain
2nd-1, GB45 5:00 J. Harrington passed to M. Booker down the middle for 3 yard gain
1st-10, GB42 4:29 J. Harrington incomplete pass to the right
2nd-10, GB42 4:24 J. Harrington incomplete pass to the left
3rd-10, GB42 4:19 J. Harrington incomplete pass to the right
4th-10, GB42 4:05 D. Jones punt, no return
I think you get the picture. When all was said and done the Dolphins lost by 10 point. Remember, they were winning at the half and were only down 20-13 at the end of the 3rd. Yet somehow here was the run to pass ratio:
17 rushes (1 by Harrington) and 66 passes (62 attempts and 4 sacks).
Think about that. In the third quarter ALONE that run to pass ratio was 5-20 (there was a 6th rush called back on a penalty). So, in a game that Miami was winning or only done by a TD for a 3 quarters, they felt it was better to ride the arm of Harrington than the legs of Brown. After 3 quarters Brown had 15 carries for 59 yards (which is what he ended with for the day) while Harrington was 16-36 .44.4%) for 187 yards and 3 INTS.
Did Ronnie Brown sleep with Saban’s wife or something? Anyone want to trade offensive coordinators? Anyone
At the half Brown had 11 carries for 37 yards and no TDs. Harrington was 8 of 17 (47%) for 110. He was sacked 2 times, had thrown 1 TD and was picked 2 times. The 2 INTs lead to the 2 FGs by GB – GB’s only points of the first half.
So second half begins and Miami has the ball. First play was a R. Brown run up the middle for 3 yard gain. Next play was C. Woodson intercepting Harrington and returning it 23 yards for a touchdown. After the PAT, GB is up 13-10. Still only a 3 point margin. At this point Harrington has thrown 18 passes, 3 were picked and all 3 INTs lead to GB points. So what does Miami do on their next possession? You guessed it – PASS.
Miami – Ball at their own 20
1st-10, MIA20 14:04 J. Harrington incomplete pass to the right
2nd-10, MIA20 13:59 R. Brown rushed to the right for 5 yard gain
3rd-5, MIA25 13:17 J. Harrington passed to R. McMichael to the left for 8 yard gain
1st-10, MIA33 12:40 J. Harrington incomplete pass to the right
2nd-10, MIA33 12:33 J. Harrington passed to R. McMichael to the right for 6 yard gain
3rd-4, MIA39 11:55 J. Harrington incomplete pass to the left
4th-4, MIA39 11:37 D. Jones punt. C. Woodson returned punt for 11 yards
1 rushing attempt before they punt but hey, at least Harrington didn’t throw a pick.
GB scores a TD on the next possession to make it a 20-10 game but still there is almost 24 minutes left in the game. PLENTY of time. Next possession by Miami began in great field position at the 39 yard line. Play selection:
1st-10, MIA39 8:43 J. Harrington passed to W. Welker to the left for 1 yard gain
2nd-9, MIA40 8:13 J. Harrington passed to M. Booker to the left for 16 yard gain
1st-10, GB44 7:40 J. Harrington passed to R. Brown to the right for 17 yard gain
1st-10, GB27 7:23 S. Morris rushed up the middle for 5 yard gain
2nd-5, GB22 6:44 J. Harrington incomplete pass to the left
3rd-5, GB22 6:39 J. Harrington incomplete pass to the left
4th-5, GB22 6:30 O. Mare kicked a 40-yard field goal
By far Harrington’s best stretch but come on, it is F-ing Joey Harrington. Why are they not running AT ALL. At least it is a 1 score game again.
Miami holds GB and forces a punt and gets great field possession AGAIN starting at their own 46. Play selection – and I could not make this up if I tried:
1st-10, MIA46 5:30 R. Brown rushed to the left for 9 yard gain
2nd-1, GB45 5:00 J. Harrington passed to M. Booker down the middle for 3 yard gain
1st-10, GB42 4:29 J. Harrington incomplete pass to the right
2nd-10, GB42 4:24 J. Harrington incomplete pass to the left
3rd-10, GB42 4:19 J. Harrington incomplete pass to the right
4th-10, GB42 4:05 D. Jones punt, no return
I think you get the picture. When all was said and done the Dolphins lost by 10 point. Remember, they were winning at the half and were only down 20-13 at the end of the 3rd. Yet somehow here was the run to pass ratio:
17 rushes (1 by Harrington) and 66 passes (62 attempts and 4 sacks).
Think about that. In the third quarter ALONE that run to pass ratio was 5-20 (there was a 6th rush called back on a penalty). So, in a game that Miami was winning or only done by a TD for a 3 quarters, they felt it was better to ride the arm of Harrington than the legs of Brown. After 3 quarters Brown had 15 carries for 59 yards (which is what he ended with for the day) while Harrington was 16-36 .44.4%) for 187 yards and 3 INTS.
Did Ronnie Brown sleep with Saban’s wife or something? Anyone want to trade offensive coordinators? Anyone