I haven't don one of these for a while, but I thought this was a interesting enough game to warrant one. At first, I didn't know exactly what to think after this one so heart wrenchingly ended to everyone's relief. Was I supposed to be happy with the win, or disappointed because Miami is perceived to suck and what we did was simply avoid the disaster that would have been a loss. Did the win point out the many positive instances we should be thrilled with, OR remind of just how far we have to go?
Then it came to me. It was both. It was great we got the win, especially since so few have come down in Miami over the last 25 years even WITH all the excellence. Hell the lack of winning over the last 65 years if you want to go back that far (or whenever Miami's first year was.) I decided to be BOTH happy with the win AND just how far we have to go. Let me explain.
It is great to win ANY NFL game and given how few we've won the last 3 years, we should have a newfound appreciation for that now. But I'm also happy with knowing there is still miles to go before this team starts to reach its potential. This team is still so new together that it surprises me we get anything right so early in the season. Winning games this early in the season is more the matter of will and luck than anything else given how close most of them are. All I know for certain was the offense was a lot more consistent, (except for the penalties), while defense was timely AND got the TO they needed to win the game. Because come January, all that will anyone will remember is the win, because that will all that will be important and count exactly the same as any blowout
So let's start pick apart the grouping until I need to fall asleep or the next hour whichever comes first.
1. General Offensive overview: Last week I was mostly disappointed in the team's running game or lack thereof. This is especially true since the running game from all the RB's looked so productive all preseason. So when it seemed to disappeared so completely vs the Raiders, I was surprised to say the least. Nothing seemed to work. Was it the structure of the plays or quality of the people. And why had they worked all summer only to fail so badly that first game. So I was looking for both more and better and got both. 122 yds is a solid number in the running game. Not great, but rather effective, and gave us one or two chunk plays IIRC. The passing game was conservative with mostly quick throws and also was more effective than spectacular. But we all know there is a LOT more left to show us and the league as we get to the meat of the season.
2 QB- Sometimes I can't get over just how much like a kid May looks. He did a lot of good things today in the pocket. He is starting to show some alacrity to step up into the pocket to escape the rush rather than just run away, he is staying with the routes. He has great speed when he commits to his run, but he STILL tends to run into the rush rather than show the excapability we see from guys like Mahomes, or Daniels show among others. Again, that is something only time and reps will improve, but I WOULD like to see a few designed run plays be given him each game to take advantage of his size and speed and take the thought out of it.
RB's - I think it's clear that Josh is emerging Henderson into the run game more slowly than we so overly optimistically hoped. IIRC this IS Josh moving a rookie RB into the line up fast. Actually right now I like that all three guys are getting snaps with Rham getting the majority of them. Gibson, and Rham have earned their snaps and Henderson will get his turn soon enough.
3 OL - Since we are so fast to make immediate and last judgements on knee-jerk decisions based on the first thing we see, I'm expecting that Campbell and Bradbury should be getting abject apologies from a LOT of the "I told you so" gang since they have been by and large very good at giving the large amount of **** they took ALL preseason.
The fact that we are starting a rookie Left Side and that it is doing as well as it is doing is both remarkable and encouraging given how much better they can get over time so they can get from "clean" to dominant. Wilson still needs to improve his run game and Campbell need more snaps to get to where he WANTS to be, rather than just where he needs to be. With the exception of that mindboggling rollback to the QB, Bradbury has been solid and clean, just as we hoped he would be. No one expected "dominant", just good and solid and that's what we are getting.
Jason McCourtey made an excellent point when talking about the run game. He pointed out that a LOT of the timing and getting used to each other that is necessary for OL's to get to proficiency affect the run game the most. Knowing how to read defense's games, shifts (like we saw today) stunts and blitzes get better only thru reps and more reps and making mistakes.
It is hard to see, since neither we or the analysts know the plays, and the blocking rules to those plays to see the difference between what should be done vs what they expect to see, vs what they get post snap. Keep that in mind when your first reaction is to lash out at someone before you know the answers to those questions.
I expect Mike Owenu to be the best OLman on this LOS at this point of the season given his ability, experience, and CAP number. He doesn't give me that impression right now. He's not playing badly, but he should be the best. The "old man" should be playing better too. What did he have 4 or 5 procedure calls. They were STILL fooling him with that move late in the game long after Campbell and Wilson stopped.
Again, time is the issue here. Here is hoping he isn't hurt. I know there will be some hoping to see Bryant next week but be careful what you wish for. I love what I saw from him this summer, a big surprise from expectations. But... we'd need a David Andrews-like similar occurrence to happen to be happy with that result. Doesn't happen that often. IMHO It would be a set back if it he goes out with that ankle for any time.
4. Receivers - the WR's didn't have as much of an impact as I would have hoped, but it's hard when you only throw the ball 23 passes in the game. Still only one target for Boutee, though it was a HELL of a catch and a key one too. Clearly the RB's got the majority of the attention, and I'll expect the Steelers to have something special prepared for it, just like the Phins paid special attention to Boutee.
5. DL/Edge - I hope if KCSEVEN does his film review this year he checks out what happen starting at the end of the first quarter when the Pass rush seemed to get lost. It looked solid at the end of the game as well as the start. But 5 sacks and a bunch of pressures is a good result, I just wish it seemed more consistent. The results were also good given how rarely it seemed anyone was blitzing.
Chaisson, Landry and Williams have given us a pretty good return on FA investment...so far, though it is a long way to go and we know how sometimes guys run out of gas as the year go along. we need guy to make big plays in December too. But so far, this is the best our rush has looked this early in the season in a long time, and they are doing it without a lot of blitzing
Who else made an impression on anyone other than those 3 plus Baremore on the DL?.
6. 2nd level: I'm sure Spillane was just as disappointed as you about how many tackles he got to but failed to bring the runner down yesterday. I was a LB for my last year in college and the next 2 after so I've been there and missed my share, and LB's take that personal and most don't need coaches pointing out when they do. You think about them all night before the film session. Spillane seems to care, let's see if this was "just a game" or it's going to be a "thing".
Next to Gibbs, no other RB has had the production, (ie TD's) other than Achane, They WERE playing a very good and hard to bring down RB. Another point. On Achane's almost TD run, Matu caught a lot of crap for that play. It should be noted, that he PRIMARY responsibility that play was to keep him inside and turn him. Ideally it was to tackle him too, but first, turn him inside, He did that. While no on the field that play deserves a free pass on that one, I'd figure out who was supposed to be coming up from the inside with primary support first, before Matu. Anyone?
7. Secondary - CDavis had a great day and was just ANOTHER FA signing that as proven so far to be an excellent one, but given the 320 odd yds it gave up, it wasn't their best day, we can all agree. But please remember, that combination, Hill, Waddle, Achane, and Tua have put up a LOT of passing yds against a LOT of teams when that group has been healthy and on the field the last 4 years and McDonald has been another fairhaired offensive whizz kid. And even if he'd fired tomorrow his motion offense is hell to cover most of the time, especially at home.
Again a lot of young players playing a new defense with a lot of unfamiliar players who need reps together to excel. Hopefully when/if Gonzales gets back we will see an immediate bump with the 2ndary. BTW- Hamstrings are VERY tricky things. I'd rather miss the entire month of sepetember and be fully healthy than risk it being a constant threat and keeping him subpar all season. Any one of the next 2 games will be a plus.
ST's - It is easy to make thing work when things are going well, but to make a 53 yarder when you absolutely CAN NOT miss after you have ****ed up so completely on TWO extra points takes more stones than I have. Given that Adam V literally cost Pete Carrol his job in 1999 with 3 doinks to win or tie games we might want to show a little more patience to the next guy, especially since that impatience cost on solid starting kicker in the league already. Just sayin'
Wanna know why we won? Same reason most teams win in the end? We turned the ball over LESS than our opponent. 0-1, Want to know why we'll win next week ? The same thing (plus drop the penalties by at least half) It isn't all that difficult in the end./
OK I'm done - This is when I need your input to make it worthwhile. Meanwhile I like any tape analysis you offer and stats that help to illuminate.
