DOLPHINS: Texans

Mon Dec 28 01:56:39 GMT 2009

I came into the season expecting 7-10 wins, so I can't complain.  And
after the 0-3 start, they surprised me by keeping the playoff hopes
alive.

I think next year the Dolphins should be ready to be a team to do some
postseason damage.  Although I worry about the RB spot and obviously
the Dolphins need to find a real playmaker at WR and more consistent
play from the safeties.  But overall I think the franchise seems to be
moving in the right direction.

On Sun, Dec 27, 2009 at 5:53 PM, Danny Nelson <cheesefrog at usa.net> wrote:
> Seriously?  People are calling for heads on this team?  That's insane.
>
> Do I think the Phins could have/should have won a couple more games than they
> did?  Yes.  But the same can be said about every team.  I think considering
> all the injury losses, with a tough schedule, essentially a rookie QB, we're
> looking at a team that may have even outperformed expectations.
>
> The Giants, a preseason Super Bowl favorite, got destroyed by Carolina today
> at home with everything on the line.  Such is life in the NFL.
>
> And we're STILL not eliminated.  Hard to believe.
>
> ------ Original Message ------
> From: Kristoffer Shields <kms223 at hotmail.com>
>
>> I just think we need to be a little patient.  To be fair, I'm probably
> responding more to the craziness on the Dolphin blogs (I know, I shouldn't
> even read them, but sometimes I can't help myself) than to you guys.  But I
> just think we're not there yet. If you look at the top teams in the AFC, they
> have all gone through a process---they've all had their cores together for
> years, with the same coaching staffs, and have grown together.  They have QBs
> who have been in the same system for years.  Most have had ups and downs, and
> most have gone through periods of inconsistency (it's been awhile for the
> Colts, but otherwise....).  I don't know if we'll get there or not, but I
> don't like whispers of mass firings and starting over just because we're not
> there yet (again, that's a reaction more to other places than anyone here).  I
> agree that there's been a step back over the past couple weeks, but that's
> sort of how it works---it's not a steady march to the top.  There are setbacks
> along the way.  Henne's a good example---I don't think there's enough evidence
> to conclude that he's "the answer."  But I also don't think there's enough to
> conclude that he's not---we have to see how he responds to this year, works in
> the off-season, and improves (or doesn't) next year, with another off-season
> in the system under his belt.  And, like I said in another post, I just don't
> think it's fair to question this team's desire or heart.  They've proven to me
> over the course of the season that they are resilient and have a ton of heart.
>  There are too many times when they could have given up and didn't for me to
> make an assumption that they "didn't want it" today.
>>
>> As for QB/WR combos, I have to disagree that we've played combos as good and
> played much better.  Moss had long TDs both times we played him.... Brees tore
> us up.  Manning had like 3 incompletions.  We got picked apart pretty
> consistently by good QBs---that's something we have to improve this
> off-season.
>>
>>
>>
>> > Date: Sun, 27 Dec 2009 16:47:32 -0600
>> > From: mdiana at tulane.edu
>> > To: dolphins-disc at phins.com
>> > Subject: Re: DOLPHINS: Texans
>> >
>> > I don't know. Inconsistent is certainly true. But I wouldn't be so quick
> to
>> > dismiss desire, or motivation, or whatever you wan to call it. Certainly
>> > both coaches were telling their players how important the game was, which
>> > they surely knew anyway. But is that enough to insure they play with the
>> > intensity they need? I don't think so. There is something else that made
> the
>> > Texans players better able to execute, and as I said earlier, I don't
> think
>> > it's all attributable to talent. We've faced QB-WR combos as good in
> other
>> > games and played much better. It may be hard to identify the reasons for
> the
>> > lack of desire or motivation in this game, but that doesn't mean it
> wasn't
>> > there. That's why they call it intangible.
>> >
>> > I want to raise a coaching issue again, though. I think the coaches
> didn't
>> > necessarily help this game again this week. On defense, for example, in
> the
>> > first half they had the corners playing sides, and we kept getting
> burned.
>> > In the second half, they moved Sean Smith to wherever Johnson was, and we
>> > were much more effective. They've done that before, so why did they wait
> so
>> > long to make that adjustment, or why did they not start out that way? And
>> > why didn't they do something to make the pass rush more effective? Some
>> > creative blitzes, or more playing time for Wake?
>> >
>> > Fundamentally, I feel like this team took some definite steps back in the
>> > last part of the season. Turnovers, penalties at critical times, poor
>> > fundamentals (blocking and tackling), all indicate a poorly disciplined
>> > team. I understand we have injuries, but that's a fact of football, and
> says
>> > nothing about being well prepared in the fundamentals. Did you notice how
>> > the Texans almost never missed a tackle? There were few yards after
> catch.
>> > We, on the other hand, missed them routinely. We took bad angles and
> failed
>> > to wrap up. We missed blocks all over the place (Vernon Carey has really
>> > regressed, and out TEs can't block as a group). Undisciplined. And that is
> a
>> > sign of the coaching, and is a real disappointment. I can't believe that
>> > Parcells doesn't see that.
>> >
>> >
>> > On 12/27/09 3:13 PM, "Kristoffer Shields" <kms223 at hotmail.com> wrote:
>> >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > I completely agree you can't start like that, but the Dolphins have lost
> as
>> > > many games in the 4th quarter this year as in the 1st quarter.  They
> came out
>> > > like gangbusters against the Saints, but blew it in the second half.
> They got
>> > > wrecked in the 4th against Buffalo.  The Pats game you mentioned, the
> Pats got
>> > > a long TD early remember, so it's not like they came out on complete
> fire.
>> > > And the Carolina game had its stretches.
>> > >
>> > > To me, I guess, it's just that the Fins have been inconsistent all year,
> both
>> > > within games and over the course of the season.  And I don't think
> that's a
>> > > huge surprise for a young team that has a lot of guys thrown into
> unfamiliar
>> > > situations.  There have been a lot of breakdowns at huge times (Indy,
> NO, last
>> > > week, this week, Buffalo), some early and some late.  You're right, it's
> not
>> > > easy to start a game strong and play well for 4 quarters...  I guess
> what I'm
>> > > saying is that the Dolphins didn't prove this year that they have the
> ability
>> > > to do that consistently.  Hopefully with some growth---and the addition
> of
>> > > more talent---they can do that next year.  But honestly, do you think
> the team
>> > > didn't understand how important the game was?  Do you think Sparano
> wasn't
>> > > drilling them all week about how important a fast start was?  They just
> didn't
>> > > do it.  I just can't buy that it's because they didn't feel like playing
> or
>> > > didn't realize the game was important.... I think they just didn't play
> well
>> > > early because they are maddeningly inconsistent.
>> > >
>> > >> Date: Sun, 27 Dec 2009 15:49:52 -0500
>> > >> From: ldouglas at gmail.com
>> > >> To: dolphins-disc at phins.com
>> > >> Subject: Re: DOLPHINS: Texans
>> > >>
>> > >> here's the thing. it's easy to try for the comeback. it's easy to play
>> > >> spoiler in week 17 when you're out of it (see KC). What's not easy to
>> > >> do is to start a game, play well for 4 quarters, and treat the first
>> > >> quarter like the 4th.  We did that against Carolina and the Patriots.
>> > >> We didn't do that against Tennessee and it hurt us in the end. Now i
>> > >> don't know anyone who can see a team at home in a must win game go
>> > >> down 27-0 and say they weren't taking the game seriously. or seriously
>> > >> enough.
>> > >>
>> > >> you cannot dig holes for yourself like we did in this season and this
>> > >> game. you can't do it.
>> > >>
>> > >> On 12/27/09, Kristoffer Shields <kms223 at hotmail.com> wrote:
>> > >>>
>> > >>>
>> > >>> But that talent gap is in areas that are tailor-made to make it
> difficult
>> > >>> for the Fins.  A team with a great QB and WR is going to be hard for
> us to
>> > >>> stop with our current talent.
>> > >>>
>> > >>> I don't know.  I mean, I completely agree that the Fins have obviously
> not
>> > >>> played well today (better in the second half, though the Texans also
> are
>> > >>> approaching things a little differently).  But (and I've probably said
> this
>> > >>> before) I just never know how to define "didn't show up."  It's like
> "they
>> > >>> just wanted it more."  What does that mean?  That the Dolphins didn't
> play
>> > >>> hard enough today?  I don't think that's fair to assume.  That the
> Dolphins
>> > >>> weren't prepared?  Possible, but that certainly hasn't been the case
>> > >>> generally under this regime---why would it be this week?  That a
> number of
>> > >>> players just didn't play well/made mistakes for whatever reason today?
>  I
>> > >>> could buy that.  We've also had a ton of bad breaks in that game.... a
> long
>> > >>> FG that just missed, a long TD called back on penalty, a dropped INT,
> a play
>> > >>> that was clearly a fumble but ruled incomplete, Ricky hurt, Crowder
> hurt.
>> > >>> So that factors in, I'm sure.
>> > >>>
>> > >>> But I think the talent gap also factors in.  The presence of Andre
> Johnson
>> > >>> and a QB who can get it to him just makes such a huge difference...
> the
>> > >>> running game is working for the Texans because we have to do so much
> to
>> > >>> account for AJ.  Hopefully someday we'll be able to have Davis or
> Smith
>> > >>> shadow a guy like AJ and take him out of the game, but that's just not
> the
>> > >>> case now...so we have to scheme around him, which opens up other parts
> of
>> > >>> their offense.  And meanwhile we don't have a bad-ass LB to be
> disruptive.
>> > >>>
>> > >>> All that is why it's so, so, so important that Miami add a big-time
> WR---so
>> > >>> we can create some of those matchup problems ourselves.  And someone
> who is
>> > >>> disruptive--a playmaker--on defense.  But we knew all that.
>> > >>>
>> > >>> All that said, as bad as this game has been, the Fins keep threatening
> to
>> > >>> make it a game in the second half.... which is why I don't think it's
> fair
>> > >>> to question this team's heart (not that you were, just in general I
> mean).
>> > >>>
>> > >>>> Date: Sun, 27 Dec 2009 15:13:58 -0500
>> > >>>> From: ldouglas at gmail.com
>> > >>>> To: dolphins-disc at phins.com
>> > >>>> Subject: Re: DOLPHINS: Texans
>> > >>>>
>> > >>>> they also had a shit rushing offense and are as inconsistant as ted
>> > >>>> ginn. but their running tD looked like Clinton Portis' last year in
>> > >>>> Denver.
>> > >>>>
>> > >>>> there may be a clear talent gap in some areas, but as a team they
> are
>> > >>>> no better than us in general. hell - numerically we've had the
>> > >>>> toughest schedule in the league and we're still 7-7 - meanwhile
>> > >>>> they've feasted on the NFC west.
>> > >>>>
>> > >>>> we've taken the Colts and Saints and Pats to the wire by not taking
>> > >>>> our opponents lightly. We've lost to Buffalo and Tennessee by
> thinking
>> > >>>> a win was our birthright. When dudes are dropping sure INTs and
> making
>> > >>>>  Ryan Motes (Moats?) look like Bo Jackson on Tecmo Bowl - they
> didn't
>> > >>>> show up. period. IMO.
>> > >>>>
>> > >>>> On 12/27/09, Kristoffer Shields <kms223 at hotmail.com> wrote:
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>> They have the best WR in the league, one of the top QBs in the
> league
>> > >>>>> who
>> > >>>>> has been in the system for years, and the probable defensive rookie
> of
>> > >>>>> the
>> > >>>>> year.  They're not 30 points better than us, no, and there's no
> doubt
>> > >>>>> the
>> > >>>>> Fins are not playing well today at all.  I hope this puts heat on
>> > >>>>> Pasqualoni
>> > >>>>> if nothing else.  I just think we're hiding our heads in the sand if
> we
>> > >>>>> fall
>> > >>>>> back on "we just didn't show up" or "we didn't want it enough,"
> because
>> > >>>>> that
>> > >>>>> glosses over what is IMO a clear talent differential and suggests
> the
>> > >>>>> Fins
>> > >>>>> are closer to the prize that we are.  I think the Fins made
> progress
>> > >>>>> this
>> > >>>>> year---I think we are better than we were last year, and I think we
>> > >>>>> would've
>> > >>>>> made a more credible playoff run if we hadn't been wrecked by
> injuries.
>> > >>>>> But
>> > >>>>> we're still a number of players away from the AFC elite, or even
> the
>> > >>>>> non-Colts/Chargers second level.
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>>> Date: Sun, 27 Dec 2009 14:03:01 -0500
>> > >>>>>> From: ldouglas at gmail.com
>> > >>>>>> To: dolphins-disc at phins.com
>> > >>>>>> Subject: Re: DOLPHINS: Texans
>> > >>>>>>
>> > >>>>>> they're not better than us, they're just out-playing and
> out-scheming
>> > >>>>>> us. And we didn't show up.
>> > >>>>>>
>> > >>>>>> better than us on the day, sure. but had we player 3 weeks ago? I
>> > >>>>>> don't think so.
>> > >>>>>>
>> > >>>>>> On 12/27/09, Kristoffer Shields <kms223 at hotmail.com> wrote:
>> > >>>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>> Do you think we've taken them too lightly?  It looks to me like
>> > >>>>>>> they're
>> > >>>>>>> better than the Fins.  I don't understand how they're only 7-7.
>> > >>>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>> Date: Sun, 27 Dec 2009 13:53:28 -0500
>> > >>>>>>>> From: ldouglas at gmail.com
>> > >>>>>>>> To: dolphins-disc at phins.com
>> > >>>>>>>> Subject: Re: DOLPHINS: Texans
>> > >>>>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>> have we ever not taken the Texans too lightly?
>> > >>>>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>> On 12/27/09, Mark L. Diana <mdiana at tulane.edu> wrote:
>> > >>>>>>>>> Can you say collapse?
>> > >>>>>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>>> I've always said the Texans were the team that worried me.
>> > >>>>>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>>> If we don't make some quick adjustments, the season is over.
> The
>> > >>>>>>>>> problem
>> > >>>>>>>>> is,
>> > >>>>>>>>> what adjustments do we make? Clearly we knew we had to pressure
>> > >>>>>>>>> Schaub
>> > >>>>>>>>> and
>> > >>>>>>>>> cover Johnson, and we're doing neither.
>> > >>>>>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>>> On 12/27/09 12:33 PM, "ldouglas" <ldouglas at gmail.com> wrote:
>> > >>>>>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>>>> the cbs crew are about as interested in this game as we seem
> to
>> > >>>>>>>>>> be.
>> > >>>>>>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>>>> On 12/27/09, Mark L. Diana <mdiana at tulane.edu> wrote:
>> > >>>>>>>>>>> Well, so far, this does not look like a team that is playing
> for
>> > >>>>>>>>>>> it's
>> > >>>>>>>>>>> playoff life. The Texans are moving the ball at will, and
> have
>> > >>>>>>>>>>> stuffed
>> > >>>>>>>>>>> our
>> > >>>>>>>>>>> running game.
>> > >>>>>>>>>>>
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