Pro Sports Blogging » Daniel Saviuk

With one week left in the NFL season, the Texans (12-3), Broncos (12-3) and Patriots (11-4) are all alive for the two first-round byes, but none of the top three seeds have been determined yet.

The Texans and Broncos clinch the bye with a win or a Patriots loss, and the Patriots can still get the bye with a win and a loss by either Houston or Denver. The Patriots would own the tiebreaker over the Texans and Broncos based on having a better conference record, but the Texans own the tiebreaker over the Broncos for the same reason.

To that end, the NFL announced last night that this Sunday’s Dolphins-Patriots game in Foxborough, originally scheduled to kickoff at 1 p.m., will instead start at 4:25 p.m. The Broncos-Chiefs game also kicks off at 4:25, and the schedule change ensures that all three teams will have to give their best effort on Sunday and won’t be able to rest their starters. The Texans-Colts game starts at 1.

If the Patriots-Dolphins game kicked off at 1, and the Dolphins won the game, it would eliminate the Patriots from contention for a bye before the Broncos even kicked off, and the Broncos-Chiefs game would turn into a dud. But now, even if the Texans lose, the Broncos and Patriots still have to win to lock up the first-round bye.

Does that all make sense? Good. http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/thedailydolphin/2012/12/24/dolphins-patriots-game-moved-to-425-p-m/

A month ago, when the Dolphins faced the Patriots, the Patriots won. With the loss, it allowed the Patriots to win its’ 4th consecutive division title.

It was a game that the Dolphins almost had, but lost 23-16!!!!

They held Tom Brady and their offense to 238 yards passing and did what I called for: GET AN INTERCEPTION!!!

The Patriots finished with a season-low 321 yards, and Brady went 24 for 40 for 238 yards, TD, INT with four sacks. http://sports.yahoo.com/news/pats-clinch-afc-east-title-211732541–nfl.html.

Tannehill’s line: 13-29, 186 yards, 0TD’s, 0INT’s, 1 fumble lost; 5 carries, 19 yards, TD.

So, what do the Dolphins have to play for?? PRIDE!!! A NON-LOSING SEASON!!!! Those are very IMPORTANT things for players.

Check out this article: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/other/fl-miami-dolphins-end-of-season-1230-20121228,0,6927040.story

Miami Dolphins linebacker Kevin Burnett isn’t motivated by the possibility of finishing 8-8 instead of 7-9.

“Who cares?” he said. “You’re sitting at home. At this point you play to win, but the difference between the two, when it’s all said and done, is nothing. You’re sitting at home when it matters, in January.”

He’s wrong. Winning on Sunday makes a big difference for the Dolphins. I agree with that.

Here’s a scary thought for a once-proud franchise:

If the Dolphins (7-8) lose at New England on Sunday and finish with a losing record, they’d join Buffalo and Cleveland as the NFL‘s only franchises with a current streak of at least four consecutive losing seasons.

St. Louis could squeeze in that group, too. The Rams (7-7-1) have to beat Seattle to avoid a sixth consecutive losing season.

You don’t want to keep company with Buffalo, Cleveland and St. Louis.

Even dregs such as Jacksonville, Kansas City and Oakland aren’t working on a fourth consecutive losing season.

So as you can see, although the Dolphins are out of playoff contention they have a lot at stake against New England.

But look closer to home.

A victory, and an 8-8 finish, avoids a fourth consecutive losing season, something this franchise hasn’t seen since its first four seasons of existence (1966-69). Four consecutive losing seasons might qualify this as the worst-ever stretch of Dolphins football. When it happened previously the franchise was being birthed. That’s a legitimate excuse.

Coach Joe Philbin, who completes his first season in charge on Sunday, isn’t looking at things from that perspective. He sees the here and now. He sees his first season as a head coach, a season which could finish with a road victory against one of the best teams in the NFL, and certainly the best team in the AFC East for the last decade or so.

The Dolphins have a chance to make a late-season statement by beating the Patriots.

“There’s a difference between 8-8 and 7-9, absolutely,” Philbin said.

Look at it this way, if the Dolphins finish 8-8, they’d close the season on a three-game winning streak. They’d be 4-2 in their last six games with victories over New England (on the road) and Seattle, a pair of playoff teams. The only losses in that span would be against New England and at San Francisco, also a pair of playoff teams.

That would do wonders for the team’s confidence, and the team’s perception.

“We know that winning this game could carry over into next season,” said running back Reggie Bush, who needs 40 yards to have back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons.

On the other hand, a loss, and a 7-9 finish, could mean the Dolphins didn’t accomplish much this season. Sure, they found a quarterback in rookie Ryan Tannehill. That can’t be diminished. And they found a head coach and had some quality performances from some guys.

But in the grand scheme of things they’d be in roughly the same place as they’ve been after the previous three seasons, heading into the off-season without much momentum and very little buzz.

One game, this game, can make a big difference.

Players who have been on the Dolphins since 2010 have never had a winning season or beaten the Patriots. That group includes players such as Burnett, fellow linebackers Karlos Dansby and Koa Misi, guards Richie Incognito and John Jerry, and safety Reshad Jones, to name a few.

Cornerback Sean Smith understands. The Dolphins are 1-6 against New England since Smith joined the NFL in 2009; that was a 22-21 victory in December of his rookie season. He’s lost five consecutive games to the Patriots.

“Personally, I don’t care what the record is it would just feel really good to get a victory against them,” he said. “This team has been dominating the division for a long time…Plus, I don’t think I’ve ever been 8-8. That’s crazy.”

So, what can Mr. Tannehill do accomplish this feat???

From: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1457834-how-miami-dolphins-can-set-tone-for-offseason-in-week-17-vs-new-england-patriots.

This article talks about how Tannehill can be effective against the Patriots. I couldn’t agree more.

The Miami Dolphins have grown a lot this year, and they have one more chance to prove just how much with a road game against the New England Patriots to close out the season.

Mainly, if the defense turns in a solid performance against Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, and if Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill continues to play efficiently with the football, the Dolphins will have a lot to be excited for headed into the 2013 offseason.

Not just the players, though; the Dolphins coaching staff has grown, too, and has finally begun using Tannehill to his strengths. If they make sound adjustments based off their last game against the Patriots, Dolphins fans can get excited not just for the players, but for the ability of the coaching staff to maximize the skill set of those players—an important component in the growth
of any team.

Will the Dolphins ask Tannehill to hang in the pocket, read the defense and make a throw as he did against the Patriots in the previous meeting?

I’ve been beating this drum for weeks, but they’d be much better off using his athleticism and running ability to their advantage and letting him move around and throw on the run. Granted, he will never improve as a pocket passer unless he practices, but their best chance to take down the Patriots is to do what they’re good at.

Too often, we’ve seen Tannehill struggle to hit open receivers when throwing from the pocket.

Take this deep throw to wide receiver Brian Hartline in Week 13 against the Patriots. Everything was executed to perfection; the play-action fake to running back Reggie Bush caught Patriots
safety Steve Gregory by surprise, and he vacated his responsibility in Cover 2.

That allowed Hartline to break free through the secondary, and gave Tannehill all the time he needed in the pocket.

The throw was simply off-target. Quarterbacks can’t afford to miss open throws like that in the NFL, and that’s certainly an area Tannehill has to improve. If he can hit a throw or two like this on Sunday, it will go a long way in showing just how much he’s grown.

If not, there are other ways to create big plays. Tannehill should try to extend plays to get the
receivers open.

That’s exactly what he did against the Jaguars on multiple occasions, but specifically on one play when he hit Hartline for a 17-yard completion.

The play was a designed bootleg for Tannehill, but he couldn’t find a receiver open initially.

Thus, he extended the play with his legs, and kept extending…and extending…all the way to the sideline, before he finally found Hartline settled into a soft spot in zone coverage.

For all intents and purposes, Hartline was triple-covered on the play, but Tannehill fit the ball into the open window and Hartline rewarded his quarterback for keeping the play alive.

It took awhile, but at least the Dolphins have finally begun utilizing those strengths of Tannehill’s.

A big performance from the Dolphins’ pass defense would also be a huge boost to their offseason confidence level.

The Dolphins pass defense has played well all year, but there has been a trade-off from the first half to the second half of the season. In the first eight games, they were efficient but for their inability to stop big plays against them through the air.

In the last seven games, they’ve mitigated the damage on deep passes, but have allowed a higher completion percentage and haven’t disrupted quarterbacks with sacks and interceptions quite like they did earlier.

The Patriots are not a big-play offense, and if you let Brady hang in the pocket and pick you apart, it’s going to be a long day. The Dolphins would be better off to rediscover the style of defense that made them an underrated unit earlier in the season.

If they can prevent Brady from being as efficient as he’s been all year, and as efficient as they’ve allowed quarterbacks to be recently, they could pull off an upset that would send the whole team smiling into the offseason.

Erik Frenz is the AFC East lead blogger for Bleacher Report. Be sure to follow Erik on Twitter and “like” the AFC East blog on Facebook to keep up with all the updates. Unless specified otherwise, all quotes are obtained firsthand or via team press releases.

From: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/fl-dolphins-notebook-1224-20121223,0,1166862.story

In his last two games, Tannehill is 35-for-53 passing for 350 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. He has an impressive passer rating of 109.8.

In his last four games, Tannehill has five touchdowns and no interceptions. He’s gone a span of 137 passes without an interception.

In his last six games Tannehill has thrown seven touchdowns and three interceptions.

And on the ground, in the last two weeks he’s had runs of 30 and 31 yards. The latter is the second-longest rush by a quarterback in franchise history, and the former is tied for third.

How IMPRESSIVE is that!!!! You want a quarterback to not make mistakes, and he is certainly proving it. For the season: 262-449 (58.4%), 3059 yards (203.9 yards/gm), 12 TD’s, 12 INT’s, 8 fumbles, 3 fumbles lost, 76.9 QBR; 47 carries, 203 yards, 2 TD’s. http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/25718;_ylt=A2KJ3CTpkOBQgAQAiJNNbK5_

In my eyes, it not how you start, but how you finish. Tannehill is certainly finishing the year strong.

On offense:

1) The 5 R’s = RUN REGGIE, RUN REGGIE RUN!! Give him the ball, and TURN HIM LOOSE!!!

One thing Bush would like to accomplish is to reach 1,000 rushing yards for the second straight season. He has 960 entering Sunday’s season finale at New England. If he gains 40 yards, he will join Larry Csonka and Ricky Williams as the only Dolphins to rush for 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons.

But regardless of whether he reaches that benchmark, Bush said he wants to stay in Miami for continuity and because he believes in new coach Joe Philbin’s program.

“I don’t want to keep bouncing around from team to team. I’d like to have a home base,” Bush said. “I talked about wanting to build or bring back the passion about Miami football here in the city and building a franchise, a winning franchise here.”

Bush said he’s “very encouraged’ by the team’s direction. The Dolphins are 7-8, one game better than last year despite playing with a rookie quarterback.

“(Philbin’s attitude) has been really positive for a lot of guys and for the people here, and I think we’ve been feeding off of that,” Bush said. “The direction of this organization is going in the right place.” http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/sports/football/rb-reggie-bush-soon-to-be-a-free-agent-wants-to-re/nTg3s/

2) Take shots downfield. The Patriots’ pass defense can be shredded. The play-calling has to be open to anything. Play-Action fakes, flea-flickers, roll-outs.

For the 3rd week in a row, Davone Bess is out with a back injury. The Dolphins have played well in his absence. Reggie Bush, Anthony Fasano, Rishard Matthews and Armon Binns have all stepped up in his absence.

3) Use Bush more in the passing game: Bush caught 2 TD’s last week for the 1st time this year. God knows why, they didn’t use him in the passing game this season.

Catching passes is nothing new for Bush, of course. He had 88 and 73 in his first two NFL seasons with the Saints, added 52 in just 10 games the next year and overall averaged 58.8 catches in five seasons with New Orleans before coming to Miami last year.

But the Dolphins haven’t utilized him nearly as much as a receiver. He had 43 catches last year, and only 33 this season. He’s averaging a healthy 8.2 yards per reception this year, but has seven games with zero or one catch.

Why aren’t the Dolphins using him more as a receiver?

“I don’t know,” Bush said after Sunday’s win. “You have to ask the offensive coordinator. I just make the plays when I get them.”

Sherman was asked about his usage of both players on Monday. As for Bush, he said, “I don’t believe he ran any more routes than he normally does.” But in terms of finding creative ways to use Bush and Miller, Sherman said he was a bit limited in that regard early in the season as they taught their new offensive system to the players.

Even Bush, Sherman said, needed to first learn how to play tailback in their system before they felt comfortable using him as a slot receiver.

“Reggie is our featured tailback, and that in itself takes a lot of reps, a lot of teaching,” Sherman said. “He has been a part of our passing game. A lot of times, he’s made some big plays for us on third down, but I don’t feel like we did any more with him than we’ve done in the past.” http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/thedailydolphin/2012/12/26/miami-dolphins-talking-points-why-hasnt-reggie-bush-been-used-more-as-a-receiver/.

4) Use Lamar Miller more: Miller, last week had 10 carries for 73 yards. Including a 28 yard run.

Using Bush as a receiver also meant getting more action for rookie Lamar Miller, who finished with 10 carries for 73 yards and impressed the coaches.

“Lamar is a very smooth back, and he’s more powerful than you’d think,” offensive coordinator Mike Sherman said.

Or, for that matter, why didn’t they use Miller more often earlier this season? He’s been inactive three times, and got all of four carries between weeks 5-13 before finally seeing some action the last few weeks.

“You would have liked to do some things earlier but maybe we weren’t quite ready for that step,” Sherman said. “You can understand and see talent that guys have, but there is a certain process you have to go through from a learning standpoint and a teaching standpoint. There is no question that Reggie Bush is a talented young man, Lamar Miller is a talented young man, but as you go through the journey of a season and you put more and more on their plate and they are able to handle it, you can end up doing more with them.”

“As we go into this (final) game and next season, we have a better feel and understanding of where we are at.” http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/thedailydolphin/2012/12/26/miami-dolphins-talking-points-why-hasnt-reggie-bush-been-used-more-as-a-receiver/

5) No Turnovers!!!!!!! The numbers are clear for Tannehill as he wraps up a mostly successful rookie season: The Dolphins are 1-5 when he throws at least one interception and 5-1 when he completes at least 60 percent of his passes. He has an impressive streak going right now – 136 consecutive passes without an interception over five games, a span during which the Dolphins are 3-2. The Dolphins are 2-8 when losing or tying the turnover battle, so they can’t afford mistakes. http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/thedailydolphin/2012/12/28/game-preview-5-keys-for-the-miami-dolphins-vs-new-england-patriots/

4) Protection, Protection, Protection. Got to keep him upright.

Defense:

1) Get to BRADY!! The front-seven needs to make Brady UNCOMFORTABLE in the pocket, so that way turnovers can be forced, which can happen. Brady has thrown ONLY 8 INT’s, but 4 times in the last 2 games. So, maybe they can get 1 or 2.

The Patriots’ offensive line have to deal with Pro Bowl Sackmaster Cameron Wake, who has a career-high 15 sacks. Good Luck. 4 sacks by the Dolphins a month ago on Brady.

2) The secondary need to not give up big plays. Brady is a MASTER SURGEON. If these guys are not FOCUSED, Brady will shred them like a paper-shredder. They need to cover these guys and not miss any tackles. The Dolphins’ defense has 16 takeaways this season. The franchise record for fewest in a season is 19, set in 2010 and ’11. http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/thedailydolphin/2012/12/28/game-preview-5-keys-for-the-miami-dolphins-vs-new-england-patriots/

S Reshad Jones, who missed out of the Pro Bowl is having a FANTASTIC YEAR. He picked Brady off the last time, they faced each other. His line: An interception, a sack, 11 tackles, and a pass deflection.

TE Rob Gronkowski will be joining the party after breaking his arm. He may not play much, but Miami still has to keep an eye on him.

It was the Wes Welker and Aaron Hernandez show last time. Welker: 12 catches, 103 yards, TD. Hernandez went for: 8 catches, 97 yards, 4 drops. Brady’s game-plan was simple: Quick passes to Welker and Hernandez and they made the most of them.

3) STOP STEVAN RIDLEY. The run-defense did very well last week against C.J. Spiller; even though, he busted one for 62 yards. Ridley is a solid runningback, and the Dolphins know they have stop him.

On Special Teams:

1) Punter Brandon Fields, if forced to punt; must pin the Patriots deep in their own territory. No fumbling punts like in the 1st game.

2) Kicker Nate Kiedling, has to make his FIELD GOALS. He made 1 of 2 last week in his debut.

3) Marcus Thigpen has to the give the Dolphins’ good field position.

To me, the biggest KEY TO THE GAME is COACHING. Can Joe Philbin OUTCOACH the master in Bill Belichick?? We know all the game is won by the players on the field, but it is the coaches who put their plan in motion and make decisions to benefit their team.

All week long, articles have been written about the possible new logo. What the Dolphins’ will do in the offseason. The announcement of the Pro Bowl rosters.

Only Cameron Wake made it, despite great years from Mike Pouncey, Karlos Dansby, Brian Hartline, Reshad Jones, Kevin Burnett and Brandon Fields.

Several players can still go to Hawaii if players at their position withdraw because of injury, including first alternates Pouncey and Fields. But Pouncey said going as a replacement wouldn’t be the same.

“I felt like I was the best center in the NFL,” he said. “I’d go out there and play and give it my all, but it doesn’t mean as much to me now that I’m an alternate.”

Several media outlets tabbed Pouncey as one of the biggest Pro Bowl snubs this year.

“It’s hard to take, but I’m just blessed that I came out of this season healthy and I gave it my all,” he said. “It was disappointing to hear the news, but I’ll come back next year and I’ll be in. Trust me, it just adds fuel to the fire.” http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/sports/football/rb-reggie-bush-soon-to-be-a-free-agent-wants-to-re/nTg3s/

Uh? There still is a game to be played. Will this be Bush’s, Brian Hartline, Jake Long, Sean Smith, Randy Starks, Nolan Carroll, Anthony Fasano’s last game in a Dolphins’ uniform are legitmate questions for after the season?

They are all FREE-AGENTS in the offseason. I will MOST CERTAINLY write a blog about the Dolphins’ plans; but right now, the focus should be on the Patriots and rightfully should.

The offseason is the offseason. Week 17 is upon us.

The Patriots have won five in a row against the Dolphins, six of their last seven and eight of their last 10. The Dolphins’ last win in Foxborough was the Wildcat game in 2008. http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/thedailydolphin/2012/12/28/game-preview-5-keys-for-the-miami-dolphins-vs-new-england-patriots/

As always, I believe the Dolphins will win this week and make a STATEMENT, that they can hang with the best. They win in a close one (24-14) and get to (8-8) and finish the year off strong. UPSET OF THE WEEK!!!!!!

The Dolphins do pick Brady off again; and the Patriots can’t contain Tannehill and Bush. Brady gets sacked 3 times and throws 2 INT’s.

I believe Tannehill will do AWESOME (26-36, 250 yards, 3TD’s, 0INT’s; 5 carries, 50 yards); Bush goes off (20 carries, 100 yards, TD; 5 catches, 40 yards, TD).

Go Dolphins!!!

The Fins RUN the Bills Out of Town and back to Buffalo!!!!!

Daniel Saviuk — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 03:51:01 +0000

What a day for the Dolphins!!

They did beat the Bills 24-10; but unfortuantely, they were eliminated from playoff contention because the Bengals won in dramatic fashion over the Steelers.

Playoffs would have been UNBELIEVEABLE and the icing on the cake for the Dolphins, whom many people didn’t think they would win more than 5 games.

Even though the didn’t make the playoffs with this win, they won more games this year (7), than all of last year (6).

Today, History was made by Ryan Tannehill. His 125 yards passing for the day (3,059 for the year), allowed him to become the fifth quarterback in franchise history to reach that milestone. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/fl-dolphins-notebook-1224-20121223,0,1166862.story

Today, was the Reggie Bush SHOW as well, and it was VERY FUN to watch!!!

The Dolphins showcased their running attack (Reggie Bush, Tannehill and Lamar Miller), and those 3 guys made life “HELL” for the Bills. 38 carries, 182 yards, TD.

They also finally made plays on the defensive-end; to a tune of: 3 fumble recoveries, 1 INT, and 2 sacks.

It would give my great pleasure to tell you about the day Reggie Bush had. He scored 3 TOUCHDOWNS (2 catching, 1 rushing), and was all over the field. His stats: 19 carries, 65 yards, TD; 4 catches (led the team), 42 yards (led the team), 2 TD’s (1st 2 TD’s catching all year).

In the 1st quarter, with 2:54 left, he scored the games’ 1st TD; on a 17 yard pass from Tannehill. 7-0 Dolphins. Watch the TD here: http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000115173/Reggie-Bush-TD-catch, http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000115601/Bills-vs-Dolphins-highlights, and http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000115604/Week-16-Ryan-Tannehill-highlights. Just a thing of beauty. It was all Bush on that play. Once he caught it, he sprinted down the rightsideline, and launched himself towards the right pilon. The ball touched the pilon, as he fell out of bounds.

The drive was setup by Sean Smith STRIPPING Bills’ WR Stevie Johnson off the ball on the Dolphins 25, which Reshad Jones picked up and ran 24 yards. Watch here: http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000115161/Stevie-Johnson-fumble

Then, Bush and Miller dominated the drive. Bush had 2 carries for 12 yards; 1 catch, 17 yards, TD. Miller had 4 carries, 23 yards.

In the 2nd quarter with 0:42 seconds left, he scored the games’ 2nd TD; on a 1 yard run. 14-3 at the half. Watch the run here: http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000115269/Reggie-Bush-TD-run and http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000115601/Bills-vs-Dolphins-highlights

The drive was setup by Tannehill throwing a beautiful 30-yard strike to Rishard Matthews as seen here: http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000115601/Bills-vs-Dolphins-highlights, and http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000115604/Week-16-Ryan-Tannehill-highlights.

Then, after the 30 yard pass; From the Bills 33, Tannehill showed his INCREDIBLE ATHLETICISM; by taking off running and scampered down right sideline 31 yards. He tried to reach the goal-line, but he had stepped out of bounds at the 2. He fumbled the ball out of bounds. Watch here: http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000115263/Ryan-Tannehill-31-yard-run, http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000115601/Bills-vs-Dolphins-highlights, and http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000115604/Week-16-Ryan-Tannehill-highlights.

2 plays later, Bush punched it in for the 1 yard score and 14-3 lead.

In the 3rd quarter, Bush scored the games’ 3 TD; a 12 yard TD pass from Tannehill. EXTRAORDINARY HAND-EYE COORDINATION, BALANCE AND SLICK-FEET; as he caught the pass. Watch here: http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000115433/WK16-Can-t-Miss-Play-Bush-s-sweet-feet, http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000115601/Bills-vs-Dolphins-highlights, and http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000115604/Week-16-Ryan-Tannehill-highlights

Tannehill lobbed it up to Bush over 2 defenders and over his shoulders to the left side of the endzone and PRESTO! A TOUCHDOWN!! 21-3. It also included a 15 yard roughing the passer penalty, which was assessed on the kickoff.

The drive was setup by Karlos Dansby STRIPPING Bills’ FB Dorin Dickerson fumble at the Miami 36, after he caught a 21 yard pass. Chris Clemons recovered it.

1st play of the drive, Lamar Miller broke out for 28 yard run to the Bills’ 36. Also on the drive, Armon Binns caught a 6 yard pass. His 1st catch as a Dolphin. He was claimed off waivers from the Bengals a few weeks ago.

3 plays later, Bush scored his 3rd TD of the game.

Reggie Bush has 960 yards rushing and needs 40 to get back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons. He’d be the third player in Dolphins history to do that, joining Larry Csonka (1971-73) and Ricky Williams (2002-03). http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/fl-dolphins-notebook-1224-20121223,0,1166862.story

Finally, we Dolphin fans have been wanting to see Bush used more in the passing game. He is SUCH AN AMAZING PLAYER, especially when he is in space. He can JUKE AND JIVE ALL OVER THE PLACE.

Here is how Tannehill describes Bush: ”Reggie is a versatile player,” Tannehill said. ”When you have a guy like that, he’s a real weapon.” http://sports.yahoo.com/news/bush-leads-dolphins-past-bills-212322368–nfl.html

Now on to Tannehill. It wasn’t his best game: 13-25, 130 yards, 2 TD’s; 6 carries, 44 yards. He posted another SOLID QB PASSER RATING: 93.8.

He did what he had to win the game. He made some pretty throws and hit 5 different receivers, DESPITE no Davone Bess. Bush was his target all day. The 2 TD passes to Bush were a thing off beauty. Watch here: http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000115604/Week-16-Ryan-Tannehill-highlights, http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000115173/Reggie-Bush-TD-catch, http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000115433/WK16-Can-t-Miss-Play-Bush-s-sweet-feet, and http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000115601/Bills-vs-Dolphins-highlights

He also had a NIFTY 31 yard run, as part of the 44 yards he had on the day. Watch here: http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000115263/Ryan-Tannehill-31-yard-run, http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000115604/Week-16-Ryan-Tannehill-highlights, and http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000115601/Bills-vs-Dolphins-highlights.

From: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/fl-dolphins-notebook-1224-20121223,0,1166862.story

In his last two games, Tannehill is 35-for-53 passing for 350 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. He has an impressive passer rating of 109.8.

In his last four games, Tannehill has five touchdowns and no interceptions. He’s gone a span of 137 passes without an interception.

In his last six games Tannehill has thrown seven touchdowns and three interceptions.

And on the ground, in the last two weeks he’s had runs of 30 and 31 yards. The latter is the second-longest rush by a quarterback in franchise history, and the former is tied for third.

In my eyes, it not how you start, but how you finish. Tannehill is certainly finishing the year strong.

Now to talk about Lamar Miller. Miller has well, when OC Mike Sherman lets him play and run the ball. He gives Bush a break and gives the Dolphins positive yards. The Dolphins need to give him more playing time. Look at these stats for the game: 10 carries, 73 yards. Had a nice 28 yard run in the 3rd quarter to help setup Bush’s 3rd TD.

The defense was ON FIRE TODAY!!! 3 fumble recoveries, INT, 2 sacks. Miami’s defense forced three fumbles in a game for the first time since Dec. 12, 2010, against the New York Jets. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/fl-dolphins-notebook-1224-20121223,0,1166862.story

The Star of the DEFENSE was: Reshad Jones. 2 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 INT (returned 8 yards), and 1 pass deflection.

His INTERCEPTION was a thing of beauty!!!

With the Bills at the Miami 1 and 80 seconds left, Jones leaped at the line of scrimmage to snare Ryan Fitzpatrick‘s pass and clinch the win.

”I just told the guys, ‘Somebody has to make a play,”’ Jones said. http://sports.yahoo.com/news/bush-leads-dolphins-past-bills-212322368–nfl.html

Sean Smith, Karlos Dansby, and Cameron Wake each forced fumbles. Smith and Dansby’s Forced Fumbles both led to Bush Touchdowns. Wake’s forced fumble, which also was credited as a sack (15th of the season), led to a Field-Goal. Watch Wake’s Forced Fumble/sack here: http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000115476/Cameron-Wake-strip-sack

The defense knew they had they were going to have their hands full with C.J. Spiller. And they were RIGHT!!! He carried the ball 22 times, 138 yards. Out of that 138 yards (62 came on his longest run of his career). That led to a FG. The rest of the game, he was held to 21 carries for 75 yards.

They hung in there and did what they had to do to stop the Bills.

Other notes from the game.

Nate Kiedling, who was signed to replace Dan Carpenter, hit 1 of 2 FG’s. After getting his 1st FG try of 46 yards blocked in the 1st quarter, he recovered in the 3rd quarter to drill a 45 yard FG to put the score 24-3. He also converted all of his extra points (3 of 3).

Armon Binns, caught 3 passes in a first game as Dolphin. 3 catches, 27 yards.

Dimitri Patterson, a cornerback who was claimed off waivers from the Browns ;ast Tuesday, played well in his Dolphins’ debut. It wasn’t until late in the fourth quarter that he was beat for a pass (for 15 yards). He defended Bills receiver T.J. Graham most of the day, locking him down one-on-one in an end-zone play and deep (with help from Reshad Jones over the top). For a roster desperate for cornerbacks, he was a good pick-up. And a strange one for Cleveland to release. The Browns reportedly gave him a $6 million bonus as part of a three-year, $16 million deal last off-season. So he essentially has two years and $10 million left on a deal. Is he worth that or will he renegotiate?He was rated the 47^th of 117 cornerbacks entering Sunday by ProFootballFocus.com. Nolan Carroll was rated 70^th and Sean Smith 75th. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/sfl-hyde10-ten-thoughts-on-dolphins-24-bills-10-20121223,0,5046444.story

Patterson didn’t just start on Sunday against Buffalo, but he played all 67 snaps. And Patterson, an eight-year veteran who has been with six teams, played well, finishing with four tackles and not allowing any big plays in the passing game.

“We were really impressed with his ability to pick up the scheme,” defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle said.

Patterson’s relationship with the Browns soured this season during his rehab from a high ankle sprain. Coyle also said that the Dolphins have had their eye on Patterson since the offseason, but he signed a three-year, $16 million contract with Cleveland (essentially the same contract CB Richard
Marshall signed with the Dolphins this offseason).

“Back in the spring time he has a guy who we had on our radar who we liked,” Patterson said. http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/thedailydolphin/2012/12/26/miami-dolphins-talking-points-why-hasnt-reggie-bush-been-used-more-as-a-receiver/

The Dolphins played HARD in nearly every game this season. They had games’ early in the season, that they let slip away. They played better than 7-8 team.

After the game, some of the players had this to say about the season:

The Dolphins (7-8) take no solace in possibly finishing with a .500 record and avoiding a fourth consecutive losing record.

“That’s not good enough,” defensive end Cam Wake said. “There are no moral victories in football. You’re either first or you’re last, and that’s from the season down to the game to the play. We didn’t so well enough this season to be where we want to be, and almost doing it is just not good enough.” http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/fl-dolphins-notebook-1224-20121223,0,1166862.story

”The NFL has a system in place – six teams earn a spot in the playoffs,” first-year coach Joe Philbin said. ”It is what it is.”

Philbin didn’t make the playoff race a point of emphasis in December, and quarterback Ryan Tannehill said he was unaware the Dolphins had been eliminated until he emerged from the locker room.

”We just have to move forward and learn from past experiences,” Tannehill said.

”It’s definitely a setback,” linebacker Karlos Dansby said. ”We’re definitely disappointed. But we had plenty of opportunities.” http://sports.yahoo.com/news/bush-leads-dolphins-past-bills-212322368–nfl.html

I love the Dolphins and I believe they will finish the season strong by beating the Patriots and keeping them from a 1st-round playoff bye. 8-8, pretty good!!!

All stats and times are provided by: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/boxscore?gid=20121223015, and http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/boxscore?gid=20121223015&page=plays

http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000115601/Bills-vs-Dolphins-highlights

http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000115604/Week-16-Ryan-Tannehill-highlights

http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000115476/Cameron-Wake-strip-sack

http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000115433/WK16-Can-t-Miss-Play-Bush-s-sweet-feet

http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000115269/Reggie-Bush-TD-run

http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000115263/Ryan-Tannehill-31-yard-run

http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000115173/Reggie-Bush-TD-catch

http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000115161/Stevie-Johnson-fumble

Can the Dolphins get REVENGE on the Bills in Round 2???

Daniel Saviuk — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 07:32:40 +0000

As Chris Berman says, “NOBODY CIRCLES THE WAGON LIKE THE BUFFALO BILLS!!!!” Well, the Dolphins will have that opportunity to try again to circle that wagon and try to get REVENGE on the Bills in Round 2.

Last week, Tannehill and the Dolphins SHREDDED the spots off the Jaguars and won 24-3, while the Bills were TREATED LIKE A RED-HEADED STEPCHILD, and got beat to a pulp 50-17 at the hands of the Seattle Seahawks.

Last week, with the Dolphins at 5-8, quarterback Ryan Tannehill was asked what the team has left to play for this year. He answered that “we know we’re out of the playoffs,” but the Dolphins still desperately wanted to win their final three games.

But Tannehill was a bit premature in closing the door on the Dolphins’ playoff hopes. After last week’s win over Jacksonville improved their record to 6-8, the Dolphins still have a shot at the playoffs – a long-shot, but a shot nonetheless.

“Yeah, I was definitely notified of that,” Tannehill said sheepishly this week. “But it didn’t change anything. I’m still going to go out and play the same way regardless of the situation.” http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/mia/report#notes_quotes

The Dolphins’ have faint playoff hopes, and while they need a miracle, they at least have something to play for in Week 16 against an opponent that stifled Ryan Tannehill back in Week 11.

Here is what needs to happen for Miami to make the playoffs for the 1st time since 2008. From: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/key-matchup-dolphins-qb-ryan-181500078–nfl.html

Miami needs to win out — which would include beating the Patriots in Foxborough in Week 17 — and get both the Steelers and Bengals to finish at 8-8 to make the postseason. Stranger things have happened, but it provides the Dolphins a meaningful late-December game, which is more than the Bills can say.

Miami also needs Cincinnati to close 0-2, Pittsburgh to lose to Cleveland and the New York Jets to lose once. If all of that happens, the Dolphins would end up tied with the Bengals and Steelers and make the playoffs by virtue of a tiebreaker. http://sports.yahoo.com/news/bills-dolphins-preview-015245750–nfl.html

The last time, the Dolphins and Bills clashed; Week 11, It was Thursday Night PrimeTime!!

Time for Ryan Tannehill and the Dolphins to get back to winning games.

Unfortuantely, THAT DIDN’T HAPPEN!!

Turnovers, Questionable calls, and Questionable Play-Calling ended those HOPES; as the Dolphins lost 19-14.

When these two teams met on Thursday night in Week 11, Buffalo put together its best defensive performance of the season, holding the Dolphins to 184 yards of offense. Rookie QB Ryan Tannehill completed only 14-of-28 passes and threw two interceptions in the 19-14 loss. http://sports.yahoo.com/news/key-matchup-dolphins-qb-ryan-181500078–nfl.html

The Bills better get prepared for Ryan Tannehill. Tannehill has been playing very well since his debacle in Buffalo.

Last 4 games since the loss at Buffalo, Tannehill’s stats: 70-116, 809 yards, 4 TD’s, INT. He also showing his UNBELIEVEABLE ATHLETICISM as out of late. Once, he breaks the pocket, he is gaining yards in bunches. His running stats: 20 carries, 129 yards (6.5 Avg), TD. http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/25718

Last week, he had fun and we fans got to see THAT POWER ARM AGAIN, ALONG WITH HIS ATHLETICISM!!!!

Ryan Tannehill is 5-1 this year when he completes at least 60 percent of his passes. http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/mia/report#notes_quotes

He did that without Davone Bess. Bess will be out again with a bad back. Unfortuantely in that game, the Dolphins lost Charles Clay and Daniel Thomas to season-ending knee injuries. They also lost Dan Carpenter to a season-ending right groin injury.

To replace Carpenter, the Dolphins signed Nate Keadling.

Kaeding is the most accurate field-goal kicker in NFL history at 87 percent (180 of 207), and he made the Pro Bowl in 2006 and 2009. He had been a free agent since he was released from injured reserve by the San Diego Chargers on Oct. 30.

Kaeding made all seven field-goal tries in three games with the Chargers this year before being sidelined by a groin injury.

”He has demonstrated a record of success as a kicker in this league,” Philbin said. ”He’s a hard worker. He’s a true professional, and I’m sure he’ll do a great job for us.” http://sports.yahoo.com/news/k-kaeding-signs-miami-carpenter-170038825–nfl.html

Also, in the win over the Jaguars, Brian Hartline hurt his back in the game. He is questionable for tommorrow’s game. It would be a SHAME, if he couldn’t play. Last week, he reached the 1,000 yard mark for the 1st time in his career.

If neither plays, quarterback Ryan Tannehill‘s options at wide receiver will be Marlon Moore, rookie Rishard Matthews, newcomer Armon Binns (claimed off waivers from the Bengals, 12 days ago) and converted running back Marcus Thigpen. The foursome has combined for 13 catches with the Dolphins this year. http://sports.yahoo.com/news/dolphins-wrs-hartline-bess-both-222330558–nfl.html

Last week in Bess’s absence, Tannehill connected with 8 different receivers. Fasano, Matthews, Thigpen all stepped up big-time for the Dolphins. They will need to do it again, if the stars are out.

The last two games against the 49ers and Jaguars, Tannehill has found a new target in Anthony Fasano.

One player quietly having a solid season is tight end Anthony Fasano. He only has 36 catches for 289 yards in all 14 games this year, but he leads the team with five receiving touchdowns, including one in each of the past two weeks.

Fasano isn’t a flashy player, but has won over the new coaching staff with his toughness, intelligence and skill as an all-around tight end.

“Fasano is consistently giving you great effort,” Sherman said. “He is very well prepared. Very seldom does he make a mental mistake. He has a lot of versatility and we’ve done a lot of things with him. When we lost Charles Clay, he moved to another position that he hadn’t played all year and he knew exactly what he had to do as we moved the tight end group around. It’s just good to go out there with him because he is a cagy veteran, knows exactly what to do and how to do it, and has a very good skill level.” http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/mia/report#notes_quotes

I always say I believe and that will NEVER EVER CHANGE and his OC Mike Sherman feels the same way, as he echoed that statement:

“I think (Sunday) was a good indication of what he is capable of doing, offensive coordinator Mike Sherman said. “You have to understand, he hasn’t played that position as much as maybe some other quarterbacks have at a very high level. So, he’s learning on the job and I think he processes things and tries not to make the same mistake twice. We put an awful lot on him. He’s throwing the ball vertically down the field, medium routes, short routes, moving the pocket; there’s not a whole lot of things we don’t ask him to do. As I said, we put an awful lot on him, so I think he has an excellent future, and he will just continue to get better.” http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/mia/report#notes_quotes

Now onto Round 2 and my keys to the game:

On offense:

1) The 5 R’s = RUN REGGIE, RUN REGGIE RUN!! Give him the ball, and TURN HIM LOOSE!!! Last week, Bush was AWESOME. 21 carries, 104 yards. The Bills are UTTERLY PATHETIC against the run. They are getting better lately and now give up 144.1 yards a game (which ranks 30th in the league). http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/buf/buffalo-bills

The last time, they played; Bush had 10 carries for only 2o yards. A big reason for the Bills’ success in that game was the front seven’s ability to contain Dolphins RB Reggie Bush, keeping him from bouncing outside and holding Miami to 60 rushing yards on 24 carries (2.5 avg.). That often put Tannehill in 3rd-and-long situations. http://sports.yahoo.com/news/key-matchup-dolphins-qb-ryan-181500078–nfl.html.

Bush is 105 yards from reaching the century mark for the 2nd straight season. On the year, he has: 200 carries, 895 yards, 5 TD’s; 29 catches, 227 yards. http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/mia/stats?sort=0&season=2012

2) Take shots downfield. The Bills’ defense have been covering the opposition a lot better lately. The pass defense has improved and now only give up 225.4 yards a game (which ranks 15th in the league). http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/buf/buffalo-bills

The Bills are giving up 28.7 points per game – tied for the most in the NFL. http://sports.yahoo.com/news/bills-dolphins-preview-015245750–nfl.html

3) Protection, Protection, Protection. Got to keep Tannehill upright. Mario Williams is a force to be reckon with.

If the Dolphins can keep Tannehill protected, then it falls on his decision making and accuracy to make plays. He is adept at throwing on the run, and the Bills struggled against another mobile quarterback last week in Russell Wilson. Going against a depleted Bills cornerback group, Tannehill could find success moving the pocket and making strong throws downfield. http://sports.yahoo.com/news/key-matchup-dolphins-qb-ryan-181500078–nfl.html

4) No Turnovers. Tannehill is limiting his turnovers as of late. No Interceptions since Week 12 against the Seahawks.

“I wouldn’t say I’m on a roll. I try to get better every game. I think that I’m obviously more comfortable now than I was five games ago. Every game, I settle in a little bit more. I think everyone around is obviously settling in more too as well, just being in the offense for 14 games now going on 15. I think, as a unit, we’re settling in and finally got some third-down conversions last game and got a little bit of a roll there. So hopefully we can continue and build on that.”

—QB Ryan Tannehill, who hasn’t thrown an interception in 111 pass attempts. http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/mia/report#notes_quotes

He’ll need to be aware of ball-hawking Bills FS Jairus Byrd, whose diving interception in the fourth quarter of the teams’ last meeting stopped a drive. LB Bryan Scott got the game-sealing interception. Byrd, who is tied for the AFC lead in interceptions, is having a very good season, and Tannehill would be best served looking him off before making any long throws. http://sports.yahoo.com/news/key-matchup-dolphins-qb-ryan-181500078–nfl.html

On Defense:

1) Get to Fitzpatrick!! The front-seven needs to make Fitzpatrick uncomfortable in the pocket, so that way turnovers can be forced. Fitzpatrick stats: 274-444, 2935 yards, 22 TD’s and 15 INT’s. http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/buf/stats

The DEFENSE has been playing very well as of late. The defense is LED, by the SACKMASTER CAMERON WAKE, who as of 2 weeks ago against the 49ers, TIED HIS CAREER-HIGH IN SACKS OF 14

Since the Dolphins players returned for offseason workouts last April, new coach Joe Philbin and his defensive coaches have continually stressed one thing: Creating turnovers.

Yet despite their attention to it, the Dolphins’ defense simply hasn’t created many this year. The current defense hasn’t been good at creating takeaways – in 2010, they set a franchise record for fewest takeaways in a season (19), and tied it again last year.

This year, the Dolphins’ inability to create takeaways is reaching new heights, with just 12 in 14 games (nine interceptions, three fumble recoveries). Only Indianapolis has created fewer takeaways this season (10).

The Dolphins’ defense has just one takeaway in its last seven games – a Reshad Jones interception of Tom Brady, of all people.

The Dolphins’ defense is doing well in many key spots – sixth in points allowed (19.9 per game), fifth on third down (35.1 percent) and first in red-zone defense (touchdowns on 38.8 percent of opportunities) – but their inability to create turnovers has confounded new defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle.

“We’ve done everything – and then some,” Coyle said. “I don’t think there is a team in the league that works harder, yet we’ve got to make more impacting plays on defense. We’re not creating field position like great defenses do and ultimately that’s what we want to be.”

The Dolphins’ nine interceptions this year are tied for 26th most in the NFL – the team record for fewest is eight, set in 2006.

The Dolphins are doing a decent job of knocking the ball loose, though. They have forced 36 fumbles in the last two seasons, including 19 this year. But they’re rate of recovery is shockingly bad – just 3-of-17 fumbles last year, and 3-of-19 this season. That’s only 16.7 percent of fumbles that they’ve been able to recover the past two seasons. And the Dolphins are getting to the quarterback
- tied for fifth in the NFL with 39 sacks this year.

2) CB’s (ESPECIALLY SEAN SMITH), need to not give up big plays. The Bills have a SOLID RECEIVING CORPS led by Stevie Johnson, Donald Jones and TE Scott Chandler.

Johnson’s stats: 69 catches, 891 yards, 6 TD’s. Chandler’s stats: 42 catches, 546 yards, 6 TD’s. Jones’s stats: 41 catches, 443 yards, 4 TD’s. http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/buf/stats

3) STOP C.J. SPILLER. Spiller is an INCREDIBLE runner, and the FRONT-SEVEN better step up and tackle him. Spiller is having a BREAKOUT SEASON: 161 carries, 1047 yards, 6 TD’s; 37 catches, 352 yards, TD. http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/buf/stats

Spiller, in the 1st matchup: had 22 carries, 91 yards; 3 catches, 39 yards.

On Special Teams:

1) Punter Brandon Fields needs to pin the Bills deep in their endzone.

2) Kicker Nate Keadling needs to prove he can make his field goals.

3) Marcus Thigpen has to the give the Dolphins’ good field position.

SERIES HISTORY: 94th regular season meeting. Miami leads series, 55-37-1, although Buffalo holds a 2-1 advantage in the postseason. The Bills won the previous meeting, 19-14 in Week 11, and have swept the season series 11 times, most recently in 2007. The Dolphins swept the season series last year. http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/mia/report#notes_quotes

As always I predict, the Dolphins will win: 28-14!!!

I believe Tannehill will have a MONSTER GAME!!!

Tannehill goes 22-30, 275 yards, 3TD’s, 0INT’s; 7 carries, 40 yards. Bush goes for 20 carries, 100 yards, TD; 6 catches, 60 yards.

Dolphins SHREDDED the SPOTS right off the Jaguars!!!

Daniel Saviuk — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 18:32:23 +0000

OH! What a GLORIOUS DAY to be a Miami Dolphins’ fan!!!

The Dolphins POUNDED the Jaguars 24-3, to keep hope alive in the playoff race for the final spot and did with it many of the perfect 1972 Dolphins in attendance!!!

As always I predict, the Dolphins will win, but this will be a BIG-TIME BLOWOUT: 28-3!!! I was pretty accurate in the score!!!

From: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/fl-miami-dolphins-jaguars-1217-20121216,0,3192648.story

It’s the 40th anniversary of the only undefeated team in NFL history. They went 17-0 including their Super Bowl victory. Roughly 30 players from that team celebrated all weekend. There was a dinner at former coach Don Shula‘s house Friday night, the premiere of the movie “More Than Perfect,” on Saturday night, and defensive coordinator Bill Arnsparger was inducted into the Honor Roll at halftime Sunday. Hall of Famers such as guard Larry Little, fullback Larry Csonka and quarterback Bob Griese were among those at the game.

The Dolphins did everything they needed to do to win and followed my keys to the game to a tee lol!!

In a matchup of the PRESENT AND FUTURE vs. the PAST in terms of quarterbacks of the Miami Dolphins, Ryan Tannehill beat Chad Henne!!!

Today, was all about Tannehill, Reggie Bush and Brian Hartline!!!

Tannehill was FANTASTIC today!!!! He was SUPER ACCURATE, despite 4 POTENTIAL dropped TD passes. He hit 8 different receivers and at one point, he completed 11 STRAIGHT COMPLETIONS.

He was 22-28, 220 yards, 2 TD’s, 0 INT’s; 8 carries, 52 yards (included a 30 yard run), fumble lost. I predicted: he would go 25-33, 300 yards, 3TD’s, 0INT’s; 6 carries, 40 yards.

Not too bad, if I don’t say so myself!!! Too bad, I didn’t start him on my fantasy team!!!

In the 2nd quarter, he connected with FB Jorvorskie Lane for a 4 yard TD pass as seen here: http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000111708/Jorvorskie-Lane-TD-catch, http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000111998/Week-15-Ryan-Tannehill-highlights, and http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000112006/Jaguars-vs-Dolphins-highlights; after they stopped Henne on 4th and 1 from Miami’s 11 and was helped by an illegal-substitution penalty on OT Guy Whimper, that negated a Justin Blackmon 20 yard Touchdown. The Jaguars’ tried to capitalize on Tannehill’s only mistake of the day, a fumble on his own 31. You can see the illegal-substitution and fumble here: http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000112006/Jaguars-vs-Dolphins-highlights.

That would have made the score 10-3 Jaguars, but Miami capitalized on the penalty and marched downfield and scored on Lane’s Touchdown to go up 10-3 Miami.

After the game, Guy Whimper and Karlos Dansby had this to say about the play, from: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/dolphins-stop-chad-henne-jaguars-211112102–nfl.html

Whimper had entered the game as a third tackle – as he had done five times earlier – without reporting as an eligible receiver.

Whimper said he did report, but the officials apparently failed to understand him.

”He reported to the offense a hundred times this year, and 400 times in practice,” Mularkey said. ”Today, for some reason, I was told he didn’t report. He said he reported, but the official has to confirm it.”

Instead of the score, the Jaguars retreated to their 25 and eventually lost possession when Henne was stopped for no gain on a fourth-and-1 sneak.

”That turned the whole game around,” Miami linebacker Karlos Dansby said.

The Dolphins went into the 2nd half up 10-3 and never let up:

Miami marched down the field with drives of 76, 60, 64 and 85 yards in the second half and limited Jacksonville to just 14 minutes possession in the final three quarters. Sherman deserves credit for that, while the players executed well too. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1447936-the-good-bad-the-ugly-recapping-miamis-win-over-chad-hennes-jaguars#/articles/1447936-the-good-bad-the-ugly-recapping-miamis-win-over-chad-hennes-jaguars/page/2

On the first play of the 2nd half, Tannehill went play-action, rolled out, and found a wide-open Brian Hartline for a 37 yard completion as seen in these highlight packages: http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000111737/Brian-Hartline-37-yard-catch and http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000111998/Week-15-Ryan-Tannehill-highlights

They did not score on the drive because they decided to try a fake FG from the Jaguars 5. When lining up for the FG, Punter Brandon Fields saw a wide-open Anthony Fasano, and tried to get it to him quickly before the Jaguars could react. The pass sailed out of bounds as seen here: http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000111762/Miami-Dolphins-special-teams-gaffe

It didn’t hurt them, because they stopped the Jaguars on their drive and on the Dolphins’ next drive, the scoring started in the 2nd half.

After the punt, from their own 28, Reggie Bush took the handoff right and ran for 53 yards to the Jaguars 25. Dan Carpenter would kick a 30 yard FG, 4 plays later to go up 13-3. Watch Bush’s run in this highlight packages: http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000111774/Reggie-Bush-53-yard-run, and http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000112006/Jaguars-vs-Dolphins-highlights.

After another Jaguars’ 3 and out, the Dolphins marched downfield again from their own 23, and Carpenter kicked a 31 yard FG (3rd of the game) to go up 16-3. In this drive, Tannehill showed off his running skills with a 30 yard scramble as seen here in these highlight packages: http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000111998/Week-15-Ryan-Tannehill-highlights, and http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000112006/Jaguars-vs-Dolphins-highlights

On the Jaguars’ first drive of the 4th quarter, they marched downfield to the Miami’s 15, and that was it. LB Jason Trusnik, on 4th and 1, stopped RB Montell Owens as seen here: http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000112006/Jaguars-vs-Dolphins-highlights

The Dolphins went on a 9:01 minute drive, that ended with a Tannehill’s 2nd TD pass of the day, this one to Anthony Fasano, on a beautiful play-action pass, rolling to his left, as seen here in these highlight packages: http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000111919/Anthony-Fasano-TD-catch, http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000111998/Week-15-Ryan-Tannehill-highlights, and http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000112006/Jaguars-vs-Dolphins-highlights

They decided to go for a 2-point conversion and Tannehill flushed from the pocket, going backwards, throws across his body to a wide-open Fasano to get the 2 points and go up 24-3. Watch this pass in this highlight package: http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000111998/Week-15-Ryan-Tannehill-highlights. Ball Game!!!

Despite the fumble, which he knew he should have tucked it away, Tannehill played flawless despite 3 dropped TD passes and the score would have been much higher.

1) Rishard Matthews = 1st quarter from the Jaguars’ 35, had the ball go off his fingertips. Had he secured it, he would have scored to go up 7-3. They settled for a Carpenter 53 yard FG.

From: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1448119-breaking-down-ryan-tannehills-breakout-performance-vs-jaguars

Take the deep bomb to wide receiver Rishard Matthews, for example. On 3rd-and-5 from the Jaguars’ 36-yard line, Tannehill took the shotgun snap and threw a bullet high and over Matthews’ head.

The ball hit Matthews square in the hands, so the receiver is credited with the drop here, but with a more accurate throw, this could have easily been a touchdown. Matthews had a step on his man, and the safety did not have a good angle to stop him from getting into the end zone.

It’s not as though this was the only place Tannehill could have thrown the ball where it would be caught; a throw in between the numbers would have done just fine.

2) Brian Hartline = 3rd quarter from the Jaguars’5, had the ball knocked out of his hands as he tried to secure it. They settled for a Carpenter 30 yard FG.

3) Marcus Thigpen = 3rd quarter from the Jaguars’ 22, had the ball knocked out of his hands as he tried to secure it. They settled for a Carpenter 31 yard FG.

After the game, Tannehill had this to say: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/fl-miami-dolphins-jaguars-1217-20121216,0,3192648.story

Tannehill wasn’t sure if it was his best game of the season but said “it feels good to go out and execute the gameplan, have some fun, have some long sustained drives converting third downs.”

Last week, in the 1st half, he was 10-14, 107 yards. On Sunday, he went 10-14, 79 yards, TD; but had a much better 2nd half. 2nd half: 12-14, 113 yards, TD. He finished with a career-best passer rating of 123.2. That’s a good showing for a man who had thrown three touchdowns and six interceptions in his previous five games. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/fl-miami-dolphins-jaguars-1217-20121216,0,3192648.story

His 123.3 rating was his highest this year – and the highest against Jacksonville’s defense all season, too. Most opposing quarterbacks post good numbers on the Jaguars‘ 31st-rated defense.

But no quarterback had an efficient day like this against them. Not Aaron Rodgers (95.7 rating). Not Andrew Luck (80.1 and 75.7). Not Jay Cutler (88.8). Not Matt Schaub (87.2 and 121.7). http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/fl-miami-dolphins-dave-hyde-1217-20121216,0,242213.column

Also from this article: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/fl-miami-dolphins-dave-hyde-1217-20121216,0,242213.column:

Everyone knows the Dolphins need a big-time playmaker at receiver. Up in Sunday’s press box, Nick Buoniconti, as great a Dolphin as there ever has been, said of this current team, “There are no illusions. This is not a good football team. And no one’s involved in building it is saying it is.”

The good news about Sunday was that you left seeing Tannehill outplay former Dolphins and now Jacksonville starter Chad Henne. If Tom Brady is a measuring stick one way, Henne is the other way.

Yet Tannehill still remains such a work in progress this rookie season, you need to see more games like Sunday. Take his comparison to Henne’s three Dolphins seasons as quarterback.

Quarterback rating? Tannehill now has a 75.9 rating. Henne’s rating was 75.7.

Touchdown-to-interception ratio? Tannehill has a .455 ratio (10 touchdowns, 12 interceptions). Henne’s ratio was .456 (31 touchdowns, 37 interceptions).

“Tannehill sees the field better and makes good decisions,” the NFL scout said. “The thing he has to work on more is accuracy. And he will, I’d bet. That can be improved.”

Tannehill brings an added element of running, as Sunday showed. He took the knee brace he’d been wearing since early October and finished Sunday with eight carries for 52 yards. He was the game’s second-leading rusher behind Reggie Bush.

He’s not perfect, not polished. But who expected that this rookie year? What he needs most is some more time, some more help around him and some more good days like Sunday.

I said in the preview blog, that someone needed to step up in the passing game because Davone Bess didn’t play because of a bad back. No Bess, Doesn’t mean a Mess!! I thought Fasano, Marlon Moore, Marcus Thigpen, Matthews would step up and they did. In this highlight package: http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000111998/Week-15-Ryan-Tannehill-highlights; Tannehill found these guys.

Outside of Hartline, Fasano STEPPED UP. Besides the TD and the 2-point conversion, he also had 5 more catches for 54 yards, with a long of 22. You can see some his catches here: http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000111998/Week-15-Ryan-Tannehill-highlights

It was so GREAT to see the old Tannehill return. I don’t care if was it was against the Jaguars. You still have to make the plays.

Finally, the coaching staff opened the playbook and let Tannehill have fun. I saw in the preview blogs every week: Take shots downfield. The Jaguars’ pass defense is HORRIBLE (24th in the league, 248.8 yards a game). http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/jac/jacksonville-jaguars. The play-calling has to be open to anything. Play-Action fakes, flea-flickers, roll-outs.

They opened up the offense and Tannehill took advantage. From: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1446950-jaguars-vs-dolphins-mike-sherman-shows-progress-as-offensive-play-caller

The Dolphins have been incredibly predictable on first down this year, running the ball 197 times on first down next to 148 first-down pass attempts (the third fewest in the league through 13 games), and they were stubborn about it once again on Sunday. They picked up 116 yards on 19
first-down running plays (6.1 YPA), due in large part to a 53-yard first-down scamper by Dolphins running back Reggie Bush.

Miami (6-8), ranked near the bottom of the league in points and yards, had a season-high 26 first downs and won for only the second time in the past seven games. http://sports.yahoo.com/news/dolphins-stop-chad-henne-jaguars-211112102–nfl.html

The old Tannehill returned as well, as the old Reggie Bush.

Bush was FANTASTIC: 21 carries, 104 yards (including that beautiful 53 yard run). He didn’t catch the ball today. I predicted: he goes for 20 carries, 100 yards, TD; 6 catches, 60 yards.

Not bad if I don’t say so myself!!!

I say this every week in my preview blogs and it is always the 1st thing:

The 5 R’s = RUN REGGIE, RUN REGGIE RUN!! Give him the ball, and TURN HIM LOOSE!!! Bush needs the football in his hands, so he can take the pressure off Tannehill. The Jaguars are DOWNRIGHT PATHETIC: 2nd to last in the league in rushing yards allowed at (145.7). http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/jac/jacksonville-jaguars.

What a PLEASURE to watch!!!!

He had this to say after the game from: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/fl-miami-dolphins-jaguars-1217-20121216,0,3192648.story;

“We came out and dominated a team we were supposed to beat,” said running back Reggie Bush, who rushed for 104 yards, his second 100-yard rushing game of the season.

He took the opportunity to introduce himself to Csonka before the game.

“I just wanted to introduce myself and tell him congratulations and thank him for everything he did paving the way for guys like me,” Bush said. “It was good to see those guys out there today, and I think it was even more special for us to get a win today while honoring that ’72 team.”

Besides the great day for Tannehill and Bush, Hartline accomplished 2 things today as well: He had 5 catches, 77 yards (including the beautiful 37 yard catch to start the 2nd half). That put him over 1000 yards for the 1st time in his career and into some select company with 7 other Dolphins’ receivers in history.

From: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/fl-miami-dolphins-xs-omar-1217-20121216,0,1315071.story

Mark Clayton, Mark Duper, Irving Fryar, Tony Martin, O.J. McDuffie, Chris Chambers and Brandon Marshall; that is the company Brian Hartline now keeps.

Those former Dolphins receivers are now Hartline’s peers, considering the five second-half receptions he turned into 77 yards in Sunday’s 24-3 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars makes him the eighth receiver in Dolphins history to produce a 1,000-yard receiving season. I predicted: he would get 8 catches, 90 yards, TD. Not too bad!!

“It’s important to me,” said Hartline, who has 1,002 yards and scored one touchdown on his 67 catches. “It was always a goal I wanted to reach. There are a lot of receivers that don’t get that opportunity.”

Earlier in his Dolphins career, Hartline was one of them.

The former Ohio State standout, whom the Dolphins selected in the fourth round of the 2009 draft, was typically Chad Pennington‘s, Chad Henne‘s and Matt Moore‘s third, if not fourth, option on most passing plays.

Few plays were ever designed or called for him. But Hartline has become rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill‘s favorite target, producing the franchise’s 17th 1,000-yard receiving season. He’s got two more games to push his way up the single-season receiving yards rankings.

It is unlikely that Hartline will challenge the franchise record Clayton set in 1984, when he caught passes for 1,389 yards, but if he stick to his per-game average of 71.5 yards, Hartline should leapfrog Clayton for sixth place in team history.

That would put him right behind Marshall’s 1,214-yard performance he had in 2011, which was a Pro Bowl season.

No matter how you twist Hartline’s overall numbers and view his contributions, there is no question he’s is having a breakout season.

“There are a lot of critics that don’t give me a lot of credit, but a lot of guys enjoy the way I play,” Hartline said. “My teammates, my peers and people around the industry respect the way I play the game.”

The Offensive Line was FANTASTIC today. They allowed only that 1 sack on Tannehill. Other than that, they opened lanes for Bush to do his thing and for Tannehill, to have time to the throw the football.

Also, the Defensive was GREAT day. They made Henne’s life MISERABLE.

Henne’s day: 18-34, 221 yards, 0 TD’s, 0 Turnovers, but was sacked twice. He had 2 potential TD’s called back due to a penalty and reversal.

1) Due to Guy Whimper’s penalty, that cost the Jags a TD from Henne to Blackmon

2) Initially called a TD, the call was reversed because Cecil Shorts’ elbow hit out of bounds. That negated a 4 yd TD pass to Shorts.

The defense gave up 1 big play. It was 38 yard pass to Blackmon in the 1st play. The rest of the day, they played fine. The front-seven was dominant again: Only gave up 86 yards on 21 carries.

Like I said in the preview blog, the Jags have a SOLID 1-2 COMBO at WR in Shorts and Blackmon. Shorts (6 catches, 1o1 yards) and Blackmon (6 catches, 93 yards) combined for: 12 catches, 194 yards.

Let’s give props to Dan Carpenter!! He connected on all 3 of his FG’s (53, 30, 31).

From: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/fl-miami-dolphins-jaguars-1217-20121216,0,3192648.story

This wasn’t the prettiest game in the 1st half, but the Dolphins (6-8) kicked things into high gear in the second half while Jacksonville (2-12) stalled. The Dolphins outscored the Jaguars, 14-0, had seven plays of 10 yards or more, and kept the ball for 21 of a possible 30 minutes. Miami ended the game with 11-minute edge – 35:38 to 24:22 – in time of possession.

Miami was also without linebacker Koa Misi (ankle). And during the game a number of players went down, including running back Daniel Thomas (knee) and cornerback Nolan Carroll(knee). Neither returned.

Regardless, it was a good day for the Dolphins.

I am so proud of the Dolphins. They came out and dominated.

Next week, they can get a chance to extract revenge on the Bills at Sun Life Stadium.

All stats provided by: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/boxscore?gid=20121216015&page=boxscore and http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/boxscore?gid=20121216015&page=plays

Bragging Rights of Florida?? Dolphins or Jaguars??

Daniel Saviuk — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 05:42:20 +0000

Battle of Florida: Jacksonville Jaguars (2-11) vs. Miami Dolphins (5-8)!!!

On display will be the CURRENT FRANCHISE QUARTERBACK of the Dolphins’ Ryan Tannehill vs. the former and now an afterthought potential franchise quarterback Chad Henne of the Jaguars, formerly of Miami.

This game marks the return of Chad Henne, who was supposed to bring championships to Miami when he was drafted. Good Luck with that Pipe-Dream!!!

Henne was a 2nd-round pick (57th overall) in 2008 and definitely was not the answer!!! His stats with Miami: 34 games, 646-1065 (61%), 7114 yards (209.2), 61.1 QBR Rating, 75.9 Passer Rating, 31 TD’s, 37 INT’s, 1 Fumble Lost. But, what was worse: A 14-20 Record. UNACCEPTABLE!!! All the stats came from: http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/11291/chad-henne.

His 4-year career in Miami, ended in Game 4 last year against the Chargers, when he hurt his right shoulder and thank the Good Lord Above it did because he was as INDECISIVE as a TODDLER TRYING TO DECIDE WHAT NIPPLE TO GO TOO DURING BREAST-FEEDING.

Sure, he had some solid games, but the rest were very inconsistent.

He has played PRETTY DECENT this year, but has won only 1 game in the 7 games he has played. He took over for STARTING QB Blaine Gabbert in Week 7. His stats for the year: 94-182 (51.6), 1217 yards, 8 TD’s, 5 INT’s, 1 Fumble Lost, 33.7 Quarterback Passer Rating, 76.2 Rating. http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/gamelog/_/id/11291/chad-henne.

The Jaguars are team going nowhere fast. Their best player Maurice Jones-Drew is OUT FOR THE YEAR since Week 7, when he hurt his foot on the 2nd play of the game. Their backup runningback Rashad Jennings is also out with a concussion.

The only going for the Jaguars’ is they have talented receivers in Rookie Justin Blackmon and 2nd-year pro Cecil Shorts.

2nd-year Star Cecil Shorts is having a great year: 43 catches, 824 yards, 7 TD’s. He is consistent every week. http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/14184/cecil-shorts.

The Jaguars took WR Justin Blackmon with the 5th pick, and he has done decent so far. His stats: 45 catches, 614 yards, 3 TD’s. http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/14907/justin-blackmon.

Now to the FREE-FALLING Miami Dolphins.. I love them despite their recent misery!!

Losers of 5 of 6, hanging on barely in the playoff race, making mistake after mistake. Other than 2 blowout losses, they are in every game and play hard, but somehow find away to lose.

From: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/jaguars-dolphins-preview-213535366–nfl.html

Frustrations are also starting to take their toll on the Dolphins (5-8), who’ve been outscored by an average of 10.0 points and forced one turnover during a 1-5 stretch. Tied for last place in the AFC East, Miami is all but certain to miss the playoffs for the 10th time in 11 seasons.

“I don’t know exactly what the answer is,” said rookie Ryan Tannehill, whose eight TD passes rank last among quarterbacks with at least 280 passing attempts. “But we have to make the plays that are there. You can’t win in this league scoring as few points as we are. It’s frustrating.”

From: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1443654-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-recapping-miamis-loss-to-the-49ers/page/4.

The Dolphins’ production on critical downs is also a huge worry.

Miami’s offensive line seem unable to protect its quarterback, the receivers seem unable to get open, and Tannehill seems unable to consistently make his throws (except Fasano’s touchdown).

Tannehill looks rattled on some of these downs too, and you could see it when he threw the ball away on fourth down, with Miami needing to convert on a 4-10 to keep the game alive. That decision was ridiculous. Throw it downfield anywhere. It makes no difference if it’s an incomplete pass or touchdown; just give someone a chance to make a play.

Also, Tannehill’s decision-making is questionable on occasions, and he could run for first downs, but chooses to pass. He’s a rookie, so it is understandable, but that clinical nature looks lacking right now. Hopefully this will change, but it would be nice to see a little more growth from him on these clutch plays.

Their offense has NO BOUNCE TO IT. It is SO BORING!! There is no FLARE to it. The whole world knows he loves throwing to Brian Hartline and Davone Bess, but there other players on the team.

You hardly hear Anthony Fasano’s name being called. Sure, he caught a TD last week, but that was first time in weeks we saw his name called. How about Rookie Rishard Matthews? The kid can fly, and could be developed into that DEEP-THREAT, Tannehill needs. What about Charles Clay? 1 catch last week, after looked like he was developing a connection with Tannehill.

Bess is out this week with a sore back. 1st time he has missed a game in his career. Bess, who has 61 receptions for 778 yards, is on the verge of the first 1,000-yard season in his career. But now it appears he’s a long-shot to reach that milestone. This will also be the first game Bess has missed. He had played in 77 of a possible 77 games. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/sfl-miami-dolphins-wr-davone-bess-back-and-lb-koa-misi-ankle-will-miss-sundays-game-against-jacksonville-20121214,0,3904825.story.

What about the power and speed running game? Where is it? Reggie Bush can only do so much. Last week Daniel Thomas, the POWER RUNNER, got 2 carries for 3 yards. They hardly use Lamar Miller anymore. He got 3 carries for 1 yard. That is ABSURD!!!

I say it every week, the PLAY-CALLING IS ABSOLUTE JOKE!!!! Let Tannehill have FUN out there, and showcase his skills. He has been RUNNING more, but we fans want THAT POWER ARM AGAIN!!!!

Reggie Bush must be ITCHING to run RIGHT THROUGH THE JAGUARS’ HEARTS, and have a MASSIVE GAME like he did against the Raiders in Week 2. He is finally being used more in the passing game. He is PRIMED and DO for a MONSTER GAME as WELL!!!

The DEFENSE has been playing very well as of late. The defense is LED, by the SACKMASTER CAMERON WAKE, who as of last week against the 49ers, TIED HIS CAREER-HIGH IN SACKS OF 14. I am sure that Wake is CHOMPING AT THE BIT to KNOCK OUT his former teammate Chad Henne.

Now, to my keys to the game. They are the same as always.
On offense:

1) The 5 R’s = RUN REGGIE, RUN REGGIE RUN!! Give him the ball, and TURN HIM LOOSE!!! Bush needs the football in his hands, so he can take the pressure off Tannehill. The Jaguars are DOWNRIGHT PATHETIC: 2nd to last in the league in rushing yards allowed at (145.7). http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/jac/jacksonville-jaguars.

2) Take shots downfield. The Jaguars’ pass defense is HORRIBLE (24th in the league, 248.8 yards a game). http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/jac/jacksonville-jaguars. The play-calling has to be open to anything. Play-Action fakes, flea-flickers, roll-outs.

3) No Bess, Doesn’t mean a Mess!! I believe someone will step for Tannehill; either Bush, Matthews, Clay, Fasano, maybe Marlon Moore.

4) Protection, Protection, Protection. Got to keep him upright.

5) No Turnovers!! Dolphins are 4-0 when they don’t turn the ball over. 1-8, when they break even or turn ball more than once.

Defense:

1) Get to Henne!! The front-seven needs to make Henne UNCOMFORTABLE in the pocket, so that way turnovers can be forced. Can the Dolphins’ SACKMASTER Cameron Wake apply the heat and make life miserable for Henne?

2) CB’s (ESPECIALLY SEAN SMITH and NOLAN CARROLL), need to not give up big plays. Shorts and Blackmon are formidable weapons for Henne.

On Special Teams:

1) Punter Brandon Fields, if forced to punt; must pin the Jaguars deep in their own territory.

2) Kicker Dan Carpenter, has to make his FIELD GOALS. He has been SOLID over the last few weeks.

3) Marcus Thigpen has to the give the Dolphins’ good field position.

As always I predict, the Dolphins will win, but this will be a BIG-TIME BLOWOUT: 28-3!!!

I believe the gloves will come off and Tannehill will have a MONSTER GAME.

Tannehill goes 25-33, 300 yards, 3TD’s, 0INT’s; 6 carries, 40 yards. Bush goes for 20 carries, 100 yards, TD; 6 catches, 60 yards. Hartline gets 8 catches, 90 yards, TD.

Go Dolphins!!!

The Fish GOT FRIED DOWN BY THE BAY in San Fran!!!

Daniel Saviuk — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 08:01:46 +0000

To change Frank Sinatra’s song, “Regrets, I had a few!!”

The new song for the Dolphins’ 27-13 loss to the 49ers is this: “Mistakes, I had a few!!”

They also were the battles of Franchise Quarterbacks and Sackmasters!! The Dolphins managed a split 1-1.

The Battle of the Franchise Quarterbacks; Colin Kaepernick beat Ryan Tannehill.

The Battle of Sackmasters; Cameron Wake beat Aldon Smith.

Mistakes were certainly the case on Sunday. Mistakes, bad-playing calling, and bad defense led to the Dolphins’ demise because for the most of the 1st half, they played well.

Mistake number 1:

1) This to me in any game I watched this season, WINS the 1st ANNUAL Daniel Saviuk “BONE-HEAD PLAY OF THE YEAR” AWARD, and the winner of this award is: Jonathan Freeny!!!

With 3:15 left in the 1st half tied at 3, Brandon Fields makes a great punt, and LB Freeny, who plays special-teams, goes down to pin the 49ers deep, but mistakely instead of downing after catching it; takes a few steps forward after catching it and touches the goal-line. That is an automatic touchback. Watch here: http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000108160/Mistake-results-in-Dolphins-frustration.

From: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/sfl-hyde10-ten-thoughts-on-49ers-and-dolphins-20121209,0,1206502.story

He could’ve downed a punt at the 49ers 2 or 3-yard line late in the first half. Instead, he caught the ball on the bounce, took a couple steps forward and brushed against the goal line for a touchback. Philbin challenged it. But here’s the touchback rule (as tweeted by former referee Mike Pereira: “If player of kicking team illegally catches/recovers a scrimmage kick in field of play & carries ball across goal line, or touches goal line with any part of his body while in possession of ball. For exception for missed field goal from beyond 20 yard line.” Punter Brandon Fields might’ve had the right idea – he pushed Freeny for making a bonehead play.

The 49ers get the touchback, march downfield and kick a FG to go up 6-3 at half.

Freeney had this to say about the play. “As soon as I caught the punt I saw the ref blowing his whistle,” Freeny said. “When I stepped on the line I wasn’t aware that I stepped on the line because I was walking forward. The whistle had blown and I was looking at the ref to give him the ball, but they said it doesn’t matter.” http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/fl-dolphins-niners-gamer-1210-20121209,0,6848874.story

Mistake number 2:

2) At the 12:05 mark in the 3rd quarter, the 49ers punts to the ball to Marcus Thigpen; and he mistakenly fumbles the football. It went right through his hands. Watch here: http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000108271/49ers-recover-muffed-punt

So, the 49ers recover at the 9 yard line, and 2 plays later, Frank Gore ties a franchise-record with his 50th career rushing touchdown, 13-3. Watch here in this highlight package: http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000108664/GameDay-Dolphins-vs-49ers-highlights

Mistake number 3:

3) On 4th and 1 with 1:40 left in the 3rd quarter, needing to make a stop, Sean Smith was called for a very QUESTIONABLE PASS-INTERFERENCE call on Michael Crabtree. That kept the drive going and the 49ers capitalized on the 8 yard penalty, with 5 plays later on an Anthony Dixon 1 yard touchdown. Horrible call!!! Smith did nothing wrong, at least I thought..

Mistake number 4:

4) Needing to make a stop on 3rd and 5 at midfield on the 49ers’ final drive, the defense which was getting beat up the 49ers running game, couldn’t stop Kaepernick as he delievered the final knock-out punch, with a 50-yard TOUCHDOWN run to seal the victory. Watch here in this highlight packages: http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000108387/WK-14-Can-t-Miss-Play-Kaepernick-the-quick and http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000108664/GameDay-Dolphins-vs-49ers-highlights.

It was that kind of day for Miami.

They had a chance to tie the game with 5:35 left in the game with ideal field position at their own 38, Tannehill ran off a string of 5 straight incompletions. A 15 yard pass interference call helped Miami, but that was it on that drive.

Tannehill tried to do to much. He was forcing it downfield. Bad-play calling on this drive such as:

1) On 3rd and 10 at the 49ers 35 with 4:16 left, he tried to force a ball down the middle of the field to Davone Bess with 2 defenders around him. A couple of thoughts here: 1) Bess is not a stretch receiver. Why is he running down the middle of the field? That is what Hartline does. 2) Why would Sherman call for a deep ball with some much time left; when something in the 10-15 yard range to Bess, Hartline or Clay would have worked sufficently. That would have gotten them a 1st down and keep the drive going.

2) The next play on 4th and 10, Tannehill overshoots Marlon Moore down the left sideline. Even he would have caught it, he wouldn’t have stayed in bounds. Again, why would Sherman call for a deep ball with some much time left; when something in the 10-15 yard range to Bess, Hartline or Clay would have worked sufficently. That would have gotten them a 1st down and keep the drive going.

I know Tannehill believed he could have made those throws and he just overshot them, but lets’ be real here: There was no seperation by those receivers. The Dolphins’ don’t have a stretch guy.

I HAVE WRITTEN and SAID SO MANY TIMES, “THE PLAY-CALLING SUCKS!!!!!!” Tannehill is getting so much blame and some deserved, but he is being forced to do way to too much. His play lately is suffering and the only to do now is: SIMPLIFY THINGS FOR HIM.

He has only 1 come from behind victory this season. NOT GOOD ENOUGH!!! He is better than this and the coaching staff needs to help him get back on track.

After the Kaepernick TD, needing 2 scores with 2 minutes left; Tannehill got sacked, and completed 1 of 4. Ball Game!!!!

It was a tale of 2 halves again for Tannehill.

Tannehill in the 1st half; was 10-14, 107 yards. Look at his highlight package as seen here:http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000108505/Week-14-Ryan-Tannehill-highlights.

He looked great. Had Brian Hartline not gotten tripped up on a his 28 yard catch as seen here in this highlight package: http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000108505/Week-14-Ryan-Tannehill-highlights; he would have taken it to the house for a touchdown because there was not a 49er in sight and Miami would have been up 7-0.

In the 2nd half; 7-25, 43 yards, TD. His passer was 74.1. His lone TD was to Anthony Fasano, on what could quite possibly be the catch of the year. It was JUST SO FREAKING AMAZING!! Watch it in these highlight packages: http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000108505/Week-14-Ryan-Tannehill-highlights and http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000108374/WK-14-Can-t-Miss-Play-Fasano-makes-49ers-swim-in-misery

What a CATCH!! The TD got to the Dolphins to within a TD at 20-13. Tannehill, also carries 3 times for 25 yards, with 1 carry for 20 yards. Like I said, the Dolphins had a chance to tie, but failed miserably and with such great field position, after forcing the 49ers to go 3 and out.

The Dolphins should have been able to march downfield and tie the game.

The Dolphins had a VERY DIFFICULT time containing Kaepernick, Gore, Crabtree. Then, the 49ers through a WRINKLE by playing for the 1st time; 4th-round pick out of Oregon RB LaMichael James.

James in his 1st game; had 8 carries, 30 yards, 1 catch, 15 yards, 3 kickoff returns, 79 yards. He really had the Dolphins guessing. I don’t think the Dolphins prepared for him. He provided a nice change of pace to spell Frank Gore. His longest run was 13 yards.

Kaepernick was FANTASTIC!! His line: 18-23, 185 yards, 100.2 Passer Rating; 6 carries, 53 yards, TD, including the clinching 50 yard touchdown run as seen here: http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000108664/GameDay-Dolphins-vs-49ers-highlights.

He has a STRONG ARM and proved it when he ALMOST connected on 50 yard pass to Randy Moss in the 3rd quarter, that Moss should have caught. The old Randy Moss would have caught. The 49ers did score on the drive.

The only downside to his day was: He had the UNFORTUNATE PLEASURE OF MEETING THE SACKMASTER CAMERON WAKE; who sacked him 3 times. More on Wake in a moment.

Frank Gore had a REASONABLY SOLID GAME; 12 carries, 63 yards, TD (his 50th career TD, that ties a FRANCHISE RECORD); 2 catches, 22 yards. The Dolphins couldn’t corral him and bring him down. He went over 1000 yards for the 6th time his career.

Michael Crabtree had a SUPER GAME: 9 catches, 93 yards. He is finally REALIZING his potential with Kaepernick under center. That is Kaepernick’s MONEY MAN..

Now on to Wake.

Wake had 3 of the 4 Dolphins’ sacks along with 6 tackles. He tied his career-high with 14 sacks and he still has 3 games left to play. His biggest tackle came on 3rd and 5, when he tackled Crabtree to setup Miami’s attempt to tie the game.

In battle of sackmasters; Cameron Wake beat Aldon Smith, 3 to 2.

One of the biggest questions of the game was: Can Rookie Jonathan Martin handle the best in the business in Aldon Smith? Well he did. He even head-butted his opponent.

From: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/dolphins-blog/sfl-see-the-jonathan-martin-headbutt-of-aldon-smith-20121211,0,3942734.story

He gave up one sack, about a half dozen quarterback pressure and had a false start, but his performance in Sunday’s loss to the 49ers proved he wasn’t overmatched against the NFL’s best.

What was also a good sign was seeing Martin push back when Aldon Smith tried to bully him.

Martin, the Stanford grad the Dolphins selected in the second-round of the 2012 draft, doesn’t exactly fit your typical stereotype of an NFL football player.

He’s cerebral, and introverted. Those traits got him nicknamed “The Big Weirdo” by his fellow linemen.

But when the bullets are flying it has become clear that Martin is willing to mix it up.

From: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/fl-dolphins-xs-omar-1210-20121209,0,1391034.story

There was a moment early in the first quarter of the Dolphins‘ 27-13 loss to the 49ers where Aldon Smithwas trying to establish his superiority.

Like an animal marking his territory, or a bully establishing his dominance in the neighborhood, Smith was pushing Jonathan Martin around after the whistle.

The Dolphins’ rookie had had enough and made a strategic decision. Martin head-butted the NFL‘s sacks leader, ramming his helmet into Smith’s dome in an effort to send the message he wasn’t going to be pushed around. Here it is..

Well, that video proved Martin will backdown from no challenge.

Other notes from the game:

1) Reggie Bush played SOLID: 14 carries, 65 yards, 5 catches, 38 yards. He ran hard and needs only 209 yards to reach 1000 yards.

2) Dan Carpenter made his FIELD GOALS; 28 and 53.

3) Davone Bess redeemed himself from laying an egg against the Patriots. 5 catches, 50 yards.

Unfortuantely, the Dolphins are struggling. Losing 5 of their last 6 has virtually assured of them of not making the postseason since 2008. They still have 3 games left to play. Maybe, the Dolphins can recapture their winning formula and win out.

Maybe, Tannehill can return to form and put up some SOLID NUMBERS to finish the season.

Next up, the battle of Florida vs. the Jaguars!!!!!

All stats and times provided by:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/boxscore?gid=20121209025&page=plays and http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/boxscore?gid=20121209025&page=boxscore

Can the Dolphins beat the BEAST OF THE WEST in the 49ers??

Daniel Saviuk — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 08:17:22 +0000

Sunday at 4:05 pm, the Dolphins (5-7) head west to face the 49ers (8-3-1).

Can the Dolphins beat the 49ers after losing a tough one vs. the Patriots.

As usual it falls on the shoulders of Ryan Tannehill.

The Dolphins need to let Tannehill just air it out and do his thing!!! He is really struggling as of late. From watching him week and week out, I am noticing a change in his demeanor. He is trying was too hard and he is getting frustrated.

As everyone knows by now, if you have heard me talk or read my blogs, I am 110% on the Tannehill BANDWAGON and am not afraid to speak my mind about his progression and his shortcomings. That is what I am TRUE FAN in mind does: HIGHLIGHT the good and the bad.

I am sure he knows what people are saying about him, “The Good and Bad!!” That has to be playing on his mind a little. He wants to be perform at the highest level every week and he is totally capable of doing that and we fans have seen that potential.

Sure, he his showing more of athleticism lately. That is great, because it adds more to his game; but he is the Quarterback. He is regressing somewhat from the guy who played so well up into the Colts game in Week 8. That could be attributed to the play-calling. I have said for weeks now; the play-calling is too conservative.

Memo to the coaching staff: If you want him to be successful, stop treating him like a child!!! Let him, HAVE FUN AND BE CAREFREE!! Remember the game at Arizona, when he SHREDDED the Cardinals Defense? That is what we need to see him do.

Sure, he got his 1st come from behind win against the Seahawks and he looked good doing it, but he didn’t play well against the Patriots. He missed too many throws.

If he comes out on Sunday, and plays what he is capable of; then Miami has LEGITIMATE SHOT at beating the 49ers.

It won’t be easy at all. The 49ers are NASTY!! When you have a SACK MACHINE in Aldon Smith, and 2 TACKLING MACHINES in ALL-PRO LINEBACKERS Patrick Willis and NaVarro Bowman, it is DAY AT THE OFFICE.

According to http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/stats/_/name/sf/san-francisco-49ers; this dymanic duo have combined for 201 tackles. Bowman (108) and Willis (93). Both have an INTERCEPTION.

Tannehill better get the ball out quickly and efficently. These guys will hit you.

It isn’t easy playing the 49ers and Coach Jim Harbaugh will do everything in his power to make Tannehill’s life miserable. To make matters tougher, the Dolphins won’t have ALL-PRO LT Jake Long to protect Tannehill. Long suffered a torn left biceps muscle last week, so that brings us to our featured matchup:

Rookie LT Jonathan Martin vs. DE Aldon Smith, who has a league-leading 17.5 sacks.

Martin is now the left tackle because All-Pro LT Jake Long went down Sunday, with torn left triceps. Long is done for the year and his career may be over with the Dolphins. He is a free-agent this coming offseason, and maybe too expensive for Miami to keep.

Here is a great article written about how hard Martin’s preparation for opponents’ he faces. From: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/dolphins-blog/sfl-jonathan-martin-the-miami-dolphins-rookie-right-tackle-wants-to-eventually-play-left-tackle-he-gets-20121206,0,3928906.story

On many days, after the Miami Dolphins finish practice, Pro Bowl defensive end Cameron Wake and rookie offensive tackle Jonathan Martin stay afterward and help each other study their opponent.

We’ve seen how much the extra work has helped Wake. He’s fourth in the NFL with 11 sacks.

One thing is certain; Martin won’t back down from the challenge. “I want to be the guy who can go out there and lock my man down,” Martin said, “so that’s my goal every week.”

Those post-practice, one-on-one sessions with Wake aren’t new this week. They’ve been going on the entire season.

“(We’re) kind of working on things,” Wake said. “‘Hey, you know what? This week I’ve got a guy who likes to give the spin move. Why don’t we work on that?’

“And maybe I would say, ‘Hey, I’ve got a guy who is an outside puncher, help me out with that.’ We’re kind of working off each other so that, come Sunday, both of our jobs are a little easier.”

But it wasn’t always that way. Wake had to put the youngster in his place.

“The first couple of weeks coming in I had to show him the ropes a little bit,” Wake said. “Show him, ‘Hey, you know what? I don’t care what round you (were drafted) in. This is the big leagues. I’ll show you what I can do a little bit.’

“But now, it’s less of a competitive edge as far as working together trying to make each other better. I think that whole dynamic helps both of us on Sunday because I’m mimicking his guy, he’s mimicking my guy, and I think, like I said, at the end of the day that’s going to help our team overall.”

DE Aldon Smith is A FREAK OF NATURE!!!!

From: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/12/06/3129948_p2/nfl-preview-miami-5-7-at-san-francisco.html

Niners linebacker Aldon Smith recorded his league-leading 17 1/2 sack of the season last weekend, tying Hall of Fame defensive end Fred Dean for the club’s single-season record. Smith’s 31 1/2 career sacks surpassed Reggie White for the most all-time by a player over the first two years of their career.

The 49ers have a solid offense and it is now led by Colin Kaepernick, who took incumbent starter Alex Smith’s job, after Smith went down with a concussion 4 weeks ago against the Rams.

In the offseason, Smith was highly-coveted by Miami. They offered 3 years at 24million, but returned to the 49ers with the same contract. Smith would have been the starter in Miami, and help teach Tannehill the ropes. Before the concussion, Smith was having a solid year: 157-217 (70%), 1731 yards, 13TD’s, 5INT’s; 29 carries, 134 yards. He also has been sacked 24 times. http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/stats/_/name/sf/san-francisco-49ers

Enter Colin Kaepernick. The 2nd year QB out of Nevada is EXCITING and very hard to defend. Since entering the 4 weeks ago, the team is 3-1. Here are his stats: 69-106 (65.1%), 888 yards, 3TD’s, 1 INT; 40 carries, 298 yards, 4TD’s, 2 fumbles lost.

Kaepernick can run and throw on the move. Once he breaks the pocket, Karlos Dansby and company, better be ready to LAY THE SMACKETH DOWN on him. Because if not, then he will RUN LIKE THE WIND!!

The 49ers can RUN THE FOOTBALL, with ALL-PRO RUNNINGBACK Frank Gore and Kaepernick.

From: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/12/07/5039749/dolphins-to-face-explosive-rushing.html#mi_rss=49ers#storylink=cpy

One of the Miami Dolphins’ strengths this season has been their ability to stop the run.

But on Sunday, Miami’s eighth-ranked run defense will face a team that will test its front seven, as the San Francisco 49ers enter the contest with the second-best rushing offense in the NFL. The 49ers are averaging 162.1 rushing yards per game, and the Dolphins are allowing just 97.7 yards per game.

Like most great rushing offenses, San Francisco features a skilled running back in Frank Gore,who has run for 972 yards and is averaging 4.9 yards per carry.

As a whole, San Francisco is using its strong offensive line to average 5.3 yards per carry, and the team ranks second in the league with 51.5 percent of its rushing plays gaining at least 4 yards.

Now, to my keys to the game. They are the same as always.

On offense:

1) The 5 R’s = RUN REGGIE, RUN REGGIE RUN!! Give him the ball, and TURN HIM LOOSE!!! The 49ers give up a pedestrian-like 90.6 yards a game (2nd in the league). Bush needs the football in his hands, so he can take the pressure off Tannehill. http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/sf/san-francisco-49ers.

2) Take shots downfield. The 49ers’ pass defense is AWESOME (2nd in the league, a pedestrian-like 189 yards a game). http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/sf/san-francisco-49ers. The play-calling has to be open to anything. Play-Action fakes, flea-flickers, roll-outs.

3) Protection, Protection, Protection. Got to keep him upright. Without LT Jake Long, Jonathan Martin better be ready for Aldon Smith, who is AWESOME!!!

4) No Turnovers!! Dolphins are 4-0 when they don’t turn the ball over. 1-7, when they break even or turn ball more than once.

Their 22 giveaways compared to 12 takeaways on the year puts them in a tie with the Tennessee
Titans for the 27th worst differential in the NFL. From: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1436059-dolphins-vs-49ers-10-keys-to-the-game-for-miami#/articles/1436059-dolphins-vs-49ers-10-keys-to-the-game-for-miami/page/5

Defense:

1) Get to Kaepernick!! The front-seven needs to make Kaepernick UNCOMFORTABLE in the pocket, so that way turnovers can be forced. Kaepernick can hum it downfield and has SUPERIOR running skills. Can the Dolphins’ SACK MASTER Cameron Wake apply the heat and make life miserable for Kaepernick?

2) CB’s (ESPECIALLY SEAN SMITH and NOLAN CARROLL), need to not give up big plays. Kaepernick had been developing a SOLID CONNECTION with Michael Crabtree and TE Vernon Davis. For the year, Crabtree has 57 catches, 668 yards, 5TD’s. Davis has 37 catches, 502 yards, 3TD’s.

These stats are provided by: http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/sf/san-francisco-49ers

3) STOP FRANK GORE. The run-defense did a SOLID JOB AGAINST RIDLEY last week, until the final drive when they were on the field for over 7 minutes and Ridley ran all over them. Gore is ONE OF THE GAME’S BEST RUNNINGBACKS, and the Dolphins know they have stop him.

On Special Teams:

1) Punter Brandon Fields, if forced to punt; must pin the 49ers deep in their own territory. Last week Fields had a rough start. He muffed the punt, and that started the Patriots’ scoring for the day.

2) Kicker Dan Carpenter, has to make his FIELD GOALS. He has been SOLID over the last few weeks.

3) Marcus Thigpen has to the give the Dolphins’ good field position.

As always I predict, the Dolphins will win in a CLOSE ONE: 21-14!!! Tannehill goes 22-30, 275 yards, 2TD’s, 0INT’s; 5 carries, 40 yards. Bush goes for 20 carries, 90 yards, TD. Hartline (8 catches, 90 yards, TD) and Bess (7 catches, 70 yards).

Go Dolphins!!!

SHOULD HAVE, SHOULDN’T HAVE, BUT DIDN’T in loss to Patriots!!!

Daniel Saviuk — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 15:22:49 +0000

Tough loss! Tough Breaks, including loss All-Pro LT Jake Long! Mischances!

The loss, allowed the Patriots to win its’ 4th consecutive division title.

It was a game that the Dolphins almost had, but lost 23-16!!!!

They held Tom Brady and their offense to 238 yards passing and did what I called for: GET AN INTERCEPTION!!!

The Patriots finished with a season-low 321 yards, and Brady went 24 for 40 for 238 yards, TD, INT with four sacks. http://sports.yahoo.com/news/pats-clinch-afc-east-title-211732541–nfl.html.

What more can they do against them? They had to do a lot considering the offense was ANEMIC.

In the end, Brady does what he always does: WIN!! I am sure Tannehill got some pointers from the master.

Unfortuantely, the Dolphins made PLENTLY OF BONE-HEADED MISTAKES, that helped the Patriots win.

First mistake:

The Dolphins put them in a hole early, because after going 3 and out, All-Pro Punter Brandon Fields mishandled the snap and got tackled for 10 yard loss. That put the Patriots at the Dolphins’ 12, and RB Stevan Ridley punched it in from 2 yards out to put the Patriots up 7-0. It had showered before the game, but that is no excuse. Fields has handled hundreds of punts and he should have fielded the ball cleanly. Watch Fields’ gaffe here as part of this highlight package: http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000104284/Patriots-vs-Dolphins-highlights

2nd mistake:

Finally in the 1st quarter, the Dolphins did something that no one has done to Brady in 203 attempts and that was INTERCEPT him. Trying to connect with TE Aaron Hernandez down the right sideline, S Reshad Jones finally did it. One SICK ONE-HANDED pick and took it back for a 30 yard touchdown. But, there was a flag on the play. Reggie Bush inexplicitably illegally blocked trying to seal the edge for a Jones. He was flag for 15 yards and that NEGATED the touchdown. Watch Jones’ pick here: http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000103901/Tom-Brady-INT. Dan Carpenter kicked a 44 yard FG to put the score: 7-3.

3rd mistake:

Then, in the beginning of the 2nd quarter, with the Patriots up 7-3; they go 3 and out, and are forced to punt, but CB Jimmy Wilson INEXPLICITABLY dove into Punter Zeltan Mesko as seen here: http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000104284/Patriots-vs-Dolphins-highlights. Wilson was called for a 15 yard penalty and an automatic 1st down for the Patriots.

Brady marched down downfield and connected with his buddy Wes Welker 6 times, including a 7 yard touchdown, that put them 14-3.

Welker had an UNBELIEVEABLE game: 12 catches, 103 yards, TD.

From http://espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=321202015, Here is how great Welker is:

Wes Welker recorded his 17th game with 10 catches more than twice as fast as Jerry Rice. While Rice did it in his 285th career game as a member of the Raiders, today marks Welkers 136th
game.

Most 10-Reception Games In NFL History

	Rice	Welker
Games	17	17
Games needed	285	136

“He’s very crafty,” said Dolphins safety Reshad Jones, who had an interception in the game. “He has one of the best quarterbacks in the game to get him the ball. [Welker] does a great job on options routes, and he does a great job of getting loose.” http://espn.go.com/blog/afceast/post/_/id/51649/patriots-provide-dolphins-a-2013-blueprint

4th mistake:

Tannehill fumbled as he was getting drilled by Trevor Scott. The fumble was recovered by Vince Wolfork. The Patriots kicked a FG to go up 17-3.

All these mistakes happened in the 1st 2 quarters.

Also, All-Pro LT Jake Long left the game with a left triceps injury and didn’t return in the 1st half. 2nd-round pick Rookie Jonathan Martin shifted from RT to LT, and played well there.

Despite the mistakes, the Dolphins were down only 17-10 at halftime, after Tannehill’s BEAUTIFUL 2-yard touchdown run: http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000103982/Ryan-Tannehill-TD-run

Down 20-10 in the 4th quarter, the Dolphins got to within 20-13 after Carpenter’s 33 yard FG. Considering, Tannehill was sacked twice in the drive by Trevor Scott again and Jared Mayo, a FG made it closer. Mayo came untouched and Tannehill was planted into the ground. Watch the sack here: http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000104284/Patriots-vs-Dolphins-highlights.

At the 8:28 minute mark in the 4th quarter, the Patriots went downfield from their own 20 for 7 minutes and 18 seconds. It was the Stevan Ridley show. He ran 9 times for 46 yards. The Dolphins’ defense looked tired and that point. They needed to make a stop to get the ball back with decent time on the clock, but couldn’t. They kicked a FG to go up 23-13. Outside of that drive, they contained Ridley all game. Ridley went for 19 carries, 71 yards, TD. That TD was on the Patriots’ first possession.

What was interesting during the drive, was Cameron Wake and Jared Odrick weren’t on the field until it was too late. From: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/sfl-hyde10-ten-thoughts-on-patriots-23-dolphins-16-20121202,0,3799935.story. Cameron Wake and Jared Odrick spent most of the Patriots’ game-cementing drive on the sideline. I’m not sure what that was about. Tired? Strategy? New England took over with 8:28 left in the game and leading, 20-13. The Dolphins needed a stop to get the ball back. Rookies Derrick Shelby and Olivier Vernon replaced Wake and Odrick. New England ran eight plays, moved 50 yards and got a nice rhythm to the Dolphins 30. Then the Dolphins took a time-out with 4:15 left in the game and put Wake and Odrick. At that point, much of the damage was done.

That was crazy!!! Wake and Odrick are studs on the defensive line and they need to be in the game. I don’t want to hear excuses about why they weren’t there. Big Game and they needed to be in game.

The Dolphins, after the FG marched downfield and scored a quick FG to cut the score to 23-16. Then, the Dolphins went for an ONSIDE-KICK, but it was unsuccessful. Ball Game!!!

Tannehill did not have his best game and had some throws he wishes he could have back because he had Hartline open twice and failed to connect. That would have changed the complexion of the game.

Tannehill’s line: 13-29, 186 yards, 0TD’s, 0INT’s, 1 fumble lost; 5 carries, 19 yards, TD. Here are his highlights:

http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000104281/Week-13-Ryan-Tannehill-highlights; and http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000103982/Ryan-Tannehill-TD-run

Here is an article from http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/sports/football/miami-dolphins-ryan-tannehill-makes-too-many-erran/nTLS5/ talking about the misfires between Tannehill and Hartline.

The Patriots’ Aqib Talib was assigned to cover Hartline, and the cornerback’s over-aggressive approach left him several steps behind when Hartline took off down the middle of the field midway through the first quarter. But Tannehill’s throw sailed over Hartline’s head and off his fingertips, and what seemed a sure touchdown that would have tied the score at 7 fell incomplete. Watch here: http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000104281/Week-13-Ryan-Tannehill-highlights

“I just overthrew it; it was a bad throw,” Tannehill said. “You’ve got to hit those; you don’t get many shots like that.”

My hands were clinched with anticipation for the play. What a call, but it was just underthrown!!! The moans and groans from the Dolphins’ fan at Houligans where I watched the game, were inunison.

“It’s tough,” Hartline said. “We’ll have to go back and look at it and adjust, see what I can do for him, because he’s got a lot going on.”

The Dolphins were again within a touchdown, this time at 17-10, in what proved to be a scoreless third quarter when Hartline came open again, this time down the right sideline. Tannehill’s throw wasn’t close, winding up several yards out of bounds.

“It was designed to be a hook (and) up,” Tannehill said. “I looked off the safety and set my feet to throw short (and) he stuck his hand up and went deep. I just didn’t get enough on it.”

Then, in the fourth quarter, Miami had a second-and-4 from the New England 7 when Hartline again beat Talib on a slant over the middle. But Tannehill’s throw was a split-second late and Hartline couldn’t get his feet down inside the back of the end zone. Tannehill was sacked on the next play and the Dolphins had to settle for a field goal that made it 20-13.

Hartline was very effective today: 5 catches for 84 yards; including some SENSATIONAL catches as seen here in these highlight packages: http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000104281/Week-13-Ryan-Tannehill-highlights.

He had to pick up the slack for the receiver corps because normally all-reliable Davone Bess, was nowhere to be seen except for 1 catch, 13 yards. That catch was on a 3rd and 14, and initially looked like he had the 1st down, but he tried to spin away from the defender instead of falling down. The result was: catch for 13 yards and 1 yard short.

The Dolphins once again really STRUGGLED on 3rd-down. 3 of 13. Here is a breakdown from: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/dolphins-blog/sfl-breaking-down-dolphins-third-down-failures-against-new-england-20121204,0,2346510.story

1st quarter:

3-4-MIA 22: Tannehill‘s first third down throw was a poorly thrown pass to Rishard Matthews on his left. Jake Long got beaten badly by Patriots outside linebacker Rob Ninkovich, who stabbed at his forearm. Pressure possibly contributed to the bad throw. Miami punts.

3-4-MIAMI 26: Second third down attempt was a bad read. Davone Bess got jammed off his route at the line of scrimmage by Alfonzo Dennard and Bess went inside when Tannehill’s pass went outside. Even if caught the throw wouldn’t have produced the 4-yards needed for a first down.
Miami punts.

3-6-NE 45: Third third 3rd down, Tannehill got hit on the throw by Vince Wilfork, who might have forced him to rush the throw and hit his arm. Wilfork beat Richie Incognito to make the impact play. Coincidentally, that was the play Long suffered his season ending injury trying to block Ninkovich.

3-19-NE 32: On third and 19 courtesy of a John Jerry holding call and a Daniel Thomas fumble, Tannehill scrambles for six yards, setting up a 44-yard Dan Carpenter field goal. Nobody was
open down field and he made the best of a bad situation.

Second quarter

3-4-MIA 26: Tannehill’s fifth third down was his worst. He needed four yards for the first down but Nate Garner got beat by Trevor Scott, who went wide on the new Dolphins new first-team right tackle. Scott’s sack forced Tannehill to fumble and Wilfork recovered the ball on Miami’s 25-yard line. That’s the second impact play for Wilfork. The defense would hold New England to a 43-yard field goal.

3-3-NE 30: Tannehill’s best third down play was provided by a slant Brian Hartline beat Aqib Talib
on. It was a perfectly timed throw Hartline bobbled before bringing in for a 17-yard catch that got Miami into the red zone. The Dolphins would score its only touchdown four plays later on Tannehill’s 2-yard scramble.

Third quarter

3-9-MIA 24: The first third down play of the third quarter featured an empty backfield set and Reggie Bush lined up to the left as a receiver. Bush runs a slant and Tannehill throws the football behind him. Clearly they don’t have chemistry. If the ball had been placed better Bush would have converted the 9-yards needed for the first down because the middle of the field was open and the linebacker was trailing. Miami punts.

3-8-MIA 22: Out of the shotgun formation Tannehill pinpoints a pass to H-back Charles
Clay, putting it on the perfect shoulder for a 20-yard catch to keep Miami’s second drive of the second-half alive.

3-14-MIA 38: It is third-and-14 after Wilfork collapses the pocket and allowed Jerod Mayo to
tackle Thomas for a 4-yard loss. Tannehill has adequate time in the pocket but throws a 13-yard pass to Bess. Pass was thrown one yard short. Miami punts at midfield.

3-13-MIA 48: The Dolphins get stuffed for a 3-yards loss on second down when Bush is forced to carry the ball despite New England putting eight-men in the box. Tannehill throws deep to Hartline down the right sideline but the bad ball floats out of bounds. Bad throw considering Hartline had Talib trailing a bit. An accurate pass would have at least produced pass interference knowing Hartline. Miami punts.

Fourth quarter

3-11-MIA 33: In one of his best throws of the game Tannehill rifles a bullet to Hartline on a deep slant that gains 22-yards. The catch keeps a scoring drive alive.

3-5-NE 26: Trailing by 10 points the Patriots collapse the pocket with five rushers, flushing Tannehill out. He scrambles for 4-yards and sets up a fourth-and-1 the Dolphins convert with a 9-yard run from Thomas.

3-4-NE 7: Three plays later Thomas doesn’t pick up Mayo, who is blitzing between Incognito and Jonathan Martin and Tannehill gets sacked in the red zone. Miami has to kick a 33-yard field goal instead of putting a touchdown up. The play was perfectly timed by Mayo and Tannehill didn’t have any receivers open because the play took too long to get open in man-to-man coverage.

That is the full story of Miami’s 3-for-13 performance on third down, which contributes to Ryan Tannehill’s status as the NFL‘s worst quarterback on third down.

So, who is to blame? By my count there’s plenty of protection issues, a couple of big completions to Hartline and a few bad throws.

It is DAMN SHAME, they couldn’t take advantage of the Patriots, suspect pass-defense.

The Dolphins did run the ball effectively for the most part today. Reggie Bush had 15 carries, 64 yards.

Unfortuantely, they struggled defensively vs. Welker and TE Aaron Hernandez. Brady threw quick short to Welker and CB Sean Smith had a hard time covering him. You can bump him within 5 yards, but Smith was way to lax with him.

Hernandez went for: 8 catches, 97 yards, 4 drops. Same thing, quick passes to Hernandez and he made the most of them.

Dan Carpenter and Stephen Gostkowski each had 3 FG’s: Carpenter won the battle (44, 33, 43) because Gostkowski missed a FG (43, 32, 20, miss from 49).

Reshad Jones had an AWESOME GAME: An interception, a sack, 11 tackles, and a pass deflection. Tremendous game for Jones, who was Miami’s MVP against New England. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1434440-reggie-bush-and-daniel-thomas-how-the-dolphins-are-misusing-their-rbs#/articles/1428832-new-england-patriots-vs-miami-dolphins-instant-grades-analysis-for-miami/page/10

They should have won this game. Now they fall to 5-7 and hanging on to DEAR-LIFE in the playoff mix.

Next up: the 49ers. 49ers are one of the best in the business.

Go Dolphins!!!

All stats provided by: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/boxscore?gid=20121202015&page=plays and http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/boxscore?gid=20121202015&page=boxscore

Can the Dolphins play Patriot Games and win???

Daniel Saviuk — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 04:48:00 +0000

Oh Yeah!! It is time now for the Dolphins (5-6) to face the Patriots (8-3).

To be the team, you got to beat the team..

The Dolphins, who last week beat the Seahawks at home, play host to the Patriots on Sunday and with win keep their playoff hopes alive..

Last week, Rookie Phenom Ryan Tannehill delievered his 1st comeback victory and now, he and his runningmates face the DAMN NEAR UNSTOPPABLE Tom Brady and the Patriots.

Tom Brady, is a LEGEND PERIOD!!! The best way I can describe Tom Brady is this: He is a SURGEON on the football field. He is so ACCURATE AND PRECISE, it isn’t fair. He slices and dices secondary with so much ease.

I am in AWE watching him operate. He has made a living dissecting defenses. The Patriots, whether you like them, love them or hate them, need to be looked at, as a genuises for the way they build their teams.

Coach Bill Belichick is a master of talent evaluation. He finds guys and plugs them into the system and on the field, Brady helps get them recognized.

For years, the ACHILLIES’ HEAL of the Patriots, was they can’t run the ball. Well, now they can, which makes them even more tough. Last year, they drafted RB Stevan Ridley out of LSU and he is producing..

Team up Ridley, with WR’s Wes Walker and Brandon Lloyd, and TE’s Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski, their offense is the BEST IN THE BUSINESS. Thankfully, Gronk is out for the year with an forearm injury.

Look at these stats: http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/ne/new-england-patriots

They are 4th in passing yards (292.1), and 6th in rushing yards (143.7).

Individual stats for the leaders of the Patriots: http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/stats/_/name/ne/new-england-patriots

Brady: 274-420 (65.2%), 3299 yards, 24TD’s, and JUST 3INT’s. SICK!!! His career low is 4 ints in 2010. Good Lord. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/sfl-dolphinspatriots-by-the-numbers-20121128,0,295308.story

Ridley: 206 carries, 939 yards (4.6Avg), 8TD’s

Welker: 80 catches, 961 yards (12.0 Avg), 3TD’s

More offense stats show how unstoppable they are: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/sfl-dolphinspatriots-by-the-numbers-20121128,0,295308.story

* New England has scored 219 points in its last five games (43.8 average) and is
on pace to break its NFL record for points in a season, when they amassed 589 in 2007.

* The Patriots are converting 53.2 of third downs heading into Sunday’s game against the Dolphins. THAT’S JUST RIDICULOUS!

* New England’s offense is 2nd best offense when it comes to scoring touchdowns in the red zone (67.3%). Only New Orleans (73.5%) is better.

Even though their offense is off the chains, their defense is an ENIGMA. They rank 30th (289.4) in the league, but they are 10th (100.8) in the league against the run.

Here are stats to prove why ENIGMA is the right word from: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/sfl-dolphinspatriots-by-the-numbers-20121128,0,295308.story. Some of the stats compare the Dolphins and Patriots.

* The Patriots have scored eight defensive and special teams touchdowns this
season.

* The New England Patriots are plus-24 in turnovers. That’s 11 more turnovers than the 2nd best team (Bears). Dolphins are negative-10. Ouch!

That iare some crazy numbers, but this is where the mystery sets in: The Patriots defense is allowing 6.06 yards per play on first down, which ranked them 28th. Miami’s averaging 5.32, which ranked them 15th.

They create turnovers and produce points, but their SECONDARY gives up a ton of yards, as do Miami’s.

If you look at their schedule, they have lost 3 heartbreakers (by 2,1,1). They could be 11-0, but they are 8-3. In those 11 games, they have given up 20 or more points (8 times). The Dolphins, if they get in rhythm, can score points in hurry.

That rhythm will come from Ryan Tannehill. Tannehill has held his own in 1st 11 games as a pro. He has played well in plenty of those games, but he still is a ROOKIE QB and has to improve in certain areas, such as: 3rd down passing and 4th quarter passing rating.

From: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/sfl-dolphinspatriots-by-the-numbers-20121128,0,295308.story,

* Tannehill has the WORST third-down passer rating in the NFL amongst starters (59.1). 60.4 percent completion, one TD and 6 Ints.

* His 4th quarter passer rating has improved to 81.4, which ranks him 26th in
NFL. Russell Wilson (95.5),RGIII (88.3). Luck (67.7).

Can he compete with Brady tommorrow? Sure, he can.. Last week, he engineered a SUPER IMPRESSIVE 4th comeback with 1:42 to go. His 1st game-winning drive of his career. He did it against a solid defense in the Seahawks. Turning the ball over is never a good thing, so Tannehill need not throw any interception. Last week, was the 1st time his team won, when he threw an INT.

Last week, we saw a much needed return for the Dolphins on offense and that was the return of the running game featuring Reggie Bush and Daniel Thomas. They dominated the Seahawks and that opened up the passing game. I called Reggie out last week, and he responded big-time.

The passing game, saw a possible big-time target for Tannehill in the person of Charles Clay. Clay had 6 catches, 84 yards and a beautiful TD catch for 29 yards. Hopefully, he can produce like that again. A pass-catching Tight End, would be a big-time weapon for Tannehill.

We also saw Tannehill throwing more to Davone Bess. According to http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/sfl-dolphinspatriots-by-the-numbers-20121128,0,295308.story, Bess is fifth in the NFL in third down receptions, catching 22 passes for 231 and one touchdown on that critical down.

He has scored four touchdowns in the eight games he’s played against New England. 41 catches for 526 yards.

Bess, is surpassing Hartline as Tannehill’s number 1 option to throw too.

Now, to my keys to the game. They are the same as always, but with a different look to it. I got everyone RIGHT last week.

On offense:

1) The 5 R’s = RUN REGGIE, RUN REGGIE RUN!! Give him the ball, and TURN HIM LOOSE!!!

2) Take shots downfield. The Patriots’ pass defense can be shredded. The play-calling has to be open to anything. Play-Action fakes, flea-flickers, roll-outs.

3) Protection, Protection, Protection. Got to keep him upright.

Defense:

1) Get to Brady!! The front-seven needs to make Brady UNCOMFORTABLE in the pocket, so that way turnovers can be forced, which maybe an IMPOSSIBILITY. Brady has thrown ONLY 3 INT’s, and the Patriots have coughed up the ball only 8 times all year. But, maybe they can get 1 or 2.

2) CB’s (ESPECIALLY SEAN SMITH and NOLAN CARROLL), need to not give up big plays. Brady is a MASTER SURGEON. If these guys are not FOCUSED, Brady will shred them like a paper-shredder. They need to cover these guys and not miss any tackles.

3) STOP STEVAN RIDLEY. The run-defense came out of HIBERNATION last week, and stopped the beast in Marshawn Lynch. Ridley is a solid runningback, and the Dolphins know they have stop him.

On Special Teams:

1) Punter Brandon Fields, if forced to punt; must pin the Patriots deep in their own territory.

2) Kicker Dan Carpenter, has to make his FIELD GOALS. He made the GAME-WINNER last week.

3) Marcus Thigpen has to the give the Dolphins’ good field position.

Coach Philbin is no stranger to Coach Belichick. In Week 15 of the 2010 season, Philbin as an OC for the Packers unleashed backup Matt Flynn on the Patriots.

From: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1425935-miami-dolphins-joe-philbins-experience-vs-bill-belichick-patriots-defense

The Packers did a great job of opening up passing lanes for Flynn by establishing the run early and making Flynn’s throws easier.

A diagram of his throws by direction, via ProFootballFocus.com, gives some insight into how Philbin felt most comfortable attacking the Patriots defense, and how it translated onto the
field.

They have recently turned things around in the running game, but will that continue against the Patriots defense which ranks 10th against the run?

On the other hand, New England’s dominance against the run could be another
reason to dip into the game plan that worked so brilliantly in 2010. The Patriots do not have good cover linebackers, which has prompted them to rush the linebackers a bit more frequently.

A matchup with the Patriots may seem like uncharted territory for Philbin, but his experience against them could pay dividends if he is able to draw on it.

Being an OC is one thing, but being a head-coach is another. Philbin has done a wonderful job as coach of the Dolphins, but he is true-test will be tommorrow.

As always, I believe the Dolphins will win this week and make a STATEMENT, that they can hang with the best. They win in a close one (30-27) and get to (6-6) and still remain in the playoff picture. UPSET OF THE WEEK!!!!!!

The Dolphins do pick Brady off in this one, and the Patriots can’t contain Tannehill, Bush and Bess. Brady gets sacked 3 times.

I believe Tannehill will do AWESOME (25-35, 300 yards, 3TD’s, 0INT’s); Bush goes off (20 carries, 100 yards, TD; 4 catches, 40 yards); Bess goes for 10 catches, 110 yards, TD.

Go Dolphins!!!