We threw it away

[fishface]

We had arguably the best team in football on the ropes 24-3 and we figuratively and literally threw it away. We figuratively and literally dropped the ball. And when the Saints elected to take the field goal with 5 seconds to go to half-time, coach Sparano took a time-out giving Brees time to convince his coach to change his mind and go for the inevitable TD from about 2 ft out. We literally gave it away in that instance. Geesh!

Then in the second half Ted Ginn served up a pick 6 by dropping a very catchable ball in the opening drive as Miami proceeded to abandon the ground game that had served them so well in the first half and throughout the season so far. I had thought that the plan was to try to manufacture long sustained drives using Ronnie & Ricky and keep the ball out of the brilliant hands of Drew Brees. Instead, all we got was a series of snuffed out drives as our rookie qb struggled to overcome a powerful Saints pass rush, his own lack of NFL experience and more dropped passes.

Make no mistake, the Saints were good in that second half. But this is a game we should never have lost after building a 21 point lead. We threw it away.

[FinsFan]

I completely agree.

I was very happy to see us doing all the right things in the beginning of the game, but was also shocked to see us let it go. Or should I give credit to NO for figuring out how to win? I don't know.

This was a let down, that I know.

[marinomisser]

its on us. i am still unbelievably angry right now. the number 1 rushing team in the league should NOT start the second half with three straight passes. On three straight series. On the second series we even lined up in the wildcat once and threw out of it! Granted if Fasano could catch a ball, we would have been in scoring position.

The truth is our receiving core is far below average. far. we will lose every game left in the season if we try and pass the ball to win. Fishface was right on about Ginn's drop. It was a PERFECT pass. Absolutely. He has proven time and again he can't catch a ball in traffic. I believe Henne can get it done. He has shown it already, but our receivers hold us back bigtime. Until there is a considerable upgrade in the receiving core our 2 minute drill will continue to rival the likes of the lions and rams.

[marinomisser]

i guess rather than "we threw it away" I'd say "we dropped the ball". Bess' fumble was the key to the beginning of their comeback. The momentum shifted on that play, and as discussed above, Ginn's drop of a brilliant pass led to the interception return that swung it even further.

Finally, I was reminded of this when reading an article a few minutes ago:

"Trying to mount their own comeback, the Dolphins dropped two passes and committed two penalties before Chad Henne was intercepted by Porter on fourth-and-13."

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=291025015

I had somehow actually forgotten the two dropped passes on that drive. I guess I am a masochist because I am getting angrier and angrier as I continue to read more about the loss. I wonder if Tedd Ginn feels the same disgust and embarrassment as I do? What a waste of a first round pick. Waste.

[fishface]

I agree that the game turned on the Bess fumble. Both at the end of the first half and the end of the second half we had a chance to create scoring drives, and both were wrecked by dropped catches. What I want to hear explained is what happened to the running game in the second half, and what happened to the swarming, energetic, confusing defense of the first half? It was like the Dolphins couldn't believe they were as good as they were and allowed the Saints back into the game. It was fricking infuriating to watch.

[Zacko54]

Don't put all the blame on Ginn, Bess and the offense, take a look in the back field of the D, we have been giving the long ball to every team we have played. The CB and safteys have been to blame on all of the games.Nobody os running much against us, it has been the pass. We need some good CBs and Safteys.

[fishface]

Don't put all the blame on Ginn, Bess and the offense, take a look in the back field of the D, we have been giving the long ball to every team we have played. The CB and safteys have been to blame on all of the games.Nobody os running much against us, it has been the pass. We need some good CBs and Safteys.

Can't argue with that Zacko. All I was trying to say was that we went away from the game plan to control the ball and keep it away from Brees. I guess the Saints started to have some success against the run, and that was that.

[marinomisser]

if you read the transcript from sparano's monday press conference he said that they went in at the half and saw some opportunities they missed in the passing game and thought they could take advantage of them. other than the hartline pass, i guess they were wrong...

[mdbw]

The defense played a great game until they were put on their heels in the second half. Also, 2 INTs were returned for TDs, they won by 12 points... You have to blame Dan Henning first, but then you have to blame players like Ginn and Fasano more who can't catch to save themselves. I say bench Ginn and Fasano and give Hartline and Haynos the start this week against the Jets. That first pick 6 is ALL on Ginn, that was IN his hands! Not to mention that should have been our ball on the 20 because Harper fumbled the ball out of the endzone. The refs have really been against us the last 2 games.

I am still livid. We have ALMOST beat the two best teams in football meaning we are ALMOST a great team. What are the missing pieces? A big play receiver on offense and a shut down corner (which Smith and Davis might develop into). Could you imagine if we had someone like Brandon Marshall or Randy Moss on offense? Or even a tight end like Anthony Gonzalez or Antonio Gates? This game and the Colts game PROVES how close we are to being great, and in BOTH games Ginn basically lost us the game.

Furious.

[Zacko54]

Can't argue with that Zacko. All I was trying to say was that we went away from the game plan to control the ball and keep it away from Brees. I guess the Saints started to have some success against the run, and that was that.

Going away from what was working was stupid, I agree. Sprano said he saw something in their D, yes go after it, but don't forget what got you there.. Hopefully he learned a lesson.
We still need to fix the CBs and Safteys.

[marinomisser]

...and in BOTH games Ginn basically lost us the game.

Furious.

So funny that you say that because I was saying the same thing all sunday afternoon and evening. You like to have great players that can win a game or two themselves as opposed to ones who lose them! Yes, if Ginn can catch, we might be 4-2 instead of 2-4.

[fishface]

Much as his play has infuriated and frustrated me so far this season, I really blame Cam Cameron for putting Ted Ginn in the position he's now in. He was essentially a brilliant return man in college and a work in progress at wide receiver. To select him at No 9 based on his return game and potential as a speedster receiver was a huge stretch, and it set Ginn up as the fans fall guy that he is.

I agree with Armando Salguero that he should go back to what he does best, and return all kick offs and punts. Here he really does have the potential to break a few for big gains and shorten the field for Henne.

His confidence right now as a receiver must be fragile. The coaching staff need to use Camarillo, Bess and Hartline as the primary receivers. Ginn should never have had the First Round label on his back, and its time to stop measuring him by that standard.

[fishface]

I know it's time to put the Saints game behind us, but this photo proving that Ginn stripped Sharper of the ball before it crossed the goal-line just rubs a little more salt in the wound. A couple of little things that somehow went against the Dolphins completely changed the course of the game just before and after half time. I agree, we should have beaten two of the best teams in football. We're closer than our record indicates.

http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/thedailydolphin/2009/10/29/incriminating-si-photo-draws-a-no-comment-from-tony-sparano/

[Zacko54]

All I can say is %#!%$%$#&&^^*&^(&%$^$#!$#@^&^%*&^
Gotta be the same refs doing the Yankee games, can't see worth shit

[mdbw]

That was clearly a fumble without those photos! Two games in a row the refs have screwed us, luckily we still beat the jets. We should be 3-3.