Jacksonville Jaguars preseason Game No 2

[fishface]

Just under 3 hours to kick off. I'm looking forward to this one with a little more anticipation since coach announced that Henne and the first team offense would likely play the whole first half.

Surely now we'll get a taste of the Henne/Marshall connection, plus get to see what the final O-line make-up will be. I'm also hoping that Turner gets an opportunity with the first team, especially in the red zone. He and Marshall would make a great combination in each corner of the end zone.

Also really intrigued by just how good this guy Nolan Carroll is going to be, and whether or not he'll get his chance at returning kick-offs.

MDBW will be at the game and tweeting. GO DOLPHINS!!

[mdbw]

I am in jacksonville with my sister and its pouring. The weather will be gone by kickoff, but the field tonight will definitely be wet.

[Bitchin' Dave]

Bitchin' Dave is stopping by to say hi! Go Phins!

[fishface]

Wet ball? OK, time to show the doubters we actually can play in something other than perfect conditions. You got tickets yet MD?

[mdbw]

Hey bitchin! Still drizzling here. Got tickets for $30 each not bad. probably could have gotten cheaper closer to kickoff. This field is gonna be soaked.

[mdbw]

Rumor is the game won't start till 8:30 because of lightning.

[fishface]

Hi Bitchin' Dave! Let's go MIAMI!!!

[fishface]

Lightning?! The only lightning I was hoping for was Nolan Carroll returning a kick-off for a TD! Keep safe MD.

[Bitchin' Dave]

Now that's thinking fishface! We need some steam in the return game!!

[fishface]

Yes, game delayed till at least 8:28pm according to Kim Bokamper. It's been 10 years since there has been a game delay in Jacksonville. No one on the field, no one in the stands.

[Bitchin' Dave]

bah

[mdbw]

They are not letting anyone into the seating bowl yet. So its extremely crowded in the concourse. Sort of misleading cuz this stadium will be lucky to be half full with this weather. But word is itll clear up so lets hope thats true. It currently isnt raining and the radar looks promising, I just hope they dont cancel the game in order to not risk injury. I dont know how good the field's drainage is here.

[Bitchin' Dave]

given that its jax? who knows? they really shouldn't have a football team.

LA here come the Jags!

[mdbw]

given that its jax? who knows? they really shouldn't have a football team.

LA here come the Jags!

Yeah, what's the over/under on that? 2.5 years? Haha

[Bitchin' Dave]

they haven't broken ground on the stadium yet - they're waiting for a commitment from the NFL.....I figure that at the end of this season, as the CBA issues heat up, this will become a very hot topic. The NFL wants that market back, and here's the opportunity.

Figure it will take them two years - they won't leave the team in JAX while they're building - NO ONE would come.

[mdbw]

Dan Henning says the game will start at 8:45 now.

[mdbw]

Yeah the jags market sucks for the NFL. Everyone is gators first around here. The L.A. market will be better for the nfl. I remember last year at the jags dolphins regular season game there were 14 sections covered up with tarp and the place still wasn't full.

By the way. I posted a picture of the dark clouds to Twitter. @DolphinsBahamas

[fishface]

CBS Miami have switched from the game to The Insider, presumably they will go back at 8:45 pm. The weather looks like it's all to the north-west of downtown Jacksonville, and looks pretty thick.

[mdbw]

9pm kickoff now.

[fishface]

By the looks of things on the weather channel the weather is breaking up a bit over Jacksonville right now. Maybe they will let them start at about 9:30.

[Bitchin' Dave]

they just showed a shot of the players stretching in the tunnel.

but....there's some discussion about scrapping the game.

[Bitchin' Dave]

players just came onto the field. they get less than 30 minutes to warm up

[fishface]

Bob Griese, Nat Moore and Stockton are back on CBS Miami. The players are coming on to the field. We are going to have some football tonight. Dolphins warming up, and I would guess that the game won't actually start until about 9:20pm to allow both teams at least some time for warm up exercises. Pennington looks game ready. Is he going to get some action? What are those big strips Marshall is wearing on his arms? Some kind of muscle warmer? 9:00pm CBS goes back to regular programming again.

[Bitchin' Dave]

and now....local cbs just cut away to some other show. what's up with that?

[fishface]

and now....local cbs just cut away to some other show. what's up with that?

I guess they are running out of things to say! Wierd.

[Bitchin' Dave]

I guess they are running out of things to say! Wierd.

I suppose. They did look beat when they were last on the tube.

And you're right - what are those things on Marshall's arms? Did they say "this space for rent?"

[fishface]

OK. Offensive predictions? Hate to say it, but it's going to be runs, dinks and dunks, with one or two attempts at a long ball. Hopefully we get the tight ends involved. But I don't see them taking too many chances on a wet field.

Stadium looks 20% full at the moment (9:15pm). I still see lightning in the sky.

Looking forward to seeing Odrick & Misi on defense tonight.

[Bitchin' Dave]

I tend to agree, and wonder how much we'll see of henne

[fishface]

OK, Jags win toss, Dolphins to kick. Are you ready for some FOOTBALL!!??

[Bitchin' Dave]

2-0 .... blech

[fishface]

Great effort by Vontae Davis chasing down Jones Drew for a loss. And jacksonville go three and out. Good Jags punt pins Dolphins back at the 5, Henne almost gives up a safety and the Fins can't get it done either. Will punt from the end zone. Oh GEESH!! BLOCKED for a safety!!

[fishface]

Something of a weak offensive performance, but...................Jason Allen forces a fumble on the punt and Dolphins recover (Culver). Wow. Amazing what a little rain will do! But the Jags are challenging. It was pouring down during the Dolphins possession, and assume it was just then too.

[Bitchin' Dave]

that makes sense. now lets hope they can do *something* ... though the interference on marshall sucked...only time we've heard his number

[fishface]

Henne makes up for a holding penalty by Marshall and drives for a first down with nice completions to Hartline & Bess, Ricky has some nice runs but another holding penalty this time on Fasano takes them back again. But Henne picks it back up with a first down to Bess again. Then two Wildcat plays take it to the 6, but Henne is incomplete trying to find a crowded Brandon Marshall on 3rd down. Carpenter makes the FG. 3-2 Dolphins.

Henne looked not bad on that drive. Patient going through his check downs. Really nice completions to Bess.

[Bitchin' Dave]

3 wildcat plays. and a throw into marshall in traffic...martin was open in the back of the endzone. at least miami gets the figgie

[fishface]

Great pass by Gerrard to Simms-Walker, but Davis slipped. At the Miami 43. Another completion to the 37, but Jones Drew is stopped by Dobbins for a loss. Simms Walker gets ahead of Smith for a big gain to the 16. Jones Drew stopped for a gain of 3 by Davis, then Gerrard scampers for 6. Full back Jones rumbles for the 1 yd first down. Jones Drew almost breaks it for the TD, Jones powers down to the 2. 3rd & Goal. TD to Mike Thomas, rookie WR, beats Nolan Carroll. 9-3 Jags.

[Bitchin' Dave]

not a great defensive stand. sims-walker gets a couple of big ones, and caroll gets beat with 12 men on the field. yuck.

[fishface]

Nolan Carroll brings the KO out to the 23. Henne to Polite for 8 ends the 1st Half. It looks like Henne is throwing to his 3rd or 4th check down each time he passes.

[fishface]

Lousaka Polite rumbles for a 1st down, then Henne dumps off to Brown for 9, then hits Fasano for a 55 yd TD after a great block by Marshall. AWLLRIIIIGHT MIAMI!!!!!!!!

[Bitchin' Dave]

the jags put a def. end on fasano - he got wide open on him, and the rollout by henne opened it up....great block by marshall, and fasano blew by the safety.

[fishface]

Jags get penalized for an illegal wedge formation on the KO return, so have to start from the 7. Another penalty on the Jags, 1/2 distance to goal. Another flag! Illegal formation by Jags. back to the 2 yd line. Gain of 5. Another flag!! Illegal formation on the Jags! Start from 1 yd line. Whoops. No penalty. 2nd & 8. Pass bobbled and almost picked off after Charles grant pressures Gerrard. Gerrard shaken up on the play. Dolphins D looking aggressive at the moment. 3rd down is no gain and Jags must punt and Bess takes a fair catch at the Dolphins 47.

[Bitchin' Dave]

what was it - 5 penalties in a row? crazy stuff.

great stand by the d

[fishface]

COMPLETE TO MARSHALL FOR 9!!!! and Polite finishes it off for a 1st down. Henne to Marshall incomplete, dropped. Bess gains 7 to the 35 yd line. MARSHALL FOR 13 YDS!!!!! Ricky gains 4 on 1st down. Dump off to Ricky down to the 10 for another 1st down from the 11. And Henne RIFLES it in to FASANO for another TD!! AWLLLRIIIIIGHT MIAMI!!!!

[Bitchin' Dave]

wow. a couple of nice catches by marshall, and a sawwwweeeeetttt play by henne to freeze the blitzing safety and find fasano at the goal line,

[fishface]

Jags start from the 45 after another breakdown by special teams, and McCown completes to the 30. Randy Starks powers right up the middle to sack McCown for a loss of 10. 4th and 3. FG attempt for Scobie is good from 37. Score 17-12.

Vontae Davis is on the bench with a chest injury. Nate Ness is on for him.

[Bitchin' Dave]

bad coverage on one play, but otherwise a decent series on defense. they only allowed a fg after special teams gave the jags good starting position.

[Bitchin' Dave]

pennington comes in and lobs one to marshall. nice

[Bitchin' Dave]

and then pennington showcases what he has left. beauty

[fishface]

Good 36 yd kick off return by Nolan Carroll. He has great acceleration. Pennington is on and immediately finds Brandon MARSHALL for a big gain of 36 yds. It was essentially a jump ball which Pennington kind of lobbed up there and Marshall knocked up and caught then gained another 5 yds. Great catch. False start by Proctor. 2 minute warning. Pennington to Marshall for 7 after an incompletion, 3rd and 8 from the 23. Pennington scrambles for 13 for a 1st down. Too easy! Brown for the run but he's gobbled up quickly for a loss of 2. Time out with 44 seconds left. And Pennington dumps it off to Ronnie who rumbles it in through another great block by Marshall. 24-12 Miami!! Great stuff. AWLLRIIIIGHT MIAMI!!!!!!!!!!!

[fishface]

Luke McCown fumbles the snap and that's the half. Coach Sparano is happy with the offense and Marshall's "unselfish" play blocking, but says "we still have a ways to go yet"

[Bitchin' Dave]

overall, it was a satisfying first half...other than a few special teams miscues, a pretty good performance

[fishface]

OK guys, 2nd half coming up. I will be taking it a little easier now as the second and third teamers come on, just some highlight comments as Julius Pruitt takes the KO out to the 25 yd line. Nice to see Patrick Cobbs back out there again.

[fishface]

Good penetration by Charles Anderson for a sack as he forces intentional grounding.

[Bitchin' Dave]

thigpen isn't looking so good. but then, he's not getting any help from his receivers

[Bitchin' Dave]

ahhh well...i'm out....enjoy the rest of the game

[fishface]

Nolan Carroll is doing OK at KO returns but he really screwed up on that last defensive possession giving up pretty much all of the yardage before the Jags TD. To be fair though I thought he might have been the victim of offensive pass interference, and then the victim of a harsh penalty for pass interference himself.

[fishface]

So long Bitchin' Dave. Good chatting.

[fishface]

Marlon Moore is impressing with two good moves getting open and moving the chains on consecutive passes from Thigpen. And Thigpen looking good too. For an undrafted rookie, Marlon Moore looks like a really good prospect. He has smooth moves and seems to run better routes than Patrick Turner.

[fishface]

Another undrafted rookie does himself a favor as Amaya picks off a pass down the middle with a great leaping interception. And before that CB Hobbs made a great play to almost pick off a deep pass down the sideline.

[fishface]

OK. For the record, Miami wins it 27-26 with Thigpen efficient to the end with a 1st down pass completion to Wallace to seal the deal. Miami controlled the ball for 33 minutes. Big improvement over last week.

[Zacko54]

Thanks, Fish and Dave, good play by play. couldn't watch today had to work, but I will watch it when its on up here. Sounds like it is getting better.

[mdbw]

Sorry I couldnt continue to leave updates from the game but it was raining the whole first half and the second half my phone was running out of battery.

[fishface]

Bob Griese, Nat Moore and Stockton are back on CBS Miami. The players are coming on to the field. We are going to have some football tonight. Dolphins warming up, and I would guess that the game won't actually start until about 9:20pm to allow both teams at least some time for warm up exercises. Pennington looks game ready. Is he going to get some action? What are those big strips Marshall is wearing on his arms? Some kind of muscle warmer? 9:00pm CBS goes back to regular programming again.


This is Ben Volin's comment re the strips on Marshall's arms:

"I got several questions during the game asking what Marshall was wearing on his arms. So I asked him after the game. He smiled, but declined to say anything other than he wears them every game. I asked him if whatever he was wearing helps dry his hands so he can catch the ball. Marshall smiled again, asked me for my name, and said, “You’re one of those guys just looking to start trouble.” Uh, OK".

[mdbw]

Yeah I noticed those in the Tampa game, and again at the game in jax. Don't remember him wearing them last year in Denver? Maybe he has some sort of skin condition and that's why he doesn't say anything?

Speaking of Denver, I was thinking, it's one thing to realize we've traded for Brandon Marshall, and he's a Dolphin, and you see pictures of him in practice etc etc. But then it's another thing to see him catch a ball and dodge tacklers like Brandon Marshall does. Except now you see him doing it wearing a Dolphins uniform, and that's when the trade sinks in. It was an exciting feeling on Saturday. Especially after being used to seeing #19 dart for the sideline of dive to the ground.