Ricky's hot tub will be busy all day

Monday, September 22, 2003
Robert Henderson
MDBW Staff Writer

Priest Holmes might earn all the pretty stats that look so good on paper and make fantasy owners drool, but Ricky Williams winds games because of his incessant effort and force. Pat Williams and Sam Adams are huge. Joe Theisman described them as two buildings in the middle of the football field. However, Williams still managed to gain 153 yards on 42 carries (a franchise record) with most of it gained right up the gut. Miami's defense dominated, and it's difficult to remember the last time they played so well.

Junior Seau's supposed leadership that was promised in the offseason finally showed up on Sunday night. He managed 4 tackles and a sack, but most importantly, he was fired up on every play, and you could see it reflected in that whole defense. It took Buffalo 17 ½ minutes to manage to gain a first down. Bledsoe was held to only 98 yards passing, and in fact 40 of those yards came on the last drive when the game was won already.

The difference between this defense and the defense that was so good a few years ago is that this defense is rested. Why? Ricky Williams. Miami's defense only had to be on the field for only 19 minutes. Ricky Williams chewed up the clock and gained first downs with his 42 carries.

Dave Wannstedt said in the offseason that Ricky would touch the ball at least 400 times this season. After the first game against Houston, when Ricky only touched the ball 22 times, Miami fans were mad. Since then, Ricky has had the ball in his hands 74% of the time. This is obviously what wins ball games. Now, Ricky obviously won't be able to carry the ball 42 times in every game, but he has 2 weeks to rest, and there is no doubt that whole team has a day off today.

The Bills defense, who struggled immensely last season looked vastly improved. However, the humidity, South Florida heat, and Ricky Williams had them worn down by the fourth quarter. Both defenses played so well that neither team scored until 25 seconds before halftime when Fiedler connected with Chris Chambers on a 12 yard rifle.

Jay Fiedler played pretty well, but there still lingers his problem of inconsistency. He plays well for pretty much the whole game, but there are usually 1 or 2 plays that stand out. Last night, he threw two interceptions and missed Chambers on what would have been a long scoring strike. Chambers had Nate Clements beat down the middle of the field and all Fiedler had to do was hit him in stride. The ball was 2 yards over thrown and just out of the reach of a stretched out Chambers and his fingertips. If the Dolphins are going to do well later this season, Fiedler will have to correct these blunders which allow teams to stay in games.

Another low note to the night was the fact that Olindo Mare missed 2 field goals which he usually would make. Yes, they were pretty lengthy ones of 51, and 44 yards, but are usually chip shots for Mare who is the second most accurate kicker in NFL history behind only Mike Vanderjagt of the Indianaolis Colts. One could blame the 44 yard miss on the dirt, but he's being paid to make these things, there are no excuses. Luckily, his 26 yarder was enough padding to keep the Dolphins in front when Nate Clements returned Fiedler's second interception 54 yards into the endzone to close in on the Dolphins' lead.

Chris Chambers is still looking great. He caught 5 passes for 51 yards and a touchdown increasing his season totals to 16 receptions, 260 yards and 3 TDs. He is on track to have the first 1000 yard season a receiver has had for the Dolphins in about a millennium.

My prediction of 38-37 was contradicted and then some. I had no idea that this game would be so defensive. Wow.

Robert Henderson can be reached by e-mailing webmaster@miamidolphinsbahamas.com. Or you can talk about this story and more on the MDBW Forums message board!