The Dolphins lost their first pre season game and first "game" under new head coach Nick Saban. However, the 3-point loss doesn't reflect what occurred during the game. The offensive line obviously [still] needs some work. The QB play was good, but A.J. Feeley still doesn't look like an NFL starter. The running backs were non-existent, but that's just because Ronnie Brown literally is and the offensive line is still going through a long, learning process of how to block. The defense, apart from the interception return for a touchdown by linebacker Jason Glenn, was suspect. The secondary gave up too many big plays according to Saban, and the run-stop was alright, but gave up a couple big runs.
So, now that we've quickly reviewed the pros and cons from the Dolphins' first pre season game, what should we be looking for and expecting in their second? Keep in mind that this game is a mere 5 days after the last one, so don't expect to see huge improvements, but rather small, less noticeable ones.
The first obvious, and most important aspect of this team (and the game of football in general) is the offensive line. Even though it has only been 5 days as it has been already mentioned, hopefully they've taken that 5 days to become more of a unit so Saban and offensive line coach Hudson Houck don't have to make many more changes before the season's opener on September 11.
Who will be our starting center? Seth McKinney or Rex Hadnot? McKinney, according to reports out of training camp has been struggling while Hadnot on the other hand has been doing very well while improving, as he was doing last year in his rookie season. Hadnot started the game at center against the Bears and that was one of the last minute twists that the O-line took before the game. Also, it should be noted, that because Hadnot was previously starting at right guard, his back-up is John St. Clair started next to him. After the line gets used to this arrangement, ultimately, I think the line will be at its best. How good will that be? Well, that will be up to how well Houck coaches them. He did wonders in San Diego last season and had some of the NFL's greatest offensive lines ever in Dallas in the 90's. So, it's easy to be optimistic, even though most of these players formed one of the worst offensive lines in football just last season.
Gus Frerotte is getting his turn to start after A.J. Feeley struggled in his start against the Bears. Frerotte played some time with first team players in the last game, completing a 44 yard pass to Chris Chambers, but he will get more opportunities to prove what he can do with them as he is starting. I expect, after his last performance, and what I witnessed from him in June's mini-camp to perform much better than Feeley did and be named the starter before the Dolphins' third game against the Steelers. However, I am basically sticking to my off season prediction that he would be the Dolphins' starter.
However, what should we be looking for in Frerotte? Can he sidestep the rush (because there will be one)? Can he locate the open receiver and not try and be a star who ultimately makes mistakes? Basically, can he try and not do what Jay Fiedler and Feeley have done for the Dolphins since Dan Marino retired? Frerotte won't play for more than the first quarter, and that is by no means enough to tell whether he can be a consistent, capable, and mistake-free quarterback who makes efficient passes and just wins. However, it will be enough to assume he is capable of that.
Where is Ronnie Brown? You wouldn't think so by his play on the football field, but he needs to toughen up. He's too nice. He has missed all of training camp so far because he's leaving his contract up to his agent Todd France and not saying anything. In fact, he's just "chilling" at his home in Georgia. Why can't he just butt in and say look Toddy, what's the difference between $17 million and $20 million, my whole family will still be set for life. He's just too nice. "No, Mr. France Sir, I'm doin' fine up here in Gah-Guh, you just git yur thangs done!" Well, Ronnie, in case you didn't notice, Ricky Williams is riding on your butt, and it don't matter if he's gonna miss the first four games of the season because you're soon going to miss the first four games of pre-season.
Lamar Gordon will start the second game as well with Ricky getting playing time with the second team and second team O-line. If Ricky gains 10 yards, it'll be an accomplishment. Gordon needs to make some plays if he wants to supplant Sammy Morris as the third-string RB because ultimately that's what they both are fighting for. Morris has a whole year under his belt with the Dolphins while Gordon was injured and has to prove himself in game situations.
Saban, at halftime of the Bears' game, praised the play of WR David Boston. Boston looked like he definitely should have been one of the starters, and if he keeps it up, could find himself starting with Chambers and pushing incumbent Marty Booker into the slot. Chambers, well, as Terrell Owens likes to put it, "No comment." He's Chris Chambers.
The receivers should get more opportunities with Frerotte as the starter. He has more composure in the pocket and doesn't become Mr. Jittery Legs when it collapses.
The tight end spot is pretty secure as long as Randy McMichael doesn't receive a 4-game suspension and join Icky-Ticky-Ricky on the sidelines for beating his wife. Donald Lee has to go. He should just be cut right now. He drops more balls in one drive that Ray Charles would have in a 15 year career. Newcomer Lorenzo Diamond looked very good against Chicago and so did Jason Rader.
Defense is something the Dolphins have prided themselves in for the last 10 years or so. And it should continue to go this way because of Saban's defensive mentality. Unlike Jimmy Johnson or Dave Wannstedt's defensive mentality however, Saban realizes that there is too an offense. Hopefully the shakiness of the defense we saw on Monday night will become more secure as we approach the season's start. Cornerback Sam Madison excused the defense's poor play by saying that everyone on the field is a rookie again learning a completely new system.
"We have been doing something different our whole careers and now you try to switch," said Madison, referring to the Dolphins' shifting from playing almost exclusive man coverage since 1996. "So all of us are rookies out there and everybody's working hard. Hopefully it'll pay off one day."
Some notable defensive performances in last Monday's game were:
Matt Roth: He seemed to come around the corner very quickly and put up a good fight. He seems to have an extra motor in him as well. If the quarterback keeps the ball long enough and Roth is locked in a block, he can use this second motor as a means of spinning off the block and getting to the quarterback. Hopefully as the pre season progresses, we can see him get the QB before he releases the ball.
Travis Daniels: In a suspect performance by the usually secure Dolphins' secondary, rookie Travis Daniels managed to prove his worth and hype that he has created in his good play through the Dolphins practices so far. He seems to keep stride for stride with his receiver and defend the ball well.
Jason Glenn: Obviously, his interception return for a touchdown in the second half of Monday's game was the defensive highlight. He read the quarterback Kyle Orton right and benefitted from one of the few bad passes that Orton threw. He also made a nice move on the 5-yard line to get into the endzone.
Manuel Wright: He is determined to prove his worth after the can of "whoop-ass" that Saban opened on him a few weeks ago that made national news. He's fat, let's face it. And he's going to plug holes, which he did on Monday night which helped limit Chicago's running game. However, keep in mind that he was playing against third stringers, but this should be news that he will be moving up on the depth chart.
The defense is what we really need to watch this week, surprisingly. In past years, it has always been the offense. This will be a test against the Jaguars offense. The secondary should really be challenged against Byron Leftwich and the Jaguars' passing attack. With Fred Taylor in the backfield and Jimmy Smith receiving, the Jags offense will be hard to stop. This will be a real test for the starting DE's and starting secondary.
Keep Madison's comments in mind that the Phins need to start winning this pre season. The games don't count, but the outcome counts towards the hype of the players and fans. If it weren't for the Dolphins giving up 17 4th quarter points on Monday and Berlin's bad pass at the end, the Dolphins would have won that game. So, ultimately, it doesn't matter if they lose on Saturday, but it would really help the team's mentality if they win.
Dolphins running back Lorenzo Booker runs after catching a pass in the 2007 season finale against Cincinnati. Booker has since been traded to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Where is Ronnie Brown? You wouldn't think so by his play on the football field, but he needs to toughen up. He's too nice. He has missed all of training camp so far because he's leaving his contract up to his agent Todd France and not saying anything. In fact, he's just "chilling" at his home in Georgia. Why can't he just butt in and say look Toddy, what's the difference between $17 million and $20 million, my whole family will still be set for life. He's just too nice. "No, Mr. France Sir, I'm doin' fine up here in Gah-Guh, you just git yur thangs done!" Well, Ronnie, in case you didn't notice, Ricky Williams is riding on your butt, and it don't matter if he's gonna miss the first four games of the season because you're soon going to miss the first four games of pre-season.
Manuel Wright: He is determined to prove his worth after the can of "whoop-ass" that Saban opened on him a few weeks ago that made national news. He's fat, let's face it. And he's going to plug holes, which he did on Monday night which helped limit Chicago's running game. However, keep in mind that he was playing against third stringers, but this should be news that he will be moving up on the depth chart.
