My guess is that the thunderstorm which delayed the game by an hour was nothing compared to the one in the Dolphin locker room after the game.
Eight fumbles, one interception, eight turnovers. While some of it can be blamed on the offensive line, this fumblitis spread through the whole offense. This was an offensive performance by an offense which was supposed to be bursting with skilled talent this year. Time to get back to basics guys. "How to hold onto a football 101" would be my suggested reading this week. Here's a breakdown.
No 1
After an electrifying 36 yd punt return by Wes Welker where he juked three Steelers out of their shoes down to the Pitt 35 yd line, Frerotte drops back to throw, has time, completes to McMichaels. Randy turns with the ball and runs into the oncoming Steelers pressure and is stripped. Steelers recover. At this point Frerotte has thrown three passes of which one was caught by Ricky for a short gain, one hit Chambers in the hip because he didn’t adjust to the ball, and one was fumbled by McMichaels. On all three he had time.
No 2
After the Steelers missed a chip shot field goal, Frerotte completed two nice quick passes to Booker and Chambers but was then sacked with the rush coming from McDougle's side. On third down his long pass to Booker was maybe just too far for Booker's outstretched hands, though it looked catchable, and on the ensuing punt Miami recovers the ball at the Pittsburgh 26. Great field position again thanks to special teams. First down Frerotte lofts one up for Booker at the edge of the end zone but it's just too high. Ricky gains 8 running right, so it's 3rd and 2 from the Steelers 18. Frerotte starts to drop back to throw but a Steelers linebacker races through a big gap between Hadnot and McKinney, bulldozes Frerotte, the ball comes loose and the Steelers run it back for a TD. Breakdown between Hadnot and McKinney. Hadnot got his hands on the guy but too late.
No 3
Four possessions and five dropped passes later, and after a great catch by Welker on a 42 yd bomb down the middle, Miami is again in Steeler territory this time at the 40 yd line. It's 2nd down and 10 after Frerotte is almost sacked by Vernon Carey's guy on 1st down, and Seth McKinney seems to hurry the snap as the Steelers start rushing the middle. Frerotte can't handle it, it comes loose and Pittsburgh recovers.
No 4
That's it for Frerotte after seven passes are dropped. After Holliday recovers a Pittsburgh fumble at the Miami 46 yd line, the second unit comes in. After a couple of nice catches by Lorenzo Diamond, Sammy Morris gets into the act by fumbling the ball at the Steelers 33 yd line for turnover No 4.
No 5
On the next Pittsburgh possession Crowder sacks Charlie Batch on 3rd & 7 so the Steelers have to punt, but this is just a tease as disaster is about to strike yet again. Welker signaling for a fair catch gets bumped by Howard as he is about to catch the ball. Howard has been pushed back into Welker and the ball actually bounces of Howard onto Welker's helmet and is recovered by Pittsburgh at the Miami 8 yd line. As a footnote, after the defense held Pittsburgh to no gain and a field goal, Miami got the ball back with about 38 seconds left (I think). They got the ball to the Steelers 38 yd line with 19 seconds left, helped by a 15 yd roughing the passer call, but ran out of time. Questionable time management by Feeley.
No 6
Second half after the defense stops Pittsburgh 3 and out, it's Newson back to receive the punt at the 37... and he drops it! Needless to say, it's Pittsburgh who recovers it, and Newson is hurt on the play. He wasn't hit, but his leg seemed to slip out from under him. Batch has a couple of nice throws to get the Steelers down to the six inch line, and just into the endzone on a running play.
No 7
Two possessions later Miami get the ball back at their 35. Boston and Gilmore catch some nice short passes as Feeley marches Miami into Steelers territory and down to the Pittsburgh 30 yd line. 3rd and 5, Feeley back to throw finds Maurice Mann on the left sideline for a first down, but Mann is tackled and fumbles the ball. Pittsburgh recover and run it back to their 30 yd line.
No 8
After Rosenfels drives Miami from their 48 yd line to the Steelers 18, the Dolphins settle for an Olindo Mare field goal to avoid the shut out. On Miami's next possession, Farmer fumbles a Rosenfels pass but this time Davis is in the right spot to gather up the ball and retain possession for Miami.
No 9
On the next play Rosenfels throws an interception with 2:31 to go, and the Steelers run out the clock.
Someone get an exorcist to get rid of the ghosts of seasons past. This is too close to last year for my sanity.
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.
After an electrifying 36 yd punt return by Wes Welker where he juked three Steelers out of their shoes down to the Pitt 35 yd line, Frerotte drops back to throw, has time, completes to McMichaels. Randy turns with the ball and runs into the oncoming Steelers pressure and is stripped. Steelers recover. At this point Frerotte has thrown three passes of which one was caught by Ricky for a short gain, one hit Chambers in the hip because he didn’t adjust to the ball, and one was fumbled by McMichaels. On all three he had time.
That's it for Frerotte after seven passes are dropped. After Holliday recovers a Pittsburgh fumble at the Miami 46 yd line, the second unit comes in. After a couple of nice catches by Lorenzo Diamond, Sammy Morris gets into the act by fumbling the ball at the Steelers 33 yd line for turnover No 4.
