A few highs and lows to begin our season, and let’s start with the lows so we can end on a high note…
The lowest of the lows goes to the NFL itself. It is utterly ridiculous to suspend a game for rain. This is not MLB, and football players are not afraid of getting wet and dirty. Your excuse about lightning strikes is just that…an excuse.
During 4 hours of delays, do you know how many lightning strikes occurred inside Hard Rock Stadium? The Over/Under was 1, and the under won. It was insane and unnecessary to suspend the game.
The NFL is not in the weather forecasting business. I doubt they have a team of full-time meteorologists on the payroll at every single game. No. Instead, they listen to reports that guess and estimate how far away lightning allegedly is. And then they overreact.
Another low is FOX Sports’ coverage of this debacle. How could they not cut back to the stadium for some live updates? They had the chance to let the world see the sunny skies above Hard Rock and to say, “Why on earth are we delayed? It’s sunny.” When FOX did come back, half their camera crew were still out on lightning break. We got one camera from an odd position. It was horrible. FOX ought to be ashamed of themselves for that coverage.
Now onto the players.
On the red zone interception, Ryan Tannehill took the blame. I don’t disagree. But I also blame Adam Gase‘s playcalling. Gase continues his infuriating habit of not recognizing how good his rushing game is going.
He had not one, but TWO different RBs who were carving right through the Titans, and yet he thought a fade route was the best call there? A pass we never ever hit?
T.J. McDonald got burned on a long completion and missed several tackles during the day. I know Gase is not one to make changes, but starting Minkah Fitzpatrick back there and benching McDonald is the way to go. Minkah showed he is the real deal, while McDonald showed why the Raiders got rid of him. Reshad Jones and Minkah covered for McDonald all day long.
NOW FOR THE HIGH NOTES:
For once, we have quite a few highs, including the play of Tannehill, Fitzpatrick, Jones, Kenny Stills, and others.
I’ll start with Jason Sanders, who hit some big kicks in his first game and was perfect. While it wasn’t an overtime game-winner, hitting a field goal late to give us a 10-point lead was huge. If he misses that, then the Titans take over in good shape only down 7, with a ton of momentum. Instead, Sanders delivered the final nail. Excellent debut.
Raekwon McMillan and Jerome Baker did nothing exceptional in their first game at LB, but they weren’t asked to. They did their job, and it led to a win. I was pleased with how they played. Their partner, Kiko Alonso, had an interception land right in his arms. It was a gift, but we’ll give him credit for holding onto that ball.
Frank Gore and Kenyan Drake hit the holes quickly and proved to be an explosive duo. Gase abandoned the running game in the second half because–well, because he’s Gase–or both of these guys would have kept running all afternoon/evening.
Jakeem Grant broke off a great TD return by simply flying as fast as he can, but he also kept drives alive with his WR routes. Gase will be making a gigantic mistake if he lets DeVante Parker come back to soon. He is absolutely unneeded in this offense.
The new offensive line? They deserve perhaps the biggest props of the day. No sacks, and some gaping holes in the running lanes. No bad for 5 men who didn’t even know each other a few months ago. Well done !
The o line allowed 1 sack admin, remember when Tannehill got up a little gimpy? All in all a good day though…when Tannehill has time to throw he puts it in the right spot! Love the bomb to Stills… especially on Butler who picked him on that terrible fade pass! We’ve got some things going to be excited about…..the question is…can we have consistency???
I stand corrected and mis-read the stats! Thank you. That long pass was a thing of beauty, wasn’t it!?
If everyone else noticed, most of Tannehill’s passes were short throws and that’s the kind of plays he’s best at. And everyone who watched the game must admit, at least two more of Tanny’s downfield passes should’ve been intercepted. The Dolphins got a little lucky in their first game but I’ll take it. Lord knows all of us Dolfans were somewhat anxious about this first game after seeing the embarrassing turd our U of M laid on the field before the whole nation on TV last week.
Those 4-yard passes when we needed 6, and the 6-yarders when we needed 8 were killing me all day.
Did lightning strikes EVER happen before yesterday? Why is this an issue NOW?
Author,good points. But you are falling onto the trap many broadcasters and writers more recently are falling into and that is the use of the word,”different”. “but TWO different RB”, No need for using different. If there are indeed 2 running backs or more than 1 of anything,no need to use the word different. It’s obvious they are different. As soon as you stop,I’ll stop reminding you of the Ajayi giveaway/trade.
Since the game was mysteriously not shown in Ft. Myers,I spent over 5 hours in a sports bar,which is a personal record I’m not proud of. I finally left at 615pm and listened to the rest on the radio while watching the play by play on ESPN website. So I missed both kickoff returns for TDs.
Would the outcome have been the same with Mariota? Possibly. Possibly not. He gets hurt too often.
No fair! You know that Gase giving away Ajayi is my pet peeve !
Let’s just sit back and enjoy the 7 hour game. So,4 more wins from 15 remaining games and I’ll be correct at 5 wins. I wonder if Mariota had stayed healthy…he’s too frail.
Mariota didn’t look much better than his back up he threw two picks before they benched him.
I’d add Gase not taking sure points on 4th down gambles gave away too much in a tight game.
Jones had a fantastic game only guy who could tackle all day.
I don’t mind the call to Gesicki in the endzone as it was a mismatch 6’6 on 5’10. …but not a fade you just need to throw it high for a jump ball. Gronk does it every game. Tanny just can’t do it for some reason…
I see Matthew Stafford bet a ton of money on the Jets. What a horrendous performance. He’s single-handedly giving the game to our Jet enemies.
So I just turned o. The game and I’m not sure what is the most bizarre. The jest putting up 40 points (almost) or this girl doing play by play.
I dont like eather
Not that chick announcer again!!????
Ya it’s bad I had to mute her
Stafford has been atrocious but this chick or butch may be worse… I know B team but this is like Z!
Holy shit! I hope this was a fluke tonight…. we’re at the Jets next week!!!
Stafford was real bad shitstain bad. Hopefully those tools will be overconfident next week thinking they won the bowl already.
Darren Lee just boasted that the Jets had their signals…either way the Lions were atrocious. All that I ask….Fins please change up your signals before next weekend…
Please… somebody better get Stafford a pair of glasses before the Lions next game.
Not until AFTER we get to play him. This is the AFC East Syndrome. Teams lay down for the Jets, Bills, and especially Patriots, but then when they play the Dolphins, suddenly they are a juggernaut.
Well Admin, the Lions are a game down the road and right now, it’s the Jets the Dolphins better be on their P’s an Q’s about. I hope Gase has a special game plan for this rookie. Personally, I would throw blitz packages at him like he’s never seen before. Just hope Tannehill doesn’t look like Stafford and throw stupid interception and stupid interception sunday.
Agreed. The Jets putting up 48 points probably got the Dolphins’ attention, and they will take the game seriously now.
Honestly the lions were horrible I don’t think that they’ll look as good Sunday against the Fins. The lions also let the rookie roll out right every time they pressured and he prefers that. The Jets also apparently knew the lions signals…