What I Took Away From Game 3
By author
After breaking down the performance of the Miami Dolphins offense in their 3rd preseason game, it’s easy to see they are still working on things. It’s almost as if they are using these preseason games as practice, and not really caring about the outcome of the game. I’m sure they want to win, but I don’t think the coaches or players feel like it’s the end of the world if they don’t, and I hope most fans feel that way too. Afterall, it’s only the preseason!
After scorching the Jacksonville Jaguars for 24 points in the first half of last weeks game, the first team offense managed just 6 points against the Atlanta Falcons. Chad Henne led the team to 3 of those points, Chad Pennington led them to the other 3. Yes, they looked bad at times, but I’m not worried about them, even with the regular season just 2 weeks away.
During game 3, Miami called a lot of plays to work on Henne’s touch passes. He made a lot of throws to the running backs, and worked on dropping the ball into his wide receivers instead of burning it in there. There didn’t seems to be any game plan for the offense. Most of the play calling was geared towards working on the things Henne needs to improve on.
Overall I think the first offense did pretty good. I know scoring points is the most important thing, but Miami’s first offense could have easily scored more points in this one. Miami had some bad calls go against them throughout this game. A pass to Brandon Marshall was originally ruled a fumble that Ronnie Brown recovered near the redzone. After further review the official ruled it an incomplete pass. I’m clueless how he came to that conclusion. Miami may have turned that drive into more than field goal if that play went the other way. On another Miami drive Jake Long was called for holding that took away a first down catch by Brian Hartline near midfield. Miami stalled after that call and was forced to punt. Miami could have easily moved into field goal range on that drive. Henne made a bad decision on the drive near the end of the first half, throwing an interception in the end zone. This is usually the area that Miami runs the ball into the end zone. Henne made a horrible decision on this play. In that area of the field, I would’ve liked to see Brandon Marshall get the ball, isn’t that one of the reasons Miami traded for him? Pennington could have led the team to a TD as well. Brandon Marshall was clearly mugged in the end zone, which should have been called pass interference. That would have given Miami a first and goal on the 1 yd line. Why a penalty wasn’t called is still a mystery to me.
The play calling in this game was pretty boring. Against the Jags they stretched the field with their wide outs which opened up the middle of the field for the tight ends and Miami was able to capatalize on that. You didn’t see Miami doing that this game. Instead Miami called a lot of out patterns and crossing routes, and they hit the running backs coming out of the back field a lot. I still haven’t seen Miami try to go deep at all this preason with their first team, something that will surely change once the season starts.
I know in the end the results of the game are what they are, and the first team offense put up only 6 points agains the Falcons. After breaking down the play calling of this game it’s easy to see Miami was working on things not necessarily geared toward beating the Falcons, but geared towards working on things they need to improve on. I’m not worried about Miami’s offense moving forward, I think throughout the preseason they have been working on different things each game, and they had some success in each one. Once they game plan for their opponents I think we will see better results.
Phins Up!
BEL