Miami Dolphins: Week 5 C’MON MANs!

Last Sunday, the Miami Dolphins defeated a good Bengals football team in Cincinnati 17-13.  The victory puts the Dolphins record at 2-3 in second place of the AFC East Division.  They are one game behind the Division leading New England Patriots and tied with the Bills and the Jets.  Once again, one has to think about the possibility of making two field goals and being 4-1 leading the Division.

The Dolphins had a modest performance on offense gaining only 279 total yards — whereas, the Bengals actually had 298 total yards.  The maturing Ryan Tannehill had a very good, turnover-free game completing 17 of 26 passes (65.4%) for 223 yards (8.6 yards per attempt) with zero TDs, zero INTs, zero fumbles, and just two sacks for a 92.3 rating.  Brian Hartline once again lead the receivers with 4 catches for 59 yards (14.8 yards per catch) and Davone Bess added 2 catches for 48 yards (24.5 yards per catch).  On the downside, the Dolphins were only able to gain a mere 68 total net rushing yards on 35 attempts for a dismal 1.9 yards per attempt.

The Dolphins’ defense shut down the Bengals running game, which gained only 80 yards on 19 carries (4.2 yards per attempt).  They also limited the Bengals passing game to only 5.4 yards per attempt, plus sacked Bengals’ QB Andy Dalton three times and intercepted him twice.  Rashad Jones had one INT at the end of the game to secure the victory.  Randy Starks snatched the other INT over his head at point blank range, plus added three tackles, half sack, and two defended passes.  Cameron Wake had five tackles including one sack.  And, Sean Smith had another good game limiting Bengals’ Pro Bowl WR A.J. Green 65 yards on 9 catches, plus Smith added 8 tackles, one forced fumble, and one defended pass.

The game was another nerve-racking one which went down to the wire.  I must admit, when the Bengals got the ball on their own 20 yard line with 1:45 left, I was wonder whether here we go again for the third week in a row.  But, the Dolphins pulled it out with Jones intercepting Dalton’s pass with a mere 1:22 left to seal the victory on the Dolphins’ 47 yard line.  Still, during the game, I found several plays the had me yelling at the TV, yet again:

Here are the Miami Dolphins Week 5 C’MON MANs!

1).  The top one belongs to Charles Clay, who entered the game with only one catch.  The Dolphins tried to get Clay more involved in the passing game and he did respond by catching 3 passes for 35 yards.  But, Clay had two key drops and made one bone-headed play which could have cost the Dolphins the game.  With 2:00 left, the Dolphins had the ball on the 50 yard line with a 3rd down and 8 yards to go.  Tannehill threw a swing pass to Clay who proceeded to run out of bounds short of the first down.  The Bengals were without any time outs and, if Clay could have remained in bounds, another precious 35 or more seconds would have run off the clock.  One has to have your head in the game, know the situation, and STAY IN BOUNDS.  Charles … C’MON … I say … C’MON MAN!

2).  Here we go again!  With 11:54 left in the 1st Quarter, the Dolphins’ defense had stopped the Bengals with a three and out.  Bengals’ punter Kevin Huber punts the ball to Marcus Thigpen.  Thigpen waves for a fair catch, but lets the ball hit the ground … or … rather the ball hits the back of Rashad Jones.  The ball is then recovered by the Bengals who move on for a successful field goal.  A punt returner should not let a punted ball hit the ground.  Marcus Thigpen … for the second week in a row … C’MON MAN!

In a related matter on the same play, Vontaze Burfict recovered the fumble off the back of Jones.  However, as he recovered the fumble, his shoulder was clearly out of bounds.  The replay seemed clear to me.  However, the original call was a good recovery by Burfict and the play stood after replay.  I could not believe it.  The CBS game announcers could not believe it.  The replacement refs watching at home probably could not believe it.  Hey Regular NFL Refs … C’MON MAN!

3).  Javorski Lane has played pretty well, thus far in his rookie season.  Going into the Bengals game, he had 9 carries for 18 yards, 2 catches for 25 yards, two first downs, two TDs, and ZERO fumbles.  However, Lane had a bad game against the Bengals.  He had only 2 carries for minus 5 yards, one fumble which resulted in a turnover, and failed to gain less than a yard on a fourth down carry.  He did have 2 receptions for 20 yards, but fumbled one of the receptions — although he did recover the fumble.  I sure hope that Lane isn’t developing butter fingers.  Javorski … C’MON MAN!

In a related matter, Lane carried to the right on a fourth and less than a yard.  Let me repeat that, he ran right on fourth and one.  Why in the heck was he running to the weak side of the offensive line behind John Jerry and Jonathan Martin?  The Dolphins should have called a run with Lane to the strong side of the offensive line — left behind Long and Incognito.  Mike Sherman … C’MON MAN!

In a related matter just prior to the fourth down carry by Lane, the Dolphins had a third down with one yard to go.  Sherman called for a carry by Daniel Thomas.  What is in the heck is going on?  Why is Thomas carrying the ball with one yard to go for a first down?  Why can’t the Dolphins get a mere one yard in two attempts in short yardage?  I say, put Nate Garner in as a tight end on the left side in short yardage situations and give the damn ball to the big guy every time running to the left!  Tell him to keep two hands on the ball and dare the opponents to stop it.  Joe Philbin … C’MON MAN!

4).  Miami plays the Saint Louis Rams this week in Sun Life Stadium.  The Dolphins have a good chance to even their record at 3-3.  And, Jason Taylor and Zach Thomas will be inducted into the Dolphins’ Honor Roll at a halftime ceremony.  I hope the supporters in South Florida fill up Sun Life Stadium to cheer the Dolphins to a victory and acknowledge the careers of Taylor and Thomas — two of the good guys.  So,  come out — support the Dolphins!  Dolphans … C’MON MAN!

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What do you think?  Do you have your own C’MON MAN you’d like to give out for the Bengals game?

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