Cameron gets wish and still gets the win 18-17

Cam Cameron, the new HC of the Miami Dolphins said on Friday that a bad game was something this team needed, in order to learn from their mistakes. Last night, he got his wish, and still gets the win.

The Dolphins did not look pretty for much of Cam Camerons’ first NFL game, albeit a pre-season one. Trent Green was 6/15 for 30 and a pick. Ronnie Brown was 8/8. No need to worry about the receivers stats, only 6 balls were caught on the first unit. The abscent WR? David Sutton failed to log in a catch in the game and Ted Ginns‘ name does not appear anywhere on the stat list either. Not even as a return guy. Nothing really to worry about, why risk any injury on him at all….right?

The stars of the game were on the 2nd and 3rd team units. I have to laugh, Green and co. struggle in the first half…which should be expected, yet if you take a trip around the Dolphins forums, already, after 1 game, there are actually fans calling for Lemon to start. It is pre-season. Game one at that. Perhaps Green does not live up to the expectations by the start of the year, or maybe not by the end of the year either, but game 1? Seriously, some people need to realize that the love fest that is Miami football, is in full swing now, but it is still only week 1. Week one of pre-season.

Still, there were high-lights. Jesse Chatman ripping off a 74 yard touchdown run, the much anticipated debut of John Beck netted a 3/5 night for 23 yards, but a nice scoring drive ending in a Patrick Cobbs TD run.

Even Coach Cameron showed some mettle going for it on 4th and 2 and then a 2 point conversion when an extra point would tie the game. Why? Because it is pre-season.

The Dolphins defensive starters did not see much time on the field. JT and ZT say none as they were on the sidelines in shorts the entire evening. Matt Roth and Roderick Wright both had sacks on the first series against the Jags 1st team unit. A very positive sign. On the first Jacksonville TD, Miami gave a tribute to last years defensive play. Vonnie Holliday hit QB Byron Leftwich late for a 15 yard roughing penalty on an incomplete pass on 3rd and long. It is those kinds of penalties that need to be eliminated by the season opener.

For many Dolphins fans, this game has yet to be viewed. NFL Network will have it aired at 2 Am on monday morning…set your Tivo. For the majority of the fans, the game was watched in the format of two football helmets moving back and forth on an updated green 1 dimensional field over at NFL.com. The game was watched much the same way that video football used to be played, on a green metallic board you plugged into a wall. Turn on the power switch and listen to the hum. Of course that wasn’t video, hell it wasn’t even virtual. Madden NFL Football? HA! It has nothing on the little sponge ball.

The Dolphins won this game. 18-17. It is a moral victory. Still, Cameron got his wish as the game started off poorly and there will be a lot to learn from. Whether or not this team can learn from those mistakes is a different story all together. In the meantime, the rookies will finally get some game film to break down of themselves.

Heading into this weeks practices, Cam Cameron will have his hands full. From the fumbles to the Int, the holding, the offsides on the Oline, the lack of running lanes early. It all will get worked out in practice. For now, we can all smile and at least know that we are still undefeated in 2007. Not a bad consolation prize.