Beyond the Stats….Live observations

This is not a play-by-play of tonights’ Miami Dolphins vs. Kansas City Chiefs game.  Instead this is going to be an observation piece, a live observations piece it goes beyond the stats.

I will not be dwelling on stats or that kind of stuff, but I will be concentrating on the actual play during the game, who is looking good or bad, who is improving and who is regressing.  Please refresh the page often to keep up with the changes and updates.

Drive 1:  not impressive in any form.  The offensive line looked weak, Trent Green had 1 bad pass, 1 dropped pass and one pass that should have been caught and wasn’t but the throw was not perfect.  That sums it up.  3 and out.

Drive 2:  Trent Green looked a lot better and the offensive line made some progress.  The blocking was a little better but not enough to make you jump up and down.  Green showed his ability to step up into the pocket although he had a wide open David Martin down the field and under threw him.  The play was a completion but had it been in stride a larger pick up would have been made.  Ronnie Brown had a nice run and once again showed that he can be a solid premium back with proper blocking.  He still needs to learn how to break out of the “shoe string” tackles that trips him up too often.  The Dolphins moved the ball down to the 2 yard line and went for it on 4th and 2.  They ran the ball and the oline failed to block.  They lost yardage and a solid drive ended with nothing.

On the defensive side of the ball, JT, ZT, and Traylor are all not playing.  The defense has also seen rookie LB K. Smith getting some playing time and he looks lost out there, he is way out of his league in this game considering that he is responsible for covering  Tony Gonzales.  Without their starters the defense has not allowed the Chiefs any points.  KC missed a 42 yard FG attempt on their first drive.

3rd Series:  Cleo Lemon is the QB now.  Ronnie Brown even with the lack of blacking is running well and making some very nice gains.  Lemon is throwing soft high percentage passes and connecting on them.  Green was less fluid on the same throws.  The Dolphins drove down the field but had to settle on a FG after Lemon was unable to make the connection’s needed to get them in the end-zone.  The oline is doing well in pass protection, but not very well consistently in the run department.

The Defense looks very good without their starters.  Roth is a presence and he should see plenty of time this year.  He is looking very good.  The DLineman are looking very stout as well and because of their play, the secondary is able to cover well.

Special Teams note:  Brandon Fields has had one punt and it was solid.  Ted Ginn looks lost as a return guy and needs a lot of work to learn how to play in the NFL on special teams.  He is still trying to outrun the coverage to the outside instead of trying to hit the seems.  He is not looking good and really needs to step it up. 

Jesse Chatman will make this team.  He runs a lot like a thundering buffalo.  Hes legs move quick like Ricky Williams in terms of small steps and he does not stop moving them.  He will lower his shoulder and throw down a blow rather than run out of bounds.  he will be a good back-up to Ronnie Brown and I am becoming more satisfied with our running back situation.

NOTE:  My computer is having some serious problems right now.  I am actually blogging this from Ohio and I can only see half of what I type.  The other half is blocked out due to the type of browser…it is my father-in-laws, so I can’t change it.  My apologies for the numerous typo’s.  Spell check is not working either…LOL.

Series 4:  Cleo Lemon is still in and he is driving the unit down the field.  Jesse Chatman is still the one to watch right now.  Lemon threw a pass way over the intended receiver and was very lucky not have it picked off, the middle of the field did not have a defender in the near vicinity to take it out of the air.  The drive will end at the 50 and they will punt from there.  His punt was over 5 seconds in hang time and was dropped at the 10.  A penalty will force him to punt again.  The Phins were backed up 10 and Fields’ re-punt was put down on the 14 yard line….WOW this kid is impressive.  The Chiefs returned it about 7 yards.

KC:  Brody Croyle is in at QB.

I will only be blogging the defensive stuff when something happens.  They are playing very well right now without 3 of their starters.

I say that now, the Dolphins defense is allowing Croyle to exploit the secondary over the middle, however, it appears that LB Channing Crowder is the one who is likely responsible for the middle and he is getting burnt.

KC touchdown.  The Chiefs exposed the short middle of the field, usually where Zack Thomas sets up.  The Dolphins got trapped looking out and the receiver made short work in getting into the end-zone.

This is very difficult to do when you have the use of half a screen.

I have to say that the Chiefs may have something in Brody Croyle.  Unfortunately for them they also have Sherm Edwards, so that will be wasted talent until Edwards is gone.

Lemon just fumbled and the Chiefs recovered, this is a problem with Lemon.  His style of play does not have him keeping both hands on the ball.  He stepped up with one hand on it and as his body was stretched he lost his grip.  He was not hit hard and had he had both hands on the ball, he would not have lost it.

Maybe I should just shut up when I praise someone.  Brody Croyle just gave it back with an INT in the end-zone.  Michael Lehan made the technically perfect INT.  He went high to get it and took the ball down at its’ apex instead of waiting for it to come down to him.  Dolphins back on offense at the 20.

There are a lot of fans out there who are screaming for Lemon to play and even to start the regular season.  I am sorry, I don’t see it.  Trent Green is not looking great, but he is at least new and learning the system and the players.  Lemon looks like a college QB out there.  He is firing the ball with little conviction.  He is making simple throws and I would think that he should be working the sidelines and the long ball more.  He is not doing a bad job, but I don’t see the promise in him that would make me think he should start.  Unlike Green though, he can at least escape to the outside.  He just doesn’t look comfortable.

Fields will be punting again.  It’s pretty sad when that makes you excited.  Remember it is pre-season so I guess seeing a 7th round punter who can boom the hell out of the football is worth mentioning.  Fields mishandled the ball and he clutched it twice.  HE still managed a 36 yard kick that put the ball on the KC 36.  Miami had a 5 yard penalty assessed at the end that moved it out past the 40.

HALF TIME:  KC 7 – Miami 3.

So far.  The offensive line is showing that they still need a lot of work.  HOwever, they are also showing some progression which is promising.  We still have to remember that there is 2 more week left and then 1 more week of practice before the first game.  A lot of changes were made this off-season.  Seeing any signs of progress from last week is a good sign.  Anyone who can not see that some progress is being made is looking for and excuse to gripe.  I think I have been able to correct most of the spelling errors on the page…I hope.

Due to computer issues.  I will not be able to discuss the observations of the 2nd half.  I will however have an overall view up at some point tomorrow afternoon.

John Beck is starting the 2nd half though and Cam Cameron is once agains showing that he will use every opportunity going for it again on 4th down.  Beck has a nice looking arm but will need to work on the overall accuracy and his timing.  He looks like a solid QB for this franchises future….well, at least let us hope so.

O.k. folks, that’s all I have right now and it is getting more and more difficiutl to continue this so I will have to say good-night.