Loss Exposes Serious Weakness

The Miami Dolphins had their chances today. Opening drive should have been a touchdown and at least one other drive should have ended in a touchdown instead of a 3 point kick. Many will turn their attention to the Chad Pennington interception that was taken in for a touchdown in the first half. In reality, that play didn’t lose the game for the Dolphins, it didn’t make it hard for them to come back, it did nothing to alter the pace of the game or change the way the Phins handled their business offensively. No, this loss did nothing more than expose a serious weakness for this team. Pass defense.

All season long the Phins have struggled with 3rd downs defensively. 3rd and long, they seem to play way too soft and allow the offense to make a play, a move, anything to get the ball over that network first down line. In the Jets game, it happened on first down and ended in a touchdown. Against NE and SD it was less evident because of the score. Last week, that big play on 3rd or 4th down cost the Phins their 3rd win of the season. Today, it did the same thing.

The Dolphins could not stop Joe Flacco today. A rookie QB was able to march his team down the field. A team that is ranked in the low 20’s in offensive ranking. They made plays when they needed to. The Dolphins defense did not. Joe Flacco had thrown 1 TD pass in 5 games this season entering Miami, he threw 7 interceptions. Today, he was perfect with a rating over 100. How does this happen?

The first look has to be on the front line who managed to apply pressure but allowed Flacco to get rid of the ball rather than rattle him consistently. Flacco wasn’t brilliant but he was better than the Dolphins secondary. Picking safe passing routes and high-percentage plays, Flacco used his time with the ball in his hands wisely.

The Dolphins had yet another chance to win the game late, but failed once again to stop the moving Ravens instead giving up a touchdown late to make the point deficit 14 points instead of a manageable 7.  The Phins lost 27 – 13.

Other notes:

Chad Pennington threw his first “Pick 6” interception when he rolled to his left and threw the ball to Patrick Cobbs, Terrell Suggs stepped between CP and Cobbs and took the ball in for the go ahead touchdown. The wheels pretty much began to wobble at that point.

The Wild Cat offense was held in check completely by the Ravens. The dominating front line of the Baltimore defense allowed only a couple of plays that gained 4 yards. The Dolphins tried an end around that had most of the Baltimore defense to the slant side, but Suggs stayed home and was able to stop the play for a 2 yard gain.

Davone Bess scored his first touchdown as a pro.

Ted Ginn, Jr. the center of much of my ire was put back to return kicks. While he averaged 29 yards a return, his play on offense still left me scratching my head. His first step is always to the sideline. On one play he ran backwards, on another one he could not avoid LB Ray Lewis and had the outside on him. On a 15 yard catch, Ginn immediately turned toward the sideline after the catch. The defender was able to push him out of bounds as he fell. Had Ginn turned in instead of out, he would have gained at least another 20 yards if he hadn’t taken it to the house.

Joey Porter added 2 more sacks to his season total bringing him to 8 on the season.