Miami Dolphins: Week 8 C’MON MANs!

Coming off a bye week, the Miami Dolphins torched the New York Jets 30-9 in East Rutherford, last Sunday.  This latest victory puts the Dolphins record at 4-3 — a half a game behind the New England Patriots in the AFC East Division.  The Bills are in third place at 3-4 and the Jets are now in last place at 3-5.  It is important to note that the Dolphins are in fifth place in the AFC … and dare I mention, they are in the thick of the playoff hunt.

The Dolphins’ defense held the Jets to only one field goal and one 4th quarter TD.  They sacked Jets’ QB Mark Sanchez four times and picked him off once.  But, it was the special teams which shined.  Jimmy Wilson blocked a Jets’ punt which was recovered by Olivier Vernon for a TD.  Vernon blocked a critical Jets’ field goal at the end of the 1st half.  Marcus Thigpen returned two kickoffs for 78 yards and two punts for 26 yards.  And, Dan Carpenter actually surprised the Jets with an on-sides kick in the first quarter that was recovered by Jason Trusnik.

Dolphins’ QB Ryan Tannehill had a rough day getting injured on a 1st quarter sack.  But, Matt Moore came into the game in relief completing 11 of 19 passes (57.9%) for 131 yards (6.9 yards per attempt) with one TD, zero INTs, and one sack for a 96.6 passer rating.  Reggie Bush carried the ball 14 times for 59 yards (4.2 yards per attempt) and Daniel Thomas added 42 yards on 15 carries.  Davone Bess and Brian Hartline each caught four passes with Jabar Gaffney and Marlin Moore adding one pass reception each.  It was not an explosion of offense, but it was efficient and victorious.

This was a very lopsided game that actually became a little boring in the second half.  It was that dominant by the Dolphins.  However, there were still times during the game that left me screaming at the TV:

Here are my Week 8 C’MON MANs:

1). The top one … AGAIN … and on the list for 4 out of 7 weeks … is the Dolphins’ inability to convert in short yardage situations.  Particularly, the play calling has to be questioned … again.  Case in point, the Dolphins had a 1st and goal to go on the Jets’ two yard line at the start of the 2nd quarter.  They handed off the ball to Daniel Thomas, who rushed to the RIGHT for a one yard loss.  Another case in point, with 13:48 left in the game, the Dolphins had a 3rd down and one yard to go on their own 37 yard line.  Thomas was handed the ball deep in the Dolphins’ backfield and was tackled for a one yard loss trying to run to the RIGHT.  I have been screaming about the short yardage hand-offs to Reggie Bush and Thomas running to the right behind Jerry and Martin.  I have been hoping for short hand-offs to Javorski Lane and having him run thru the gaps on either side of Richie Incognito on the left side of the offensive line.  In fact, the Dolphins rushed 8 times during the Jets’ game in these gaps and gained 62 yards and scored a TD.  Oh, how I only wish they would just hand it to the BIG GUY in short yardage running left.  Hey Joe Philbin … C’MON MAN!

In a related running game matter,  Bush has had great success this season running north & south by one cutting thru holes created by the offensive line.  However, when he tries to stop and reverse field heading east & west, his success has been poor.  Case in point, with 11:43 left in the 3rd quarter, the Dolphins had a 1st and 10 on the Jets 40 yard line.  Bush rushed up a clogged middle and then tried to bounce it to the outside.  The result was a 2 yard loss.  Reggie … C’MON MAN!

2). As stated in my bye week article, the Dolphins’ LBs need to do a better job at covering opponents TEs.  Prior to the Jets game, six opposing TEs averaged 14.9 yards per reception and a bunch of first downs.  Against the Jets’ Dustin Keller, the LBs gave up 67 yards on seven receptions including three first downs and a TD.  The remainder of the season will not get any easier with the Seahawks’ Miller, the 49ers’ Davis, and the Patriots’ Grontkowski and Hernandez (twice).  The Dolphins’ LBs have got to step up their play in coverage.  Karlos Dansby, Kevin Burnett, and Koa Misi … C’MON MAN!

3).  The Jets gained 105 yards rushing the football 21 times.  One-third of this yardage was gained on one run of 36 yards by Shonn Greene.  Where were the Dolphins’ LBs and Safeties on this run that got significant chunk yards?  The Dolphins gave up five runs of 11 yards or more against the Rams in Week 6.  The Dophins’ defensive line does a great job stuffing the run at the line of scrimmage.  But, the LBs and Safeties have to do better when an opposing RB breaks past the line.  Karlos Dansby, Kevin Burnett, Koa Misi, Chris Clemons, and Reshad Jones … C’MON MAN!

4).  As stated in my bye week article, the Dolphins’ punt returner Marcus Thigpen had to do a better job in fair catching short punts.  As stated in the intro, Thigpen had two decent punt returns in the Jets game.  But, he let another hit the ground.  Marcus … C’MON MAN!

5).  As stated in the intro, the Dolphins’ special teams shined to include a surprise 1st quarter on-sides kick recovery.  That was the good news.  The bad news was the Dolphins’ offense went three and out to include the sack which injured Tannehill.  When the special teams come up with a big play, the offense needs to capitalize.  Where is the killer instinct?  Offense … C’MON MAN!

6).  The last one is unrelated to the Dolphins game against the Jets.  Anybody get to see the Steelers game against the Redskins.  The Steelers were in throw back uniforms — the ugliest ones I have ever seen — black and yellow horizontal striped shirts and socks.  The numbers on the shirts looked like they were cut out from grocery paper bags, marked with a Sharpee, and taped on with electrical tape.  The players looked like bumble bees who had broken out of a prison bee hive.  Hey Steelers … C’MON MAN!

The Dolphins have a big game this week against the Colts in Indy.  If they pull out another road victory, they will be tied with the Pats for first place in the AFC East midway thru the 2012 NFL Season.  GO PHINS!

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

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