Since I'm always traveling for College Football on Saturdays, Sunday was a rare NFL Gameday for me. I was able to score a ticket to the Dolphins/Texans game. I went tailgating with some friends and we arrived at Reliant at 7:30 AM. Cracked my first beer at 7:35.
I like the NFL just barely over College Football. However the College Football Gameday/tailgating scene kills the NFL.
First off, tailgating for an NFL game your jaw isn't constantly hanging to the ground as you look on in disbelief at 30,000 beautiful coeds shot gunning beers, doing keg stands as they're all dolled up in sundresses looking like they're going out to the club, not a football game.
College football seems to have more passionate/drunk fans with a student body. Opposing fans beware as you will be heckled and yelled out to no end. You will see fights!
One other thing that sets college football apart from the NFL is the bands and the school fight songs. There's nothing like hearing "Boomer Sooner!" and "Go Gators!", to name a couple, played throughout a game.
My tickets to the Phins/Texans game were awesome! By the fourth quarter I was sitting in the front row right behind the Dolphins bench. I gave Ronnie Brown a couple of "War Eagles!" and he turned around and saluted each time. I also had one of those Kangaroo TV's. If you've never seen one, they're pretty sweet. It's a palm screen that gives you every NFL game. You can have a sidebar of every NFL score and you can switch to any game. Along with scoring updates, you can also check any game/player stats. Definitely great for Fantasy Football junkies and gamblers.
The game started off great as it looked like the Phins would roll to their third win of the season. After Matt Schaub's second interception in as many drives, the crowd was chanting, "We want Sage!"
Running the "WildHog" formation, this Miami team is a lot of fun to watch. The Dolphins pulled out to a 14-3 lead on a "WildHog" running back pitch to Pennington with Chad connecting with a wide open Patrick Cobbs (North Texas) for 53 yards.
The play reminded a lot of the 2001 Nebraksa/Oklahoma game where back QB Mike Stuntz hit Eric Crouch for the electrifying winning TD on the Black 41 Flash Reverse.
Moments later, Pennington hooked up with Cobbs again on a screen pass that went for 80 yards. The Dolphins put together great down field blocking as this play developed.
The turning point of the game had to be Jacoby Jones' 70 yard punt return in the second quarter that gave the Texans new life.
Houston turned the ball over 4 times to the Dolphins, but Miami's defense was unable to hold up. The Texans finished with 485 yards of offense. Schaub had 379 yards passing and Andre Johnson burned the Miami secondary for 178 yards-all three of these numbers are Texans' team records.
It's safe to say that Miami's secondary is the weakest part of the team with much improvement needed.
The Texans were able to march down the field with the winning touchdown drive with 1:45 left in the game. The 12 play, 76 yard drive was highlighted by two crazy plays. First, on fourth down, Johnson made a circus catch somehow grabbing the ball away from Yeremiah Bell. Then on 4th and 2 from the 3 yard line, Gary Kubiak called a QB draw and Schaub was able to walk in untouched for the winning touchdown.
This Miami team will definitely be one of the surprises of the year in the NFL. The Dolphins are actually giving their fans something to cheer about. And Bill Parcells has put together a solid team just one year removed from a disastrous 1-15 season.
Heck, the biggest winner from the Brett Farve drama of the summer may be the Dolphins. Miami was able to land an experience quarterback in Chad Pennington instead of having to throw Jon Beck or rookie Chad Henne in to the wolves.
Just when you thought the NFL couldn't be more unpredictable...the Miami Dolphins tidal wave into Foxboro and hand the Patriots there worse loss ever in Gillette Stadium. Wining for just the second time in their last 22 games, the Dolphins pounded, dismantled the team of the century-the Tom Bradyless New England Patriots.
Joey Porter ran his mouth, and you can bet Bill Parcells wasn't too happy. But Porter became the second Patriots' opponent in their last 4 games to not back down and call out the Pats, back his talk and beat them. Of course we all remember Plaxico Burress.
Honestly, I'm not overly surprised Miami beat New England. I had the Dolphins covering the 12 1/2 point spread. I am surprised about the ass whooping! And dam! I loved every bit about it.
And the most surprising part of the woodshed beat down? Bill Belichick's mastermind not being able to stop a college formation. Not once, not twice, not thrice, but five freakin times! Ronnie Brown is basically the only scoring threat on Miami's team. Who else did you think was going to get the ball?
And I couldn't help but think this offense was so familiar. Of course! How soon can we forget the Arkansas Razorbacks going into LSU's Death Valley on the last week of the regular season and at the time knocking out LSU's title hopes with the offensive overtime thriller.
Darren McFadden ring a bell? How about David Lee? David Lee was was the offensive coordinator for that Arkansas team that dismantled one of the nation's quickest defense. And now Lee is the quarterback's coach for the Dolphins. What a brilliant game plan!
And I still can't believe the Dolphins pulled it off 5 times!
Ronnie Brown was the star of the show finishing with 113 yards on 17 rushes, 4 rushing TD's and 1 passing TD. If you're scoring at home, that's roughly 40-50 fantasy points for one player! The funny thing? Probably half of the fantasy owners with Brown failed to start him!
I'm sure we can expect to see this "Razorback" formation more often down the road for the Dolphins and in the NFL overall. Maybe the Raiders are taking notes. JaMarcus Russell and Darren McFadden running this offense could be lethal.
I'm sure everyone's saying, "We've seen it now. We can figure out how to stop it." But the formation is a triple threat. Brown showed he can run the direct snap, pass the ball, or even hand the ball off. It's shown that with the right talent, the "Razorback" can confuse even the most talented defenses.
Way to go Miami! Finally something for Dolphans to cheer about and now a little hope for the rest of the season.
It broke my heart hearing the news last Sunday night that Jason Taylor had been officially traded. It was even harder to swallow at the sight of JT in a uniform other than the Aqua and Orange.
The good news, the Dolphins and Bill Parcells held out long enough and received more than expected for the rights of Taylor.
I still find it hard to believe the talent of JT warrants only two draft picks, a second and sixth round choice.
Yeah, he might be getting up there in age, but this is the reigning NFL Man of the Year and just two years removed from the NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
The rebuilding process in South Beach is in full swing. But right now, you have to wonder about Parcell's approval rating in Miami. So far in his brief tenure, the Dolphins have said goodbye to fan and community favorites Zach Thomas and now Taylor. Both had spent their entire careers in Miami. Time will tell if any of these moves will pay off. A defense anchored by Taylor and Thomas always gave Miami a chance for 8-9 wins. Last year, Miami lost 6 games by 3 points or fewer. And let's not forget Taylor single handily beat the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in 2006 when the Bears were undefeated.
But a total team renovation is inevitable coming off a 1-15 season. Miami will have plenty of draft picks in the next couple of years, so for Dolphans, we'll have to wait until 2010 for any excitement.
So away with Taylor and away with the impending media circus which would surround Dolphins' camp. Also, many believe Taylor quit on the team midway through last season. So even if Taylor were to suit up as a Dolphin, his heart and play would would be questioned all year.
Taylor was the last member of the team drafted by Jimmy Johnson.
Now, SS Yeremiah Bell (yikes!) serves as the longest tenured Phin originally drafted by Miami.
Miami's biggest need has been at QB. This hasn't changed since a certain No. 13 retired. Look for either Jon Beck or Chad Henne to be the starter. More than likely it will Beck since Henne's a rookie, but I'm sure Henne will be named the starter midway through the season.
I've pretty much given up on Josh McCown. It's a safe bet Parcells won't deal with hacksaw injuries either. Miami fans are hoping Michigan Alum Henne will perform similar to fellow Alum Tom Brady. OK, that's not gonna happen, we can dream, can't we. At least we can hope Henne doesn't stoop to the playing level of Elvis Grbac or Brian Griese.
So far into the rebuilding process, the Dolphins have looked to solidify their offensive line which has always been the key to any NFL team's success.
Just like any Parcell's team, Miami will be a run first offense and focus on protecting the Quarterback.
If Ronnie Brown stays healthy, Miami could pose a potent ground attack.
Like I said, the 2008 Miami Dolphins have nothing to lose and can't be any worse than last year's team.
