if we want to be in the playoffs. 3 of the last 4 games are at home. Have to win all of them. If we lose to NE on the road that's not a killer, but any loss at home will be the end of our season. I like our chances!
We definitely need fire and aggression. Everyone, especially the OL, DL and LB's, need to bully and dominate every team that steps across the threshold. View them as unwelcome intruders and beat them down with a baseball bat. I believe every single player on this team wants to do that and is capable of doing that, Lazor too. Phibin's lack of killer instinct still worries me though. The football field is no place to be nice.
The team really seems to get energized at home this year. That makes me more optimistic about the Bmore game especially. Really we are in a good spot, just have to take care of business!! My main concern is how banged up we are...would be nice to get some guys back this week!
Our fans will never learn it seems.. Arrive early, get in your seats before intros, stand when we're on defense, and scream..
The good news is that the game should have some energy inside because of how many raven fans will be there.. We should get our best performance, and they as well.
This is the measuring point game for the head coach and his team..if we are to feel progression in our third year, at home against this team, taking into account where they are at in their process, with what's in the line, relative to what happened in our stretch last year, we must win this game.. Both teams will be playing for their playoff lives.. All nicked up guys need to be ready to go..
Definately another "progress check" game coming up. At home against another team trying to make the playoffs. I am really excited to watch meaningfull Miami Dolphin football in December!!
There may be a few, but there are also very plausible scenerios where we end up 10-6 and don't make the playoffs if we lose to Baltimore. Its funny that at 7-5, we could run the table and be the #2 seed in the AFC, or lose just once and be out. Can't remember another year like that.
Baltimore tends to have our number. I'll believe more in this team if they can even squeeze out a Jets style win against them. They've outright physically dominated the Dolphins at times.........kinda like DJ vs a Cam Wake fitness magazine profile spread.
I would be glad to follow those instructions if you pay for my ticket and travel expenses. I wish I still lived in south Florida. I hope our fans fill that stadium up! I want to see our fans dressed to look like the ocean, where Dolphins thrive!
I worked with the playoff generator and there are a couple ways we get the #2 seed. A few where we go 10-6 and don't make it. Wow the AFC is tight this year!!!
What are the ways we get the #2 seed? If the Pats lose next week and we win out is that one of the ways or does it depend on the other division leaders losing games as well?
We have to win out, of course. The Pats also have to lose once more beyond that, most likely next week at San Diego. Beyond that, if Denver wins out, and the Steelers and Bengals split the two remaining, we'd be it. If the Bengals sweep the Steelers, or upset Denver, they hold the upper hand. It gets complicated in who to root for though, because if we don't have a realistic shot at the division, then we want the Bengals to win the North for our playoff odds at the Wildcard. It'll be a lot clearer after next Sunday. If we beat the Ravens, and two of the other three, we're likely in as a WC. EDIT: I also ran scenerios to see if it was possible for us to get in at 9-7. It is, but it requires more than a few unrealistic upsets. I had one where San Diego, Kansas City, Baltimore, Cleveland, and Houston all end up at 8-8 and we sneak in. In that particular scenerio, the winner of the KC/PIT game in week 16 is the other WC (In this case it was Pittsburgh, but it doesn't matter for us either way).
LOL.. dj.. Your asking Dez to explain that kooky statement? I think he's been sitting in a glue chamber.. Some of the stuff these past two weeks have just been out there.
I was listening to Jared Odrick talking before the Jets game.. And listening to him.. He sounded so monotone. I swear it was like listening to Joe Philbin. I know Philbin preaches one game at a time.. Focus.. But there never ever seems to be a sense of urgency. I think that has alot to do with why we start slow.. The team let's the other team create a sense of urgency. I'm sorry.. It just droves me ****in ballistic that we all to often we look flat as hell. I know they wanted to win... You see how they celebrated Jones INT? And it's not attitude really that I'm talking about. bill Bilichick has very little emotion on the sideline.. But he sure as hell doesn't translate that with his coaching. He coaches like a ruthless killer.. and look at Brady.. Why can't we get that kind of intensity?
Odrick seems to be a thoughtful, even-keeled individual, so I do not think you can gauge anything from that (or any individual for that matter). I saw plenty of energy from the team and Philbin in the post-game speech the week Phibin's father died. Plenty. I think Philbin is just a cool customer, maybe even prudish, but I think he is certainly more engaged this year than in years past. Because he may have a different approach, it doesn't make it better or worse. Just different. IF it works for this team, I am fine with it. If it doesn't, we will certainly know by the end of the year. One thing, he certainly does look more like a coach this year than before. I suspect there is more behind the scenes stuff he is responsible for than we know. Whether anyone likes him or not, he is growing. If it helps Miami to the playoffs, good. If it doesn't, get someone in there who can lead this team to the playoffs. Make no mistake, though, he is indeed 'leading' this team. I just hope it amounts to something more than a bag of nuts.
There isn't this so called mystical "Intensity" coming from the team, but there is a ton of pride and professionalism in all of the players, give me that as a solid base to build any team. Professional and prideful teams win the games they are suppose to win. I'll take going 10-6 and missing the playoffs, knowing we beat all the teams we were suppose to beat than go 6-10 stealing games from NE and Denver because we were intense, but losing to the Jets and Jaguars because they played flat and with zero professionalism. The culture of being professional and taking pride in your craft goes much further to building a team long term than the flash and bang of playing with intensity.
It's almost like a playoff game, even though there are an infinite number of scenarios that could go either way. Beating Baltimore is huge both for momentum and for tie-breaker considerations. Head to head is the first criteria for breaking a tie for wildcard contenders from different divisions, and we already hold that advantage over San Diego. I'm stoked, and hope to lose my voice by halftime!
Win or lose. I ask, because you're kind of contradicting yourself a little bit. You tout the importance of the crowd in winning games, but then say that this game is a huge statement for the coach and team. By your own requirements, the crowd needs to be in it for us to win this game, but if they aren't and we lose, its all on the team/coach? See what I mean?
the distiction is I am forced to always factor in the disadvantage that the venue presents to us as a team..basically looking at it like a neutral site..sometimes its worse than a neutral.. it comes with the territory, and anyone who accepts the job here has to be able to understand the disadvantage the venue presents and motivate accordingly.. it just makes it harder to win at home.. its always there in isolation, this is the game the coach and these players have to win to see if they have progressed, regardless of the inherent disadvantage.. you might be confusing the fact that sometimes i urge our home fans to really try and take their game to another level, its because I'm aware of the disadvantage..I know how difficult the players have it.but it is what it is..comes with the territory.. this game will be less than the norm because i believe you will have a full house with 20k of enemy fans, and in terms of energy the players will feel a sense of heightened energy, and should be hyped to play..you see raven fan will stand and be crazy, trying to literally make as much noise as possible, this will challenge the dolphin fan to do the same, thus creating that heightened sense of awareness within the players.
so to break it down in the most simplest terms.. our venue and fan participation leads to our team coming out flat over the years..which of course affects outcomes of games this game, with the participation of the other crowd will at least keep our players from coming out flat, unless of course the recognition of the inordinate amount of opposing fans has a negative affect on some of their mindsets..I happen to believe that because of what they're used to, any type of heighted energy is good energy