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Dolphins v Patriots - A Pat's fan's perspective

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by LITP, Dec 25, 2016.

  1. LITP

    LITP Active Member

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    Merry Xmas Dolfans!

    Week 16 is in the books and 'we're on to week 17' - a rare late season match-up that has 'potentially' plenty of relevance for both teams!

    Firstly, congratulations to the Dolphins (hopefully this doesn't come across as too patronizing!) for turning their season around so effectively after such a slow start.

    I'll put my hand up, and admit that I had the Dolphins marked down for 4th place this year - I thought the defence was highly priced but lacked depth and the offence (despite plenty of talent) would continue to underwhelm - consider my crow eaten!

    I also admit that, despite giving the Patriots such a hard time every year, I wanted/do want the Dolphins to make the playoffs this year - if Rex Ryan wasn't such a douche-nozzle i'd wish the same the Bills - on a similar note not enough bad things can EVER happen to the Jets.

    I haven't been paying especially close attention to Miami this year - more intent on the usual playoff suspects from recent times - Denver, Pittsburgh, Baltimore - it would be great to get a run down on why the Dolphins have done such a good job this year.

    I think Gase is a keeper (and thought that even early this season when Miami was struggling) - I thought it would take him longer to turn the roster over so he is well ahead of schedule in my book.

    My take on the 2016 Patriots is that it is a very different unit to recent incarnations - a lot closer to the 2001,2003 teams than the 2007 Star Wars teams. Those teams make scoring 30 look mundane but the defence was almost an afterthought - often designed to let the opposition have 20 points fairly easily but no more than that.

    This M.O led to problems in the post-season as the defences got tougher and conditions less suited to dropping back 40-50 times every game - any breakdown with the O-line (like last year) and you end up with Von Miller-type carnage.

    This years team is committed to running the football (mostly established when Brady had his 4 game vacation) and sticking with it even when he aren't ripping off big yardage - it has given back Brady one his most dangerous tools - the play-action pass.

    Losing Gronk is a obviously a big hit - but at least it happened at a point in the year when they can adapt and alter the offence to suit what they do have.

    The O-line has been fantastic this year - in no small part to a long over-due run of good luck on the injury front (touch wood). We have been able to keep this unit together nearly all year (9 combinations of personnel compared to 39 last year!) and the consistency has helped a young unit. Andrews at centre can be over-powered by big DT's but is a good communicator and does his job well - Mason and Thuney (rookie) have been out standing at the guard position as have Solder and Cannon at tackle.

    The defence has developed really well as the season has progressed - fans were tearing their collective hair out early season as mediocre QB's moved the ball with ease but that has not been the case for some weeks now - its the best D in terms of PPG, but also excels at 3rd down D (4th in the NFL) and even yards per game we are 8th.

    All of this after trading both Chandler Jones and Jamie Collins - two players who many Pats fans thought would be centre-pieces to the D for many years. The acquisitions of Van Noy from Detriot and McClellin from Chicago has really helped - those aren't elite athletes but they do their job well.

    The DBs have come on as the year as moved along - Butler (outstanding) now has a few viable partners at CB2 and CB3 - Rowe (another trade from Philly) and Ryan have really picked their games up.

    That's about it for now.

    Cheers.
     
  2. Fin-O

    Fin-O Initiated Club Member

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    Here's to hoping our game next week is meaningless.

    Why have we turned it around? Despite a plethora of key injuries on both sides of the ball? His name is Adam Gase...and he has changed the mentality of this team from "here we go again" to "pull together and win this". This team with the injuries from a talent standpoint is not to far from 2015's. What has changed is the losers mentality.

    Being a Pats fan you should know plenty about how important the culture is....you guys GIVE away Pro Bowlers and get better.

    Are we going to go deep into the playoffs? I doubt it. But in 2017? You guy's may have to hop off that throne you have consumed for so many years, because while it is exciting to think what we are doing now?? It's even more exciting to think what the future holds with one of the youngest rosters in the NFL.

    Good Luck in the SB this year!
     
  3. Kud_II

    Kud_II Realist Division

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    Miami has a better chance to beat the Patriots now than they did in week 2. It depends on which offense controls the ball, and which defense can create turnovers. I'm a little concerned about AJayi's shoulder. I don't think he will be getting 30-some carries this week again.

    Expect to see more of Kenyan Drake and Damien Williams. I'm certainly concerned about the Pats marching down the field on us with our defense looking like swiss cheese against Fluffalo most of the game.
     
    smckenna3 likes this.
  4. TheOne

    TheOne Active Member

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    Is Gase a better coach than Belichick bo but Gase has one thing on him, He was able to get something out of Tebow. :up:
     
  5. LITP

    LITP Active Member

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    Thanks man.

    Once you are in the playoffs - anything can happen! Quite a few 6 seeds have won it all in the last decade or so.

    Patriots are also pretty young - the AFCE gets a bad rap from crybabies in other divisions - the Patriots have had a harder time in the division than out of it - they've owned the AFCN for many years now and the AFCS are awful across the board.
     
    Tin Indian and Fin-O like this.
  6. LITP

    LITP Active Member

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    I don't know about that - the Patriots got a nice postseason win out of Tebow when we played Denver a few years back ;)
     
  7. TheOne

    TheOne Active Member

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    Well played......... :knucks:
     
    LITP likes this.
  8. Vinny Fins

    Vinny Fins Feisty Brooklyn dolfan ️‍

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    thats very festive
     
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  9. Dolphins1Beatles

    Dolphins1Beatles Ziggy Stardust

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    Regardless the game won't be meaningless completely. Patriots still have to play for #1 seed, can't assume Oakland will lose without Carr. Same for Miami - if KC wins and Phins clinch tonight, can't assume they'll beat San Diego which means Dolphins will be playing for 5th seed still. Both Oak-Den and KC-SD are 4pm games I assume? Dolphins-Pats could be flexed to 4, though if both are clinched it may stay at 1pm.
     
  10. Fin D

    Fin D Sigh

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    Good point, let me help:

    It's comical how full of s**t all Patriots fans are. Stay off our forums....
    [​IMG]
    And god bless us, everyone!














    Just kidding I thought the Pats OP was good and respectful.
     
    Disnardo and GARDENHEAD like this.
  11. Bumrush

    Bumrush Stable Genius Club Member

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    It's comical that you haven't been banned yet.. First for your WWE handle, second for this horsesh*t attack.
     
    Steve-Mo, Fin-O and LITP like this.
  12. Fin-O

    Fin-O Initiated Club Member

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    The WWE handle should've been enough.
     
  13. Zeke0123

    Zeke0123 message board ******* Club Member

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    It would be nice to have a Non Troll from another AFCE team...welcome to the board and hopefully a lot of good FOOTBALL talk will ensue.
     
    LITP likes this.
  14. Zeke0123

    Zeke0123 message board ******* Club Member

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    In answer to your question.. the Coaching....top to bottom is better. Gase (Obviously) Vance J and Clyde C have all done tremendous work on their respective units. Jim Washburn has also done a bang up job on the pass rush and implementation of the Wide 9 we now run.
     
    LITP likes this.
  15. PhinsMondayNitro

    PhinsMondayNitro Active Member

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    You're right it's thePats.com my bad.
     
  16. Im all for sitting him out this week now that we clinched. Being able to run in the post seadon on the road in open weather stadiums is a big deal. Rest him up.

    Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk
     
    dolphin25 and Kud_II like this.
  17. PhinFan1968

    PhinFan1968 To 2020, and BEYOND! Club Member

    Not to be rude, or disrespectful, but if I wanted info about the Cheatriots (nothing against you, that's all I call them), I'd visit a Cheatriots board.

    You seem cooler than the trolls that show up here, so really, no offense intended, but IDGAF about that team...this is a Dolphins board.
     
    GARDENHEAD and The Mad Hatter like this.
  18. KeyFin

    KeyFin Well-Known Member

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    I'm sorry that some people are jerks here, but you have to understand that we really hate the Pats. I mean, come on, they get caught cheating in the playoffs two games in a row...first with illegal formations/quick snaps and then with deflated footballs. And before anyone says that they could have won without cheating...that makes the cheating 10x worse. It's a black eye on the entire league. As Dolphins fans, our greatest joy comes when someone knocks the cheating Pats out of the playoffs each season.
     
  19. MikeHoncho

    MikeHoncho -=| Censored |=-

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    Wow. You must really be fun at parties.
     
    Tin Indian likes this.
  20. Tin Indian

    Tin Indian Rockin' The Bottom End Club Member

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    I'm all for respectful discussion with fans from other teams visiting the board. A great many have come by over the years and have been great to banter with some. The trolls need to stay the hell away though. Funny how that seems to be most always Jets fans. NOT!
     
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  21. PhinsMondayNitro

    PhinsMondayNitro Active Member

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    My dude.
     
  22. The Mad Hatter

    The Mad Hatter New Member

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    I" happily toast to this!
     
  23. keypusher

    keypusher Well-Known Member

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    I think Gase may be the first coach in this millennium who is less demonstrative on the sideline than Belichick.
     
  24. MikeHoncho

    MikeHoncho -=| Censored |=-

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    Jim Caldwell has that look of unwavering horror on his face. Does he count?


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
    keypusher likes this.

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