What a game! This was without a doubt the most fun preseason game I've attended. Last year's Dolphins/Saints final preseason game was a snoozefest. The game itself was great, but since the place was maybe 50% full, I was able to sneak down to about the 10th row behind the Dolphins bench, around the 30 yard line. Here are my observations from that vantage point: 1. Jake Long and Merling are huge human beings. At one point, Long was standing next to Camarillo and it reminded me of that famous picture of Muggsy Bogues and Manute Bol. Another time, Merling was standing next to Jason Ferguson and Merling looked just as huge as Ferguson. Granted, their backs were to me, and I couldn't see Ferguson's gut, but you get the picture. This team has gotten bigger and you gotta think this philosophy will continue. 2. Chad Henne is all business. When Pennington was in there, he wasn't joshing around. He was very serious when he was warming up. TCB, baby. 3. This team really cared about winning this game. After the Saints went up 10-0, Jake Long was visibly pissed off. He went up to a few guys on offense and punched their pads, as if to say, "let's get it done!"...and they did! It was nice to witness this rookie show some true leadership. 4. After the TE #89 (don't know his name) made that great catch for the TD, I believe he stayed on the field for the PAT. When the PAT was over, the entire sideline mobbed him. It seemed like everybody patted him on the helmet, offense and defense alike. 5. Right before the Saints fumble in the 4th qtr, some Saints backup ran the ball for about 10-15 yards, and Sparano walked over to Parmalee, who was sitting by himself on the bench, and yelled at him something to the effect of "see, that's how you run the ball." Nice to see the head man go the extra mile to coach up the rookie. Instead of ripping his D-line, he used the run to encourage his 4th string RB. and finally.... 6. Matt Roth...what can I say, he was a beast tonight. And I've been a big doubter of this guy. That first sack we had was all cause of him. Even though he didn't make the tackle, he killed the LT on that play and everybody on the sideline knew it. He went to the bench and had a conversation with two other D-linemen and showed them the technique he used to blow by the o-lineman. At the end of the game, when most of the Saints fans were gone, I moved down to the first row, right behind the bench and when Roth turned towards the crowd to grab a gatorade I yelled, "Roth, great game, man!" He looked at me and pumped his fist. ps-Tomorrow marks the 3rd anniversary of Katrina. I hope you all take a minute to think about the people who died from the rising waters, the people whose homes were destroyed, and the people who spent days without food and water in the Superdome and outside of the convention center. Hopefully the local, state, and federal governments have learned from their mistakes, cause there were plenty of them from all parties involved. pps- GO DOLPHINS!!!! I was already psyched for the season to start. Now, I'm going nuts. Beat the stinking jets!!!!!!!!!
Great read man. Thanks for the little sideline stuff we don't get on film, like the jake long motivation, and roth on the sideline. Hope all the people have gotten back to a good way of life after katrina, what a terrible event.
Awesome post!!!! This is the kind of field reporting we need in the South Florida media!!! Skip all the fluff and spin, just plain good observation of Dolphins football. I wish Roth would give me a fist pump. Im jealous!!!!
I really appreciate you letting us know what the players and Sparano were up to on the sidelines. That's something you can't get from TV, really. Particularly happy to hear about Long's leadership and Henne's focus.
From what I saw the best player on the field might have been Sedrick Ellis. As good as Keith Rivers may end up being, I wonder if the Bengals missed the boat by not trading up to get him, as the Saints did to get in position ahead of Cincinnatti. Ellis is the kind of physical presence that the Bengals need to stop them from getting knocked silly by the Steelers. Then again, maybe Pat Sims works out for them and Domata Peko gets better.
Great post! Thanks for giving your personal input on things and a fan's eye view from the sidelines. Almost makes me feel like I was there. As for Katrina, one can only hope and pray that the mistakes were learned from and Gustav doesn't bear a repeat of that tragedy.
Thanks for the great post. The folks in that area would be proud of you for bringing up the thought of how they've suffered since Katrina...Thank you.... BTW, on a side note, your thoughts and opinions of the game were fantastic also...
Thank you all for the kind words. Here's a few details that I forgot to include: 1. Channing Crowder was talking smack to the New Orleans fans the entire game. Even when we were down 10-0. 2. Some jerk in front of me was wearing a jets favre jersey. I can't shake these stinking jets fans. 3. Ricky was heartily booed by the Saints fans when his name was announced. 4. jets suck 5. Bess is fast in person.
Yeah, watched it on TV last night and I've got to say, contrary to my post in your previous thread, THAT game looked like it would have been worth going to. The Saints broadcast team, although, obviously, their focus was on the Saints, was pretty complimentary of the Phins. Please remember us on the Mississippi Gulf Coast as well who suffered ever bit as much as anyone in New Orleans, sustained more actual storm damage (as opposed to engineering failure), yet were overlooked due to all the attention on New Orleans.
