"I've been impressed with how sharp he has looked in his first two starts," said an AFC scout. "He is getting the ball out on time, and even looks likes he has more zip on his passes." The key to Pennington's expected resurgence can be attributed to offensive coordinator Dan Henning. As part of the Jets' coaching staff who selected Pennington with the 18th overall selection in 2000, Henning is well aware of his signal-caller's strengths as a player and will cater his offense to fit Pennington's best attributes. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/bucky_brooks/08/28/buzz/index.html?eref=T1
Good read. Very excited about the upcoming season! Now the real games start and the defenses will start utilizing every trick in the book to get after us. On the other hand, so will we. I think opening up with the Jets will be a great way to start. Yeah they know Pennington but he also knows them. Here to shocking the NFL world and beating the jets opening day!!!!
I honestly believe we beat the Jets next week. Never underestimate the power of the Dolphins homefield advantage in September. We know Favre's record in cold weather games is fantastic, but what about games when the game time temperature is 95 degrees with 90% humidity? It's hard for anyone to bet against the Dolphins when they're home in September and I don't think this year will be any different. Remember when the Broncos came to South Florida on Week 1 a few years back? By the 4th quarter they were just worn out and JT exploited that by running back a fumble for a TD in the closing seconds.
One thing you also can't forget, Favre grew up in southern Mississippi, where the heat and humidity is practically identical to Miami's!
No doubt a majority of the guys on that roster have experienced the heat before, probably half of them played in climates similar to that of Miami during their college careers. That said, something must be said about not experiencing the effects of the heat for a whole offseason, and then to come down and play a tough, physical and hungry football team (the type of team we haven't seen around these parts in a few years). It will wear on the Jets both mentally and physically and by the 4th quarter, I see us controlling the game.
I agree but Brett isn't some rookie whos scarred to play the big game. Brett has alot riding on this as well. If he loses to the Dolphins NY media will have a field day bashing him and the Pennington loss. Brett will play his heart out. The heat will not be that big of an issue and Im not sure it will be as hot this year it seems cooler earlier this year already! What we need to hope is come the 4th quarter we have not already shot ourselves in the foot. That our rookies and older free agents are fresh and not winded themselves. We always seem to start out strong and by the forth quarter we get beat down physically along the lines. lets hope Ronnie and Ricky and the Oline can run all day and use Pennington to keep them honest. Clock control is the way to win. I see a TON of run's and sweeps from this offense. 4-5 yard plays to keep the chains moving and long drives.. I would love this. Our team gains so much confidence knowing they can move the ball and not having to rely on a long ball miss match to win games..
At home in September? I think our all-time record would have something to say about that. I agree that we have to play a clean football game if we expect to win. I'm not saying we're more talented than the Jets by any stretch of the imagination. I do, however, believe the Jets have not played a Dolphins team in recent memory as tough and as physical as the team they'll see next weekend. Maybe I'm way off base here, but I think the homefield advantage has always been a huge factor in September and will continue to be next weekend...
Honestly I hope we beat the Jets I just think our secondary is the weakest position. I think Favre rips us for 3 TD's. I think we will keep it close until the 4 QT, 17-28 Jets
We need to play keep away and eat the clock. That need to be our strategy all season long. We have the right offense to pull it off.
Time to make sure that we wear the white jerseys and they get to wear their green jerseys in that heat. I don't think anything would wear the Jets down more than a well executed short-passing game with plenty of running in between. If we can even get a FG and complete a 6-7 minute drive to start the game we've already set ourselves up well. Their defense will be beat up like crazy by the end of the game.
From what I have read over at the Jets board the team still has difficulty stopping the run and running the ball. If that carries over into the regular season that will bode very well for Miami come week 1.
If we beat the Jets I would sure like to hear what is said on the Jets board. If Favre has a bad year in NY he might decide to retire again. I like our chances at home but you just never know. There has been a dark cloud hanging over this franchise for a long time, lets hope there are now clear skies and not a cloud in sight.
I dont want to jinx anything but I seriously think that we will win this one. The heat, Favre not being there long, home game... and CP knowing that D like the back of his hand... Of course, you can argue they 'know' him too but ask Marino if Byars betraying us and giving the Pats all the signals back then made a difference or not? CP over here is on a new offense (more or less) so they may know his physical limitations but they dont know his signals etc. However I bet CP knows the Jets defensive calls quite well. In the end, later on in the year we might not win up there when the tables are turned...but for this first game...we have a better than average chance to win it.
Good read. I think that Henning's offense is a part of Pennington's resurgence as the article mentions but what they didn't mention is the new throwing motion that Pennington continues to bring up. Pennington was asked about his weak arm and he said that its not that big of a deal. With the new throwing motion, he is able to add mor zip to the ball and add a bit more power to it. I think that is a positive because the ball comes faster which is possibly a higher rate of completion percentage. I think you'll be surprised with the secondary. Barring injury, they could be a good bunch. Jason Allen may play nickel at times if needed. Joey Thomas may be able to make some plays as the fourth CB. Lehan will be healthy eventually and Goodman's back. I believe Renaldo Hill could play the CB spot as well. I think our weakest position is the Tight Ends and possibly OL. The OL lacks depth and even when they do add players via waiver wire, they are likely to be inexperienced so they may have trouble adjusting to the game for a period. The Tight Ends have players who haven't done much in their careers thus far. Fasano gets his first starting gig while Martin drops all the balls and the third spot is up in the air. Not Dolphins related but was in the article, they talked about Shawne Merriman possibly not returning to SD in 2010. I don't expect him to. They just gave Jyles Tucker a new deal and I don't see them paying Merriman money when he has a career threatening injury. He needs reconstructive knee surgery (like Culpepper did I think) and his career may go down the drain after this season because he played instead of going for the surgery.
If we are talking about starters and who is the weakest on the team it's the #2 CB spot with Goodman. If we're talking about overall units, the TEs are fairly weak. The depth on the OL is pitiful but the starters are probably the best we've had since 02.
Yeah, I was going by overall unit for the TE's. As for depth, its OL imo. Probably should have worded my post better, my bad.
