Tonight was the first chance I'd had to watch this team live. Here's my quick hits on the game. What I Liked Offensive Line - The starting offensive line played the majority of the snaps, and looked good doing so. They paved the way for over 150 yards on the ground. Good stuff. I thought Jake Long did really well against Hali for the majority of the game, and the fact that Glenn Dorsey did nothing speaks well of Satele. Special Teams - Seeing Ginn take it to the house on a punt return was nice. We had a turnover on another punt return that got called back by penalty, but it was still a great play. Bess had a nice return as well. I think he has a spot on this team, particularly with his catches later in the game. He's a highlight every time he touches the ball. Defensive Line - We got pressure on the quarterback early and often. As a team we ended up with 5 total sacks. Matt Roth looked comfortable coming off the edge - more on that later. Jason Ferguson was a man in the middle. Series of the game for me was the goal line stop in the third quarter, when the Chiefs sent their best runner - Larry Johnson - right into the teeth of our defense, and our defense didn't break. Sums up the attitude of this team well, I think. What I Didn't Like Penalties - We're still committing way too many penalties. On the bright side, they were all of the 5 yard variety, but 9 penalties is too many, even for a preseason game. I'm hoping this is because of all our new players, but it's an alarming trend that needs to stop. Turnovers - I didn't like the Henne pick, and I liked the late-game fumble less. Beck will take some heat for the fumble, but this one probably wasn't his fault, although it just seems like bad things happen when he's in the game. Guy can't catch a break to save his life. Who Stood Out Aside from folks I already mentioned (Long, Bess), I thought we had standout efforts from several other players as well. Matt Roth - I thought Matt Roth stood out as a playmaker at OLB. He may surprise us and do really well there. He didn't record a sack, but he applied constant pressure to the QB and picked up the fumble on the Crowder strip. Ted Ginn - Ginn looked great catching the ball, and even better on the punt return. Ginn is going to be asked to shoulder the load as our #1 receiving option, he looked like he was up to the task tonight. Chad Pennington - 11/15 with 94 yards and a touchdown. More importantly, he looked like a leader out on the field. Pennington is probably our best QB since Marino, at least he looked that way tonight. His experience in the huddle should help lend a calming influence to all of the young players on offense. Jalen Parmale - I'd venture to say that Parmale probably made the team, not on the strength of the 80 yard spurt, but on the strength of the effort he put forth on the goal line. He's a tough runner, and at the end of the day he has more upside than Cobbs. Really liked what I saw out of him tonight. Who Didn't Stand Out Justin Peelle - Peelle didn't do a lot to distinguish himself tonight, committing a penalty that erased a special teams turnover and making zero effort to go after a Chad Henne pass in the end zone. Not his best effort. Ernest Wilford - I didn't even see Wilford make a play out there tonight. I mentioned this in the game thread, but I'll say it again. This regime has already shown a willingness to tinker when it comes to position. Wilford has decent size, can block, and has some red zone skills. Given how poorly he's played at WR, maybe we try him at TE to see if he can be a receiving threat there. May as well try that, because otherwise I think he may be getting cut. Overall thoughts The effort out there was outstanding tonight. The first half was about the best I've seen a Miami team play, particularly in the last few years. Great effort from nearly everyone on the team, up and down the roster. There were a few minor quibbles, but if the team plays like this in the regular season, as fans we're in for a treat. Don't sleep on this team. If they can continue to grind it out on the ground and wreak havoc on defense they will be in a lot of games. Granted, this effort came against the Chiefs, a team in search of their own identity, but still, nice to see us come out with this kind of effort.
I have to disagree with the Peelle assesment I hope he sticks on the team. He caught the CP throw should have been a touchdown. I like him over Martin but I know we will probally keep Martin and Fasano. I hope there is room to keep Peelle as well if we keep three.
Not that play - I agree it should have been a TD - the play where Henne threw a pick. I thought his effort on that was less than solid. He's a TE, no way a DB should win against him in a fight for the ball.
That goal line stand was nice the cheap variety that was first and goal from inside the 5. roth did look good, looked faster than i expected. I still hope good things for Peele because I like his overall play.
Good call. Crowder was all over the field. He deserves credit for the strip of Croyle and the Roth fumble recover. I'm telling you, if Roth sticks at OLB, we've got the makings of a nice LB core.
Totally agree about the whole dline including Merl, langs and starks. Can't friggin wait till tomorrow am for some replay on NFL network.
I agree with everything said. The only thing I have to add is this: IT'S NICE TO BE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HIGHLIGHT REEL THIS YEAR!
Couldn't have said it better myself...thanks...and yes, it is good to be on this side of the highlight reels...
