Dolphins Watch: 15 Days
August 26th, 2017
New Dolphins DC Matt Burke has inherited a shaky pass defense.
Yeah, two preseason games remain for the Bucs, but it’s all about opening day on Sunday, Sept. 10, against Miami in South Florida. Daily, Joe will bring you a nugget to two on the Dolphins to prime you for the big day (and/or the night before). Of course, Joe watched a good chunk of the Dolphins-Eagles preseason game Thursday night.
The closer we get to Sept. 10, the more Joe’s mouth waters. Never mind the Dolphins had to turn to bratty Jay Cutler after Ryan Tannehill went down with a knee injury in training camp. Just look at the Dolphins defense, specifically the pass defense.
The Dolphins were not that great in pass defense last year. The Dolphins were 18th overall allowing 242 yards per game in the air and also 18th in the NFL in total passing yards allowed with 3,875. The Bucs were in the middle of the pack at No. 16 in passing yards per game at 245.4.
So just on paper, this seems a standoff, right? Well, no. First, smart Evan Silva of Rotoworld.com is no fan of the back-seven for the Dolphins and their pass defense. Second, the Dolphins’ first-team pass defense was lit up by the Eagles on Thursday night. Carson Wentz was 6-for-10 for 129 yards and two touchdowns.
Then when you factor in the Bucs added DeSean Jackson and O.J. Howard and Chris Godwin to go along with Pro Bowl receiver Mike Evans and the man who led the NFL in touchdowns for a tight end, Cam Brate, well, this has Joe rubbing his hands together at the thought of lighting up the Dolphins.
Joe doubts Cutler can win a shootout with America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston.
August 26th, 2017 at 7:23 am
I do think it will be a slug fest………I’m worried about our O-line holding enough time from that fierce dolphins D-line…….they’re really good…….NO QB will perform well with pressure in their face.
It may come down to the run game if both QBs get harassed all game long. SUH will be looking to hurt Jameis cause he knows he’s the key to winning the game cause lord knows our run game is suspect and the dolphins has the edge over us in the run game.
August 26th, 2017 at 7:52 am
Fins are going down game 1.
August 26th, 2017 at 7:57 am
Not a betting man, but my heart tells me 28-10 Bucs.
August 26th, 2017 at 8:03 am
Forget ‘bratty Cutler’. Dolphins went 10-6 last year & made the playoffs … without a very good passing game. They rushed for over 100 yds in 6 games last yr … and WON all 6. Bucs will need to shut down the run first, then make Cutler try to beat them with the passing game.
August 26th, 2017 at 8:15 am
This is sounding more and more like a TRAP game…and it’s the first game of the season.
August 26th, 2017 at 8:23 am
Their lines (o-line and d-line) scare me. A weak secondary for the fins won’t mean anything if Winston a) doesn’t have time to throw because there are people in his face and b) never sees the field because the dolphins are running the ball all over us.
That being said, this game will be a good measuring stick for our updated lines. I can’t wait to see Sweezy and Marpet pancake Suh and what happens when Swaggy and GMC get on it and push Pouncy back to Lakeland!
Ugh, I wish the game was this weekend. Let’s Go BUCS!!!
August 26th, 2017 at 9:01 am
Koetter is not going to use Oj and Godwin much in the passing offense beginning of the year…stagnet offense similar to 2016 with 3/4 low percentage bombs to Djax
Time consuming 5/7 step drop patterns and miami front 7 chasing jameis all game long
*our off line will be exposed. D smith is not a nfl starting lt
*no pass rush
*no pass coverage. Secondary exposed all game
*this game will be a beatdown and coaches need to address the lineup and scheme to resurrect the season
Miami wins 28-13
August 26th, 2017 at 9:28 am
D.R.
That 10-6 was largely smoke and mirrors and not as impressive as our 9-7.
They had at most two quality wins…an impressive pounding of Pittsburgh..and they squeaked by a talented Arizona team…after that…meh.
Lost four of their first five and the “win” was in OT against the mighty Brownies.
Wins against Buffalo and the J E T S simply do not impress me.
If you look at “records” and direction…like us the Dolphins did improve from a horrid 2015 and so they are headed in the right direction. On paper this game is incredibly interesting because it’s two teams that “on paper” are in the same points of their growth curve.
I’m with Joe however. We’ve just added too much firepower. And I think our Defense is underrated.
I gotta go with Rick’s prediction. And I see Kobe’s prediction…when has he been right and I get even more confident.
August 26th, 2017 at 9:57 am
ST pete
no matter what position lineman, Hawley is our 2nd best lineman
Ali and Hawley combo from last year is better than only ali by himself
*absolutely no lineman recovering from back surguery was productive the next year. sweezy is damaged goods and that back wont last
OJ will be on the line blocking to help out Dsmith because end of the year, WE ALL WILL KNOW, he isnt a starter at LT
once you get beside of Dsmith, he is done. doesnt/wont have recovering feet quickness
August 26th, 2017 at 10:05 am
Without a back 7 I dont care how good your line is or ONE player HAS BEEN.
See recent Bucs history. This game could go either way.
Either the Bucs Blow them out or the Bucs squeak out a victory. Chances are the Fins realize real quick who Cuttler really is.
If by some chance they get the full potential that Jay has. Well than it might swing in their favor and we lose one late.
BUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If that looks to be the case…. I’m calling it right now…. GMC will get a sack fumble and recovery late to ice the game and the rest of the year the TROLLS will be fighting to convince everyone that one play is not enough…. Although its not the flashy plays that makes a guy an ALL PRO…
LOL, Trolls are like pimples… Annoying but fun to pop….
August 26th, 2017 at 10:26 am
Kobe
Hawley is not our second best lineman…nobody with the Bucs or any other NFL team would agree with that assessment.
D. Smith is not nearly as bad as you portray him. He has started every game in his first two years in the league at a position that after QB is the toughest to master. If he truly succkkked the Bucs would have made a move.
LT is an incredibly difficult position to master…it’s why LT’s get the big bucks.
D. Smith is coming along just fine.
August 26th, 2017 at 10:45 am
D smith can try to master all he wants, but he just doesnt have the foot speed to recover….wont have it for the next 10 years or forever
however, i agree like a few have posted, Dsmith can be hell of a guard
2016 defense personnel is better than 2017 defensive roster
Ryan Smith does not belong on a nfl game
August 26th, 2017 at 1:54 pm
Perhaps, but most don’t “get beside” him. Would like to know how many tackles, if a defensive end gets by them, can recover? Given the speed of defensive ends, bet it’s pretty close to zero.
Go ahead and look at all the stud right defensive ends Donovan Smith faced his rookie season and then count how many sacks they got on him. (Wasn’t many.)
Of course, once people get feces in their heads planted by the PFF tribe, logic and facts don’t matter. For example, have yet to hear from anyone remotely connected to the NFL suggest Donovan Smith is a guard. Yet frauds who break down TV broadcast tape from their dorm rooms in Ireland who have zero clue what the offensive line call was knows better. smh
August 26th, 2017 at 2:04 pm
Ranking defenses by yards allowed is kind of pointless.
What matter is points allowed. Yards don’t show up on the scoreboard.