Dolphins Throw It Away, Drop to Saints
MIA staff: Please, please stop with Tedd Ginn, "receiver"
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"Whoopsie! Did I do that?"
There was so much going right for the Dolphins against the undefeated Saints. They followed their game plan -- come out fast, run the ball, bring the pressure, jump ahead -- nearly perfectly and forced the Saints to play from behind for the first time all season.
Three touchdowns behind, even.
New Orleans made adjustments at the half, of course, and their offense started to resemble its shiny self again. Still, no problemo, because the Dolphins were scoring themselves, doing what they did to get there.
But only until the fourth quarter. That's when Tony Sparano and Dan Henning ignored everything known to be true about these Dolphins, abandoned the run, and tried to win the game on the hands of receivers who've been a big disappointment all season long.
What?
Consider the first half: The Dolphins ran 20 running plays, carving out a 21-point lead until a last-minute blown time-out let the Saints narrow the gap to 14.
In the second, they ran just 8, and were outscored 34-10.
And when it mattered most, in the crucial first drives of the 4th quarter, the Dolphins switched gears and didn't score at all. They entered the final fifteen minutes with a 10-point lead, and after Reggie Bush chipped that to 3 in the opening drive, this is how the Dolphins answered:
1st and 10 at MIA 20 C.Henne pass incomplete deep right to D.Bess.
2nd and 10 at MIA 20 C.Henne pass incomplete short right to D.Bess.
3rd and 10 at MIA 20 C.Henne pass incomplete deep middle to T.Ginn.
The Saints immediately scored again, though Dan Carney missed the extra point, and all Miami needed was a field goal to keep it close. Again, they figured to throw:
1st and 10 at MIA 20 C.Henne pass incomplete short middle to J.Haynos.
2nd and 10 at MIA 20 R.Brown pass incomplete deep left to A.Fasano.
3rd and 10 at MIA 20 C.Henne pass incomplete short left to B.Hartline.
The third drive featured only passing plays, another dropped pass by Ted Ginn, and Henne's second pick six; the fourth had one run in 9 and fizzled out with time. Meanwhile, the Saints notched 22.
It makes sense to pass once behind; you've got to get down the field, and quickly. The first two drives of the 4th, however, are inexcusable. The Dolphins have the best rushing offense in the league, with the best rushing tandem in the league, and that offense was winning. Not responding to New Orleans with their best chance for moving the ball -- and depending on Ted Ginn in any way -- is quite possibly the strangest move the staff could have made.
And it cost them big.
Notes: New Orleans was handed its first failed opening drive of the year. Cornerback Will Allen is out for the season (knee), leaving two rookie cornerbacks to carry the Dolphins in his place. Ted Ginn caught just 2 of the 8 passes thrown his way, and bobbled one for an INT. The Dolphins were again exploited by a tight end: Jeremy Shockey caught 4 passes for 105 yards, one of which went 66 with Gibril Wilson running alongside. Nate Jones, in perhaps his best game as a Dolphin, intercepted Drew Brees by ripping the ball from Marques Colston's hands in the end zone. Chad Henne finished 18/36 with 211 yds, no TDs and two INTs; Drew Brees went 22/38 for 298, one TD, and 3 INTs. Ricky Williams' 3-TD game was his first since 2000, and his 68-yard score was a career long. Jason Taylor notched his 24th 2-sack game.
Janie Campbell believes in ballpark hot dogs, the pro-set, and AQUIRING A GOSH DARN ACTUAL RECEIVER IN A TRADE. Oh, it's too late? SIGH. Her work has appeared in irreverent sports sites around the Internet.
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Posted Monday, Oct 26, 2009 - 5:26 AM EST
