Dallas Deja Vu

November 28, 2010

For the fourth time in the last five games, the Miami Heat lost once again. However, this loss - 106-95 to the Dallas Mavericks - had a much different meaning to it than any of the last three losses.

First off, the Heat have lost 13 consecutive games to the Mavericks, which is never a fun streak to carry. But this was the first loss against the Mavs since the acquisitions of LeBron James, Chris Bosh and company.

With that said, Mavs owner Mark Cuban had some not-so-nice remarks for the Heat just over a week before the two teams met, casting yet another a cloud of negativity over the much maligned Heat squad. That made the November 27th match-up one that the Heat should have marked on their calendar as a statement game.

Clearly, the message was not delivered as the Heat fell to 9-8 for the season. In the process Miami fell to a 19-point deficit and shot under 17% for the third quarter. That's where deja vu kicks in.

A Turning Point?

Let's go back to February 9, 2006.

The Heat played the Mavericks in Dallas, entering the game with an above average 30-19 record. By the end of the game Miami would leave Texas with their 20th loss of the season and the worst taste of defeat they had been dealt:

A 36-point loss with the final score of 76-112.

After the game, veteran guard Gary Payton asked Coach Pat Riley and his teammates what needed to be done in order to fix their problems. The answer: Greater desire to win.

Miami went on to finish the remainder of the season 22-10 and posted a final record of 52-30. The rest is history as the Heat won their first ever NBA title. As fate would have it, the Heat defeated the Mavs in the NBA Finals.

In essence, that painful loss was the turning point in Miami's season and marked the beginning of their magical 2006 Championship run.

Now how does this fit into today's Heat team and their circumstances?

Different Circumstances, Same Goal

While Saturday night's loss was not nearly as horrendous as the '06 shellacking, there is one thing that ties today's situation in Miami with the one four years ago: The goal to win it all.

Both Heat teams had the expectation to win, and to win big. The '06 roster boasted stars Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O'Neal along with veterans like Payton, Antoine Walker, James Posey, Alonzo Mourning and Jason Williams. Similarly, today's team has plenty of notable characters that were assembled to bring home the title.

While the media hype and nature of the team's assembly differ greatly, the fact that each team underperformed their high expectations creates a parallel.

Will Miami take their eighth loss of the year as a driving factor toward changing course, just like they did four years ago? We can't say that.

But sooner or later this team - whose core was assembled under the ideals of camaraderie, passion and fun - will mark the line where the buck stops.

Let's hope that line was marked Saturday night in Dallas.

Hot Points: Updates on the Miami Heat

November 23, 2010

Standing at 8-6, the Miami Heat continue to switch things up in search for stability on the court. Here are the latest developments surrounding the team:

• Erick Dampier is a physical exam away from becoming the newest Heat member; the team waived Jerry Stackhouse earlier today to make room on the roster.

• Udonis Haslem went under the knife Tuesday morning to repair the torn ligaments in his left foot; a timetable for his return has not been set, but predictions point towards the All-Star Break. 

• While Mike Miller wishes to return in time for the Heat's December 25 match-up versus the Los Angeles Lakers, more realistic reports have him jumping back to action in January.

• Head Coach Erick Spoelstra on Dexter Pittman getting playing time: ``He could. We talked about him [Monday] in the coaches' meeting. He's getting better. He's in very good shape. He looks like a totally different player. Keep playing that way, eventually, he'll get his opportunity.'' (Source: The Miami Herald)

• Spoelstra on Chalmers spot on the team: "He's a 10th man right now and it depends on the game. I told him he's not guaranteed of coming in every game. The other nine guys pretty much are, and depending on the opponent and the flow of the game, at times we'll be able to work him in." (Source: The Sun-Sentinel)
  

Miami's Plan After Haslem

November 22, 2010

In an awkward and unexpected fashion, Udonis Haslem fell to injury during Sunday's loss at Memphis, tearing ligaments in his foot in the process. Timetables predicting his return have ranged from six weeks to multiple months (some sources point 'til after the All-Star Break).

With that said, the Heat will have to fend without their enforcer in the middle for a significant amount of time. So, what's their plan to sure up an already suspect front court? We weigh in.

Miami's Options

There are only three options any organization can take to improve their rotation: sign a free agent, make a trade or use a different rotation.

Given that there is little talent available at the four and five spots in the free agent market (there probably is a good reason why so many teams have passed on Erick Dampier), the first option becomes null and void. It's highly doubtful that free agents like Oleksiy Pecherov will fix the Heat's problems in the paint.

Moving on to the trade option, we find ourselves in a realm where Pat Riley is mastered in. However, given the early nature of the NBA season and the lack of availability for centers and forwards across the league, the current circumstances may be too challenging for even Riley to make a good move. Besides, who on the roster would Miami have to give up in order to acquire a bulky, physical presence down low?

Would Miami be willing to part ways with James Jones despite his drastically improved perimeter play? Would the under-performing Joel Anthony be placed on the trading block, and if so, who would want him? Does Mario Chalmers have any value in the market?

These are all questions that must be answered before any team considers a trade with Miami. And most importantly, if the answer is "yes" to any of these questions, who would be traded in exchange for them? It's difficult to imagine that someone of significantly greater skill than the big men currently on Miami's roster would become available.

Then again, Pat Riley did make something out of nothing just last season by trading Mark Blount for Quentin Richardson.

Beyond free agency and the trade market, Miami has a couple of in-house options they can test out. Arguably the widest bodies under contract in Miami can be found at the far end of the Heat bench game-in and game-out. One wears his clean Heat uniform, the other wears his fresh business suits. I'm talking about Jamaal Magloire and Dexter Pittman.

On one end you have a savvy veteran that is physical and unafraid to get rough with opposing big men in Magloire. On the other end you have a young 6-foot, 11-inch rookie that built his college reputation under the rim. In sum, you have a possible solution to your problem (in theory at least).

Conclusion

Miami should give Magloire and Pittman an enhanced role on the team and give each an opportunity to prove their worth to the team. If that fails, then looking at outside options via trade will be the next best decision.

The absence of Haslem will be detrimental to this team and the coaching staff understands that. Thus, we can expect some sort of move to be made in the coming days and weeks.

Uggla-Marlins Saga Ends in Trade

November 16, 2010

It was bound to happen. After Dan Uggla turned down the Florida Marlins' four-year, $48 million contract offer, the All-Stat second baseman sent the Fish a clear message: I want out.

Today, the Marlins made a deal with their division rival Atlanta Braves in a trade that sent Uggla to Atlanta in exchange for IF Omar Infante and P Mike Dunn.

Uggla will reunite with former coach Freddi Gonzalez, who was dubbed Atlanta's newest manager after Bobby Cox's retirement.

On the other end, the Marlins welcome more new faces to the team in Infante and Dunn, who join newcomers RP Ryan Webb, RP Edward Mujica (Cameron Maybin Trade to Padres) and RP Dustin Richardson (Andrew Miller trade to Red Sox).

Infante earned his first All-Star bid last season and posted a career-best .321 batting average. However, Infante is better known for his glove as opposed to his bat, which is a positive for a Marlins team that is notorious for lackluster defense. Beyond that, Infante serves as a utility man who can be a versatile piece in the Marlins' effort to improve their defense. (Note: The Fish brought back former coach Perry Hill earlier this month to reduce their abundant fielding woes).

Dunn survived his rookie season with a 2-0 record and 1.89 ERA as a reliever in 25 games. The 25-year old pitcher did not allow an earned run through his first 15.1 innings last season and pitched a total of 19 innings.

Catcher Position Addressed

The Marlins wasted no time in addressing other areas of need as they targeted and signed free agent catcher John Buck. The agreement is for a three-year deal but more detailed terms of the contract have not been released.

Buck has been in the Majors since 2005, playing with the Kansas City Royals for six of those seasons and with the Toronto Blue Jays for one. Last season, Buck had a breakout year with the Jays as he logged career-highs in home runs (20), RBIs (66) and batting average (.261).

Like Infante, Buck earned his first All-Star invitation last season as a result of his stellar play.

Dolphins Search for QB Candidates

November 15, 2010
Update: 11/16/10 @ 11:35 AM

The Miami Dolphins have officially signed veteran quarterback Patrick Ramsey. Ramsey was drafted in 2002 by the Washington Redskins and been an NFL journeyman during his eight year career. Miami will be Ramsey's eighth destination.

Jason La Canfora of NFL.com noted that the Dolphins brought in other QBs like Tom Brandstater, Tommy Grady, J.T. O'Sullivan and JaMarcus Russell for tryouts.

* * *

In one of the most bizarre NFL games in recent history, the Miami Dolphins suffered two potential season-ending injuries at the quarterback position while securing a 29-17 victory. Standing above .500, the Dolphins still have more questions than answers with their evolving QB dilemma.

Multiple candidates have been contacted to fill the void of back-up QB. Here are the names that have been tossed around:

• Patrick Ramsey
• JaMarcus Russell
• Tom Brandstater
• Chris Simms
• Daunte Culpepper
• Todd Bouman
• Colt Brennan

The Sun-Sentinel has compiled a brief profile of each QB which is worth reposting for Dol-Fans to see:

Patrick Ramsey
First round pick 2002 by Redskins out of Tulane
Has played for Skins, Jets, Broncos, Titans, Lions
35 career TDs, 30 INTs
Best season: 2003 with Redskins: 2,166 yards, 14TDs, 9INTs
Note: Spent the 2010 preseason with the Saints before he was waived in final cuts.

Chris Simms
In eighth season out of Texas, drafted by Bucs
Has played with Bucs, Titans and Broncos
12 career TDs, 18 INTs
Best Season 2005 with Bucs: 191-for-313, 2,035 yards 10TDs 7INTs
Noted: Released by Broncos in 2010 when Denver acquired Brady Quinn.


Jamarcus Russell
Drafted No. 1 by Raiders out of LSU in 2007
Played three seasons with Oakland
18 career TDs, 23 INTs
Best season 2008 with Raiders: 198-for-368, 2,423 yards 13TDs 8INTs
Notes: A grand jury in Alabama has declined to indict Russell of a drug charge. Russell was charged with felony possession of a controlled substance, a drink containing codeine syrup; Reported to have worked out recently for the Redskins.

Daunte Culpepper
Eleventh season out of Central Florida
Played for Vikings, Raiders, Lions and for Miami in 2006
149 career TDs, 106 INTs
Best season 2004 with Vikings: 379-for-548 4,717 yards, 39 TDs, 11INTs
Note: Three-time Pro Bowl quarterback currently is with the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League. Started four games for the Dolphins in 2006, with a 1-3 record; went 81-for-134 for 929 yards, 2TD and 2 INTS for Miami.

Todd Bouman
Eleventh season out of St. Cloud St.
Has played with Vikings, Saints, Packers, Rams, Ravens and twice with Jaguars
13 career TDs, 13 INTs
Best season: 2001 with Vikings: 51-for-89, 795 yards, 8TDs, 4INTs
Notes: Released Nov. 10 by Jacksonville; started Oct. 24 game with Jaguars after three days of practice; was 18-for-34 for 222 yards with 2TDs and 2INTs in 42-20 loss to Kansas City; Was on the tractor on Oct. 19 when the Jaguars called him to help replace injured quarterbacks, David Garrard and Trent Edwards.

Colt Brennan
Drafted by Redskins in the sixth round of the 2008 draft out of Hawaii
Last cut by Oakland Raiders; has made no regular season NFL appearances
Note: Holds the NCAA Division I record for most touchdown passes in a single season with 58.



Tom Brandstater
Drafted in the sixth round in 2009 by the Denver Broncos.
Cut by the Broncos; has made no regular season NFL appearances.

Looking to the Draft

Given that many of these candidates will be looked at as short-term options, the Dolphins will likely have to consider adressing the QB position in the upcoming NFL draft. Miami has not drafted a QB in the first round since they selected Dan Marino in the 1983. The reward of that selection exceeded all expectations as Marino went on to become a Hall of Famer. With a rare 2011 QB class loaded with talent, the Dolphins will have the best opportunity to acquire a franchise slinger (if that is the direction they wish to take).

Here are some of the college QBs worth looking at:

• Andrew Luck, Stanford (stats)
• Ryan Mallett, Arkansas (stats)
• Jake Locker, Washington (stats)

Dolphins in Mid-Season Crisis?

November 10, 2010

Ever heard of those stories about mid-aged men and women finding themselves with a sudden sense of self-doubt? In an epiphany, these individuals realize they are none too happy with the direction their life is headed toward and take drastic action to change that trajectory. This is a typical case of the midlife crisis.

In the case of the Miami Dolphins, their life is this season and their crisis is the mediocre 4-4 record they currently hold.

With a swift arm, Miami added a new member to their secondary in Al Harris, released an under-performing Jason Allen, benched starting QB Chad Henne and named seasoned veteran Chad Pennington the new starter. These are all moves that a team confident of their playoff chances would never make.

Despite the roster mix-up, the Dolphins made a statement that they still believe this season is not lost.

Had Miami given up on the season they would have let Henne finish the second half, earning or losing his spot as a starter next season.

Had Miami given up on this season they would have replaced Jason Allen with a more youthful defensive back, as opposed to a savvy veteran option.

Had Miami given up on this season they would have never chosen short-term solutions over long-term possibilities.

Implications of the Fins' Moves

To begin with, the addition of Harris and subtraction of Allen brings two major consequences - one good, one bad:

1. It adds a veteran presence (beyond Yeremiah Bell) to a mostly young core, which could add stability and lead to mentorship opportunities between Harris and Sean Smith, Vontae Davis, etc.
2. It puts Harris' health and physical capability to the test at his ripe age of 35 years old and coming off a severe knee injury (i.e. If Harris goes down, who will replace him?). 

Essentially, the Dolphins made a high risk, high reward transaction.

As for the quarterback situation, Miami made a safe move but also one that presents more questions than answers. Sure, Pennington is an accurate, game-managing QB that has established a mostly successful career and is capable of turning this season around. But what will the Dolphins do once Pennington's contract expires at season's end?

Do they re-sign Penny to yet another short-term contract and risk him getting injured at some point next season?

Do they reassess the Henne situation after doubting and abandoning his potential value? 

Do they settle for an unproven option in Tyler Thigpen or a rookie QB in next year's draft?

And there's plenty more where that came from.

Verdict

As Bill Parcells famously said, "you are as good as your record," and the Miami Dolphins are clearly unhappy with how "good" they are right now. So whether you call this a mid-season crisis or a necessary change of course, it can be agreed that Miami is unafraid to pull the trigger when deemed necessary. 

At least Dol-Fans can appreciate the Fins' decision to sacrifice their pride for the sake of ultimate goal: to win.

FIU Football Surging in Sun Belt Conference

November 9, 2010

 Four games into the college football season the FIU Golden Panthers were staring into an 0-4 start that dashed some of the high hopes the team had set for itself. Even though each of their first four opponents were heavy favorites, FIU felt they could muster at least one or two upsets to set the tone for the season.  However, a four-point loss at home versus Rutgers and a seven-point loss at Texas A&M was the closest the Golden Panthers could get to an upset.

All that means nothing now.

FIU began their in conference games in week five, facing four conference rivals to date. Their conference record: 3-1. Their spot in the standings: second place.

And it only gets better as conference-leading Troy welcomes the Golden Panthers to their home turf this week.

That gives FIU an opportunity to not only complete their season's 180 degree turn, but become the Sun Belt Conference's top ranked team; something FIU has never accomplished at this stage of a season.

Wide receiving phenom T.Y. Hilton continues to impress fans and NFL scouts with his versatile skill set and game-breaking speed. Last week versus Louisiana-Monroe, Hilton scored three touchdowns in FIU's 42-35 double overtime victory (two receiving and one rushing). In that game alone, Hilton contributed 291 all-purpose yards as a receiver, rusher, kick returner and punt returner.

In the ground game, the Golden Panthers have benefited from a bevy of running backs that have scored rushing TDs for the team. That is, six different players have combined for 12 rushing TDs, with Darriet Perry (6) leading the way.

Junior QB Wesley Carroll has been sporadic for the most part, but has thrown for over 210 yards in five the team's eight games, including a season-high 355 yards at Maryland. His touchdown-interception ratio stands at a less-than-stellar 9 to 11, but Carroll has posted solid QB ratings in the team's three SBC wins.

Defensively the Golden Panthers still have plenty of room for improvement, allowing an average of 27.4 points per game. Beyond that, the team has not consistently forced turnovers on opponents and is losing the turnover-differential battle thus far. At the same time, their defensive showing at Texas A&M was very impressive as they forced five turnovers, four of which were interceptions. Performances like that are what give the coaching staff and the fans hope that the defense has the potential to be more disciplined.

Overall, the team is in a prime position to make some noise and make history in their own realm. We will see how Head Coach Mario Cristobal rallies his troops for Saturday's game versus Troy and attempt to keep momentum in FIU's corner.

* * *

Here's a clip of FIU's big third down sack versus Louisiana-Monroe in the second overtime en route to their third win of the year. A big time play by the Panther defense:

News Flashes: November 8, 2010

November 8, 2010

Florida Marlins

• The Marlins offered Dan Uggla a four-year, $48 million contract today, only to be turned down. 

• The Fish are shocked by Uggla's move and his future with the team is now uncertain.

• There is a possibility Florida renegotiates with Uggla for a slightly higher price.

Miami Dolphins

• Following Sunday afternoon's 26-10  loss in Baltimore, the Dolphins are 4-4 midway through the season.

• Chad Henne threw three interceptions for the second time this season and failed to make a touchdown versus the Ravens. 

• The Dolphins head back home for a two-game homestand versus the Tennessee Titans and Chicago Bears.

Miami Heat

• The possibility of Erick Dampier joining Miami is alive once again after the deal with Houston fell through. 

• The Heat jump back into action tomorrow night as the Utah Jazz fly into Miami. 

• Miami's record stands at 5-2, which places them third in their division (Atlanta and Orlando are first and second, respectively).

The Heat Defense: An Unsung Hero

November 4, 2010

The new-look Miami Heat captured the attention of the basketball world with the offensively adept characters it assembled over the Summer. Dreams of LeBron James tossing alley-oops to Dwyane Wade, or vice-versa, while Chris Bosh picked apart front courts with his mid-range jumper flooded the minds of Heat fans since the trio's inception.

But deep within the core of these gifted scorers is a foundation of solid defense; a foundation that Erik Spoelstra has harnessed to further his culture of defense in Miami.

Think about it, before James, Bosh or any of the other fresh faces joined the Heat this offseason, Miami was already a quality defensive team in the NBA.

Since 2008, when Coach Spoelstra was named head coach, the Heat adopted a defense-first mentality - progressively improving their defense each succesive season. From the dreadful 15-win '07 season to '08, Miami reduced their opponents' field goal percentage (OFG%) from 46.8 to 45.5, and their opponents' points per game (OPPG) from 100 to 98.1. These were minor improvements, but improvements nonetheless. 

But the Heat didn't stop there.

Just last season Miami took the next step and elevated their defense once again. Their OFG% dropped by almost two percent to 43.9 (tied for first overall), while their OPPG took a four-point dip to 94.2 (second in the league). That is, the Heat defense catapulted from poor to average to top-tier in the span of two seasons.

Fast forward to 2010 and you'll find the Heat picking up right where they left off. To date, the Heat lead the Association in OPPG and are second in lowest OFG%.

In essence, what you have is the same system only with better pieces.

There is no doubt that the flash and frills of a high octane offense are the most exciting element of the Heat product. However, as LeBron would say, "don't think for one min[ute]" that the real hero is the gritty, hard-nosed soul of the Miami defense.

* * *

On a side note, sometimes defense steals the show in Miami as we witnessed (we were all witnesses) this week by LeBron's tremendous block on New Orleans Hornets' rookie Wesley Johnson. It was so emphatic we thought it was worth taking another look at. Let us enjoy:

Dolphins Must Make Statement, Prove Themselves

November 3, 2010

Submitted by Gabriel Marquez

Coming into this Sunday's game against the Baltimore Ravens, the Dolphins will look to improve their record to 5-3. They will be playing in a highly hostile environment, Baltimore, and their "road warrior" tag will be put to the greatest test all season. You see, Miami has gone 4-0 when they've gone on the road but their road opponents have all turned out to be underachievers this season. They've gone 0-3 at home because they've faced three of the best teams the league has to offer at home so far. With that being said, if the Dolphins can beat the Ravens at Baltimore it would be a very strong statement to make at the end of our hardest stretch of schedule and at the beginning of the playoff hunt.

Simply put, the Ravens are healthy and clicking on all cylinders. They have one of the nastiest defenses in the league, bolstered by a mean defensive line, one of the greatest (if not the greatest) linebackers to play the game and and a ballhawk safety who's back from injury and already making an immediate impact. Beyond that, Ray Rice is a top-tier running back, Joe Flacco is one of the better young quarterbacks in the game, Baltimore has a strong offensive line, solid wide receiver arsenal and good tight end core.

They're not just a playoff caliber team, they're Super Bowl contenders and if the Fins want to be considered in the same light they'll have to embrace their underdog role and upset the Ravens.

Miami's Chances

In my honest opinion, I think the Dolphins defense may be able to contain the Baltimore offense to a certain extent but my concern lies on the Dolphins offense. They can't expect to come into this game with a vanilla gameplan and walk away with a win. The Dolphins coaching staff should trust Chad Henne with more confidence and allow him to sling the ball all over the field, challenging Baltimore's defense. With that said, It must be a point to feed Brandon Marshall the ball and get him involved early. Perhaps then we can begin to produce in the ever-so-elusive red zone. The Dolphins are last in the NFL at scoring touchdowns and that is a statistic that doesn't get it done. They can't march into Baltimore and be complacent with field goals and stagnant offensive production. They must be able to score and dominate.

Miami's defense must force turnovers and capitalize on every loose ball, tipped pass and forced throw. In other words, go for strips and hold on to potential interceptions (cough, Chris Clemons, cough). Flacco has made mistakes when roughed up, so expect to see more of Cameron Wake creating pressure and maybe some more cornerback blitzes after the success Benny Sapp had last week. I'll be looking out for Miami's match-ups versus the Baltimore tight ends and Sean Smith's ability to stay physical and consistent - two elements that are still of concern for the Fins' D.

Finally, I hope (but unfortunately do not expect) to see much better offensive play-calling this Sunday. Meaning no wildcat (even if we're leading), no play action calls in one-receiver sets, no runs on third and long (it wouldn't hurt to take a shot deep), no short passes when you need double the yards, and most importantly a plan B if plan A isn't working.

Baltimore's Chances

First of all, let's not kid ourselves, Miami's 4-0 road record means next to nothing here. Baltimore is the favorite and I don't believe any analyst will choose otherwise. They look like the team Miami wants to be. Tenacious defense matched by explosive offense. They're built very solid and do their job well. Even down to the management, they're a team to be admired. They draft well, find sleepers in the draft and free agency, and pull the trigger when needed to make their team stronger.

But but back to the football field. Vontae Davis has been a very good cornerback for Miami this season and Flacco is not immune to throwing interceptions, so I expect him to challenge Smith early. It's no secret he has struggled this season and even if Vontae completely eliminates a wide receiver from the game, whoever is on the other side will still be a challenge for Sean. It's also no secret that the Fins have struggled mightily against tight ends this year and Baltimore has more than one good tight end. This could prove costly. The Ravens running game has been good but not as outstanding as it was last year, so hopefully the Fins can keep them in check -  forcing Flacco to pass and give Mr. Wake more time to wreak havoc. As for defense, the Ravens are not just stingy, they not only force turnovers, they try to score a touchdown at every opportunity. They're going to play as nasty as they usually do and dare us to match their physicality. It's hard to find a weak point on the Ravens roster but the secondary might be the closest thing to weak that they have. The Dolphins must try to exploit that.

What to Watch For

• How Sean Smith reacts to possibly being picked on by Joe Flacco. 
• How the Fins adjust to covering Baltimore's tight ends. 
• Cameron Wake's effectiveness against the Raven's O-Line
• Miami's play-calling and willingness to open up the offense, which will ultimately determine whether or not they stand any chance against Baltimore.

Interesting Information

Since this is the NFL and no game is ever an easy one, the analysts and experts should not count Miami out. Especially since Baltimore almost lost a nail biter to Buffalo and allowed over 30 points. I'm sure the Fins have studied this and game planned accordingly, but Baltimore is still in the top 5 on ESPN's Power Rankings.

On another note, following this game the Dolphins go into a much less intense remaining schedule, where they play Tennessee, Chicago, at Oakland, and Cleveland. Although each of these teams have shown flashes of greatness, they all seem to be very winnable games. If we lose this Sunday we would fall to 4-4 but go into four very winnable games that could leave us at 8-4 (if we're lucky enough). But I digress, one game at a time and no game is ever an easy one. Let's focus on the task at hand and hope Miami can beat the always difficult Baltimore Ravens this Sunday.

Dolphins Mid-Season Awards

November 1, 2010

So we have just about reached the midway point in the 2010 NFL season. In a bizarre fashion, the Miami Dolphins have managed to post a 4-3 record, losing every game at home and winning every game on the road. Nonetheless, the Fins are still in the mix to contend for the playoffs. With that said, we would like to present the unofficial 2010 Dolphins Mid-Season Awards:

Most Improved Player: Vontae Davis, CB

While Davis was never a poor defender, his level of play has clearly elevated to a near-elite status this season. As a rookie, Davis was picked on by opposing QBs and provided mixed results on the field. Vontae recorded 51 tackles, 11 deflected passes, four interceptions and one defensive TD in 2009. Through seven games this season, Davis already has 20 tackles, five deflected passes and one interception. But stats don't do justice in proving that Davis has significantly improved. Against teams with formidable QBs, Davis has excelled in coverage and provided lockdown defense in the secondary. At this rate, the Dolphins may find themselves with a shutdown corner in number 21.



Most Impressive Rookie: Koa Misi, LB

Drafted in the second round out of Utah, Misi entered the Dolphins in a somewhat silent fashion, without the flash of a big name school and a reserved personality. This gave way for Misi to avoid excessive media and fan attention and focus on translating his skills to the pro level. And that's just what he has done thus far. Koa has logged 15 tackles and 3.5 sacks in limited minutes. However, what makes him the most impressive rookie is his knack for being in the middle of crucial third down plays and around loose balls whenever the Dolphins force fumbles. As long as he continues to provide solid tackles, active pursuits and force the timely turnover, Misi will be the perfect fit for Miami's LB needs.



Most Disappointing Player: Ronnie Brown, RB

Coming into 2010, the Dolphins were looked at as a run-first team with a two-headed monster led by Ronnie Brown and followed by Ricky Williams. Unfortunately, that expectation has fallen way short of reality. Miami went from being a top 5 running team last season to 16th ranked running team this year. Brown's longest run this season came in week two with a 51-yard run in Minnesota, since then he has broken loose for only one run above 15 yards. His yards per carry is at a decent 4.1, but his 53 yards per game average is abysmal. Whether this is a result of a lingering foot injury or just a stagnant approach to the running game, the reality is that the Dolphins' offense is suffering from Brown's lack of productivity. All the passing weapons in the world can only do so much on a team that is one-dimensional on offense and has a poor running game.

Defensive MVP: Cameron Wake, DE

There's no doubt that Wake has been the source of Miami's defensive disruption and has applied the greatest pressure on opposing offenses. In many cases, Miami's interceptions and forced fumbles originate from Wake's presence. Cameron has already eclipsed his numbers from a year ago with 23 tackles (equal to 2009 total) and 6.5 sacks (one more than 2009 total). The only reason why he didn't earn the most improved player award too was because of his increase in minutes. That is, Wake was creating havoc in a similar fashion last season but with greatly reduced minutes on the field. Now that he's a starter, the freak has truly been unleashed, whereas it was under a tight muzzle in '09.



Offensive MVP: Davone Bess, WR

Brandon Marshall may have been the biggest offensive acquisition for the Dolphins (or any team for that matter), but his use has fluctuated from game to game. The only constant in Miami's offense (after week two at least) has been Davone Bess. With three TDs in the last five games, Bess is becoming familiar with the end zone on a team has struggled to find it all season long (11 total TDs). What makes Bess the most valuable offensive player is his third-down efficiency and very low drop rate. He may not possess the physical stature and pose as large a threat as Marshall, but he's been stellar with the abilities he does possess. Where he was once labeled "The Poor Man's Wes Welker," it seems like  Bess is turning the tables and will soon force the tag of "The Poor Man's Davone Bess" on Welker.


Consolation Award:

Mr. Put Up or Shut Up: Dan Henning, Offensive Coordinator

Mr. Henning has been at the center of most Dol-fans' disappointment with the team this season. Mike Nolan has made effective use of the pieces he has on defense, while Henning has been hesitant to utilize the resources he harnesses on the other end. Whether it's restricting Chad Henne's arm, going to the run game in untimely situations or calling questionable plays on crucial drives, Henning has not capitalized with the weapons he holds. Historically known for orchestrating great passing offenses, Henning has shied away from the air attack and resorted to a lackluster ground game. Midway through the season, Henning has an opportunity to change things around. To his credit, Henning has already phased out an unproductive wildcat formation, showing an ability to adjust. But now it's time to put up or shut up if he hopes to take Miami to the next level and make them playoff contenders.