The Dolphins Make Me Cry.com - Forums

Who was most at fault for the loss.  Discuss.

Well I'd say the fault was spread around pretty good, but I would like to say that I'm getting worried about the drops.  I saw at least another 2 or 3 drops again from our starting WR's.  I could kinda forgive them for dropping passes in the rain, but the weather was perfect against Atlanta and we still can't seem to catch a freaking pass. 

What's up with that?  I don't remember seeing this many dropped passes last year, perhaps it's just because the passes are actually hitting them in the hands this year as opposed to being overthrown/underthrown/tipped at the line/tipped by the defensive back etc.  I guess it's progress.  Hopefully they'll progress to actually catching the passes sometime this year.

My Shame of the Game goes to coach Tony Sparano.  This was supposed to be the team's "dress rehearsal" and as a whole, they looked unprepared.  That is on the head coach.

The Running Game was miserable, at best.

Ronnie Brown carried the ball 8 times for a grand total of 9 yards. 6 of those 9 yards came on one play.

Ronnie Brown gets the Goat Trailer.

Off topic but.....

It appears to me that good hands is the most under rated aspect of a good WR.  Everyone focuses on how fast the player can run, how high he can jump, can he get open, but then it is an after thought if he can actually catch the balls thrown his directions.

That is why I think stats such as yards/completion is meaningless as compared to yards/target.  With QBs we don't just look at the number of completions a QB makes.  QB1 had 20 completions and QB2 had 22 completions so QB2 is more productive....no, not if QB1 had 21 attempts completing 20 and QB2 had 45 attempts completing 22.  

If we look at the universe of the top 50 WR.  (Ignoring guys who may have only played 1 game but caught both passes.)

For example last year the WR with the highest yards/reception was Mike Wallace who had 19.3 yards per reception.  However he was thrown the ball 72 times and only caught it 39 times.  Thus only averaging 10.5 yard per time the QB threw it in his direction.  (Not bad still averages out to a 1st down per throw).  But 6 players had higher yards per target.  

True.  Also, I think "a nose for the ball" is also invaluable and not often discussed.  Some guys are able to see the field, break off routes, come back to the ball, etc, that makes them such great players.  Welker is a great example of that.

The problem with only using one stat when picking examples to support your argument is that you'll occasionally totally swing and miss on one and have it detract a little from what is otherwise a very good point.

Mike Wallace is a good example of the swing and miss...

Wallace has outstanding hands...check the "passes dropped" stats for support. The reason he has a lower receptions/targets ratio is due solely to how he is used, which would be "way the fuck downfield." Of all WRs in the NFL last season, only DeSean Jackson had a higher rate of receptions that went for 40+ yards than Wallace. His hands are fine, but when you're that far downfield, QB accuracy gets a wee bit shaky, and a lot of passes that qualified as "targets" were completely uncatchable balls. Using the receptions/targets ratio should only be part of the equation, with other elements, like drops and usage-indicators factored in as well.

That said, I agree with you completely that receiving skills get glossed over at times. Don't get me wrong, I get giddy over size/speed combinations like Calvin Johnson just like everyone else, but I am definitely a fan of "player skills" even more. It's why one of my favorite Combine events is the WR Gauntlet, where the WR runs down the line, and guys lined up on both sides of him throw short quick passes to him as he moves, one side, then the other, alternating all the way down the line... It's a good indicator of not only how "sure" the receiver's hands are, but also how quick his hands are, how well and how quickly he can acquire a target in flight, plus how well his feet work independently from his head (they dog ya if you go drift off the line).

Some people get juiced about 300 lb O-linemen running 40 yard dashes... I prefer watching the Gauntlet, the shuttle drills and the other player skills drills.

...and to put things back on track... I love Ronnie Brown, but he smelled like a goat in this game, so his ass should go in the trailer. He actually had me a little concerned...thought there might be some issues with the foot recovery or something, but I am not hearing anyone saying anything, so guess it isn't a problem.  He definitely needs to show more burst than he showed against Atlanta once the season starts, that's for sure.