Same story

[Dave Gray]

I think that we can look at a few strange play calls here and there as to why we lost this most recent game.  However, I think we were shown tonight that we still are pretty bad in two specific areas.  Our offense was able to move tonight because we ran the ball well and the Wildcat is extremely effective.  It was great.

However, it's really a band-aid for the fact that we can't stretch the field.  We don't have enough legitimate passing threats.  ...sure, we can make a 15 yard catch across the middle here and there, but we don't have deep threats.  I don't know if Ginn is a legitimate #1, but even if he were, we don't have a #2 capable of taking the pressure off enough.

The other thing is our coverage defense.  We can stop the run, but we can't consistently cover the pass.  It seems that we have to scheme just to not get burned deep, but we're left with gaping holes all over the field.  If the QB has any kind of time, he'll eventually find an open man and exploit us.  I feel that we're in a position of weakness when it's 3rd and long. ...how weird is that?

The Wildcat bought us a few wins last year, and it may do the same this year, but I think we need to find a big play WR to be taken seriously.

[CF DolFan]

and a QB as well. Our running game would be absolutely unstoppable if we had a passing game. We could have Randy Moss as a wr but if Penny is throwing to him we wouldn't even notice.

BTW ... I wouldn't get overly joyed about our running game as Indy's defense really isn't that good.

[Doc-phin]

I think that many people have this wrong.  From what I am observing, Pennington has been trained (by our coaching staff) to throw the ball to the underneath guy on every play that the underneath guy is open.

I love the fact that Monday Night Football uses the different camera angles.  It allowed me to see that we do have receivers open downfield.  Pennington doesn't even look at them.  So why is this not Pennington's fault?  Because, last year he did look for them. 

I have seen enough to believe that Pennington is not choosing to do what he is doing and is infact being told to do what he is doing.  The Jets taught him to find the open guy and go through progressions.  I believe our team has crippled Pennington by telling him to fire to the shortest open player.  This is Sparano's strategy and it is a strategy of conservative play calling that has proven to fail against all above average NFL talent for years.

We can get away with this mentality against teams like Oakland and KC, but we will not win against good teams if we stay this conservative.

Side note... Why run the ball on 3rd and six (on the dirt) to setup a 40 yd field goal, when your pass game has picked up 1st down after 1st down all night long?  Their secondary posed no threat.  This loss is on Sparano!

[YoFuggedaboutit]

This is Dan Henning's conservative pass play calling at work.  Dink and Doink you to death is his mentality. 

Add to the fact that our wide receiver set is the same as last year with the exception of Hartline, who is shorter than Brandon London. 

Except for that, a new center, and two new DB's, you've pretty much got the same team as last year..... which is not good enough. 

[jtex316]

I'm not even sure you can get away with it against Oakland. They are tougher and meaner this year on defense, and I'm not convinced the Dolphins can wildcat-it against them.

It's not getting any easier for the fins as they travel to play Phillip Rivers next week in San Diego. He sliced up Baltimore for 450 yards last week, and that's Baltimore. Can the gaping-hole schemed dolphins defense stop Rivers from blasting it all over the field on Sunday? Not unless Jason Taylor and the other D-lineman actually do something this time to get to Rivers.

[NADS]

Well played JTex.