OK, we're in the big (empty) house known as Dolphin Stadium and all is well.
Quick update: Mike Lehan, out the entire preseason with a high ankle sprain, is going to make his preseason debut tonight. DE Vonnie Holliday will also debut tonight. RB Ronnie Brown and LB Charlie Anderson are not playing.
This is a night to grade this team as much is it is to grade individuals. Sure, it will interesting to see the progression of Chris Crocker as he tries to pass Jason Allen in the battle to win the starting free safety job. My bet is on Crocker who is simply more instinctive. Coaches are not pleased with Allen.
And finally, it will interesting to see if rookie Chad Henne can continue to keep the QB competition interesting.
I have been told that competition is NOT over, by the way. Everyone assumes it will be Chad Pennington's job. But I've been told the coaching staff still has NOT awarded the starting job to Pennington, and Henne could still win it based on what happens tonight and beyond. Of course, if Pennington plays great, that will go a long way toward giving him the job.
But as of right now, it is still an open competition.
Remember that the Chiefs, once a mighty running team, finished dead last rushing the football last season. The Dolphins, meanwhile, were dead last defending the run. We'll see how far those units have come this offseason.
Anyway, meet me in the comments section at 7:30 for the live blog!
Brian I think Bess is almost guaranteed to make the team.
Posted by: edswood | August 23, 2008 at 09:15 PM
i prefer Jason at saftey over crocker
Posted by: DolphanforLife | August 23, 2008 at 09:15 PM
Still seems to be mostly first team to me.
Posted by: edswood | August 23, 2008 at 09:16 PM
they look winded and slow to the ball. Thats the trade off for having oversized linebackers
Posted by: DolphanforLife | August 23, 2008 at 09:17 PM
Hopefully the D can practice creating a turnover in the red zone.
Posted by: AJ in ATL | August 23, 2008 at 09:17 PM
go fins
Posted by: nellyP | August 23, 2008 at 09:17 PM
az fin fan....you can watch the game here
http://www.justin.tv/medieval954
Posted by: | August 23, 2008 at 09:18 PM
yup those guys are spent and being whopped up front
Posted by: DolphanforLife | August 23, 2008 at 09:18 PM
Nice stuff by Merling
Posted by: edswood | August 23, 2008 at 09:20 PM
That looked like a fumble to me
Posted by: DolphanforLife | August 23, 2008 at 09:21 PM
Way to stuff them at the goal
Posted by: edswood | August 23, 2008 at 09:21 PM
Way to go boys
Posted by: DolphanforLife | August 23, 2008 at 09:21 PM
Nice!
Posted by: Kevin | August 23, 2008 at 09:21 PM
Big bodies paying off. Merling was a stud on two of those stuffs
Posted by: edswood | August 23, 2008 at 09:22 PM
ALL I CAN SAY IS "LET GO PHINS"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: AJ in ATL | August 23, 2008 at 09:22 PM
holy S%$#!
Posted by: tom | August 23, 2008 at 09:22 PM
Parcells is cackling at his genius from his box.
Posted by: edswood | August 23, 2008 at 09:23 PM
I guess they passed the KC running attack versus Dolphins run defense test
Posted by: | August 23, 2008 at 09:23 PM
Merling WILL be a Pro Bowler.
Posted by: steve g | August 23, 2008 at 09:23 PM
ok get the starters out of there..KC gets the point
Posted by: Bryna Cox | August 23, 2008 at 09:23 PM
Last years undersized defense would never have accomplished that.
Posted by: edswood | August 23, 2008 at 09:24 PM
Pennington and the starting OL still in there.
Posted by: edswood | August 23, 2008 at 09:25 PM
Cox,
One more 3 and out and their done.
Bill
Posted by: AJ in ATL | August 23, 2008 at 09:26 PM
Who is Fountain?
Posted by: edswood | August 23, 2008 at 09:26 PM
Henne warming up. He'll probably be in now.
Posted by: willi chirino | August 23, 2008 at 09:27 PM
Justin Peele is a goner by Monday
Posted by: Robert | August 23, 2008 at 09:27 PM
Another penalty takes away a good special teams play.
Posted by: edswood | August 23, 2008 at 09:27 PM
Phins still have an issue with penalties. They are going to get chewed out all week for that I'm sure.
Posted by: Pound | August 23, 2008 at 09:28 PM
Agreed Robert. First the bobble then the penalty. Ciao Peele
Posted by: edswood | August 23, 2008 at 09:28 PM
bring on the jets!!
Posted by: cappy | August 23, 2008 at 09:29 PM
It's kinda nice to have a QB that doesn't turn the ball over. We haven't see that in awhile. Chad is smart, give him that.
Posted by: Bryan Cox | August 23, 2008 at 09:30 PM
Thinking of JJ's first year: young team = flew around on Defense, great energy, but many penalties. Thinking we might be see that this year
Posted by: Robert | August 23, 2008 at 09:30 PM
I'm not convinced we can handle the Jets yet...
Posted by: Steve G | August 23, 2008 at 09:33 PM
Didnt the Jets have 5 wins? What would it take to convince you, Steve? What more can they do for you?
Posted by: Bryan Cox | August 23, 2008 at 09:34 PM
Can anyone tell me why we play KC every preseason?
Posted by: edswood | August 23, 2008 at 09:35 PM
Pennington does look ready. Here comes the Bum Henne. This guy doesn't impress me at all. I fail to see why anyone thinks he is the future.
Posted by: DolphanforLife | August 23, 2008 at 09:35 PM
Damon Huard was a Miami reject MANY BAD QB's ago...
Posted by: Steve G | August 23, 2008 at 09:35 PM
Super Henne is in and Bess makes the first catch. We will be seeing lots of that combo in the future.
Posted by: edswood | August 23, 2008 at 09:36 PM
Pennington 11-15, 94 yds and a TD. We'll take that all year long
Posted by: Robert | August 23, 2008 at 09:36 PM
HEY guys!
The FINS look like a TEAM again.
Call it what you will, it's TUNA time!
I am stuck in "Jacksonville of the North" watching the Bungholes get PLOWED by the Aint's....not pretty!
Loving every minute of a FINS WIN though.....
Posted by: D.Strock | August 23, 2008 at 09:36 PM
Pocket passer statue BUM
Posted by: DolphanforLife | August 23, 2008 at 09:37 PM
JT got hurt !!!!!!!!!wao
Posted by: AndyP | August 23, 2008 at 09:37 PM
The guy is the fins future under this regime so you better get used to him Dolphan.
Posted by: edswood | August 23, 2008 at 09:37 PM
3 and OUCH!
Posted by: D.Strock | August 23, 2008 at 09:38 PM
I don't care if its the first team second or third. Everytime this BUM comes in the offense stalls.
Posted by: DolphanforLife | August 23, 2008 at 09:38 PM
McCown should be taking snaps not Henne. We need to get ready for the season not the future. This is a business not a development league.
Posted by: DolphanforLife | August 23, 2008 at 09:40 PM
Go Defense!
Posted by: DolphanforLife | August 23, 2008 at 09:41 PM
A limping Lehan makes a nice INT
Posted by: edswood | August 23, 2008 at 09:42 PM
Hey Brian...
First, there is a little bit of difference between Favre and Pennington...Second, Ricky is a stud and the line couldn't even help HIM get one yard against THIS team. I like to be more positive than negative, but I am still pessimistic about this team. However, I think this Dolphin team is going to build tremendusly every game to the point that they will be competitive with any team in the NFL towards the later part of the year.
Posted by: Steve G | August 23, 2008 at 09:42 PM
Bess catches another
Posted by: edswood | August 23, 2008 at 09:42 PM
From "Jacksonville of the North", the Big Ten is such a weak QB conference I need to see what Henne has at game speed before getting to excited.
Look for him locked on to one receiver and getting picked against a good secondary.....
Posted by: D.Strock | August 23, 2008 at 09:42 PM
BUM. BUM. BUM.
Posted by: DolphanforLife | August 23, 2008 at 09:43 PM
Peele screws up yet again.
Posted by: edswood | August 23, 2008 at 09:43 PM
Peele has to do a better job of going after that. Did I say he gets cut on Monday? Make that tomorrow by 10am
Posted by: Robert | August 23, 2008 at 09:44 PM
Its not Peele. Its Henne. Peele is playing with a BUM of a quaterback
Posted by: DolphanforLife | August 23, 2008 at 09:45 PM
OOPS! Interception in the endzone....
Note to self - Don't over hype Big Ten QB's....
Posted by: D.Strock | August 23, 2008 at 09:45 PM
Not a great throw by Henne but that INT was on Peele
Posted by: edswood | August 23, 2008 at 09:46 PM
Keep making excuses for Henne. I know quaterbacks and he is a bust.
Posted by: DolphanforLife | August 23, 2008 at 09:46 PM
Robert, Peele wont even make it till 10am. I hear they are clearing out his locker as we speak.
Posted by: edswood | August 23, 2008 at 09:47 PM
are you drunk?
Posted by: | August 23, 2008 at 09:47 PM