The inactives for today's games are Erik Walden, Shawn Murphy, Andrew Gardner, Lionel Dotson, Patrick Turner, John Nalbone, and Chris Clemons with Chad Henne designated as the third QB.
Cameron Wake is active for the first time this season, hopefully to be used as both a pass rusher and special teams player.
Today's game between the Dolphins and the Chargers is a referendum on what really is important in the NFL.
The Dolphins are a team built from the inside out. They are strong along the offensive line where they're spent $156 million to put together their starting unit. They are built along the defensive line where they have drafted three players, signed a free-agent, and traded for nose tackle Jason Ferguson and defensive end Tony McDaniel.
The line of scrimmage is where the Dolphins expect to dominate.
The skill players? Not so much. Not so great.
The Chargers, on the other hand, are a team replete with playmakers on offense and defense.
Antonio Gates is one of the best TEs in the NFL. Their running back corps is deep enough that losing LaDanian Tomlinson hurts, but doesn't kill their chances. Vincent Jackson, Chris Chambers and Legadu Naanee are the cornerstones of a pretty good receivers corps.
And defensively, CB Antonio Cromartie can be a premier playmaker.
The problem for the Chargers is they're not very strong up the gut right now.
Pro Bowl nose tackle Jamal Williams is out for the season. Center Hardwick is out for eight weeks. The players along their two lines are not their best players.
So what's more important? Being great in the interior, in the trenches? Or being great outside where the playmakers can make a difference?
We'll find out today. And we'll be doing it during the live blog that begins soon in the comments section. I'll be back when the inactives come out to relay those to you.
WTF!
Posted by: Marc | September 27, 2009 at 04:36 PM
....................
Posted by: test | September 27, 2009 at 04:36 PM
UGH, the playcalling! Just do f'ing wildcat on 1st down after Chad gets rocked! Un-friggin believable. Just not our year
Posted by: Andrew H | September 27, 2009 at 04:36 PM
Wow, we are snake bitten this year.
Posted by: Joel | September 27, 2009 at 04:36 PM
R u fing for real?
Posted by: Dbromo | September 27, 2009 at 04:37 PM
good teams makes tds thr
big letdown
fins will lose
0-3
Posted by: rogperu | September 27, 2009 at 04:37 PM
why wouldn't you run the wild cat when its been so successful with ronnie on that drive?
Posted by: test | September 27, 2009 at 04:37 PM
lol im being pessimistic here but I agree this is wildcat territory
Posted by: miateamsfan | September 27, 2009 at 04:37 PM
That fubmle is terrible!
Shaun Phillips pushed Smiley from behind, preventing him from grabbing the loose ball in the end zone.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | September 27, 2009 at 04:37 PM
NOOOOOO NOOOOO Sob weep cry NOOOOOO
Posted by: holding my breath | September 27, 2009 at 04:37 PM
Any chance our D will come up big? Doubtful.
Posted by: Andrew H | September 27, 2009 at 04:37 PM
Just the way things are going right now.
Posted by: CarlosVP | September 27, 2009 at 04:37 PM
LOOOOOSSSSERS. Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory thats Dolphin football!
Posted by: TorturedDolphan | September 27, 2009 at 04:37 PM
This team is SO DOOMED.....and meanwhile the Jets kicked serious ass today.
Posted by: Ed Isontownship | September 27, 2009 at 04:37 PM
Are you f-in kidding me?
Posted by: Hayden Fox | September 27, 2009 at 04:38 PM
wow that stinks
Posted by: dave | September 27, 2009 at 04:38 PM
Worthless. Finding a way to lose.
Posted by: TorturedDolphan | September 27, 2009 at 04:38 PM
HAHAHA only we can dominate a drive and then fumble out of the end zone from the 2. Cant buy a brake in Miami. Terrible
Posted by: ziggy | September 27, 2009 at 04:38 PM
... and the Chargers answer by attacking!
This is a huge momentum change.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | September 27, 2009 at 04:38 PM
Kendall Langford shows up for the first time this season.
Very nice.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | September 27, 2009 at 04:39 PM
Ok DEFENSE!
Posted by: sobbing PhinFan | September 27, 2009 at 04:39 PM
Fire Sparano, freagin biyatch! Brown is your ace bitchhhhhhhhj!!!!! Not ricky bitchhhhhhhh!!!!!!!
Posted by: FB | September 27, 2009 at 04:39 PM
sack !
Posted by: miateamsfan | September 27, 2009 at 04:40 PM
that is the essence of tiis season in a nutshell, we r so good and so bad at the same time, so close to winning yet so far away lol, of well, at least we're playing well on both sides of the ball.
Posted by: chuck | September 27, 2009 at 04:40 PM
Te again!
Posted by: FrankieD | September 27, 2009 at 04:40 PM
brown fumbled cause he needed oxygen?
Posted by: miateamsfan | September 27, 2009 at 04:40 PM
I mean, how do they call a play action fake on 1st and Goal after Chad gets rocked on a big hit? Even with the playcalling though, that fumble was not caused by a big hit.
Posted by: Andrew H | September 27, 2009 at 04:40 PM
need a new link please
Posted by: Jake | September 27, 2009 at 04:41 PM
Are we really the best 0-2 team? Get the ball in the endzone. What the fk
Posted by: Fins13 | September 27, 2009 at 04:41 PM
Got to hand it to these losers 45 min top lose. 94 yard drive fumble. Fail. Lose.
Posted by: TorturedDolphan | September 27, 2009 at 04:41 PM
fb
ronnie is the one who fumbled
fins not talented enough
Posted by: rogperu | September 27, 2009 at 04:42 PM
FB, you're retarded.
Posted by: Bostonfinfan | September 27, 2009 at 04:42 PM
cant blame Brown on that fumble, morons, the defense was in the backfield as he was taking the handoff. Chad needs to read that blitz and option handoff to Ricky on the opposite side
Posted by: ziggy | September 27, 2009 at 04:42 PM
THE LIVE BLOG CONTINUES IN THE SECOND QUARTER POST. GO THERE NOW PLEASE.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | September 27, 2009 at 04:42 PM
1st down Chargers!!!! Alright MIAMI !!!!
Posted by: TorturedDolphan | September 27, 2009 at 04:43 PM
dolphins ever heard of zone blitzing?
Posted by: miateamsfan | September 27, 2009 at 04:43 PM
0-2 you tell me after goinh 95+ yards then fumble the ball in the end zone for a touch back. THere is 9 points there. Repeast 0-2 team look like an 0-14 team!!!!!!
Posted by: dslong | September 27, 2009 at 04:43 PM
My bad, I thought it was ricky. From the way they were lined up, it looked like it. BTW our D-line sucks!
Posted by: FB | September 27, 2009 at 04:43 PM
Relax D came to play....
Posted by: Optomist PhinFan | September 27, 2009 at 04:44 PM
channing is awful
Posted by: rogperu | September 27, 2009 at 04:44 PM
Getting plenty of outside pressure, but Rivers is the consummate pocket passer. CBs are still on notice.
Posted by: Bostonfinfan | September 27, 2009 at 04:44 PM
come on D
Posted by: dave | September 27, 2009 at 04:44 PM
Game on
http://www.atdhe.net/8620/watch-miami-dolphins-vs-san-diego-chargers
Soiled :)
Posted by: SoiledBottom | September 27, 2009 at 04:44 PM
Any time our receivers want to start earning their paycheck is fine with me.
Posted by: JohnC | September 27, 2009 at 04:44 PM
GO TO THE COMMENTS SECTION OF THE 2ND QUARTER POST FOR THE CONTINUATION OF THE LIVE BLOG!
Posted by: Armando Salguero | September 27, 2009 at 04:44 PM
Defense defense defense need INT
Posted by: Optomist PhinFan | September 27, 2009 at 04:45 PM
http://www.justin.tv/jackjones00000000
Posted by: Po White Trash | September 27, 2009 at 04:45 PM
$350 for NFL ticket to watch them go 4-12
Posted by: dslong | September 27, 2009 at 04:46 PM
I see were running the Swiss cheese defense...
Posted by: CarlosVP | September 27, 2009 at 04:46 PM
Armando, capslock is on :P. Still waiting for it to update in the iPhone app.
Posted by: Bostonfinfan | September 27, 2009 at 04:47 PM
I have never been this frustrated in a long time. This team is incredible.
Posted by: FB | September 27, 2009 at 04:47 PM
channing
always !
uf sucks for developing nfl talent !
Posted by: rogperu | September 27, 2009 at 04:48 PM
I missed the play where we lost the ball what happened?
Posted by: mgo268 | September 27, 2009 at 04:49 PM
fins 2009 happened !
Posted by: rogperu | September 27, 2009 at 04:50 PM
http://www.justin.tv/jackjones00000000
picture sucks but I have it up.
My 62" HD is much better
Posted by: Po White Trash | September 27, 2009 at 04:51 PM
Looks like a dark football weekend for Miami fans both NFL and college!
Posted by: mgo268 | September 27, 2009 at 04:51 PM
WTH!
Posted by: el coach | September 27, 2009 at 04:51 PM
We need to win...will b discouraged if we don't
Posted by: Lupebravo | September 27, 2009 at 04:51 PM
THE LIVE BLOG HAS MOVED TO THE NEW 2ND QUARTER POST. GO THERE NOW PLEASE, YOU'RE LATE.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | September 27, 2009 at 04:53 PM
Still not up on iPhone app...
Posted by: Bostonfinfan | September 27, 2009 at 04:54 PM