Live blog here to celebrate season ticket milestone

The Dolphins tonight celebrate their most important preseason game of 2010 and already they have good news on the horizon: The team will soon announce that it has surpassed the 50,000 season-ticket mark for the first time in the Bill Parcells era and the first time since 2007.

Although the club has not yet made it official, I'm told by several sources there is a sense of pride at the fact the local fans have seen fit to invest in season-tickets at a rate not seen in several years despite the tough economic times that plagues the nation and South Florida.

There is much work to do, however, for the Dolphins business side. While there has been a steady increase in the sale of tickets since they fell off the table following Nick Saban's departure, 50,000 to ,51,000 is not the goal. The club would like to be closer to 2006 levels and be in the 60,000s season tickets sold.

One supposes the success the team will have this year will go far toward determining that.

To that end, I present to you tonight's game.

Things to look for:

The secondary: Um, they've been pretty bad this preseason and now they're facing the best quarterback (Matt Ryan) they've seen so far and for a much longer period of time. The expectation is the Ryan will go at least one half tonight as will Miami's starting DBs.

[Update: Jason Allen is slated to start ahead of Sean Smith at RCB. Smith has been on notice all preseason that his job is at stake. Count this another strongly worded message that he needs to pull up and play better or he'll find himself coming off the bench when the season begins.]

To blitz or not to blitz: I've shared with you what the Dolphins' defense is going to be this year in previous posts. Attacking is the operative word. But this preseason the Dolphins have shown no blitzes with their first-team defense. Do they unwrap some of that package tonight? I do not know. But I'll be watching with interest to see how effetive Koa Misi and Jared Odrick can be when three or four of their teammates are also trying to bust down the offensive line wall along with them.

No injuries, please: That is a key goal. The coaching staff hasn't babied this team, but it has been cautious to avoid the physical, emotional, and psychological distress that a season-ending or other signifcant injury can have upon a team. Today the St. Louis Rams are sick at the loss of receiver Donnie Avery for the season. Teams that come out the third preseason game relatively healthy usually go into the regular season that way because the final preseason game is usually a passing excersize on the field. If Miami can escape this contest unscathed, that will bode wll for the opener.

Last minute news: Will Allen and Nate Garner are the only scratches for the Dolphins. That is interesting because it suggests Channing Crowder is dressed ... but he will not start. Tim Dobbins is starting for Crowder tonight. Jake Grove is starting at center.

So meet me at kickoff in the comments section for the live blog. It should be a hoot. 

Comments

[Zach]

Mando i totally feel the same way!!

[DyingBreed]

Earl Morrall completes the pass, lol!

[D-dense]

Wow a Chad that can throw>

[Pepe]

Holy Crap what a pass by Chad P.

[Blazzin Ace]

Penne's killing em!

[Po White Trash]

Penny with Henne arm. We gotta winner.

[test]

Berger just won the Center battle.
On account of Grove being a wuss

[Zach]

Ladainian who? ricky is one hell of a reciever out of the backfield

[tony]

god pennington has a weak arm!!

[Yazzi]

GROVE CANNOT STAY ON THE FIELD.

Its THAT simple.

The guy gets bruised at the supermarket!
.
.

[DyingBreed]

Everyone's on to the wildcat, lol!

[FB]

Man the wild cat sucks! Get off of it already!

[Roman]

We cant give up on Henne after 1-11

[ALoco]

pat white will be playing to close the book on him .

[Blazzin Ace]

I need a hit man!! kill the damn cat!

[drbruce2]

I Hope This Is A Smokescreen To Fool Our Opponents During The Regular Season.

[D-dense]

what a hit

[FB]

Moore looks like Ted Ginn on steroids and with a heart!

[Roman]

Moore looks good

[bobbyd12]

Marlon Moore, WOW!!!

[D-dense]

should have thrown that flag

[Armando Salguero]

At least Pennington is looking for Marshall.

[come on mando!!!]

can we see turner in redzone

[DLT]

wow. Moore. Where was that guy in the first half?

[ALoco]

back to wild crap,put white in the game

[acwalsh8]

can you imagine ginn running like that?

[superPHIN]

Sleep Walking Offensively!!!

[LipsinToronto]

Henne has the physical tools... Penny has the experience... I WISH we could get his brain in Henne's head.

[Roman]

So Moore makes the team....

is that safe to say?

[test]

girly pass

[Po White Trash]

Carey blew that block

[dolfin67]

Yuck!

[Roman]

Damn another Field goal...

that is garbage... he was out of the pocket and threw it out of bounds

[Friend]

well, i said wed score... i just didnt want another field goal.........

[Po White Trash]

With ya there Lips

[DyingBreed]

Told you guys we were going to score this possession. Even if its only 3pts.

[D-dense]

three is better than nothing. liked that off set.

[ALoco]

chad.penne WILL BE THE STARTER .COACH CAN'T AFFORD TO GET FIRED .

[superPHIN]

Lets Burn this Tape----Seriously!!!Maybe we should put white in then!!

[shizzle]

hey MATT NC i'm sorry YOUR SEASON IS NOW.........

and let's wait til the 14 game in the season and hear you say for the past 40 years.......

HOLY SMOKES 40 FREAKING YEARS......DANG

WAIT TIL NEXT YEAR, have you said that before??

how bout this one, WHERE ONLY A FEW PLAYERS AWAY???

what about this one...WOW that guys looks awesome and I know he's only wearing SHORTS in training camp but he's gonna be great.....

[Armando Salguero]

Meanwhile, Calvin Pace has suffered a foot injury in the Jets vs. Redskins game and he is out the rest of the game.

[Friend]

i agree with ALoco..... penne is the better QB.

[DyingBreed]

Atlanta's a good defensive team unless you guys forget, lol.

[Zach]

theres no QB controversy here henne is the starter, our offense looked no different

[devildogfin]

Im A Henne Believer, But I Have To Admit That The Offense, Despite Not Scoring A TD On This Pennington Drive, Look Much More Efficient.

[shizzle]

WHY NOT THROW THE FREAKING BALL UP IN THE AIR TO THE 6'5" FREAKING WR........

[Armando Salguero]

Moore looking better and better for making the team. Yes. Not absolutely there yet, tho.

[ALoco]

YOU CAN TELL WHEN CHAD PENNE IN THE GAME THE MORALE OF ALL FIN PLAYERS ARE UP AND A LOT OF ACTION GOING ON .

PENNE IS THE STARTER .

[DyingBreed]

Guess u guys will never give Falcons props of having a pretty decent defense, lol!

[tony]

Pennington has had more time to throw the ball... doubt all the starters on d line are in for atl.... thats the only difference....if you can not see this.. GO BECOME A JETS FAN!!!!

[beerndrums]

Shizzle Needs To Go Die Somewhere.

[DLT]

O-Line blocking had been poor. And 2 mental mistakes by Penny (Game Clock/Not being out of the pocket all the way when throwing it away).

My question: the play calling is way too conservative with Henne? Its the preseason. Give the kid the keys to the Offense and let him run with it. Let him call audibles at the line. Let him throw more. Quit ruining a rhythm by running it with 30 seconds in the half or going to the wildcat after a couple of big pass plays. And Tony, get the O-Line into shape.

[REDSHIRT COMMIE]

hahaha Mando said folks, sounds like he's one of those old folks, losing touch and fading fast

[cocoajoe]

Underwhelming

[Po White Trash]

Yur right Breed, they got a good D.

[Po White Trash]

Penny is a good QB but has a WEAK arm.

[tmg]

I just saw payaso del carajo in the stands.

[REDSHIRT COMMIE]

Carpentar will be a high scoring fantasy kicker at this rate

[Roman]

Please guys Henne is our Starter...End of Story

[D-dense]

Thoughts on QB, Mando? Four is too many, who goes? White?