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

[EFF N AY]

No matter how bad people say Henne was tonight....I just cant get it in my head that Pennington is a better option. Its not not happening.

Posted by: acwalsh8 | August 27, 2010 at 09:34 PM

Henne wasn't bad at all. Oline and WRs were and playcalling was even worse...

[superPHIN]

GUY CHILL OUT Pennington is a Rookie give him some time

Posted by: shizzle | August 27, 2010 at 09:35 PM

Shizzle = Not very bright
Pennington rookie, HUH???

[David]

Grab grab gra whar'sgoing on out there

[DLT]

im not sure we can get to 10-6 with our schedule. It's possible. But I'll note what I have seen thus far that cause me concern:

The Offense is led by a young QB who needs time to mature and grow with the Offense. Ronnie Brown can't seem to stay healthy. Ricky is turning 33-34. The O-Line needs time to form stability. They lack a Pro Bowl caliber TE. They have no speed-burner to compliment Marshall. They have lots of potential, but lots of question marks too.

The Defense is full of youth and talent. That means they will be mistake prone. They'll need time to grow together. Will FS continue to be a sore spot or will it be solid? What of the young corners? We don't have a true NT, how will Starks do? Where will the pass rush come from?

The special teams. They don't have anyone that makes the opposing team cringe in fear. They've also been barely average in coverage.

I predict 7-9. Not because of their performance tonight. But because I see lots of flaws. I see the team's foundation coming into focus. But we are still a year away from seeing this team be a truly good football club that can dominate teams at will. I hope they prove me wrong. Let's see what happens.

[LipsinToronto]

If football were school, then final exams would be playoffs... weekly quizes would be regular season games... and the teacher asking a question and you shouting out an answer with no fear of losing marks = preseason.

You can still look and feel like an idiot, but answering questions in class does not impact your grade.. just make sure you are not an idiot when it counts.

[FB]

You've got an 11th year QB who can't even drive a team down the field for a measly FG.

[acwalsh8]

Henne wasn't bad at all. Oline and WRs were and playcalling was even worse...

Posted by: EFF N AY | August 27, 2010 at 09:37 PM

Isnt that what I said?

[BoulderFinFan]

chad henne was pretty good. our runing was terrible tonight. Ronnie and ricky really need to step it up.

[shizzle]

you guys are just happy we resigned ALAMA-FRANCIS to a 2yr extension cause it shows how much insight/knowledge and great evaluators the TRIFECTA,

EVEN if the FINS go 1-15......

heck we got the steal of the draft PAT WHITE, MERLING, hell LANGFORD all-pro this yr, MURPHY's back at HOME DEPOT

[Andy NJ]

See all you impatient fans who want Pennignton are looking at what he does. He is smart plays it conservative dinks and dunks. Henne is what he is. He is inconsistant. He had his ups and downs tonight. If he sticks that pass in for a TD before the half we are all happy the int was in a meaningless preseason game. He will learn from it.

The 2 passes completed to Marshall before the int were passes Pennington will never make. I believe in Henne.

[Roman]

For those of you complaining about both sides of the ball... how many points did Atlanta score on our D the 1st game last season. You must admit we look better on the D side.....

[David]

What happened to our mighty o line + running game?

[bobbyd12]

Chad Henne is our QB. He was thrown into the fire last year and will continue to have some growing pains. Pennington doesn't get us deep in the playoffs, Henne will.

[HUGEPHINSPHAN]

let grades for tonight's performance...

[HUGEPHINSPHAN]

*letter

[SoiledBottom]

Mr. Salguero

You are getty sleepy...very sleepy...its getting hard to keep your eyes open...relax...sleepy..very sleepy

[David]

Snelling and snellng personnel agency

[ALoco]

50 million bucks for marshall and we can't get the ball to him .

[BoulderFinFan]

our running and run defense were not good. Ronnie had 7 atempts for 8 yards or something rediculous like that

[Andy NJ]

Travis Harrell he would of completed 50 percent if not for drops. When is passing 20 times in the first half ever going to be the Dolphins style. They couldn't run the ball and that hurt the whole offense. Not to mention OC Dan Henning is stuck in the stone age. The Wildcat isn't him it's all David Lee brought that from Arkansas.

[FB]

This is highly reminiscent of last year's helplessness. I refuse to go through another painful season like last year's.
Where is Pat White? Play the poor guy, maybe he can give you something you haven't gotten from your 2 "studs"!

[DyingBreed]

Henne just needs to settle down a little. He wants to make things happen too quickly at times and is a hare late at others. Somewhere in between those times he shows flashes of brilliance.

You guys will just have to learn to be a little more patient with our 2nd yr qb. I sincerely believe he will be fine and progress every season.

He's at least a couple years away to being what most you guys want him to be. Right now he may be more of a game manager than superstar qb.

[superPHIN]

Henne is the starter for this team, anybody who doesnt think so are hypacritcal idiots who dont understand penny is not a guy who can expose a defense with his arm which is why if you look back at his year last year before he was hurt, he was incapable of getting big plays through the air where henne needs to improve upon but can eventually do. End of story!

[ALoco]

pat white ......
50 million......marshall

[drbruce2]

Why Did I Pay Five Bucks To Be Ignored?

[shizzle]

ARMANDO how long have you covered the FINS for.....

[LipsinToronto]

pat white coming in?

[Po White Trash]

Agree with Breed.

[ALoco]

pat white is in

[ALoco]

i love pat white's spirit vs all the haters .

[David]

If anyone compares the Green Bay + Rams game to tonight-they would immediately vote for 18 game season-where's our 1st round pick?

[FB]

Mando, I dare you to say that you saw anything good from this team tonight other than Vontae Davis. And no schmoozing please!

[SoiledBottom]

Pat White the Hero

[REDSHIRT COMMIE]

"Noodle Arm = No Playoffs"
SuperPhin REALLY BRO??
Last time he played a full season was the last time we were in the playoffs. That was a dumh comment.

[superPHIN]

pat white is in

Posted by: ALoco | August 27, 2010 at 09:45 PM

Now you can take off your 3.00$$ ted ginn jersey and pump fist into air heavily panting at the TV *lmao*

[come on mando!!!]

bye bye thigpen, i've seen enuff pull ppat white

[FB]

Let's go White! I hope he makes the team.

[Andy NJ]

Henne is the starter hands down. He was in third and long all night because of bad play calling and a piss poor running game. I think Ronnie looked uninterested in running hard tonight. Ricky had 2 carries. Miami will be fine. I realistically can see 10-6.

[David]

1st down-pat white!!!

[Po White Trash]

Not bad.

[ALoco]

no 1 hater is superphin

[DyingBreed]

I'm sure if we score td now some of you guys will be calling for Pat White to be the starter, lol!

[come on mando!!!]

turner might be PS material again!! go white

[BoulderFinFan]

get rid of turner and bring wallace and moore

[acwalsh8]

cut Henne, Penne and thigpen right now. White got us a 1st down!!!!!!!

idiots.

[ALoco]

this team is better w/ted ginn and greg .

[Roman]

anyone know Marshall's Stats?

[Jim in NYC]

brandon marshall is a poor man's roberto wallace

[Po White Trash]

O lines Bad

[FB]

Gardner got man-handled on this sack. Wasn't white's fault.

[sPHINicter]

White's on fire!

[acwalsh8]

brandon marshall is a poor man's roberto wallace

Posted by: Jim in NYC | August 27, 2010 at 09:49 PM

thats bc marshall took all that man's money!!!

[Po White Trash]

Ya'll some funny MFers.

[superPHIN]

"Noodle Arm = No Playoffs"
SuperPhin REALLY BRO??
Last time he played a full season was the last time we were in the playoffs. That was a dumh comment.

Posted by: REDSHIRT COMMIE | August 27, 2010 at 09:46 PM

R u serious redshirt, coming off a 1-15 record and with the help of the wildcat package which was new in style, and a weaker schedule, Nobody expected miami to peek in 2008, pennigton was effecient but maybe you should go watch that 2008 playoff against baltimore again and then last years games and see how exposed pennington and this offense was at not getting those big plays they needed. I think you overestimate pennys potential.

[come on mando!!!]

pats perfect for a guy who supposedly cant throw

[FB]

What a complete waste of a night!

[LipsinToronto]

uh oh - QB controversy!

[come on mando!!!]

rite on FB

[jaison biagini]

can pat turner stay ahead of wallace? moore moved into the #4 slot.

[come on mando!!!]

thigpen will be the odd man out