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.
Nice WC yardage
Posted by: DyingBreed | August 27, 2010 at 07:12 PM
http://www.firstrow.net/watch/25019/1/watch-atlanta-falcons-vs-miami-dolphins.html
Posted by: Bill Laimbeer | August 27, 2010 at 07:12 PM
wildcat works better from mid field anyway
Posted by: come on mando!!! | August 27, 2010 at 07:13 PM
Welcome back Po......channel 27 here
Posted by: cocoajoe | August 27, 2010 at 07:13 PM
guys where can i watch the game ?
Posted by: harricane | August 27, 2010 at 07:13 PM
Marshall, Marshall, Marshall! Hold onto the ball baby!
Posted by: DyingBreed | August 27, 2010 at 07:13 PM
boomtownrat25 YOU DA MAN!!!!!!
Thanks!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Po White Trash | August 27, 2010 at 07:13 PM
damn beast
Posted by: come on mando!!! | August 27, 2010 at 07:13 PM
Thats a fumble....Yikes, licky ronnie was there!
Posted by: superPHIN | August 27, 2010 at 07:14 PM
Daryl Dunphy,
Dont worry about me, Im a big boy, I can take care of myself you hear?
Posted by: carlito from golfito | August 27, 2010 at 07:14 PM
i am watching the game
Posted by: ALoco | August 27, 2010 at 07:14 PM
Mando, Whats The Deal With Sean Smith? He Has The Physical Tools, Doesnt He? Is It Mental, Technique? Or The Dreaded Sophmore Slump???
Posted by: hanzo | August 27, 2010 at 07:15 PM
Aloco - Thanks Man, Youre A Life Saver
Posted by: cerrachiom | August 27, 2010 at 07:15 PM
Joe! What up?!
Posted by: Po White Trash | August 27, 2010 at 07:15 PM
mando take that stuff off marshall's arms!! they are dead for real!! that is what you said they are for right to deaden that area of the arms
Posted by: come on mando!!! | August 27, 2010 at 07:15 PM
I expect a pass to Fasano next.
Posted by: DyingBreed | August 27, 2010 at 07:15 PM
I Hear Your Logic Mando, And Its Sound. For Whatever Reason, Espn Is Convinced Parcells Hated The Idea Of Drafting Pat
Posted by: dishpan | August 27, 2010 at 07:15 PM
the curse of ted ginn is still alive
Posted by: test | August 27, 2010 at 07:15 PM
Catch!!!
Posted by: DyingBreed | August 27, 2010 at 07:16 PM
BS!!!
Posted by: DyingBreed | August 27, 2010 at 07:17 PM
Inomplete pass. And a drop for Brandon Marshall, his third of the preseason games.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | August 27, 2010 at 07:17 PM
Man, Brandon, hold onto things.
Posted by: Jim in NYC | August 27, 2010 at 07:17 PM
Terrible call!!!
Posted by: superPHIN | August 27, 2010 at 07:17 PM
Thank you Boom
Posted by: beerphin | August 27, 2010 at 07:18 PM
Armando that was not a drop the defender knocked the ball out. Are you blind?
Posted by: DyingBreed | August 27, 2010 at 07:18 PM
Even with an extra Ref they still get the call wrong
Posted by: bobbyd12 | August 27, 2010 at 07:18 PM
Bad call, but whats up with Marshal?
Posted by: Bleu BlaZe | August 27, 2010 at 07:19 PM
change the number
Posted by: test | August 27, 2010 at 07:19 PM
Nada Po....hoping for a good season
Posted by: cocoajoe | August 27, 2010 at 07:19 PM
You guys are blind. Yhe defender knocked the ball loose.
Posted by: DyingBreed | August 27, 2010 at 07:19 PM
breed, mando is just reporting the game not what he thinks the call should be
Posted by: come on mando!!! | August 27, 2010 at 07:19 PM
Me too Joe.
Posted by: Po White Trash | August 27, 2010 at 07:20 PM
Armando that was not a drop the defender knocked the ball out. Are you blind?
Posted by: DyingBreed | August 27, 2010 at 07:18 PM
The official sure is, someone needs to tell him two feet on the ground and possesion of ball is a catch
Posted by: superPHIN | August 27, 2010 at 07:20 PM
we saw the fumble
Posted by: come on mando!!! | August 27, 2010 at 07:20 PM
Horrible Special teams.
Posted by: Bleu BlaZe | August 27, 2010 at 07:20 PM
st gonna get us killed
Posted by: come on mando!!! | August 27, 2010 at 07:20 PM
the unspecial teams reappears...
fire this dumb coach
Posted by: test | August 27, 2010 at 07:20 PM
very good for Carpenter's confidence
Posted by: Yann | August 27, 2010 at 07:20 PM
The Dolphins special teams wall opens up like the Red Sea and it is up to Dan Carpenter to make a TD saving tackle. Terrible.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | August 27, 2010 at 07:21 PM
Special teams suck!
Posted by: Po White Trash | August 27, 2010 at 07:21 PM
Special teams wtf!!!
Posted by: superPHIN | August 27, 2010 at 07:21 PM
p2p4u.net...........you have to have google chrome or firefox or safari
Posted by: ALoco | August 27, 2010 at 07:21 PM
Reporting the game, it wasnt a drop. The defender clearly knocked the ball loose. Good play by the defender. Marshall did nothing wrong. Glad I'm watching the game too, lol!
Posted by: DyingBreed | August 27, 2010 at 07:21 PM
KICKOFF COVERAGE IS TERRIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: caymanfinfan | August 27, 2010 at 07:21 PM
"He really takes it personally when his special teams unit messes up."
YEAH I HOPE SO
Posted by: Jim in NYC | August 27, 2010 at 07:22 PM
Your welcome Po.
Picture quality isnt great but its nice just to be able to see it somewhere.
Posted by: boomtownrat25 | August 27, 2010 at 07:22 PM
odrick dont make the play wow
Posted by: come on mando!!! | August 27, 2010 at 07:22 PM
How many 3 or 4 man wedges are they going to allow ATL to do before they throw a flag????
Posted by: Pound | August 27, 2010 at 07:23 PM
D sucking donkey balls...
Good job J allen.
Posted by: Po White Trash | August 27, 2010 at 07:23 PM
Nice play Jason
Posted by: bobbyd12 | August 27, 2010 at 07:23 PM
our kick coverage is so bad...is that a result of having a lot of "scrubs" on special teams that wont be there?
Posted by: Zach | August 27, 2010 at 07:23 PM
Agree Po, Bonnemego needs to go
Posted by: cocoajoe | August 27, 2010 at 07:23 PM
special teams has been horrible for 3 years...
maybe its the Special teams coach that sucks...
Posted by: test | August 27, 2010 at 07:24 PM
interference on o pulled allen down
Posted by: come on mando!!! | August 27, 2010 at 07:24 PM
Odrick missed tackle
Posted by: caymanfinfan | August 27, 2010 at 07:24 PM
Bell cant cover Gonzalez
Posted by: DyingBreed | August 27, 2010 at 07:24 PM
Is Sean Smith hurt or something? I dont see him
Posted by: Bleu BlaZe | August 27, 2010 at 07:24 PM
thanks for making test look like a tardo J allen
Posted by: CJ | August 27, 2010 at 07:24 PM
Thank You BoomTown
Posted by: texasphinatic | August 27, 2010 at 07:24 PM
Langford and Misi with the nice hit on first down. But not pleased the DL got moved for the first down on previous play.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | August 27, 2010 at 07:25 PM