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

[DyingBreed]

Henne's getting itchy feet when he sees the blitzes!

[Ginngonow]

Ya, Henne has a real shortcoming, because he telegraphs pass and his target all the way.

Ryan is schooling him.

[LipsinToronto]

I think Henne has a lot of potential, but he still has trouble with seeing the open man, and he has poor pocket presence... he had time, but rushed that last pass

[Randy S.]

Anyone see Dansby?

[come on mando!!!]

im impressed by LBing core for sure

[test]

One thing i know is that Jacksonville jags are going 0-16.
Any team that our garbage offense can score on will go 0-16

God i hate the dolphins.

Why did we trade camarillo? we should've tossed bess out on his keister

[ALoco]

it's a crap football .

[CREEP]

ARMANDO why are CBs 15 yds deep

[come on mando!!!]

defense is a best against the run

[Zach]

Mark Sanchez threw an int :) hahaha

[Armando Salguero]

Karlos Dansby with the fumble recovery. Woot Woot!

[superPHIN]

Turnover!!!Now lets do something with it!!!

[Po White Trash]

Yes!!!!!

[come on mando!!!]

meant beast

[Friend]

HUGE FUMBLE RECOVERY BY DANSBY!!! this man is worth every penny

[ALoco]

do fans pay money to see this crap .

[Marc]

VD is the MAN!

[LipsinToronto]

nice

[TommyA]

Vontae might be the best player on defense.

[Po White Trash]

Just saw Dansby.....

[dantheman]

Pat White needs to be turned inti a Randel El type of player. He is not a NFL type of QB, but he is one heck of an athlete. Hate to see him go as a waste!

[DyingBreed]

Got a feeling our offense is going to see an awful lotta blitzes this season. Henne doesnt handle blitzes well at all.

[test]

pure luck miami

[CREEP]

QUESTION why do most ppl think the PLAYER who recovers the fumble is GREAT??

all he did was fall on the ball

[Yazzi]

Now...

GO FOR THE THROAT !!!!!!!
.
.

[Zach]

who caused the fumble?

[come on mando!!!]

for the record DANSBY is the reason gonzalez dont have a catch rite now thats where DANSBY is

[cocoajoe]

It's all a ruse. Trying to lull our opponents into not taking us seriously

Or, we're really bad

[Bonez]

Davis straight ballin tonight!

[SoiledBottom]

Nice vanilla D

[acwalsh8]

dansby recovered that fumble and didnt return it for a TD? he sucks....cut him now. vontae....forced the fumble and didnt pop it up in the air so dansby could catch it at full speed heading toward the end zone....cut him now too.

[Marc]

Vontae is an Ike Turner type. A CB that tackles like a SS or a LB even

[Po White Trash]

Fallin on the ball is good enough.

[Armando Salguero]

vontae davis caused the last fumble.

[superPHIN]

Over/Under 10 penalties a game = Take the over

[LipsinToronto]

Did Marc just admit getting VD from a man?

[Zach]

Mando, you're not impressed with Vontae Davis?

[dr. Lecter]

HOW DO YOU REFRESH the page

[tony]

Davis is having an all pro start to this game...

[texasphinatic]

Yeah Baby

[Zach]

Where the Eff is Brandon Marshall? throw him the dang ball!!!

[Armando Salguero]

Zach, on second thought, Davis has been impressive. My bad.

[Zach]

Polite NO!!!!

[superPHIN]

another pathetic end to offensive drive....Not good

[Dexter]

I listen to the game on the radio and the radio crew's description of the game is brutal. I have no visual concept of what is happening. Jimmy needs to go most of all.

[Po White Trash]

Long blew that one.

[cocoajoe]

Question: What's worse, O-line, secondary or STs?

[SoiledBottom]

Dan Hennings play calling is stale

[dr. Lecter]

I see 8-8 HONESTLY

[Zach]

we dont look great but you know what, the jets dont look much better and the pats didnt look great last night...those teams are just as concerned as we are

[Dexter]

What is the penalty? Radio crew sucks.

[Sergio]

Anyone else thinks this offense is being to cautious? Its a pretty slow paced offense just like last year. No deep plays, a lot of short plays that don't work and they take very few chances. And look at all those penalties, come on guys, concentrate. We need more urgency. Both on Offense and Defense.

[LipsinToronto]

for shits sake - how many of these we gonna get this preseason...

[Po White Trash]

We cant get a call....

[Bleu BlaZe]

Not looking good tonight.

[superPHIN]

Absolutely No Dicipline!!! Sparono and his coaches ARE failing miserably in that department!!!

[dr. Lecter]

guys FREAKING RELAX give SPARANO at least 3/4 years. it's only his 1st year.......

[Po White Trash]

We are suckin donkey balls.

[Zach]

thats the second time the defense has commited that peanlty!!

[test]

I have a theory.
WE might have great recievers.
But maybe they dispise chad henne as much as i do.
And they're dropping passes intentionally so he gets replaced.
wouldn't that be awesome?

More likely they suck though