Postgame view of Dolphins victory at Buffalo

Are you unhappy with the Dolphins 15-10 victory on Sunday?

You might be because everything didn't go well. The offense was sluggish. The defense gave up a TD drive in the fourth quarter when the game's outcome still hung in the balance. The special teams missed a field goal, booted a kickoff out of bounds and had no returns to speak of.

And yet the Dolphins won.

As I write in this column there are specific issues the Dolphins must address starting today. One issue, in my humble opinion, involves how coaches handle the running back rotation. I get specific in the column so please check it out.

Another issue involves the play-calling with regard to flow. The Dolphins were working the Bills in their base set in the first half and then they went to the wildcat. It changed the flow and the drive stalled.

At another point, Miami was again bullying the Bills on an apparent drive. Then they called for an end around with Davone Bess. Bess who is a fine slot wide receiver with good quickness, but does not have a lot of speed to get wide. The reverse went for no gain.

So the Dolphins, who self-scout, would be well-served to check that out.

"We did the best we could this week to get ready for [the Bills] and they threw some stuff out there that we kind of weren't really prepared for," Bess said after the game. "But our coach put us in positions to be prepared at all times. When we saw the certain coverages, we had answers for them."

Said quarterback Chad Henne: "I think we just need to go back to work and we've got to concentrate. I've got to put the ball in better places and become a little more accurate and we have to and we have to come up with more catches out there and get the ball in the playmakers' hands. Overall it wasn't pretty, but we got some things done."

The defense got most of the things done. It is interesting to me that the unit that was totally revamped in the offseason -- from the coordinator to the captains to starting rookies and others that hadn't started before -- was the unit that carried the day.

Defensive coordinator Mike Nolan showed he can scheme pressure on the quarterback almost immediately when Karlos Dansby collected his first sack as a Dolphin on the game's third play. On that play, the Dolphins brought the blitz with Dansby and Wake on the same side and Dansby came unblocked.

"I was hiding behind [Cameron] Wake, he's a threat," Dansby said. "Somebody's got to make a decision on who to block. Coach Nolan did a great job of dialing up that play, we just put it in this week as a matter of fact and we executed well."

I told you when the Dolphins signed Dansby they loved his ability to rush the passer as well as cover as well as play inside. Then coach Tony Sparano said Dansby was signed to play inside linebacker and talk of moving the player around died.

... Until yesterday.

"I'm all over the place," Dansby said. "You can't really pinpoint me. I've got a lot of guys around me. All I'm trying to do is to help them become better as ball players."

The defense tackled quite well for the first game out, I thought. There were no costly or obvious missed tackles like the ones that plagued much of last season. That will continue to be key as the Dolphins prepare to stem the Adrian Peterson tide next Sunday.

It was interesting perhaps only to me that Nolan employed in the first game what former defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni always hesitated doing: Matching up corners on receivers.

Under Pasqualoni, the Dolphins played a straight right-left scheme. Vontae Davis was always the left cornerback while Sean Smith was always the right cornerback. When I would ask why he wouldn't match up, Pasqualoni would say it created other problems he didn't wish to deal with.

Nolan apparently has no issues dealing with those. And he obviously has no issues dealing with the advantages of the strategy, either.

So Sunday, Jason Allen followed Lee Evans all over the field. Wherever Evans lined up, Allen lined up, be it left or right of the formation. Davis followed Steve Johnson all over the field.

That strategy will get interesting when the Dolphins play passing teams like New England and Green Bay. It will speak to which cornerback the Dolphins feel has a better opportunity to contain the likes of Greg Jennings or Donald Driver or Randy Moss.

One would also hope, by the way, the Dolphins will throw a changeup to this strategy at times, also. That means I would guess there will be times the Dolphins don't match up so as to not be predictable. Nolan will do that, too. He's pretty impressive so far.

Comments

[DC Dolfan]

lol enrique and odinseye. Just put in a good workout to shake the hangover (didn't work by the way). Doubt I make it past the 1st quarter tonight. GO RAVENS! Actually, best outcome would be a Jets loss, however, Sanchez, Bart Scott, Jenkins, Ray Ray, Flacco, Ray Rice and TJ (cause I actually like Boldin) ALL go down to season-ending injuries in a tumultuous, concussion-filled game. Hope I dream that tonight!

[R & R EXPRESS]

DC,
Can we throw in a Darrelle Revis as well?

[ALoco]

i hear that the fat coach in courage the whole thing and JT was kind of the big cheer on .

[R & R EXPRESS]

Cam Wake did great yesterday.
Heck, I can't even remember who played that position last year.

[Darryl Dunphy]

bill-connors. Will you name one thing that you like about the Dolphins. You are definitley the Mr. negative cheer guy on this blog. I'm not quite sure I've read anything positive about the team on any of your posts. Why all the hate? Was your family attacked by a ravenous school of Dolphins? As child, were you forced to watch hours upon hours of Flipper re-runs? Are you still blaming Dan Marino because you didn't get Isotoner driving gloves for Christmas? What gives bill_connors?

[R & R EXPRESS]

Koa Misi was great yesterday.
Heck, I can't even remember who wore number 55 last year.

[kris]

Daryl,

bill_connrs is a the worst kind of blogger.... He calls himself a FIN FAN then has nothing but negative comments about this team and the fine coaching staff. Since he has a right to his oponopn i could respect that.

What I can't respect is bill comming on here in the 4th QUARTER when he thought we might lose to talk trash.....

Like I said yesterday....bill...YOU SUCK!!!!

WHY NOT US!!!!!!!!!

[R & R EXPRESS]

Chris Clemons did great yesterday.
Heck, I can't even remember what mole-rat played at FS last year.

[dolphin77]

I agree, they were pounding the bills in the first half. the second half started with 2 three and outs. they started that wildcat bulls#it and got nothing. henning gets to cute with that crap and they start losing momentum. they need to just pound the rock, set up the play action and go deep!!!!!!

[jamesc]

im telling u wake will have 16 or more sacks if he stays healthy and this secondary keeps it up

[ALoco]

you guys forgetting our player are made of flesh and blood .they can't pound the other team all 48 minutes .that's why hennings tries his cute plays .

[R & R EXPRESS]

Mike Nolan did an admirable job with the defense yesterday.
Heck, I can't even remember who the weak minded "I don't want to be bothered with that" imitation artificial DC was last year.

[ALoco]

the pizza guy who was coaching the defense last year he came to work w/domino's pizza shirt on all year .

P.S...TRUE STORY

[Darryl Dunphy]

Kris- I was reading the posts during the live blog and it read like we were getting blown out by 30 points. What fun is it to support a team if the prevailing attitude is that everything sucks, and we are destined to blow it? We won! Sure there are some things that need tightning up. But why not enjoy the victory instead of worring about how we are close to never winning a game again.

[sean37]

On to next week lets go PHINS!!!!!! The only thing that can make my week better is the jets to lose

[kris]

Thats what i'm saying Darryl,

I am all for free speech..but that applies to people not weasles

[NHFINSFAN]

Vikes have a great D-Line and hope Henne wakes up and gets rid of the ball quicker.
I love all the positive comments today and actually feel like the Fins can win this week.
Unlike the last few years where every Sunday I just assumed they would lose and was suprised when the won.
NOT this year....I feel like they can win every game and will be suprised when the lose.

[drsamii]

Armando is right about one thing...Bess has no business running an endaround. Every year they try it and he is caught in the backfield! WTF. Great in the slot but he has no speed. So are they stupid or just slow?

[Alan]

I was very pleased with win. I am not a greedy person. I loved the attacking defense, with all the movement and tight coverage. Mike Nolan will make this a top 5 defense in this league. And whats scary they are so Young.And the offense will be very good. Too much talent.Weapons. I think they played a little more conservative because it was the first game. I am very incouraged for what they will acheive this year. Go Dolphins

[LipsinToronto]

The only team I hate more than the Ravens are the Pats and Jets... so it is killing me rooting for the Ravens to smack these Wets in the mouth.

[beerndrums]

The Jets could force 8 or 9 turnovers a game and still only get 2 or 3 field goals.
I hear ya Lipsin,but I gotta pull for the Jets.

[cowkilla]

monday and no new posted stories or blogs.. way to repot miami

[bootang25]

Notice how Cromartie struggles at his size when lined up over the slot receiver? When you are that tall, it is very hard to stay low and change directions. He is a superior athlete to Sean Smith, this is why I have said numerous times about why it will be hard for Smith to get back in the lineup. He is a boundary corner only, and it will take a meltdown by Jason Allen for him to be a factor.

[beerndrums]

Damn,the Jets have more penalty yards than offensive yards.

[cowkilla]

Im not too worried about the crappy jets, i think the ravens are the harder team for us to beat in the playoffs this year

[ALoco]

I HAVE a dream the jets lose tonight .then FAVRE get sick in the stomach b/c he ate chinese food to go .

[beerndrums]

I hope everyone who complained about our offense yesterday are watching the Jets tonight.I'd be ahamed to brag about the Jets.

[ALoco]

beerdrums, what did you have for dinner ?

[beerndrums]

I had turkey and all the fixins.My girlfriend likes to make turkey dinners when football season starts.Tomorrow I'm making minnestrone soup with hot italian sausage.

[ALoco]

go flacco ,my new hero.bring these phony jets down to earth .

JT IS OFSIDE ,5 YARDS PENALTY .lol

[finfaned]

see Flacco putting that ball up trusting his WR. that is what henne has to learn but hey at least henne had no int's so it evems out i guess.

[ALoco]

nice turkey dinner is the best food beerdrums .tomorrow you can have left over turkey w/your nice soup .

p.s....did you have cranberry sauce ?

[finfaned]

oh come on where us suzie kolber??

[beerndrums]

The Jets look ok on D,but the O is embarassing.

[beerndrums]

No cranberry sauce....she forgot to buy it.

[finfaned]

dang i love ray lewis. niw that us a football player

[beerndrums]

The Jets fans are awefully quiet.....except for the booing.

[Darryl Dunphy]

Kyle Wilson has been getting lit up tonight.

Henne has been taught not to make the big mistake, to dump it down rather than force something. Thats great, and I hope Henne can take care of the ball without making a huge mistake at the wrong time. But the problem with this technique, or style of coaching is that I think sometimes Henne is quick to check down before letting the play fully develop because he has it ingrained in his head not to make a mistake with the ball. I wouldn't mind some interceptions, as long as they do not come late in halves, or around the redzone(kind of like good pitchers give up home runs, but with nobody on base) At some point in this season, the reigns will have to be loosened, at 5.5 yrds a completion this was good enough for last week, but this stat has to get better for us to improve on offense

[finfaned]

wow at the penalties. let me remind everyone we had 3 yesterday 1 on Defense.

[Darryl Dunphy]

Way to coach up your team Fat Rex. The discipline to avoid penalties is clinical.

[Craig M]

Where's all the Jets scumbags who like to visit this blog? My God your team is embarassing!! What's fat Ryan and the rest of his mouthpieces going to say about things after this debacle. Typical Jets....all talk and then can't back it up!!

[ALoco]

GRAIG don't start to celabrate early .do you believe in the ( YELLOW EYES ) ?

[beerndrums]

The last I heard, the Jets only had 3-4 first downs.That's horrible.

[Craig M]

ALoco,

I don't know if they are going to win this game or not but this is no Championship team. They have shown that tonight and that I am sure of.

[finfaned]

yeah and sanchise is 7-12

[ALoco]

it's a nerve game CRAIG M .we got to give them the yellow eyes .

[ALoco]

sack time

[finfaned]

mmm danica

[ALoco]

what a ctach

[ALoco]

catch

[Po White Trash]

F U C K THE JETS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

[jamesc]

i think they miss faneca and jones LOL

[Po White Trash]

SANCHEEZE IS A B I T C H!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[smirish]

i bet yhey teally miss chad pennington

[smirish]

sorry bad typing

[ALoco]

po white, let's give them the yellow eyes .

[jamesc]

time for mexico to throw a int watch

[jamesc]

bad taylor

[Po White Trash]

LET IT BE AN ACL JT!

[smirish]

did Jaws just say "Zach Taylor"??