Live blog an opportunity to understand Dolphins offense

CINCINNATI -- I love game days. They answer questions. They speak strongly and authoritatively over the speculation.

There has been much speculation about the Miami Dolphins offense this week. As I point out in my weekly Dolphins Sunday column the Dolphins have scored the fewest points in the AFC and that simply does not compute when you consider the tons of resources, draft picks and money the club has invested in the unit.

Check it out, because the inventory of resources Miami has used for this offense makes the result puzzling.

But here's the thing: All those resources succeeding or failing will come down to one player, and his name is Chad Henne. If Henne becomes a great player, the rest of the unit will be great. If Henne fails, the compilation of great talent around him isn't going to hide the fact the most important player on the field isn't good enough.

And the biggest problem with that?

The Dolphins are neither allowing Henne to succeed or fail. There seems to be such a collar around him that it is hard to believe Henne is free to either fail or succeed. The Dolphins are only asking Henne to manage games.

And, amazingly, the only time they ask him not to manage games is when they find themselves in a crisis. The only time the Dolphins put the game in Henne's hands is when they're behind. And if they're behind in the fourth quarter, then they really ask him to do things they don't otherwise ever ask him to do.

How does that make sense?

You don't trust the guy in the good times. But when things are going poorly, then you put the game in his hands.

Consequently, we don't know what Chad Henne is yet. He's got good stats, but he's terrible in the fourth quarter. He is fine on third down, but he isn't a quarterback that has proven his mettle with a handful of fourth-quarter comeback victories.

Henne is in limbo. We don't know what he is yet. And that's not his fault. That's where the Dolphins have placed him.

Join me for the live blog today starting in the comments section below. I'll update you with the inactives when they are released.

[UPDATE: Davone Bess will replace Brian Hartline as Miami's No. 2 WR today.]

[UPDATE 2: The inactives are Marlon Moore, Reshad Jones, Nolan Carroll, Clifton Geathers, Patrick Brown, Lydon Murtha and Mickey Shuler with Tyler Thigpen as the third QB.]

[UPDATE 3: Johnathan Joseph will not start at CB for the Bengals today. He is inactive. He is replaced by Morgan Trent. Also starting SS Roy Williams is also out. Reggie Nelson will start at SS for the Bengals.]

Comments

[jt350]

tortured dolphin fan needs to follow the cowboys

[woa]

This team has been going backwards since game #13 last season.

[Armando Salguero]

I assume Dolphins will have an answer for the no huddle now or at least an adjustment.

[koamisi]

cobbbs

[GinnsGone]

Is Henning in the booth or on the sidelines?

[REDSHIRT COMMIE]

A FIELD GOAL!! WHO DIDNT SEE THAT COMING.

NEXT ANOTHER QUICK TD BY BUNGHOLES AND WE'RE DOWN 11. BET ON IT.

MORANO FOR PRESIDENT!!

[Utdolfan]

Hey,

At least we're taking real shots into the end zone.

Need the defense to show up now.

[fin fan buck]

why does our offense play not to lose?

[scottpez]

mando ive been saying it all season and i will say it again. WE DONT HAVE ANY EXPLOSION AT RB ANYMORE!!!!

BIG PROBLEM NOBODY TALKS ABOUT

[The New Kid]

That was a decent drive, but it needed to end with a TD rather than a FG.

The good news is that Cinci's defense looks as bad as expected. The bad news is that Miami is terrible in the red zone.

[cowkilla]

And im sorry to say guys...henne is throwing to the WR he is STAREING at! hes not looking off at all...cincys safety's will be killing one of our WR today. Why cant henne look them off? this is week 8 already...is it that hard to do at a professional level?

[Phin Fan 4 Lyfe]

we can't score in the red zone because we don't have enough talent at the skill position.

[TorturedDolphan]

i know they didn't score but did you see how cute Hennes butt was on that drive

[Marc]

Awesome ST tackle from CObbs!

[Armando Salguero]

Sean Smith takes over for Jason Allen.

[koamisi]

team needs emotional smelling salt to wake them up!!! who and what will that be?????????

[David]

Mando-why does Henne continue to throw every pass to WR's where they have to run out of bounds when they could get YAC otherwise?

[Marc]

GB about to score first on Jets!

[Armando Salguero]

I assume Allen and Smith will alternate today.

[test]

3 years of the dumbfecta and we have so many holes...

parcells set this franchise back 5 years.

[grondz]

let's keep running it up the middle. The Bengals will never see it coming.

[zx9000]

why does ronnie always hesitate? i would love to see him just go!

[fin fan buck]

on o we need to play to win!!! not conservative play calling all the time...you have to confuse your opp like the pats..mix it up

[koamisi]

ughhhh

[David]

They seem to be able to run today

[daga-nj]

Oh i see tortured has crawled out from the rock and now that Hartline isnt playing how many weeks it will take until hes one of his favorites that the phins didnt "do right by" ala washed up JT and the injured Zach... Such a flip flopper and desperate tool as he doesnt know the game...stick with your man crush Sanchez..TD your so predictable and have been owned so many times you are the smelly fish you proclaim so much about..

[test]

nice personal foul...who was that on?

[Mike W]

when was the last time WE got a TO??

[test]

channing crowder with the personal foul...

still 100% useless...

WOW

[Brett]

Our defense looks awful. Henne looked good. If Wallace stays inbounds and can catch a pass right at his hands we score.

[Armando Salguero]

Have I mentioned that Benny Sapp is also overmatched in coverage?

[jrljr2]

the play that killed them waa the first down run for 1 yard. The field is alot smaller in red zone for the D to cover. Henne in a rhythm, would have liked to see a pass on first down.

[acwalsh8]

when was the last time WE got a TO??

Posted by: Mike W

we got 3 last week and didnt do dick with them.

[koamisi]

helppppp

[AZ Fin Fan]

Jordan Shipley = Brian Hartline, except with more speed.

[The New Kid]

They're gashing the defense. The personal foul doesn't help.

The defense needs to bow up here!

[bill_cnnrs@yahoo.com]

just getting destroyed. zero pass rush, pathetic

[jamesc]

d line needs to do something

[The Seer]

I sincerely think Ross can fire this crew right now and not suffer a significant PR hit..........I sense no love for Tuna & Tony in town.............just point out that Tuna quit on him, the team is duller than death, and he wants to make a change sooner rather than later.

[dave]

if the D is gonna keep playing like this we will need 5 reciver sets so we can catch up.

[TorturedDolphan]

FISH FRY. GET YOUR FISH FRY.

Cam Wake. Keep sleeping dude. No pass rush whatsoever from the fish d. Can't cover. Can't stop the run.

Warm up the bus!

[test]

the trifecta though benny sapp was a good trade pickup

LOLOL

they have failed with so many free agents, draft picks, and trades...

[tpatao]

same old Fins football!

[koamisi]

3-0 greenbay

[finatic]

Is it possible to bench our OC?

[woa]

At least Derek4 is cheerful with hope.

[brett144]

out db's are pitiful, the coverage sucks.

[bill_cnnrs@yahoo.com]

i agree seer, lets just wait till seasons over though, so we get a better draft pick

[koamisi]

bring back OFFERDAHL AND DUHE

[koamisi]

henne is not the guy folks!!

[TorturedDolphan]

I'll need the bus nice and warm because ill be waiting for the players after the game to give them a treat

[superPHIN]

CIN TD,MIA FG,CIN TD,MIA FG,CIN TD,MIA FG,,,WONDER WHAT THE SCORE WILL LOOK LIKE THAN!!!!

[David]

Can we ever get a FAST running back wide receiver-and good play caller?

[bbacni101]

god our pass d is pathetic

[PA Phin fan]

Do we even have a defense?

[Marc726]

>>Is it possible to bench our OC?<<

LOL

[bill_cnnrs@yahoo.com]

henne is the guy. coaching is the problem and a secondary that is pathetic

[koamisi]

wake uppppp MIAMI

[fin fan buck]

why the hell do we need to force the refs to do their job? The RT moved!!! Should have been called...Dansbey should not have to cross the line...what a joke!

[Armando Salguero]

PLEASE GO TO THE SECOND QUARTER POST FOR THE CONTINUATION OF THE LIVE BLOG.