About the good defense and frustrating offense

CINCINNATI -- The calendar has flipped to November. Awesome! This means the weather is getting colder and the NFL is getting hotter.

And because we have reached to point in the season when we start to look at the potential playoff contenders, because this is the time of year teams begin to separate relevant from not, this is also the time of year standards have to rise if one's team is going to be part of the relevant contender crowd.

The Dolphins believe themselves to be in the contender crowd. So I am holding them to a higher standard now because I want them to make the playoffs and be relevant.

And that is why I wrote what could be described as a column with a critical view following Sunday's victory over the Bengals.

I didn't celebrate the wonderfulness of a fourth road victory in four outings because, frankly, with the exception of the Green Bay game, I don't think that record has a lot to do with being exceedingly great on the road. I believe the Dolphins have an 0-3 record at home because they've played their three toughest games -- New York, New England, Pittsburgh -- at home. I believe they have 4-0 record on the road because, other than Green Bay, the teams Miami has beaten are terrible -- wherever they find themselves playing.

Buffalo, Minnesota and Cincinnati are terrible. They have a combined record of 4-17. They are what their record says they are, as Bill Parcells once famously said.

So I dismiss the road warrior myth. If the Dolphins can go on the roard and win 2 of 3 against Baltimore, New York and New England, I will be the first applauding their prowess on the road. Until then ... we should take those victories, with the exception of the outstanding Green Bay win, with a grain of salt.

I am not too comfortable being critical of a team after a victory. It's a victory!

But as I write in the column, a victory over a collapsing Cincinnati team isn't the goal this year. The playoffs are the goal this year. And the production the Dolphins are getting from their offense this year is troubling. One of the most troubling aspects of that not-good-enough production is this team cannot find Brandon Marshall in the end zone.

Marshall has caught one touchdown pass this year. One.

The excuse, er, reason the Dolphins give for not getting him the ball enough in the end zone is that teams are bracketing him with double coverage. Whatever. I asked Marshall if this is any different than what happened in the past. Read the column to see his answer, please.

The last three years Marshall has scored 23 touchdowns. That's an average of nearly 8 TDs per year. He has one now. Something has to get corrected to increase that number. Something has to get corrected so that Miami's best offensive weapon is getting the ball when the Dolphins are in the red zone.

Now, I must tell you some members of the Dolphins knew where I was going with today's column before I wrote it. And one astute member of the organization asked that I at least balance it with the fact the defense is playing very well. My balance was probably not good enough. I mentioned that Miami's defense is playoff caliber. Anyone disagree with that?

But let me add some more here: Mike Nolan's unit spent all of last week practicing against the no-huddle because the Bengals showed it against Baltimore the week before. Practices actually ended early last week because of that work against the no-huddle, which is kind of a hurry-up attack. Well, the Bengals came out with the no-huddle and shredded Miami on the first drive.

Then Nolan adjusted. He benched Jason Allen. He didn't have Allen share time with Sean Smith as was the plan. He put Allen's hind quarters on the bench and let him go play special teams while he searched for a more effective player on that day.

Don't you wish the offensive approach was similar? How many times has Ronnie Brown or Ricky Williams been the hot running back, but offensive coaches stubbornly stick with their platoon plan and give an almost equal share of carries to the tepid as well as hot runner?

Nolan and his coaches basically discarded the plan to share snaps between Allen and Smith and went with Smith. It paid off as Smith had good coverage much of the day and even turned in his first career interception.

The Miami defense blitzed, which is why Benny Sapp was in the backfield so much. The defense mixed man and zone and matched up Vontae Davis against Chad Ochocinco. Davis basically erased Mr. 85 from the game.

"We knew one thing Carson [Palmer] does is read the fakes," said safety Yeremiah Bell. "Me and Chris [Clemons] tried to mix it up. In the first drive, [Palmer] was being patient and waited a little bit. He was trying to make us show our hand. But after that first drive, we started hanging in there and started getting him into some things we wanted to get him into."

Did the defense have moments of struggle? Sure, the Bengals running game had plays when it got wide of the edge and also did good work on cutback runs. But the cutbacks were basically eliminated in the second half.

Oh, that's called an adjustment. Good work gentlemen.

 

Comments

[standley23]

Randy moss is still a Viking. Well, kinda sorta?

[Po White Trash]

http://espn.go.com/nfl/

Check this out.

[finatic]

Moss Is A DOLPHIN!!!!
oh sorry, im getting ahead of myself...

[standley23]

he will be waived . if the vikings think he gave up on plays and was a problem while on the roster, he will for sure now if they dont waive him.

[ALoco]

THE MIN PLAYERS ARE LIVID BY THE COACH MOVE .HE WILL BE FIRED IN SHORT ORDER .

[cowkilla]

Guys, moss is gone from Minn. He will be on tomorrows waiver wire not todays. Minn is responsible for his contract this year no matter where he goes. The team that lands him will pay him a bonus for signing because Minn will be paying him the rest of this year. then at the end of this year he becomes a FA unless his new team resign's him to a new contract. Moss does not have to clear wavers because the trade deadline has passed. so he is up for grabbs...yes i do have some inside info and it is verified and correct.

[cowkilla]

Sooooo, we beed to go grab him now and win the darn superbowl this year right now!

[bobbyd12]

cowkilla, close but wrong. Any team that picks up Moss is responsible for the remaining 4.6 million dollars of his contract. If NO team picks him up then the Vikes have to pay him 3.88 million and then if signed the signing team would owe him $450,000 per ESPN

[odinseye]

cowkilla,

Are you positive about not having to clear waivers?

[miked098]

espn adam schefter reports "that the cowboys, redskins, bears, rams, dolphins, raiders, chiefs, seahawks, and jets all have interest in Moss". even if (big if) he is released, sounds like to many teams with worst records would be putting in a claim. jerry jones has had a hard on for moss sice his rookie year

[Po White Trash]

NFL Total Access is on at 7:00, they should have the low down.

It will be the headline story....

[ALoco]

MIAMI CAN AFFORD MOSS SINCE THEY R PAYING ;

HENNE....600,000
CARPENTER........... 325,000

[bobbyd12]

dolphin77, I love your comments because you never get much right. "Nowhere did i see the Dolphins are interested" dolphin77, nowhere EXCEPT ESPN, PFT and CBS Sports. All have articles stating the Fins interest. You need to check b4 you post.

[odinseye]

I've seen more reports saying he does have to clear waivers.

Some(not many) are saying he doesn't?

Round and round she goes????

[Utdolfan]

cowkilla,

I thought I read it the opposite somewhere regarding waiver rules, that before trade deadline 4+ year veteran doesn't have to clear waivers, after deadline has to clear.

[scott alderson]

sorry cowkilla - here is the official waiver wire rules:

Now that the Randy Moss has been released by the Vikings we're seeing lots of questions about the NFL waiver wire. Here are a few questions we're seeing pop up.

What happens now? Randy Moss now enters the waiver wire.

How is the waiver wire order determined? Before Sept. 28, the waiver wire goes in the order of the NFL's worst team to best team based on last year's records. After Sept. 28, the waiver wire changes each week based on the current worst and best record in the NFL.

What is the current waiver wire order? You can see that here but the Bills at 0-7 will get the first crack at him and, if he goes unclaimed, the Patriots would get the last shot at him.

What is his salary if he's claimed? His salary remains the same assuming someone claims him. That would be $6.4 million with nine game checks remaining.

What if he's not claimed? Then he becomes a restricted free agent and can sign anywhere. He would have to negotiate a new contract at that point as well and he would be paid by the Vikings the remainder of his salary.

[Po White Trash]

Sh*t, we would be nutz not to land him if we have a chance......

Nutz!

[bobbyd12]

Moss has to clear waivers, thats why he on waiver wires

[Utdolfan]

WAIVER SYSTEM

Section 1. Release:

(a) Whenever a player who has finished the season in which his fourth year of credited service has been earned under the Bert Bell/Pete Rozelle Plan is placed on waivers between February 1 and the trading deadline, his contract will be considered terminated and the player will be completely free at any time thereafter to negotiate and sign a Player Contract with any Club, and any Club shall be completely free to negotiate and sign a Player Contract with such player, without penalty or restriction, including, but not limited to, Draft Choice Compensation between Clubs or First Refusal Rights of any kind, or any signing period. If the waivers occur after that time, the players Player Contract will be subject to the waiver system and may be awarded to a claiming Club.

[BuckeyeFinFan]

Waiver Rules

Section 1. Release:
(a) Whenever a player who has finished the season in which his fourth year of credited service has been earned under the Bert Bell/Pete Rozelle Plan is placed on waivers between February 1 and the trading deadline, his contract will be considered terminated and the player will be completely free at any time thereafter to negotiate and sign a Player Contract with any Club, and any Club shall be completely free to negotiate and sign a Player Contract with such player, without penalty or restriction, including, but not limited to, Draft Choice Compensation between Clubs or First Refusal Rights of any kind, or any signing period. If the waivers occur after that time, the player’s Player Contract will be subject to the waiver system and may be awarded to a claiming Club. However, if such player is claimed and awarded, he shall have the option to declare himself an Unrestricted Free Agent at the end of the League Year in question if he has a no-trade clause in his Player Contract. If such player does not have a no-trade clause and the Player Contract being awarded through waivers covers more than one additional season, the player shall have the right to declare himself an Unrestricted Free Agent as set forth above at the end of the League Year following the League Year in which he is waived and awarded.

[Po White Trash]

Un-restricted free agent?

[miked098]

the trade deadline passed. that wavier rule utdolphan fan posted seems incorrect

[acwalsh8]

Tell Mr Ross to buy randy a nice new vehicle trailer, set of tools, tires, fire suit, and whatever else a race team needs.....get him a girl to braid his hair every day....give justin bieber 5% ownership of the phins (this will give randy his brady fix) and a nice wad of cash....say 2 mil ish for him to be a model citizen.

for all of this what does he have to do?

run corner, fly and post patterns on each play. thats it.

oh....and we will get him a new set of dr dre head phones customized in phins colors so he can match his swag for all the press conferences he does!

at least try to sign him please.

[Po White Trash]

Sh*t, that reads like VCR instructions........

[Po White Trash]

Showin my age with the VCR comment.

[scott alderson]

simple. the claim process begins tomorrow at 4pm. if all the teams ahead of us based on the fact that their record is worse than ours - we could then claim him.

[Utdolfan]

I think the last line of what I posted refers to after the trade deadline and answers the question we had...

If the waivers occur after that time, the players Player Contract will be subject to the waiver system and may be awarded to a claiming Club.

[BuckeyeFinFan]

Basically what it is saying is that since he was cut AFTER the trade deadline he can be claimed off of waivers by another team. If no team claims him then he is free to go wherever he wants.

[miked098]

the whole situation sound fishy "he is not part of the team" according to childress, but hasnt been released. sounds like an owner stepping in!

[Po White Trash]

Moss could say I will not play on so and so team, why would you pick him up?

[ALoco]

YOU ANSWERED YOUR OWN QUESTION EARLY PO WHITE

[Utdolfan]

Sh*t, that reads like VCR instructions........

Posted by: Po White Trash | November 01, 2010 at 06:59 PM

Just push play...

[bill_cnnrs@yahoo.com]

why would anyone pick moss up, guy is garbage.

[Po White Trash]

Total Access says Brad Childress has authority to make the call.

[BuckeyeFinFan]

Po-

Because if he wants to play this year then he has to go with whatever team picks him off waivers.

[miked098]

nfl network " perfect setting would be miami". maybe if henning was fired!

[Po White Trash]

They just said Miami should pick him up

[Po White Trash]

Perfect place for him, Miami would be explosive!

[Utdolfan]

Childress sinking fast on the S.S. Favre

[miked098]

po, we will only be explosive if hennig reverts back to 08 when he called great games

[Po White Trash]

BuckeyeFinFan, Thanks for the info.

But why would you pick him up if he will not play for Who picked him up?

Pick up and pay him so he can hold out?

[bill_cnnrs@yahoo.com]

moss is a cancer, no way would i want that guy

[Po White Trash]

I'm not sayin it, just sayin what they were sayin.

[bobbyd12]

yes, between Feb 1 and the trading deadline. after the trading deadline subject to waiver wire rules, worst to first. trading deadline has passed. subject to waiver wire rules

[scott alderson]

absolute melt down in minnesota. coach has lost it completely. he will be fired......

[Derek4Dolphins]

Good evening guys...How's it?

I hope all is well for all...

So, I have a question regarding the waiver wire scenario... "How much say-so does the PLAYER have in where he goes?"

Can Moss say... I wanna go here or there to his agent and then start the process? OR... is it all about the team who wants him and he can only say... yes or no...?

[miked098]

bet vikings front office is killing themselves giving childress that contract extension last year.

[miked098]

just a personal feeling, but i would think jerry jones would put in a claim on moss just for pr other then the fact his team SUCKS

[bobbyd12]

Sorry bill, lots of dummies, that includes me, said Marshall is a cancer. Moss would be a great help for rest of the year

[bill_cnnrs@yahoo.com]

just said fins were first team to call segal about moss, retarded. Segal told the Star Tribune that he has already been contacted by the Dolphins and Seahawks about Moss

[dolphin77]

hey bobbyd12, that's because you just heard it. i heard nothing about the dolphins when i posted.

[Derek4Dolphins]

I cannot imagine a scenario other then the draft at the beginning of their career where a player has no say so or "Leverage" in where he plays... If he gets "Claimed" by Buffalo and tells them to "Kick Rocks".... does that place his season in jeopardy?

[bobbyd12]

Vikes just traded a 3rd pick for this guy, big mistake. Childress had no clue how to jandle this

[ALoco]

THE MIN COACH WILL BE FIRED SOON, A REPORT SAYING HE LOST ALL THE PLAYERS IN THE LOCKER ROOM ,

NEXT 2 HOURS HE WILL BE GONE .

THE PLAYERS ARE ASKING ;DOES HE KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING ?

[bill_cnnrs@yahoo.com]

well bobby i respectfully disagree. dont want him on team, he never even tries. would piss marshall off also

[Po White Trash]

He will get paid to sit so he has the power right?

If he says I will ride the pine if you pick me up, why would you pick him up for $3.5 mil and he will not play.

[MojoMark]

SIGN MOSS!

[miked098]

boomer is an idot. moss is still one of the top 5 recivers in football when he wants to play. somebody will pick him up

[standley23]

yes, moss could sit out the remainder of the season if he is picked up by a team he does not want to play for. he wouldnt get paid, but i dont think Moss is hurting for Cash.

[bill_cnnrs@yahoo.com]

moss is worthless, trust that. he would not help this football team. guy hates football, havent seen him finish a route yet this year. was pathetic when he didnt even try and catch favres pass for a td