Preseason football in South Florida: The constant threat of rain -- it's already showed. The humidity. The baseball infield.
Awesome!
Let's hang! There will be a live blog of the Dolphins' 2011 preseason home debut right here starting at 7:30. I'll come back in a little while and tell you which players -- other than Jake Long -- will not play tonight. I'll be interested to see whether/how long Will Allen plays tonight after missing most of the past 21 months with various injuries.
[Update: The Dolphins are announcing Jared Odrick replaces Randy Starks in the starting lineup tonight. Allen will not play. LB Austin Spitler, G Garrett Chisolm, T Ray Willis, OL Joe Berger, T Jake Long and TE Mickey Shuler are also scratched.]
Things to look for tonight -- other than Chad Henne's performance of course?
Dolphins linebackers versus Greg Olsen and Jeremy Shockey. The Dolphins are going to face very good tight end play in the regular season opener against New England. They have a history of struggling against tight ends in the past. Let's see how Karlos Dansby, Kevin Burnett, and to some degree strong safety Yeremiah Bell fare tonight.
I want to see if Phillip Livas, who opened eyes last week with a 75-yard punt return, can show some consistency or if that was one-time luck. I'm not saying Livas needs to take another one to the house. I am saying he needs to show wiggle, ability to make the first guy miss consistently, and then acceleration past the second tackler. Blocking is supposed to take care of the rest.
I want to see if Matt Moore can show the spark again this week that he showed against Atlanta.
I want to see progress from center Mike Pouncey individually and then some clue that the offensive line is coming together as a group.
I want to see Anthony Fasano catch the ball rather than have the ball boink off his hands.
I want to see the front seven on defense stop the run, something they struggled to do last week at Atlanta.
And, obviously, I want to see a win. There is no substitute for victory.
big gain after hit
Posted by: tony in Miami | August 19, 2011 at 07:53 PM
Nice block by Lydon Murtha on the left side on Bush run.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | August 19, 2011 at 07:53 PM
Reggie, Reggie!!
Posted by: bobbyd12 | August 19, 2011 at 07:53 PM
Wow awesome! thanks
Posted by: tony | August 19, 2011 at 07:53 PM
Who is calling the game on the Dolphin's broadcast? I hear Cefalo, Rose, but some other guy is doing the play-by-play.
???
Posted by: Rand_the_fin | August 19, 2011 at 07:54 PM
So don't pass to an open Marshall. Right
Posted by: ltcdolphin | August 19, 2011 at 07:54 PM
Lots of Marshall slants, I like
Posted by: bobbyd12 | August 19, 2011 at 07:54 PM
Great block?
Oh, on the left...
Posted by: PoWhitetrash | August 19, 2011 at 07:54 PM
call me Snake
Posted by: Snake Pliskin | August 19, 2011 at 07:54 PM
Griese is totally biased, trying to stroke Henne into orgasm.
Posted by: Zango | August 19, 2011 at 07:55 PM
Incompletion to Hartline was terrible not because the pass was overthrown, but because Marshall lined up in the slot and NOBODY covered him. He was alone 20 yards downfield and Henne didn't throw to him.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | August 19, 2011 at 07:55 PM
Good call Ref!
Posted by: PoWhitetrash | August 19, 2011 at 07:56 PM
Bush For President!!
Posted by: bobbyd12 | August 19, 2011 at 07:56 PM
Henne is not accurate deep!
Posted by: Whachutalkinbout | August 19, 2011 at 07:56 PM
Expect a pass to TE
Posted by: tony in Miami | August 19, 2011 at 07:56 PM
I have to say I'm getting really tired of Hartline throwing his hands up anytime he and Henne don't connect. Seems a little immature, he has some growing up to do.
Posted by: LouD | August 19, 2011 at 07:56 PM
LOL @ Snake...
Posted by: PoWhitetrash | August 19, 2011 at 07:57 PM
Good blocking o line right side
Posted by: ltcdolphin | August 19, 2011 at 07:57 PM
So glad that infield is gonna be gone soon..
Posted by: Mike Dee | August 19, 2011 at 07:57 PM
Lydon Murtha holding. His second penalty.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | August 19, 2011 at 07:57 PM
I can vote for that one B12...
Posted by: PoWhitetrash | August 19, 2011 at 07:57 PM
Hurry back Jake!!
Posted by: bobbyd12 | August 19, 2011 at 07:58 PM
Especially when Hartline just fumbled but the holding penalty just saved him!
Posted by: CanesRUS | August 19, 2011 at 07:58 PM
WOW!! VERY HAPPY RIGHT NOW!!
KEEP IT GOING GUYS!
Posted by: NJ-DolFIN FAN | August 19, 2011 at 07:58 PM
Reggie Bush is moving!
Posted by: Armando Salguero | August 19, 2011 at 07:59 PM
Slants kill the defense, NE does it all the time
Posted by: bobbyd12 | August 19, 2011 at 07:59 PM
Gut up and score
Posted by: ltcdolphin | August 19, 2011 at 07:59 PM
I've seen enough Reggie for today!!!!!
Posted by: robbyhernz | August 19, 2011 at 08:00 PM
You need Long in there to judge this team
Posted by: Ed | August 19, 2011 at 08:00 PM
Thats what i'm takin bout Mando...
Posted by: PoWhitetrash | August 19, 2011 at 08:00 PM
Is Tony chewing the same gum from last year?
Posted by: Zango | August 19, 2011 at 08:00 PM
Good call Ref!
Posted by: PoWhitetrash | August 19, 2011 at 08:01 PM
This looks great. I'm ready to blow my neighbor.
Posted by: bobbyd12 | August 19, 2011 at 08:02 PM
Daniel Thomas isn't exactly moving the pile. Looked kind of tentative on second down run.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | August 19, 2011 at 08:02 PM
Miami fans are not morons.
Posted by: Armando Salguero
I beg to differ, have you been looking at some of the fans in the seats? Yikes!
Posted by: LouD | August 19, 2011 at 08:02 PM
Brainless play calling..
Henning back?
Posted by: PoWhitetrash | August 19, 2011 at 08:02 PM
Polite
Posted by: bobbyd12 | August 19, 2011 at 08:02 PM
There we go !!!!
Posted by: bobbyd12 | August 19, 2011 at 08:03 PM
Does Daniel Thomas look any good at all????? Seriously, in the last two games hes averaged a yard a carry. IF even
Posted by: Chase | August 19, 2011 at 08:03 PM
wow this goal line series was embarassing
Posted by: caymanfinfan | August 19, 2011 at 08:03 PM
fist pump!
Posted by: Eric | August 19, 2011 at 08:03 PM
Run blocking still needs work. But finally knock it in!!!!!!
Posted by: CanesRUS | August 19, 2011 at 08:03 PM
Death to the first pump FG!
Posted by: Armando Salguero | August 19, 2011 at 08:03 PM
Armando, were we better to sign Bush/Mcgahee and draft TE/QB/OL instead of Daniel Thomas
Posted by: Snake Pliskin | August 19, 2011 at 08:03 PM
They want the o line to step up and make it happen
Posted by: ltcdolphin | August 19, 2011 at 08:03 PM
I'm swallowing tonight!
Posted by: bobbyd12 | August 19, 2011 at 08:04 PM
did everyone see that fist pump? hahaa
Posted by: acwalsh8@aol.com | August 19, 2011 at 08:04 PM
Sure glad we traded up to get this big bruiser of a RB who we take out and put in an undrafted RB to finish a 1 yard td run
Posted by: Chase | August 19, 2011 at 08:04 PM
Bush looking good, way to punch it in..
Posted by: blism | August 19, 2011 at 08:04 PM
Snake, obviously early on this but Thomas has been ordinary so far.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | August 19, 2011 at 08:04 PM
Good drive and they punched it in
Posted by: ltcdolphin | August 19, 2011 at 08:05 PM
During the season, I'll scream at my TV if they try that goal line play calling again. However, at this juncture in the season, I think it sent a much needed message to the O-line.
Posted by: Magic | August 19, 2011 at 08:05 PM
Hey, this is Pre Season, they wanted the O line and Daniel Thomas to push it in. Good calls but my boy Hilliard got it finished
Posted by: bobbyd12 | August 19, 2011 at 08:05 PM
So far the headline being written is about the o-lines mistakes. Maybe we won't have to hear about Henne for one day, yippee!
Posted by: LouD | August 19, 2011 at 08:05 PM
Good Job Offense, but there were a lot of opportunities there.
Posted by: Shepherd Book | August 19, 2011 at 08:06 PM
Really liked seeing the 4 running plays in a row there.
Henning always had to get cute in those situations.
Posted by: Oregon Dolphin fan | August 19, 2011 at 08:07 PM
I see the Henne haters are upset, LMAO!! Wahhhh!!!
Posted by: bobbyd12 | August 19, 2011 at 08:07 PM
The Bush pick up looks brilliant so far.
Posted by: PoWhitetrash | August 19, 2011 at 08:07 PM
Hilliard has to get mire playing time Thomas looks lost and doesn't hit the hole hard and fast! Thomas is very slow!! Not impress with him yet, we need to give Grisby and sheets more touches!! Henne looking better but no vertical game yet not accurate with the long ball!!
Posted by: ray | August 19, 2011 at 08:08 PM
They need to play this o-line together as much as possible. Perhaps play the whole third pre-season game.
Posted by: CanesRUS | August 19, 2011 at 08:08 PM