NFL Week V

[sbr]

Free agent wide receivers David Tyree and Ronald Curry tried out for the Ravens Monday. ...

Are they going to be pass rushing?

I saw parts of the Ravens game with the Red Zone Channel, but not much.  What happened to the Ravens' offense?  Flacco completed a decent number and percentage of passes (22/31) but he had so few yards (186).  Did they even try to throw the ball down field?  Did Flacco not have enough time?  Not to ignore the Ravens' lack of a pass rush, but they HAVE to score more than 7 points on offense in that game.

[Neil]

Free agent wide receivers David Tyree and Ronald Curry tried out for the Ravens Monday. ...

Are they going to be pass rushing?

I saw parts of the Ravens game with the Red Zone Channel, but not much.  What happened to the Ravens' offense?  Flacco completed a decent number and percentage of passes (22/31) but he had so few yards (186).  Did they even try to throw the ball down field?  Did Flacco not have enough time?  Not to ignore the Ravens' lack of a pass rush, but they HAVE to score more than 7 points on offense in that game.

There was some pressure, but not unbearably so.  The playcalling didn't help them.

[katmai]

Last week the NFL beat you over the head about breast cancer, this week is "let's pander to Hispanics"

You don't want them pandering to your son?

[derspiess]

There was some pressure, but not unbearably so.  The playcalling didn't help them.

Playcalling was too conservative.  Flacco is still fairly young, but he should have been given a chance to win the game.  The rushing TD almost seemed to vindicate the playcalling, but the play itself was a bit of a fluke and the Ravens might have already been up if they had opened things up a bit more.  IIRC, Mason didn't catch a pass until late in the 3rd quarter, though the Bungles D had something to do with that

[derspiess]

You don't want them pandering to your son?

Believe me, that's not necessary.  He goes nuts every time he sees any football on TV.

But as a Hispandex person yourself, I trust you're properly inspired by the fact that J-Lo, Mark Anthony, and Gloria Estefan own 2% of the Dolphins

[CountDeMoney]

I saw parts of the Ravens game with the Red Zone Channel, but not much.  What happened to the Ravens' offense?  Flacco completed a decent number and percentage of passes (22/31) but he had so few yards (186).  Did they even try to throw the ball down field?  Did Flacco not have enough time?  Not to ignore the Ravens' lack of a pass rush, but they HAVE to score more than 7 points on offense in that game.

Bengals totally shut down the deep routes.  All of Flacco's completions were virtually checkdowns, screens and flats.  That's why they need a marque WR like a Brandon Marshall;  Derrick Mason can slice the Kansas Citys and Clevelands of the league, but he's limited.  Bengals shut down everything beyond 15 yards.

Neil's right; the playcalling was totally mystifying. That being said, Willis McGahee only had 2 touches all game.  Unacceptable.  Really though, they were totally not ready to play.

Then again, if Flacco connected on that deep pass that Clayton totally burned the defense when they were up, it's game over.  But I think that was he deepest pass attempt of the game.  IN-GAME MUSCLE MEMORY FTW

[CountDeMoney]

You don't want them pandering to your son?

Believe me, that's not necessary.  He goes nuts every time he sees any football on TV.

But as a Hispandex person yourself, I trust you're properly inspired by the fact that J-Lo, Mark Anthony, and Gloria Estefan own 2% of the Dolphins

Ugh...between Obama's Hispanic Heritage Month message, the announcers pronouncing him San-CHEZ, and the NFLatino commercials, I'm about ready to go loco.

[Barrister]

What's with the San-CHEZ pronunciation anyways?

This is a nice little MNF game going here.  How many lead changes so far?

[derspiess]

Did I hear correctly during the interview with San-CHEZ before the game (or at halftime?) when he said he doesn't speak any Spanish?

[derspiess]

About flippin' time they put in Pat White

[CountDeMoney]

Did I hear correctly during the interview with San-CHEZ before the game (or at halftime?) when he said he doesn't speak any Spanish?

Yeah.

[derspiess]

Hell of a game.  Ricky Williams looked damn good-- there must be a bonus in his contract that is paid in weed or something.

[katmai]

Did I hear correctly during the interview with San-CHEZ before the game (or at halftime?) when he said he doesn't speak any Spanish?

see we can assimilate!

He is 3rd generation mex-am like myself :p

[katmai]

Derspicy:
lol yeah just saw that tonight about the Estefan/anthony/ jlo ownership deal.

[citizen k]

Wildcat helps Dolphins beat Jets 31-27

By STEVEN WINE, AP Sports Writer

MIAMI (AP)—When the wildcat delivered a big play for the Miami Dolphins, coach Tony Sparano skipped along the sideline with glee, reached back and threw a roundhouse punch.

That was just in the first quarter. The knockout came much later, again with the wildcat.

Running back Ronnie Brown took the snap with 10 seconds left and scored on a 2-yard keeper for the fifth lead change of the final period, giving Miami a wild 31-27 victory over the New York Jets on Monday night.

Newcomer Braylon Edwards provided a big boost for the Jets, and two fake punts fooled the Dolphins. But Miami gained 110 yards with the wildcat, which was instrumental in three touchdown drives, including the last one.

"Like anything else, if you execute, good things will happen," Brown said.

Jets coach Rex Ryan was annoyed the wildcat kept working.

"I used to see all those gimmicks when I was coaching back in college," Ryan said. "I've been a part of some bad performances before on defense, just not this bad."

The Dolphins started from their own 30-yard line with 5:05 left, trailing 27-24, and mounted a 13-play drive for the winning score. The march included four wildcat plays for 25 yards, the last on third down at the 2.

"We were in the huddle and said, `We've got to score a touchdown. No settling for field goals. We've got to finish the game,"' Brown said.

He ran up the middle, found a seam and crossed the goal line with 6 seconds to go. Even Brown's teammates on the sideline were surprised by the call.

"That's why we are players and not coaches," Miami defensive tackle Jason Ferguson said. "All of us were talking about, 'Why won't you pass it?' Because we got a touchdown, that's why."

The resilient Dolphins (2-3) came from behind three times in the fourth quarter, and they're back in the AFC East race after losing their first three games. The Jets (3-2) have lost two straight and fell into a tie with New England for first place.

The game became a shootout reminiscent of the Dolphins' Dan Marino days, and filling that role just fine was Chad Henne.

In only his second NFL start, Henne completed 20 of 26 for 241 yards and two touchdowns. He threw deep to Ted Ginn Jr. for a 53-yard score to give Miami a 24-20 lead with 10:10 left.

"We made him look like Dan Marino," Jets linebacker Calvin Pace said. "They did what they want, and they did it at will."

The Jets kept answering with Edwards, acquired in a trade with Cleveland a week ago. He caught one scoring pass and set up New York's other two touchdowns. The Jets' fake punts set up a TD and a field goal.

The Dolphins' trickery came via the wildcat, which they ran 16 times. On the game's opening drive, Miami threw out of the formation for the first time this season, and Brown connected with tight end Anthony Fasano for a 21-yard gain. Ricky Williams then ran for 18 yards from the wildcat, and Brown scored on a 1-yard plunge on third down to cap a 7 1/2 -minute drive.

The Dolphins used the wildcat five times in a TD drive that consumed nearly 9 minutes of the second half. But while they relied on ball control for much of the game, they also showed a newfound ability to strike quickly.

Ginn beat Darrelle Revis and two other Jets deep, catching Henne's long pass just before crossing the goal line. It was a rare long gain by the Dolphins, who came into the game with only two completions of 20 yards or more to wide receivers.

"Teddy ran a great route, and they gave us the coverage we wanted," Henne said.

Williams set up a field goal when he gained 59 yards on a reception, with all the yards coming after the catch. He finished with 68 yards rushing on 11 carries, and Brown ran for 74 yards in 21 attempts.

The Dolphins totaled 413 yards, converting nine of 14 third-down chances and controlling the ball for 33 1/2 minutes.

"We were definitely in a dog fight for 60 minutes," Henne said. "It shows a lot of character in our team."

Jets rookie Mark Sanchez was 12 of 24 for 172 yards and benefited immediately from the addition of Edwards, who caught a 3-yard scoring pass to cap his first series with the Jets. Edwards made a leaping 34-yard catch on third-and-21 to set up another TD.

"Everyone saw it—he's a big-time receiver," Ryan said. "That's one thing we did right last week was make that trade for him."

NOTES: Dolphins third-string RB Patrick Cobbs came out of the game in the fourth quarter with a knee injury. ... Jets WR David Clowney also hobbled out of the game in the fourth quarter. ... The Jets' Steve Weatherford ran 26 yards with a fake punt. It was only the second carry of his four-year career.