Dolphins melt down in 4th quarter and lose 28-17
Its looking more and more like Randy Moss made Duante Culpepper. In the 4th quarter Culpepper looked horrible. For the game Culpepper completed 18 of 37 passes for 262 yards and threw two big pick-offs that cost the Dolphins any chance of making a comeback.
The Steelers stuffed Ronnie Brown who only had 15 carries for 30 yards and 2 TDs, he also caught 3 passes for 32 yards. Marty Booker caught 3 passes for 64 yards. Chris Chambers caught 5 passes for 59 yards.
Wes Welker had a fantastic game. Welker caught 4 passes for 67 yards, returned three kick-offs for 74 yards and returned three punts for 79 yards.
Zach Thomas had 12 tackles, Tavares Tillman had 9 tackles and Vonnie Holliday had 8 tackles.
Just wait until Culpepper starts fumbling. First will come the excuses, then he starts finger pointing. Giving up Moss was a mistake on Minnesota’s part. Letting Culpepper go wasn’t.
You’ll see what I mean.
dullpepper sucks plain and simple, brees would have been a much better way to go, once again the dumphins make the wrong choice, please give us one reason to continue to root for this ever losing under-achieving so called team??????? maybe saban could go back to ncaa and take the dumphins with him, they might win a game maybe even 2
Same old story for the Dolphins….weak line play, both sides of the ball. Especially the offense. Has been the major weak link since the Czonka/Kick days. Not sure why the organization can’t ever see that. Good teams always push us around and pound on us. No chance for greatness unless we start winning the up front battles. Ronnie Brown would rush for 175 per game if he played behind other offensive lines….then what do you think Culpepper could do?
the fullback stunk, pitt has a great D so im not to disappointed, we had backups at the CB spot!!were gonna be fine ask the steelers if it was a blow-out or something miami should be concerned about!! we lost to the super bowl champs at there house when they had all the stuff for the BUS and the previous Super BOwl champs of pitt. it was a good look for miami to face there toughest opp. of the year week 1 now we know what to work on!!
Wes Welker looked great. The jury is still out on Duante. Coach, you need to practice that challenge thing. A 5 tr old girl could have thrown that flag farther than you did. Its up to you to get the attention of the official. Its not up to them to wait in anticipation of what you and the guys in the booth are deciding to do. Having said that it would have only delayed the touchdown a few more seconds.
The secondary cost us the game with 2 stupid penalties when we had the steelers on the ropes. Pull your heads out guys and play like the professionals that you are being payed to be.
I still have much faith and I know that it is early in the season. Kick Buffalos butt next week guys.
How can you say the Steelers would have scored a TD anyway? The Steelers had already lost a fumble near the goal-line once in the game.
The turning point in the game was the bonehead call of a halfback pitch on 3rd and 2. A first down there would have possibly sealed this one. Mularkey saw that the WR screen was working all night long for 3+ yards, why try to run against this Steeler defense all of a sudden when you’d only managed 30 yards all game? The players (offense and defense) made many many mistakes, but the loss of momentum was what turned a win into a loss and rests solely on the coaches for squandering the opportunities they’d been given.
I can’t believe so many people are ready to throw in the towel after 1 game. I’ve been rooting for this team since 1985.
I’ll say one thing. If the Steelers don’t improve by leaps and bounds ASAP, they are going to be in for a long long season…
As an avid dolphins fan since birth in 1981 I must say I am intrigued by the orginization. I love ronnie brown but when u have his teamate from auburn, a proven horse, still on the board WHY NOT?? I think culpeper is a good move, brees is done! Too bad the fins can’t get all pieces of the offense together at the same time. Imagine the rings on Marino with ricky in the backfield. I would imagine there would be at least 2 probablly 3 but even as great as Dan was no one can be expected to pass that much (example philadelphia). Fish faithful rally around and lets pray for an offensive line that BLOCKS!
I’m just tired of everyone lauding the Fins defense like it’s one of the elite in the NFL. It’s a solid D, but that’s about it. The past two seasons, their total defense was ranked #15 in ‘05 and #20 is ‘04. I think that writers and sportscasters are still hung up on the Fins’ D from a few years ago that WAS dominant. They’re pedestrian at best now.
I didn’t expect them to win Thursday, but I was hoping that Daunte would play well and that we’d make the Steelers work for the victory. Instead, Daunte looked like AJ Feeley and Charley Batch looked like Tom Brady.
My last comment on my rant to the folks who are still smoking last season’s 6-0 wacky weed…the Fins’ opponenets combined win percentage was in the neighborhood of .330. It was a nice way to end the season but beating up on the NFL’s red-headed step children does not make a Super Bowl contender.
Mike malarkey needs to keep giving the ball to ronnie and not give up on him so soon. Ronnie will find a hole eventually,also start dumping the ball off to ronnie alot more to.
Donte did his job on thurs. We neede to keep runing… Saban got away from the run… We have a really good team…U ppl need to quit bad mouthing u r team and show some pride.. learn to be there through good and bad…dont just ride when they win… If u feel this away about Donte and Saban dont watch or pick a new team just dont hate at the end of the season when were in the playoffs and you r still bitching… GRow and be a real fan…
I agree. Brown would have helped them burn some clock if they would have let him when the Fins were winning.
MIchael please learn how to spell you idiot. you make the same mistakes over and over it is Daunte you idiot, and its need not neede and running not runing
If you don’t like the dolphins,then you can always be a TAMPA fan.LOSERSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
I saw many things Thursday night that proved to me that this team is better than any we’ve had in a long time. Don’t forget that most of the players are new, timing and chemistry will come in time. Daunte is off an injury and WILL find his timing with a very capable receiving core. The offensive line did not allow a sack till the end of the game when the Steelers loaded the secondary…everyone new he had to pass. There are plenty of reasons to feel good about this team; if anyone can fix the problems with the secondary and the running game it’s Nick Saban. I understand 30 years of disappointment, but let’s not throw in the towel just yet.
Thank you Mike for finally hitting some of the good things about thursday night! Chuck and Dave, I just want you to know that Tampa Bay and Jacksonville are calling for your bandwagon support. Be sure not to miss the boat because us fin faithful don’t want you bringing down the morale after the first game of the season.
By the way, I’m a different MikeA, not the gentleman listed on Comment 11. I’ve been a Dolfan since their first Superbowl. It’s been a long hard road, but I feel good about this team, Good defense, offense and special teams win games, nobody has the full package in the NFL….we’re pretty good in all three areas….
Coaches are working on the Offensive line now as we speak. They made a few adjustments finally waiving Wade Smith who was just sitting around wasting room on the roster. They picked up center Trey Darileck. So at least they acknowledged the fact that they need to work on the offensive line. Once they get that tweaked just good enough….then Daunte and Ronnie will be a concern for defense’s across the league. I truely believe so. People forget, Daunte hasn’t played for quarters in almost a year. It was his first game and no conditioning in the off season or training camp can prepare you for 4 quarters live. Especailly against the defending champs. Remember, it was only the fourth quarter. I bet at the half most of you were suprised on how good the fins looked; and maybe even thought we had a chance of winning. Give Daunte a few weeks to adjust to the new offense and get a little bit in shape before you give up on him first. If anything blame the offesnive line. We’re going to smoke Buffalo and pick up a confidence building “W”. Go FINS!
The dolphins played about as good of defense as a coach could ask from any team. They kept their composure despite the two penalties and got a steeler fumble. The secondary did make crucial mistakes especially at the end of the game but with a young secondary, mistakes are expected to happen.
As far as everything talking about how bad the offensive line is, lets not forget that they improved on the sacks allowed last season as opposed to the season before in 2004 when ricky quit. I dont know the exact numbers but it is significant difference. the Fins were last in 2004 for sacks allowed. In 2005 I think they were like 14th. So they have gotten better and will get better.
I think culpepper still played well overall with the exception of the fourth quarter. That will happen when he hasnt played in almost a year recovering from a really severe injury. So what if he doesnt have randy moss anymore. He’s booker, chambers and mcmichael that are all awesome. I just dont understand why mcmichael wasnt used more in the second half. He’s one of the best receivers the dolphins have and one of the best tight ends.
gman great points. Look at the improvment this year already as well. No sacks until the fourth quarter when everyone knew the fins were passing. Look at the bright side, at least we are still better than the Buffalo Jills and that team from New York. Heck even the patriots are on their way down. Release and reload WON’T work this year. Deion Branch was no Jerry Rice but he sure is better than they will have. Fins win the division this year.
miami dolphins. how is the miami dolphins????? THIS TEAM PLAYS LIKE A GROUP OF WOMEN THEY NEED TO WATCH THE 72 DOLPINS AND TAKE NOTES HOW TO PLAY THE GAME. AND PLAY LIKE A TEAM THIS TEAM CAN TAKE THE AFC
The Dolphins are downright horrible. They are the worst team in the AFC East and it’s not even close. When you lose to the Bills at home and the Texans on the road, you are not a good football team. Joey Harrington’s time is coming soon and that says it all.