Quote:First Impressions – Dolphins @ Falcons
August 13th, 2011 | Author: Khaled Elsayed
Miami and Atlanta. Two franchises who had their new era’s start in 2008 with both teams having high draft choices. One bypassed the top quarterback and settled for someone in the second, the other pounced all over a man who screamed franchise quarterback.
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After three years it’s hard not to look past the decision Miami made and realize in hindsight, it was the wrong one.
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That’s not because Jake Long hasn’t been great. He has. But Miami ignoring the quarterback spot is holding them back, while the Falcons are soaring. Nothing in the opening quarter, when the starters were in, suggested otherwise. Here’s some thoughts on the two teams.
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Miami – Three Things of Note
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● You have to start with Chad Henne who isn’t helping himself win friends and influence people with performances like this. While the first interception lay at the feet of Anthony Fasano (though the ball was still thrown behind him), he was guilty of a horrible underthrow that got intercepted, and only got the offense moving against the Falcons second stringers.
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● Rookie center Mike Pouncey had a mixed day. He picked up the wrong guy as the Falcons linebackers crossed on a blitz on the first play and then on his first play run blocking he didn’t do a particularly good job, with Sean Weatherspoon able to shed his block. That was it against the starters, though he had some joy against the second stringers. He moved Trey Lewis from the point of attack, but it’s a hard performance to gage with such little action against starters.
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● Last year the Dolphins second down nickel defense involved them taking an outside linebacker off the field and replacing him with a nickel back. While everything else looked the same about the Dolphins they did start mixing that up a bit, taking a defensive lineman off which could give them more pressure off the edge.
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Atlanta – Three Things of Note
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● All eyes were on Julio Jones and the Falcons certainly gave him center stage. There was a definite effort to put him in position to make plays, with Matt Ryan targeting him on the first two plays. That he didn’t catch either ball goes down to a poor throw from Ryan when Jones had got behind Davis, and Davis redeeming himself by blanketing the receiver. Still the Falcons did get the ball in Jones’ hands, hitting him on a drag route which he turned up field for a big gain, and then using his speed on an end around to pick up a first down. The Falcons sent a message, that Jones is going to be a big part of their offense.
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● The only change on the offensive line is the introduction of Garrett Reynolds replacing Harvey Dahl. If this game is anything to go by you can expect a bit of a drop off. The Falcons like to pull their offensive linemen, and Reynolds struggled in this regard to get out and get his hands on a man. On the plus side, watch his block on Kendall Langford with 13:47 left in the first. More of that will go down well in Atlanta.
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● In all this talk of punishing lead blockers, there needs to be more said about Ovie Mughelli. The full back is about as consistent as it gets at the position, and while some full backs either hit you hard, or don’t hit you at all, Mughelli makes every block count. The first two plays on the Falcons second series he opened up holes by taking a linebacker out. It’s what he does all year round.
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The Falcons looked like the team that had the best record in the NFC last year, while the Dolphins stumbled with their starters on the field. It was only a couple of series so you can’t read too much into it, but right now one team looks like a playoff contender again, and the other simply doesn’t.
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(08-13-2011 10:38 PM)mcsupersport Wrote:  Maybe the only issue is calling the int by Grimes under thrown, because I think Grimes just did what he always does and out jump the pass.

(08-13-2011 11:14 PM)Paprika Neck Wrote:  he'll get the hang of pulling this was his first live action he has the ability to really maul some folks

(08-14-2011 05:04 AM)papachaz Wrote:  since i'll readily admit i'm not the most football knowledgable guy here, since Reynolds has played mostly tackle and not much guard, he wouldn't have a lot of experience 'pulling' right? i mean you hear a lot about plays with a 'pulling guard' but not much about a tackle pulling. based on what i think i understand, he'll get better with it as he gets more practice. maybe this is something Johnson might have an advantage with...