kelly Posted September 30, 2015 Share Posted September 30, 2015 Ten things to know about the Miami Dolphins, the New York Jets' opponent this Sunday at Wembley Stadium in London : 1. The Dolphins are similar to last week's foe, the Philadelphia Eagles: They're in crisis mode, battling a two-game losing streak, with slings and arrows coming from every direction. After struggling to beat the mediocre Washington Redskins, the Dolphins (1-2) fell to the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars and got blown out by the Buffalo Bills. They're hoping to reinvent themselves in London. Hey, they did it last year, lugging a 1-2 record across the pond and beating the Oakland Raiders to keep their season alive. 2. After three straight non-winning seasons, Joe Philbin is coaching for his job this year -- maybe this week. The Dolphins have faced 10-0, 17-6 and 27-0 deficits in the first three games, and that screams "lack of preparation." The media in South Florida are speculating that Philbin could be a goner if they get embarrassed by the Jets. Like the Jets, the Dolphins have a bye next week, which would give ownership a chance to make a coaching change if it so desires. 3. The $114 million man -- Ndamukong Suh -- is off to a sluggish start, with only five solo tackles and no sacks in three games. In free agency, the Dolphins stepped up and paid franchise-quarterback money for the All-World defensive tackle, guaranteeing $60 million over six years. Consider: Suh is making $26.5 million this year, which is half of the combined 2015 salaries of the Jets' 11 starters on defense. Suh was a non-factor in the first two games, but he perked up against the Bills. He's supposed to galvanize their run defense, but they're ranked 31st in the league, yielding 145 yards per game. 4. Suh has a big fan in billionaire Warren Buffett, who attended last week's game and wore a Suh jersey (complete with shoulder pads) on the field during the pregame celebrity schmooze. If Suh can get Prince Charles to show up this Sunday in one of his jerseys, we'd really be impressed. 5. Like the Jets, the Dolphins have a lot of talent on their defensive line -- Suh, Cameron Wake, Olivier Vernon and Earl Mitchell. But where are the sacks? The front four has yet to register a sack. In fact, the Dolphins have only one as a team. As a result, they aren't scaring any quarterbacks. They've allowed a 101.8 passer rating against three mediocre (at best) quarterbacks -- Kirk Cousins, Blake Bortles and Tyrod Taylor. 6. In the spring, the Dolphins signed quarterback Ryan Tannehill to a long-term extension (through 2020) even though he had two years remaining on his rookie deal. It seemed a bit impulsive, considering the cost ($96 million, including $45 million guaranteed) and the fact that he's never had a winning year. They were betting on his upside. So far, he hasn't delivered much bang for the buck -- five touchdowns, three interceptions and an 85.5 passer rating. He looked positively rattled by the Bills' pass rush. Look for Todd Bowles to send his blitzers after him -- hard. 7. The Dolphins' receiving corps has a chance to be really good, with Jarvis Landry (24 catches), No. 1 pick DeVante Parker and Rishard Matthews, who has five touchdowns in his last 24 catches. The problem is that Tannehill (seven sacks) isn't getting enough time to throw. They really need left tackle Branden Albert, who was inactive last week with a hamstring injury. 8. Technically, this is a Dolphins' home game. They'll lose their home-field advantage on a neutral site, but it hasn't been much of an advantage against the Jets. The Jets won the past three meetings in Miami, including the 2014 finale -- Rex Ryan's final game. 9. How desperate are the Dolphins? This is what center Mike Pouncey said after the Buffalo debacle: "We gotta win next week. Next week is a must-win. If we don't win next week, man, there will be a lot of pissed off guys around here." 10. This is Part II of Mike Tannenbaum's two-game redemption tour. Part I didn't go so well. The former Jets general manager, the Dolphins' executive vice president of football operations, watched his team get humiliated last week by his former Jets coach, Rex Ryan. Now he gets a crack at the team that employed him for 16 years. > http://espn.go.com/blog/newyork-jets/post/_/id/54625/here-come-the-dolphins-another-jets-opponent-in-disarray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetsfan80 Posted September 30, 2015 Share Posted September 30, 2015 3. The $114 million man -- Ndamukong Suh -- is off to a sluggish start, with only five solo tackles and no sacks in three games. In free agency, the Dolphins stepped up and paid franchise-quarterback money for the All-World defensive tackle, guaranteeing $60 million over six years. Consider: Suh is making $26.5 million this year, which is half of the combined 2015 salaries of the Jets' 11 starters on defense. Suh was a non-factor in the first two games, but he perked up against the Bills. He's supposed to galvanize their run defense, but they're ranked 31st in the league, yielding 145 yards per game. The next Albert Haynesworth. 6. In the spring, the Dolphins signed quarterback Ryan Tannehill to a long-term extension (through 2020) even though he had two years remaining on his rookie deal. It seemed a bit impulsive, considering the cost ($96 million, including $45 million guaranteed) and the fact that he's never had a winning year. They were betting on his upside. So far, he hasn't delivered much bang for the buck -- five touchdowns, three interceptions and an 85.5 passer rating. He looked positively rattled by the Bills' pass rush. Look for Todd Bowles to send his blitzers after him -- hard. The next Chad Pennington. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted September 30, 2015 Author Share Posted September 30, 2015 For ex-Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum, it's just business, nothing personal Mike Tannenbaum was fired more than two years ago by the New York Jets, but that old Trader Mike aggressiveness still is felt at One Jets Drive. Examining his impact on the current roster is like looking at a teenager's iPad screen -- it's covered with fingerprints. Eleven Jets starters were drafted or signed by Tannenbaum, including eight on defense. He enjoyed a nice, seven-year run as the Jets' general manager, with the team compiling a 57-55 record and three playoff appearances, but things turned sideways and he was the scapegoat after a disastrous, Tim Tebow-flawed season in 2012. Bill Parcells' former capologist became Jerry Maguire for a couple of years, working as a sports agent, but now he's back in the NFL appearing on the Jets' radar once again. This week, Tannenbaum's new team faces his old team, adding another juicy layer to the storied Jets-Miami Dolphins rivalry. He's a big shot in South Florida, the Dolphins' executive vice president of football operations, and you have to believe he has redemption on the brain. What discharged employee wouldn't love to stick it to his old boss? It's human nature.Tannenbaum declined to speak about his old ties to the Jets, saying he wants the focus to remain on the game. He's getting bombarded with media requests these days, especially with mounting speculation the coach he inherited in Miami -- Joe Philbin -- is in jeopardy of getting fired.Know this about Tannenbaum: He's as competitive as any player or coach working under him and, yes, he'd enjoy some measure of satisfaction by beating the Jets on Sunday in London, he told friends. But those same people say he has moved on from the firing, that he harbors no bitterness toward Jets owner Woody Johnson or the organization. He's had pleasant interactions with Johnson at league functions and he hosted several current Jets employees at a going-away party in New Jersey a few months ago. Tannenbaum spent 16 years with the Jets, the equivalent of a lifetime in NFL years. He recognized long ago that very few people in the business remain in their first big job and retire with a gold watch. No doubt, there's a part of him that believes he deserved another shot after the 6-10 season in 2012. He did a lot for the franchise -- back-to-back AFC Championship Games in 2009 and 2010 -- but he was victimized by an impatient owner who felt like he had to do something to satisfy an angry fan base.Johnson had four choices: Fire Tannenbaum. Fire coach Rex Ryan. Fire them both. Keep them both. He should've picked one of the last two options, but he sent the franchise into the abyss for two years by pairing Ryan with John Idzik.Tannenbaum was crushed by his ouster, but he still had enough class on the day he was fired to visit the Jets' media room for an emotional goodbye. He was in a funk for a few days, but then two things happened to change that. First, he got a call from Parcells, his mentor, who delivered a 90-second pep talk. Basically, Parcells told him: The best people -- the true champions -- are able to accomplish a lot after they get knocked down. Let's see what you've got. Another key moment occurred when a friend recommended "The Traveler's Gift," a 2002 novel by Andy Andrews. It's about a man who loses his job and money but makes a comeback after he's magically transported to key moments in history.Tannenbaum, once the youngest GM in the league at age 36, has reinvented himself at 46. He's the Dolphins' football czar, working above general manager Dennis Hickey. Never a wallflower at the free-agent party, Tannenbaum made one of the splashiest moves of the offseason by signing Ndamukong Suh to a six-year, $114 million contract. Tannenbaum made another bold move by giving a $95 million extension to quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who still hasn't appeared in the postseason. Tannenbaum operated with the same aggressiveness while running the Jets. Many of his moves worked -- the 2010 team was loaded with talent -- but some didn't. The trade for Tebow backfired, and Tannenbaum never got much return on a $40 million extension for Mark Sanchez. His biggest regret, though, was releasing Jerricho Cotchery before the 2011 season. Tannenbaum underestimated Cotchery's intangibles, what he meant to team chemistry -- and it became a major issue that season. You can bet he'll learn from that mistake, keeping it in mind as he reshapes the Dolphins.But a lot of Tannenbaum's handiwork remains intact, including the Jets' core players: Nick Mangold, D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Darrelle Revis, Muhammad Wilkerson and David Harris. Heck, he's responsible for the entire linebacking corps. All told, 16 of the 53 players on the Jets' roster are Tannenbaum gets, if you count the second tours of Revis and Antonio Cromartie.On Sunday, we'll find out if Tannenbaum's new team is good enough to beat the one he helped assemble. > http://espn.go.com/blog/newyork-jets/post/_/id/54616/for-ex-jets-gm-mike-tannenbaum-its-just-business-nothing-personal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tannenbaum operated with the same aggressiveness while running the Jets. Many of his moves worked -- the 2010 team was loaded with talent -- but some didn't. The trade for Tebow backfired, and Tannenbaum never got much return on a $40 million extension for Mark Sanchez. His biggest regret, though, was releasing Jerricho Cotchery before the 2011 season. Tannenbaum underestimated Cotchery's intangibles, what he meant to team chemistry -- and it became a major issue that season. You can bet he'll learn from that mistake, keeping it in mind as he reshapes the Dolphins.But a lot of Tannenbaum's handiwork remains intact, including the Jets' core players: Nick Mangold, D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Darrelle Revis, Muhammad Wilkerson and David Harris. Heck, he's responsible for the entire linebacking corps. All told, 16 of the 53 players on the Jets' roster are Tannenbaum gets, if you count the second tours of Revis and Antonio Cromartie.
kelly Posted September 30, 2015 Author Share Posted September 30, 2015 Rich Cimini ESPN Staff Writer Sunday's game in London will be the 100th meeting between the Jets and Dolphins (counting the postseason). My top 4 most memorable games in the rivalry -- 1. The Midnight Miracle (2000), 2. Fake Spike (1994), 3. Mud Bowl (Jan., 1983), 4. The 51-45 Shootout (1986). > http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/nyj/newyork-jets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Cimini ESPN Staff Writer Sunday's game in London will be the 100th meeting between the Jets and Dolphins (counting the postseason). My top 4 most memorable games in the rivalry -- 1. The Midnight Miracle (2000), 2. Fake Spike (1994), 3. Mud Bowl (Jan., 1983), 4. The 51-45 Shootout (1986). > http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/nyj/newyork-jets
Beerfish Posted September 30, 2015 Share Posted September 30, 2015 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jet Nut Posted September 30, 2015 Share Posted September 30, 2015 Rich Cimini ESPN Staff Writer Sunday's game in London will be the 100th meeting between the Jets and Dolphins (counting the postseason). My top 4 most memorable games in the rivalry -- 1. The Midnight Miracle (2000), 2. Fake Spike (1994), 3. Mud Bowl (Jan., 1983), 4. The 51-45 Shootout (1986). > http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/nyj/newyork-jets Was at 3 of those games Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Cimini ESPN Staff Writer Sunday's game in London will be the 100th meeting between the Jets and Dolphins (counting the postseason). My top 4 most memorable games in the rivalry -- 1. The Midnight Miracle (2000), 2. Fake Spike (1994), 3. Mud Bowl (Jan., 1983), 4. The 51-45 Shootout (1986). > http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/nyj/newyork-jets
kelly Posted September 30, 2015 Author Share Posted September 30, 2015 The AFC East has some of the NFL's finest defensive lines. The Jets certainly rank up there. So do the Bills. Not to be forgotten, though, are the Dolphins, who boast end Cameron Wake and tackle Ndamukong Suh. They are two valuable players for the Dolphins. Wake has a $10.45 million salary cap figure this season. Suh signed that monster contract with the Dolphins this past offseason. He received $59.995 million fully guaranteed upon signing. His cap figure is $6.1 million this season, and will jump to $28.6 million next year. Wake and Suh will test the Jets' offensive line during Sunday's game in London. Suh, especially, could be a challenge for right guard Brian Winters. He is starting because Willie Colon is out for at least one game with a sprained knee. This is a tough 2015 debut for Winters, who struggled for most of his first two seasons. The last time the Jets faced Suh was last season. He wreaked havoc on their running game late in a 24-17 victory for the Lions at MetLife Stadium. (Here's a detailed look at what Suh did to the Jets in that game.) Suh finished that Week 4 contest with one quarterback hit and four hurries. He was the Lions' second-highest graded defender in the game, according to PFF, and was their highest grader in both run defense and pass rushing. Winters in that game allowed four hurries, Colon two. Winters received the Jets' second-worst offensive grade for the game, ahead of only right tackle Breno Giacomini. The Jets allowed eight hurries and three quarterback hits that day.Now, a year later, the Jets get to face Suh once again, in their AFC East opener against the sputtering Dolphins, who are 1-2, with two straight losses. Can the Jets and Winters handle Suh better this time around? Or will he help send them into their bye week with a 2-2 record and two-game losing streak? A lot depends on Winters, who said he is a better player now. How he performs against Suh will be a stern test of that statement. > http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/09/how_did_jets_offensive_line_fare_in_last_meeting_w.html#incart_river Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted September 30, 2015 Author Share Posted September 30, 2015 -- Here is a major problem for the Miami Dolphins: Their offense lacks a firm identity. The Dolphins definitely aren’t a running team. They aren’t necessarily a passing team, either. Although Miami throws the football a lot, it hasn’t produced many points. The Dolphins’ offense averages just 14.7 points per game. This week I asked Dolphins offensive coordinator Bill Lazor what the identity of his group was, and here was his response: “Obviously not good enough right now and I think the biggest area, big picture what we’re really not producing well enough in is normal situations - first and second downs, second and normal. Especially at the beginning of the game when the game is still like what you want the game to be.” There is not much the Dolphins' offense can count on three weeks into the season. Miami converts on just 35 percent of their third-down plays, which means it struggles to stay on the field and move the chains. The pass protection and blitz pickups also have been poor. For example, starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill was sacked twice and hit eight additional times in a 41-14 blowout loss to the Buffalo Bills last Sunday. The Dolphins will not win many games this season scoring fewer than 15 points per game. But Lazor remains optimistic that things will turn around for his offense.“Obviously, very disappointed and frustrated in how it went [against the Bills],” Lazor said. “Absolutely not discouraged and not down on our players, not down on our process, in a lot of ways, have to make it work better, and we’ve begun our plan to make that happen.” > http://espn.go.com/blog/miami-dolphins/post/_/id/17256/dolphins-offense-struggling-to-find-rhythm-identity Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted October 1, 2015 Author Share Posted October 1, 2015 James WalkerESPN Staff Writer Dolphins left tackle Branden Albert (hamstring), tight end Jordan Cameron (groin), running back Jonas Gray (calf) and defensive tackle Earl Mitchell were all limited in practice Wednesday. Backup tight end Dion Sims (concussion) did not participate. > http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/mia/miami-dolphins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted October 1, 2015 Author Share Posted October 1, 2015 — The 2-1 Jets are gearing up for their first divisional game, which just so happens to be "at" the 1-2 Dolphins on Sunday in London. Cheerio.We've already gone over the history of NFL games in the UK. Here's an explainer on how the Jets got picked to play a game across the pond. And here's what the Jets are doing to prepare for the five-hour time difference.Now let's get you caught up on the Dolphins, the Jets' longtime AFC East rivals and the designated "home" team for Sunday's game. Things don't look so good for the 'Phins at the moment. 1. Hello, Mike Tannenbaum. Tannenbaum, the Jets' general manager from 2006-12, is in his first season as the Dolphins' executive vice president for football operations. He's widely assumed to be running the show in South Florida these days. But his ties to the Jets are still there: Of the Jets' 22 starters, eight were drafted by Tannenbaum, and 12 were originally acquired by him, including the Jets' most prominent veterans: inside linebacker David Harris, left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, center Nick Mangold, cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie. 2. Trouble brewing with Ndamukong Suh. Tannenbaum immediately got back to being bold by signing defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh for $60 million in guaranteed money this offseason. But after a Week 2 loss to the Jaguars, the Miami Herald reported that Suh "freelanced" at times in the team's first two games, "creating confusion for the defense." Yikes. What's a worse sign of discord for the Dolphins? That Suh decided to be a lone wolf, or that it took two games for an anonymous someone in the organization to out him to the Herald? 3. Um ... The Dolphins are coming off a 41-14 loss to the Bills in their home opener. And, well: 4. London calling. The Dolphins have played in London twice before, losing to the Giants in 2007 (the first NFL regular season game in the UK) and beating the Raiders last year. 5. They need a win. It's only Week 4, but with the Patriots at 3-0 and looking like the Patriots, and the Bills and Jets 2-1, the Dolphins run the risk of digging themselves into a difficult spot if they were to lose on Sunday. And after next week's bye, it doesn't get much easier for them. They're at the improved Titans and home against the Texans before a stretch of three brutal road games at the Patriots, Bills, and Eagles. With a loss to the Jets, the Dolphins' season may start circling the drain. Which brings us to ... 6. Joe Philbin on the hot seat. Philbin, now in his fourth season, is 24-27. He went 8-8 the last two years. He was kept on before Tannenbaum was hired in February. Unless things get fixed rather quickly, he well could be the first NFL head coach fired this season. 7. They can't run. Lance Lamar Miller is the Dolphins' leading rusher. He averages just 3.5 yards on 30 attempts. The Dolphins, as a result, are 30th in the league in time of possession (26:42). Football Outsiders ranks the Dolphins 25th in rushing offense (based on DVOA), and 26th in offense as a whole. The Jets didn't get five turnovers in Sunday's loss to the Eagles, but they didn't allow the Eagles to do a whole lot, either. 8. Lots of sacks. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill has been seven times in three games. The Jets' defense is ranked second in DVOA. That doesn't bode well for the Dolphins. 9. Any good news? Yes! Jarvis Landry's pretty good. A second-round pick last year, Landry is the Dolphins' leading receiver (24 catches, 230 yards), and he also has a punt return for a touchdown. 10. Brent Grimes' wife did what? Miko Grimes, the wife of cornerback Brent Grimes, was arrested in the parking lot outside Sunday's game against the Bills after she allegedly head-butted a cop. Video here. Details here. > http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/09/10_things_jets_fans_should_know_about_miami_dolphi.html#incart_river Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted October 1, 2015 Author Share Posted October 1, 2015 -- For the first time since 2004, someone other than Willie Colon or Brandon Moore is starting at right guard for the New York Jets. You're up, Brian Winters. Your first assignment: Ndamukong Suh. Any advice, coach? "Just eat your Wheaties," Todd Bowles said on Wednesday. The Jets just hope Suh doesn't eat Winters. "Brian is a tough guy," Bowles said. "He'll fight." Suh, who left the Detroit Lions to sign a six-year, $114 million contract with the Miami Dolphins, is taking some heat because he's off to a sluggish start -- only six solo tackles (including for loss), no sacks and no quarterback hits. For $26.5 million, his total compensation for this season, he's not delivering much bang for the buck. But it's still early, and he could be adjusting to the Dolphins' scheme. There's no doubt about Suh's ability. "He's still the same dominant guy he was in Detroit," Bowles said. "He can be very disruptive." The key to slowing him down? "Him not playing," Bowles cracked. The Jets faced Suh last season and they must have binged on Wheaties because they did a terrific job of neutralizing him. He was held to one solo tackle in the Lions' 24-17 win over the Jets, who ran for 135 yards and averaged 4.9 yards per carry with The Great Suh in the middle of the defense.Winters started that game, but he played left guard and saw very little of Suh, who was pitted against Colon for much of the game. Colon is a Bronx tough guy, not intimated by anyone, and he gave Suh a full day of the Bronx. Unfortunately for the Jets, Colon is nursing a sprained knee and won't play. Winters doesn't have much experience at right guard -- a grand total of 47 snaps, all in the second half of last week's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.The Jets have allowed only two sacks, but they're not taking Suh & Co. lightly even though the Dolphins' once-vaunted pass rush has disappeared. As a team, they have only one sack. "That's a little misleading," quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said. "I'm not sitting here, looking at that and saying, 'Boy, I'll be able to sit back there all day and throw.' They've got a lot of talented guys up front that can rush the passer." > http://espn.go.com/blog/newyork-jets/post/_/id/54643/jets-game-plan-on-how-to-block-ndamukong-suh-eat-wheaties Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustInFudge Posted October 1, 2015 Share Posted October 1, 2015 Fitz might die this game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerfish Posted October 1, 2015 Share Posted October 1, 2015 Just make sure he trips over you as he knocks you on your ass winters, that is all I ask. For such an early season game this one is pretty crucial for both teams re the playoffs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerfish Posted October 1, 2015 Share Posted October 1, 2015 Fitz might die this game. Is Geno the activated back up yet or is petty still on the game day roster? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted October 1, 2015 Author Share Posted October 1, 2015 oh ,.. jets by 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted October 1, 2015 Author Share Posted October 1, 2015 -- Running back Jonas Gray's first play from scrimmage this season with the Miami Dolphins was a fumbled exchange with quarterback Ryan Tannehill that the team recovered.But things significantly improved for Gray after his initial play in Sunday’s loss to the Buffalo Bills. The tailback was one of the few consistent bright spots, leading the team with 49 rushing yards on nine carries. Gray averaged 5.4 yards per carry. Gray provided a much-needed boost to Miami’s rushing attack that’s been inconsistent so far this season and he could earn a bigger role in the offense.“Yeah, he did a nice job, he was productive,” Dolphins coach Joe Philbin said Wednesday. “Obviously, we can’t have a running back-quarterback [fumbled] exchange on a run play. That’s something that can’t happen. Overall, I thought, for his first action, I thought he played well.” Gray showed flashes of brilliance during his stint last year with the New England Patriots. He rushed for 201 yards in a win over the Indianapolis Colts that had many thinking Gray could be the starter in New England.But an alarm-clock snafu forced Gray to be late for practice last season and he spent the rest of the season in coach Bill Belichick’s doghouse. Despite a solid preseason, Gray was released by the Patriots and claimed by the Dolphins. Miami hopes Gray can provide power to match with quicker tailbacks Lamar Miller and Damien Williams. Gray’s first game action in Miami was a good start.“I thought I did OK,” Gray said. “I thought maybe I could have finished a few runs a little bit better. But I thought it was a good thing to build off of.”The Dolphins (1-2) need their running game Sunday in London against a New York Jets (2-1) defense that allows just 3.6 yards per rushing attempt and has allowed just one rushing touchdown. Miami’s offense has sputtered out the gate and must start building consistency. When Dolphins offensive coordinator Bill Lazor was asked about Gray, the first thing he mentioned was the fumbled exchanged and that it can’t happen. Miami’s offense is struggling to score points – averaging just 14.7 per game – and cannot afford more turnovers. As long as ball security is not an issue, Gray should get more opportunities. “You asked about Jonas and I’m getting off on a tangent; I thought Jonas ran hard, I think he’s getting better all the time and I’m looking forward to him competing,” Lazor said earlier this week. “But you touched a chord when I went back to that fumbled exchange because one of the things we had done well is we haven’t been turning the football over and obviously we changed that negatively [Sunday].” > http://espn.go.com/blog/miami-dolphins/post/_/id/17282/will-jonas-gray-get-increased-role-in-dolphins-offense Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted October 2, 2015 Author Share Posted October 2, 2015 –- Kacy Rodgers spent the past seven seasons as a defensive assistant coach with the Miami Dolphins.And if the new Jets defensive coordinator knows anything about Ryan Tannehill, Rodgers expects the Dolphins quarterback to play much better than he did last week against Rex Ryan’s blitzing Bills. Tannehill passed for 297 yards and two touchdowns but threw three interceptions –- one a pick-six –- and was sacked twice in Buffalo's 41-14 mauling of the Dolphins.Now Tannehill will try to rebound against the Jets. And Rodgers says the Dolphins quarterback will not be afraid to test Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie. “Ryan is a very confident quarterback,” Rodgers said. “I don’t think he is shying away from anybody.”Rodgers, who coached the defensive line for the Dolphins, is not familiar with just Tannehill. He also knows how dangerous wide receiver Jarvis Landry can be. Still, Rodgers downplayed his intimate knowledge of the Dolphins as an advantage for the Jets. “Not really,” he said. “They are going to look at us and figure out the best way to attack us. The insight that I have is just being around those guys and telling them that physically he can do this and his work ethic is this and his best move is this. “But as far as the X’s and O’s, they are going to have a plan to attack us.”And Rodgers is leery of what a motivated Tannehill and Landry -- and the rest of the Dolphins -- can do. “These guys are explosive,” Rodgers said. “Big-play ability. A lot of explosive plays in a row. We think they are very potent.” > http://espn.go.com/blog/newyork-jets/post/_/id/54678/kacy-rodgers-task-is-to-stop-his-old-team Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Crusher Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 Fitz might die this game. If you left his body by a dumpster he most certainly would pass for a homeless man. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted October 2, 2015 Author Share Posted October 2, 2015 Perhaps another trip across the pond will help the Miami Dolphins prevent their season from potentially spiraling out of control.They'll try to avoid a third straight defeat Sunday in London against a New York Jets team that's looking to bounce back from its first defeat.Last season, Miami (1-2) was 1-2 and coming off two straight losses when it went to London and rolled to a 38-14 victory over Oakland. Though the Dolphins would go on to lose the game that followed, at least they are familiar with their current plight."We've been here before, so we know what we gotta do, and that's just go back to work, find a way to get this W," safety Michael Thomas' told the team's official website.Saddled with high expectations after adding $114 million defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and confident quarterback Ryan Tannehill and running back Lamar Miller would take their play to a higher level, the Dolphins have floundered out of the gate. They needed a fourth-quarter rally to win 17-10 at Washington in Week 1, never led during a three-point loss at Jacksonville and were blown out 41-14 by Buffalo at home last Sunday. Fourth-year coach Joe Philbin appeared to be on thin ice heading into the season, and might fall through if things don't improve. Publicly, Philbin hasn't shown too much concern for these early struggles or his own job security but won't sugarcoat the team's current state.''This is not a time to panic,'' he said. ''We're not getting 53 new players. We're not getting 24 new coaches. We're either going to find solutions to these problems or not, and we're either going to stick together or not.''Philbin said that lineup changes could happen this week, perhaps on defense.The addition of Suh hasn't kept the Dolphins from yielding 435 rushing yards - second-most in the league. They've recorded one sack and allowed a combined 101.8 passer rating to the trio of Kirk Cousins, Blake Bortles and Tyrod Taylor.''I'm disappointed, but I'm mostly disappointed in myself,'' embattled defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle said. ''I've got to do a better job getting guys in the right spots.''Offensively, Tannehill has completed 61.4 percent of his passes with five touchdowns but threw all three of his interceptions last week. He's also been sacked seven times.Miller set career highs with 1,099 rushing yards and eight TDs last season, but has gained 105 without a score on 30 attempts while dealing with an ankle issue.''Guys are frustrated,'' Tannehill said. ''We know we're a better team than we've showed. There's no panic, but definitely urgency to get this thing turned around.''Tannehill's completed only 57.6 percent of his passes and has four TDs and six INTs while splitting his six starts against New York (2-1). Miller ran for a career-high 178 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries during a 37-24 season-ending home loss to the Jets in 2014.However, both could have a hard time getting untracked against a New York defense that allowed 17 points prior to last week's 24-17 loss to Philadelphia. Despite the defeat, the Jets yielded 231 yards and rank fourth in the league giving up 298.3 per game.With four turnovers and a number of missed tackles on Darren Sproles' 89-yard punt return for a TD, the Jets feel they hurt themselves more than the Eagles did."We didn't lose this game because we thought we were better than we are,'' center Nick Mangoldsaid. ''We lost because of execution.''With Chris Ivory sidelined by a quad injury, New York managed 47 rushing yards and Ryan Fitzpatrick threw three interceptions after throwing two in the first two contests.''It's just as important not to overreact for a loss as it is to a win,'' first-year coach Todd Bowles said. ''We didn't overreact to the two wins, we're not going to overreact to the one loss.''Ivory, who leads the team with 148 rushing yards and has scored twice, could return for this contest after being a full participant in practice Thursday. He's averaged 3.7 yards per carry while gaining 171 in four games against the Dolphins.It's more likely that New York receiver Eric Decker (knee) will miss a second consecutive game after missing practice Wednesday and only participating in some drills Thursday.This will be the Jets' first game in London.''I think guys think it's cool to go over there," Fitzpatrick said. "It will be a unique experience for all of us and hopefully bring the team together even more.'' > http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nfl--new-york-jets-v-miami-dolphins-at-wembley-120115997.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted October 2, 2015 Author Share Posted October 2, 2015 Which matchups will determine the outcome of the Jets' game Sunday morning against the Dolphins in London ? Here's a look at three that very well could : Jets RG Brian Winters vs. Dolphins DT Ndamukong Suh Winters steps in for Willie Colon, who has a sprained MCL and will miss at least one game. Winters started 12 games as a rookie in 2013, and six last season — all at left guard. Suh is one of the NFL's best defensive linemen. Last season, when Suh played for the Lions, he wreaked havoc on the Jets' offensive line. Winters struggled in that game. He allowed four quarterback hurries, as the Jets lost. Winters insists he is a better player now. He'll get a chance to prove it against Suh. Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick vs. Dolphins CB Brent Grimes Fitzpatrick has struggled with making downfield throws this season. So while Brandon Marshall will test Grimes' coverage skills, will Fitzpatrick be able to come through and actually connect on long throws? Grimes already has one interception this season, after accumulating five and four during the past two seasons. Through three games this season, Fitzpatrick has completed just three balls on 20 passing attempts of 20 yards or longer. That's not good. Jets CB Buster Skrine vs. Dolphins WR Jarvis Landry Skrine is a skilled slot corner. Landry, a second-round draft pick last year, is one of the NFL's top young receivers. He lines up often in the slot. This should be a fun matchup — strength versus strength. Landry has 24 catches for 230 yards this season, in three games. Last year, he had 84 catches for 758 yards and five touchdowns. Landry is now the Dolphins' top receiver, since Mike Wallace was traded to the Vikings. Landry has run 73.8 percent of his routes from the slot this year, and 22 of his 32 targets have come out of the slot, according to Pro Football Focus. He has 16 catches out of the slot. > http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/10/3_key_jets_matchups_vs_miami_dolphins_including_br.html#incart_river Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustInFudge Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 If you left his body by a dumpster he most certainly would pass for a homeless man. Wasnt there a movie about a homeless Harvard grad or something? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pointman Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 Fitz might die this game. Sounding more and more like it. Fins d line with no sacks? Of course they will get five against us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted October 2, 2015 Author Share Posted October 2, 2015 -- Running back Chris Ivory will be back in the lineup for the New York Jets, who play their first AFC East game Sunday against the Miami Dolphins, but they could be without wide receiver Eric Decker for the second straight week. Decker, two weeks removed from spraining his left knee, was limited for the second straight day -- a light practice about six hours after the Jets' red-eye flight landed in London.Coach Todd Bowles said Decker will be a game-time decision. He's officially listed as questionable."He looked better today," Bowles said. "I'd like to see a little bit more. Hopefully, with another day's rest, he'll work out good on Sunday." Decker didn't practice at all last week before being ruled out on game day. That he was able to practice twice, albeit with limits, has fueled hope he might make it back. Conversely, with a bye next week, the Jets could opt to play it safe so he's 100 percent for Week 6."I know it's there; I'm not going to lie about it," Decker said of the bye week. "But that's not going to determine or push me in a certain direction. It's been day-to-day for me ever since Indy. just kind of got to go on how I feel and really consult with the trainers and Coach Bowles and make the best decision for all of us." Without Decker, the Jets' passing attack lacked balance last week in a 24-17 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Ryan Fitzpatrick threw three interceptions, two of which were intended for Brandon Marshall."He's a game-changer," Marshall said of Decker. "We saw what he was able to do at Indy when he got his opportunities [nine catches]. It helps everybody out on the field, just to keep that balance. It opens up the running game. Ivory (strained quadriceps) also missed that game, but he's a "full go," according to Bowles. Actually, Ivory was active last week, but he was deemed the emergency back and never got into the game. The rushing attack largely screeched to a stop, managing 47 yards.As expected, cornerback Darrelle Revis (hamstring) was cleared to play. Both Revis and Ivory are listed as probable.The Jets practiced for 90 minutes at the London Irish rugby facility in suburban London. After landing at 6 a.m. local time, they went to a team breakfast at the hotel, followed by meetings. Some players slept on the plane; some didn't. "We're trying to be as normal as possible," Bowles said. "[The Dolphins] took the same trip, so everything is equal on both sides. We just have to play our game. We're not going to use traveling or sleep as an excuse. We have to show up and play." > http://espn.go.com/newyork/nfl/story/_/id/13793273/newyork-jets-clear-chris-ivory-darrelle-revis-sunday-eric-decker-questionable Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BowlesMovement Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 Fitz might die this game. The Geno lovers will be giddy with joy if that happens! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted October 2, 2015 Author Share Posted October 2, 2015 The Miami Dolphins (1-2) will be the first team to play Sunday when they face the New York Jets (2-1) in London’s Wembley Stadium at 9:30 a.m. ET. Miami has a lot of issues that need to be corrected after losing two in a row. Here are three players who must step up for the Dolphins to get back to .500. 1. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill Analysis: Despite quality strides in several areas, one complaint I’ve had with Tannehill is he rarely carries an offense on his shoulders and lifts the level of his teammates. Tannehill is just 24-27 as a starter, including 1-2 this season, and the Dolphins need Tannehill now more than ever to take over games and turn the tide of Miami’s season. Whether it’s 400 yards, a fast start, third-down passing or a clutch performance in the fourth quarter, the Dolphins need their $96 million quarterback to put the team on his back against the Jets. Miami is averaging just 14.7 points per game, and that’s not good enough. 2. Running back Lamar Miller Analysis: The last time Miller played against the Jets, he had a 97-yard touchdown run -- the longest offensive play of Miami’s 2014 season. Miller needs to have those kinds of explosive plays again against the Jets. Miller’s longest run so far this season is 17 yards as Miami’s running game has sputtered. The Dolphins need balance offensively from Miller to prevent being one dimensional and predictable against a solid Jets defense. 3. Defensive end Cameron Wake Analysis: Teammate and fellow defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh is getting a lot of attention for not making many impact plays in the first three games. But Pro Bowl defensive end Cameron Wake has been even more quiet this season. Wake has zero sacks and just one tackle. He suffered a hamstring injury this season but is healthier heading into Week 4. The Dolphins could use a multi-sack game from Wake to add much-needed momentum to the defense. > http://espn.go.com/blog/miami-dolphins/post/_/id/17292/dolphins-ryan-tannehill-lamar-miller-must-step-up-against-jets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustInFudge Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 Wake is old. Eventually he was going to wear down. I'm sure he'll have 7 sacks this week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy2020 Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 Jets have this game wrapped up. Dolphins players are ready to go golfing already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted October 3, 2015 Author Share Posted October 3, 2015 The Miami Dolphins (1-2) are expected to be without their starting left tackle for the second consecutive game. Veteran Branden Albert, who has a hamstring injury, is listed as doubtful for Sunday’s matchup against the New York Jets (2-1) in London’s Wembley Stadium. Albert also missed last week’s game against the Buffalo Bills, who beat Miami 41-14. The Dolphins struggled in pass protection without Albert and gave up two sacks and eight additional hits on Miami quarterback Ryan Tannehill. In addition to Albert, backup tight end Dion Sims is ruled out with a concussion. Dolphins starting tight end Jordan Cameron (groin) and backup running back Jonas Gray (calf) are both questionable. Miami defensive tackle Earl Mitchell (back) is listed probable. This is an important game for the Dolphins to get back to .500 after losing two games in a row. > http://espn.go.com/blog/miami-dolphins/post/_/id/17296/dolphins-lt-branden-albert-expected-to-miss-second-straight-game Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted October 3, 2015 Author Share Posted October 3, 2015 Game Preview: Jets-Dolphins Team Reporters Jamir Howerton & Eric Allen Examine Week 4’s Critical Matchups video.. > http://www.newyorkjets.com/videos/videos/Game-Preview-Jets-Dolphins/6554b503-77b0-46ac-8d3d-1145ec5694f8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted October 3, 2015 Author Share Posted October 3, 2015 -- The New York Jets should be wide awake, feeling good from head to tush for their first regular-season game outside North America. Now all they have to do is beat the Miami Dolphins to make their trip to London a smashing success.From a logistical standpoint, the Jets spent 10 months preparing. They consulted with a sleep therapist to help cope with the five-hour time change, they brought their own chef and, making sure they covered their butts, they packed 350 rolls of toilet paper. In case you didn't know, the toilet paper is thinner in England. The Jets' prep team wanted the players to experience the comforts of home. "There's a little bit of adversity for both teams, as far as not having the comfort of a normal home or road game," quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said Friday upon the team's arrival in London. "But I think we've got a really good team and we're really excited about the way we started with the two wins and, finally, we're facing some adversity after the loss last game. So I think we'll find out a lot about our team this week." In the end, the game won't be decided by happy bottoms or jet lag. Football is football, regardless of where it's played. This is the Jets' first division game -- the 100th meeting in this storied rivalry -- and they don't want to go into the bye week on a two-game losing streak. The Dolphins (1-2) already have dropped two in a row.Set your alarms early, folks, because game time at Wembley Stadium is 9:30 a.m. ET, tying the record for the earliest kickoff in NFL history. The Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons also kicked off at that time last year at Wembley. Some of the top storylines : 1. The Dolphins are a mess: The Jets can crush the Dolphins' spirit by jumping to an early lead. Why not? Everybody does it. The Dolphins have faced 10-0, 17-6 and 27-0 deficits in their first three games, raising serious questions about coach Joe Philbin's game preparation -- or lack thereof. Philbin is in trouble. If the Dolphins get embarrassed by their AFC East rival, a coaching change isn't out of the realm of possibility. Former Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum is running the Dolphins, and he has no loyalty to Philbin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flushing Roots Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 I'm predicting a W but desperate teams are dangerous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larz Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 Muhammad Wilkerson should have a monster game against replacement left tackle Jason Fox. Look for the Jets to attack the right side of the Dolphins' defense, these things never happen for the jets. Fox will dominate and hold mo all day long, and the jets will run left and fall behind Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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