Bleacher Report - Articles by Paul Smythe

For the Miami Dolphins, Everything Is Looking Up—Or Nearly Everything

Paul Smythe — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:17:12 -0400

After a dismal 0-3 start for the Miami Dolphins, they have been able to turn things around and get a few wins under their belts—one of those being against the very good division rival New York Jets.

If we can keep things up after this bye week, we should be able to beat the undefeated (so far) New Orleans Saints.

There are a lot of things that Miami has been able to do well. Chad Henne is showing a lot of promise, Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams are running all over opposing defenses, and our run defense is among the best in the NFL. A lot seems to be going right for Miami now.

But, there are still two very evident weaknesses that need to be fixed if the Dolphins ever want to make noise in the postseason this year, which I think they are very capable of doing because of the bountiful talent on this year's roster.

Those two weaknesses are our passing defense and kick/punt returns.

Our passing defense is a measly 19th-best in yards allowed this season. We have a terrible habit of giving up huge gains in a single pass play while we are nursing only a small lead. It cost us the game against the Colts a few weeks ago, and it almost cost us the game a few times in the most recent victory against the Jets.

A lot of focus was put into the Dolphins secondary this offseason to help strengthen our passing defense. We added a lot of talent with the drafting of rookies Vontae Davis and Sean Smith. So we have talent; the problem is that the talent is not always enough in the NFL. Experience is just as important.

Davis and Smith will have to take every possible tidbit of experience they can get in order to develop in the speed Miami needs them to. Do not be worried though, because things can only get better from here.

Our other weakness is kick and punt returns. We are unable to give our offense good field position the majority of the time because of our horrible return yardage. Thankfully our offense is so strong that we can drive down the field from anywhere, but it would be a lot easier and less tiring for our offense if we could just give them a smaller distance to travel.

With the season-ending injury to Patrick Cobbs, we have to get a new return man. That will probably end up being Ted Ginn Jr., so hopefully he can make something happen and make things easier for our offense.

If the Miami Dolphins are able to improve their pass defense and return kicks and punts farther, then we can really start making a mark and go deep into the playoffs. Everything else is already there—we just need to add those two little aspects to complete the circle of success.

Addressing The Miami Dolphins' QB Situation

Paul Smythe — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:45:58 -0400

As you may know by now, the Miami Dolphins' starting quarterback Chad Pennington is out for the season because of a shoulder injury sustained against the San Diego Chargers on Sunday. So, I feel like I should analyze the Dolphins' "new" quarterback situation.

The most likely starter is quarterback Chad Henne, who played excellently in college for Michigan. Henne has a strong arm and has been studying under Pennington long enough to know what he needs to do. Hopefully with the added arm strength, Miami will be able to be more of a deep threat in the passing game.

When Pennington led the offense, Miami would only throw for short passes and gains. Their offense was very possession-oriented with no regard to a big gain. This offense was moderately successful, but it left too much room for error, simply because of the massive amount of plays they ran.

My hope is that offensive coordinator Dan Henning will alter our passing game philosophy to a more aggressive scheme. The run game is there, we just need a more potent passing offense to go with it.

One question is how Miami will incorporate Pat White. If they started White, then he would add a running threat that could be very dangerous for opposing defenses. White also has a stronger arm than Pennington, so that would be a plus.

With the very recent addition of Tyler Thigpen, the Dolphins have added more experience to the mix. I do not personally think that Thigpen should be starting because of the potential we have from Henne and White, but Thigpen is a good quarterback who would help the Dolphins a lot more than he would hurt them. So, I am glad that we got him.

While White, Henne, and also Thigpen will add more arm strength to Miami's offense, there is no replacing Pennington's accuracy. He leads the NFL in all-time completion percentage, and by "leads the NFL" I mean since the formation of the league.

The National Football League has never seen a more accurate passer than Pennington in its entire existence. That is pretty amazing. But, I am willing to give up that immaculate completion percentage for the more risky tactics that we will most likely have with Henne or White. It will definitely be more interesting to watch.

So, while Pennington's injury may at first look like a curse, it could end up being a blessing because of the added deep pass threat we will get from our other quarterbacks.

Now, aside from all of this conservative thinking, what I would really love to see is Pat White as a starter. We already know about his great running skills, but a lot of people forget that he was still a great passer when he played for West Virginia. People just figure that because he runs so well he must be a mediocre passer, but he is really not. With White in, Miami would have a lot of dangerous threats in their offense that opposing defenses would have to worry about. It would be an amazing thing to watch.

No matter what I say, it all comes down to the coaches' decision, though. We will just have to wait and see what happens. Hopefully Tony Sparano, Bill Parcells, Dan Henning, and whoever the other masterminds in Miami are that design everything can make this quarterback situation work out in the end.

I'll just be along for the ride.

Miami Dolphins' Ted Ginn, Jr.: Big-Time Receiver or Possession Receiver?

Paul Smythe — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 22:36:23 -0400

After the Miami Dolphins' Monday Night Football loss against the Indianapolis Colts, there are a lot of good points to build off of, but there are also some major problems on the team. Among those glaring problems was Ted Ginn, Jr.'s inability to make a big play when he was needed most.

Late in the fourth quarter, quarterback Chad Pennington threw the ball to Ginn in the end zone, who was only in single coverage. The ball was perfectly placed and it hit Ginn right in the hands, but it bounced right out for an incompletion. Every receiver is taught that whenever the football touches your hand, you should catch it. Ginn didn't, and it cost Miami the game.

Since the beginning of last season, everyone has been watching Ginn to see if he can develop into the star receiver that he was drafted to be. He has shown a lot of improvement since his first season in the NFL, but will he continue that improvement until he develops into a star receiver? Or, will he just be a possession receiver without any big play-making ability?

Ginn was definitely more of a possession receiver against Indianapolis, catching many key passes to help move the chains. But I do not think that this will be the case for Ted Ginn's entire career. I can see him developing into a star, and he may develop sooner than you think. He was a big-time receiver when he played college football at Ohio State, and as he gets more comfortable in the NFL he should be able to take on the big-time role like he had in college.

And, before anyone starts talking about looking for a new receiver to take the number one spot in Miami, consider this: Despite what you want to think, Ginn had a great game against the Colts. Except for that one play, he caught pretty much every ball that was thrown his way. If that play had never even occurred, then we would be talking about his amazing performance instead of wanting him to be replaced.

All I ask is that you give Ginn a little more time before you start looking at possibilities to replace him. You can probably expect a big rebound when the Dolphins head to San Diego to face the Chargers. After a dismal Week One for Miami's offensive line, they rebounded very well against the Colts. I bet the coaching staff had a lot to do with that rebound, so they will be looking to motivate Ginn to rebound from that catch for next week.

Please also note that I am not at all okay with Ginn's dropped catch Monday. I guarantee you that I was just as much, or even more, mad than anyone reading this right now when Ginn dropped that pass. I have replayed it bouncing off of both of his hands hundreds of times in my head. I probably will not forgive him for it for quite some time, but I just don't think that it will be an indicator for the rest of his career.

So, back to the original question: Will Ted Ginn ever be a big-time receiver, or will he always be a possession receiver?

My answer is that yes, he will end up being a big-time receiver. He will just take some time to develop into one. There are too many reasons for why he will be a big-time receiver, one of them being his extremely successful career with the Ohio State Buckeyes. Expect Ted Ginn, Jr. to have a big rebound week against the Chargers Sunday, but he will probably take until next season to really develop into a star receiver in the NFL.

But, please, do not count Ted Ginn, Jr. out yet.

Will Plaxico Burress' Fate Be Similar To That of Michael Vick's?

Paul Smythe — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 20:28:29 -0400

As probably everyone reading this already knows, Michael Vick was recently signed by the Philadelphia Eagles after serving an 18-month prison sentence for bankrolling a dog-fighting ring among other things. Now, almost as many of you also probably know that Plaxico Burress will be serving around two years in prison for accidentally shooting himself with an unlicensed gun. Both Burress and Vick were premier players in the NFL before having to serve prison time.

My question is: Will Plaxico Burress be welcome back like Michael Vick was when he gets out of jail?

My short answer is: Probably, most people consider Burress' crime to be less "horrible" than Vick's crime.

Now for a more detailed answer: Burress will most likely be welcomed back to the NFL much more willingly by teams and fans because what he did did not involve taking any lives whereas Vick killed and was responsible for the deaths of multiple animals. That should be reason enough for people to let Burress back.

Burress' Intentions

One argument against Burress' case is that he may have had the gun with the intention of using it against someone later. He can just say that he was carrying the gun for self-defense even if that was not his intention because there is nothing to prove otherwise. If that is a legitimate argument, then you are comparing human lives against animal lives.

I will let you decide which is more "important" because this article is on sports and not ethics.

Skill Comparison

After a long period of time in jail, any athlete is very likely to lose at least some of their athletic ability. It is just a fact of the human body. If you cannot practice certain aspects of football, then you will be weaker in those aspects than what you were able to practice.

From what I have heard, Vick has still retained a lot of the talent that he had before he served his prison time. It will be interesting to see how much talent Plaxico Burress is able to keep after an even longer sentence than Vick. Talent will obviously be a huge factor in Burress signing with a team.

Opposition

A huge part of the challenge for Vick to come back was all of the opposition that he faced from animal lovers and groups like the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). Burress will not have nearly the same resistance from people who are against guns than Vick had from people who are against animal cruelty.

Random Factors

There are also a few other factors that were key in Vick making his return, that Burress will also have to do something similar to. For one thing, Vick had the respected Tony Dungy mentoring him throughout his progress back into the NFL. If Burress can find someone who is willing to mentor him throughout his progress into the NFL, then he should be much more likely to play professional football.

Another key to Vick's journey back to the NFL was his ability to prove that he felt remorse for the crimes he committed. This may not sound as important for Burress to do as it was for Vick, but it is pretty close to the same importance. That is because you want Burress to learn that he should not carry around anything illegal (especially a weapon) and to prevent it from happening again.

If Burress is able to show that he will be able stay out of trouble, and if he can keep the majority of his previous talent then we should see Burress in an NFL uniform around two years from now.

A Look at the Miami Dolphins' Upcoming Schedule, Part Two

Paul Smythe — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 17:14:10 -0400

Here is part two of my 2009-10 Miami Dolphins preview. Once again, I will not bore you with details of the past, but with predictions for the future. That is what you came to read.

So without further ado, let's begin:

Week Five: New York Jets at Miami Dolphins

The Jets are coming off of a disappointing season last year because of a certain prima donna that should be retired and at home right now. They now have a rookie quarterback in Mark Sanchez, and have kept the same depth in the running back position with Leon Washington and Thomas Jones sharing carries.

The key to this game will be Miami's ability to shut down the running game. Jones and Washington are a big reason the Jets did well last year, so if the Dolphins can cut off that part of the Jets offense then they should win the game.

Week Six: Bye

Week 7: New Orleans Saints at Miami Dolphins

The Saints have a great passing attack with quarterback Drew Brees slinging the ball long. Brees almost broke the record for most passing yards in a season last year, so he really knows how to move the ball down the field. Miami's cornerbacks need to step up in Week Seven to contain Brees' high powered passing attack.

New Orleans was one of the top-10 worst teams in passing yards allowed last season, so if Chad Pennington is able to throw over the Saints, then there is a good chance they can win in Week Seven.

Week Eight: Miami Dolphins at New York Jets

The two teams meet up again in New York just three weeks after their last meeting. Look for this game to be much more intense as one of these teams tries to get back at the other for losing the previous game.

The Jets also had the third-worst rushing defense in the NFL last year. So look for Miami to heavily utilize the running game. This game will most likely depend on Miami's run offense and how well the Dolphins can gain yards on the ground.

The biggest key of this part of the season is how well Miami can play against the Jets. If they are able to beat the Jets once, then they can probably beat them again. So, there is a good chance that the Week Five game will determine how the Week Eight game goes as well.

Miami Dolphins Football Is In The Air

Paul Smythe — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:59:12 -0400

Summer's heat is finally ending.

Fall's colors are just around the corner.

Football season has finally arrived.

Football season is the most important event of the year (along with Christmas). Ask any fan(atic) who follows their favorite team closely. They cannot wait until the football season starts. They can't wait for the joys of a close, nail-biting win, the late season playoff race when it is do-or-die time, or the joy of realizing that your team has actually accomplished something worthwhile (unless you are a fan of the Lions, Raiders, Patriots, or any other team that failed to reach the playoffs last year).

This is the beginning of 21 (or more) weeks of fun, dissapointment, and triumph. But most importantly, it is the beginning of opportunity. Each team gets a chance to go down in history as a team that won it all. It doesn't matter how they did the year before. Each team is given a clean slate and the opportunity to record success on it.

But I am not writing this based on observing other fans and teams. I am writing this through personal experience with my Miami Dolphins.

Yes, they are MY Miami Dolphins.

Don't ask me why I call them mine, or why when I am talking about Miami I say "we" or "us" even though I have no part in the ownership of the team. It comes with the territory of being a fan. It is second nature to anyone who talks about their favorite team frequently for any period of time.

The Dolphins used their clean slate last year to stage the best improvement in just a year. They took the opportunity given to them with the weakest schedule in the NFL and made the most of it. Even though they didn't win it all, they set the foundations for future seasons.

After all of their hard work to get to where they were going, how were they rewarded? With the toughest schedule in the NFL this year. But none of the Dolphins players have complained about it so far. That shows that the team doesn't care who they play. It shows that they are confident in what they can do. And that kind of confidence leads to great things.

So keep playing Miami, and show your doubters how wrong they are.

If Spiderman's Uncle Ben were a Dolphins fan he would say something like, "With great performance comes greater challenges."

But the Dolphins have been preparing for those challenges this year. With NFL guru Bill Parcells and head coach Tony Sparano at the helm, the Dolphins are more than prepared to face whatever challenges are thrown their way. Which is why I look forward to seeing my Miami Dolphins facing those challenges on the field. Because the Dolphins will surprise people again this year.

And that's a promise.

A Look at the Miami Dolphins' Upcoming Schedule: Part One

Paul Smythe — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 10:35:58 -0400

Everyone knows about how well the Miami Dolphins did last year and how much they surprised everyone, so I will not bore you with yet another overview of what happened in 2008-2009. You clicked on my link (which was hopefully on the top of the Dolphins page) to read about this year and not last, so that is what I will give you.

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you my 2009-2010 Miami Dolphins Preview Part One. So sit back, relax, and feel free to post whatever confrontational comments you need at the bottom. I will not post my predicted outcome of the game because I know that I would be very biased and pick the Dolphins to win every game.

Oh, and I will try and keep it short and sweet for those of you BRers with a short attention span.

Week One: Miami Dolphins at Atlanta Falcons

This game will be a huge deciding factor for both teams. The Falcons are also coming off of an amazing turnaround season last year, so this game will help determine whether either team has been able to build off of last year's success.

A big battle will be between a promising young quarterback who did great last year (Matt Ryan) and an inconsistent veteran who also did exceptionally well last year (Chad Pennington). The battle that most people will be watching is the running game.

The Falcons have a premier running back in Michael Turner, and the Dolphins have a premiere running and now passing scheme with the Wildcat formation and multiple players able to run the ball well.

The key to Miami winning is to keep up the scoring from last year. If they can consistently score, then the defense will most likely hold up its side of the bargain.

Week Two: Indianapolis Colts at Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins open their first home game of the year against the Colts. Peyton Manning had a mediocre season compared to what he usually has last year. I believe that this year will not be much better because he is no longer underneath Tony Dungy. Yes, I know that Jim Caldwell (Colts head coach) used to be the Colts' offensive coordinator.

I just do not feel that they can do as much without Dungy. If Miami wants to win, they should focus on shutting Manning down.

Week Three: Miami Dolphins at San Diego Chargers

The Chargers were a very mediocre team last year even though they made the playoffs. They went 8-8 and won the wild-card game in the playoffs last year. They are the best pick to win the AFC west, but that is not saying too much.

The Chargers' RB LaDainian Tomlinson has really gone down from a few years ago when he was the best running back. Chargers QB Phillip Rivers had a great year in which he should have made the Pro Bowl.

But, that is a different story (which I have so kindly given you the link to). Rivers should provide a challenge for the Dolphins new revamped secondary, so we will see whether they are up to it. If Miami can stop Rivers then they will probably get the W.

Week Four: Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins

The Bills had a very disappointing season last year. They started off on a really great run and then just started losing. They have a mediocre quarterback in Trent Edwards, but they have a great running game with running back Marshawn Lynch. The game will most likely depend on the Bills' defense, though.

The Bills had one of the worst defenses in the league last year, but have added numerous new players to help restart their once weak defensive efforts. If Miami can exploit the holes in the Bills' defense, then they should be able to get a reasonably easy win.

I hope you enjoyed Part One of my Dolphins season preview. I enjoy a good argument, so please feel the urge to post below. Make sure to look for Part Two coming soon.

Note to Rex Ryan: Don't Start Talking Until You Start Winning

Paul Smythe — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 11:18:09 -0400

The NFL preseason just got a little more interesting.

The New York Jets' rookie coach and son of former Super Bowl coach Buddy Ryan didn't wait too long in the NFL before he decided to ruffle a few feathers in the AFC East.

Within just a few days Rex Ryan was able to get on the bad side of a lot of people. He started by boldly proclaiming that he "never came here to kiss Bill Belichick's rings" and then later refused to apologize for his comments.

When Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder heard what Ryan said, he replied jokingly "He's going absolutely nuts. So congratulations to him, he's the OTA (Organized Team Activity) Super Bowl winner."

Ryan then sarcastically stated, "All I know is that he's all tatted up, so I guess I need to be nervous about him." He then followed with an almost threat, saying "If I was younger, I'd handle him myself."

First of all, Ryan wouldn't have been able to take Crowder even if he was younger. He is definitely pretty stocky and wouldn't have been able to hold up against a "tatted up" NFL linebacker.

Second, why is he saying all of this before the regular season has even started? It's not like he has any accomplishments with the Jets to back up his statements. He needs to watch what he says or else it will make the Jets rivals even more mad than normal.

That could lead to his players getting hurt because their rivals will hit harder to get back at him.

If he was in another division he might be able to get away with a little more, but not in one of the toughest divisions in the NFL. Especially when he's making comments about a football genius like Belichick.

Of course, the Jets wouldn't even have this problem in the first place if they had just kept their great previous head coach Eric Mangini. Instead they fired him for reasons that weren't his fault and out of his control. But that's another completely different discussion.

Rex Ryan's mouth will only hurt the Jets, so New York needs to seriously consider getting a new coach soon. But if they keep him and the Jets start winning, then he can talk all he wants. Until then he needs to keep his mouth shut and focus on his own team.

Ronnie Brown: No Longer Needed in Miami?

Paul Smythe — Fri, 15 May 2009 14:58:40 -0400

The Dolphins surprised a lot of teams last year when they went 11-5 one year after finishing 1-15. There were a lot of key factors to last season's turnaround.

One of those was Ronnie Brown. Brown scored 10 rushing touchdowns, four of which came in the Dolphins first win of the season.

But does Miami really need him anymore?

I don't think so. It's true that without him the Dolphins probably wouldn't have won as many games last year, but that doesn't mean the Dolphins need him to win this year.

If you don't count his game in Week Three, where he got all of his touchdowns off of trick plays, then he really had a bad season. He would have had only six touchdowns, 803 rushing yards, while averaging four yards per carry, the lowest of his career.

The addition of Pat White might be a hint that the Dolphins are planning on using Brown less and less this season. White was an incredible running quarterback for West Virginia in college, and his passing abilities far exceed Brown's.

Defenses used to cheat toward the run when Brown lined up as the quarterback in Wildcat. With White they can't cheat, or he could burn them with a long pass.

Miami's running game won't suffer much either with Ricky Williams still around. Williams was one of the best running backs in the league before he left for a year in 2006. He is faster and more experienced than Brown.

The Dolphins running game would probably be better without having to share the carries between backs.

Brown also has a very high salary worth a little less than $10 million a year.

The Dolphins could either release him and sign a couple of good players, trade him to a team that needs a running back and has a player they're willing to give up, or release him just to save some cap room in case it's needed in the future.

I have been 100 percent behind Ronnie Brown since he came to the Dolphins, so it isn't easy for me to say that the squad doesn't need him anymore.

But I've come to realize that Miami would do just fine without him.

Jason Taylor Signs with the Dolphins, Proving Where His Heart Really Lies

Paul Smythe — Wed, 13 May 2009 17:11:54 -0400

Jason Taylor has just signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Miami Dolphins. The future Hall-of-Fame defensive end has returned to the city he loves and is now able to live with his family.

Taylor, who played for Miami all of his pro career, left the Dolphins at the beginning of the 2008-09 season. But he couldn't stay away long and is now back and ready to play where his heart is.

He gave up an $8.5 million contract that he would have gotten next year playing for the Washington Redskins. There was no negotiation in the $1.5 million deal. Taylor was willing to play for whatever Miami could fit in its budget.

This is a win-win for both parties. Taylor gets to play (and hopefully retire) in the city he loves, and the Dolphins get another great defensive lineman to help shut down their opponents' offenses.

Taylor had one of his worst seasons with the Redskins last year, earning only 3.5 sacks and a career-low 29 tackles. Hopefully, he was just in a slump in Washington and is ready to jump in and help Miami's defense.

So welcome back, Jason, and we hope you'll stay in Miami until you retire.

Top 10 Best Dunks of 2008-2009

Paul Smythe — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 20:11:34 -0400

Here is a list of the 10 best dunks in basketball this year. From the unexpected player dunking to the expected, but still incredible dunk. They're all right here. And thank you to youtube for all the dunk videos. Some of the pictures aren't the actual dunk. Sorry about that, but it's hard to find pictures for every dunk.

Begin Slideshow

It's Been a Great Year For Miami Sports

Paul Smythe — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 12:47:53 -0400

Wow!

Isn't it amazing how one season can change things so much? Just one season ago, I was a fan of the worst two teams in their sport, the Miami Dolphins and the Miami Heat

The Dolphins had just come off of the worst season in the history of the NFL (until Detroit this year), and the Heat couldn't even reach 20 wins, even though every other team in the NBA was able to.

This year, the Dolphins made the playoffs as an AFC East Champion for the first time in forever. The Dolphins were lead by:

A re-energized veteran in Chad Pennington and his receiving cast
An amazing running back combination
A genius for a head coach

I can't forget Bill Parcells either, because I'm pretty sure the "Big Tuna" had a lot to do with the double-figure's in the win column this year.

The Heat are on track to be a contender for the NBA finals this year and next year, with MVP candidate Dwyane Wade leading the way. Wade has already broken the Heat's single-season scoring record and, with a help from mid-season acquisitions Jermaine O'Neal and Jamario Moon, is leading the Heat into the playoffs.

Wade is having a career year and cannot be stopped. He can be very dangerous no matter what defense he is facing. He is leading the league in points scored and probably won't lose that title any time this year.

I can't wait until next year!

The Dolphins have a legitimate shot at making the playoffs again and even possibly the Super Bowl.

The Heat also have a great shot to go deep into the playoffs next year, even if they can't this year. Trust me, that won't be a problem because the Heat are very capable of going the distance this year.

Let's keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best for the upcoming year.

Heat-Grizzlies: Wade Breaks Heat Scoring Record In 94-82 Win

Paul Smythe — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 16:29:40 -0400

The Miami Heat (38-32) got one step closer to the playoffs with a 94-82 win over the Memphis Grizzlies (17-53). It was their fifth straight win at home. The Heat are now only 3.5 games behind the Atlanta Hawks (42-29) and 1.5 games ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers (36-33).

The news of the night was Dwyane Wade's 27 points that put him over the Heat's single-season scoring record for points which he set a couple of years ago. Wade has been a scoring machine for the Heat this year, doing everything he can do to put the Heat in the playoffs.

He might even be doing enough for the coveted MVP Honor, but that's for a different discussion.

The Heat started out fast with an 11-0 run, and never looked back. Wade got a much deserved rest and sat out most of the second quarter because of Miami's comfortable lead.

Michael Beasley bounced back for a three point performance Sunday against Detroit, scoring 17 points and getting nine boards. Jamaal Magloire also pitched in with a season-high 12 rebounds.

The Heat's next game is Wednesday, March 25 against the Pacers in Indiana. The Heat have a 16-game losing streak at Conseco Fieldhouse, so they are going to have to fight hard to get another win and move one step closer to home-court advantage.

Why the Heck Is Brett Favre in the Pro Bowl?

Paul Smythe — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 04:42:51 -0500

As most of you probably know, the Pro Bowl results were released on Tuesday. I really only have one big complaint about the results.

Why the heck is Bret Favre in the Pro Bowl?

Sure, he's leading the Jets to success that was non-existent for them last year. And yeah, he deserves a little more credit because he is one of the oldest players in the NFL.

But that doesn't mean his is good enough, or, for that matter, deserves to be in the Pro Bowl.

Not only does he not have good enough stats to be in the Pro Bowl, he isn't winning late in the season, when it really counts.

Favre has thrown for one touchdown and four interceptions in the last three games. His bad play has cost the Jets two big losses, and the only thing that made the Jets' game against Buffalo a win was New York's defense capitalizing on a foolish mistake by the Bills' offense.

Compared to other AFC quarterbacks statistics, Favre isn't even close to the top three. He is seventh in passer rating and passing yardage, he's thrown more interceptions than any other quarterback, and he is sixth in first down percentage.

There are a few players that (without a doubt in my mind) should be Pro Bowlers instead of Favre.

Philip Rivers-San Diego Chargers

Rivers' passer rating is 101.4 - Favre's is only 86.5
Rivers currently has 463 more passing yards than Favre
Rivers has thrown for 28 touchdowns - Favre has thrown 21
Rivers has thrown only 11 interceptions compared to Favre's 17
Rivers has the best chance of earning a first down than any other quarter back in the AFC
Rivers has nine more passes of 20+ yards and five more 40+ yard passes than Favre
Rivers averages more yards per completion than any other AFC quarterback

As you can see Rivers is way more qualified than Favre to be in the Pro Bowl

Chad Pennington-Miami Dolphins

Pennington's passer rating is 95.1 - still way better than Favre's 86.5
Pennington has thrown for more yards
Pennington has only thrown 6 interceptions - 11 better than Favre's 17
Pennington also has a better chance of earning a first down
Pennington averages more yards per completion

Pennington has helped turn around the Miami Dolphins from 1-15 last year to playoff contenders along with Favre and the Jets

Pennington is yet another quarterback who is better qualified than Favre

Matt Cassel-New England Patriots

Cassel has a better passer rating
Cassel has thrown for 218 more yards than Favre
Cassel has thrown 6 fewer interceptions than Favre
Cassel has gained more first downs
Cassel averages more yards per completion
Cassel is able to do all of this even though he is sacked more times than any other leading AFC quarterback
Cassel was able to step in for Tom Brady during Week 1 and keep the Patriots in playoff contention

Cassel is yet another player who deserves the Pro Bowl more than Favre

I am not writing this article to attack Brett Favre in any way, because it's not even his fault. I am writing this for every voter who voted for Favre. I respect that he is still playing when most players don't, but I just don't feel that he deserved it. Just because he's old and still plays doesn't mean that he should get your vote instead of people who deserve the vote.

Seriously, next time you consider voting for someone because of their age, stop and start judging them by their ability and what they are able to do now, not what they did in their prime.

Miami-San Francisco: The Dolphins Need To Play Like They've Been Playing

Paul Smythe — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:09:41 -0500

The Miami Dolphins (8-5) are currently in a three-team tie for first place in the AFC East. The San Francisco 49ers (5-8) are heading to Miami to try and hurt the Dolphins playoff hopes.

Miami has won six of their last seven, and a win this week would help a lot, because the New York Jets (8-5) have lost all momentum after two straight losses and are playing against the Buffalo Bills this week. The New England Patriots (8-5) have a favorable match-up at Oakland (3-10) this week, so don't expect them to lose.

But you never know

If Buffalo can come out with a win and Oakland can shock New England, things would look really good for the Dolphins.

The Dolphins have a great offense that can attack from all sides.

We have Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams are one of the best running back combinations in the NFL. I am interested to see how they will do against the 49ers pretty good rushing defense.

The Wildcat, which was a nightmare for defenses early in the season, hasn't been very effective recently, so hopefully Miami will hang it up for a while and start calling it again during the playoffs (if we make it).

Dolphins quarter back Chad Pennington has played the best season of his career, and is working well with whatever target he throws to. When leading wide receiver Greg Camarillo was injured, Davone Bess stepped right up and filled in perfectly for Camarillo.

If Pennington can throw for 250 yards or more this week, then he will pass all three of Miami's quarterbacks combined passing yardage from last year. Pennington has also thrown only six interceptions compared to last years 16. San Francisco's passing defense is one of the worst in the league, so expect Miami's offense to thrive on Sunday.

Turnovers have been the Dolphins strong point this year, where it has been the 49ers weakness. Miami's turnover ratio is +12, and San Francisco's is -14. Hopefully the Dolphins can capitalize on the 49ers mistakes.

The 49ers do have a strong passing offense, which is a problem because one of the Dolphins' weaknesses this year has been pass defense. Lets hope that Miami can shut down San Francisco's passing game.

My prediction:

24 Miami -14 San Francisco

Porter gets another sack to help him remain the NFL's leading sacker

Dolphins-Bills: A Battle Of Dual Running Backs and Special Teams

Paul Smythe — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 02:05:04 -0500

The Miami Dolphins (7-5) head into Toronto to play the Bills (6-6) in a divisional game that is crucial for the Dolphins if they want a chance at making the playoffs this year.

The Bills are coming off of their fifth loss in the last six games. The Dolphins are coming off of their fifth win in the last six games.

Miami is currently one game behind the New York Jets (8-4), and tied with the New England Patriots (7-5) for second in the division. Hopefully, the Jets can lose to the San Francisco 49ers, and the Patriots to the Seattle Seahawks even though neither is very likely.

A big factor in this game will be how each teams dual running backs do against good rushing defenses.

Miami's two running backs, Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams, average 4.2 yards per carry combined. Buffalo's two running backs, Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson average 4.15 yards per carry. So, whichever running back tandem is more successful should be a huge indication of who will win the game.

Bills quarterback Trent Edwards is doubtful to play, so Miami needs to be ready for backup quarterback J.P. Losman to play. Losman is very sack-prone, so the Dolphins should blitz him frequently and force a sack or a turnover. In the short time Losman played last week, he was sacked three times.

The Bills were unable to make big plays without Edwards, and let's hope Miami's defense can keep it that way.

The Bills don't have a bad defense, so it definitely won't be a breeze for Chad Pennington complete passes, but Pennington will use his experience to find holes in the defense. I think this will be a big game for him because he knows it is a crucial divisional win.

Miami's special teams has been a big flaw this year. The Dolphins allow the highest return yard average in the NFL on kickoffs and the second highest on punts, which gives the other teams offense good field position. It is crucial that our special teams stops the Bills returners early and doesn't allow them to break free.

On the opposite side, the Bills kick returners have the highest kickoff return average in the NFL and the third highest punt return average. I see a problem here, and hopefully it doesn't cost the Dolphins the game.

Special teams has almost cost Miami the game before against easier teams. Let's hope the Dolphins' special teams can step up big this game.

My prediction:

Miami 21 - Bills 20

Joey porter gets another sack to regain his crown, and despite a Bills touchdown on special teams, Miami holds on.

Miami-St Louis: The Dolphins Can't Get Sloppy

Paul Smythe — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 02:49:56 -0500

The Dolphins (6-5) are heading into St Louis to play the Rams (2-9) this Sunday. Miami needs a win to stay in the AFC playoff race.

St Louis doesn't have many strengths on offense or defense. They have the worst scoring offense in the NFL, and allow the second most points in the NFL.

If Miami wants to avoid an upset, they should run the ball against St Louis' terrible run defense, which averages 162 yards allowed a game.

I am interested to see how Chad Pennington will do this week without Greg Camarillo, who is out for the season. Expect Ted Ginn Jr. to have a big game this week, because he will be Pennington's primary target.

St. Louis' offense has no real strengths. They are one of the worst in total yardage, and they are the worst scoring offense. Miami does need to watch out for Rams running-back Steven Jackson. He hasn't done very good this year, but he had a break out game earlier this year, and we don't want it to happen again.

No game is an easy win in the NFL, especially for Miami, who is always in a close game. I expect Miami to come out with a win this week.

Prediction: Miami 35 - St Louis 20

Don't Count Us Out Yet Dol-Fans

Paul Smythe — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 02:10:29 -0500

Even though it looks tough for the Miami Dolphins (6-5) to make the playoffs this year, don't count us out yet.

We have the easiest remaining schedule in the NFL. Only two of the remaining five games are considered tough at all, and they are both divisional games.

In Week 14, we play the Buffalo Bills, who have the same record as us, but are still in fourth place because of their divisional record. If Miami can win that game, it will be huge, because it will probably knock the Bills out of the playoff race, and will get Miami another divisional win, which will help in a tie-breaker.

During the last week of the regular season (Week 17), the Dolphins play the New York Jets. If everything works out for Miami, this game could be a huge determining factor for the playoffs for both teams.

The Jets are currently in the lead of the AFC East with an 8-3 record. They have three games that will be a real challenge for them to win for the rest of the regular season. They play Denver, Buffalo, and Miami. Other than that, the rest should be pretty easy wins.

If Miami wants to pass the Jets, then then the Jets will need to lose at least two games, and the Dolphins will need to win all of theirs. It seems tough, but anything can happen.

The New England Patriots are currently second in the AFC East with an 7-4 record. The Patriots also have three upcoming games that should be tough to win. Those three are Pittsburgh, Arizona, and Buffalo.

The Patriots will be easier for Miami to pass than New York, which can be helpful for the AFC wild-card race.

If the Dolphins want to make the playoffs at all this year, I think they can only afford one more loss, which might be possible if we can beat at least one of the two tough teams on our schedule. Our loss last week hurt us, but hopefully we can bounce back and make the playoffs for the first time in seven seasons.

Playoffs, The Final Frontier: An Overview of the 2008-2009 Miami Dolphins

Paul Smythe — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 09:00:32 -0500

"Beam us up, Scotty..."

Captain Kirk made that line famous during the early years of Star Trek. It also applies to the Miami Dolphins this year, so I propose a new line:

"Beam us up, Bill..."

And that he has. Parcells has taken last year's one-win Dolphins, and rebuilt them into playoff contenders.

Who would have thought so much change was possible during the span of two seasons?

When Parcells came to Miami last December, they were a beaten team who many people thought would take years to rebuild.

That wouldn't be the case in South Florida.

In January, Miami signed Dallas Cowboys assistant head coach Tony Sparano as Miami's head coach. Parcells had been with Sparano at Dallas before, so you can be certain that he was a big part of the decision.

Then, during the 2008 NFL Draft, the Dolphins drafted offensive tackle Jake Long with the first pick of the Draft.

Most of the time, you don't picture an offensive lineman as being the first pick in the draft. Obviously, Parcells didn't care what usually happens, because picking Long turned out to be perfect for Miami.

In August, Miami signed quarterback Chad Pennington to lead Miami's offense. Miami hadn't had a consistent quarterback in years, and Parcells obviously saw something in Pennington, after being somewhat of a disappointment with the Jets for eight seasons, that he was a perfect fit for the Dolphins.

On the first of September, the Dolphins signed controversial running back Ricky Williams. Without going into details, Williams had been with Miami a couple of years earlier, before he, all of the sudden, left them so he could live in a tent and "find himself," as he said it.

As a fan of Miami, I wasn't to sure about them signing Williams, but it turned out to be a great move. So basically, Parcells proved me, and millions of other football fans, wrong by signing Williams.

Usually, when the crew of Star Trek are in trouble, Kirk's ingenuity almost always saves the day. The same thing might happen to Miami this year. Even though we're behind both New England and New York, there is still hope because you know Parcells will be working extra hard to save the day.

Time and time again, Parcells has helped Miami "beam up" new talented players and knowledgeable staff members who fit perfectly with the Dolphins. Hopefully, he can "beam" the Dolphins into the playoffs this year.

"Make it so..."

Jean-Luc Picard made that line famous during the more recent years of Star Trek: The Next Generation. That quote definitely applies to Miami's star players this year.

Last year, we lacked big-time players that could stand up and "make it so" when we needed it most. This year, we're full of them.

A huge example is Chad Pennington. He is the quarterback that Miami has desperately needed for years now. Pennington is extremely efficient, and rarely makes mistakes. He has a 90+ passer rating for the season, and is one of the top quarterbacks in terms of completion percentage.

Pennington is also really good at starting games off with a bang. This is perfect for Miami, because he can run up the score in the first half, and let the running backs finish the defense off in the second Half.

The Dolphins also have a great running back combination this year. Running backs Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams are "making it so" when they are needed most. They have already combined for loads of rushing yards so far, and look promising for the future.

Ronnie Brown really stepped up against New England in Week 3. He ran for four touchdowns and threw for a fifth to help the Dolphins upset New England in the Patriots first regular season loss in a long time.

If Brown hadn't been able to do so well against New England, then the Dolphins might still be stuck with only a few wins so far this season, because when Miami beat New England, the Dolphins finally gained confidence in their ability to win.

So in a way, Ronnie Brown saved our entire season in just the third week.

Miami's receiving corps as a whole has been life-saving this year. No one player stands out much from another. Ted Ginn Jr. would currently be considered the Dolphins best receiver because of Greg Camarillo's season ending injury.

But, Ginn still isn't the only player standing out. Miami has as many as seven different receiving threats on offense. That almost always means that there will be someone ready to step up. So, whenever we need a big play, you can be certain that there will always be a receiver that will "make it so."

On defense, line backer Joey Porter really stands out. Porter leads the league in sacks this year, and is, without question, a verbal leader for the team. Even though he sometimes will get carried away when the media is around him, he never fails to please in his performance this year.

He is a tough, intimidating player who is feared around the league. He is very good at firing up the team, and he can make big-time tackles when they're needed most.

The Dolphins are full of play-makers who will "make it so." As long as that continues, Miami has a legitimate shot at the playoffs this year.

And who knows...

Maybe the Super Bowl?

Miami-New England: A Crucial Game for Both Teams

Paul Smythe — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:20:52 -0500

Who would have thought that half way through the season the Miami Dolphins would have the same record as the New England Patriots?

I definitely didn't.

But, I sure am glad they do.

The Patriots (6-4) head to Miami this week to play the Dolphins (6-4) in a game that could possibly determine the top spot in the AFC East.

Yes, the Jets are leading the division with a record of 7-3, but they are playing at Tennessee against the unbeaten Titans this week. So, with a little luck in Miami/New England's favor, Tennessee will stay unbeaten and the Jets will fall to 7-4.

If Miami wants to win, then they will need to stop New England's running game, which has been very good in recent weeks, no matter who carries the ball. It will be interesting to see how well the Dolphins' defense will be able to withstand the Patriots' offense.

The last time the two teams met in week three, Miami shocked the NFL with a blowout win against New England, who hadn't lost a regular season game in what seemed like forever. This time, though, New England will be prepared because they have seen how good Miami is this year.

In week three, the Fins was lead by Joey Porter's sack frenzy, and Ronnie Brown's four touchdowns running and a fifth via passing.

Since then, both Miami's offense and defense have developed into huge threats. With Chad Pennington leading the way with multiple receivers, the Dolphins now have a passing offense to combine with their excellent three running back combination of Brown, Williams, and (during last week's game) Patrick Cobbs.

Look for Miami to utilize their full offensive arsenal, as well as some trick plays, to beat New England's defense.

Miami's defense has been through the most, in my mind, since then. Their defensive line, lead by Porter, was (and still is) doing great, but their secondary just could not stop the long ball. Since then, the secondary has pulled it together very well, and has become hard to beat. So, expect New England to run the ball a lot this week.

The Dolphins' special teams has been giving up big plays recently, including a touchdown last week that almost cost them the game. The Patriots have an excellent kick returner in ex-Dolphin Wes Welker, so pay attention to how well Miami can do in stopping him.

If the Dolphins are able to hold Patriots run game and stop the special teams, then we should be 7-4 and looking at a possible playoff berth.

My Prediction: 30-28. Miami wins in overtime and Porter gets 1.5 sacks.

Miami-Oakland: Chad Pennington against the Oakland Secondary

Paul Smythe — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 07:28:31 -0500

The Oakland Raiders (2-7) travel to Miami this weekend to play the Dolphins (5-4) in a matchup that is important for Miami, but not so much for Oakland. If the Dolphins want a chance to make the playoffs, they need to win this game.

The Raiders are the worst scoring team in the NFL, so hopefully Miami can hold them to little or no production. Oakland has scored only six points in the last two games. Their only strength on offense is the run, with which they are ninth in yards per game.

Expect Joey Porter to get at least another sack, and the Dolphins' defensive line to hold up well against the running game, though.

Miami's passing offense is their biggest strength, but Oakland's passing defense is pretty much their only strength. So, Chad Pennington needs to do well if Miami wants to beat the Raiders by a good margin. If Pennington can stay turnover free, then Miami should have a good chance to win.

Miami has done well when they run trick plays, so they should try a few and see how they work against the Raiders. Last week, both Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown capitalized on trick plays with a flea-flicker and a running back-to-running back hand off.

All different players have stepped up in recent weeks for Miami. Last week it was Ricky Williams, and I am interested to see who it will be this week.

If the Dolphins' passing offense is working, it will be hard for Oakland to stop us. So, the key to the game for me will be Miami's passing game vs. Oakland's defense.

Miami has more wins in a row than Oakland has all season, so hopefully we can extend that streak.

My prediction: 17-9, Miami pulls it out in a pretty close game.

Dolphins-Seahawks: Miami Inches By in Close Win

Paul Smythe — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 10:46:54 -0500

The Miami Dolphins beat the Seattle Seahawks 21-19 at Dolphin Stadium today.

Thanks to two early scores by receiver Ted Ginn, Jr. and running back Ricky Williams, the Dolphins were able to hold on for a win against the Seahawks.

Just when you thought the Dolphins' "Wildcat" play wouldn't work anymore, Miami capitalized on it twice, and also scored on a new play.

For the Dolphins' first score, Chad Pennington handed the ball to Ronnie Brown, who then pitched it to Pennington for a flea-flicker. Immediately after he got the ball, Pennington threw a long-bomb to Ted Ginn Jr., who miraculously caught it between two defenders.

For their next touchdown, Miami ran the wildcat to Ronnie Brown, who handed off to Ricky Williams for a wide open hole in a 51-yard touchdown run.

When everything seemed to be going Miami's way, Chad Pennington threw an interception to Jordan Babineaux who returned it for the Seahawks' first touchdown.

Last time Pennington threw an interception for a touchdown was in the loss against the Baltimore Ravens.

Seattle brought the score to 13-14 with two field goals by Olindo Mare, who used to be kicker for the Dolphins.

Not to be outdone, Chad Pennington led the Dolphins to the red zone and let Ronnie Brown finish it off, running the "Wildcat" for a touchdown run.

Late in the fourth quarter, Seahawks quarterback Seneca Wallace threw a short pass to Koren Robinson for a touchdown, making the score 19-21.

The Seahawks were unable to convert on the two-point conversion to tie the game.

Miami held on for their third victory in a row, putting them over .500 for the first time in two seasons with a record of 5-4.

With the win this week, Miami stays in the hunt for the AFC East lead. They're next game is home to the Raiders, so it is possible that Miami will be in second place in the division at the end of next week.

Another win and one step closer to the playoffs for Miami.

Miami Dolphins' Channing Crowder Following Joey Porter's Example

Paul Smythe — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 07:44:52 -0500

As you have probably heard, Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter has been exchanging verbal blows with Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall.

Well, Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder is following in Porter's footsteps by talking some trash of his own.

When Broncos'cornerback Karl Paymah called Miami's receiver Greg Camarillo, whom he covered most of the game, an "average joe" after Camarillo had a 100+ yard game against Denver, Channing Crowder responded on Camarillo's behalf:

"Who is that? That upset me more than anything. Who is he? (Paymah) plays because Champ Bailey got hurt. I don't know who Paxton, Pason, Popsom is. Camarillo ate him up all day. He should be quiet and go work on his coverage skills."

Thank you, Crowder. You are exactly right in that he needs to work on his skills and stop talking.

You can tell that Porter has made his mark on the Miami Dolphins. Crowder just proved it with some brilliant remarks to shut Paymah up.

Some people argue that Porter has left a bad mark on the Dolphins attitude, while others might say that he's left a great one.

Personally, I like it. It's intimidating to other teams, especially when the Dolphins can show that they won't back down.

As long as Miami can keep playing well, they can talk all they want.

If we could score the Miami-Denver game in terms of arguments won, I think it's safe to say that Miami won that one, 2-0.

Miami-Seattle: Dolphins Must Stop the Run

Paul Smythe — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 09:35:08 -0500

The Seattle Seahawks (2-6) are heading into Miami to play the Dolphins (4-4) Sunday.

Miami should win with relative ease as long as they are able to stop Seattle running back Julius Jones. Seattle really has no other strengths on offense and they have the worst passing yardage in the NFL.

The Seahawks aren't even sure who their quarterback will be this week because starter Matt Hasselbeck is injured and may not play. That would force backup quarterback Seneca Wallace to play in his place for the fourth consecutive week.

On offense, Miami should be able to find plenty of opportunities passing the ball. Seattle's passing defense is ranked 31st in yards allowed, whereas Miami's passing offense is the sixth best in total yards gained. So, expect Pennington to get at least 300 yards passing.

It should also be pretty easy for Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams to run the ball. The Seahawks allow, on average, 115 yards per game, and with Miami's potent running offense, they should be able to break 150 yards.

As I said earlier, Julius Jones poses the only real threat to the Dolphins' defense. Miami is very good at stopping the run, so I don't see a huge problem there, because if Jones is able to break the line, Dolphins' linebacker Joey Porter should be able to stop him.

The Dolphins are coming off of two big wins in a row. Look for them to continue to win against Seattle and also Oakland next week.

Final Score Prediction

Miami 27, Seattle 6

A Four-Team Analysis of the Extremely Close AFC East

Paul Smythe — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 12:41:34 -0500

The AFC East division is currently the tightest division in the NFL. Three teams are tied for the lead, with one only a game behind. Each team's records and rank are as follows:

New England Patriots (5-3) .625
New York Jets (5-3) .625
Buffalo Bills (5-3) .625
Miami Dolphins (4-4) .500

Here is an analysis of each team now that we are past halfway through the season.

Miami Dolphins

Miami is definitely the biggest surprise of this NFL season. After only winning once last year, they have shown that, under new leadership, they can win a lot of games.

Quarterback Chad Pennington is leading the Dolphins to victory this year after mediocre success as a New York Jet since the beginning of his nine-year career. He is extremely efficient and always seems to find open receivers.

Miami's running game has done exceedingly well this year. Running backs Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams have combined for 700+ rushing yards and 10 total touchdowns.

Miami's defense wasn't very good against the passing game during the first half of the season, but recently, they have picked things up. The Dolphins' run defense is one of the best in the league, allowing only 89.6 rushing yards a game.

Miami doesn't have too many difficult games for the rest of the season, except divisional games, which are crucial if the Dolphins want to win the division.

I think that Miami should be able to pick up some easy wins, as well as some tough divisional ones.

Predictions

10-6 regular season record

First in the AFC East

New York Jets

The Jets picked up Brett Favre out of retirement in the beginning of the season, and, in the process, released Chad Pennington.

Favre is very good at throwing touchdowns, but he also has a big problem throwing interceptions. He has thrown for 15 touchdowns, but has also thrown 12 interceptions. His experience and leadership is invaluable to the Jets, making him a crucial part of the team.

Running back Thomas Jones is a very good runner, with 601 yards and five touchdowns. He averages 4.5 yards per carry, which is a very solid number and shows that he is very consistent.

The Jets' defense is even better against the run than Miami, only allowing 76 rushing yards a game. Their passing defense, however, isn't very good, which is a big weakness for them.

Besides divisional games, the Jets' schedule looks pretty easy, also.

Prediction

9-7 regular season record

Second in AFC East

Earn a wild-card spot

New England Patriots

At the beginning of the season, the Patriots were hoping to finish what they were unable to finish last year and get a perfect season. Those hopes were ended as soon as Tom Brady was injured in the beginning of the season and backup Matt Cassel was forced to take his place.

Cassel has been pretty good this year, but not near as good as Brady would have been. He has thrown for the least amount of total yards this season but is still keeping the Patriots in the running.

Running backs Sammy Morris and Kevin Faulk have been splitting carries, and combining for 500+ yards and six touchdowns.

New England's defense is right in the middle in every category, except points, where they are ranked ninth in terms of least points allowed. So, they aren't doing very badly, but they're certainly not doing well.

New England's challenging upcoming games will be a few divisional games, and a game against he Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 13, which should be a fun game to watch.

Prediction

9-7 regular season record

Third in AFC East

Don't make playoffs

Buffalo Bills

The Bills are a good passing team and a pretty good rushing team.

Quarterback Trent Edwards is good at throwing for a lot of yards, but he doesn't throw many touchdowns, and he throws almost as many interceptions as touchdowns. He has thrown for six touchdowns and five interceptions.

Running backs Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson have combined for 650+ yards rushing, and Lynch has ran for six touchdowns Jackson has ran for one.

Buffalo's tough games, like everyone else in the division, are divisional games. They should do pretty well, but I don't see them winning as many as the rest of the AFC East.

Prediction

8-8 Regular Season Record

Fourth in AFC EAST

Don't make playoffs

And so there you have it. If anyone disagrees with any of my prediction, please let me know.

Joey Porter Is Officially a Premiere Defensive Player in The NFL

Paul Smythe — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 05:43:11 -0400

Miami Dolphins' linebacker Joey Porter is a terror to quarterbacks everywhere. He leads the league with 10.5 sacks. That is tied for the most he's ever gotten in his career, and we're only in Week Nine. He is on track to pass Micheal Strahan's record of 22.5 sacks in a season.

That's pretty good company.

To top it all of, Porter was recognized as the AFC Defensive Player of the Month on Friday. He is very deserving of this award, because of all he does for Miami's defense.

He isn't afraid to make promises, because he knows that he can fulfill them. He is loud, and makes sure his presence is felt on defense.

Before playing for Miami Porter played eight seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was always a very good player there, but not nearly as good as this season.

When Miami signed him in 2007, many people thought that he would help out the defense tremendously. He didn't do as well as many had hoped by only recording 5.5 sacks, which is how many he has gotten in this month alone.

Porter became just another O.K. player in Miami's defense last year, but this year he really turned things up. In Miami's win against the New England Patriots, Porter recorded four sacks after a lot of trash talking earlier that week. Porter has had, or been a part of, a sack every game this year except for one.

He really is one of the best. I think that it is safe to say that Porter is a big reason why Miami is where they are now.

Here's to Joey Porter: the AFC's number one defender.

Here's to the Miami Dolphins' Offensive Line

Paul Smythe — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 10:58:41 -0400

After all the success Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams have had running the ball; and the success Chad Pennington has had throwing; and the ability of Miami's receivers to do well despite what they were expected to do; I think we should focus on the heart of it all:

The offensive line.

Miami's offensive line is the key to all their success. There are no statistics to measure it, but they let other players' statistics talk for them.

If you could, please answer this:

What positions does the offensive line consist of?

The answer is: Left tackle, right tackle, center, left guard, and right guard.

If you were able to do that, then try this one:

Without looking it up, tell me who is starting in those positions for Miami?

Answer: Left tackle: Jake Long, right tackle: Vernon Carey, center: Samson Satele, left guard: Justin Smiley, and right guard: Ikechuku Ndukwe.

I will admit that I couldn't name the starters myself, but, neither can most people. It just goes to show you how much such an important position can be so underrated, even if it is the key to a team's success.

Without the proper blocking by Miami's linemen, Ronnie Brown would never have been able to score like he has in the Wildcat formation. Brown was able to score so many times against New England in their first win of the season because of the huge hole the line created for him to run through.

If they hadn't blocked correctly, Miami might not have won against the Patriots, and, in turn, might have lost almost every game afterwards.

But, thanks to Jake Long, Miami's No. 1 draft choice in the 2008 NFL Draft, Brown was able to get through and score four rushing touchdowns.

Long, who normally plays as a tackle on the left side of the line, was moved to the right side against the Patriots a couple of times, which is the side Brown ran to when he scored.

Chad Pennington is one of the most efficient passers in the NFL. And that is thanks to the linemen. Every time Pennington can throw, it is thanks to a great offensive line that can disrupt the rushers. When Pennington can be confident that he won't feel too much pressure, he can make better passes.

And he has.

Pennington has only thrown three interceptions all season, and currently has a passer rating of over 100, and Miami is currently in the top 10 in the NFL for fewest sacks allowed.

Anyone see a connection?

Any normal human being who is pressured is bound to make mistakes, and Pennington is no exception. He hasn't had to face a lot of pressure when he's throwing, resulting in top-notch efficiency, which also makes Miami's receivers look better.

The better your offensive line is, the less pressure you will feel, and the more efficient you can be.

It is that simple.

So, next time you're watching Miami, pick one offensive linemen and follow him for a couple of plays, and then you'll see how tough his job is.

Dolphins-Broncos: If Miami Contains Cutler, Then They Should Win

Paul Smythe — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 10:34:52 -0400

Jay Cutler and the Denver Broncos (4-3) have the third best passing offense in the NFL.

If Miami (3-4) wants to win in Denver, then they will have to shut Jay Cutler and his receiving corps down. The Dolphins secondary redeemed themselves last week against the Bills, and hopefully it will carry over into this week against an even better Broncos passing offense.

Cutler is a very good passer at home. His passer rating during home games is 95.4 compared to 85.8 away. He is also very, very good in the first half. His passer rating is 103.6 compared to 80.7 in the second half.

Miami's defense, led by Joey Porter, should pressure Cutler as much as humanly possible, because a good way to stop him is to force turnovers. Cutler has thrown seven interceptions, and fumbled three times, so he definitely turns the ball over.

But, Cutler will come out big in the first half. What the Dolphins' defense needs to do is pressure him as much as possible and not get frustrated if he starts off really well, because he is almost always worse in the second half.

For Miami on offense, things should be relatively easy if everyone is having a good day. The Broncos have a 28th ranked passing defense in terms of yards and are 29th in points allowed. The Dolphins passing offense is ranked sixth, so they should be able to have success passing.

With Ted Ginn Jr. finally playing good, Miami now has a receiving threat. His success against Buffalo was the best he's had in his career so far. He hasn't been very good in the NFL, so far, despite big success when he played for Ohio State in college. Hopefully, he's playing as good as he did in college now.

I can easily see Ginn getting at least 100 yards, and a touchdown or more.

And, because Pennington is so good on the road, he should be on the top of his game. He also needs to stay consistent, and turn the ball over as little as possible like he's been doing. The less Cutler gets the ball, the less he can do.

Miami's running backs, Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams, should also be able to gain a lot of rushing yards, because Denver's rushing defense allows a 30th ranked 154.6 yards a game, and with Miami's diverse running game, Brown and Williams should be able to earn at least 200 total rushing yards.

As long as they contain Cutler and play offense like they normally have, the Dolphins should be able to win.

Dolphins-Bills: Miami Beats Buffalo by Mixing up Offense with Help from Ginn Jr.

Paul Smythe — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 16:27:55 -0400

The AFC East is officially a toss-up now.

The Bills came into Miami as the top seed in the AFC East whereas Miami was the lowest seed. With a 175 yard receiving game, Tedd Ginn Jr. helped Miami win against Buffalo 25-16 in Sunday's divisional match-up.

Ginn Jr. caught a 46-yard pass to set Miami up for a touchdown on their first drive, which they haven't been able to do in two years.

Let's not forget Chad Pennington who had a great game by throwing for a total of 314 yards and a 117.9 passer rating.

Buffalo came into the game geared for the run and it cost them.

Miami running backs Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams didn't get too many yards by running the ball, but Williams did run for one touchdown and caught two catches for 43 yards.

The Bills had two weeks to prepare for the Dolphins explosive running game and they were ready for it. What they weren't ready for, apparently, was the passing game. And that was a huge mistake.

Miami also held the Bills passing offense to minimal success.

The Dolphins secondary, who has been criticized recently, restored confidence in their abilities by holding up really well against the Bills potent passing offense. Bills quarterback Trent Edwards threw one interception and no touchdowns and had a terrible passer rating of 67.2.

Miami got another big win in a promising season and puts the Dolphins one step closer to a winning record.

I can't wait to see what happens next week against Denver.

Vote Ronnie Brown for the Pro Bowl

Paul Smythe — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 03:39:33 -0400

Pro Bowl voting has just opened for the NFL, and Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown needs our votes to make it in. He is the best running back in the league, but without enough votes, he won't be selected.

Ronnie Brown is the most dangerous runner in the NFL. When he runs the "Wildcat," he is almost always extremely successful. Every week, teams try and figure out ways to stop him, and while they might be able to stop him some of the time, they will never fully be able to stop him.

When you can scare teams that much, you deserve to start in the Pro Bowl.

He has already compiled seven touchdowns and 336 rushing yards. Along with rushing, he has also earned 107 yards receiving and has thrown for a touchdown—all this is while he has been sharing the workload with Ricky Williams.

Imagine how he would be if he was the only one who ran the ball.

Brown also only carried the ball 17 times in Miami's first two games. Imagine if he had gotten more carries.

Ronnie Brown is the reason that the Dolphins got their huge win against New England in Week Three. He carried the team, with the help of Miami's defense, practically on his shoulders.

That game was really the pivotal moment in Miami's season, because they realized that they could compete with other teams and actually win, unlike last year. Following the win over the Patriots, they beat San Diego.

Because of Ronnie Brown, Miami beat two AFC powerhouses in a row and doubled their win total from last year.

Things can only get better for Miami. They have shown that they can compete with great teams in the NFL, and with Ronnie Brown, they will continue to compete.

Brown is the second-highest scoring player, excluding kickers, in the NFL so far. The only reason Reggie Bush is in front of him is because he has three kickoffs returned for a touchdown. So, technically, Ronnie Brown is the best scorer as a running back in the NFL.

So, please vote for Brown. It's like a presidential election, in that if enough people don't vote for someone, even if they might be the better candidate, then that candidate won't win.

And while you're voting for Brown, why not vote for Pennington as a quarterback?

So go vote for them right now. It doesn't take long.