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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BUF at NE | CHI at GB | DAL at TB | DEN at CIN | DET at NO | JAX at IND | KC at BAL | MIA at ATL |
| MIN at CLE | NYJ at HOU | PHI at CAR | SD at OAK | SF at ARI | STL at SEA | TEN at PIT | WAS at NYG |
Week 1 Game Recap: Miami Dolphins 7, Atlanta Falcons 19
Miami Dolphins
| QB Chad Pennington, Pass: 21 - 29 - 176 - 1 TD / 1 INT |
It was a frustrating day for Pennington because his wide receivers could not get open downfield and second-year "stud" LT Jake Long got abused by John Abraham and Kroy Biermann for three sacks. The result was Pennington getting forced out of the pocket multiple times. His longest completion came off a trick play where he pitched the ball to Ronnie Brown, who threw it back to Pennington and the QB then completed the ball to No. 2 TE Joey Haynos for a 21-yard catch and run. He sealed the Dolphins' fate in this game with an interception thrown to LB Mike Peterson who read the QB staring down Anthony Fasano from the time his TE released from the slot. Pennington's one score was a play action pass to Ricky Williams who sold the run fake so well that he slipped into the flat uncovered for a nine-yard score when the game was effectively over. With Jake Long struggling and the receivers unable to get open on routes more than 10 yards downfield, Pennington is a QB to downgrade even as a reserve.
| QB Pat White, Pass: 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 1 - 0 - 0 |
White had a few opportunities in the Wildcat, including a play action pass to a wide-open Ted Ginn, Jr. (the only noticeable time a Miami WR got open deep) that was overthrown by at least seven yards. White did show some nice awareness on an end around that the Falcons contained and White made a good cut block to help Ginn reverse his field to prevent a loss on the play. Otherwise, the Falcons did a great job of containing this scheme all day. White is a player to continue to monitor, especially if the Dolphins line can't protect Pennington, because White might be used more frequently due to his skills as a runner.
| RB Ronnie Brown, Rush: 10 - 43 - 0, Rec: 3 - 10 - 0 (4 targets) |
Brown wasn't bad, but the play-calling and receiving play was poor enough that the ground game never got going. The Falcons defense was stout up the middle, and despite some success on a pitch to left end early in the second quarter, the Dolphins didn't try to run to the left again until well into the second half and the only effective run up the middle came when the game was out of hand -- a 22-yard gain on delay. Brown also contributed to the Falcons' first sack on Pennington when he went too low on a cut block and Kroy Biermann sidestepped Brown for a sack and forced fumble. I expect the Dolphins ground game to have more success against the Colts defense, but they will have to get off to a faster start than Peyton Manning and I'm skeptical they will.
| RB Ricky Williams, Rush: 7 - 39 - 0, Rec: 2 - 19 - 1 (4 targets) |
Williams looked pretty good, showing some burst on a 14-yard gain off RG with Ronnie Brown making a great lead block to undercut LB Curtis Lofton and demonstrating finishing power on an 11-yard gain off a pitch to the left side with 5:20 in the 3rd QTR. He also broke a tackle on a swing pass for a first down in the 4th QTR and finished off a drive with a nine-yard score after sneaking into the flat with a great execution of a play fake. Unfortunately, the Dolphins passing game was so inept downfield that the ground game isn't likely to remain a mediocre unit.
| WR Davone Bess, Rec: 7 - 57 - 0 (7 targets) |
Bess was the best receiver on the Dolphins roster this weekend because he routinely worked to get open when Chad Pennington was under pressure. He was used frequently as the slot receiver and targeted a lot on short passes like screens and comebacks. He bailed out Pennington for first-down receptions on five of his seven catches. He demonstrated good quickness out of his breaks and made two diving receptions on short passes. Although the slot receiver in this offense, Bess looks poised to potentially lead this team in receptions when the season ends.
| WR Ted Ginn, Rush: 2 - 9 - 0, Rec: 2 - 26 - 0 (5 targets) |
Ginn could not get open down field other than on a play fake Pat White executed from the Wildcat formation that was overthrown by a mile. He made some decent catches in the short range of the field including a short out for a first down on the second series for the game for a 10-yard gain. He also made a leaping play to bat down a tipped pass at the line of scrimmage in the 4th quarter to prevent a second interception. Ginn is simply not primary receiver material and until he can be a complementary player, the Dolphins passing game will struggle with inconsistency. Ginn will remain an up and down option and a low-end No.3 fantasy option, especially if Pennington can't get time to throw the ball.
| WR Brian Hartline, Rec: 2 - 13 - 0 (2 targets) |
His first catch with 2:12 in the 3rd QTR was called for pass interference on a short sideline curl. He was an outlet receiver at the sideline for a seven-yard gain in the fourth quarter and he made a nice catch between DBs as an outlet on a roll out. He had 2 catches for 13 yards in this game, did not look explosive or route savvy. He was never even the first option on his three targets. He's not a player to consider despite the fact he took targets away from the other Dolphins receivers.
| WR Greg Camarillo, Rec: 2 - 20 - 0 (2 targets) |
He made an incredible diving catch late in the half on a fade stop that bounced off the CB that he managed to trap between his legs as he was falling to the ground. However, other than that catch and a swing pass for a short gain from the slot in the 4th quarter Camarillo was not much of a factor, as the Dolphins also experimented with Brian Hartline on short passes that would have normally gone to Camarillo.
| TE Anthony Fasano, Rec: 2 - 10 - 0 (3 targets) |
It was horrible day for Fasano, who accounted for two fumbles lost on runs after the catch, and was undercut by LB Mike Peterson for an interception in the 4th quarter. His best play was a 20-yard score down the left sideline where he gained 10 yards after the catch and dove over the pylon. Unfortunately, the play was called back due to a holding penalty on RT Vernon Carey. He still has potential as a bye-week option, but he needs to hold onto the football or else the coaching staff will give him bench time.
Atlanta Falcons
| QB Matt Ryan, Pass: 22 - 36 - 229 - 2 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 3 - -4 - 0 |
Ryan spread the ball among his receivers very well in this game. Although Tony Gonzalez and Roddy White got their share of looks, Michael Jenkins was often his first option and he checked down frequently to Jerious Norwood. Even FB Ovie Mughelli was used in key situations. That said, Ryan was inaccurate on down field throws all day. He under threw a wide-open Roddy White in the first quarter, who had turned around Dolphins' rookie CB Sean Smith on a deep post. He under threw Jenkins in the second quarter and then overthrew a wide-open Jerious Norwood on a wheel route in the closing seconds of the half. Combine these with another under-thrown bomb to Roddy White who beat bracketed coverage down the left hash in the third quarter, and three of these four routes should have been touchdowns and all four were throws to the left side of the field more than 15 yards past the line of scrimmage. Despite his issues down field, he made only one ill advised throw all game and managed the offense like a veteran.
| RB Michael Turner, Rush: 22 - 65 - 0 (1 targets) |
Despite his stats, Turner didn't look bad at all. The problem was the play-calling tendencies and the Dolphins front seven. Atlanta stubbornly tested the A gaps between center and guard despite the fact Turner didn't gain more than three yards on any of those runs and the ground game looked much more like its old self on runs off guard or off tackle where he got yardage after contact and broke tackles. His longest run of the day was a 12-yard gain with 2:30 left in the game when the contest was clearly in hand. I anticipate the Falcons will see their inability to make the adjustment and Turner should get back on track in future weeks.
| RB Jerious Norwood, Rush: 2 - 7 - 0, Rec: 5 - 49 - 0 (6 targets) |
The Falcons found a good role for Norwood as Matt Ryan's check-down option and the No. 2 RB made good on his opportunities with five catches for 49 yards including three, third down conversions on two circle routes and a pass to the flat. Although he didn't break any big plays, his patented burst helped him get the necessary yardage when the Falcons needed it most. He was wide open on a deep wheel route down the left sideline, but he had to lay out for the overthrown pass just to get his hands within inches of the ball. I believe Norwood is worth an upgrade because they used him in the same backfield with Turner in shotgun sets and he clearly had the trust of Matt Ryan as a receiver out of the backfield. He had a poor man's Kevin Faulk role in this game and I think it's likely to continue.
| WR Roddy White, Rec: 5 - 42 - 0 (10 targets) |
White should have had a huge day, because he burned the Dolphins secondary twice in this game, but his QB was off the mark. One of these balls was an under-thrown bomb where White had clearly beaten double coverage. He made a great catch tight-roping the sideline on a deep comeback with his arms extended over his head to make the catch and then another in the first half where he made a great great extension to catch the ball despite getting nailed in the back by the safety for a first down gain. Miami's defense looked much better than its offense, so I expect White to continue to be a safe, No. 1 fantasy option.
| WR Michael Jenkins, Rec: 4 - 41 - 0 (5 targets) |
Jenkins made some good catches in this game, including a grab between the cornerback and safety on a well-placed skinny post, and a 10-yard reception on a slant to get the Falcons into the red zone. He's still a bye-week option at best, but with Tony Gonzalez and Jerious Norwood looking like options two and three, respectively, there are better choices than Jenkins.
| TE Tony Gonzalez, Rec: 5 - 73 - 1 (9 targets) |
As expected, the Falcons moved Gonzalez around in an attempt to confuse the Dolphins, splitting him wide and then motioning him to the line of scrimmage or motioning him out to the slot to get the benefit of a rub from Roddy White in the slot. He was targeted on crossing routes and drag routes, making good catches in tight, single coverage. He also ran a terrific post pattern that ended with a diving grab to get inside the five yard-line and later in the game, took a short drag route for a 20-yard score after putting stiff arm on Yeremiah Bell and cutting outside his downfield block to the sideline. His stats looked like he was option one in this offense but if not for Matt Ryan's poor downfield throws to Roddy White he would have been option two. Nonetheless, he's still a strong, No. 1 TE.