The Dolphins won pretty easily on the road and on artificial turf. That's something they haven't been able to do in the last few years. The game put Miami alone in first place in the division. The Dolphins will play on the road next week
against the winless Chragers. San Diego is a much better team then their record indicates. That said I think the Dolphins will be 8-2 next week. The reason I'm saying that is because Miami was 8-2 last year also and finished the year 9-7. The
Dolphins' schedule after the San Diego becomes everything a team needs in order to collapse and finish just as bad as Miami finished last year. The Dolphins will go on the road to Buffalo and New England (winter, snow you know the drill), they face the
seemingly unbeatable Jets in Miami, they also host the Tampa bay Buccs, a team a lot of analysts put in the superbowl. And to finish all that ? Well, 2 games against the Colts... If you try hard to see the upside you must say a win (almost any win) will also be a loss to a playoff contender (Jets, Colts or Bills).
In short, Miami is coming down the strech, they look better than last year, they don't like a collapse waiting to happen but dolfans have said that for years...
QB - Fiedler was efficient, a word that could easily describe his play this year, he barely crossed the 100 yard mark but he didn't need to and he made some plays with his legs. He started 9 for 9 but he then went 3 for 9, this is not the first time he started very well and slowed down at the end. B
RB - Lamar Smith won this football game. He is playing as good as any RB played for the dolphins the last 20 years. He doesn't look fast but he just keeps going after being tackled. It's his second straight game with a long run, he also had 2 TDs. Another pleasent surprise
is FB Rob Konrad. He's blocking was brilliant (the 46 yard TD was as much his as it was Smith's). He was supposed to be a catching FB but he really blocks well. A
WR - The Dolphins didn't need to complete many passes, they were efficient and only had short passes. Weaver had another huge reception of 33 yards. B-
OL - Very Very good. Wade was a great draft choice but all the line played well Ruddy, Donnaley, Dixon and Webb. They must stay healthy. B+
DL - The dolphins had 4 sacks, 2 by Taylor and Gardender got to the QB also. Earnest Grant also got into the action. Bowens will probably come back next week. B+
LB - They are not the same without Zach Thomas. Rogers played very well and picked up his play after Zach went down. B+
Secondary - Madison and Surtain are rock solid. Walker played good and Marion is having a huge year and picked up his 4th (!) INT this season to lead the Dolphins. B+
Special teams - Brilliant again. Huge return by Denson on the opening kickoff and a perfect onside kick by Mare. This is exactly how onside kicks should be kicked. Turk is very inconsistent. He had one punt go 60+ yards and another go 19...and it's a dome, there is no wind. A
Coaching - Winning on the road on artificial turf is not something the Dolphins are used to. As I said looking toward the last third of the season, they are heading to the make or break part of the season. A
