| Randolph Charlotin. 12th November, 2007 - 3:52 pm
 After 10 weeks, the NFL has one remaining undefeated team. The New England Patriots faced their toughest challenge in a narrow victory over the Indianapolis Colts and are an unblemished 9-0 record.
Looking ahead to their remaining opponents, it’s possible that they can run the table and finish the regular season undefeated with their toughest game behind them.
The living members of the perfect 1972 Miami Dolphins team won’t get concerned about their record being matched until the Pats get to 10 straight wins. But the champagne will be ready to celebrate New England’s first loss. While the legendary ‘Fins are at it, they should put a second bottle of bubbly on ice to celebrate the 2007 Dolphins when they get their first win.
To call this season a disaster so far would be like calling hurricane season a breezy spring. Anything that could go wrong has this season, and the blame belongs to the front office.
Granted they can’t be blamed for former head coach Nick Saban leaving for a return to college coaching, but the other decisions aren’t producing results. They released quarterback Daunte Culepper and replaced him with Trent Green. Culpepper returned to Miami with his new team, the Oakland Raiders, and Culpepper was responsible for all five touchdowns, throwing two and running for three.
As for Green, he started five games before doctors shut him down for the season. His year came to an end against Houston when Green tried to block Texans defensive tackle Travis Johnson. On the play, Johnson’s knee drilled Green in the head as Trent’s block attempt was too low. Green was knocked out and taken off the field on a stretcher. It was Green’s second severe concussion in consecutive seasons. He missed eight games in 2006 and will miss eleven this year. Miami’s decision to trade a draft pick for damaged goods was doomed the moment they shook hands with Kansas City.
That bad idea was amplified by a bad job assembling an offense. The first mistake was the protection, as Seth McKinney and Damion McIntosh both left in free agency. No one was signed to replace them as the youth movement put Green’s health at risk, as well as anyone who stands in Miami’s pocket.
And while the pocket quickly crumbles around the passer, the quarterback’s targets were shown the door. Third receiver Wes Welker, a restricted free agent, was traded to New England and is having a career year. Back up running back Sammy Morris also signed with the Patriots. Though he’s on injured reserve, Morris proved valuable as a receiver and as a starter. Morris filled in for Laurence Maroney in two starts and rushed for over 100 yards in both games. Tight end Randy McMichael moved on to St. Louis. David Martin was signed as McMichael’s replacement, but his production is pedestrian thus far. Also gone are FB Darian Barnes (to the New York Jets) and third down back Travis Minor (St. Louis).
Free agency was equally bad for the defense. The big move was signing linebacker Joey Porter to improve the pass rush. A former Pro Bowler with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Porter has just 1.5 sacks with a defense that has just 12 sacks. They got younger along the D-line by not bringing back DEs David Bowens, Kevin Carter, and DT Dan Wilkinson, but now the D is 30th in rush defense.
Even things out of their control have gone bad. Running back Ronnie Brown was leading the league in rushing when he injured his knee and is now out for the season.
With all that has gone wrong, Miami gave up the fight. They traded wide out Chris Chambers, arguably their second best offensive player, to San Diego for a second round pick. They’re mailing in the season as if their home stadium is FedEx Field.
The rest of the season will be a struggle. It will be used to evaluate the youth. For now Cleo Lemon is the quarterback with 2007 second round pick John Beck waiting for his chance. Beck’s chance could come soon, as Lemon is Cleo-and-four as a starter. If Lemon and the offense continues to stink up the joint, a change wouldn’t be surprising. It’s bad enough when the offense is like sucking on a lemon. But if the O sucks because of Lemon, something has to be done.
And with an equally bad defense, the season looks bleak. It’s a champagne year no matter how it ends. But if the Dolphins finish 0-16, it will be members of the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They would be more than happy to have someone beat their 0-14 record.
Randolph Charlotin can be contacted at lordrc@netzero.net. |
