Mandich's take: 'We got exposed'

People, you can say I'm not a real fan or whatever you want, but "quagmire"? Mandich, that seems like a bit of overkill. Heartbreaking? Yes, I got that all right.

But honestly, this team, though much improved, and still possibly a Wildcard team if ball bounces right, just doesn't have the horses or the experience we needed in the end. We've all been saying for a long time, Mandich included, that this team needs a couple more drafts to be where we want to be. So why are we forgetting about that, now? Why should we act like the sky's falling.

Disappointing? Absolutely. Tremendously so. But still, we have a bright future and let's not forget it amidst today's pain.

The team still stinks. Face it.

I'm more upset at seeing our players (especially from veterans Joey Porter and Channing Crowder) LOSING IT toward the end of the game more than losing to the playoff caliber team that has experienced the pressure of playoffs or losing key players like a Tom Brady, Rodney Harrison, and Adalius Thomas.

We're a young team in the first year of rebuilding. We've come a long way from last year. I'm pleased with the rebuilding process and the progress that has been made. Today the Patriots exposed and exploited the talent gaps and weaknesses that we have. But the biggest things exposed were inexperience (that's expected) along with the need to grow up. Running the smack can only get you so far.

In the first game, we caught them with their pants down not expecting to be Wildcatted. In this game they pulled our pants down and gave us wedgies in the same manner that you would give a brat a wedgie. We fought for most of the game. It was nip and tuck. But under pressure we quit and LOST IT like a spoiled kid who took his ball and went home crying to his mommy.

It was embarrassing today, but we don't have to go into a quagmire of emotional funk and act like all is lost. We have to learn from this and bounce back. We need to snap to our senses and prepare for a depleted Ram team without playing to their level, acting complacent, and/or a**ing off.

Bench Noodle Arm. Lets see if Henne has anything at all.

Pats are still the better team, no Brady, no Rodney, No A.D, and the pats still win, face phins, we own you!!!!!!

Dolfan Rick Living in SF wrote:

I'm more upset at seeing our players (especially from veterans Joey Porter and Channing Crowder) LOSING IT toward the end of the game more than losing to the playoff caliber team that has experienced the pressure of playoffs or losing key players like a Tom Brady, Rodney Harrison, and Adalius Thomas.
We're a young team in the first year of rebuilding. We've come a long way from last year. I'm pleased with the rebuilding process and the progress that has been made. Today the Patriots exposed and exploited the talent gaps and weaknesses that we have. But the biggest things exposed were inexperience (that's expected) along with the need to grow up. Running the smack can only get you so far.
In the first game, we caught them with their pants down not expecting to be Wildcatted. In this game they pulled our pants down and gave us wedgies in the same manner that you would give a brat a wedgie. We fought for most of the game. It was nip and tuck. But under pressure we quit and LOST IT like a spoiled kid who took his ball and went home crying to his mommy.
It was embarrassing today, but we don't have to go into a quagmire of emotional funk and act like all is lost. We have to learn from this and bounce back. We need to snap to our senses and prepare for a depleted Ram team without playing to their level, acting complacent, and/or **** ing off.

Excellent post, Rick. I didn't see the game, but if what's being reported about what happned at the end is accurate, I'd like to see strong disciplinary measures meted out to Porter and Crowder, even if hurts our chances to win a game or two. I know that sounds harsh and maybe even unFANatical, but totally losing your cool and acting in an unprofessional manner cannot be tolerated. Sparano's credibility will be on the line in how he handles this. That kind of behavior is overboard and not, in the end, part of any 'culture of winning.' Nerves of steel are what's required when the game's on the line.

Patsfan wrote:

Pats are still the better team, no Brady, no Rodney, No A.D, and the pats still win, face phins, we own you!!!!!!

OK, you wiped our butt by 20, we wiped yours by 25. Big deal. I'm sure you were one of the brave ones who came out in force and took it like a man when we cleaned your clock earlier in the year. Oh, wait. I forgot. These boards were almost totally free of Pats fans then, weren't they. Wonder why that was?

Quagmire? That's a little extreme Mad Dog. Look, we feel good about this team because we should, they are a vast improvement of the muddled mess we watched (tried to watch) all last season. However, this team is not 'there yet' and anyone who thought they would be needed this game to come back down to earth.
If I had to guess I'd say next year playoffs then the year after for a real shot at the Big Game. We, for sure, need to shore up our secondary. Though I have to say I though Jason Allen played very well against Moss, he's just not able to match up to that size and the call against Goodman v Moss was a joke.
Be a bit more patient everyone, we're on our way but the Jets and the Pats are too strong right now.

Nothing to be discouraged about because it was nice to cheer on the Dolphins in a meaningful November game because it's been awhile since there's been one!!!

The Dolphins are still a work in progress, and yesterday proved that!

But what did you expect? The Dolphins Secondary is by far the weakest unit on the team, and Bill Bellichek had 10 days to come up with a game plan to expose that! And that was pretty evident since all the Pats did was spread the field with multiple wr's in the shotgun formation!

It will be a long remainder of the season though if the Dolphins are forced again to have Jason Allen cover a WR one on one, because Randy Moss made him his bitch yesterday!

From 1-15, to at least 6 wins is enough reason to have hope!

What's funny is how these boards are totally free of Dolfans. What's up with that? It was only last week that many Dolfans were ripping the Jets defense for giving up 400 yards to Cassell. Now the Dolphins give up more! Cassell wasn't hiding the fact that he was gonna throw the ball, yet the Dolphins had no answer. What's the excuse?

Hey Armchair, what's your assessment of the Jets NOW?

Armchair Analyst wrote:

<quoted text>
OK, you wiped our butt by 20, we wiped yours by 25. Big deal. I'm sure you were one of the brave ones who came out in force and took it like a man when we cleaned your clock earlier in the year. Oh, wait. I forgot. These boards were almost totally free of Pats fans then, weren't they. Wonder why that was?

Bruce wrote:

Bench Noodle Arm. Lets see if Henne has anything at all.

Did you watch the game? Pennington's interception was because Fasano ran the wrong route. Fasano didnt even try to catch the ball, hard not make a mistake when your reciever runs the wrong route then doesnt make a play for the ball. "Noodle arm" threw for 3 towndowns and ran for a 4th! The secondary lost the game for us.

Next time educate yourself before you post.

Oh and for all you sky is falling fans, we just took the team of 2000's into the 4th quarter with a chance to win. A team we beat earlier this year. I never expected us to win this game, but I'll say it was the best game I have seen in years except for the end.

I am extremely happy and proud at where the Dolphins are. We will learn from this game and improve. So ligthen up, we are 6-5, last year we were 0-11 at this time!

A Quagmire? That's a stretch. This team is still further along than anyone expected. No reason they cannot win 3 out of the next 5 and finish a very respectable 9-7, although that might not be good enough for a wild card.

Hey, the Dolphins aren't the only ones to get exposed. Remember me?!

The original is ALWAYS the best!

Greg wrote:

What's funny is how these boards are totally free of Dolfans. What's up with that? It was only last week that many Dolfans were ripping the Jets defense for giving up 400 yards to Cassell. Now the Dolphins give up more! Cassell wasn't hiding the fact that he was gonna throw the ball, yet the Dolphins had no answer. What's the excuse?
Hey Armchair, what's your assessment of the Jets NOW?
<quoted text>

That win was impressive, however, I wouldn't be patting myself too hard on the back. Any team that has to pass for over 400 yards in two consecutive games has some serious problems with their running game. The fact that Cassel had to do just that means two things:

1. He has exploited 2 weak secondaries
2. He has no running game.

Neither one of those two situations is sustainable. The Pats will not continue to face weak secondaries each week and, at some point, they will have to develope a ground game. If they don't, they won't get very far in the division or the playoffs.

Even the Colts with their horrid running game (dead last in the NFL), and their banged up defense haven't had to have 400 yard games out of Manning to win. As a matter of fact, they beat your Pats 4 games ago, and held Cassel to 204 passing yards.

Talk all you want, but your Pats have, at least, two really tough games left. We'll see how well Cassel does against the Steelers next week, and Arizona in December.

this game was won by the patriots because they see the same thing i see every week. our corners couldn't cover average college recievers. yeah they make a play here and there, but they are not playmakers. why would anyone run the ball against us? we don't have two good corners, much less four. nobody in the league is worried about our secondary. they probably watch film and drool in anticipation to play these guys. why these guys are even employed just baffles me.

what did make me happy, was they were able to trade punches with these guys. this offense came to play. it's a shame we can't get that same effort from the secondary. any corner backs out there need a job, just call tony.

welcome to the party mandich The dolphins secondary has been lit up ever since surtain & madison left

secondary I bet will be a point of emphasis in the draft,&free agency

Jay Mandich wrote:

Hey, the Dolphins aren't the only ones to get exposed. Remember me?!
The original is ALWAYS the best!

No one remembers you. No one's heard of you. No one cares.

Hey Einstein. I'm a Jets fan not a Pats fan. Read before you post.

TMD wrote:

<quoted text>
That win was impressive, however, I wouldn't be patting myself too hard on the back. Any team that has to pass for over 400 yards in two consecutive games has some serious problems with their running game. The fact that Cassel had to do just that means two things:
1. He has exploited 2 weak secondaries
2. He has no running game.
Neither one of those two situations is sustainable. The Pats will not continue to face weak secondaries each week and, at some point, they will have to develope a ground game. If they don't, they won't get very far in the division or the playoffs.
Even the Colts with their horrid running game (dead last in the NFL), and their banged up defense haven't had to have 400 yard games out of Manning to win. As a matter of fact, they beat your Pats 4 games ago, and held Cassel to 204 passing yards.
Talk all you want, but your Pats have, at least, two really tough games left. We'll see how well Cassel does against the Steelers next week, and Arizona in December.

Greg wrote:

Hey Einstein. I'm a Jets fan not a Pats fan. Read before you post.
<quoted text>

Great. Then stop making excuses about how or why Cassel threw for over 400 yards. The Jets secondary is no better than Miami's.