Miami game

[Masters]

Originally Posted by golfer704u

I disagree. They hadn't "coached up" Brady all that much. In fact Bledsoe started that year and there were NO PLANS to play Brady at all that year. So they obviously didn't think he was good as he ended up being.

THE ONLY credit BB gets from me in that whole situation is he had the guts to go against the league usual of "a guy doesn't lose his job to injury". Once he shockingly realized how good Brady was, he didn't feel the need to go back to Bledsoe.

Oh yes they had coached him up. There is even the one story years ago where after his rookie year he got a hold of the NE coaching staff notes (and don't think those were accidentally left out for him to find) that were filled with negatives about him and his game. He then went and worked hard on them and with the staff to improve upon them. They also didn't go into the season with a 6th round QB in his second year as the #2 behind Bledsoe while having zero confidence that he could play. They'd have had a vet behind him.

Now I am not saying they were sitting around going "we got a HOF QB" from the start. But they new they had a guy who could become a good QB if he did all the work, learned, etc. It's always on the player in the end to execute and learn. Coaches can only teach.

Then add to the BB lore one Matt Cassel.

[golfer704u]

Originally Posted by Masters

Oh yes they had coached him up. There is even the one story years ago where after his rookie year he got a hold of the NE coaching staff notes (and don't think those were accidentally left out for him to find) that were filled with negatives about him and his game. He then went and worked hard on them and with the staff to improve upon them. They also didn't go into the season with a 6th round QB in his second year as the #2 behind Bledsoe while having zero confidence that he could play. They'd have had a vet behind him.

Now I am not saying they were sitting around going "we got a HOF QB" from the start. But they new they had a guy who could become a good QB if he did all the work, learned, etc. It's always on the player in the end to execute and learn. Coaches can only teach.

Then add to the BB lore one Matt Cassel.

We can agree to disagree here, I say if Bledsoe doesn't get hurt, He starts the rest of that year AND the next, and we may never have heard of the name Tom Brady

[Masters]

Originally Posted by golfer704u

We can agree to disagree here, I say if Bledsoe doesn't get hurt, He starts the rest of that year AND the next, and we may never have heard of the name Tom Brady

We agree that if Bledsoe doesn't get hurt, Brady doesn't see the field that year and maybe even the next. But Brady would have eventually became NE's QB or some other teams QB (though if somewhere else, he might not be the Brady we know today).

[BernietheKid]

Game Preview: Cleveland at Miami
This story originally published on DolphinDigest.com
QB Chad Henne		By The Sports Xchange Posted Dec 4, 2010 | More When they play host to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, the Dolphins will seek to get two games over .500 for the first time since they were 2-0. More importantly, the Dolphins need to put together a winning streak if they are to have any chance of returning to the playoffs. Here's a complete breakdown of the matchup.
WHO: Cleveland Browns (4-7) at Miami Dolphins (6-5) KICKOFF: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET SITE: Sun Life Stadium SURFACE: Natural grass TV: CBS, Greg Gumbel, Dan Dierdorf THE SPORTS XCHANGE PREDICTION: Dolphins, 27-17 KEYS TO THE GAME: Miami swarmed under the Raiders' vaunted running game last week and the same game plan could limit Browns RB Peyton Hillis. That strategy puts the spotlight on Jake Delhomme, the likely starter for Cleveland, who has one TD and six interceptions this season. The Browns have 23 takeaways and 23 sacks. If they get to QB Chad Henne -- he has 11 interceptions in the past seven games -- the Browns can be within shouting distance in the second half. But Cleveland is 2-8 in its last 10 road games and the Browns don't have many big-play threats. FAST FACTS: Dolphins WR Davone Bess leads the NFL with 24 third-down receptions. ... Browns QB Jake Delhomme has a QB rating of 54.2 this season. INSIDE THE CAMPS BROWNS The secondary got some needed depth when the Browns were awarded Sabby Piscitelli after claiming him on waivers from Tampa Bay. Piscitelli practiced Thursday for the first time in a Browns uniform and hopes to get acclimated quickly enough to play against the Dolphins on Sunday in Miami. Piscitelli was a second-round draft pick by Tampa Bay in 2007. He started 20 of 45 games. He had 13 tackles in 11 games this season. "I don't want to look back on Tampa Bay," Piscitelli said before his first practice. "That's behind me. I'm happy to be here and I want to do what I can to help this team." Coach Eric Mangini described his newest safety as "big, strong, fast and aggressive." In past weeks the Browns have been forced to use Ray Ventrone in sub pass defenses. Ventrone is an excellent special teams player, but pass coverage is not his strong suit. Piscitelli has five career interceptions. This week the Browns have devoted some practice time to preparing for the Dolphins' Wildcat offense. Two days might not be enough to get Piscitelli up to speed. The Browns are familiar with defending the Wildcat because they see it in practice when they defend Josh Cribbs, but the Dolphins have more Wildcat plays than the Browns have. "They have a lot more options and a lot more formations," linebacker David Bowens said. "Quarterback in the game, quarterback out of the game ... Fullback in, three tailbacks in, they're very creative." By contrast, when Cribbs lines up behind center for the Browns, the opposing defense only has to figure where Cribbs is going to run. The exception was in the New England game when Cribbs stunned the Patriots by handing the ball to Chansi Stuckey from a Wildcat formation. The play worked so well it went for 11 yards and a touchdown. "There's a tattletale on every play, so you have to lock into a specific key for each formation," Bowens said. "Conceptually there are a lot of similarities to what they do, but watching film this week and identifying those keys is very important." One week ago the Dolphins used the Wildcat a season-high 12 times in a 33-17 victory over Oakland. The week before against the Bears they did not use the Wildcat at all and lost, 16-0. Being shut out by the Bears was a result of Tyler Thigpen starting in place of Chad Henne at quarterback more than it was of not snapping the ball directly to Ronnie Brown or Ricky Williams in the Wildcat, but regardless the reason, the Dolphins do not use the unconventional offense as much as they did last season. They do use it, though, and that's the predicament facing the Browns. Offensive Coordinator Dan Henning, in his second stint with the Dolphins, used the Wildcat formation 91 times in 2008. He used it 93 times last season, but only 39 times so far this year. DOLPHINS Dolphins wide receiver Brian Hartline has drawn more than his share of flags for defensive pass interference, illegal contact and the like since entering the league in 2009 as a fourth-round pick out of Ohio State. Nnamdi Asomugha, the Raiders' All-Pro corner, became Hartline's latest victim on Sunday. Flagged just four times through the Raiders' first 10 games, Asomugha was whistled for defensive holding against Hartline on a second-and-15 play in the second quarter. Five yards, automatic first down. "He didn't say anything," Hartline says. "I kind of looked at him and he looked at me and kind of knew. I wasn't playing games. I was just making it difficult on him." Hartline, a Canton, Ohio, kid who gets to play his hometown Browns this Sunday, has a way of doing that. Instincts are a big part of Hartline's game, as is reconnaissance, both through film and talking to friends around the league. He'll even check out the stats to see which opposing defensive backs are more apt to be flagged than others. "To me it's just part of the preparation," he says. "I watch guys and their feet and how they transition and how you can get yourself in (advantageous) situations. If guys have gotten more calls, I like to attack them in different ways. I've always thought it's part of the game." Hartline has drawn all five pass interference penalties whistled against Dolphins opponents this year. Take out the one that was declined against the Ravens' Lardarius Webb, when Hartline still made the 34-yard catch, and Hartline has drawn four "PI" flags totaling 64 yards. This comes in addition to his 43 receptions for 615 yards (team-high 14.3-yard average). PERSONNEL NEWS Browns -- KR/PR/WR Josh Cribbs did not practice Thursday because of a foot injury sustained Nov. 14. He played last week but was limited. -- QB Colt McCoy missed practice with a sprained left ankle. --LB Eric Barton practiced Thursday. A shoulder injury forced him to miss practice Wednesday. -- Fullback Lawrence Vickers missed practice Wednesday because of a calf injury, but he practiced Thursday. --S T.J. Ward practiced Thursday. He missed practice Wednesday with a thigh injury. -- The Browns are down to Peyton Hillis and Mike Bell as their only running backs after waIving Thomas Clayton Wednesday. Dolphins -- WR Brandon Marshall (right hamstring) again was limited Thursday as he practiced for a second straight day. Marshall has been receiving round-the-clock treatment since suffering the injury Nov. 18 against the Bears, including home visits from Dolphins trainer Kevin O'Neill. -- ILB Channing Crowder (right knee) sat out a second straight day of practice. If he can't go, veteran backup Tim Dobbins would take his place against the Browns. -- ILB Karlos Dansby (toe/wrist) was limited again Thursday in practice but continued to take the majority of the first-team reps next to Dobbins. --D T Chris Baker earned praise from Tony Sparano after a 15-snap debut in his first NFL action. Baker, signed off the practice squad last week, was added for additional stoutness against the run. -- CB Sean Smith drew praise from defensive coordinator Mike Nolan for his ability to shift inside and play strong safety in the nickel package, an experiment that has taken hold since veteran corner Al Harris was added three games ago. Scout.com: Game Preview: Cleveland at Miami

[BernietheKid]

Browns-Dolphins: Don's Game Preview
		By Don Delco OBR Reporter Posted Dec 4, 2010 The Dolphins present challenges on both sides of the ball, with a ferocious Cameron Wake-led defense, and a balanced offense. Will the Browns be up to the task? 3 Comments
BEREA — If past games are any indication, a pick-six, or some facsimile there of, will happen to the Browns on Sunday, as they travel to Miami to take on the Dolphins at 1 p.m. Why? Colt McCoy is not playing. In the six games McCoy did not play this season, the Browns had three interceptions returned for a touchdown and a fourth returned to the 1-yard-line that set up a touchdown. Jake Delhomme threw three of those interceptions and Seneca Wallace threw one. With McCoy’s ankle still not 100 percent, the “Delhomme-or-Wallace” debate was front and center this week. Both players appear healed from their respective ankle injuries. Yet for the second consecutive week, the Browns are giving Delhomme the starting nod. When comparing season statistics, Wallace is 63-for-100 passing for 693 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions while Delhomme is 57-for-95 passing for 596 yards with six interceptions and one touchdown. It doesn’t take a math genius to figure out that Delhomme has a poor touchdown-to-interception ratio. “At the end of the day, (Delhomme) has the ball in his hands,” Browns offensive coordinator Brian Daboll said. “That’s what I tell those guys. You’re going to have the rush on you and sometimes those guys, they don’t want to surrender when it’s time to surrender sometimes. Take an incompletion, take a sack if you have to take a sack, but you’re not going to be able to make the impossible play. Go ahead and kill it and move on to the next play. You’re not going to lose the game because of incompletions very often.” Across the line of scrimmage, the Browns offense will face one of the NFL’s best defenses. While the Jets, Bears and Steelers all come to mind when thinking of league’s top defenses, the Dolphins are right there. Miami is ranked sixth in the NFL in yards allowed per game at 305.3 behind the Chargers (273.6), Giants (286.5), Jets (296.9), Bears (300.2) and Steelers (304.5). Miami can stop the run and rush the passer. Last week, Miami held Oakland Raiders running back Darren McFadden to two yards on eight carries. Miami will no doubt gear up to stop Peyton Hillis, who enters Sunday 95 yards short of 1,000 for the season. Hillis is averaging 4.5 yards per carry and has 11 rushing touchdowns and two receiving touchdowns. “Miami did a heck of a job of setting edge, closing up the gaps and beating gaps down,” Daboll said. “When they were playing their two gap, they did a good job, they took it to (Oakland) in the running game.” As if running the ball against Miami isn’t difficult enough, Dolphins linebacker Cameron Wake is second in the NFL with 10.5 sacks. “He plays outside linebacker, then he’s a rush guy for them,” Browns defensive coordinator Rob Ryan said. “Particularly when he gets down in his four-point sprinter’s stance, he does a great job of getting off on the ball. He plays with really good leverage, he’s explosive, he can speed to power you, he can get around the edge on you and he’s just one of those dynamic rushers that has the speed, the quickness and the power. He’s done a heck of a job this year.” Offensively, Miami presents a balanced problem. The Dolphins can run the ball with backs Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams, and they can throw the ball with receivers Brandon Marshall, Brian Hartline and Davone Bess. Marshall is one of the league’s best wide outs. Beginning in 2007, he ranks among the league leaders in every major receiving category and has had 100-plus catches in each of the past three seasons. Marshall, who did not play last week because of a hamstring injury, enters Sunday’s game with 58 catches for 693 yards. Miami also seems to have figured out its quarterback situation. Season starter Chad Henne was benched before the Dolphins game Nov. 14 against Tennessee. His replacement, Chad Pennington, was hurt after only two attempts. Henne entered the game and threw for 240 yards before getting hurt. He missed the following week’s game against Chicago. Last week against Oakland, Henne finished 17-for-30 passing for 307 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. The Browns defense feels as if they have a lot to prove after last week’s effort against Carolina. On the Panthers’ big play before their final big play that set up the game’s biggest play — a missed 42-yard field goal by John Kasay as time expired — the Browns defenders executed poor tackling skills. “Our guys had a great week of practice,” Ryan said. “The death of our defense is greatly exaggerated. We’ll get back after it. We have a lot of pride. (Last week’s game) wasn’t what we were looking for. The Baltimore and this last game were the two games we weren’t at our best. We’re looking forward to Sunday’s game. We can’t wait to get back and play.” Scout.com: Browns-Dolphins: Don's Game Preview

[BernietheKid]

Terry Pluto's pregame scribbles before the Browns take on the Dolphins

Published: Sunday, December 05, 2010, 6:20 AM Updated: Sunday, December 05, 2010, 6:20 AM

Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealer


John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer
Jake Delhomme's comfort with working a no-huddle offense is one of the reasons the Browns will start him over backup Seneca Wallace today in Miami.

MIAMI -- Scribbles before the Browns take on the Dolphins today ...

1. With veteran Jake Delhomme at quarterback, you'll see some of the plays that the Browns would eventually like to run with Colt McCoy -- especially the no-huddle offense. The coaches became sold on it last season when Brady Quinn took over after the bye week. It didn't help Quinn's passing because of his accuracy issues, but the Browns believe it was an aid to the running game. The quick tempo made it difficult for the defense to substitute, and it also helped the Browns linemen develop a nice blocking rhythm.

2. The plan was to use mostly the no-huddle by the second or third game, as Delhomme was very comfortable with it. Having played in the West Coast offense in Seattle, Seneca Wallace was challenged enough learning the system here -- so they did not use it with him. The same basic approach was true with McCoy. They believed the rookie from Texas had enough to deal with simply adapting to the NFL.

3. But McCoy proved so capable of learning game plans that the no-huddle was soon to be employed. Then, McCoy sprained his ankle at Jacksonville, his fifth start.

4. So now it's back to Delhomme, and the hope is McCoy can play the final two home games against Pittsburgh and Baltimore. He keeps telling the coaches that he may be ready as soon as next week at Buffalo. But McCoy has never had a high ankle sprain before. Fans know from watching Delhomme and Wallace that they don't heal in a few weeks.

5. Just a thought: The biggest fear with Delhomme is the costly interception. He is throwing one every 15 pass attempts this season. McCoy had only three in five games. The coaches were very impressed with his accuracy (64 percent) and ability to keep plays alive by escaping the rush and throwing on the move. They do think he held the ball a few times too long at Jacksonville, part of the reason he was sacked six times.

6. The Browns won't say it, but the coaches are sold on McCoy being the quarterback of the present and near future. He has shown them the mental toughness and football intelligence needed to start.

7. It's a shame McCoy was injured because you could see the fans grabbing on to him and Peyton Hillis -- joining Joshua Cribbs -- as players who are easy to like and whose jerseys are worth wearing.

8. Several times this season, Eric Mangini has said the best play for a quarterback is to throw the ball away. Delhomme must keep that in mind today, who play a confusing 3-4 defense. The Browns compare Miami's tactics to Baltimore's 3-4, which means lots of pressure. Not only do the Dolphins think they can force him into interceptions, but they believe his tendency to hold the ball too long can lead to fumbles.

9. No one told me this, but if Delhomme has a turnover-prone first half, the Browns may go to Wallace. Every Browns' fan has heard Mangini's lectures about "self-inflicted wounds." The coach also said Miami is a very physical team, but disciplined as it ranks fourth in fewest turnovers. The Browns are No. 7.

10. You can be sure defensive coordinator Rob Ryan challenges his players after Sunday's passive effort in what was a very fortunate 24-23 victory over Carolina. I love how Ryan said Friday that this game would prove "the death of our defense has been greatly exaggerated."

11. Ryan defended his defense by stating they are 13th in points allowed, fourth in interceptions and fifth in forcing turnovers. He raved about the tackling of Joe Haden, something that you don't notice unless you recall how often Eric Wright, Brandon McDonald and some other cornerbacks miss tackles.

12. Ryan seemed very uncertain about Shaun Rogers, who "never has been full speed. We have to get out of him what we can and hope he doesn't have any more setbacks." The Browns refuse to confirm it, but Rogers put on extra weight when he was out with his leg injury during the summer. He then had ankle and other problems. In limited action, he has been effective. Teams still have to use two guys to block him. So even if he only plays 25 percent of the snaps, it is a benefit.

Terry Pluto's pregame scribbles before the Browns take on the Dolphins | cleveland.com

[OconRecon]

KEYS TO THE GAME: Miami swarmed under the Raiders' vaunted running game last week and the same game plan could limit Browns RB Peyton Hillis. That strategy puts the spotlight on Jake Delhomme, the likely starter for Cleveland, who has one TD and six interceptions this season. The Browns have 23 takeaways and 23 sacks. If they get to QB Chad Henne -- he has 11 interceptions in the past seven games -- the Browns can be within shouting distance in the second half. But Cleveland is 2-8 in its last 10 road games and the Browns don't have many big-play threats.

FAST FACTS: Dolphins WR Davone Bess leads the NFL with 24 third-down receptions. ... Browns QB Jake Delhomme has a QB rating of 54.2 this season.

Ugh.

Screw it.

Go Browns!!

[hiwaygal]

You know, Ocon...ever the Raiders had a couple of really nice blow-out wins (not unlike us) and have suffered here and there since.

I don't think their running game is as strong as ours.

Yeah, the fins are going to target Hillis. But so have other teams and he still manages to drag out yards.

This is one I think we win!