The Phinsider

2011 Miami Dolphins Season in Review: Week 2 vs. Houston Texans

2012-05-27T09:00:10Z

Coming off a Week 1 Monday Night Football loss to the New England Patriots, the Miami Dolphins looked to bounce back with their first ever win against the Houston Texans. Like the previous week, the Dolphins would show a potential for a good season, despite a losing effort in Week 2. And, as we all know, that potential would go from a dream into a nightmare fairly quickly.

The Dolphins had some strong performances against the only team to have never lost to the Dolphins, including quarterback Chad Henne. Henne, who only threw for 170 yards, made smart choices with the ball throughout the game. He passed for one touchdown, and was the victim of an errant throw as the Turnstile at right tackle, Marc Colombo, allowed Mario Williams to reach Henne's throwing arm right as he tried to deliver the pass.

Also on offense, Miami running back Daniel Thomas made his debut. Carrying the ball 18-times, the rookie would gain 107 yards on the ground, although he would fumble once. Thomas would have issues throughout the season with his hamstring, but his performance this week demonstrated what could happen if Thomas comes back healthy this year.

The defense played better than they had the week before, but there wasn't much they could have done to play worse. Against the Texans, Jason Taylor, Cameron Wake, and Reshad Jones would each record a sack, while Vontae Davis and Randy Starks would lead the team with six tackles each.

After giving up over 500 yards passing from Tom Brady in Week 1, the Dolphins would limit Matt Schaub and Houston to just 345 yards of total offense. However, that would not be enough, as the Dolphins would fall to 0-2, with both losses being at home in Miami. The final score for Week 2 would be Houston 23, Miami 13.

Related: Miami Dolphins Week 2 Game Ball

Saturday Night Random Live Thread:Jukebox-You Pick Them Edition

2012-05-27T00:00:13Z

Well Saturday night has been our music night but tonight and perhaps in the future when I am not otherwise inspired we will just go with the random jukebox format. That is that you post links to whatever you want to listen to or just a song that you would like to share with others.

Please just cut and paste the links to the songs in the body of the comments as apposed to using the link feature in the comment section. Using this method will open the songs in another window and allows people to stay up and current with the conversation in the thread.

Remember this is open thread and as such any subject is on the table outside of religion and politics. Please keep picks to a minimum of 2 per person and no GIF's in any of the live threads. Also try your best to keep things as close to PG as possible as we are on the front page.

So give us what you got!

RIP Mark! You are missed!

Will NFL betting kill Super Bowl in New Jersey?

2012-05-26T21:35:36Z

Will NFL betting kill Super Bowl in New Jersey?

Miami Dolphins Karlos Dansby: "I'm Expecting Us To Win The AFC"

2012-05-26T19:57:44Z

Miami Dolphins linebacker Karlos Dansby is not afraid of a challenge. And, once those challenges are put before him, he is not one to shy away from them. According to a South Florida Sun-Sentinel report, Dansby is setting the challenge for the Dolphins 2012 season pretty high.

"As I team, I'm expecting us to win the AFC, period. Point blank," Dansby told the Sun Sentinel at the team's FinsWeekend Fishing Tournament last weekend. "We've got the talent. We have the coaching. We've just got to put it all together. It's going to come down to us as players going out and excelling and making sure we do everything we possibly can to win every game.

"It's going to be a challenge, no doubt. But that's what you live for. You live for opportunities to have those challenges and we've got the opportunity of a lifetime here in Miami and we've got to take full advantage of it."

But, Dansby isn't only looking at setting goals for the team. He also has a few individual goals he would like to reach this year:

"To make my first Pro Bowl would be awesome. But I'm really focused on trying to get to this 20-20 club, that's my main goal," Dansby said. "I set that goal so long ago and I'm close. I've got 11 interceptions and 30 and a half sacks, so I'm on track. I'm trying this year to get as close as I possibly can to 20 interceptions."

Dansby reports that he is ready for the 2012 season, even if it started today, and is hoping that the rest of the team is set as well. However, he also knows that it's important for the team to do things like the Fishing Tournament, both to support the community and to come together as a team. But, that doesn't mean Dansby doesn't find the challenges, even in fishing:

"Trying to tackle a sailfish, it was an awesome challenge, went down to the wire and I ended up coming out on top. Great feeling," Dansby said. "I love challenges."

Former Miami Dolphins Linebacker John Offerdahl Testifies at Strange Murder Trial

2012-05-26T17:00:43Z

"Over the past five weeks, jurors in the Narcy Novack murder trial have heard from a one-eyed killer, a tattooed porn star and a hotel guest who snapped pictures of Ben Novack Jr.'s bloody corpse with his cell phone."

The Miami Herald has been following all the twists and turns in the trial of Narcy Novack, who is accused of hiring hit men to murder her husband and his mother, in an effort to inherit the family millions. Her husband, Ben Noak, Jr., was the owner of a successful convention planning business, and Narcy, allegedly, wanted the money. She had Ben and 86-year-old his mother Bernice, killed by two men.

The trial has been strange enough, including the above mentioned one-eyed killer, porn star, and the photo-happy hotel guest. In fact, the police did not even know Brenice had been murdered until the men confessed to it., believing the elderly woman fell, dying from a head injury, in 2009. Three months later, Ben was gagged and beaten with barbells. When his eyes swelled to the point they were closed, they were slit back open.

The two men have testified that Narcy was in the hotel room while her husband was killed.

Enter John Offerdahl, the former Miami Dolphins linebacker, who retired in 1993. According to police reports and Offerdahl's testimony, the murder of Bernice was actually supposed to happen three weeks earlier than it did. The two hit men had gone to her home in Fort Lauderdale, and were peering in the windows when Offerdahl saw the suspicious behavior around his neighbor's home.

Offerdahl and his son then chased the two men, but were unable to catch them.

The men, according to their own testimony, returned later and killed Bernice, who was found in her laundry room with broken teeth, a broken finger, and "massive" head injuries.

The same men then executed Ben at a conference in Rye Brook, New York.

According to prosecutors, Narcy hired the two hit men through her brother, because she was worried Ben was going to divorce her. Narcy believed Ben was preparing to leave her for pornstar Rebecca Bliss, taking his $10 million estate with him. According to testimony, Ben "had a fetish for pornography involving amputees, enjoyed rough sex and liked to consort with prostitutes.

Miami Dolphins News You May Have Missed - 5/26/12

2012-05-26T16:00:52Z

Here are the Miami Dolphins news stories you may have missed over the last 24 hours:

JOE PHILBIN:

Joe Philbin has Miami Dolphins on right path to success - NFL News | FOX Sports on MSN
By his own count, Joe Philbin was an assistant football coach for 10,061 days before landing a head position. In the blink of an eye, his life changed forever.

DOLPHINS WIDE RECEIVERS:

Miami Dolphins: Why the hate for Brian Hartline? – Miami Dolphins – Sun-Sentinel
Brian Hartline doesn’t get the respect he deserves.

Miami Dolphins Wide Receivers Have Chance to Go from No Names to Superstars: A Fan’s Opinion - Yahoo! Sports
The Miami Dolphins have had an up and down offseason and one of the moves that they made which is still subject to debate is the trading of Brandon Marshall to the Chicago Bears

DOLPHINS TIGHT ENDS:

Yeatman And Hogan Share Unique Lacrosse Past
Lacrosse is almost the pure definition of a niche sport, yet three members of the Miami Dolphins will most likely be watching this weekend’s NCAA Division I Men’s Lacrosse Championships being played at Gillette Stadium.

DOLPHINS LINEBACKERS:

Karlos Dansby: Miami Dolphins - South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com
Whether he's playing linebacker for the Miami Dolphins or fighting his first sailfish, Karlos Dansby sets high goals.

Dolphins Sign Josh Kaddu
The Miami Dolphins have signed linebacker Josh Kaddu.

DOLPHINS SAFETIES:

Jones Hopes To Become The Quarterback Of The Dolphins Defense " The Finsiders – Miami Dolphins
"I would have to say it’s got to be me right now. Me and Chris Clemons," Jones said. "Learning in front of Yeremiah, I learned a lot and got a lot from him. I think I can be that guy to get everybody lined up and get everything started."

PHINSIDER NEWS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED:

Miami Dolphins All-Time Top 100 Players: 4. Bob Griese - The Phinsider
Bob Griese was the Thinking Man's Quarterback. An eight time All-Star, two-time Super Bowl Champion, and a Hall of Fame inductee with the Class of 1990. Griese was legally blind in his right eye for 2/3d's of his career. Imagine what he could have done if he had started wearing glasses earlier.

Miami Dolphins Quarterback Matt Moore Okay With Wide Receivers Corps - The Phinsider
The Miami Dolphins have a need at wide receiver. However, quarterback Matt Moore seems to believe the Dolphins are solid at the wide out positions.

Miami Dolphins Ceiling and Floor Player Analysis: Reggie Bush - The Phinsider
What is the best case scenario and worst case scenario for Reggie Bush in 2012?

Miami Dolphins Leap Year Prospects - 2011 Draft Class Preview (Part 1) - The Phinsider
A player's second year in the NFL is known as their "leap year." Which of the first three draft picks from the Dolphins' 2011 class will make the largest leap?

Miami Dolphins Leap Year Prospects - 2011 Draft Class Preview (Part 2)

2012-05-26T09:00:09Z

Yesterday, we took at a look at the first three picks from the Miami Dolphins' 2011 draft, trying to predict what they will do this year, in their "Leap Year." Around the NFL, a player's second year is often called his "leap year." After being in the league for a full year, complete with playing as a rookie, a full training camp complete, and knowing his team's playbook, a sophomore player is expected to make a leap forward in their performance.

Related: Miami Dolphins Leap Year Prospects - 2011 Draft Class Preview (Part 1)

For last year's rookie class, that leap forward could be even more dramatic than any other year. With the lockout messing up the offseason last year, this rookie class did not get the conditioning program, the OTAs, or any of the developmental process most rookies get before their first time on the field as an NFL player. Now, with the NFL back into its traditional offseason schedule, the sophomores are getting their chance to go through a full program for the first time. Below, we'll assess the potential leaps each of the Miami Dolphins' 2011 draft picks could make in 2012.

Now, on to the second half of the Miami 2011 draft:

Charles Clay - Fullback/Tight End - Clay was the first fullback selected in the 2011 draft, with the Dolphins moving up five spots in the sixth round to grab him. The team, from the moment they drafted him, have advertised Clay as an "H-back," wanting to use him as a cross between fullback and tight end. In 2011, Clay had some nice moments, catching passes down the seam, and helping the Dolphins pick up some key first downs. But, with only 16 receptions for 233 yards, Clay didn't live up to the expectations of most fans, and probably not to the expectations of Tony Sparano and the former Miami coaching staff. Now, with a year of experience, a full offseason program, and an offense built to throw the ball and look for tight ends, Clay really could have a break out year in 2012.

Frank Kearse - Defensive Tackle - We won't spend a lot of time on Kearse, given that he is with the Carolina Panthers after being snatched off the Miami practice squad. Kearse did appear in six games for the Panthers, starting four, and recorded half-a-sack and nine tackles.

Jimmy Wilson - Safety - Wilson will have a much different 2012 from the 2011 season. Wilson, a seventh round pick, appeared in 15 games for the Dolphins, starting one in relief of an injured Vontae Davis. He only tallied one interception on the season, along with five passes defensed and 10 tackles, but he did demonstrate a good understanding of the game, and the physical tools to succeed - mixed with the expected rookie mistakes a seventh round pick will make. In 2012, Wilson will be moving from cornerback to safety, battling for one of the two starters roles. He has the potential to do well in the back of the Dolphins defense, and could actually find his way into that starting position with a good offseason and preseason.

That covers all six of the Dolphins' 2011 season. With dropping Kearse from consideration, which two of the Miami late round picks do you think will take the biggest leap forward in their second year?

Poll

Which of the two Miami Dolphins late round 2011 picks still with the team do you see making the largest leap forward in 2012?

NFL, referees move contract talks to mediation

2012-05-26T02:43:56Z