G11: Pittsburgh 3, Dolphins 0 (Final)

     Steelers 24-yard FG -- good, with 17 seconds left. Steelers win, 3-0. The heartache continues: 0-11.

     Dolphins miss a 38-yard FG but get another chance after a delay of game. This time they go for it on 4th and 11 from the Pittsburgh 25 -- bypassing a 42-yard FG try -- and fail, with Beck sacked.

     Steelers miss 44-yard FG try. Still 0-0. Will somebody please score already! Trying to make a deadline here!!

     I'm all for daring at 0-10. But why not try a 48-yard field goal at 0-0, on 4th and 15 from the Pittsburgh 31? I like the chances of making that kick more than making that play. Sack. Steelers ball.

     Are we optimistic or fretful over a scoreeless first half?

     Ricky Williams fumble loss; Steelers ball at 50. Soon after: Ricky out with a shoulder injury.

     Dolphins' D stops Pittsburgh on 4th and 1. Encouraging start for the defense, but not much sign of life yet on offense. Is a Dolfan too beaten down by 0-10 to dare feel an upset in the making?

     Ricky Williams 3 carries for 6 yards in 1Q.

     Joey Porter intercepts his former team on first series, then stands and glares at the Steelers sideline. After the season Porter and Miami are having ... that's nerve.

     Game on!

     Pregame chatter:

     Teams on the field warming up. Stadium filling up. Rain suddenly has abated. Roger Goodell must have made a phone call.

     Kickoff has been delayed 25 minutes, they now are saying, until 8:55 p.m., because of the weather. This may set a new standard for Loyal Fan: Abiding a delay of game, and sitting through heavy rain, to see the winless Dolphins.

     Jesse Chatman supposedly is starting at running back, not Ricky Williams. By the way.

     Barely a half-hour 'til kickoff now and rain falling harder. Fans sparse among a sea of empty seats. Looks like an August Marlins crowd. Thunder just boomed. Wondering if the extreme weather will serve to nuetralize some of the Steelers advantage.

     About one hour 'til kickoff. Rain still falling in sheets. Tarp being rolled off what will be a bath of a field. On the bright side, the pregame press box fare -- grand-marshaled by Chinese barbecue chicken and meat loaf -- was decidedly above average.

     Rain falling hard in the 'Burgh. Field covered in tarp, after it was strewn with cat-litterish absorbent matter. Field seems to be in terrible shape. Ricky Williams activated, as expected. Could be a big game for Run Ricky Run if Cam Cameron turns him loose.

     First, thoughts and best wishes to Sean Taylor and his loved ones as the Redskins defensive back and ex-Hurricane fights to survive being shot and seriously wounded during a burglary at his Miami-area home early this morning.

     Chilly and misting rain in Pittsburgh. Sloppy-football weather. Adding another layer to John Beck's monumental challenge tonight. Heading to the stadium soon, in conditions that remind me why I am ever-grateful to reside in South Florida.

     Original post:

     The education of John Beck continues. The latest comeback of Ricky Williams begins. Alas, these are diversions to occupy us as we watch, most likely, Miami fall to 0-11.

     Can you fathom a Dolphin win tonight at Pittsburgh? Tell me how. What do you expect of Beck and Williams in particular?

     Thoughts welcome before, during and of course after tonight's prime-time test. Deadline responsibilities will hinder my blogging live during the game, but I shall try nonetheless. Join us for the ride, won't you?

Comments

[OC Dolphin]

The conditions you describe would not seem too unfamiliar to someone like Beck. In a sloppy game, the "anything is possible" becomes even more so. Expect key turnovers on both sides. Miami probably has a one in five chance.

[Matthew in Gatortown]

One in five sounds right to me. I wonder if Beck's chances through the air are bettered by the Stealers' loss of Polomalu and whether the rain might negate any plus Miami might have. Will the rain mean more carries for Ricky? That worries me; slippery, wet conditions mean leaning more on Ricky and a bigger chance of him getting hurt.

[Andre]

Call me crazy but i think Beck will do ok tonight. I say he throws for around 250 and 2 td 1 int. We just have to stay commited to the run game. Keep the Defense Fresh we might have a chance to win !

[jimmyplain]

NO Mondo tonight?

[Tom]

hey shadow

I know you'll appreciate this. Let's relates Cam's rise in coaching to the academic world. Being the HC at IU is equivalent to say being an assistant professor at FIU. We all know Cam went 18-37 at IU and then ended up being the HC of the Dolphins. Well I would say that is about the same as the assistant professor at FIU never publishing anything for 5 years, being denied tenure and then getting hired as a tenured associate at Harvard. That sound about right shadow?

As far as our prospects tonight, I'm pessimistic about our chances. But what's new? If the 1 in 5 odds are the probability that all of the Dolphins make it back to Miami in one piece, I'd say that's about right. If, on the other hand, it is the probability of Miami actually winning this game, I want to make a bet.

But let's hope Beck shows a little more game tonight and Ricky runs and runs and runs. That would be great even if we don't win because the only thing that matters is getting ready to compete next year.

[Tom]

damn weather delay and that field looks unplayable. who knows maybe OC is right. maybe this is going to be our night. that field is so bad anything can happen. maybe this is exactly what Cam needs - conditions where skill and judgment are irrelevant.

[Andy D]

Im a big Ricky Williams guy- so im pulling for him big time tonight! Hey Cam, let go of your man crush on Chatman, and RUN RICKY!!

As for Beck, these arnt the best conditions to throw well in, but I wish him all the best!!

RUN RICKY RUN!!!!!

[Tom]

The Dolphins should feel like they're playing at home. The stands are half full with fans of the other team.

[Andy D]

Great call on the 3rd and long with a screen pass. We really know how to attack the other team.

[Tom]

Where the hell is Ricky? Come on Cam get him in the game!

[Betters75]

Cam is to conservative

[Tom]

Welcome back the the NFL Ricky. Ouch!!!

[Betters75]

Cam is terrable!!!

[Mike]

Tony Kornheiser is the biggest Douchebag on TV. ESPN need to fire that idiot soon. Sick of hearing him talk and reading from scripts.

[Betters75]

Rickeeys done, looks like 0-16

[EQ]

I hate Monday Night Football on ESPN.... I'm about to puke....will they give it a rest

[Noel]

Nice drop ,Hagan. Our not so special teams strike again.

[TorturedDolphan]

Hagan has yet another opportunity to make a big play to help his team and like just about every other chance he DROPS the ball.

Get rid of this loser. Why do they continue to waste time on him. He is a mistake like just about everything else Satan did here.

[Betters75]

Kornhole is an arse!! Will not watch PTI, nor subscribe to ESPN mag. anymore!

[Mike]

The Douchebad speaks again. He's like a punch line from a bad joke. I wish I could just mute him instead of all the sound:(

Also it nice to see we are still in it. Although we have been in almost every game this year. Still don't understand why people say/think that the dolphins are so bad. Yes they are bad, but winless or not still not the worst team in the league, at least they compete..... most of the time.

[Mike]

errrr Douchebag*

[Noel]

Kornheiser does suck.

[lewis]

Was I the only who saw the Steeler player who recovered the Ricky William's fumble, plant his foot on Ricky's right shoulder? I think it was Timmons and it looked pretty deliberate on the replay they showed just before the commerical break

[Betters75]

Cam, 46 seconds and 3 and 7. Call a TO. You idiot. He simply does not want to win. WHY?

[Gerry]

Inspired effort before half........I shouldn't complain we're trying to protect our record and " home" for the playoffs, and that that 1st pick in the draft.

[Gerry]

I don't believe there is a better 2 minute drill coach in the NFL than our Cam

[Noel]

Timmons did step on Ricky on purpose.

[Gonzo]

hopefully porter will retaliate for the dirty play on ricky....step on ben's neck and break it!!!!

[brett]

will the ghost of Wanny please get the bleep out of here!

[Noel]

They may not win, but they do play hard.

[Tom]

If only they had a coach with a clue we would be fighting for our 5th win instead of our first.

[TorturedDolphan]

So let me get this straight. There is approximately 1 minute left in the 2nd half and you have finally got a couple of first downs. Then the next logical step is to just get out of the half b/c you wouldn't want to jeopardize that 0-10 record would you? Then in the second half you attempt a pass on 4th & 15 when it is a game of field position. Proof yet again that Cameron has no rhyme or reason to what he does. WORST COACH EVER.

[Betters75]

I wish the coaches would play as hard as the players. Go deep. Nice sack JT!

[TorturedDolphan]

Woo Hoo JT. Six sacks on the year now I think.

[Steve B]

The league will take a look at the player stepping on Ricky Williams for sure. That seemed Dirty to me. On that field though it might be hard to shift direction quickly.

[Steve B]

Steelers are vulnerable over the middle they are stacking the line of scrimmage.

[TorturedDolphan]

Beck forced to take another timeout. I wonder if Cam-Moron failed yet again to get the play in on time. God knows it has happened far too often this year.

[Mike]

Ugh!!!! these wasted timeouts are going to come back and haunt us in the end.

[Betters75]

Chatman out. The way were are going thru RB's, looks like that guy from ARK. is our pick.

[TorturedDolphan]

CHRIST ALMIGHTY BOOKER catch the freaking ball!

[Tom]

If I were Tirico and had to work with Kornheiser and Jaworski, I'd kill myself. I hope Wilbon reaches across that PTI desk tomorrow nite and bitch-slaps Kornheiser. Hell, I wish Tirico would bitch-slap the son-of-a-bitch right now.

[Andy D]

You could be right Mike.

Beck doesnt look bad at all, he isnt throwing INTs, which most of our previous QBs have done a lot of. However, Cam hasnt exactly opened the playbook up for him either. Maybe he needs to start taking some shots.

[Noel]

Tom,
If only we could be so lucky. Tirico should go down to the field and bitch slap CaMoron too.

[Steve B]

Kornholer is annoying. Beck looks like he is a keeper. Defense playing better. Good signs for next year.

[Betters75]

Throw it please!!!!!!!!!!

[Steve B]

Steelers vuknerable over the middle

[Noel]

I'm liking what I see from Beck. he might be our guy.

[Noel]

this game sucks.

[Steve B]

Kick the freaking field goal.Cameron is a moron. I have had it.

[TorturedDolphan]

Nice protection scheme. 8 man protection with a 4 man rush and you leave the end one on one with the TE. Idiots.