IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO OUR BLOG FAMILY: (Note, this decision is corporate and well above my pay grade): "Starting Tuesday, to comment on this blog you’ll need to log in with a Facebook account. We encourage lively discussion on the blog, but also believe that respect and civility must be part of good debate. This change brings commenting on MiamiHerald.com blogs in line with our policy on the rest of our website. We made that change in February 2013. Your blog posts will carry the name on your Facebook account; you will have the choice of whether your post also appears on your own Facebook page." A broader explanation of new policy may be found here. The change affects all blogs, not just this one. I apologize for any inconvenience and hope our blog community -- the best on all of MiamiHerald.com -- will stand together through the change.
1) It is MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15. Canesfan Satisfaction Meter results are in and show a sizable bump. See previous blogpost for details. 2) Click on Random Evidence for our latest Sunday notes-column package. 3) Click Week 2 Gems for our latest NFL predictions and Eventually, Forgiveness for our Friday Page column on Ray Rice. 4) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): Canes whip Arkansas State, CSM poll, FIU and other state collball, Phyllis Smith & more. 5) Follow us on Twitter @gregcote. Also Facebook, Instagram and Vine.
Our live blog and postgame commentary on yesterday's Dolphins game is immediately beneath the new DSM poll. No surprise: With Knowshon Moreno out at least a few games, Miami re-signed RB Daniel Thomas today.
DOLFAN SATISFACTION METER: G2: Results are certified in the latest Dolfan Satisfaction Meter postgame poll, and they show 12.2 percent overall satisfaction in the wake of Sunday's 29-10 loss at Buffalo putting Miami's season record at 1-1. The DSM, in its seventh season, is a continuous weekly gauge of how fans are feeling about the Dolphins and their direction. Right after each game I invite you to share your overall degree of satisfaction. Criteria for voting is your own, but I suggest fans consider the most recent game's performance and caliber of opponent, season as a whole, direction the club is heading and your overall degree of optimism -- all in the context of reasonable expectations. Results are certified official the morning after one full day of voting. In this case that will be around 9 a.m. Tuesday.
2014 DSM results
G1: 96.4% (following 33-20 victory vs. New England)
G2: 12.2% (following 29-10 loss at Buffalo)
Next poll: Sept. 21 (following game vs. Kansas City)
G2: BUFFALO 29, DOLPHINS 10: BACK TO EARTH WITH A THUD AT THE RALPH: Final: A litany of awfulness and not enough on Sunday. Miami allows four sacks and gets zero. Tannehill was not terrible but only reached the end zone once as team went 5-for-16 on 3rd downs. Moreno injured his elbow -- and figures to be out at least a few games. The defense gave up a big day to Watkins (8-117) and a 47-yard run to Spiller. The special-teams gave up a 102-yard Spiller kickoff TD and muffed a punt return. That 102-yard play was the real killer, coming right after Miami had gained a modicum of momentum. All in all a sad, back-to-earth performance after last week's exhilirating second half vs. New England. Perspective? Being 1-1 right now shouldn't shock Dolfans. But how Miami got to 1-1 leaves you still wondering about this team. ..... 4Q: Tannehill INT ends it. ... And Hartline drops a deep TD pass. Perfect. Fitting. ... Parade of Carpenter chip-shot FGs continues, score now 29-10 inside of two minutes. It's all over but the complaining. ... Tanny suffers 4th sack but first since early. ... Hey something went right for Miami! Carpenter blew a short FG so Landry's muff didn't cost any points. ... Another special-teams boner! Landry muffs punt-catch, gives BUF possession deep in Fins territory. ... MIA fails on 4th down as bleak gets bleaker. ... Bison tack on yet another FG for 26-10 margin. ..... 3Q: Watkins 12-yard TD catch just before hald. Watkins killing Miami today. So is Dolphin-killer Spiller, whose 47-yard run made quick work of series. MIA had momentum for a minute. Not now. ... Dolphins within 16-10 on terrific 1-handed 7-yard endzone TD catch by Mike Wallace. Been lot of times to doubt if Wallace is worth all that money. On that play, he was worth the money. ... MIA 4th and-3 at Bison 41 -- go for it! They did, and got it on pass to Landry. ... Killer. Just as MIA inches back into the game, it's 16-3 on a 102-yard Spiller kick-return TD. The special-teams coach is crawling into the nearest hole. ... Bad third-down throw by Tanny and MIA settles for 34-yard Sturgis FG to draw within 9-3. ... Stop the presses! Fins in Buffalo territory for first time all day! ..... Half: Miami still in it down 9-0 but that'll require some offense -- currently nonexistent. Dolphins defense has been OK (less so against the pass), but Miami's 62 yards of total offense qualify as pathetic. The Ralph has been a fright for Tannehill. His last six quarters in Buffalo he has 120 air yards on 38 passes, barely three yards per attempt. The halftime question: Does OC Bill Lazor have any adjustments/tricks to bring a flatlining offense to life? ..... 2Q: Why are Dolphins running out clock instead of trying a shot to get into FG range? ... Dolphins are one big offensive play from getting back in this game. All-points bulletin for that play. ... Buffs 9-0 with 31-yard FG. Only Miami's red-zone D is working for Fins right now. ... MIA pass D just gave up its fourth 20-plus play. And it's early. ... Tanny takes a second sack, and a third. Momentum strongly in Bills' favor right now. ..... 1Q: Only 46 total yards in first for Dolphins... Buffs 6-0 with another 27-yard FG. Miami red-zone defense tough, keeping MIA in game. ... Reversed call gives Buffs ball at MIA 7. Everything turning wrong for Fins. ... Buffs block Dolphins punt. ... Tannehill underthrows Wallace yet again. ... Knowshon Moreno apparent left wrist or elbow injury on first carry, leaves game. Not a good sight. ... Ex-Dolph Carpenter nails 27-yard FG for 3-nil Buffs lead. ... Punt-punt to start game is OK, but Tannehill taking a first-series sack not a good sign. ... Fins need to match Bills' obvious emotion at The Ralph. ..... Original post: It's a near pick-'em game because nobody can quite figure out which of these teams is most for real after both had very impressive opening upset wins -- Buffs triumphing in Chicago and Fins clobbering New England. The winner of today's 1 p.m. game will claim that For Real tag, while the loser's fans may feel like, "Back to Earth. Same old same old." Bills swept Miami last year but Dolphins have improved more, and that awful 19-0 MIA loss last December is a lingering embarrassment that will provide fuel. Both teams must limit the other's ground game and that could be tough for Miami, because of linebacker injuries and because BUF has a really strong defensive front. Dolphs' run-D is good, too, though. Both teams will be forced to pass and, when that happens, I like Miami's air game vs. Bison secondary. A week ago I had a strong gut feeling Miami would beat the Pats and I was right. This week's pick is tougher, and is made with low confidence. I self-diagnose there may be a shad eof homer in this call, but I just feel the visiors are a bit better overall. My pick: Dolphins, 27-20.
HEAT SIGN KHEM BIRCH: Bringing roster to 17, Heat today sign ex-UNLV star Khem Birch, a forward all about the rebounds and blocked shots. He was Mountain West defensive player of the year last season.
HOT BUTTON: TOP 10 THINGS SOUTH FLORIDA SPORTS FANS ARE TALKING ABOUT: Our Random Evidence Sunday notes-column package has returned in print from summer hiatus (click HERE for today's latest edition), but due to semi-popular demand an updated, expanded Hot Button continues as an exclusive Sunday feature of the blog. Hot Button means what's on our minds as the sports week just past pivots to the week ahead:
1. Marlins: Stanton MVP season ends with fastball to face: Forget about ever-fading wild-card hopes. Big question is whether Giancarlo Stanton's injury will ruin his MVP chances. In fairness, it shouldn't. If it did, that would quite literally redefine the phrase "adding insult to injury."
2. Dolphins: Miami at Bills in search of 2-0 start: This is where I mention the profound historical signifinace of starting 2-0. Then that's where you mention that it was 3-0 last season before Richie Incognito swallowed the team and left the season in a dumpster fire.
3. UM football: Kaaya's record day propels Canes; Nebraska next: Brad Kaaya set UM freshman record with 342 passing yards in 41-20 cruise past Arkansas State, but thoughts already swivel to Lincoln, Neb. and the Cornhuskers. That's the game that gets Al Golden's critics off his back, or piles more on.
4. NFL: Scandals have commissioner under fire: Roger Goodell scrambles to save his job as the Ray Rice scandal festers and league seeks consistency in how to punish wrong-doers. Latest: Adrian Peterson indicted for child endangerment. Guys, can you all stay out of trouble for one freakin' week, please!?
5. Team USA: Americans go for gold in FIBA World Cup: It's U.S. vs. Serbia for gold today in Madrid, ending a tournament in which Team USA is 8-0 with an average winning margin of 33 points. What was that I was saying about how much the team would miss absent stars like LeBron james and Kevin Durant?
6. Donna Shalala: UM president stepping down: Shalala will leave UM after 14 years. Many Canes football fans complained that her high academic standards hurt the program, oblivious to how comically upside-down that made their priorities seem.
7. Panthers: NHL team opens training camp Friday: Five days from the ceremonial return of skates and pucks in South Florida. New coach Gerard Gallant doesn't know the market. Let's not break it to him yet that this isn't a hockey town.
8. Serena Williams: Woman defies aging, keeps winning: Her third straight U.S. Open title last week was her sixth overall and 18th major. She'll be 33 next week. Serena did not get the memo informing tennis players they're supposed to be over the hill by then.
9. FXFL: New minor-league football team coming to Miami: The Fall Experimental Football League opens in October with four teams and one, the Florida Blacktips, is Miami-based and will play at FIU. "See you soon!" said the caretaker of the Miami Minor-League Sports Graveyard.
10. Atlanta Hawks: Racial turmoil engulfs team: Owner Bruce Levenson resigns over a racially charged email and GM Danny Ferry takes leave of absence after saying Luol Deng (now with Heat) "has some African in him." Not sure if that's even offensive, but let's be offended anyway, just to play it safe.
Bubble: NASCAR Chase for the Cup begins ... UM, FIU to resume playing each other ... MLB forms committee to speed up games. I still like my idea: First run wins.
Check back a lot because we update and add to our latest blogposts oft-times daily...
Comments