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The Dolphins have lost rookie guard Donald Thomas for the season with a foot injury that has landed him on the Injured Reserve List. The 22-year old Thomas started last week against the Jets as he earned his way into the starting lineup. The Dolphins like Thomas so he will likely get another chance to compete for a starting job in 2009 for the Fins.
The Dolphins have signed fullback Casey Cramer to a 1-year deal. The 26-year old Cramer played in 5 games (1 start) for the Titans last season but he didn’t touch the football. He has played in 27 games (2 starts) in his NFL career so far and he hasn’t run the football but he’s caught 2 passes for 8 yards. Cramer will replace Boomer Grigsby who has been released.
The Dolphins played hard in this football game and it came right down to the end when Chad Pennington threw a pickoff to CB Darrelle Revis late in the 4th quarter to seal the Fins’ fate. Pennington was effective for the most part in this football game as he completed 26 of 43 passes for 251 yards with 2 TD passes and 1 interception. Ricky Willians got the start at running back and he didn’t do much with it as he carried the ball 10 times for 24 yards (2.4 ypc) and he also caught 4 passes for 15 yards (3.8 avg). Ronnie Brown did not play a whole lot better as he carried the ball 6 times for 23 yards (3.8 ypc) and he also caught 3 passes for 28 yards (9.3 avg). The TEs were the main men in the passing attack for the Dolphins in this football game. Anthony Fasano led the way for the Fins’ in this game with 8 grabs for 84 yards (10.5 avg) with 1 TD grab. Fellow TE David Martin was also very effective with 4 catches for 53 yards (13.3 avg) with a TD. The Dolphins finished up this game with 49 yards rushing on 17 carries (2.9 ypc) and they also completed 26 of 43 passes for 228 yards.
Linebacker Channing Crowder and safety Jeremiah Bell led the way for the Dolphins on defense with 10 tackles apiece. The Jets finished up with 112 yards rushing in this game on 31 carries (3.6 ypc) and they also completed 15 of 22 passes for 181 yards. Despite the loss the Dolphins played pretty well on defense and they threw the ball pretty well on offense.
This game should be a bloodbath as the Jets have a much better roster than the rebuilding Dolphins. Brett Favre should have a field day throwing against a secondary that doesn’t have much talent. The Dolphins also don’t figure to get much of a pass rush against the Jets as DEs Vonnie Holliday and Kendall Langford are not the most talented duo in the league. Also, OLBs Matt Roth and Joey Porter will make no one forget Jason Taylor. Look for the Jets to pass the ball to get the lead and then to run out the clock on the ground. WRs Jerricho Cotchery and Laveranues Coles solid both have field days against CBs Will Allen and Andre’ Goodman. If the safeties help double the Jets’ WRs look for Favre to attack the Fins’ defense with TEs Chris Baker and Dustin Keller. RBs Thomas Jones and Leon Washington should also have good games against the 3-4 front of the Dolphins’ defense which lacks playmakers.
The Dolphins probably want to run the ball a lot to try to control the clock. That will be easier said than done against NT Kris Jenkins and 2nd year linebacker David Harris. But, the Fins will try in anyway handing off the football to Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown. The Dolphins better hope that works because they don’t have a good receiving corps and Chad Pennington doesn’t have the strongest arm around. Still, Pennington could be inspired playing against the man who took his old job (Favre) and the only team he has ever played for in the NFL. If DEs Shaun Ellis, Kenyon Coleman and linebackers Calvin Pace and Bryan Thomas are getting in the backfield it will be virtually impossible for the Fins to pass. WR Ted Ginn Jr. has the speed to get down the field and he will be dealing with young CBs Darelle Revis and Dwight Lowery. The Fins also would like to get the TE involved in the passing game with Anthony Fasano and David Martin having some talent but Pennington will have to be careful throwing to them because free safety Kerry Rhodes is a big time playmaker for the Jets’ defense.
PREDICTION: NEW YORK JETS 31, MIAMI DOLPHINS 10
The Dolphins have released tight end Justin Peelle. Peelle played in all 4 preseason games for the Dolphins this year and he caught 4 passes for 39 yards (9.8 avg). Peelle played two years for the Dolphins covering 31 games (20 starts) in which he caught 45 passes for 344 yards (7.6 avg) with 3 TD grabs. Anthony Fasano and David Martin were ahead of Peelle on the depth chart and that doomed him in the end. He did land on his feet though signing quickly with the Falcons.