Inconsistency with a young and basically brand new team, (with all the new faces), is to be expected, but, at least to me, should not be tolerated. This team needs to be a little more consistent, on every stand point; running the football, the pass rush, (outside of JP, there is rarely any pressure on the opposing QB), STs, tackling, coaching, etc. If we can do this, if more or less the same team that has shown up on now 3 occasions so far this year, takes the field every Sunday, we have a chance to win a lot of games this season. I'm sticking with my 7-9, 8-8'ish prediction though.

Interesting, and HUGE game this weekend

This week-end's game will feature Miami taking on Denver out in Invesco...Mile High stadium. Invesco is always a tough place to play in, even taking the fact that it's 10 million light year's above sea level aside. It's a great stadium they have out there with great fans. Whether it's the host to a great team, or a lousy one, it's always a tough win. Denver, much like every team from that division, has a very vulnerable defense. They have quite possibly the worst run D I have ever seen in my life time, and have been struggling to defend the pass. It's looking like Champ Bailey will not be able to go on Sunday, which leaves that already banged up Bronco D in even worse position. While our running game has been nothing to write home about the past few weeks, it is still a very capable one, and part of the reason it has not got going is the fact that opposing teams are stacking up 8-9 in the box, trying to stop it. As proven last Sunday, you can't do that against this offense; not anymore. It's a real breath of fresh air knowing that our QB, if given the opportunity, can put up big numbers, and lead our team to a win. I'll have to say that I have not experienced that since becoming a fan. I expect much of the same this week, as Denver will probably try and counter it's porous run D by bringing up extra guys to help out. If they do, I expect another 300 yard performance from C-Penny; if the Broncos do the opposite, and play the pass, expect whoever's fantasy team in your league that has Ronnie, to put up a huge score. Either way, the Dolphins offense should be able to put up points; and man oh man will it have to.

Denver's offensive attack features the league's best young QB, at least in my opinion, in Jay Cutler. Cutler has tremendous arm strength, and pin point precision. He's also a very mature QB, and knows who to go to when he's in trouble. Brandon Marshall is having a big year, and has loudly turned into one of the better WRs in the National Football League. He's big, fast, and strong; the type of receiver that has been giving this Dolphin secondary fits all year. You can't just simply double Marshall all the time either, as Cutler has guys like Royal, Stockley, and Scheffler his big TE as well, who can all make you pay for giving them open space. One thing I don't want to see out of our D, is playing the same way we played Houston, trying to take away the outsides and leaving the middle of the field as open as Ginn was huge last Sunday, (couldn't help myself;-), had to get that one in some how).

This will be a high scoring affair, and a huge game for both teams. Denver is in the division lead by 2 games, but is just 4-3, and has been struggling as of late. Miami with a win gets back to .500, and goes back home for 3 more home games in a row, against very win-able opponents. If we can go into Denver, and steal a victory from the Broncos, we are putting ourselves in great position to make a mid-late season playoff push! But again, this goes back to being more consistent.

GO PHINS!!!!!

One last note. One thing that you gotta love about this team, and pawfectgent alluded to this yesterday in his blog entry, (and a great one by the way, David), was that this team works, and works hard. Never gives up on a play, never gives up in a game; All 53 guys on this team work their butt off, all the time. Something that you just could not say, especially by this time last year, about 2007's team.

The win against New England caused some chittering, some good-natured guffaws and a little bit of 'Oh, the blind squirrel found a nut' stuff from most analysts. It was viewed as a freakish event, an anomoly in the grand scheme of things. 

We had the week off to ponder it, but the consensus felt that the San Diego game would bring us back to earth. Instead we soared toward the heavens as we beat the two best AFC clubs from last year. 

Now after two more losses, surely these upstart Dolphins with their single-wing and B-team WRs would not be able to handle 5-1 Buffalo.

I spoke to someone yesterday in Duffy's (a sportsbar), a Cowboy fan, who remarked that eventually our 'gimmick offense' would peter out and we would go back on the trash heap. This was AFTER the win over Buffalo. Of course, he was fueled by too much alcohol and the joy at the Cowboys winning and saving Wade Phillips' job for now, so I overlooked it.

I could have told him that the Wildcat is only a small part of the offense, not a staple. I could have pointed out that other teams quickly copied it and some of them have found success, though not to the extent we have. I chose to do neither: what did I care? His team is on the way to finding itself under Jason Garrett.  

I merely asked him if Pac Man's next Bail tab would be added to Dallas' Salary Cap. I asked in all seriousness without a trace of sarcasm, as if I actually wanted to know. The look on his face, a mixture of pained embarrassment and confusion, was worth staying for another round.

How has Coach Sparano done it? Has he coerced Dan Henning into a vaudeville act, a Wildcat tap-dance? Has he disguised gaping defensive holes with cardboard cutouts of great players, and snuck around lacing opposing players' shoes together? Has it been smoke and mirrors?

Not by the salt on your next Margarita.

He has done it with an age-old mantra, a creed put forth by the greatest leaders football has had in it's glorious history. He has done it with a routine that Shula would be proud of (and by all accounts from his former players, did use himself).

It's called WORK.

If the opponent has more speed, I can outwork him and win.

If the opponent has more strength, I can outwork him and win.

If the opponent has more savvy, I can outwork him and win.

This team has put in the extras. This team has busted it's collective a$$, and it is showing up. Look at the miniscule injury report. By this time last year, it needed a table of contents. Look at the W-L record. By this time last year, we were making excuses and finding blame, lamenting the 'what might have beens'. We actually have a shot at a .500 record at the halfway point.

What a difference.

Listen to his press conference 10/27...it's a day off and Coach Tony is remarking about how there were 'guys in there banging the weights around'. He remarks about how the veteran leaders, 'the Porters, the Hollidays, the Penningtons' could have taken it easy last week, especially after the two losses.

They didn't.

Coach was the right guy for the job. BP, you picked a good one. He works, and although it is obvious that any NFL staff has to work, Coach Tony gets his Players to do it as well. His attitude and outlook are contagious. The team listens to him, and does their best to perform for him.

Even the best charade in the world can't do that. A façade, no matter how carefully crafted, would be seen through by the veteran players. This isn't smoke and mirrors; it's sinew and bone, dirt and blood on the brow.

This is Real. The best part? It's only going to get better.