Dolphins Get Trounced by Cardinals 31-10
Written by Rich Rodriguez   
Monday, 15 September 2008

This loss was more reminiscent of 62-7 than of 2007. As bad as 2007 was, this performance outdid the putrid play of that forgettable season in a matter of 60 minutes. The Cardinals spotted the Dolphins 10 yards in penalties, running their first play from scrimmage out of 1st and 20. They then proceeded to dismantle the Dolphins defense, scoring a 79 yard touchdown on a pass from ancient Kurt Warner to should-have-been-a-Dolphin Anquan Boldin, who was being covered by a linebacker.

 Chris Crocker, one of those Parcells-type players, was nowhere to be seen in a spot on the field where he is usually lining up. Crocker, who for some reason has beaten out Jason Allen for the starting free safety position, was once again responsible for allowing a huge pass play. Last week, he was caught out of position by Brett Favre for a 56-yard strike to Jerricho Cotchery. This week, he was so out of position that it seemed on TV that he wasn't even on the field for the play. Maybe next week Chris Crocker will do everyone a favor and simply not show up for the game.

What followed after that 79-yard touchdown was a complete meltdown of a team who was supposed to show improvement this season but instead showed regression.

Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald put up huge numbers, each catching 6 passes and going for over 100 yards. Boldin caught 3 TD passes. Maybe the Dolphins was so confused by trade speculation that they thought Boldin was already on the Dolphins and decided not to cover him. It wouldn't be beyond the realm of possibility for this team to be that stupid.

Kurt Warner, who is old enough to personally attest to the existance of dinosaurs on planet Earth, completed 19 of 24 passes for 361 yards and 3 touchdowns. Those are the types of numbers you can put up if you play Madden on rookie mode.

Conversely, the Dolphins offense was an exercise in futility. Chad Pennington completed only half his passes for 112 yards. Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown, instead of being a two-headed monster, were once against relegated to being a two-headed pussy cat. Ted Ginn had a huge game, catching one pass for 9 yards.

Next week, the Dolphins play the Patriots. Even with Tom Brady out, it is questionable if the Dolphins will even be able to compete in that game.

Stay tuned, if you have the stomach for it.