Miami Dolphins vs. New York Jets preview
Dolphins host Jets in Week #1 of 2008 NFL season, and BOTH our Dolphins & Jets Correspondents bring you their outlooks for the game
GK:
J-E-T-S
SUCK! SUCK! SUCK!
I’m looking forward to hearing that chant on TV from Dolphins Stadium this Sunday when my beloved Fins take on your vile Jets. Wait, never mind, there will be just as many transplanted New York fans in the stadium as Miami fans. The Dolphins really have one of the worst crowds ever (trust me, I had the misfortune of suffering through nearly every home game in person last season). Although, you can't blame the fans too much, considering half the games last year were over by the third quarter and nearly everyone is sweating like an animal after 10 minutes in the South Florida heat. I’m guessing the guy that sat in front of me last season would rival the valet from Seinfeld in regard to the most putrid smell capable of being emitted by a human being.
How jealous are you right now that the Dolphins have Bill Parcells running the show? I know you have giant sized man crush on him, bigger than the Tuna himself. Also, what do you think about the Dolphins chances this season and the team in general right now?
I am predicting a 5-11 season. I really don’t expect them to have much of a passing game unless Ted Ginn Jr. develops into a legitimate number one receiver, which seems rather unlikely. I am excited about undrafted rookie wide receiver Davone Bess from Hawaii. He could end up being the team’s second best receiver by the end of the season if he’s given a legitimate shot at playing time. Too bad he’s about 5’9 and Ginn isn’t much bigger. Also, the offensive line is the best it has been since Richmond Webb and Keith Simms were in their primes. I’m sure you remember that time fondly, as the Bruce Coslett and Ken O’Brien eras were in full swing. Sorry, I didn’t mean to leave out Blair Thomas and Freeman McNeil, superstars that they were.
The defense should be solid against the run this season. They drafted a couple of run stopping defensive ends (Phillip Merling, Kendall Langford) and they finally have a real nose tackle in Jason Ferguson. Also, Vonnie Holliday is still around. However, the passing defense is another story. The secondary is average at best and the pass rush is going to be almost non existent without Jason Taylor. Joey Porter is the team’s best pass rusher, but he has been battling a back problem the entire preseason. Also, he hasn’t had a good season in two or three years. I expect to see more and more blitzing as the season goes on. I think it’s safe to say Brett Favre is probably going to have a nice start to his Jets career this Sunday.
DR:
OK… I'll admit it and I won't say this twice so you better savor it, you're right. Miami is the home of the most abominable crowd this side of Atlanta. I would definitely expect the Favre fanatics to be in full effect (was that too much?). You definitely can blame the fans, but no one can achieve the same level of tact as those who congregate at Gate D at Giants Stadium. If you don't get that joke then Google it.
I don't have a man crush on Bill Parcells. It's more like I worship him like the God that he is. Take that Jesus. This will be the first time I root against Bill Parcells every week or as Mike Francessa calls him, "Bill." I'm sorry, but the Fish and the Tuna just don't jive with me.
I think the Dolphins will be much more competitive than people think this year. Bill and Capo di tutti capo (again Google) are forces to be reckoned with and I'm not going to lie, I cried when Parcells went to the 'fins. That being said, I agree with you, they should win 5 or 6 games, which is still at least 5 times as many as last year.
If I were you, I would be scared. Leon Washington OWNS the Dolphins. Think Week 16 2 years ago. Think last season. The chant you will be hearing on Sunday, or as Chris Russo calls it, “Sundy” will be, LE-ON LE-ON!
J-E-T-S
BOTTOMS THE HECK UP … I just pray that they win, or I will cry the tears of 40 years without the Super Bowl.
AND…Freeman McNeil was and is a beast.
Bubby Brister Lives!
Go Jets…
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GK:
I am sort of scared of Leon Washington, although you could have returned that kick for a touchdown last year, considering how bad the Dolphins special teams were under Cam Cameron. Ugh, Cam Cameron. I feel sick just typing his name and dislike even thinking about him or last season. Anyway, I’m not nearly as scared of Washington as I am terrified of Laveranues Coles, the biggest Dolphin killer of them all (10 of his 37 career td’s have come against Miami). I could easily see him catching at least two more this Sunday. After all, he’s going to be covered (or perhaps more accurately, left open) by Andre Goodman and Will Allen.
I’m curious to hear your take on the whole Favre drama this offseason. What it will mean for the Packers and in particular Aaron Rodgers and do you think all this hooplah now surrounding the Jets will be warranted? I have them making the playoffs as a wild card, but I could just as easily see them going 7-9, with Favre tossing more interceptions than Pacman Jones does one dollar bills at one of his favorite gentleman’s clubs. That being said, I am unable to understand how the Packers organization can get away with running Favre out of town after he led them to the NFC championship game last season. And I cannot fathom how there wasn’t more of an uproar in Green Bay. Ted Thompson better hope Aaron Rodgers does his best Steve Young impersonation this season.
DR:
Look how the mighty have fallen. The Dolphins are playing the Jets this week, one of their biggest rivals and you're worried about the Packers?
As for Favre though, I'm totally for the trade. How could I not be? I can't even imagine what it would be like to go through another season with a quarterback who can't throw. Oh sorry, no offense.
Laveranues Coles has not played with Favre, but he should be ready to go. The Jets have more options in the passing game this year than previous years. Look out for the three headed monster at tight end with Dusty, the touchdown maker 2.0, and Bubba. I didn't even mention the Jets number 1 receiver Jerricho Cotchery, and the multi-positioned Brad Smith.
But honestly dude, I am a Jets fan, therefore I'm a pessimist, but I don't see the Jets blowing this game unless Favre self-destructs. Do you think this will be the one game the Dolphins will win this year?
But let's talk some football. This is Week 1. The season kicks off tomorrow, but we aren't posting this until after that. Can we be in agreement here that the Patriots are going to run this division no matter what happens? Unless, of course Tom Brady's injury is more serious than any one thinks, and I know that you are secretly hoping it is (maybe not secretly).
I want to know what your preparation for Sunday is as a Dolphin fan. Do you get excited for Sundays or do you want to just sit at home with a pile of chips and weep? I can tell you from 24 years (next Thursday, remember to send me a present Glenn) of experience as a Jets fan that it is tough, but you have to be a gamer. This week I hope you are going to be on the couch, in your Matt Roth jersey, ready for game time. If not, I pity you.
Go Jets.
GK:
Enjoy yourself while it lasts Jets fan, because the Dolphins won't be this bad for long and Brett Favre only has one or two years left. The Cam Cameron experience was indescribably awful, as you know all too well after suffering through years of Rich Kotite and Bruce Coslett.
No argument here, the Patriots will easily win the AFC East once again. The Patriots are smart so I don’t think they would play Brady this early in the season if he wasn’t healthy. In spite of New England’s dominance, I'm actually excited for this season, as it can't possibly be worse than last year. I will be planted in front of my TV every Sunday as usual. I don't expect the Dolphins to win much, including this week against the Jets, but I'll be watching the rookies closely and looking for improvement along both the offensive and defensive lines.
Basically, the only way I see Miami winning this Sunday is if they can control the ball by dominating the line of scrimmage and keeping Favre off the field. I'm going to enjoy watching Jake Long put Calvin Pace on his back. How do you feel about Pace? I would be a little worried about a guy who happened to play his best and only good season in the last year of his contract and now has around 20 million in the bank.
The Jets passing attack could be rather potent with Coles, Cotchery, Dustin Keller and Leon Washington (on 3rd down). Even Brad Smith could develop into a threat this season. That being said, Favre must play like he did last year and that is no guarantee.
The Jets defense is a much bigger question mark. They need Pace and Vernon Gholston to become legitimate pass rushing threats and Kris Jenkins is the key to the run defense. If Jenkins plays like he did last season or can't stay healthy the Jets are going to have issues again. Also, Gholston has reportedly been awful during training camp and the preseason, which I don't put much stock in (I think he was a good pick), but if he can't get it done during the regular season, then he will be labeled the bust of the draft.
As much as I would like to pick the Dolphins, I really don’t see them being able to stop the Jets wideouts, and Dustin Keller and Leon Washington could give their linebackers some serious problems as well. The prospect of Matt Roth trying to cover one of those guys is a frightening. As much as it pains me to do so I’m taking the Jets.
Jets 24 - Dolphins 16
DR:
I am expecting the Jets passing attack to be much better this year, mainly because Chad Pennington will be playing for your team and by "playing" I mean throwing 10 yard outs, 5 yards too short - and to the other team.
To say I didn't understand the Calvin Pace signing would be an understatement, but if he gives the Jets more than the nothing Bryan Thomas gave them it should be an improvement. The defense is much better this year. It's as simple as that. I think Pace and Gholston will both contribute. Am I going out and getting a Calvin Pace jersey? No. Am I going out and getting a Vernon Gholston jersey? I already have it and will be wearing it at the Black Hole on October 19th.
As for this week's game, I am ecstatic that we finally play the 'fins at Miami early in the season and force them to come play us in the cold Week 17 for once.
What is getting in my head though is the fact that I keep reading predictions of a Dolphins victory. Both your boy Bill Simmons of Espn.com and Don Banks of si.com picked the fish because they think Pennington's knowledge of the Jets playbook will allow him to carve them up and give the mob boss some tips on how to attack them from a defensive standpoint. This strikes me at my core as a Jets fan. I have to pick against the Jets. I mean I usually do, that way I am pleasantly surprised anytime something good happens…but not this week.
I'm going with the Jets…BIG…
Jets 37 - Dulphs 10
By Glenn Katzman
ProFootball-fans.com Miami Dolphins Correspondent
AND
By Dan Rein
ProFootball-fans.com New York Jets Correspondent