The Miami Dolphins are 1-2 after three weeks of the 2006 NFL season, much to the disappointment of many fans around South Florida. I wish those fans would realize this is a much needed wake-up call, since most believed the acquisition of Daunte Culpepper would equal a Super Bowl visit in the same year Miami is hosting it. Nick Saban said it best, “I think a lot of people thought it would be easy when we got Daunte Culpepper, and that’s not the case”.
Simply put, this is a team that needs a lot of help on both sides of the football. A melt-down in Pittsburgh and an unmotivated performance against Buffalo has the team jaded by the media and its own fans, who are now questioning the Culpepper deal in place of a possible Drew Brees acquisition. Blaming the leader of the team is relevant, but the problems start with the offensive line. Drew Brees behind this new Dolphins line would be equally disappointing, it’s lucky for them that the offensive line goes widely unnoticed both in a positive and a negative manner. Culpepper’s critics need to look at the men blocking for him.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that this is a new unit for the Dolphins up front. After 4 injuries to the right guard position and losing starting center Seth McKinney, it has become apparent that offensive line coach Hudson Houck has his work cut out.
The same Culpepper critics blast Ronnie Brown and declare the second year Auburn back as a bust. I urge these same critics to watch a Dolphins game and watch as Brown breaks tackles and shows a vision reminiscent to that of a certain running back named Ricky Williams. Yet, Brown does not have the offensive line to complement his skills, and he is often being hit behind the line of scrimmage or two or three yards past it.
The Dolphins have allowed an outrageous 14 sacks in three games, allowing 6 in each of the last two games. However, things should improve this week as rookie tackle Joe Berger returns from injury.
