From: chf0@harvey.gte.com (Curtis Fennell)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro
Subject: Dolphins vs Seahawks observations
Date: 29 Sep 92 14:55:38 GMT
Organization: GTE Laboratories

For the 20th time in his NFL career, Dan Marino brought the Dolphins
back from behind in the fourth quarter to win the game 19-17 in the
Seattle Kingdome.  This was a very tough game for the Dolphins and
the close win, while not impressive, was a good test - last year, the
Dolphins probably would have lost this game.

I have to admit, I was worried about this game.  With the way the
Dolphins struggled against Cleveland in the opener, the fact that
seattle's defense is better than their record, the fact that Don Shula
has NEVER beaten Tom Flores before, and the problem of the Dolphins
taking Seattle for granted and looking ahead to the Bills, I was all
set for a defeat on the road.

However, this team proved that they are not the same team as last year
by pulling it out when they had to.  On offense, they didn't have a
particularly good game.  The 'phins only managed 59 yards rushing on
23 attempts - a 2.3 yard average.  This is way below the first two
games rushing averages.  The passing game was better, naturally, but
still the Dolphins didn't manage to put it in the endzone until the
last minutes of the game.  Marino did not have a great night, but got
the job done, going 24-39 for 260 yards, 2 INTs and 1 TD.

Ordinarily, Dan Marino is not considered to be "tough", but after
getting a concussion in the fourth quarter, he came back and threw the
game-winning pass to Fred Banks.  Otherwise, the 'phins were pretty
quiet on offense.

On Defense, they played much better.  They limited seattle to only 221
yards total offense - 86 yards running and 135 yards passing.  They
also had 5 sacks during the game ( Cox - 2, Griggs - 2, and Klingbeil
- 1 ), which is much better than the other two games this year. As
usual, Offerdahl played very well, Cox keeps on trucking and Klingbeil
is improving by the week. The pass defense seems to be solid

For turnovers, the Dolphins turned the ball over 4 times (2 fumbles, 2
ints) and took it away only twice (1 fumble, 1 int).  They are going
to have to do better than that to do well this year.

GOOD STUFF: This week, the credit for the win goes to the defense who
played tough and stopped seattle late in the fourth quarter on downs,
preventing any kind of come-from-behind win.  Also, limiting seattle
to 221 yards total offense kept the Dolphins in it to the end.  Brian
Cox is becoming quite a terror, getting 3 tackles, 2 sacks and an
interception.  On the year, now, Cox has 5 sacks.  It's a little early
to be predicting his standing at the end of the year, but considering
that last year the best Dolphin pass rusher (Jeff Cross) had only 7
sacks all year, it's clear that Cox will be a force the rest of this
year.   Also, Chuck Klingbeil is getting better every week - this week
he got 5 tackles, 2 assists and a sack.  That's the kind of play you
need from a nose tackle to stop the run up the middle.

BAD STUFF:  The offense.  This week the offense was basically
ineffectual, especially running the ball.  Without Marino's last
minute heroics, there would have been no win this week.  The offense
has to get more consistent and has to get better at putting it in the
endzone when they get down close.

OVERALL IMPRESSION:  Not a good win - but a win, nonetheless.  The
most encouraging thing about this win was the way that the defense
played.  

--
Curt "I always pick the Dolphins - even against Buffalo!"  Fennell
			DOLFAN in New England.             
'72 Dolphins - The perfect team in the perfect season - 17-0