Orange and Teal

What has me worried this week...

There are many things that have me worried this week: a quarterback that looked like a second-tier talent, a running game that was stuffed or the secondary. Ah, the secondary. Travis Daniels is still hurt. This is at least five weeks with a sprained ankle? Is that right? A sprain? I can't remember a sprain ever being this lingering before but Saban says Daniels is working out seven hours (at least on Tuesday) a day. Weird. Right now Daniels is the key to the whole secondary. I don't think Carlos Rogers will make as big an impact as another veteran player in the secondary would.

I'm just happy Will Allen has proven to be better than the Giants thought.

Also FYI my fantasy team the Sabanites took their first loss in week one. Mostly because of me playing Cadillac Williams over Ronnie Brown (I know!) but no production from Roy Williams and Randy Moss took a toll.

No Big Ben, But Ward Will Play

Come on, we couldn’t get that lucky. Even though Hines Ward didn’t play a down of pre-season he says he will start Thursday night.

I’m sorry to see Ben Roethlisberger go down with injury but at the same time Charlie Batch is a great tackling dummy for our D. Then again Batch was 2-0 when Big Ben was out last year.

On our end Travis Daniels is questionable. I don’t like the sound of that.

State of the Dolphins: Pre-Season Week 2.5

I’ll admit I’ve been spending more time organizing my fantasy league than I have here this past week between pacing and moving. But I still watched the game over the weekend and have some thoughts to match the recent depth chart analysis by Marvez.

Culpepper and the entire offense looks a half-step off. But to me the better teams, like Indianapolis, always seem rusty in pre-season. I’m not high on this offensive line protecting the pass but they seem to do a decent job on run protection. All the penalties were annoying and hopefully they can grow out of that. And the whole time I was thinking, “This isn’t even the real Bucs defense they’re playing!”

On the positive side I think Culpepper’s arm is there and it’s a cannon. His one scramble and sack was a bit scary though. He didn’t seem greatly mobile to me. Actually it kind of reminded me of Dan!

Two Browns at RB?

Chris Brown, who may be needed in Tennessee this year (I think LenDale will be good but that team is going to need every weapon it has), had his agent reach out to the Dolphins. This makes no sense. Brown doesn’t want to play second fiddle to a rookie RB but he will to a 2nd year RB?

I’d still rather pay for another WR and rely on Sammy Morris to spell Brown. Chris Brown’s contract will be an issue as well. Thoughts?

Porter, Lelie, Branch Unhappy, Could Be Traded

My fandom kicked into overdrive yesterday when I was reading the rumors on SI.com about Jerry Porter, Ashley Lelie and Deion Branch all being possibly traded. I know we don’t have much to offer but I’d love either Porter or Lelie opposite Chris Chambers instead of Marty Booker. That would totally open up the passing game for Culpepper. What do you guys think? Who would you take? Would a Booker plus draft pick bring a disgruntled Porter to Miami?

Commissioner Jeb?!

Does everything happen in the state of Florida? Could it be? The Sun-Sentinel ran a bizarrely interesting story on Florida Governor Jeb Bush meeting with Patrick Rooney, Dan Rooney’s brother, recently about the commissioner job. Jeb wouldn’t talk about another position until he’s out of office in January but it’s not that far-fetched. Managing all those owners is an act of politics in itself as well as dealing with municipal governments with stadium deals. Maybe Jeb would make a good fit. It still doesn’t resolve the fact that the guy’s name is Jeb.

Trading In On a RB Bust

Now that Ricky has gone to pot (har har) we could pick-up the just released Onterrio Smith from the Vikings. He had so much potential and never realized any of it. Of course I’m not really advocating it but if Saban is into rehabilitating souls as well as players he may be worth the shot as a back-up for Ronnie.