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Week 16: Lack Of Effort Shows In Final Score
Most players looked disinterested in even playing the game.
by Steve Saslow
Here are our position by position grades:
Quarterback:
Ryan Fitzpatrick looked like a beaten man in this game. He got off to a hot start than got very cold. He tried to heat up down the stretch but his interception put the exclamation point on another poor performance. He finished 20 of 35 for 240 yards most of them in garbage time.
Grade D: Runs the slowest two minute drill I've ever seen.
Running Backs:
C.J. Spiller broke out a career long 61 yard run in the 2nd quarter. He was slowed by a dive that kept him from scoring. He finished with 173 total yards from scrimmage and touched the ball 26 times. Great effort
Tashard Choice had one carry on a draw play and lost three yards.
Grade A: Spiller is the best player on the team, no doubt about it.
Receivers:
Stevie Johnson fumbled the ball back to Miami after his first catch then dropped a wide open pass down the field. A terrible first quarter for a player trying to save his coach's job. He then couldn't hold on to the ball as he crossed the goal line on a nice pass down the sideline. He was then called for a delay of game penalty when he threw the ball. He had four catches for 44 yards mostly in garbage time.
T.J. Graham was called for a false start penalty out of the wildcat formation to start the 2nd quarter. He did catch a 41 yard bomb in the fourth quarter
Brad Smith had a two yard touchdown reception and a nine yard catch.
Scott Chandler caught a 25 yard pass down the seam but hurt his left leg and left the game early in the first quarter.
Dorin Dickerson caught a 22 yard pass on the last play of the first quarter. He then caught a 21 yarder in the third quarter but fumbled it away. He had four catches for 54 yards before leaving with an injury.
Lee Smith was called for holding on one play but made a great block in the backfield on a blitz pickup.
Ruvell Martin caught two passes for 22 yards.
Grade D: This unit really missed Chandler.
Offensive Line:
Eric Wood returned to action after missing two games with an MCL tear and seemed to be fine.
Andy Levitre was called for a false start penalty.
Kraig Urbik was called for a false start penalty on the Bills first possession.
Sam Young was called for a first quarter false start penalty.
Cordy Glenn didn't see Dansby rush unimpeded to hit Fitz as he threw. He was called for a facemask penalty late in the game.
Grade D: Four penalties and two sacks given up.
Defensive Line:
Mario Williams was very quiet he got one QB hit that resulted in the backward forward pass.
Marcell Dareus got two second half sacks.
Kyle Williams was called for an offsides penalty on Miami's opening series. He was extremely quiet not even being heard from the rest of the way.
Kyle Moore was called for a late hit on the QB. The only time you heard his name all day.
Alex Carrington knocked down a pass in the second quarter.
Shawne Merriman got pressure on Dareus's sack and then knocked down a pass on the next play.
Grade D: Very little pressure when it mattered.
Linebackers:
Nick Barnett was beaten by Bush for a touchdown in the third quarter. He had only four measly tackles.
Kelvin Sheppard had six tackles.
Nigel Bradham knocked down one pass but had zero tackles.
Bryan Scott was in on five tackles.
Grade F: A very pathetic unit.
Secondary:
Stephon Gilmore was beaten by Hartline for a sideline catch to convert a third down in the first quarter. He then had great position on another third down play to force a punt. He had four tackles.
Aaron Williams had good coverage on an incomplete bomb. He was too late getting over on Bush's 2nd touchdown reception.
Justin Rogers had three tackles including one for a loss.
Jairus Byrd had four tackles and was credited with a forced fumble.
George Wilson was beaten on a swing pass to Bush for a 17 yard touchdown. He then was faked out by Bush on a third and 2 run for a first down. He had him stopped in the backfield. He did lead the way with nine tackles.
Da'Norris Searcy broke up a third down pass to force a punt but was injured on the play and did not return.
Grade C: Only gave up 130 yards passing.
Special Teams:
Shawn Powell had four punts for a 42.8 yard average including two poor punts. His net was just 36.3 yards with none going inside the 20.
Rian Lindell nailed his only field goal attempt from 42 yards out.
Justin Rogers had the only punt return for 14 yards.
Brad Smith averaged just 16 yards on two kick returns.
Alex Carrington blocked a 46 yard field goal attempt on Miami's first possession. It was a club record fourth block this season.
Coverage Units allowed a 31.6 yard average on five kickoff return and two punt returns for 26 total yards.
Grade B: Best unit on this day.
Coaching:
Chan Gailey not challenging the Johnson play in the end zone is downright ridiculous. What do you have to lose? He coaches so scared with no feel for the game. The team wanted to win for him instead they didn't show up. He didn't know the rule on the lateral by Tannenhill but nobody else knew that obscure rule.
Dave Wannstedt his defense just mailed it in for long stretches of this game.
Bruce DeHaven his unit has been the best which is a sad state of affairs.
Grade F: The whole staff needs to go.
 Bills Blitz
NFL.com Gamebook
Dolphins Game Preview
Gameday Homepage
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