Archives for October 18, 2004

‘But most of the team’s success came from short passing and power runs by McGahee. "He hits the line and he gets stopped, but he keeps going and picks up three or four more yards," an admiring Wilson said as he cradled the game ball, given to him by Bledsoe. "Am I happy with smash-mouth football? Today, yes," the owner added with a smile.’

”’He made a lot of yards after first contact,” Mularkey said. “He kept some of those runs going just by second effort.”’

‘While Taylor tried to dismiss the attention he is getting from other teams, it’s clear to everyone that opponents are simply not allowing Taylor to get going. He has only two sacks in six games, also because the Dolphins can’t get opponents into obvious passing situations. ”There’s a point where [the constant double-teaming] can effect you and you look for it too much,” Taylor said. “Have I gotten to that point? Sure I have, at times. You kind of glance and look . . . you get earholed so much that it effects you a little bit, but that’s all part of the game. You have to take the hits and move on.”’

”’I was really proud of our team and happy for them because they’re working hard,” Mularkey said. “It was a close game, and they won a close game against a division opponent. So it was good.”’

‘How does it feel for a kid who grew up in Miami to beat the Dolphins for the first time? “I was never a Dolphins fan,” he said. “I have nothing against them, but growing up I was a Cowboys fan. I liked watching Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin and Deion [Sanders].”‘

‘Buffalo was in a running formation, and Bledsoe faked a handoff to McGahee (21). On the snap of the ball, however, tight end Mark Campbell (84) sprinted off his tight formation to the end zone. Dolphins linebacker Morlon Greenwood (52) bit on the run fake, and by the time he realized his mistake, Campbell was wide open for a touchdown pass from Bledsoe.’

‘”I knew it was going to be a tough game,” McGahee said. “I knew I wasn’t going to go out and bust the first run or anything like that, because you have to get into a rhythm. Running backs have to get into a rhythm in order to make something happen.”‘

‘”He’s a little bigger than I thought. He did the things he did in college, and we’re not college players.”‘

Miami now NFL’s only winless team (Miami Herald)

Former UM standout saves his best for last (Miami Herald)

Productive day for former ‘Cane (Miami Herald)

Bills’ extra attention helps stymie Taylor’s pass rushing (Miami Herald)

How will Huizenga handle this mess? (Miami Herald)

No change expected at QB (Miami Herald)

Long wait over as Mularkey gets his first victory (Miami Herald)

Owner mum on 0-6 start (Miami Herald)

Keys to the game (Miami Herald)

Strategy corner (Miami Herald)

Grading the Dolphins (Miami Herald)

Game photos (Miami Herald)

Dolphins (0-6) alone at the bottom (Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel)

Defense reaches breaking point (Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel)

Dolphins at rock bottom? Maybe not yet (Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel)

Morris’ good start: Career-best 91 yards (Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel)

McGahee makes case for starter (Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel)

Offense can’t find a rhythm (Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel)

Bledsoe fakes out Dolphins on 5-yard TD pass (Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel)

just lose, baby (Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel)

Photo gallery (Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel)

Even the defense falters in the 4th (Palm Beach Post)

Taylor (no tackles, no sacks): ‘I’m very ashamed’ (Palm Beach Post)

Morris sparkles, for a half, anyway (Palm Beach Post)

McGahee starts with heavy load for Bills (Palm Beach Post)

Some players are kidding themselves (Palm Beach Post)

Sixth interception by Fiedler yields TD (Palm Beach Post)

Buffalo gives Miami a chill (Florida Today)

McGahee impresses Dolphins (Florida Today)

Picked-off passes still nightmare (Florida Today)

Though painful, 0-16 may be Dolphins’ only salvation (Vero Beach Press Journal)

Dolphins-Bills Post-Game Notes (MiamiDolphins.com)

Photo Gallery (MiamiDolphins.com)

‘Former Estacado football standout Jerry Gray is again hosting students from his alma mater for a weekend in Buffalo, where he currently serves as the defensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills football team. This year, four students from Estacado will experience today’s Bills’ game against the Miami Dolphins, but will see a lot more.’

‘It’s easy for the media and fans to talk about whether or not McGahee should now be starting ahead of Travis Henry, who sat this one out with a sore foot; but it is a very real problem for Mike Mularkey and his staff. At least I’ll stay consistent. From day one, I’ve thought McGahee is the better all around back, and now he is removing all doubt. He’s bigger, faster, more elusive, almost never fumbles, and has better hands as a receiver.’

‘Takeo Spikes started things off with an interception that he took back 11 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter. With the game tied at 10 in the 3rd, Drew Bledsoe hit Mark Campbell for the go ahead score.’

‘"That was big," linebacker Takeo Spikes said of the defense’s stop toward the end of the game. "That is how you finish. A win is a win, and it was a total team effort, that is why this win is so special. Number one, all three phases of the team had a part in it. Nobody slacked off, we didn’t have a lot of penalties like we did last week, so it was a total team effort."’