2008 jobs at stake in Miami’s last 2007 game

By Anthony Bialy  |   Friday, December 28, 2007  |  Comments( 5 )

Miami Dolphins
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They've got the top overall draft slot locked up, so the 1-14 Dolphins don't have to worry that they'll lose something by winning their final game against Cincinnati. Unfortunately, that means every other team in the NFL has achieved the joy of victory at least three times, something now impossible for Miami to accomplish.

But fans still might want to check this one out, as each member of the team has something to play for besides the fact 2-14 sounds a little better than 1-15: Of course, Bill Parcells will be monitoring the proceedings, so those participating should be geared up knowing they have to prove their worthiness to a football man who's as successful as he is demanding.

He'll get to observe players who, if nothing else, hold the advantage of youth: 41 of the 67 players currently listed on the Miami roster including those on injured reserve were born in the 1980s. That includes Ted Ginn Jr. and Mark Washington, who, in a fact I find mind-bogging, came into this world in 1985. If you're like me, you feel Atari 2600-ancient now, and the point is that Cam Cameron has managed to bring in many younger guys who possess more potential than experience, doing his best to cast off many citizens of the geriatric society he inherited.

Luckily for those Dolphins playing for 2008 jobs, their final opponent this year isn't exactly one of the league's titans, as the Bengals have had a less rotten but still lousy season exacerbated by the reality that they have methodically hovered below expectations. A team some observers pegged as a postseason candidate is going to once again spend an offseason figuring out what went wrong, whether it be an unexpectedly low-scoring offense (13th overall at 22.8 points per game) or too many players weighed down by parolee tracker ankle bracelets.

For comparative purposes, the AFC's East and North divisions faced off this season, meaning the competing teams have had many common opponents. The Bengals were unsurprisingly, like every team in the galaxy, beaten pretty badly by the Patriots, 34-13; they squeaked by the Jets and lost by 12 to the Bills, two games whose results alone would place them in the general medium-bad category.

Cincinnati swept the Ravens, the Dolphins' lone victim so far, and lost that nearly 100-point game to the Browns before unexpectedly hindering their playoff hopes this past Sunday; the same Cleveland team bested Miami by 10 in the first full game of what could generously be called the somewhat unmemorable Cleo Lemon era.

The Steelers triumphed over the Bengals both times they played, although they didn't have to face them in the middle of a freak quasi-cyclone as one team did. At 6-9, Cincinnati is uneven and unproductive enough that it could be vulnerable to the NFL's sole single-win squad, particularly when they have no incentive to win other than pride.

And there could even be a specifically interesting matchup, namely the Dolphins defending while Cincinnati is throwing. Miami has worked its way to fourth in the league in terms of limiting passers, conceding an entirely respectable 180.2 yards per game through the air. The somewhat famously potent Bengal passing game stands at seventh in the NFL, managing 246.4 yards a contest, although that hasn't translated to overall success. It could be a compelling battle for two teams that had any playoff dreams dashed early in the fall.

Unfortunately for the Dolphins, they're also in the rush defense basement, helping opposing running backs get to the Pro Bowl by giving up 158.6 running yards a tilt. Cincinnati will undoubtedly look to improve its middling 98.6 yards per game ground average with its final chance to do so.

But, for Miami's run defenders, all that means is this will be a stage to demonstrate their nose for the ball, ability to maintain gaps, and contact instincts. As with everyone currently in aqua and coral, this is exam time, so they'd best be prepared for a sturdy final performance. So, watch and evaluate at home just as new employee Parcells will be doing. See who really wants a job and is willing to pounce at this uncommon opportunity, one that might actually lead to an interesting, well-fought football game.
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About Anthony Bialy

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CommentsComments: 5  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
Cry-About-It-Fans		05:50 PM
12/29/2007
News Alert: It does not matter (right now anyway) that much that Parcells is now the top guy regarding "football operations". The...
No.2
Dave		02:38 PM
12/30/2007
Interesting article. The glaring stats all seem to come from the defensive side. Great teams are built on the strength of their...
No.3
Jimbo		08:19 PM
12/30/2007
Hey Cry about it...We will be a .500 team next year. We are really not that far off from being a good team again. We picked up...
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