oggieman

Backed in by winning 5 in a row and 9 of 10? Great way to show you know nothing.

From your lips to g-ds ears--at least you better hope so. Typical Baltimore Bloviating. Nah nah nah.

You are absolutely right...throughout the entire season they maintained the record setting pace of fewest turnovers. Any way you slice it it adds up the same, and it scares you. And they had fewer turnovers than Baltimore in the final 9 as well. What's your point?

I could not agree with you more. What matters most is what these teams have done this year. And after a slow start at 2-4, Miami has all the stats pointing to a slight edge in this game--the edge of a deciding turnover. Which is all I have said all along. This year's Miami Dolphins protected the ball better than any other team in NFL history. It obviously kills you that Pennington is the most accurate passer in NFL history and you don't want to here about his career leading 67% completion rate. So let's focus on this year---but it doesn't matter because this year Pennington had, you guessed it, a 67.4% completion rate and led the league again. But I know, the statistical sample size is insignificant, kind of like your brain. Let's look at interceptions thrown by Flacco and Pennington. Flacco threw 12 for an int % of 2.8; compared to Pennington's lead leading low of 7 picks, int. % 1.7. That's this stats, pal. And let's look at the defense this year. Yeah, Baltimore led the league in takeaways, but not much ahead of Miami (34-31). And down the stretch, the Miami D had one more than Baltimore in the last 5. These are the facts this year and suggest a takeaway advantage. Add to this year's facts the historical facts that you despise (rookie QBs have lost 6 of 8 in their playoff debuts and the 3rd seed in the AFC has won 7 of 8 in wildcard games) and yeah, I feel really good that Miami has an edge in this game, albeit a slim one at 13-10. And what do I hear from you aside from rambling nonsense? The only thing you have of substance is the October game that Baltimore won. Good luck relying on that one. See what that does for you tommorrow. When Baltimore beat Miami, Pennington was only with Miami for 2 months. Obviously, he was new to the system and his receivers. And Miami was 2-4. If you think Baltimore is facing the same Miami team tommorrow, enjoy your day in delusionville. Get real pal. These ain't your mother's pansy dolphins and tommorrow your team is going to get a dose of its own medicine- a good punch in the mouth by a tough Miami team. Miami 13-Ravens 10

As a Dolphin fan, I am very used to the "easy schedule" criticism. After all, the first team ever criticized for winning against an easy schedule was the Miami Dolphins. You know, back in 1972 when the Fins went undefeated. You win 9 of 10 in the NFL and you are a scary team, notwithstanding your backhanded compliments.

you know nothing about terrible schools until you have seen Miami' s schools

Sure, minimize the sample size to attack statistics. That's a true and tried method of attacking statistics. But we're not talking about one or two statistics here. Are we? I like those stats and facts and obviously you don't--and that's because these stats concern you, as well they should. But thanks for the meaningless commentary on ESPN stat watchers. That was most enlightening for discussing tommorrow's game. As for your emphasis on what happened in October, when Miami was 2-4, my response is simple. Miami will do what it has done in the last 10 games to become the team that has committed the fewest turnovers in NFL history. There is no reason to change their game. Pennington will do what he has done since that game in October to protect the ball better than anyone in the league. Why change? And perhaps you should read my response more carefully because nowhere did I predict the Fins would have an offensive explosion againt the Ravens. It may sound good in your response to suggest I said otherwise; but that does not make your post worthy. Thanks for the rambling nonsense and a history lesson on ESPN.

I don't why I am responding to your nonsense, but I just happen to know all about the good schools in Baltimore and St. Louis. My niece and nephew now go to school near Towson and moved last year from Ladue schools. Miami 13; Ravens 10

Regarding arm strength, you made a statement that when you see Pennington throw the long ball he does it on a trick play. The fact that he does it on a trick play does not mean that he does not have arm strength. Obviously, a 30 yard throw on a trick play requires the same arm strength as a 30 yard regular pass out of the pocket. Your obsevation goes to a problem Miami has with lack of depth at wide receiver (D. Bess is the only good wide receiver we have)---Miami needs trick plays to get receivers open. Not to compensate for arm strength. I do not mean to ridicule you on this because I have heard a lot of commentators who formerly played and coached the game say the same thing about Chad's arm strength. These people know more than I for sure. But I just don't see it. I think people confuse Chad Pennington's touch on the ball for a lack of strength. He throws passes with a soft touch that are easier to catch. He makes a big difference with the receivers, which is why he has managed to get some production out of our poor group of receivers. And letting Welker go to New England and drafting the entire Tedd Ginn family was not one of Cameron's finest moments in Miami. Yeah, Pennington does the drop and dink stuff---but he also goes long plenty and not just on gadget plays. Will he be successful tommorrow? It depends on how you define success. But I'll bet here that he has a touchdown pass or some long passes. He does every game. More importantly, I think he will protect the ball better than others who have played the Ravens this year. As for your comment on the running game, I agree. And I fully expect Ricky Williams to answer the call on that with measured success. Miami has a weak o-line after losing their leader (Justin SMiley). It was a rebuilding line to begin with. The wildcat is intended to compensate for the weakness in the line because it allows Ronnie Brown more time to watch as a hole develops. but baltimore should stop the wildcat. they did in october. I think it will have to be Ricky Williams who has to carry the load beacause he is definitley the tougher guy between the tackles. You can't run the outside on the ravens D. Your only shot, as little as it may be, is to run right at them and no one does it better then Ricky. And all he needs to do is break one to get to the 13 Miami will score. Listen, I got to head to the beach for a while. I'll check back and respond later. Good to exchange with a knowledgable person.

that was a clever response. I'll make you happy and do a spellcheck next time. Is that the best you got?

I am glad the Ravens are not mentioning that October game. I don't expect them to. Their head coach is too smart to allow that. Miami was 2-4 after that game and obviously is a different team now; and so are the Ravens who had an extremely strong stretch run down the line. But I do recognize some things from that game, which you referred to, and which I took into account in making the conservative prediction of 13-10. And as I said before, the Ravens D is the best D in my opinion; and they certainly defensed the wildcat better than anyone this year---they completely shut it down. And I took all of this into account when I predicted 13 points for Miami. I have no illusions about tommorrow's game. The Baltimore Defense is going to be tough. It all starts with that infamous Ray Lewis grand entrance and it continues for 60 minutes. They are going to force mistakes. But if there is any team that can deal with the ball hawking ravens D in the playoffs, I believe it is Miami, which excelled in protecting the ball. That is going to be the key to the game. I think Miami, led by the most accurate passer in NFL history, can protect the ball from the Ravens D better than Flacco the rookie can protect it from the Miami D. That is the margin of victory in a nutshell. As for your comments on Pennington's arm strength, I am sure you know a lot more about quarterback arm strentgh than I. What do I know about that! But I do know this: as a Dolphin fan I have watched Pennington for years and I never once saw him make a throw that I felt could have been thrown better by a stronger arm. Maybe that is why his completeion rate is 67%, the highest in NFL history. Maybe that is why his career completeion rate in passes 20 yards or more is greater then Brett Farve or Dan Marino. I have seen a lot of strong armed QBs; and I followed one of the best in Marino. For me, I gotta tell you that I love Pennington; and his arm with no strength is just fine with me. The fact that the Jets agreed with you and dumped Pennington is priceless. Miami 13- Baltimore 10

and in your case, less is all we can expect...I am proud of you!

That was a remarkably ingenius and insightful reply to my post. And I thought Baltimore had good schools.

As a Miami Dolphins fan, I read with amusement the posts here on Ravens Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron- as well as the Sun's article today entitled "Where He belongs". Never before have the following words had so much meaning: "one man's trash can be another man's treasure". Now, I'll admit that he as done a wonderful job with the Ravens this year and with Flacco in particular. And he did a real good job with the Chargers offense when he was their coordinator, never mind that he never won a playoff game as an offensive coordinator. But this guy has said and done things that are so far beyond the realm of rationality that I would never want him coaching my team in the playoffs---which is probably why his so-called high potent offenses with San Diego lost both playoff games and choked in critical situations. Cam Cameron said these following words to describe what he hoped for last year in Miami's exhibition games: "fail forward fast". According to the Elias Sports Buraeu, no NFL head coach has ever said anything more idiotic. And Cam Cameron is the only head football coach to voluntarily relinquish coaching duites for a game and let his assistants coach the entire game by themselves, even though he was totally fine and on the sidelines. With all due respect to a very good and respectable man, these are not the words and actions of a person dealing with a full deck. Tommorrow's game figures to be a tough game with two tough defenses. The Ravens D is the best in my opinion--a bunch of tough thieves. But the Miami D is doing a very good imitation of the ravens D---and in the last 5 games Miami led the NFL in takeaways and had one more than the Ravens D. And of course since 1970, NFL rookie QBs starting a playoff game have lost 75% of the time. Add the facts that Miami set the record for fewest turnovers in the NFL, and Miami is led by the most accurate passer in NFL history, and it becomes obvious that turnovers and mistakes are going to be the key to this game. And in tommorrow's game there is going to be a key moment when Flacco needs to make a play. At that moment in time, I gotta tell you that I will be feeling extra good knowing that The Miami Mafia (Sporano and Pasqualoni) and the Miami D is going up against Cam Cameron and a rookie QB. And I am sure you feel just the opposite. One man's trash.... In AFC playoff history, under the present format, the 3rd seed has won 87.5% of the "wildcard" games. Miami is the 3rd seed this year. Rookie QBs lose their first playoff game 75% of the time. Cam Cameron has never won a playoff game as an offenisve coordinator. His teams are 0-2 against AFC east teams in the playoffs; and he is 0-1 against Chad Pennington in the playoffs. The odds are stacked in favor of Miami. Cam Cameron ain't going to help you in this one. Maybe after Miami wins 13-10, Cam Cameron will fully explain those infamous words "fail forward fast" . We're still waiting for that explanation.