The Coaching Career of Tony Sparano (HC 09)

[kdmajoslin]

Week 7: Ravens 2-4 @ Dolphins 1-4

This one is a defensive struggle and surprisingly the Dolphins actually looked good. Admittedly, the Ravens don't have a high powered offense, but they are known for their run game...and the Dolphins so far this season have been horrible against the run.

No one can score in the 1st quarter. MIA QB Chad Henne does throw a pick, killing a promising drive.

In the 2nd quarter the Dolphins finally put some points on the board when HB Ronnie Brown operating out of the Wildcat goes in from 14yds out.

BAL 0 MIA 7 in the 2nd

The Ravens march down the field and get into the redzone before the Miami Defense stiffens. A big stop on 3rd down forces the Ravens to settle for a 24yd FG from K Matt Stover.

BAL 3 MIA 7 at the end of the 1st half

Another pick by QB Henne derails another drive, but the defense continues to play well and Miami holds onto a slim lead going into the 4th.

Backup HB Ricky Williams subbing for an exhausted Ronnie Brown breaks an 8yd run for another Miami TD.

BAL 3 MIA 14 in the 4th

Ravens QB Kerry Collins gets Baltimore back into the game when he hits rookie WR Marcus Smith with a 49yd TD. They try for the 2pt conversion, but come up short.

BAL 9 MIA 14 in the 4th

The Dolphins try to run out the clock, but can't come up with a crucial 1st down and so have to punt away. With only 45 seconds left on the clock, Baltimore is going to have to do something special to pull out the win.

It happens when rookie HB Ray Rice breaks a run straight up the middle. He breaks no less than four tackles and then is in the clear for a 61yd TD run! The Dolphins had him and he just powered through them like they were so many rag dolls. Embarassing!

BAL 16 MIA 14 Final!

The Ravens have shocked the Dolphins who thought they'd be escaping with their 2nd win of the season.

Stats

MIA QB Chad Henne 20/33 (60%) for 225yds 2 INTs
BAL QB Kerry Collins 11/22 (50%) for 176yds TD

MIA HB Ronnie Brown 23 runs ofr 89yds TD
BAL HB Ray Rice 13 runs for 132yds TD

MIA WR Nate Washington 5 catches for 63yds
BAL WR Derrick Mason 4 catches for 53yds

MIA DE Matt Roth 3 tackles, TFL, Sack
BAL MLB Tavares Gooden 12 tackles, 3 TFL, INT

[kdmajoslin]

Week 8: Bills 5-1 @ Dolphins 1-5

The Bills are ranked as the #5 team in the leagu right now. The Dolphins are ranked #27 (as impossible as it seems to believe, there are 5 teams doing worse than the Dolphins: Rams, Jets and Falcons are winless and the Raiders and 49ers have only a single win.) These are teams going in different directions.

Coach Sparano has additionaly pressure going into this one as the fans have let him know they want a win vs. division rival Buffalo.

Buffalo HB Marshawn Lynch takes advantage of the pourous Miami defense and breaks a 24yd TD run.

BUF 7 MIA 0 in the 1st

Miami QB Chad Henne gives the ball right back to the Bills when he is intercepted by Safety Donte Whitner. The Dolphins defense forces a punt and then the hometeam fans get a thrill. HB Ronnie Brown operating out of the Wildcat rolls left and then cuts it back up the middle and breaks free going 70yds for a TD!

BUF 7 MIA 7 in the 1st

Buffalo QB Trent Edwards clearly isn't afraid to throw against the Dolphins Defense and you can see why when he hits WR Lee Evans for a 36yd TD. CB Will Allen is struggling to stay on Evans.

BUF 14 MIA 7 in the 1st

Another interception by Miami QB Chad Henne, this one going to LB Kawika Mitchell, gives the Bills another chance to score. The Miami Defense stops the Buffalo Offense cold in the redzone and the Bills settle for 3pts form K Rian Lindell.

BUF 17 MIA 7 in the 2nd

HB Ronnie Brown breaks another big TD run, this one for 36yds.

BUF 17 MIA 14 in the 2nd

Buffalo QB Trent Edwards moves the team down the field efficiently and finishes the drive with a 4yd TD pass to WR Roscoe Parrish.

BUF 24 MIA 14 in the 2nd

QB Chad Henne throws another pick! The Ref throws a flag, defensive interference. Coach Sparano is pulling Henne and sending Beck in. With no real confidence in the pass game, the Dolphins turn to the run game. It pays off when HB Ronnie Brown adds his 3rd TD of the game.


BUF 24 MIA 21 at the half

The Dolphins charge down the field relying heavily on the run game, since QB John Beck looks bad in the few chances he's been given. Miami gets into the redzone, but then Beck can't get them out of a 3rd and long, so they turn to K Jay Feely. Feely hits the 32yd FG to tie the game.

BUF 24 MIA 24 in the 3rd

The Dolphiins defense seems to have found their rhythm and they kill drive after drive by the Bills. Unfortunately, the Bills defense is keying on the run and are containing HB Ronnie Brown and HB Ricky Williams. Coach Sparano gives Beck a try, but the ball is nearly intercepted when Beck throws it right to CB Leodis McKelvin, who drops it. No one manages a score in the rest of the 3rd.

MIA HB Ronnie Brown and HB Ricky Williams keep pounding and finally breaks one, a big one. Brown operating out of the Wildcat hands off the Williams who dodges a tackle in the backfield and then turns on the burners. Williams goes 68yds for a TD!

BAL 24 MIA 31 in the 4th

The Miami Defense turns it up a notch and despite allowing a couple of 3rd down conversions, they come up big when it counts and the Raven are forced into a 4th an 1. Backup LB Geno Hayes filling in at DE breaks through the line and tackles HB Marshawn Lynch for a 2yd loss. Turnover on downs. Miami runs out the clock.

BAL 24 MIA 31 Final!- The Dolphins have beat their division rival and got their 2nd win!

Stats

MIA QB Chad Henne 3/6 (50%) for 14yds 2 INTs
MIA QB John Beck 1/3 (33%) for 2yds
BUF QB Trend Edwards 16/25 (64%) for 219yds 2 TDs

MIA HB Ronnie Brown 30 runs for 317yds 3 TDs
MIA HB Ricky Williams 9 runs for 95yds TD
BUF HB Marshawn Lynch 23 runs for 131yds TD

MIA HB Ronnie Brown 3 catches for 14yds
BUF WR Lee Evans 6 catches for 111yds TD

MIA OLB Channing Crowder 5 tackles, 3 TFL, 2 Sacks
BUF OLB Kawika Mitchell 7 tackles, TFL, INT

[kdmajoslin]

Personnel Moves

CB Justin Tryon agrees to a 3yr deal worth $1.1M with a $250K bonus. The deal has a $1M escalator if Tryon becomes the full time starter.

HB Anthony Aldridge agreed to a 2yr deal for $530K with no bonus. The deal includes a $500K incentive if Aldridge starts all 16 games.

[kdmajoslin]

Week 9: Dolphins 2-5 @ Broncos 2-5

Despite the Broncos being far more talented, they've struggled this season and the Dolphins have to like their chances this week.

The Broncos start with the ball and waste no time getting into the redzone. Once they do, the Dolphins Defense wakes up and forces the Broncos to settle for a 25yd FG by K Jon Hall.

MIA 0 DEN 3 in 1st

The Dolphins march down the field before getting stopped by the Broncos Defense outside of the red zone. Coach Sparano opts to send in K Jay Feely instead of going for it on 4th and 6. Feely has been horrible all season hitting roughly 25% of his attempts and never hitting anything from more than 35yds out, this kick will be a 41yd FG. He makes it!

MIA 3 DEN 3 in 1st

The Miami Defense forces a punt and then the Dolphins turn to their run game. HB Ronnie Brown finishes a long drive with a 7yd TD run on a counter play.

MIA 10 DEN 3 in 2nd

Miami's horribe run defense is exposed yet again when HB Marquis Weeks busts a 45yd TD run.

MIA 10 DEN 10 in 2nd

The Dolphins take the momentum and lead back when backup KR/CB Michael Waddell goes 95yds for a Kickoff Return TD!

MIA 17 DEN 10 in 2nd

The Dolphins Defense has to work extra hard after QB Chad Henne gives the ball back to the Broncos twice when he is intercepted by CB Champ Bailey and CB Dominique Foxworth.

Fortunately the Defense looks dominant and when they get another stop, the offense increases Miami's lead with a 6yd TD run by HB Ronnie Brown.

MIA 24 DEN 10 in the 2nd

With time running out Denver QB Jay Cutler throws his team down the field and with time running out finds WR Brandon Marshall for a 26yd TD!

MIA 24 DEN 17 at the half

The Dolphins start with the ball, but not for long, when QB Chad Henne throws his 3rd interception of the game to Safety Hamza Abdullah. Coach Sparano benches Henne and puts Beck in for the rest of the game.

Fortunately the Dolphins defense prevents QB Jay Cutler and company from doing anything in the 3rd quarter.

Denver WR Darrell Jackson gets a step on CB Justin Tryon and that is all it takes. QB Jay Cutler hits him on the move and Jackson goes 60yds for a TD to tie the game in the 4th quarter.

MIA 24 DEN 24 in the 4th

The Dolphins are beat up. They have lost Jake Long, Shawn Murphy, Samson Satele and with Steve McKinley already out, the Dolphins are struggling to find bodies to substitute in. This results in some pretty unbelievable scenes, including Chad Henne playing at Center!

The Dolphins struggle with the substitutions getting some delay of penalty games due to the need to straighten out some substitutions. Miami gets forced into a 3rd and long. QB John Beck can't pass them to a first down, so they have to punt.

Denver looks to exploit the Dolphins Run Defense and it goes horribly awry when OLB Channing Crowder nails HB Marquis Weeks forcing a fumble. OLB Reggie Torbor scoops up the ball and takes it 23yds for the TD! While the Dolphins are celebrating, Coach Shannahan throws out the challenge flag. Weeks is ruled as down before the fumble, the play is overturned. Despite the let down of not getting the TD, the defense plays well and forces the Broncos to punt.

With the subsitution situation resolved, Miami runs down the field and get to the 22yd line before they are stood up. Facing a 4th and 12, Coach Sparano sends in K Jay Feeley. Feeley hits it!

MIA 27 DEN 24 with 27 seconds in the game.

After a 30yd kick return, Denver QB Jay Cutler hits WR Brandon Marshall for a 32yd catch. He then hits TE Daniel Graham for another 15yds. The Broncos are in FG range all they need to do is spike the ball to stop the clock and send in the special teams unit. It will be a 40yd FG with John Hall hitting 75% of his kicks with a long kick of 48yds. QB Jay Cutler doesn't spike the ball, he fakes it and throws for WR Brandon Marshall...CB Michael Waddell knocks it down.

MIA 27 DEN 24 Final!

Stats

MIA QB Chad Henne 6/24 (25%) for 84yds 3 INTs
DEN QB Jay Cutler 11/17 (64%) for 214yds 2 TDs

MIA HB Ronnie Brown 34 runs for 193yds 2 TDs
DEN HB Marquis Weeks 11 runs for 73yds TD

MIA WR Ted Ginn Jr. 3 catches for 56yds
DEN WR Brandon Marshall 5 catches for 104yds TD

MIA OLB Joey Porter 11 tackles, 4 TFL, 5 Sacks
DEN CB Dominique Foxworth 5 tackles, TFL, INT

[kdmajoslin]

Free Agent Signing

GM Gil Darnell and Coach Sparano, frustrated with the performance of the QB's on their roster:

QB Chad Henne (R) 100/171 (58%) for 1403yds 5 TDs, 12 INTs
QB John Beck 22/52 (42%) for 281yds 2 TDs, 3 INTs

have done the unexpected and signed 9 year veteran QB Anthony Wright. Wright has played for the Cowboys, Ravens, Bengals and played for the Giants last year. Wright has played in 32 games in his career, but has never started a game.

It is unknown when Wright will start for the Dolphins, but it is clear that he'll be given a chance soon.

To make room on the roster, OLB Abraham Wright was cut.

[kdmajoslin]

Week 10: Seahawks 3-5 @ Dolphins 3-5

Free agent signee QB Anthony Wright is expected to see at least a few plays in the game, despite only being signed a day ago.

The Seahawks struggle on offense, but their defense looks sharp forcing the Dolphins to punt. P Brandon Fields pins the Seahawks at the 3yd line. The Miami Defense blitzes like crazy and tackles HB Maurice Morris in the endzone for a Safety!

SEA 0 MIA 2 in the 1st

The Dolphins continue to struggle on offense, but their defense looks good forcing Seattle to punt.

QB Anthony Wright gets a start and completes his first 4 passes getting the Dolphins into the red zone. Unfortunately, things go south when Wright's swing pass to HB Ronnie Brown is picked off by LB Julian Peterson who takes it back 80yds for a TD!

SEA 7 MIA 2 in the 2nd

Another Anthony Wright appears shaky when the Dolphins get the ball back and he misses on his next 3 throws. Fortunately HB Ronnie Brown keeps the Dolphins moving. That is until QB Wright gets picked off again, this time by CB Marcus Trufant. Coach Sparano pulls Wright and QB Chad Henne will finish the game for the Dolphins.

The Seahawks parlay the interception into points when K Olindo Mare nails a 32yd FG.

SEA 10 MIA 2 at the half

Miami turns to the run game and HB Ronnie Brown doesn't let them down when operating out of the Wildcat Formation he slides right and after FB Reagan Mauia levels the safety, Brown goes in from 12yds out. He then adds the 2pt conversion to tie the game.

SEA 10 MIA 10 in the 3rd

SEA QB Matt Hasselbeck starts to take advantage of the Dolphins secondary and caps the drive with a 10yd TD pass to WR Nate Burleson.

SEA 17 MIA 10 in the 3rd

Seattle HC Holmgren starts putting 8 men in the box to stop the run and it works. Fortunately, the Dolphins defense contains Hasselbeck and gets the ball back for the offense. On their next drive, HB Ronnie Brown manages a 1yd TD. K Jay Feely shanks the PAT!

SEA 17 MIA 16 in the 4th

Seattle looks to build on the momentum they got from Feely missing the gimme PAT and they get all the way to the 3yd line, when QB Matt Hasselbeck goes for the play action pass and then dumps the ball over the middle. MLB Dallas Sartz is there, he intercepts the pass and then runs it right back through the middle of the Seahawks offensive line for a 99yd TD return! Not feeling that good about Feely, Coach Sparano calls for the 2pt conversion and Ronnie Brown gets it.

SEA 17 MIA 24 in the 4th

The Seahawks come roaring back and WR Nate Burleson gets his second TD when he beats CB Will Allen to the corner.

SEA 24 MIA 24 in the 4th

With five minutes left in the game, the Dolphins turn to the pass game to get the ball downfield fast. Unfortunately, QB Chad Henne throws a pick to CB Marcus Trufant.

The Dolphins Defense comes up big and forces a turnover on downs. With less than a minute left in the game, it looks like this one is going to overtime. Coach Sparano calls for a Wildcat run and it looks like HB Ronnie Brown will be stopped for a small gain to send this one to overtime. Brown somehow wrestles out of the tackle then stiff arms a safety and takes off. The safety catches up to him and Brown shakes his tackle and continues for a 60yd TD run.

SEA 24 MIA 31 Final!

Stats

MIA QB Anthony Wright 4/8 (50%) for 68yds 2 INTs
MIA QB Chad Henne 2/3 (67%) for 36yds INT
SEA QB Matt Hasselbeck 18/25 (72%) for 334yds 2 TDs, INT

MIA HB Ronnie Brown 37 runs for 249yds 3 TDs
SEA HB Maurice Morris 12 runs for 40yds

MIA WR Ted Ginn Jr 4 catches for 68yds
SEA WR Nate Burleson 8 catches for 192yds 2 TDs

MIA MLB Dallas Sartz 5 tackles, TFL, INT, TD
SEA LB Julian Peterson 10 tackles, 4 TFL, INT, TD

[kdmajoslin]

Week 11: Raiders 2-7 @ Dolphins 4-5

Coach Sparano is giving QB Chad Henne the start with Anthony Wright backing him up. Although don't expect Henne to come out throwing. The Dolphins will look to rely on their run game that has become one of the best in the league.

The run game doesn't disappoint when HB Ricky Williams gets the first points of the game with a 6yd run on a counter play.

OAK 0 MIA 7 in the 1st

The Raiders charge back into the red zone before the Dolphins defense stops them on 3rd down. HC Lane Kiffin sends in K Sebastian Janikowski for a 30yd TD.

OAK 3 MIA 7 in the 1st

HB Ronnie Brown busts a 63yd run on the Raiders after faking a handoff to Ricky Williams.

OAK 3 MIA 14 in the 2nd

OAK QB Andrew Walter stuns the Dolphins when he hits TE Zach Miller over SS Daniel Manning. Miller is off to the races for a 69yd TD!

OAK 10 MIA 14 in the 2nd

Miami comes right back and the hero is QB Chad Henne. Henne hits WR Ted Ginn Jr. over the middle and Ginn sidesteps a tackle and then runs for a 46yd TD.

OAK 10 MIA 21 in the 2nd

Oakland QB Andrew Walter is having no problem picking apart the Dolphins' secondary. He scores on a 15yd post play to WR Ronald Curry who beats CB Will Allen.

OAK 17 MIA 21 in the 2nd

Miami rushes down the field and scores on a 5yd TD run by HB Ronnie Brown to end the half.

OAK 17 MIA 28 at the half

QB Chad Henne throws a pick, ending the only chance either team had to score in the 3rd quarter.

The pick sets up OAK HB Darren McFadden for a 4yd TD run. The 2pt conversion fails.

OAK 23 MIA 28 in the 4th

Oakland's defense forces the Dolphins to punt and then QB Andrew Walter goes to work. Miami's secondary is making Walter look good. WR Ronald Curry scores his 2nd TD of the game with a 52yd catch and run TD!

OAK 30 MIA 28 in the 4th

Miami gets the lead back when HB Ronnie Brown breaks a 38yd TD run.

OAK 30 MIA 35 in the 4th

Oakland goes right back to work, Walter picks apart the secondary and finally gives WR Ronald Curry his 3rd TD on a 2yd pass.

OAK 37 MIA 35 in the 4th

Miami takes the lead back with another big run by HB Ronnie Brown. Brown breaks a 48yd run for the TD. Williams adds the 2pt conversion

OAK 37 MIA 43 in the 4th

The Raiders move into FG range, but a FG won't help them so they have to go for it on a 4th down. WR Arman Shields makes the catch, but he's short. Turnover on Downs.

The Dolphins run the ball and the clock and finish with a 4yd TD run by HB Ronnie Brown.

OAK 37 MIA 50 Final!

Stats

MIA QB Chad Henne 9/19 (47%) for 134yds TD, INT
OAK QB Andrew Walter 22/37 (59%) for 390yds 4 TDs

MIA HB Ronnie Brown 33 runs for 336yds 5 TDs
OAK HB Darren McFadden 12 runs for 53yds TD

MIA WR Ike Sampson 3 catches for 25yds
OAK WR Ronald Curry 5 catches for 85yds 3 TDs
OAK TE Zach Miller 5 catches for 109yds TD

MIA OLB Joey Porter 9 tackles, 7 TFL, 6 Sacks
OAK OLB Thomas Howard 6 tackles, 2 TFL, INT

[kdmajoslin]

Week 12: Patriots 7-3 @ Dolphins 5-5

QB Anthony Wright will be getting the start for the Dolphins in this one. When asked about the change at QB, Coach Sparano had this to say "We think that Anthony gives us the best chance to win. He's got good arm strength, decent accuracy and of the quarterbacks on our roster is probably the best at reading coverages."

Miami DC Paul Pasqualoni knows that his job is on the line with the Dolphins defense ranked dead last in the league, and knowing that he's definitely coached his guys up for this game. The defense looks sharp on New England's first drive holding the Patriots to a 31yd FG by K Stephen Gostkowski.

NE 3 MIA 0 in the 1st

QB Anthony Wright looks uncomfortable behind center, but a key 3rd down throw gets the Dolphins into FG range and despite not being able to get another 1st down, the Dolphins do tie the game with a 40yd FG by K Jay Feely.

NE 3 MIA 3 in the 1st

FS Jimmy Williams knocks down a pass intended for Patriots WR Jabar Gaffney forcing the Patriots to punt. The Dolphins turn to their run game and HB Ronnie Brown doesn't dissappoint with a 78yd run on a Wildcat Slide play.

NE 3 MIA 10 in the 2nd

QB Tom Brady and the Patriots come right back and WR Jabar Gaffney redeems himself by making a catch that he turns into a 49yd TD

NE 10 MIA 10 in the 2nd

QB Antony Wright throws and interception, but saves a TD by making the tackle himself. Fortunately the Dolphins defense won't allow the Patriots to turn the mistake into points. When Miami gets the ball back, they put the ball in the hands of HB Ronnie Brown and he doesn't disappoint when he breaks a counter play for a 28yd TD.

NE 10 MIA 17 in the 2nd

QB Tom Brady takes advantage of the overmanned Dolphins secondary to get his team all the way to the 7yd line. Miami's defense does it again coming up with three big stops to force a 27yd FG by K Stephen Gostkowksi.

NE 13 MIA 17 in the 2nd

HB Ricky Williams takes the pitch from HB Ronnie Brown operating out of the Wildcat formation and he's gone. He's 20yds upfield before any Patriot defender gets close. Safety James Sanders jumps for him and misses, but in the process trips up all the other defenders leaving Williams to high step into the endzone.

NE 13 MIA 24 in the 2nd

MLB Dallas Sartz intercepts Tom Brady to kill a scoring drive. Miami wastes no time in increasing their lead when HB Ronnie Brown busts a 72yd TD run on a Wildcat Option.

NE 13 MIA 31 at the half

The Miami crowd is growing wild! No one expected an 18 point lead at half time.

The Dolphins get the ball to start the 3rd and Miami tries to slow things down. HB Ronnie Brown and HB Ricky Williams are efficient in the running game eating up chunks of 5yds at a time. HB Ronnie Brown finishes the drive with a 3yd TD run on a Wildcat Sneak.

NE 13 MIA 38 in the 3rd

The Patriots have abandoned their run game and QB Tom Brady looks calm despite being down by 25. Brady reduces that to an 18 pt deficit when he hits WR Randy Moss for a 6yd TD.

NE 20 MIA 38 in the 3rd

A 2nd interception by QB Anthony Wright puts the Patriots in scoring position and QB Brady doesn't let his team down when he hits WR Wes Welker for a catch and run 49yd TD. Brady then hits TE Ben Watson for the 2pt conversion.

NE 28 MIA 38 in the 4th

With a 10pt lead all Miami needs to do is run the clock and keep the ball away from New England. That plan seems to be working until LB Matt Vrabel knocks the ball out of HB Ronnie Brown's hands and FS James Sanders scoops it up and goes 60yds for the TD.

NE 35 MIA 38 in the 4th

The Patriots try for the onside kick but Miami recovers it.

With a three point lead and three minutes on the clock, the Dolphins need to burn time off the clock and keep hold of the ball. QB Anthony Wright drops back to hand off to HB Ronnie Brown when DE Richard Seymour busts through the line and slams into Wright. Wright coughs up the ball. Patriot Ty Warren scoops it up and goes 20yds for the TD! Wait, there is a flag! DE Richard Seymour was offsides! Miami gets lucky on that one. Operating out of the Wildcat for the rest of the game, Miami runs the ball and the clock. On the last play of the game, HB Ronnie Brown takes the ball left on a Wildcat Slide and he's gone for a 50yd TD!

NE 35 MIA 45 Final!

Stats

MIA QB Anthony Wright 5/12 (41%) for 90yds 2 INTs
NE QB Tom Brady 31/43 (72%) for 420yds, 3TDs, INT

MIA HB Ronnie Brown 36 runs for 401yds 5 TDs
NE HB Laurence Maroney 10 runs for 38yds

MIA WR Ted Ginn Jr. 2 catches for 22yds
NE WR Jabar Gaffney 9 catches for 158yds TD
NE WR Wes Welker 7 catches for 120yds TD
NE WR Randy Moss 7 catches for 65yds TD

MIA MLB Dallas Sartz 5 tackles, 3 TFL, 3 Sacks, INT
NE FS James Sanders 10 tackles, Fumble Recovery, TD