Tuesday 17 November 2009

Miami Dolphins - Ronnie Brown injury

Ronnie Brown injury is a blow

The Dolphins season nearly came to an end earlier today.

With a visit to rapidly-improving Carolina up next, the Dolphins have some major problems, beginning with key injuries and a penchant for fourth-quarter collapses.

Rookie Kory Sperry, who was promoted Saturday from the practice squad, was one of the surprises of the day (three catches, 31 yards, 1 TD).

The Dolphins didn’t seem to miss LB Joey Porter much, either.

Quarterback Chad Henne showed some grit during his last-minute field-goal drive, making throws of 35 and 16 yards to Davone Bess.

Henne also threw a bad interception to set up the Bucs’ go-ahead score with 1:14 to go, putting a wilting defense back on the field.

Running back Ricky Williams had a big day, finishing with 102 rushing yards, capped by a 27-yard scamper to set up the game-winning FG.


1. Running back Lex Hilliard is likely to get his chance this week. But with no carries this season, will Hilliard be ready?

It might be different if Ronnie Brown were to have a full week to bounce back from the ankle injury he suffered Sunday, but with only three days to prepare for Thursday night’s game at Carolina, it’s a safe bet Hilliard will get his first carries as a running back against the Panthers.

Miami will need a strong running game against Carolina, whose own running game entered this week’s games leading the NFC in rushing. Just as Brown and Ricky Williams were a great 1-2 punch, Hilliard and Williams make for a tandem that could pound away at a Carolina run defense, which was ranked 23rd entering the weekend.

2. Linebacker Charlie Anderson made a bigger impact than Joey Porter has all season. But Anderson’s inconsistency, not his talent, has held him back.

{Anderson stepped in for Porter and had one of his best games in two seasons as a Dolphin, with five solo tackles, including a sack, and two forced fumbles.

Anderson, a sixth-year pro, showed big-time flashes a few times a season ago, highlighted by his performance in Toronto against Buffalo (four solos, a sack, two FFs). He followed it with nice outing against San Francisco, including a key sack late in the game.

But Porter has been banged-up and played at a sub-par level, so Anderson needs to build on Sunday’s performance.

3. Kicker Dan Carpenter answered the challenge of training camp nemesis Connor Barth.

Barth did his job, and the team released him.

But Carpenter finished with four field goals, including the game winner. Hard to argue with that.

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