Friday Roundup - The Hands Edition

Nice extension. Takes the hit after catch. Retains possession. Looks confidently into the camera. I don't care about the rules. Sign him.

This will be a hybrid Friday Roundup and Three Keys edition of The Phinisher. Why so much crammed into one day? Well, I'm headed to South Florida to hit the Keys and go to this weekend's game against the Buccaneers.

Actually, driftinscotty and don'tcallmedolfan are also on hand for this little trip South. I will be tweeting from the game, and maybe at other high points over the weekend, if I'm sober enough, so sign up to follow the hijinks on Twitter.

Let's get to the roundup.

Bill Parcells Is A Swell Guy

This is a really heartwarming story about Bill Parcells and a homeless man in South Florida. Parcells usually keeps both football and private life on a tight leash and it was only via a slip-up that this story came to light. Old fashioned class, I tell you. Check it out at the Palm Beach Post.

Ricky Williams Is A Swell Guy

Ricky is somewhat of a military brat, having a sister in the Navy and having lived on a Naval base growing up because of his mothers job on it. Pretty heartfelt stuff from Williams giving thanks for what our service people do for us. Nice story. Oh, and RUN, RICKY RUN!!!

Don't know how that fits, but it just had to be said. Oh, actually...

Ricky Williams Is Still A Baller

This is a must read. It basically breaks down how Ricky Williams has equal production to Ronnie on 46 less touches than Brown. The stat lines? Ricky Williams has 7 TDs and 644 yards from scrimmage. Ronnie Brown has 7 TDs and 648 yards, except Brown has got the ball 46 more times.

Let's get the man the ball. Ronnie is a special back. Ricky is a once in a generation talent.

Here's the link.

The Three Keys - Hands Edition

I am excited to watch this game. Ricky Williams is my favorite current Dolphin, closely followed by Jason Taylor and well, Chad Henne. So it is with great joy that I get don my #34 jersey, bought four years ago amidst his suspension, and watch the man play on a South Florida afternoon.

It is also with much reservation that I get to see Chad Henne fire the rock from his cannonarm. Not that I doubt his abilities. I've seen enough to know that we have our QB of the future.

The reservation comes because when the game is on the line Henne delivers strike after strike into hands that can't hold onto the ball. I'm tired, like you all, of the drops.

So for the first of the Three Keys this week I am calling out the receivers.

The First Key - Catch The Damn Ball



A dropped pass is a lost down, lost yards and infuriating to watch. Right now the only sure-handed guy on the team is Greg Camarillo and Davone Bess a close second (though Bess has certainly dropped his share of passes).

Ironically I believe it is Henne's powerful arm that is part of the problem. These receivers are used to catching timing routes and lobs from Chad Pennington. So now they have a guy squeezing lazerbeams between defenders and they can't hang on.

Excuses, as my father always says, are for those who need them.

Catch the ball and we may have beaten New England. Catch the ball and we probably beat New Orleans even with the bad calls.

So Teddy Ginn, Brian Hartline and Davone Bess? Catch the ball.

Second Key - Don't Give Up On The Running Game

For the last three weeks the Phins have seemingly abandoned the running game when resistance has been met. The fact is Ronnie Brown is getting shut down and Ricky Williams is making some plays.

So I have two things to say about this. One: Ronnie Brown needs to get up field quicker. North south baby. You're a big back with a lot of speed. Use it. Two: If Ricky Williams is averaging 5 yards a pop and Ronnie is sitting around 2 yards a carry, well, don't give Ronnie another five carries and abandon the ground game. Feed Ricky the ball. He's running like a 27 year-old Pro Bowler. Let him earn it.

Third Key - Hammer That Curly Haired Punk

I love Peezy, but it seems that injuries have left our big dog with bark alone this season. So it is with some excitement that this weekend I will be looking for JT to move to the weakside and do what he has done better than anyone over the last decade. Sack the quarterback.


Add in a heavier dose of Cameron Wake, who has simply been lights out (4.5 sacks in a handful of snaps). Let Roth and Quentin Moses work the strong-side on running downs and on passing downs put Taylor and Wake in. Josh Freeman is a Brooklyn hipster girl's dream man.

Cameron Wake is Bill Parcells dream man. Let's prove why those things are different.


Remember to follow the adventures this weekend on Twitter.