2-0 the Ugly Way? We'll Take It!!

What better time to fire up a blog post than after the Phins' first 2-0 start in far too long? None, in my humble opinion.

These first two wins haven't exactly been stellar performances, and any person watching can see the flaws that need to be addressed. Still, as someone wiser than myself once said, "It's better to learn from a win than from a loss." That's exactly what the Dolphins have done thus far. While these game against the Bills and Vikings both left me sweating at the end, they each had a different feel.

The Bills game felt like the classic "kissing your cousin" scenario. Yeah, it was a win, but we fans couldn't really come away with much more than being satisfied that our Dolphins did not lose their opener. The offense was a tad suspect, though the Bills have an admittedly strong secondary. The defense looked strong, but it was against the Bills. I came away from that one with more than a few question marks floating through the ol' noggin.

Today's win against the Vikings was certainly not definitive, yet I think we can feel a bit more positive about the direction this team is heading. Apologies to Sergio Leone for the following hash of a true classic, as a way to order my thoughts:

The Bad & The Ugly

The Dolphins left some points on the field. The fumbles by Ricky and Ronnie kept breathing life into the Vikings, just as momentum had swung our guys' way, not once but twice. If they had simply held onto those balls, we would have been spared the late-game drama and probably seen a more comfortable 10- to 17-point victory.

I'm still not altogether sure about all of the offensive play calling. The Wildcat did serve a solid use during that first trip into the red zone, but I'd still rather see Henne left in more often, to more quickly develop a better rhythm with his receivers.

The defense was occasionally abused over the middle, either by Adrian Peterson (which is forgivable, to an extent) or by tight end Shiancoe (another very good player). This concerns me a bit when they face a more surgical team like the Patriots in a few weeks.

The Good

The defense is the obvious standout. Seeing the way these guys are closing on the ball and wrapping up the ball carriers, I can hardly believe how far they've come since this time last year. And it's not simply one or two guys - it's been virtually the whole team, most notably Vontae Davis. Davis was an absolute animal in this game, and may very well be evolving into one of the best corners in the league.

The pass rush was fantastic. From Misi and Wake to Starks and Langford, it seemed like everyone, young and old, was getting in on the act of pressuring Favre into making very Favre-like decisions, with unsurprising results: poorly thrown "gunslinger" passes that were easy meat for the secondary.

It was a bend-don't-break kind of day for the defense, typified by that final stop on 4th and goal on their own 1-yard line. That play was pure guts, not less so for stopping the man that otherwise ran roughshod over them for most of the day. Yet the D stopped him when it mattered most.

While the offense was clearly stifled after that initial scoring drive, we're starting to see developments. Marshall's presence was there for all to see, and Henne, though not outstanding, was very efficient (a 104 passer rating). The keys, more than the passes Henne did throw, are the ones that he didn't throw. Comparing Favre's and Henne's afternoons was like a case study between aggression and conservation. One gunslinger shot himself in the feet repeatedly, while the other knew when to keep it in his holster and just walk away.

What Now?

The gauntlet that is the Phins' early-season schedule has now truly begun, and they have passed the first test. They certainly have things to iron out, especially on offense, but I think the number of those problem areas has been reduced. If the defense can continue what they've started, and the offense can develop more cohesion, we may have a true powerhouse on our hands. They're not there yet, but I think the potential is definitely there.

God, it feels good to not have to watch our guys dig themselves out of an early hole.

Really, really good.