Bucs-Dolphins Preview: Expect More Vanilla

The main thing in tonight’s Buccaneers-Dolphins pre-season game will be evaluation. Since the starters will likely sit out the final pre-season game next week against the Saints, tonight stands as the most important August game for the Dolphins as Cam Cameron sorts out the staring roles and player evaluation.

So here’s what we know: Trent Green is now the official starting quarterback for your Miami Dolphins, the offensive line has two guys that have pretty much nailed starting jobs (Vernon Carey & Samson Satele), Ted Ginn Jr. will be returning punts, Cam is only using 20 percent of his plays, and Lorenzo Booker is either a crime fighting super hero, is buried under an avalanche in Tibet, or is a super-secret weapon yet to be unveiled by the mad genius Cameron.

So here’s what we can expect tonight: The defense will have their studs back. Jason Taylor and Zach Thomas are in the starting lineup, while J-Peezey continues to rehab his knee.

But the focus, again, won’t be on the defense – where everything is like Fonzie: cool. Aye!! Where all eyes will be on tonight is the offense and special teams (i.e. Ginn).

Cam will continue to call vanilla plays tonight, so don’t throw your nacho cheese platter and Miller highlife at your television if the play-calling resembles the Dave Wandstache era.

The main goal for the offense tonight is to A.) stay healthy and B.) see who begins to emerge as possible starters. As mentioned above, the O-line has only two guys who have stepped up and earned starting roles. The rest is wide open. So, keep an eye out for that.

Again, expect vanilla play calling. Be patient. Cam is sorting things out.

"We're probably the most vanilla offense in the league in preseason in the first year because we're in such an evaluation process of our blocking unit," Cameron said. "Our offense - you haven't seen a lot of it. We're going to work on running the football and pass protection, and that will be about it. We're not really doing anything clever in the passing game."

Finally, even with the vanilla play-calls, Green has to start playing like he earned the job and not because the Fins were forced to give it to him after giving up a draft pick for him. He has to come out of this game giving us some sort of agreeable feeling. Give us something to believe we’ll be at least okay in that department. Of course, a lot of the onus is on the offensive line. But still. Yes, we’re jaded. Yes, we’re cynical. Yes, we’re spoiled. But we can be reasonable too. Just show us something, Green. Anything.

I’ll back tonight to give my usual post game wrap-up and analysis. Meanwhile, JD from SporTech Matter will be at the game tonight as our official Bucs-Fins correspondent and I’ll be posting his report sometime Sunday or Monday (whenever he decides to wake up from his hangover and write it up for us). Enjoy the game, Nation. And GO FINS!!!

Comments

[Gersom]

I'm ready to lick that up and I don't even like vanilla. :D

[Jason]

I agree with you that we have to be patient with the offense tonight. More than anything else Cameron has to figure out the offensive line. I'm sure he already has his starters in mind but tonight's game will go a long way in determining who'll be there come September 9th @ Wash.

[TK]

Whatever happens with the offense, I'm looking forward to seeing Zach and JT in action again. The only sure things on this team.

[rojowill]

NO FACE TD!!!! Woo Ahhh!!!

[rojowill]

DOLPHINS TD BOISE ST. STYLE!!!

[TK]

That Boise St. play was nice. Add some sprinkles to that vanilla! Haha!