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Posted on Tuesday, 09.22.09

Miami Dolphins' running game improved from the season opener

Unlike last week, the Dolphins' offensive line created room for the running game against Indianapolis.

Miami Dolphins running back Patrick Cobbs is tackled by the Indianapolis Colts' Daniel Muir in the third quarter on Monday, Sept. 21, 2009 at Land Shark Stadium.

C.M. GUERRERO / EL NUEVO HERALD

Dolphins vs. Colts | Mon., Sept. 21, 2009
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WEB VOTE What went wrong for the Dolphins on Monday against the Colts?

By DAVID J. NEAL

dneal@MiamiHerald.com

All week, Dolphins left tackle Jake Long and the offensive line had to hear about how their performance in Atlanta wasn't worth their weight in salary. They gave up four sacks and didn't steamroll a smallish Falcons defense that hasn't stopped the run since Rhett dissed Scarlett.

And now here came Indianapolis and sackmaster Dwight Freeney.

They came and were crushed.

The Dolphins offensive line did the grass and dirt moving on similarly undersized Indianapolis that they hadn't on Atlanta. Because they created enough room for 239 rushing yards, 205 of them from Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams, they allowed the Dolphins to hold the ball for 45:07.

The pass rush that's the Colts' front four's specialty -- because they've never been particularly stout against the run, even as Super Bowl champions on this field sure don't stop the run -- produced only two sacks, one by Freeney and one by Robert Mathis.

Don't blame Long for Freeney's, however. It was a coverage sack after quarterback Chad Pennington held onto the ball for roughly 10 minutes. The rest of the time, Pennington had time to get rid of the ball quickly or, in the fourth quarter, wait for Ted Ginn to get open on longer crossing routes.

Most of the time, the 6-7, 315-pound Long neutralized 268-pound Freeney's speed or guided the defensive end's spin moves into left guard Justin Smiley's workspace, where Freeney would wind up caught like a fan trying to get past Jennifer Lopez's security.

``I just wanted to get on him quickly, get my hands on him,'' Long said glumly at his locker.

Like left guard Justin Smiley next to him, Long kept answering any compliments with, ``It doesn't matter if you don't win.''

Right tackle Vernon Carey, who has become a good pal of Long's, said, ``It was his first time with his back against the wall. He showed his character and showed he's a good player, he just had a bad week (against Atlanta).''

The Colts defensive line wound up with more offside flags than quarterback pressures.

In the running game, the Dolphins controlled the line, whether on sweeps, often out of the Wildcat with Ricky Williams, or runs between the tackles with Ronnie Brown.

Brown had 130 yards on 22 carries and Williams had 69 yards on 19 rushes when the Dolphins took the field down 27-23 with 3:13 left in the game.

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