Dolphins could go 'wild'
Dolphins could go 'wild'
Dolphins could go 'wild'
Miami offense concerns Colts
MIAMI ? Pat White never pinch-hit in high school because he was always in the starting lineup.
Drafted by the Angels, Reds and Yankees, White eventually decided to focus on football instead of baseball, and now he has a pinch-hitting role with the Miami Dolphins.
The rookie quarterback came off the bench three times in the season opener, taking one snap each time with the Dolphins looking for a home run. The latest wrinkle in the Dolphins' innovative offense failed to generate points, and Miami will need to be more productive tonight to keep up with Indianapolis and Peyton Manning.
"With our offense, there's a lot of big-play potential," White said.
It went unrealized in the first game, a 19-7 loss at Atlanta. The offense was a flop even though the Dolphins dipped into their expanding bag of tricks, which includes the wildcat package that revitalized the franchise last year as Miami made an improbable run to the playoffs.
The formation takes advantage of the Dolphins' depth at running back by getting Ronnie Brown, Ricky Williams and Patrick Cobbs on the field at the same time.
"They like getting their athletes out there to make guys miss," Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney said. "You've got to account for everybody."
The wildcat's popularity rapidly spread in the NFL last season, but the Indy defense never faced a significant test from the formation. And now Miami has a new wrinkle with the addition of White, the former West Virginia star who set an NCAA record for rushing yardage by a quarterback.
At Atlanta, White served as a triggerman in the spread offense, a cousin of the wildcat. While his three plays netted 1 yard ? an average of 12 inches per snap ? his potential in the role was evident when the Falcons' defense, worried about White's running, allowed receiver Ted Ginn Jr. to slip two steps behind the secondary.
White overthrew Ginn by 5 yards.
"We had a chance," Sparano said.
"I missed a wide open receiver," White said. "You can't get it back. You've got to work on making it better."
Sparano said White's role is challenging because he's coming off the bench cold ? like a pinch-hitter. Throwing on the sideline might tip the defense about what's coming, but White said he found other ways to prepare.
"You stay moving and try to keep a sweat going," he said. "I'm staying loose, staying warm and ready any time they call on me."
White will hardly be the best-known Dolphins newcomer at the team's home opener. Expected to attend are Serena and Venus Williams, Marc Anthony, Jennifer Lopez, Jimmy Buffett, and Emilio and Gloria Estefan, who have all forged partnerships with owner Stephen Ross since he completed his purchase of the franchise in January.
Some of the VIPs will make their pregame arrival on a new celebrity orange carpet with Hollywood trappings, and Buffett is expected to perform for tailgaters.
Once the game begins, it's not certain White will be active. He's actually No. 3 on the depth chart behind starter Chad Pennington and heir apparent Chad Henne. But the Dolphins are eager to give White more opportunities after Atlanta.
"There were some things we were trying to get to, but the bottom line is we didn't for some reason or another," Sparano said.
Dolphins could go 'wild'
Dolphins could go 'wild'
Miami offense concerns Colts
MIAMI ? Pat White never pinch-hit in high school because he was always in the starting lineup.
Drafted by the Angels, Reds and Yankees, White eventually decided to focus on football instead of baseball, and now he has a pinch-hitting role with the Miami Dolphins.
The rookie quarterback came off the bench three times in the season opener, taking one snap each time with the Dolphins looking for a home run. The latest wrinkle in the Dolphins' innovative offense failed to generate points, and Miami will need to be more productive tonight to keep up with Indianapolis and Peyton Manning.
"With our offense, there's a lot of big-play potential," White said.
It went unrealized in the first game, a 19-7 loss at Atlanta. The offense was a flop even though the Dolphins dipped into their expanding bag of tricks, which includes the wildcat package that revitalized the franchise last year as Miami made an improbable run to the playoffs.
The formation takes advantage of the Dolphins' depth at running back by getting Ronnie Brown, Ricky Williams and Patrick Cobbs on the field at the same time.
"They like getting their athletes out there to make guys miss," Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney said. "You've got to account for everybody."
The wildcat's popularity rapidly spread in the NFL last season, but the Indy defense never faced a significant test from the formation. And now Miami has a new wrinkle with the addition of White, the former West Virginia star who set an NCAA record for rushing yardage by a quarterback.
At Atlanta, White served as a triggerman in the spread offense, a cousin of the wildcat. While his three plays netted 1 yard ? an average of 12 inches per snap ? his potential in the role was evident when the Falcons' defense, worried about White's running, allowed receiver Ted Ginn Jr. to slip two steps behind the secondary.
White overthrew Ginn by 5 yards.
"We had a chance," Sparano said.
"I missed a wide open receiver," White said. "You can't get it back. You've got to work on making it better."
Sparano said White's role is challenging because he's coming off the bench cold ? like a pinch-hitter. Throwing on the sideline might tip the defense about what's coming, but White said he found other ways to prepare.
"You stay moving and try to keep a sweat going," he said. "I'm staying loose, staying warm and ready any time they call on me."
White will hardly be the best-known Dolphins newcomer at the team's home opener. Expected to attend are Serena and Venus Williams, Marc Anthony, Jennifer Lopez, Jimmy Buffett, and Emilio and Gloria Estefan, who have all forged partnerships with owner Stephen Ross since he completed his purchase of the franchise in January.
Some of the VIPs will make their pregame arrival on a new celebrity orange carpet with Hollywood trappings, and Buffett is expected to perform for tailgaters.
Once the game begins, it's not certain White will be active. He's actually No. 3 on the depth chart behind starter Chad Pennington and heir apparent Chad Henne. But the Dolphins are eager to give White more opportunities after Atlanta.
"There were some things we were trying to get to, but the bottom line is we didn't for some reason or another," Sparano said.
