The 2011Miami Dolphins season was the team's 42nd season in the National Football League, the 46th overall and the fourth under head coach Tony Sparano.[1] The Dolphins made their first round selection with the 15th pick of the 2011 NFL Draft on Floridaoffensive linemanMike Pouncey. The team got off to an 0–7 start and won six of their final nine games, but failed to improve on their record from 2010, resulting in Sparano being fired on December 12, 2011.
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DraftKing.com, NFLMocks.com, and The Palm Beach Post predicted that the Dolphins would use their first round pick to choose Gabe Carimi, a left tackle for the Wisconsin Badgers who won the 2010 Outland Trophy as the nation's top collegiate interior lineman, and was a Consensus All-American.[2][3] Charles Davis of NFL.com predicted they would draft Mark Ingram, Jr. from the University of Alabama.[4]
Brian Daboll joins the team as offensive coordinator. Karl Dorrell moves to quarter backs coach from wide receivers coach. Jeff Nixon added as the running backs coach. Steve Bush moves to wide receivers coach from offensive quality control. Ike Hilliard added as an assistant wide receivers coach. Dan Campbell moves to tight ends coach from intern. Bryan Cox is added as a defensive pass rush coach.
Roster changes[]
Re-signings[]
March 4 — Re-signed guard Richie Incognito three years [1]
July 30 — Re-signed defensive tackle Tony McDaniel two years [2]
August 5 — Re-signed offensive tackle Nate Garner, running back Lex Hilliard, tackle Lydon Murtha, running back Kory Sheets[3]
August 26 — Waived corner back K.J. Gerard, defensive tackle Johnny Jones, corner back Jose Perez
August 27 — Waived/Injured linebacker Mike Rivera
August 30 — Waived tackle Tyler Donahue
September 2 — Waived tight end Dedrick Epps and wide receiver John Matthews. Terminated contract of safety Gerald Alexander.
September 3 — Waived quarterback Kevin O'Connell, safety Mark Restelli, cornerback Vincent Agnew, tight end Brett Brackett, wide receiver Patrick Carter, guard Garrett Chisolm, quarterback Pat Devlin, linebacker Jonathan Freeny, running back Nic Grigsby, tackle D.J. Jones, tackle Matt Kopa, wide receiver Phillip Livas, cornerback Nate Ness, linebacker David Nixon, wide receiver Julius Pruitt, linebacker Robert Rose, tight end Mickey Shuler, and linebacker Quinton Spears. Terminated contracts with corner back Will Allen, nose tackle Ronald Fields, running back Larry Johnson, full back Lousaka Polite, and tackle Ray Willis.[28]
September 4 — Waived defensive tackle Frank Kearse
September 5 — Released linebacker A.J. Edds and terminated the contract of center Joe Berger
September 8 — Waived guard Ray Feinga
September 13 — Terminated the contract of corner back Benny Sapp
September 20 — Terminated the contracts of running back Larry Johnson and tight end Dante Rosario.
September 28 — Cut defensive end Ryan Baker
Trades[]
July 29 — Traded reserve safety Jonathon Amaya and an exchange of undisclosed draft picks for running back Reggie Bush. [29]
Team Captains[]
The team voted the following as their 2011 team captains.
The Dolphins began their 2011 campaign at home, for a Week 1 AFC East duel with the New England Patriots in the first game of Monday Night Football's doubleheader. Miami delivered the game's opening splash with a 9-yard touchdown run from quarterback Chad Henne. The Patriots answered with running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis getting a 4-yard touchdown run. New England took the lead in the second quarter as quarterback Tom Brady completed a 10-yard touchdown pass to tight end Rob Gronkowski.
The Dolphins struck back in the third quarter as Henne found wide receiver Brian Hartline on a 10-yard touchdown pass, but New England came right back with Brady completing a 2-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Wes Welker. Miami replied with a 20-yard field goal from kicker Dan Carpenter, but the Patriots came right back with Brady completing a 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end Aaron Hernandez. New England added onto their in the fourth quarter as kicker Stephen Gostkowski got a 20-yard field goal, followed by Brady completing a 99-yard touchdown pass to Welker. The Dolphins would close out the game with Henne finding running back Reggie Bush on a 2-yard touchdown pass.
With the loss, Miami began their season at 0-1.
Week 2: vs. Houston Texans[]
Week Two: Houston Texans at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
BUF – Dave Rayner 30 yard field goal, Bills 3–0, Drive: 9 plays, 70 yards, 4:47.
MIA – Anthony Fasano 10 yard reception from Matt Moore (Shayne Graham kick), Dolphins 7–3, Drive: 12 plays, 87 yards, 6:45
MIA – Reggie Bush 5 yard run (Shayne Graham kick), Dolphins 14–3, Drive: 4 plays, 59 yards, 1:40.
Second quarter
MIA – Charles Clay 12 yard reception from Matt Moore (Shayne Graham kick), Dolphins 21–3, Drive: 5 plays, 23 yards, 2:09
MIA – Davone Bess 4 yard reception from Matt Moore (Shayne Graham kick), Dolphins 28–3, Drive: 5 plays, 4 yards, 0:32
BUF – Dave Rayner 56 yard field goal, Dolphins 28–6, Drive: 8 plays, 39 yards, 1:36.
Third quarter
MIA - Lex Hilliard recovered blocked punt in the end zone (Shayne Graham kick), Dolphins 35-6
Fourth quarter
BUF - Daniel Thomas tackled in end zone by Kelvin Sheppard, Safety
Top passers
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MIA –
Top rushers
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Top receivers
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Top tacklers
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MIA –
Coming off their win over the Redskins, the Dolphins stayed at home for a Week 11 AFC East showdown with the Buffalo Bills. Miami trailed early in the first quarter as Bills kicker Dave Rayner made a 30-yard field goal, yet the Dolphins immediately answered with quarterback Matt Moore finding tight end Anthony Fasano on a 1-yard touchdown pass, followed by a 5-yard touchdown run from running back Reggie Bush. Miami would add onto their lead in the second quarter with Moore connecting with fullback Charles Clay on a 12-yard touchdown pass, followed by wide receiver Davone Bess on a 4-yard touchdown pass. Buffalo would close out the half with Rayner booting a 56-yard field goal.
The Dolphins continued their dominating day in the third quarter with running back Lex Hilliard recovering a blocked punt in the endzone for a touchdown (the team's first TD off of a blocked punt since 1990). The Bills tried to rally as linebacker Kelvin Sheppard tackled rookie running back Daniel Thomas in the endzone for a safety, but Miami's lead proved to be too much to overcome.
With the win, the Dolphins improved to 3-7.
This game also marked the first time since 1990 that Miami allowed 10 points or fewer in three-straight games.
They have now become the 3rd team in NFL History to win 3 straight after starting season at least 0-7 ('78 Cardinals & '86 Colts).[32]
Coming off their win over the Bills, the Dolphins flew to Cowboys Stadium for a Week 12 interconference duel with the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving. Miami delivered the game's opening punch in the first quarter with a 26-yard field goal from kicker Shayne Graham, but the Cowboys answered in the second quarter with kicker Dan Bailey getting a 32-yard field goal, followed by quarterback Tony Romo completing a 5-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Laurent Robinson. The Dolphins would close out the half with a 28-yard field goal from Graham.
Miami would regain the lead in the third quarter with a 27-yard field goal from Graham, followed by quarterback Matt Moore finding wide receiver Brandon Marshall on a 35-yard field goal. Dallas struck back in the fourth quarter with Romo completing an 18-yard touchdown pass to Robinson. The Dolphins would reply with a 23-yard field goal from Graham, but the Cowboys got the last laugh with Bailey nailing the game-winning 28-yard field goal.
With the loss, Miami fell to 3-8.
Week 13: vs. Oakland Raiders[]
Week Thirteen: Oakland Raiders at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
TV announcers (Fox): Chris Myers, Tim Ryan and Jaime Maggio
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
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Top rushers
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Top receivers
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Top tacklers
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MIA –
With the loss, the Dolphins dropped to 4–9, and were officially eliminated from postseason contention. One day later (December 12), head coach Tony Sparano was fired and replaced by assistant coach Todd Bowles on an interim basis for the remainder of the season.
Week 15: at Buffalo Bills[]
Week Fifteen: Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills – Game summary
