Dolphins
Dolphins Roundup 8/22/04
By The Source
Aug 22, 2004

MIAMI (AP) -- Mark Brunell directed two touchdown drives, and the Washington Redskins controlled the ball for 41 minutes to beat the Miami Dolphins 17-0 Saturday night.

Miami (1-1) made five first downs - none in the second half - and totaled just 98 yards.

Brunell, acquired in an offseason trade to challenge for the starting quarterback job, played four series and led TD drives of 63 and 43 yards to help the Redskins (2-1) take a 14-0 halftime lead.

Incumbent Patrick Ramsey led Washington to a score for the first time this preseason, directing a 14-play, 68-yard drive that ended with a field goal to start the second half.

A.J. Feeley, seeking to supplant Jay Fiedler as the Dolphins' quarterback, led Miami to three first downs before the opening series ended with a fumble by receiver Chris Chambers. The Dolphins, plagued with bad field position, went three-and-out on their next three possessions before Fiedler took over.

"There are a lot of things we need to do differently," Feeley said. "But we have two more games."

For Washington, Clinton Portis and Rock Cartwright scored on 1-yard runs, and Ola Kimrin kicked a 26-yard field goal.

Brunell went 7-for-9 for 79 yards. Ramsey was 3-for-8 for 41 yards.

Despite making four changes in the offensive line this week, Miami struggled with pass protection, and the running game also sputtered. Travis Minor, who became the starting running back when Ricky Williams retired, rushed for 15 yards in eight carries and is averaging 1.2 per carry in the first two games.

"We've got to start running the football so we can be a balanced team," coach Dave Wannstedt said.

Feeley finished 4-for-8 for 36 yards.

"He handled himself well," Wannstedt said. "He didn't force any balls or do anything crazy."

Fiedler went 4-for-9 for 41 yards in two series. One ended with a punt, and the other when Fiedler fumbled a snap on a sneak.

One of Miami's few highlights was a 49-yard kickoff return by undrafted rookie Fred Russell. Antonio Freeman, signed Monday by the Dolphins, saw action on a handful of plays and made one catch for 19 yards.

Feeley had the Dolphins on the move on the opening series before a jarring tackle by Sean Taylor forced Chambers to fumble. The Redskins recovered at their 37, and Portis scored eight plays later.

The Dolphins started their first-half drives at the 13, 11, 20, 13 and 18.

- SCORING SUMMARY

1st Quarter
WAS - Portis 1-yard run (Hall kick)
DRIVE: 8 plays, 63 yards, 5:25.

2nd Quarter
WAS - Cartwright 1-yard run (Hall kick)
DRIVE: 10 plays, 43 yards, 5:39.

3rd Quarter
WAS - 26 Kimrin FG
DRIVE: 14 plays, 68 yards, 8:21.

- INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING
Miami: T. Minor 8-15, R. Works 3-7, A. Feeley 1-5, J. Fiedler 1-0, F. Russell 4-(-2).
Washington: S. McCullough 16-56, J. Simon 12-43, C. Portis 7-37, R. Cartwright 14-33, C. Morton 3-9, P. Ra,sey 2-3.

PASSING
Miami: J. Fielder 4-9-0-41, A. Feeley 4-8-0-36, C. Stoerner 1-7-0-(-4), S. Rosenfels 1-2-0-5.
Washington: M. Brunell 7-9-0-79, P. Ramsey 3-8-0-41.

RECEIVING
Miami: C. Chambers 3-30, A. Freeman 1-19, R. Bellamy 1-9, S. Simmons 1-9, D. Thompson 1-6, D. Easlick 1-5, T. Minor 1-4, F. Russell 1-(-4).
Washington: J. Simon 4-42, T. Jacobs 1-21, L. Coles 1-17, J. Williams 1-13, C. Cooley 1-12, C. Morton 1-8, S. Cloman 1-7.