Week Three: Keys to the Game

Coming off an embarrassing blowout loss the Dolphins will go on the road again, this time to division and conference power, New England. This is not exactly the type of game that I would ask when trying to rebound from two tough defeats in the first couple weeks of this season. Nonetheless, the schedule is what it is, and Miami will have to find a way to improve, play better, and compete. These should be the keys to Sunday's matchup

1. Start Well: Right now I'm trying to think of the last time the Dolphins started a game well. I'm going to have to look it up. We haven't had a lead at any point this year and once again have had poor first quarters, being outscored 21-0 so far. This team must get ahead early which will give them confidence to keep playing well and stay ahead. Okay I looked it up, the last time the Dolphins had a lead of seven or more points in the first half was in week five of last season against Houston. The last time we scored a touchdown on our opening drive was in week thirteen of the 2006 season. Wow.

2. Running Game: Week one we didn't run the ball enough. Week two we ran it some more but not well enough. Hopefully the next step will be running it a lot and doing a good job at it. We need to control the clock and churn out first downs. The blame for the below average running game falls on both the offensive line and the running backs. The line must give the backs a better opportunity for positive yards and perhaps a big play. I would run behind Jake Long and the left side. The running backs also must do a better job of getting all the yardage they can and avoiding negative plays. Too many times I have seen rushes for losses, setting up the team in hard to convert third down situations.

3. Defensive Backs: I've gone over several times about the abysmal play of our passing defense. The main problem is that our defenders don't do a good job of playing the ball, so even if they cover a receiver very well, if the ball comes that way, it's likely to be a reception. They must learn to break up passes any way possible. Bat the ball away, make a big hit as the ball arrives, but please don't stand next to a guy and watch him catch the ball. I'll say this again, Jason Allen needs to start in place of Chris Crocker.

4. Penalties: Looking at the boxscore, we only ended up with six penalties but if you remember correctly, there were several more that were declined as well. The most concerning point about the infractions is when they occurred. On an Arizona missed field goal, we had twelve men on the field. On that drive kept alive, they scored a touchdown. That's a seven point difference. On a third and goal for the Cardinals we made a sack but committed a facemask violation. They scored another touchdown afterwards. That's a four point difference (if they make the field goal). In this game it didn't matter much because we were dominated in all facets of the game. But, in close games, these kinds of penalties can you lose you a game, all by themselves. That can't happen.