Colts vs Dolphins: Preview & Keys

This won't exactly be an in-depth preview, but here are some key points

• Miami should feel a sence of urgency, as the Jets and Bills each have looked impressive in the first two weeks. The Patriots look a bit out of sync but you know they will pick it up. This year it won't be as easy to come back if the team falls two or more games back.
• For a team that prides itself on a balanced attack and ball control offense, I didn't see too much commitment to the run in week one. The team was never down by more than two scores, and time was not an issue, yet Ronnie Brown only got ten carries. Ricky Williams had seven. I'd expect to see ome of the traditional wildcat formation with the unbalanced line to help get some big plays from the running game.
• It will be important for the defense to blitz Peyton Manning and get to him. Take a cue from Rex Ryan's Jets and make the quarterback get rid of the ball before he likes. Make him hit the appropriate check downs and stop them for short gains. If we allow him time for routes to develop and receivers to find the open zones, it could be a long night.
• We must find a way to get Ted Ginn involved. Since we can't throw deep routes, we should use him on the end-around that resulted in two touchdown's last year. I'd also like to see him motion ino the slot from time to time, hopefully creating matchup problems.

Falcons 19, Dolphins 7: Recap

Revisiting the Keys

The offense could not get anything going for a long time. I said Miami should take some shots down the field early, to test the secondary and hopefully open up the field. Except for the one Pat White pass (great play call), they did not. I can't blame them too much though because the offensive line was getting beat and giving up sacks even on intermediate pass plays. Ultimately the problem was not being able to run the ball well early in the game. The line is a better run blocking unit than pass blocking, and it will be imperative for us to win on first down and not set up obvious passing situations.

Defensively, we did very well, particularly with Michael Turner. In fact we did better than I could have imagine with him as he was limited to under three yards a carry and did not break any long runs. Tony Gonzalez however, did make a huge impact. We saw the safeties rotate covering him and for the most part it didn't work. Now a couple times he just made outstanding plays that were indefensible, but I thought on obvious passing downs we could have done a better job of jamming him at the line or perhaps double covering him.

Special Teams didn't factor much in the game. For the most part the Dolphins coverage units were good. The discouraging element of the special teams game was not being able to get any decent kickoff return. I credit Atlanta's superb coverage units but also think the elimination of the three-man wedge plays a big role for a below-average Miami special teams unit.


Random Other Thoughts

• Not the best advertisement for Anthony Fasano who is trying to get a contract extension. The first fumble was tough and somehwat unlucky, but you can't cough it up twice. The second was especially inexcusable
• Our rookie corners will be targeted. Even though Sean Smith had an impressive preseason, Atlanta went after him and if not for some poor throws or drops, could have burned him big. I have confidence in Sean though and he will get another tough test against Peyton Manning next week.
• If not for the Immaculate Deflection in Cincinnati, Greg Camarillo would have NFL play of the week honors for that crazy ricochet, bring ball in with back of legs catch in the first half. It's unfortunate the referees did not call that properly in real time because it should have been a touchdown.
• Back to Pat White, nothing really of note happened today, but I like the potential for the WildPat, Whitecat, Spread Pat White offense. The key just like the Ronnie Brown led wildcat is the offensive line must block and give time for plays to develop and give our talented runners at least a small hole to run through. The pass play by White was a great call and hopefully he can be somewhat accurate on those in the future.

Look Ahead

The schedule doesn't let up, as the Indianapolis Colts come in for a Monday Night Football game.

Miami at Atlanta: Preview & Keys

Sorry for the gross inactivity lately, I've been very busy with work lazy. But the regular season is finally here so you can be expecting plenty of updates.So let's get right to it and discuss this week's keys to the games


Offense

Atlanta's defense and in particular their secondary did not show well in the preseason. The question is, will the Dolphins take some chances and try to exploit that weakness in the deep passing game, or will they stick to their philosophy and focus on running the ball and the short and intermediate passing attack? I think it's important they take some shots deep early and hopefully complete a couple to help open up the entire field for the rest of the game. We saw last year when opponents could put eight in the box, especially for the wildcat formation plays, we had a difficult time running the ball and moving the chains. This offense needs to make the proper progression this year and be able to defeat that defense, hopefully by preemptively showing the willingness to throw deep. I know Chad Pennington can't chuck it that far, but offensive coordinator Dan Henning must find a way to get some favorable matchups in the secondary and try to let our receivers make plays.

Defense

Michael Turner is going to rush the ball well and he will get good yardage and possibly some touchdowns, but we can't let ourselves get continually gashed by the running game. It is important that the front seven finds a way to get some big wins on first down by getting tackles for a loss and setting up second and third and longs. That way they can blitz stud quarterback Matt Ryan and hopefully get the ball out of his hands early and let our secondary make plays. They are improved, but we can't ask them to cover for more than a few seconds. The obvious focus in the passing game will be tight end Tony Gonzalez. We must find him on third downs and blanket him. Nothing is more frustrating for a defense than to give up third down conversions and Gonzalez is always a factor on those and also in the red zone. I actually think a good ploy would be to put rookie cornerback Sean Smith on him at times to see if that's a good matchup. Smith has shown terrific in the preseason and has earned the opportunity.

Special Teams & Intangibles

Last year Miami's coverage units were not good. This preseason did nothing to make anyone think they'll be better. It is imperative that they not gift away points by allowing long returns or making other mistakes in the special teams game. Easier said than done. Also, Atlanta was very good at home in 2008 going 7-1. The dome provides a lot of crowd noise and for the first game of the season after an 11-5, eight win improvement, we can expect the place to be rocking. Miami didn't have a problem with penalties last year but we might see some false starts today.


Final Thoughts

I love the unpredictability of week one. I can envision us picking up right where the 2008 regular season left off and scoring a win, but also I wouldn't be surprised if we struggled and Atlanta controlled the game. For that reason I will make no prediction and just hope for a Dolphins victory.