Dolphins - Pats week 1 early discussion

[Doc-phin]

I am aching for some real football, so I figure most of you are too.  Even if you think we are going to get blown out in our opener, I am sure there are some aspects of the game you are looking for or have predictions about.

Show your smarts and throw out those thoughts before the game.  Saying "I knew that would happen" after the fact is just gutless.

Me personally...

I think there is only one way to beat the Pats.  You have to get hits on Brady without blitzing.  Beyond that you have to take away their over the top stuff which they run every 7-10 plays and be ready for their speed underneath.  Brady will try to expose our safeties if they continuously move up in underneath support.

The Pats get away with more illegal WR picks than any team in history, so you have to come up with a scheme that allows you to deal with that B.S.  You also have to be ready for Woodhead who is great at getting into the flat quickly on delays.

As far as their defense is concerned.  They are going to take away the run and really disguise their blitzes.  They usually show blitz and back off into zone coverage which is where they get their INTs.  They are very good at going for the strip so ball security should be emphasized particularly when running in space.

As far as the phins offense goes, we need to have a day of prayer for our o-line (particularly Pouncey).  I would audible all runs away from Wilfork and some of them from the other asshole they got this year to back him up.  Don't screen to Mayo's side.  Throw in a trick play or two.  Nickel and dime them to death in the first half to wear them down and open it up in the second half.

Last year on Monday night our guys were way too hyped up pregame and they wore themselves out in the first quarter.  Take the smelling sauce away from anyone who isn't primarily a special teams player and emphasize keeping their energy in check before and between plays.

I can't believe I am saying this given the new offense and all, but I actually think we surprise the Pats with our offense and make life tough on them with our defense and manage to pull out a shocking win.  I think our linebackers are better suited to handle receiving tight ends and our corners are very physical which gives our D-line enough time to get to Brady.  But we need to be up by 10 or more mid way into the 4th quarter to win.  Brady is just too good at the end of a game with the chance to tie or go ahead. 

[mecadonzilla]

I do not feel confident in any prediction whatsoever with this game.  I'm not sure what kind of team we've got here.  I don't even think they know.

All I know is I'm psyched actual football is about to start, and I'm scared shitless of our kick coverage teams allowing the Pats to score easy points like they did in the last Monday Night affair.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

I think there is only one way to beat the Pats.  You have to get hits on Brady without blitzing. 

That right there sums it up.  Thing is that is a lot easier said than done. 

[Thundergod]

New England   35
Miami             13

[Doc-phin]

Another prediction I forgot to mention is that I suspect New England will try to use the hurry up offense against us early in the game.

Hopefully we can defuse it enough to use it in our favor and let them wear down a bit.  That is a big hope though considering I suspect our defense hasn't practiced against much hurry up this offseason.

[jtex316]

This is going to be a "wake-up call" game for the Dolphins.

There is a LOT of local chatter on this board and elsewhere like the Sun-Sentinel that the Dolphins are going to surprise a lot of people and come out guns blazing with an unstoppable defense

Let's not forget that this New England Patriots team with Tom Brady as the QB and Bill Belichick as the head coach is elite.

I don't think this game will be a 42-7 blowout, but the Patriots will win this game and sit on the ball in the fourth quarter. The Patriots are going to show to the Dolphins that they still have a lot of work left to do on the offensive line (you can't tell the world you're going to shock them and then state you have concerns about your offensive line...you kind of need a solid offensive line in order to shock the world).

I expect to see Henne get knocked around a lot and throw some bad passes along the way.

[CF DolFan]

but the Patriots will win this game and sit on the ball in the fourth quarter.

You have no freaking idea what you are talking about Joe!!!!  When has the Patriots ever sat on a lead against us? 

[dolfan13]

That right there sums it up.  Thing is that is a lot easier said than done. 

uh, jets have no conventional pass rush and sent the pats home crying in the playoffs last year. ryan's blitz schemes totally confused brady last year...

hope the pats don't think that this is just going to be a tune up to the rest of the season. dolphins could give them some trouble this game and actually pull off a win.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

When has the Patriots ever sat on a lead against us any team? 

corrected. 

[EKnight]

IMO, the Pats receiving core is suspect- Welker was never the same after they got rid of Moss, and he's hurt. Ocho is still learning, and looked bad against starters in the preseason. We finally have some ILB to help with their two tight ends (Burnett was an underrated pick-up), and Detroit showed that the O-line is not capable of handling multiple blitzes against Brady. On the flip side, Henne looked better in the preseason. I smell an upset. -EK

[Dave Gray]

I can see the Fins winning this game, because we usually play the Pats tough.  As good as they've been, and as bad as we've been, we've found ways to beat them sometimes in the last few years.  On top of that, I think we've looked much improved from where we thought we'd be, and they don't look as good as we thought they would.

All that said, I think you gotta be nuts to pick the Fins.  The Pats are the better team.  They should win. 

[EKnight]

Why are they a better team? Because they won a super bowl how many years ago? Because they love to run up the score against teams? They didn't upgrade in the offseason at any position. Ocho wasn't even the best receiver on his team, so I'm not convinced how much of an upgrade he is. A DL that hasn't played a down yet? Not sure there either. Miami did up upgrade at several spots- receiver, running back, linebacker, offensive coordinator. Detroit absolutely punched the Pats in the mouth and showed some of their flaws. No, I don't think NE is a 4-12 team any more than I think Miami is a 14-2 team, but I also don't think it's nuts to pick them for the aforementioned reasons. If Miami loses I will happily eat crow and say I'm wrong, but this patriot mystique is lost on me this season. -EK

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

No, the NEP winning of the SB 3 time in the past 10 years is not the reason to pick NE over Dolphins.

1) Your claim that NE has not upgraded in any position is false. 

2) Even if your claim is true NEP was a better team than the Dolphins last year.  Brady is still a better QB than Henne.  BB is still a better coach than Saprono.  This hasn't changed from last year when the Patriots beat the Dolphins twice. 

While it is possible that the fins could win (any given sunday) thinking it is the more likely outcome is foolish. 

[Phishfan]

BB is still a better coach than Saprono. 

You spelled both Sparano & Saprano wrong but at least you didn't say Saporno.

[dolfan13]

"any given sunday" is a bit of an exaggeration in this case.

pats right now are not 14-2 good (will probably be closer to that later in the year), and the fins aren't 7-9 bad right now. this is in no way a david and golliath matchup.

pats haven't won a playoff game in what 5 years? the mystique left that team when plax scored that touchdown to ruin their perfect season with a big fat super bowl loss.