49ers at Dolphins 2016 Thoughts,and predictions

[DaLittle B]

49ers coming to Miami,Let's hear your thoughts on the game,and predictions.

[fyo]

The injuries on the offensive line are a huge concern. The only good that can be said about it is that the 49ers aren't exactly the best team in the league at getting to the quarterback, so hopefully the scrubs can protect Tannehill and block for Ajayi.

As I (just) noted in a different thread, the Dolphins are 10-1 with Albert/Pouncey/James healthy and 10-21 when they're not (and all quarterback measurements reflect that to a very large and very significant degree). Oddly enough, of those 31 games with some combination of them injured, the only two games that featured both Albert and Pouncey out were this year. The first one got Dallas Thomas and Billy Turner fired (and they haven't played a snap anywhere since), the second was last week.

I do feel that the front office has improved the offensive line depth significantly, so I wouldn't expect as drastic a drop in performance as we've witnessed in recent years. Tunsil, Steen, Bushrod, and Young are all upgrades over last year. Anthony Steen has impressed me immensely at center, even though he isn't Pouncey. That Landry touchdown last week wouldn't have happened if it hadn't been for Steen spearheading the charge and taking out 2 of the 3 guys who were trying to bring down Landry. James hasn't played well this year, sadly, but there's always hope he finds last years pre-injury form.

San Fran is a bad team this year, particularly against the run (last in DVOA). They also lack good 1-on-1 corners, which Landry and Parker should be able to exploit. Their best corner is converted safety / nickelback Jimmie Ward who hasn't cleared the concussion protocol yet and might not play. I hate concussions with a passion, but it would clearly be better for the Dolphins if he can't go. I think the deadline to pass the protocol

Any production on offense starts with the offensive line. Hopefully, this is a week where a not-so-great 49ers unit makes it possible for the Dolphins line to keep their blocks. If I were the 49ers, I'd blitz like crazy, staying away from Sims, who is a great blocker, and targeting Miami's running backs, who have been pretty awful in blitz pickup.

If Tunsil is a go, I feel much better about our chances, but I think this is a game the Dolphins have to win regardless.

MIA: 24
SF: 17

[Dolfanalyst]

IMO if the Dolphins are going to continue to solidify their identity as one of the league's truly good teams, they have to win this particular game (at home against one of the league's worst teams) convincingly and not in their customary nail-biter fashion.

Vegas thinks the Dolphins are 8 points better.  I think they need to win by double digits and never have the game be in doubt.

[fyo]

^ When was the last time the Dolphins had a game like that? They almost lost to Cleveland this year. The game against the Steelers is probably the best example this year and I wouldn't be surprised if we see another monster day for Ajayi, particularly if Tunsil plays. (I doubt Pouncey or Albert play.)

For a really big "crushing" win, I think the last time was that game against Houston last year where the Dolphins scored over 40 points in the first half.

[Dolfanalyst]

^ When was the last time the Dolphins had a game like that? They almost lost to Cleveland this year. The game against the Steelers is probably the best example this year and I wouldn't be surprised if we see another monster day for Ajayi, particularly if Tunsil plays. (I doubt Pouncey or Albert play.)

For a really big "crushing" win, I think the last time was that game against Houston last year where the Dolphins scored over 40 points in the first half.

Right, that's sort of my point, in that if the team is going to establish a new identity as one of the truly good teams in the league, it needs to start having some convincing wins against teams that the very good teams in the league tend to beat convincingly.

These nail-biter wins allow the "how good are we, really?" questions to continue among the fans and perhaps the players themselves, thus preventing any definitive change in the team's identity.  Another nail-biter win against a 1-9 team at home just makes the team's identity even more questionable.

[Dolfanalyst]

...for example, the 49ers this year have had the following games:

@ SF:  New England 30, SF 17
@ SEA:  Seattle 37, SF 18
@ BUF:  Buffalo 45, SF 16

Now we all know the league can be unpredictable, and we can all find unexpected results between teams without looking very hard, but again I think the Dolphins need one of these sorts of wins if they're going to have this game aid at all in the further establishment of their identity as a truly good team.

[Tenshot13]

50-3...JA breaks the record for most yards in a game and most rushing TDS in a games.  Bet the over.

[DaLittle B]

This feels like a game we should win,but lose.I know different team,different Coach etc....

(I know you can say this about every game)

I feel like that during 4 of the games in our winning streak,we made that 1 play when we needed that was the difference between the W,or the L. We completed the 1 pass,made the 1 play,we just got it done in the last 4 close game.

49ers 20
Dolphins 16

[Fau Teixeira]

56-0 dolphins

[Run Ricky Run]

I can't see how we could lose this game. If they are needed to be serious as an afc playoff team they are going to need to win in some sort of dominant fashion. They are 2 games over .500 and have a +2 point differential.

[masterfins]

With the injuries to the O-line, the smart game plan is to play conservative, and eek out another win.

Miami  20

San Fran 17

Edit:  I just found out they are wearing throwback uni's this weekend, make it:

Miami  31

San Fran  17

[masterfins]

IMO if the Dolphins are going to continue to solidify their identity as one of the league's truly good teams, they have to win this particular game (at home against one of the league's worst teams) convincingly and not in their customary nail-biter fashion.

Vegas thinks the Dolphins are 8 points better.  I think they need to win by double digits and never have the game be in doubt.

So your scoring prediction is ??

[Dolfanalyst]

So your scoring prediction is ??

Albert, Tunsil, and Pouncey are all inactive.  The Dolphins will win but won't cover IMO.  Ajayi will have trouble getting going, and the 49ers can stuff the offense considerably if they simply focus on stopping Landry.  The Tannehill-to-Parker connection is unreliable at present.