Dolphins at Giants - Keys to a Miami Win

by Kevin Nogle on Oct 30, 2011 5:00 AM EDT in 2012 Miami Dolphins News

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Brandon Marshall has to figure out how to catch a pass in the endzone if the Dolphins are going to have any shot at winning this week.

In eight hours, the Miami Dolphins will take the field at MetLife Stadium for the second time this season, in this instance, facing the New York Giants. The team is still looking for their first victory in 2011, off to an 0-6 start, and a 9 game losing streak dating back to last season.

So, what can the Dolphins do to win this week? Here are three keys to victory:

1. Touchdowns. Pretty simple and straight forward. The team has to score touchdowns. So far in their 0-6 start, the Dolphins have seven touchdowns. Seven. Meanwhile, Dan Carpenter has already kicked 14 field goals. If the Dolphins are going to win at all this season, those numbers have to change. Miami must find the endzone. And, they have to start this week.

2. Offensive Line Must Stop the Pass Rush. The third worst pass blocking unit in the league is facing off against the defensive line leading the league in sacks. That can't be a good thing. Miami quarterback Matt Moore may be picking himself up off the turf more often than Brandon Marshall drops a pass. If the offensive line can't find a way to slow down the Giants' pass rush, there is no chance for a Dolphins victory.

3. Secondary/Tight End Coverage. Giants quarterback Eli Manning can be extremely dangerous. When he is facing a team with a seventh round rookie starting at cornerback, and a safety position that is simply a mess due to poor performance and injuries, it could be too easy for Peyton's younger brother. Add in the fact that somehow the 275 pound tight end Jake Ballard is actually a pass catching threat, and the Dolphins are even more allergic of covering a tight end than they are of the end zone, and Miami has to figure something out against the pass, or Manning could have a huge day.

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LOL

Secondary/Tight End Coverage

Exactly why I picked up Ballard if fantasy

"The more people I meet the more I like my dog."
Winner of The Davone Bess Little Guy Award, 2010

Co-Captain of Team Lindley

by Kdog92 on Oct 30, 2011 6:14 AM EDT reply actions

in*

"The more people I meet the more I like my dog."
Winner of The Davone Bess Little Guy Award, 2010

Co-Captain of Team Lindley

by Kdog92 on Oct 30, 2011 6:15 AM EDT up reply actions

Ballard or Gronk for FF TE?

My TE could be the difference. Tied for first, money on the line. Rodgers on a bye. Thoughts on the TE?

Studies have shown that 23% of all institutionalized mental patients
are capable of living normal lives in a productive society.
The other 77% are Jets fans.

NY Jets fan base: Bringing insanity and inbreeding to your community since 1960.

Back on the Hennewagon. Chuggin' along with no spare...

by CanT0o on Oct 30, 2011 6:35 AM EDT up reply actions

I'm actually playing both Gronk and Ballard

…that’s a tough choice though…I’m sure they’ll both put up good numbers, so go with your gut on this one

"The more people I meet the more I like my dog."
Winner of The Davone Bess Little Guy Award, 2010

Co-Captain of Team Lindley

by Kdog92 on Oct 30, 2011 6:57 AM EDT up reply actions

Went with Gronk

So now I’m mentally prepared to watch Ballard light it up.

Studies have shown that 23% of all institutionalized mental patients
are capable of living normal lives in a productive society.
The other 77% are Jets fans.

NY Jets fan base: Bringing insanity and inbreeding to your community since 1960.

Back on the Hennewagon. Chuggin' along with no spare...

by CanT0o on Oct 30, 2011 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Good luck today guys

by Giantstep on Oct 30, 2011 7:16 AM EDT reply actions

Thanks

And it will take a whole bunch of luck to win this one too. No pun intended-lol.

by miamimike71 on Oct 30, 2011 7:24 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

sean smith to SS

smith covers the TE better then bell. he is also good against the run. bell is the leader of the secondary so move bell to FS so he can survey the field and put players where they need to be.jones or clemons to CB. also langford has to sit. with no pass rush, like to see the def. use more of the 4-3 D. odrick, olshansky, soliai, and wake coming off the edge like JT use to do. langford sucks and doesnt deserve to start. olshansky ( 6’5 315 ) would give much needed help to soliai on stopping the run. odrick and wake coming off the edges. wake and taylor coming off one side and odrick and starks coming off the other side. what do we have to lose, another game. IMO.

by warpigs on Oct 30, 2011 8:02 AM EDT reply actions

Im not sure I agree

Safeties have to be great tacklers on the backend and Sean Smith simply isnt a great tackler. Also Yeremiah Bell despite his age has IMO played pretty well all season. He doesnt have the speed or ability he once did in pass coverage but he is such a smart player and he is a very good veteran player. For one he is a disciplined tackler in the open field which is hard to come by, especially with the influx of young safeties into the NFL and with how hard it is to make open field tackles against the talent of the players you face in the league. Its about angles and it requires experience, intelligence and discipline. Reshad Jones for example is a guy who has had his ups and downs this year as a starting safety. His aggression on the back end and struggles in coverage have been points of emphasis amongst fans. And despite being a good form tackler he doesnt have the experience or disciline of a Y. Bell to diagnose plays and maintain good attack angles.

Yeremiah Bell does it very well and has made soem outstanding plays in the open field the past few weeks IMO.

2008 AFC EAST Champions.

by civwarbuff on Oct 30, 2011 8:32 AM EDT up reply actions

the secondary

and its details civilwarbuff,warpigs,good posts,are you sure you are not the same person.The defense stays on the field too long and any weaknesses they have are more easily exploited when they are fatigued.I dont know this to be a fact but with an 0-6 record I would say the Dolphins have less 1st downs this year after 6 games than last year.The defense last year probably didnt have as many injuries on a weekly basis so early last year,and they stayed off the field more because they moved the chains at a more consistent pace.Before the season started everyone thought the defense was going to be a top 5 or 10 unit in the league,they just dont have any depth.

by broxtone on Oct 30, 2011 9:26 AM EDT reply actions

BTW

I dont get paid for making excuses,otherwise I think I could do a little better

by broxtone on Oct 30, 2011 9:32 AM EDT reply actions

bell has played well against the run

but he is getting ate up in coverage. he cant cover the TE. smith is good against the run and covers the TE better then bell. with bell at FS covering the top end he can see and school these young players on where to be and what to look for. smiths height give him one advantage over bell to cover the TE. the opposing TE has been killing us for the past 3-4 years.

by warpigs on Oct 30, 2011 9:58 AM EDT reply actions

Yeremiah Bell isnt fast enough to play FS.

Its a completely different position and doesnt suit his abilities at all. As for covering TEs I agree that Sean Smith can play against them but TEs in the NFl are hard to cover in man coverage and Sean Smith does give up plays against them. Also the reasons we struggle against TE’s not only has to do with who covers them, we run alot of zone so some of it naturally will come with our approach in coverage.

2008 AFC EAST Champions.

by civwarbuff on Oct 30, 2011 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions

The entire Giants team needs food poisoning!

With DT and VD out only a major Giants disaster will allow for a Phins win.
BTW why would anyone want that?? Screw up S4L!! Are you for REal???

by DAVEBUCK on Oct 30, 2011 10:06 AM EDT reply actions

has anybody heard anything on the signing of teshard choice?

would not surprise me at all, matter of fact, ill bet money on it. lol. im tired of all the cowboy re-treads we get. sparano, ireland and co need to go. cohwer power! go dolphins!

functioning alcoholic or classless buffoon?
"I think my liver is shot" - Texphinphan
"i still believe henne is the qb for the dolphins and so on......." - texphinphan drunk as shit.....

by texphinphan on Oct 30, 2011 10:27 AM EDT reply actions