miami dolphins

Here we go, week one Monday Night in Miami. The Phins ultimately may only win 4-6 games, but this is one game they’ll be ready for.

They have an offensive coordinator who has worked for and beaten Bill Belichick. Both Tony Sparano and Brian Daboll have a penchant for “springing” things on the Patriots and I’d expect Monday Night, with extra off-season time to game plan, they’ll have something up their sleeves.

With Chad Henne at the helm they’ll have to.

But the Dolphins aren’t exactly sure what they’re going to see out of the Patriots defense either. They can assume they get some sort of four man front on run downs, potentially with Wilfork and Haynesworth in the middle.

After that they can’t know if the Patriots plan on going with a pass rush heavy front, trying to beat the size of Miami’s offensive line with speed, with Anderson or Ninkovich, or a more stout front featuring Ellis and Cunningham.

I’m guessing they’re assuming Ellis-Wilfork-Haynesworth-Carter will be the early down front, with a full out pass rush front of Anderson-Pryor-Wright-Carter (and in select spots Haynesworth). 

On offense it will be interesting to see if the Patriots come out featuring Green-Ellis or Woodhead. A lot of that will depend on how they feel about a) Dan Gronkowski and b) Nate Solder in pass protection vs. Cameron Wake.

I feel confident about Solder against Wake. I’m sure Wake would generate pressure against any team and the Patriots will have to take strides to give Solder help if he needs it.

Like every season opener I expect it to be close, with some fluky bounces and turns. If the Pats can maintain focus and play a full sixty minutes I like their chances.

If the Dolphins get a quick lead and things start to snowball look out.

Prediction: Dolphins miss the extra point to end the game.

Patriots 20, Dolphins 19

It’s officially a Wednesday and the Pats have begun practicing their game plan for the Dolphins. Few thoughts on the recent Pats news of the last few days…

– Randy Moss? Not a chance. It’s rare that I find myself in lock step with Michael Felger, but he was right last night, the rumblings were that Brady was one of the people leading the charge to drop Moss. I know people hold flames for past Pats, and everyone loves a story like Deion Branch, where the prodigal wide receiver returns home and does well, but it ain’t happening with Moss. I just don’t understand, Moss says he’d come back and play only for the Patriots and suddenly the Patriots are considering it? They’re not.

– I really like the addition of AJ Edds, he was definitely someone who was on my radar in 2010. I think he gives them a legitimate developmental SLB player who should also contribute in the kicking game. If I was Gary Guyton I might step my game up, though I’ve been saying that about Guyton for a while now. There’s just something uncuttable about a player who is never hurt and totally coachable (Guyton).

– I think the Pats have to have a number of different ways of dealing with Reggie Bush, it’s not as simple as assigning one player to follow him. But I think Reggie should expect to get hit every single down he’s on the field.

– Davone Bess scares me more than Brandon Marshall, especially since the Pats now have some big CBs to line up with guys like Marshall. I’d expect to see Arrington getting up on Bess and being physical with him.

– Everyone remembers the special teams performance from the Pats last game in Miami, but what you might’ve blocked out is that the Miami offense converted 10 of 15 third downs for a whopping 66%.

– Somewhat surprised to see Gerard Warren cut now, though I’m sure there’s a strong chance he’ll be back. Some questioned whether it should’ve been Mark Anderson or Jeff Tarpinian. In terms of Anderson I’m surprised people would advocate keeping a defensive lineman over a pass rusher given last year. As for Tarpinian, they must really see something in him they like.