Finally, Adams wrapped the session up by looking at the biggest defensive drive of the season, Week 15 against the New England Patriots. Miami was leading 24-20 with one minute and fifteen seconds left.
Adams called it “one of the biggest games we’ve played”, then pointed out how on that final drive, the Dolphins having smart players was a must, due to the absence of both Brent Grimes and Nolan Carroll, the two starting corners.
“That’s Will Davis, rookie at the time, hadn’t played a whole lot. But at the time, he has to go. This other guy here is Mike Thomas, only been here for three days, but he has to go. This guy at the bottom is Jimmy Wilson, a safety by trade, but he has to get in and play corner, and he has to go.
“We only have to hold this guy for a minute and 15 seconds, that’s all we’re asking them to do, and that’s what they’re going to do. They have to do it.”
Coach Adams then broke down every play in the drive, from the first play that was offsides, to the final play.
“I can tell you this; any time that Tom Brady is allowed to sit back there and hold the spot, it’s trouble for us, big time trouble for us. You got to get him off the spot, you gotta create plays to get him off the spot.” Adams says, pointing out how the Dolphins (or any team) has to make sure that Brady has pressure on him.
Adams went through each play and explained how each play went down. He went out of his way to point out Michael Thomas and how he had only been in Miami for 72 hours prior to the game, yet was on the field for a final drive against Brady.
This praise is first seen on a play where Brady completes the pass to Shane Vereen for two yards.
“What he does great, is that with a minute and nine seconds left, he kept this guy inbounds. It’s great, it’s absolutely amazing, you had to be there. You have to be there to understand that energy. What we’re asking these guys to do, regardless if you’re the starter, or the ninth man on the depth chart, you have to get it done.
Adams would then continue to explain the importance of pressure on the quarterback, explaining that Brady is a different player when he has to move, which is why “we gotta get him off the spot.”
Adams then shows bad coverage by Thomas on a 12-yard reception to Danny Amendola, but points out Reshad Jones being at the point to tackle Amendola before he could gain more yardage on the play.
That play was followed by a timeout by New England, which meant during the session we would fast-forward to the next play, which was an outright disaster. I’ll let Coach Adams explain what happened to allow the play (a 24-yard completion to Amendola) occur.
“This time, they’re going to create motion here, trying to isolate Will Davis. There’s poor communication here between Will Davis and one of the middle backs, we wound up turning the guy loose.”
