HYDE FIVE (plus five)
1. The confounding part of the Dolphins’ 1-3 start to the architects is how they lead the league in rushing offense (183.5 yards per game) and rushing defense (61 yards a game). According to their formula, they should be a dominating team.
That’s either shows there’s a flaw in the model or, probably more to the point, some semblance of a passing game is needed. The Dolphins rank 31st in passing offense at 138.2 yards a game.
But tonight’s not the game to force that change. The Dolphins’ chances tonight depend again on pounding the ball. That’s not just because it’s their strength. It’s because of the Jets’ strengths, too (more on that in point No. 2.)
The Jets’ defense is average so far against the run, ranking 13th and giving up 102 yards a game. Rex Ryan has talked a big game about the changed Jets’ culture. But so far teams have been able to run decently on them. A sound running team like the Dolphins has to take advantage of that.
In other words, the same ball-possession formula you saw against the Colts (a loss), the Chargers (a loss) and the Bills (a win) will hold true tonight for the Dolphins.
2. Mismatch of the Week: Jets CB Darrelle Revis vs. Anybody. Revis is the rarest player in the game, a Deion Sanders-type of shutdown corner. He’s dominated Houston’s Andre Johnson (35 yards receiving), New England’s Randy Moss (24 yards) and New Orleans’ Marques Colston (33 yards). If a Dolphins receiver gets a catch off him, it’ll be a feat. Here’s the telling part of Revis’ game, though: He’s sixth on the Jets with 16 tackles. Deion refused to tackle. Revis is a force.
What this means is Revis should so dominate his part of the field, safety Kerry Rhodes will be able to play the run more. And that’s a factor in how well the Dolphins can run the ball.
3. I’d feel a lot better about Channing Crowder’s entertaining words if his game was better.
4. A couple of interesting and conflicting Braylon Edwards nuggets from Rich Cimini of the New York Daily News:
a) Edwards had three 100-yard games last year. Each one came in prime time. The guy really does the night life. The thing with me is, I wake up (at night)," Edwards said. "I'm a night owl. When you play Monday night games, they start at 8:30 and I'm wide awake. This is when I live."
b) ESPN’s Trent Dilfer broke down the Jets offense and found 45 formations in four games.
"It's a huge amount of learning in a short period of time," Dilfer said. "I don't know if (putting him in) helps the Jets this week."
5. If ever there was a game that asked Pat White to do something, this is it. He could take some of the pressure off Henne. And he could present the Jets with something they haven’t seen against a coach in Ryan who had the talent last year at Baltimore to dismantle the one-dimensional Wildcat.
6. Pass-rushing Calvin Pace returns from a four-game suspension tonight. He'll take some time from Vernon Gholston, the second-year player who still looks like a dud with seven tackles this year.
7. It's the Dolphins' 75th game on Monday Night Football, so let's tell a quick story of one of the interesting ones. This was 1972 and Howard Cosell announced the game with a security guard outside the booth protecting him from a death threat.
8. I'm among the stunned that Denver, behind Kyle Orton, is 5-0. Orton led the Broncos on four long scoring drives against New England on Sunday, including the game-winner. Maybe baby coach Josh McDaniels actually knew what he was doing in getting rid of Jay Cutler.
9. I'm curious how Cameron Wake is used with Joey Porter back, and if his three-sack day against Buffalo was who he is. Jets' tackel D'Brickashaw Ferguson gave up to two sacks last week, so you'd think Jason Taylor, or Wake, or someone will attack him hard.
10. Prediction: Dolphins 20, Jets 17.
