enigmatics
Go get me a juice box!
................ I would like to start off by saying that I believe this game means alot to Dolphins fans in a sense that we have so much hope instilled in all of us the way Nick Saban and the Phins ended last season given how badly it started. Much of the hype of the game has been stripped since Big Ben underwent an emergency appendectomy, but the keys to leaving successfully are virtually the same.
Alot of huff was made about the running game and the O-line during preseason. Unfortunately for that group, particularly the O-line, they get to square off versus one of thoe most complex zone-blitzing schemes they could possibly face. Combine that with the fact that you have Daunte Culpepper about to make his first regular season start since the injury, a tough task lies ahead of these Dolphins. Communication and quick decisions will be crucial if we're to buy any time for Daunte Culpepper. The fact that the O-line still hasn't fully gelled will be put to the test.
If we are not able to muster any kind of run-game whatsoever, we're going to be putting Daunte Culpepper behind the 8-ball. We have to keep them honest, otherwise they are going to tee off on him and passing the ball 40 times isn't exactly the recipe for successs. Again, this is a very interesting game for Daunte to make his first start in.
Pitts D-line and Linebackers vs. Miami's O-line: Advantage Pitt
With Mularkey, I'm sure we're going to have quite the insight on what Pitt likes to do defensively. I believe he will try to use Chambers and McMichael's athleticism early to loosen up the Pittsburg D. We need to find a way to isolate McMichael's on Palomalou, but that will only happen if he doesn't have to stay back to block. Culpepper must be crisp and quick with his decision making, utilizing his high completion percentage. I don't expect Ronnie Brown to be all that effective this game. I expect Mularkey to use him just enough to keep Pitt honest. Passing to set up the run is how I see the events unfolding.
On defense, I think we match up very well with these guys. Pittsburg's not going to come out and wow us with finesse. They're going to attempt to pound the ball and utilize Fast Willie's speed against our veteran unit. Fortunately for us, we have tremendous depth. I don't foresee our guys having issues staying fresh. The addition of Wilkinson rotating with Tractor Traylor will pay off big time in this game.
Regardless of this fluff being made about Batch being up to par on holding the fort down, I just don't see it happening. At the core, he's still a terrible decision maker without enough mustard on the ball to make the kind of plays they're going to need to loosen our D up.
Pitt's O-line vs. Miami D-line and Linebackers: Slight Advantage Miami
Our secondary, while missing Travis Daniels, is going to have to play smart, discplined football to take apart the Pitt play-action game. Heath Miller must be focused on, outside of Hines Ward, he'll be the go-to guy on that squad.
Special teams is an area that kind of scares me. Throughout the preseason we've looked dreafdul and in a game like this, field position is everything. We cannot afford to start on the 20 and go 3-and-out over and over. That's the trap the Steelers want you to fall into. They want to tire your defense while they pound the ball and take advantage of a short field.
Pitt ST vs. Miami ST: Slight Advantage Pitt
All in all this will be a game decided on who the tougher team is. I don't expect either team to come out and put up alot of points. I see the game finishing somewhere around the 20-17 range. This game no doubt is very winnable. Even without Big Ben, Pittsburg still gets the slight edge due to the style of ball they play and it being the season/home opener. I expect to see Antwaan Randle-El and Jerome Bettis' ability to wear a defense down sorely missed in this one.
Alot of huff was made about the running game and the O-line during preseason. Unfortunately for that group, particularly the O-line, they get to square off versus one of thoe most complex zone-blitzing schemes they could possibly face. Combine that with the fact that you have Daunte Culpepper about to make his first regular season start since the injury, a tough task lies ahead of these Dolphins. Communication and quick decisions will be crucial if we're to buy any time for Daunte Culpepper. The fact that the O-line still hasn't fully gelled will be put to the test.
If we are not able to muster any kind of run-game whatsoever, we're going to be putting Daunte Culpepper behind the 8-ball. We have to keep them honest, otherwise they are going to tee off on him and passing the ball 40 times isn't exactly the recipe for successs. Again, this is a very interesting game for Daunte to make his first start in.
Pitts D-line and Linebackers vs. Miami's O-line: Advantage Pitt
With Mularkey, I'm sure we're going to have quite the insight on what Pitt likes to do defensively. I believe he will try to use Chambers and McMichael's athleticism early to loosen up the Pittsburg D. We need to find a way to isolate McMichael's on Palomalou, but that will only happen if he doesn't have to stay back to block. Culpepper must be crisp and quick with his decision making, utilizing his high completion percentage. I don't expect Ronnie Brown to be all that effective this game. I expect Mularkey to use him just enough to keep Pitt honest. Passing to set up the run is how I see the events unfolding.
On defense, I think we match up very well with these guys. Pittsburg's not going to come out and wow us with finesse. They're going to attempt to pound the ball and utilize Fast Willie's speed against our veteran unit. Fortunately for us, we have tremendous depth. I don't foresee our guys having issues staying fresh. The addition of Wilkinson rotating with Tractor Traylor will pay off big time in this game.
Regardless of this fluff being made about Batch being up to par on holding the fort down, I just don't see it happening. At the core, he's still a terrible decision maker without enough mustard on the ball to make the kind of plays they're going to need to loosen our D up.
Pitt's O-line vs. Miami D-line and Linebackers: Slight Advantage Miami
Our secondary, while missing Travis Daniels, is going to have to play smart, discplined football to take apart the Pitt play-action game. Heath Miller must be focused on, outside of Hines Ward, he'll be the go-to guy on that squad.
Special teams is an area that kind of scares me. Throughout the preseason we've looked dreafdul and in a game like this, field position is everything. We cannot afford to start on the 20 and go 3-and-out over and over. That's the trap the Steelers want you to fall into. They want to tire your defense while they pound the ball and take advantage of a short field.
Pitt ST vs. Miami ST: Slight Advantage Pitt
All in all this will be a game decided on who the tougher team is. I don't expect either team to come out and put up alot of points. I see the game finishing somewhere around the 20-17 range. This game no doubt is very winnable. Even without Big Ben, Pittsburg still gets the slight edge due to the style of ball they play and it being the season/home opener. I expect to see Antwaan Randle-El and Jerome Bettis' ability to wear a defense down sorely missed in this one.
