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Five things to watch with the Dolphins

MDFINFAN

MDFINFAN

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Okay, it's time to get back to analyzing the up coming games, even though it's preseason this gives us good practice too in preparation of the up coming season...get your coaches hats on and lets look and examine the article and see what part we agree with, what we don't and why?

Article

This is very interesting, I hadn't really put it in my head that the 2 could be on the field at the same time...

5. Manny Wright and Kevin Vickerson: This pair of late-round draft choices could eventually become the starting defensive tackles, but they need seasoning in a preseason setting.
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I agree with most of it.

3. I really hope both AJ and Gus get a lot of playing time.

4. I like the idea of JT playing OLB, but think Saban will wait til the opener before showing his hand.
 
I will definitely be curious to see how the young DT's look. Teams ran all over us last year when we lost Bowens and Chester. This year we've had some time to reload in the middle.

Also, I'm very curious to see how the o-line looks. Last year we got manhandled from the preseason on. I'm hoping to see some push tonight and for the QB's to have time to throw. How we play upfront will determine how well we do this season.
 
bdmagnum said:
I agree with most of it.

3. I really hope both AJ and Gus get a lot of playing time.

4. I like the idea of JT playing OLB, but think Saban will wait til the opener before showing his hand.
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I thought about this too, but I don't think Saban will hold anything back because his defensive scheme is going to be extremely versatile and difficult to prepare for even if the opponent has seen it.
 
Well, I agree that his schemes may be complex, but I don't think he'll be too worried about showing his trumps yet...he's got a little more on his plate to chew on before he focuses on defensive tricks. He needs to study the DL and get his starters in place so they can start gelling and relying on each other. As for the QB play...I'd be surprised if he doesn't spend most of his time here. The RB situation is still a crap shoot since his expensive newbie isn't even there. The OL production should be the most impressive thing to watch today...oh yeah and then there's ROTH and CROWDER...they'll be interesting. As for the Bears by 3...I think a lot of that is credited to our rookie feel right now. We have some vets, but so much of us is untested and unproven right now...means our potential is galactic, but our actual progress (that the rest of the NFL has seen) is still relatively low. :tongue: :D
 
How is the play of the oline NOT in this list? That should be the first and most important thing to watch. If our oline can open some holes AND give a LITTLE bit of time in pass protection, then I think this team has a chance to be pretty good. Last year showed that. The FEW times teams did not blitz us, our QB looked ok. Our line could not do anything to slow the blitz last year and thus we suffered.
 
Taco Bob said:
I thought about this too, but I don't think Saban will hold anything back because his defensive scheme is going to be extremely versatile and difficult to prepare for even if the opponent has seen it.
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I believe, for the most part we'll see a basic vanilla defense. The players are still learning Saban's defense. Personally, I would rather see them keep it pretty simple at this point. If they get too far into the playbook this early we're going to see alot of missed assignments and a defense resembling the Keystone Kops.
 
Well I guess since I mentioned it in the opening thread, I will be looking for the combo of Wright and Vickerson to dominate the 2 and 3rd string of the bears, that'll go a long way of showing the type of depth we may have at DT. Of course like everyone the OL is key this year after last year's showing, but I'm not sure Saban will put all his horses on the starting unit, it seems he will mix and match, so I'm not sure on how to read this one, I guess I just want to see some improvement from whoever starts.
AJ and Gus in this game is of little consequence since they won't have time to get into a rythme, so what ever throws they make, I'm looking for the receivers to make adjustments and catch the ball. On O, I really want to see a running game...that will make me feel a whole lot better regardless of QB. On D, the secondary is the focus for me tonight..I think the boys up front on the DL are pretty good.
 
Secondary

I will focus on the new secondary. It's going to be hard not to see #23 back there anymore and the new safeties have to get used to each other. I want to see the rookie sensation #21 Travis Daniels in his debut! Want to check out Crowder and Roth too!
 
Here's what I'm focusing on:

1. Left Tackle - Can Carey step in and plug the void that McIntosh left last year with his lackluster speed? I know Carey is strong and can lock on, but I'm looking for how he deals with Ogun's spin move. JT is one of the, if not the, quickest DEs in the NFL (Freeney), but measuring him against that yardstick might be unfair. If he can hold his ground against a quick outside move and move laterally, he'll be one damn fine LT (especially if he can do so in his first year at the position).

2. Offensive Playcalling - I want to see what we've got in the downfield department. I know we're going to go long (as per Frerotte's and Chambers' comments) but how? Lofts to Chambers? How's the downfield WR blocking? That's a skill we've never had to work on. It's why the Steelers and Colts are so good after the catch.

3. Blitz packages - we're not going to show our true colors, but what happens when Crowder comes knifing through that line? Are we looking at a Eagles-style blitz package, or just stunts and delayed up-the-gut LB blitzes? Can we afford to blitz a CB?

4. Vickerson and Manny Wright - I've heard great things about both kids, and bad things too. I think Manny Wright stepped into a perfect situation for him, but I think we'll probably lose him at the end of his rookie contract. My guess is he'll be at his best in 3 years, and will play with us for 5. He'll be a Raider. Every sign in the universe points to it.

5. Ricky - I'm not concerned about his moves, or his attitude, or any of that. What I'm dying to see is--which would we prefer, a larger tackle-breaking Ricky, or a faster sweep-the-corner guy? This is our chance to answer that old question, "Wow. Even if he had to drop a little weight, what if Ricky was even faster?"

6. Feeley - I don't care about his stats at the end of the game. I want to see how he holds onto the ball and if he's locking on. We all know the camp Feeley, but he's always been a better producer than a practicer. Is he still locking on to his receivers, and does he make the dumb throw?
 
Phinmaster1354 said:
I will focus on the new secondary. It's going to be hard not to see #23 back there anymore and the new safeties have to get used to each other. I want to see the rookie sensation #21 Travis Daniels in his debut! Want to check out Crowder and Roth too!
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Oh no, your avatar has got to go....NOOOOOoooooooooo :lol:
 
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