This is my take on the Denver game
If I take a step back and look at the Denver vs Miami game as a Football fan and not a Fin fan, I would have to say Denver wins this game. But this game holds some variables, that just a Football fan wouldn't know or care to think of.
Miami is going to be at home in the begining of Sept, and the heat dial on the South Florida Sun is still pointing to Summer and IM sure not a welcomed feature for the ponies.
We have been all talking about our need at QB and this I agree with. Fortunately this game wont be decided on who has better stats Jake or Gus. And if we take players like Jason Taylor, Zach Thomas, Junior Seau , David Bowens , Sam Madison, Randy Mcmichaels and Chris Chambers we know they understand the importance of winning this game and being the kind of players they are and living through what happen last year, they are gonna come out of the Tunnel fired up and with a desire to wipe the slate clean. And for the first time since 2000, being a noted underdog going into the season.
This works in our favor. Think Donnie Spraghan want's to have a good showing? Think Ronnie Brown and his big contract want to prove he is worth the money? Miami fans will be pumped up and IM sure there will be electric in the AIR, afterall, we aren't used to losing.
-I question Denver's D line and this might be an area we could wear down and play some smash mouth football. Maybe that little Bowling Ball we signed from Sandiego can slam some runs in there, under the hot sun.
-It's IMPERATIVE Gus gets off at least 4 big plays downfield. This will keep the D honest and open up the middle of the field for players like Randy Mcmichaels and Ronnie Brown coming out of the backfield for a short pass. With these 4 big plays we are going to need at least 10 points from them and another 7 grinding it out and wearing them out. 17 should be enough.
-If you all remember, Chambers had a nice game vs Bailey who IM sure will be covering him this weekend. That MNF game vs the Skins, where Jay Fiedler comes off the bench and wins it for us. I still think we need someone else to step up and make some of those big plays, David Boston? Booker? Wes Welker? One of them will have to pull down a few big plays.
- Keith Traylor the now 36 year old DT will have to STUFF up the middle and give us as many plays as he can, Denver is gonna try to run the ball run up our gut with Mike Anderson and if we can force him to the outside, we can ruin his day.
-Taylor, Bowens, Carter and Holliday will have to get pressure on the good but eratic QB in Jake Plummer. Yes his stats were good last year, but he is still known to make that key bad decision, especially when he is under pressure.
- Daniels will have his hands full and most likely have Ashlee or Rod, both were over 1000 yards a piece last season. Sam will be Sam. Have a few flags thrown on him, but make a few big plays.
- Pefect stage for Crowder to come up big for us in this game. I think he is the kind of LB that will do just that.
- This O line can prove they aren't the worst in the league, if they can get Ronnie, Sammy and Jesse some holes and keep Gus off his back. They have been talking about doing that and here is their chance!
We all forget, although we do need a QB for the future, we have some very good players right now in the present. And while we might not see the playoffs this year, we can definitely win this game at home, the first game of Nick Saban's career for us. And if we can do that? Confidence would be a nice thing to fly to the Meadowlands with.
Miami 17 Denver 13
