CpuFan
Active Roster
- Joined
- Sep 25, 2003
- Messages
- 1,748
- Reaction score
- 41
Ok agree or disagree?
It's not to shabby imho. Although I believe Miami will win!
Taken from : http://www.kffl.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=41051
BY patfanken Senior Member
Stop the smack and start the analysis
Lets make it clear that there is going to be no break over the next 4 weeks. These are all games the Pats SHOULD win, but they are all games that the Pats CAN lose. First up as we round the stretch and head for home is Miami.
This will be just the start of a couple of posts, since doing a complete analysis would take too long... even for me
GENTERAL STRENGTHS - Miami Defense
Miami has the best CB pair in the league. Surtain is arguably the best in the game, while Madison, while a notch below, is still very good. They are what makes the Dolphins defense consistantly one of the best in the NFL. The reason is simple. Miami can shut down your WRs allowing them to play 9 on 8 in the rest of the field. FOR THIS GAME, the advantage becomes even more apparent since the Pats WR corps is adequate at best (at this stage of their development)
Since the Pats have only a functional running game, this will allow the Dolphins to design schemes specifically to squeeze the Pats short passing game and force the Pats to go deep, or run the ball consistantly if they are going to put up many points. THe Dolphins have the speed to do this. Zach Thomas is one of the best LBs in the league in covering TEs and RBs on pass plays. Also in T Buckley that have a nickle back who can cover well.
On paper it would seem that points will come hard for the Patriots on Sunday.
GENERAL STRENGTHS - Pats Defense
With Washington, Johnson, and Law all back for this game after missing the Octoberfest in Miami, the Dolphins are going to see a defense just begining to come into its own. Given the general weakness in the Dolphins OL, this defense is probably one of the few in the league who can control Ricky Williams without putting 8 men in the box. It is also one of the few defense which, if they chose to put 8 men in the box, is capable of covering the Miami WRs with their 3 remaining DBs. Though not on the level of the Miami duo, the Pats CB duo isn't too far behind in their ability to play shut down corners.
THis kind of flexibility to play 7 or 8 men in the box, and/or a 4-3 or 3-4 alignment on ANY down, will allow the Pats to create schemes that will keep the Dolphin defense off balance, and not allow them to get into the kind of rhythm we saw on Thanksgiving against a Dallas defense who lined up in the same position most of the night, and who for some reason played a lot of Zone defense, which they don't usually do. Miami burned them in that zone all night. They won't have that luxury come Sunday.
Point will be hard to come by for the Miami Offense come Sunday
A LOGICAL CASE FOR MIAMI WINNING THE GAME -
1. Miami is the desperate team coming into NE. They lose this game and not only do the Pats clinch the AFCE, but the Dolphins become in danger of losing their playoff hopes entirely, because after NE, the Dolphis have a very hard road ahead with games agains the Eagles, Jets in and the Bills in Buffalo. None of these games are easy. Conventional wisdom says go with the team that needs the game the most.
2. Miami is set up to stop the Pats offense. They have DBs who are better than our WRs, its as simple as that.
3. We don't have a running game and if we did CW wouldn't use it anyway. At best its functional, capable of getting 80-100 yds on the ground, but nothing that would strike fear into an ordinary defense, let alone the Dolphins' D.
4. Since the Dolphins have the manpower advantages to really squeeze the Pats short passing game, and the Pats don't have the running game to keep them more honest, it isn't likely that the Pats will score many points without turn overs or special teams help.
5. The Miami Offense has started to revive and now has weapons that will keep a defense from concentrating on just stuffing RWilliams. Chambers is on the verge of becoming an elite WR (at least thats what Phin fans tell us). On the other side Thompson and Gadsden are the big WRs who give guys like Poole and Samuel the most trouble. Also James McNight is quietly having a very good year. AND THEN there is the issue of McMichael, who had a great game against the Pats in October.
6. Fieldler looks quick rested and seemed to have a more lively arm in the Victory against Dallas - He is a good QB who seems like he is at the top of his game at this point in the season.
7. The Pats offense has yet to play a consistant game for 4 quarters, We have seen some great play from them, but constant turnovers, penalties, and occassional questionable play calling keep them from becoming a consistant threat.
A LOGICAL CASE FOR THE PATS WINNING
1. They are playing at home on a field that Miami has not had much luck winning on. On the other hand the Pats do very well at home. In fact they haven't lost a home game this year.
2. Its December. It will be cold. Miami doesn't do well when its December and its cold.
3. The Pats have proven to be a mentally tougher team than the Dolphins. They have proven to be a tougher Physical team than the Dolphins. In a close game, in the 4th quarter (which this will likely be) the Pats have the advantage.
4. The Pats can control RWilliams with just the front seven. The combination of a very good DL (Washington and Seymour) along with a bad Dolphin OL will keep Ricky from becoming a major factor in this game. He may get his 80-100 yds, but his YPC will be under 4. Edgerin James arguably is as good as RWilliams, and he only got 80 yds (20 on one carry). Plus the Colts have a better OL, and a better QB threat to keep defenses honest.
5. Our Coaches are smarter than your coaches - This isn't bragging, its just the facts. CW (as much as he drives me crazy with some of his calls) has created masterfull game plans this season. He torched a pretty good Colt defense with a 7th round 3rd year WR, a 2nd year WR, a raw rookie WR, and 2 guys who were on the street a week ago. On defense BB and Crennell have created a monster which hasn't seen its best game yet. 17 of the Colts 34 points were essentially given to them on TOs
5a. In a game of constant adjustments, the Miami Coaching staff has proven that they don't adjust well on the fly, and the Pats coaching staff has proven that their whole system is designed to adjust on the fly. Not just from half to half, but series to series. This is a huge advantage in a close game
6. It is more likely that the Miami will see the Brady of the first half of the Colt game, than the guy who played in the second half. Either way Brady is the best QB on the field for this game. Charlie will find the holes and Brady will hit them.
7. Our special teams are special. The Dolphins have just lost their KO returner, and our KO coverage has been lights out, for the most part. On the other hand, we have one of the best KO returners and return teams in the league. Vinetieri and Mare are 2 of the best in the league, but FG kicking in the cold and wind of Foxboro is an acquired skill, and Olindo is at a disadvantage here. BTW the Pats punting game improved today (addition by subtraction). We don't know who our new punter will be, but we are sure, he can't be worse. Punting should be the single advantage the Dolphins have on special teams, though our punt coverage teams have been excellent. Our punt return teams have been less than spectacular without Troy Brown.
We'll go over some of the more intriguing match ups and possible alignments we might see in later posts. I want to keep this first one short. Hopefull it will all build up to a conclusion late in the week we can all argue about.
It's not to shabby imho. Although I believe Miami will win!
Taken from : http://www.kffl.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=41051
BY patfanken Senior Member
Stop the smack and start the analysis
Lets make it clear that there is going to be no break over the next 4 weeks. These are all games the Pats SHOULD win, but they are all games that the Pats CAN lose. First up as we round the stretch and head for home is Miami.
This will be just the start of a couple of posts, since doing a complete analysis would take too long... even for me
GENTERAL STRENGTHS - Miami Defense
Miami has the best CB pair in the league. Surtain is arguably the best in the game, while Madison, while a notch below, is still very good. They are what makes the Dolphins defense consistantly one of the best in the NFL. The reason is simple. Miami can shut down your WRs allowing them to play 9 on 8 in the rest of the field. FOR THIS GAME, the advantage becomes even more apparent since the Pats WR corps is adequate at best (at this stage of their development)
Since the Pats have only a functional running game, this will allow the Dolphins to design schemes specifically to squeeze the Pats short passing game and force the Pats to go deep, or run the ball consistantly if they are going to put up many points. THe Dolphins have the speed to do this. Zach Thomas is one of the best LBs in the league in covering TEs and RBs on pass plays. Also in T Buckley that have a nickle back who can cover well.
On paper it would seem that points will come hard for the Patriots on Sunday.
GENERAL STRENGTHS - Pats Defense
With Washington, Johnson, and Law all back for this game after missing the Octoberfest in Miami, the Dolphins are going to see a defense just begining to come into its own. Given the general weakness in the Dolphins OL, this defense is probably one of the few in the league who can control Ricky Williams without putting 8 men in the box. It is also one of the few defense which, if they chose to put 8 men in the box, is capable of covering the Miami WRs with their 3 remaining DBs. Though not on the level of the Miami duo, the Pats CB duo isn't too far behind in their ability to play shut down corners.
THis kind of flexibility to play 7 or 8 men in the box, and/or a 4-3 or 3-4 alignment on ANY down, will allow the Pats to create schemes that will keep the Dolphin defense off balance, and not allow them to get into the kind of rhythm we saw on Thanksgiving against a Dallas defense who lined up in the same position most of the night, and who for some reason played a lot of Zone defense, which they don't usually do. Miami burned them in that zone all night. They won't have that luxury come Sunday.
Point will be hard to come by for the Miami Offense come Sunday
A LOGICAL CASE FOR MIAMI WINNING THE GAME -
1. Miami is the desperate team coming into NE. They lose this game and not only do the Pats clinch the AFCE, but the Dolphins become in danger of losing their playoff hopes entirely, because after NE, the Dolphis have a very hard road ahead with games agains the Eagles, Jets in and the Bills in Buffalo. None of these games are easy. Conventional wisdom says go with the team that needs the game the most.
2. Miami is set up to stop the Pats offense. They have DBs who are better than our WRs, its as simple as that.
3. We don't have a running game and if we did CW wouldn't use it anyway. At best its functional, capable of getting 80-100 yds on the ground, but nothing that would strike fear into an ordinary defense, let alone the Dolphins' D.
4. Since the Dolphins have the manpower advantages to really squeeze the Pats short passing game, and the Pats don't have the running game to keep them more honest, it isn't likely that the Pats will score many points without turn overs or special teams help.
5. The Miami Offense has started to revive and now has weapons that will keep a defense from concentrating on just stuffing RWilliams. Chambers is on the verge of becoming an elite WR (at least thats what Phin fans tell us). On the other side Thompson and Gadsden are the big WRs who give guys like Poole and Samuel the most trouble. Also James McNight is quietly having a very good year. AND THEN there is the issue of McMichael, who had a great game against the Pats in October.
6. Fieldler looks quick rested and seemed to have a more lively arm in the Victory against Dallas - He is a good QB who seems like he is at the top of his game at this point in the season.
7. The Pats offense has yet to play a consistant game for 4 quarters, We have seen some great play from them, but constant turnovers, penalties, and occassional questionable play calling keep them from becoming a consistant threat.
A LOGICAL CASE FOR THE PATS WINNING
1. They are playing at home on a field that Miami has not had much luck winning on. On the other hand the Pats do very well at home. In fact they haven't lost a home game this year.
2. Its December. It will be cold. Miami doesn't do well when its December and its cold.
3. The Pats have proven to be a mentally tougher team than the Dolphins. They have proven to be a tougher Physical team than the Dolphins. In a close game, in the 4th quarter (which this will likely be) the Pats have the advantage.
4. The Pats can control RWilliams with just the front seven. The combination of a very good DL (Washington and Seymour) along with a bad Dolphin OL will keep Ricky from becoming a major factor in this game. He may get his 80-100 yds, but his YPC will be under 4. Edgerin James arguably is as good as RWilliams, and he only got 80 yds (20 on one carry). Plus the Colts have a better OL, and a better QB threat to keep defenses honest.
5. Our Coaches are smarter than your coaches - This isn't bragging, its just the facts. CW (as much as he drives me crazy with some of his calls) has created masterfull game plans this season. He torched a pretty good Colt defense with a 7th round 3rd year WR, a 2nd year WR, a raw rookie WR, and 2 guys who were on the street a week ago. On defense BB and Crennell have created a monster which hasn't seen its best game yet. 17 of the Colts 34 points were essentially given to them on TOs
5a. In a game of constant adjustments, the Miami Coaching staff has proven that they don't adjust well on the fly, and the Pats coaching staff has proven that their whole system is designed to adjust on the fly. Not just from half to half, but series to series. This is a huge advantage in a close game
6. It is more likely that the Miami will see the Brady of the first half of the Colt game, than the guy who played in the second half. Either way Brady is the best QB on the field for this game. Charlie will find the holes and Brady will hit them.
7. Our special teams are special. The Dolphins have just lost their KO returner, and our KO coverage has been lights out, for the most part. On the other hand, we have one of the best KO returners and return teams in the league. Vinetieri and Mare are 2 of the best in the league, but FG kicking in the cold and wind of Foxboro is an acquired skill, and Olindo is at a disadvantage here. BTW the Pats punting game improved today (addition by subtraction). We don't know who our new punter will be, but we are sure, he can't be worse. Punting should be the single advantage the Dolphins have on special teams, though our punt coverage teams have been excellent. Our punt return teams have been less than spectacular without Troy Brown.
We'll go over some of the more intriguing match ups and possible alignments we might see in later posts. I want to keep this first one short. Hopefull it will all build up to a conclusion late in the week we can all argue about.
