Samphin
Dolphins Homer
Guess who's back, back again. Samphin's back, tell a friend. Ok, so the reference is old and tired, but you get my point. The pheonix has risen from the ashes and the column is up and running again.
As I sai dlast time, my PC has been basically, a nightmare for the past month. I have it fixed enough now to where I can now enjoy por...I mean Finheaven the way I like to. Thus, I can churn out a column in time for gametime. Atlanta fans, if you are lurking, feel free to add your comments and correct any perceived, or real, mistakes i make.
So, what are we waiting for? Let's turn this mother out. The Keys to the Game:
Problem: Mike Vick
Despite what most people say, Mike Vick is a game changer. With the exception of maybe L.T., he may be the most versatile athlete in the NFL. He can run better than any other QB in the game. He can throw when he needs to and worst of all, he is healthy right now. Everyone keeps waiting for the day when he runs for 200 yards and throws for 400 in a single game. I am not sure that will ever happen, but what he does do is keep defense off balance and away from playing their game. Teams that like to blitz a lot are hesitant because he will complete passes to Crumpler to burn them. Teams that play him soft end up staying ion the field forever as he takes what they give him on the ground or in the air.
To put it mildly, he is a defensive nightmare. If Miami doesn't play him properly, Mr. Vick may end up taking player of the week this week.
The Solution:
Vonnie Holliday. Wha? Vonnie F'n Holliday? Thats right, Vonnie Holliday. Miami faced New Orleans last week and fellow Vick family member/QB Aaron Brooks. Brooks has a similar style to Vick's. He can run and pass when needed. Overall, Brooks looks like he is doing everything in slow motion compared to his cousin, but nonetheless, their play is similar. Vonnie Holliday played Brooks perfectly. He sacked Brooks once and put constant pressure on him. When Brooks scrambled, he was able to contain him and cut off runs before they did too much damage. Miami will need him to step up and do this again against Vick.
What this also allows us to do is blitz more often. Holliday is on the line and if he can play the role of a "spy" effectively, it will free up the backers to crash the middle while JT and co. contain the outside. The more we push Vick towards the middle of the field in traffic and avoid him scrambling in to the open field on the sides, the better.
The Problem: Dunn and Duckett
The two have combined for 915 yards rushing on 175 carries. That is good for 5.2 yards per carry. Throw in Vicks stats and it bumps the average up to 5.4 a carry. The is downright scary. Duckett has been banged up and actually didn't play in their last game before the bye. He is questionable against Miami. However, Dunn has provne that he can carry the load on his own if need be. He is fourth in the league in rushing and loking fantastic.
The Solution:
Keep him inside. Dunn is a small guy. Granted he can take a licking, but primarily, he will want to bounce the runs outside and use his speed to get the edge. If Miami can contain Duckett and Dunn to inside the tackles, running at Traylor and co. We could be ok. They are going to get their yards, but If Miami can limit them, especially Dunn, to less than 4.5 ypc, they should consider it a victory.
The Problem: Atlanta's D
Looking at the stats, Atlanta is +7 in the give/take away category. Miami is -5. That is a huge difference. Atlanta may not have the statistical dominance to prove they are a good D, they do have decent stats where it counts. They have forced 16 turnovers, seven ints and nine fumbles. They give up less than 20 points per game as well. Basically, they keep themselves in the game. Rod Coleman has eight sacks and three forced fumbles by himself so far. Incredible. Keith Brooking and Ed Hartwell anchor a talented LB corps and DeAngelo Hall is looking more and more like he will be a shutdown corner in the near future.
Solution:
The R & R express. We need to hit them with Ricky, then hit them with Ronnie. Miami seems to finally have found its identity last week against the Saints and it involves giving the ball to these two over and over again. I would think a minimum of 30 carries between the two will be needed, if not more.
In addition, I think we need to try to go deep early. Brooking has 2 ints and Demorrio Williams has one. The other four are from Hall. That shows me a few things. 1. their Linebackers can cover the passing game, which will negate Randy, Ricky and Ronnie on the short/intermediate routes. 2. Outside of Hall, their secondary is ripe for the picking. 3/4's of their seocndary is under 6' tall. That tells me that if Gus can heave it up and let our receivers jump for the ball, they should have the advantage.
Also, look for Gilmore and Welker to have big roles as the number three and four receivers ( I believe that Boston will be out ). Gilmore can get down the field fast and Welker is good at sneaking behind those LB's and in front of the safeties for the big gains.
Bottom line is this. Atlanta is a very good team. In fact, I bet they make it to the playoffs again. However, I fele we matchup with them fairly well. Mike Vick is hard to be accounted for but traditionally, Miami seems to have harder times with the immoblie QB's as opposed to the mobile ones, which helps us.
As always, feel free to add your own, yell at me, call me names and what have you. Good luck to the Falcons and their fans on Sunday. I hope for no injuries and a fun game.
As I sai dlast time, my PC has been basically, a nightmare for the past month. I have it fixed enough now to where I can now enjoy por...I mean Finheaven the way I like to. Thus, I can churn out a column in time for gametime. Atlanta fans, if you are lurking, feel free to add your comments and correct any perceived, or real, mistakes i make.
So, what are we waiting for? Let's turn this mother out. The Keys to the Game:
Problem: Mike Vick
Despite what most people say, Mike Vick is a game changer. With the exception of maybe L.T., he may be the most versatile athlete in the NFL. He can run better than any other QB in the game. He can throw when he needs to and worst of all, he is healthy right now. Everyone keeps waiting for the day when he runs for 200 yards and throws for 400 in a single game. I am not sure that will ever happen, but what he does do is keep defense off balance and away from playing their game. Teams that like to blitz a lot are hesitant because he will complete passes to Crumpler to burn them. Teams that play him soft end up staying ion the field forever as he takes what they give him on the ground or in the air.
To put it mildly, he is a defensive nightmare. If Miami doesn't play him properly, Mr. Vick may end up taking player of the week this week.
The Solution:
Vonnie Holliday. Wha? Vonnie F'n Holliday? Thats right, Vonnie Holliday. Miami faced New Orleans last week and fellow Vick family member/QB Aaron Brooks. Brooks has a similar style to Vick's. He can run and pass when needed. Overall, Brooks looks like he is doing everything in slow motion compared to his cousin, but nonetheless, their play is similar. Vonnie Holliday played Brooks perfectly. He sacked Brooks once and put constant pressure on him. When Brooks scrambled, he was able to contain him and cut off runs before they did too much damage. Miami will need him to step up and do this again against Vick.
What this also allows us to do is blitz more often. Holliday is on the line and if he can play the role of a "spy" effectively, it will free up the backers to crash the middle while JT and co. contain the outside. The more we push Vick towards the middle of the field in traffic and avoid him scrambling in to the open field on the sides, the better.
The Problem: Dunn and Duckett
The two have combined for 915 yards rushing on 175 carries. That is good for 5.2 yards per carry. Throw in Vicks stats and it bumps the average up to 5.4 a carry. The is downright scary. Duckett has been banged up and actually didn't play in their last game before the bye. He is questionable against Miami. However, Dunn has provne that he can carry the load on his own if need be. He is fourth in the league in rushing and loking fantastic.
The Solution:
Keep him inside. Dunn is a small guy. Granted he can take a licking, but primarily, he will want to bounce the runs outside and use his speed to get the edge. If Miami can contain Duckett and Dunn to inside the tackles, running at Traylor and co. We could be ok. They are going to get their yards, but If Miami can limit them, especially Dunn, to less than 4.5 ypc, they should consider it a victory.
The Problem: Atlanta's D
Looking at the stats, Atlanta is +7 in the give/take away category. Miami is -5. That is a huge difference. Atlanta may not have the statistical dominance to prove they are a good D, they do have decent stats where it counts. They have forced 16 turnovers, seven ints and nine fumbles. They give up less than 20 points per game as well. Basically, they keep themselves in the game. Rod Coleman has eight sacks and three forced fumbles by himself so far. Incredible. Keith Brooking and Ed Hartwell anchor a talented LB corps and DeAngelo Hall is looking more and more like he will be a shutdown corner in the near future.
Solution:
The R & R express. We need to hit them with Ricky, then hit them with Ronnie. Miami seems to finally have found its identity last week against the Saints and it involves giving the ball to these two over and over again. I would think a minimum of 30 carries between the two will be needed, if not more.
In addition, I think we need to try to go deep early. Brooking has 2 ints and Demorrio Williams has one. The other four are from Hall. That shows me a few things. 1. their Linebackers can cover the passing game, which will negate Randy, Ricky and Ronnie on the short/intermediate routes. 2. Outside of Hall, their secondary is ripe for the picking. 3/4's of their seocndary is under 6' tall. That tells me that if Gus can heave it up and let our receivers jump for the ball, they should have the advantage.
Also, look for Gilmore and Welker to have big roles as the number three and four receivers ( I believe that Boston will be out ). Gilmore can get down the field fast and Welker is good at sneaking behind those LB's and in front of the safeties for the big gains.
Bottom line is this. Atlanta is a very good team. In fact, I bet they make it to the playoffs again. However, I fele we matchup with them fairly well. Mike Vick is hard to be accounted for but traditionally, Miami seems to have harder times with the immoblie QB's as opposed to the mobile ones, which helps us.
As always, feel free to add your own, yell at me, call me names and what have you. Good luck to the Falcons and their fans on Sunday. I hope for no injuries and a fun game.
