catch22
New Mexico Fin Fan
1. Miami needs to make Atlanta one-dimensional: Last year, rookie QB Matt Ryan took the league by storm, and it looks as though he'll have even more offensive weapons at his disposal in 2009. The passing game fed off a very strong ground game, so if Miami can crowd the box and take away the threat of Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood, it will make the play-action pass less threatening.
2. Expect the Dolphins to try to sustain long drives and control the clock: The longer the Dolphins are able to keep Atlanta's offense off the field the better chance they have of taking the home crowd out of the game. With all the weapons the Falcons have Miami needs to keep its defense rested and fresh. Look for Miami to run the ball as much as possible and go with the short, controlled passing game.
3. Miami will attack the edges with their ground game: The Dolphins have two excellent tackles in Jake Long and Vernon Carey and probably will send Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams on a lot of off-tackle plays in an attempt to play to their strength. Both ball carriers can be extremely difficult to bring down once they get to the open field.
4. Look for the Dolphins to keep to their base defense for most of the game: It is hard to commit extra defenders to either the run or the pass when playing the Falcons as they can hurt you from so many different directions. Expect the Dolphins to stress responsibility and staying at home on defense as they try to keep the Falcons from making any big plays.
5. Matchup to watch: Long vs. Atlanta RDE John Abraham: Abraham ended up third in the NFL with 16.5 sacks in 2008 and will be counted on to provide pressure off the edge again in 2009. He will be matched up against Long, who enjoyed an excellent rookie season in 2008. Miami QB Chad Pennington is not very elusive in the pocket and needs protection to give him the time to go through his progressions.
6. Atlanta will pound the ball with their powerful two-headed ground game: Turner and Norwood gave Atlanta one of the strongest ground games in the NFL in 2008 and will be counted on to be dominating again this year. Head coach Mike Smith and offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey are not apt to give up quickly if the ground game does not produce right out of the blocks. They know that eventually their backs will break some runs.
7. Expect the Falcons to use the ground game to spur the passing attack with an effective play-action fake: With the strong ground game Atlanta possesses they are able to freeze most secondaries with an effective play-action fake which opens up the passing game at all levels. With the addition of Tony Gonzalez at tight end it gives Ryan even more levels to look for effective receivers.
8. Atlanta needs to stop the Dolphins' ground game: The Falcons are apt to rely on their base front seven to contain Miami's ground game. The addition of rookie DT Peria Jerry, their first-round draft choice this past spring, gives the Falcons a quality run stopper who is athletic enough to make plays up and down the line of scrimmage.
9. Look for Atlanta to rotate a lot of defensive backs: With the late additions of cornerbacks Tye Hill and Brian Williams the Falcons feel as if they are getting strong in the secondary. These guys give them a lot of options for nickel backs as well as their dime packages. Quality cover corners mixed with a good pass rush can make it difficult for opponents to throw the ball effectively.
10. Matchup to watch: Turner vs. Miami LB Channing Crowder: Turner became Atlanta's workhorse ball carrier last year as he led the team with nearly 1,700 yards. He is a powerful running back who has the speed to take it all the way once he gets past the first level of defense. Crowder's job will be to stop Turner before he gets up a good head of steam.
2. Expect the Dolphins to try to sustain long drives and control the clock: The longer the Dolphins are able to keep Atlanta's offense off the field the better chance they have of taking the home crowd out of the game. With all the weapons the Falcons have Miami needs to keep its defense rested and fresh. Look for Miami to run the ball as much as possible and go with the short, controlled passing game.
3. Miami will attack the edges with their ground game: The Dolphins have two excellent tackles in Jake Long and Vernon Carey and probably will send Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams on a lot of off-tackle plays in an attempt to play to their strength. Both ball carriers can be extremely difficult to bring down once they get to the open field.
4. Look for the Dolphins to keep to their base defense for most of the game: It is hard to commit extra defenders to either the run or the pass when playing the Falcons as they can hurt you from so many different directions. Expect the Dolphins to stress responsibility and staying at home on defense as they try to keep the Falcons from making any big plays.
5. Matchup to watch: Long vs. Atlanta RDE John Abraham: Abraham ended up third in the NFL with 16.5 sacks in 2008 and will be counted on to provide pressure off the edge again in 2009. He will be matched up against Long, who enjoyed an excellent rookie season in 2008. Miami QB Chad Pennington is not very elusive in the pocket and needs protection to give him the time to go through his progressions.
6. Atlanta will pound the ball with their powerful two-headed ground game: Turner and Norwood gave Atlanta one of the strongest ground games in the NFL in 2008 and will be counted on to be dominating again this year. Head coach Mike Smith and offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey are not apt to give up quickly if the ground game does not produce right out of the blocks. They know that eventually their backs will break some runs.
7. Expect the Falcons to use the ground game to spur the passing attack with an effective play-action fake: With the strong ground game Atlanta possesses they are able to freeze most secondaries with an effective play-action fake which opens up the passing game at all levels. With the addition of Tony Gonzalez at tight end it gives Ryan even more levels to look for effective receivers.
8. Atlanta needs to stop the Dolphins' ground game: The Falcons are apt to rely on their base front seven to contain Miami's ground game. The addition of rookie DT Peria Jerry, their first-round draft choice this past spring, gives the Falcons a quality run stopper who is athletic enough to make plays up and down the line of scrimmage.
9. Look for Atlanta to rotate a lot of defensive backs: With the late additions of cornerbacks Tye Hill and Brian Williams the Falcons feel as if they are getting strong in the secondary. These guys give them a lot of options for nickel backs as well as their dime packages. Quality cover corners mixed with a good pass rush can make it difficult for opponents to throw the ball effectively.
10. Matchup to watch: Turner vs. Miami LB Channing Crowder: Turner became Atlanta's workhorse ball carrier last year as he led the team with nearly 1,700 yards. He is a powerful running back who has the speed to take it all the way once he gets past the first level of defense. Crowder's job will be to stop Turner before he gets up a good head of steam.