I just realized i forgot to do my weekly breakdown last week for the PATS, so here is my week 5 analysis.
Quarterbacks:
Dolphins- what can you say about this guy besides efficiency? A true game manager. He had a great game, only missing on 3 passes, finding his receivers and tight ends in stride. We need more of the same this week.
Chargers- Phillip Rivers has developed into a top tier quarterback this year. He has posted great numbers so far and he is becoming all they are asking of him. Can the dolphins' Defense control the chargers passing threat? We will only have to see
Slight Edge: Chargers
Running Backs:
Dolphins- Wow. Let me say that again. WOW. 5 touchdowns by ronnie brown? over 200 yards rushing from both ronnie and ricky. With Merriman out, and some nagging injuries on the Chargers D-line, we could take advantage of some holes in the running game. Before this game, our running attack was anything but stellar. which running attack will we see?
Chargers- LT is one of the best backs in the league. However, last week was his first time this season over 100 yards. The run blocking could be a weak point on that Chargers offense. Who knows though, Theres not much to look forward to going against LT and Sproles.
Slight Edge: Chargers
Tight Ends:
Dolphins- Anthony fasano has turned into a dream at tight end. He has been solid all season. even david martin has benefited from his presence. Both tight ends have shown a nack for making big plays. Hopefully Fasano shows up for the second game in a row, unlike his arizona performance.
Chargers- Antonio Gates is one of the NFL's best tight ends. He has shown in the past that he can catch just about anything. He will most likely cause a problem for us since he will probably be lined up against a linebacker.
Slight Edge: Chargers
Wide Receivers:
Dolphins- Dan Henning showed that he wants to get the receivers in the game, running ted ginn on some screens and letting the receivers find open holes in the coverage. Greg Camarillo right now is our best receiver, statistically. Maybe this is the game we finally launch one down field to ginn and see what happens. Bess i think will be the X factor because he will be matched up against a less skilled player and could get some looks.
Chargers- Last game was chambers first game this season without a touchdown catch. He has been Rivers go to guy. Both he and Vincent Jackson are doing what needs to be done as receivers. We need some more solid play out of our secondary, similar to what we did against New England.
Edge: Chargers
Offensive Line:
Dolphins- The line took names and kicked some tail against the PATS. Ndukwe seemed to fill that right guard spot nicely, as Jake Long and Justin Smiley arguably had their best game of the season. They played with an attitude, and that is what this offense needs. With solid line play anything is possible.
Chargers- With some injuries, and mistakes the Chargers o-line has been average this season. and even though a player on their line shares my same last name, they look like they need some work. Look for the D line of the Fins to try to exploit any weaknesses they find in the film room to try to disrupt the backfield and rush rivers into making mistakes.
No Edge
Defensive Line:
Dolphins- These rookies must be rubbing off on the veterans, and vice versa, because the older guys are playing fast paced and the young guys are playing like seasoned veterans. I LOVE our rotation on this D line. Langford, Merling, Saliai, Holliday, Ferguson, and Starks have all played solidly.
Chargers- With Jamal Williams in the middle, Satele will have a challenge ahead of him. If Satele can do to williams what he did to Wilfork, we should be able to get some push in the running game. While being a talented line, they don't seem to have the rotation we do. If we can tire them out we should have our way with this line
No Edge
Linebackers:
Dolphins- J PEEZY!!! He talked the talk, and then he walked the walk, along with the rest of the linebackers. They seemed to be in the right place at the right time, causing pressure when needed and putting a hit on any receiver or back that came their way. Though not many big names, this is not too bad of a linebacking corps. Can Joey P be the only player this decade to have 5 + sacks every season?
Chargers- Merriman is out, and their outside pass rush could suffer from that. Jyles Tucker is said to have a motor as well, but being young expect him to make mistakes. this is still a solid group without Merriman and we should expect a problem of getting the running backs into the 3rd level of the playing field.
No Edge
Secondary:
Dolphins- Great play by will allen and the rest of the guys in our backfield last game. Renalso hill, though dropping an INT that fell into welkers bread basket, got an INT at the end of the game, which got called back on a roughing penalty. Hell even Crocker came in and made some plays, putting some heavy hits on receivers across the middle.
Chargers- Jammer and Cromartie are a great tandem with very good athletic abilities. There is really no weak point in this group, and we might need to rely on the play action pass to try to get them out of position.
Edge: Chargers
Special Teams:
Dolphins- We have played better in the punting and kicking game. Devone Bess seems to be good at punt returning, while not too hot at kick returning. I hope to see Ginn maybe returning some kicks to get us better field position to either start the game or start the 3rd quarter.
Chargers- Solid in the punting and kicking game. Sproles can take it to the house at any time so our coverage unit needs to be ready. this guy scares me returning kicks and if our unit makes a mistake, he will capitalize on it.
Slight Edge: chargers
Overall: Which team will show up? The team that made very few mistakes, or the team that was always out of position, giving up big plays? We will need to be on our A game against the Chargers. Not many people will be giving us a chance for this game, i hope we prove everybody wrong...again
Overall- Slight Edge: Chargers
My hopeful, yet biased prediction:
dolphins 24
chargers 23
Quarterbacks:
Dolphins- what can you say about this guy besides efficiency? A true game manager. He had a great game, only missing on 3 passes, finding his receivers and tight ends in stride. We need more of the same this week.
Chargers- Phillip Rivers has developed into a top tier quarterback this year. He has posted great numbers so far and he is becoming all they are asking of him. Can the dolphins' Defense control the chargers passing threat? We will only have to see
Slight Edge: Chargers
Running Backs:
Dolphins- Wow. Let me say that again. WOW. 5 touchdowns by ronnie brown? over 200 yards rushing from both ronnie and ricky. With Merriman out, and some nagging injuries on the Chargers D-line, we could take advantage of some holes in the running game. Before this game, our running attack was anything but stellar. which running attack will we see?
Chargers- LT is one of the best backs in the league. However, last week was his first time this season over 100 yards. The run blocking could be a weak point on that Chargers offense. Who knows though, Theres not much to look forward to going against LT and Sproles.
Slight Edge: Chargers
Tight Ends:
Dolphins- Anthony fasano has turned into a dream at tight end. He has been solid all season. even david martin has benefited from his presence. Both tight ends have shown a nack for making big plays. Hopefully Fasano shows up for the second game in a row, unlike his arizona performance.
Chargers- Antonio Gates is one of the NFL's best tight ends. He has shown in the past that he can catch just about anything. He will most likely cause a problem for us since he will probably be lined up against a linebacker.
Slight Edge: Chargers
Wide Receivers:
Dolphins- Dan Henning showed that he wants to get the receivers in the game, running ted ginn on some screens and letting the receivers find open holes in the coverage. Greg Camarillo right now is our best receiver, statistically. Maybe this is the game we finally launch one down field to ginn and see what happens. Bess i think will be the X factor because he will be matched up against a less skilled player and could get some looks.
Chargers- Last game was chambers first game this season without a touchdown catch. He has been Rivers go to guy. Both he and Vincent Jackson are doing what needs to be done as receivers. We need some more solid play out of our secondary, similar to what we did against New England.
Edge: Chargers
Offensive Line:
Dolphins- The line took names and kicked some tail against the PATS. Ndukwe seemed to fill that right guard spot nicely, as Jake Long and Justin Smiley arguably had their best game of the season. They played with an attitude, and that is what this offense needs. With solid line play anything is possible.
Chargers- With some injuries, and mistakes the Chargers o-line has been average this season. and even though a player on their line shares my same last name, they look like they need some work. Look for the D line of the Fins to try to exploit any weaknesses they find in the film room to try to disrupt the backfield and rush rivers into making mistakes.
No Edge
Defensive Line:
Dolphins- These rookies must be rubbing off on the veterans, and vice versa, because the older guys are playing fast paced and the young guys are playing like seasoned veterans. I LOVE our rotation on this D line. Langford, Merling, Saliai, Holliday, Ferguson, and Starks have all played solidly.
Chargers- With Jamal Williams in the middle, Satele will have a challenge ahead of him. If Satele can do to williams what he did to Wilfork, we should be able to get some push in the running game. While being a talented line, they don't seem to have the rotation we do. If we can tire them out we should have our way with this line
No Edge
Linebackers:
Dolphins- J PEEZY!!! He talked the talk, and then he walked the walk, along with the rest of the linebackers. They seemed to be in the right place at the right time, causing pressure when needed and putting a hit on any receiver or back that came their way. Though not many big names, this is not too bad of a linebacking corps. Can Joey P be the only player this decade to have 5 + sacks every season?
Chargers- Merriman is out, and their outside pass rush could suffer from that. Jyles Tucker is said to have a motor as well, but being young expect him to make mistakes. this is still a solid group without Merriman and we should expect a problem of getting the running backs into the 3rd level of the playing field.
No Edge
Secondary:
Dolphins- Great play by will allen and the rest of the guys in our backfield last game. Renalso hill, though dropping an INT that fell into welkers bread basket, got an INT at the end of the game, which got called back on a roughing penalty. Hell even Crocker came in and made some plays, putting some heavy hits on receivers across the middle.
Chargers- Jammer and Cromartie are a great tandem with very good athletic abilities. There is really no weak point in this group, and we might need to rely on the play action pass to try to get them out of position.
Edge: Chargers
Special Teams:
Dolphins- We have played better in the punting and kicking game. Devone Bess seems to be good at punt returning, while not too hot at kick returning. I hope to see Ginn maybe returning some kicks to get us better field position to either start the game or start the 3rd quarter.
Chargers- Solid in the punting and kicking game. Sproles can take it to the house at any time so our coverage unit needs to be ready. this guy scares me returning kicks and if our unit makes a mistake, he will capitalize on it.
Slight Edge: chargers
Overall: Which team will show up? The team that made very few mistakes, or the team that was always out of position, giving up big plays? We will need to be on our A game against the Chargers. Not many people will be giving us a chance for this game, i hope we prove everybody wrong...again
Overall- Slight Edge: Chargers
My hopeful, yet biased prediction:
dolphins 24
chargers 23
