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Kaptains "NE/MIA" Breakdown
Miami @ New England
Miami (1-13, 0-5 AFC East) got the 800-pound gorilla off it's back last Sunday, earning a hard-fought 22-16 overtime win over the Ravens on backup WR Greg Camarillo's (4th reception of the season) 64-yard TD reception from 6'2" 215 QB Cleo Lemon (141 of 247 for 1479 yards, 4 TD, 6 INT) on the 35th anniversary of the franchise's historic 1972 perfect regular season.
With little to win or lose for this week I expect Head Coach Cam Cameron's crew to come out as loose as they have all season.
The Dolphins offensive line has decent raw young core of 6'5" 345 LT Vernon Carey, 6'3" 300 C Samson Satele, and 6'2" 325 RG Rex Hadnot that still has plenty of upside that I would stick with a let grow but it may be time to find better value than 10-year men RT L.J. Shelton and LG Chris Liwienski, especially with rookies OT Marion Dukes and C Drew Mormino plus 3rd-year OT Joe Toledo coming off the IR at the end of the season
Miami has had little opportunity to the run the ball for extended stretches this season but 5'8" 223 RB Jesse Chatman (107 for 435 and TD) has been an adequate replacement for fallen RB Ronnie Brown (119 for 602 and 4 TD rushing, 39 for 389 and TD receiving) who was ripping up defenses at 5.1 yards per carry before succumbing to the latest in a career of knee injuries.
The top back in the 2008 NFL Draft can start shopping the South Beach real estate market right now. The trade of WR Chris Chambers earlier season has left the Dolphins without a start wide out but WR Marty Booker (46 for 518 for TD) has been decent and 5'11" 178 rookie WR Ted Ginn Jr. (23 for 340 and TD receiving, 10.1 per punt return, 23.5 per kick return) is still a project while 6'2" 203 2nd-year WR Derek Hagan (27 for 329 and TD) has earned a shot at a starting slot over Ginn.
By the numbers, Miami has averaged 16.8 points on 189.1 passing yards and 98.2 rushing yards per game, placing them solidly in the bottom 3rd of the league in all categories.
Defensive Coordinator Dom Capers' crew has shown flashes of brilliance against the pass this campaign, giving up just 178.5 yards per game through the air (4th in the NFL), but has been pushed around all year on the ground for a league-worst 155.9 yards per game.
2006 NFL Defensive Player of the Year 6'6" 255 RDE Jason Taylor (48 T, 10 S, INT, 4 FF, 3 FR) is the only Miami player selected to the Pro Bowl this season but his linemate 6'2" 340 LDT Keith Traylor (42 T, S) just doesn't have anything left in the tank after 16 years of plugging up the middle and 10-year 6'5" 288 RDT Vonnie Holiday (33 T 2 S) is far behind him.
The Miami defensive backfield of LCB Will Allen (54 T, 2 S, INT), RCB Michael Lehan (46 T, S, INT), SS Cameron Worrell (50 T), FS Jason Allen (43 T, 2 INT) have been solid all year but having to support the run has kept them from playing the ball. Just 11 interceptions and 6 forced fumbles has left the Dolphins with a -11 turnover deficit.
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New England (14-0, 5-0 AFC East) became the second team in National Football League history to open a season at 14-0 with a 20-10 victory at the Jets in which the league sole superpower gave 6'4" 225 QB Tom Brady's (348 of 503 for 4235 yards, 45 TD, 6 INT) arm a rest and let 5'11" 220 RB Lawrence Maroney (152 for 633 and 3 TD) carry the load with 104 yards on 26 carries in windy and wet conditions.
The Patriots offense was unstoppable through the first 10 games of the season, racking up a record smashing 41.1 points per game, but the weather conditions and the league's learning process has held Head Coach Belichick's crew to a more earthly 28.0 points per game over their last 4 outings.
An often overlooked piece of the puzzle for this franchise is a man who's name is rarely heard outside of the Boston area, Dante Scarnecchia. Coach Scarnecchia not only holds the title of Assistant Head Coach to Coach Belichick but also is responsible for building and coaching the Patriot offensive line that has produced three Pro Bowl selections this season.
Receiving invitations to Honolulu in February from this unit are 6'4" 305 LT Matt Light, 6'4" 310 LG Logan Mankins, and 6'2" 296 C Dan Koppen, making up the best blind side crew in the NFL. Just 17 sacks have been allowed by the Pats front wall in some 525 drop backs, giving the target array of 5'9" 185 WR Wes Welker (96 for 1004 and 8 TD), 6'4" 210 WR Randy Moss (87 for 1343 and 19 TD), 6'3" 255 TE Benjamin Watson (32 for 351 and 6 TD), 6'0" 200 WR Donte Stallworth (41 for 640 and 3 TD), 6'1" 200 Jabar Gaffney (31 for 367 and 4 TD), and 5'8" 202 RB Kevin Faulk (38 catches for 310 and TD) time to make double moves and stretch the field for a sharp 12.2 yards per catch.
If New England can be beaten anytime soon, it will have to be accomplished at the expense of the defense of Coordinator Dean Peas. The front line of the Pats' 3-4 alignment is the best of it's kind in the league with 6'5" 300 LDE Ty Warren (45 T, 2 S), 6'2" 325 NT Vince Wilfork (44 T, 2 S), and 6'6" 310 RDE Richard Seymour (18 T) all homegrown talent and in their prime.
Behind this squad, New England's greatest vulnerability is to be found with aging players like11th-year LOLB Mike Vrabel (69 T, 10 S, 5 FR), 18th-year LILB Junior Seau (63 T, 3 S, 3 INT), 12th-year RILB Tedy Bruschi (80 T, 2 S), and 14th-year SS Rodney Harrison (56 T, 2 S, FR, INT) holding down starting roles while 12th-year ILB Larry Izzo (14 T) and 15th-year OLB Chad Brown (2 T) are front line backups.
Do these veterans have it left in them to play championship football for 19 games?
I have refused to lay the big numbers it has taken to play the Pats all year, preferring to find better value elsewhere but I'll take this opportunity to get in on the action. Much better weather (forecast of low 30s and minimal chance of precipitation), an urgency from Coach Belichick for an explosive offensive performance before the postseason, and an opponent coming off their greatest emotional high of the season finally give us the green light.
SYNOPSIS = Take New England - 22
GL to all----Lock and Load....
Miami (1-13, 0-5 AFC East) got the 800-pound gorilla off it's back last Sunday, earning a hard-fought 22-16 overtime win over the Ravens on backup WR Greg Camarillo's (4th reception of the season) 64-yard TD reception from 6'2" 215 QB Cleo Lemon (141 of 247 for 1479 yards, 4 TD, 6 INT) on the 35th anniversary of the franchise's historic 1972 perfect regular season.
With little to win or lose for this week I expect Head Coach Cam Cameron's crew to come out as loose as they have all season.
The Dolphins offensive line has decent raw young core of 6'5" 345 LT Vernon Carey, 6'3" 300 C Samson Satele, and 6'2" 325 RG Rex Hadnot that still has plenty of upside that I would stick with a let grow but it may be time to find better value than 10-year men RT L.J. Shelton and LG Chris Liwienski, especially with rookies OT Marion Dukes and C Drew Mormino plus 3rd-year OT Joe Toledo coming off the IR at the end of the season
Miami has had little opportunity to the run the ball for extended stretches this season but 5'8" 223 RB Jesse Chatman (107 for 435 and TD) has been an adequate replacement for fallen RB Ronnie Brown (119 for 602 and 4 TD rushing, 39 for 389 and TD receiving) who was ripping up defenses at 5.1 yards per carry before succumbing to the latest in a career of knee injuries.
The top back in the 2008 NFL Draft can start shopping the South Beach real estate market right now. The trade of WR Chris Chambers earlier season has left the Dolphins without a start wide out but WR Marty Booker (46 for 518 for TD) has been decent and 5'11" 178 rookie WR Ted Ginn Jr. (23 for 340 and TD receiving, 10.1 per punt return, 23.5 per kick return) is still a project while 6'2" 203 2nd-year WR Derek Hagan (27 for 329 and TD) has earned a shot at a starting slot over Ginn.
By the numbers, Miami has averaged 16.8 points on 189.1 passing yards and 98.2 rushing yards per game, placing them solidly in the bottom 3rd of the league in all categories.
Defensive Coordinator Dom Capers' crew has shown flashes of brilliance against the pass this campaign, giving up just 178.5 yards per game through the air (4th in the NFL), but has been pushed around all year on the ground for a league-worst 155.9 yards per game.
2006 NFL Defensive Player of the Year 6'6" 255 RDE Jason Taylor (48 T, 10 S, INT, 4 FF, 3 FR) is the only Miami player selected to the Pro Bowl this season but his linemate 6'2" 340 LDT Keith Traylor (42 T, S) just doesn't have anything left in the tank after 16 years of plugging up the middle and 10-year 6'5" 288 RDT Vonnie Holiday (33 T 2 S) is far behind him.
The Miami defensive backfield of LCB Will Allen (54 T, 2 S, INT), RCB Michael Lehan (46 T, S, INT), SS Cameron Worrell (50 T), FS Jason Allen (43 T, 2 INT) have been solid all year but having to support the run has kept them from playing the ball. Just 11 interceptions and 6 forced fumbles has left the Dolphins with a -11 turnover deficit.
************************************************** **
New England (14-0, 5-0 AFC East) became the second team in National Football League history to open a season at 14-0 with a 20-10 victory at the Jets in which the league sole superpower gave 6'4" 225 QB Tom Brady's (348 of 503 for 4235 yards, 45 TD, 6 INT) arm a rest and let 5'11" 220 RB Lawrence Maroney (152 for 633 and 3 TD) carry the load with 104 yards on 26 carries in windy and wet conditions.
The Patriots offense was unstoppable through the first 10 games of the season, racking up a record smashing 41.1 points per game, but the weather conditions and the league's learning process has held Head Coach Belichick's crew to a more earthly 28.0 points per game over their last 4 outings.
An often overlooked piece of the puzzle for this franchise is a man who's name is rarely heard outside of the Boston area, Dante Scarnecchia. Coach Scarnecchia not only holds the title of Assistant Head Coach to Coach Belichick but also is responsible for building and coaching the Patriot offensive line that has produced three Pro Bowl selections this season.
Receiving invitations to Honolulu in February from this unit are 6'4" 305 LT Matt Light, 6'4" 310 LG Logan Mankins, and 6'2" 296 C Dan Koppen, making up the best blind side crew in the NFL. Just 17 sacks have been allowed by the Pats front wall in some 525 drop backs, giving the target array of 5'9" 185 WR Wes Welker (96 for 1004 and 8 TD), 6'4" 210 WR Randy Moss (87 for 1343 and 19 TD), 6'3" 255 TE Benjamin Watson (32 for 351 and 6 TD), 6'0" 200 WR Donte Stallworth (41 for 640 and 3 TD), 6'1" 200 Jabar Gaffney (31 for 367 and 4 TD), and 5'8" 202 RB Kevin Faulk (38 catches for 310 and TD) time to make double moves and stretch the field for a sharp 12.2 yards per catch.
If New England can be beaten anytime soon, it will have to be accomplished at the expense of the defense of Coordinator Dean Peas. The front line of the Pats' 3-4 alignment is the best of it's kind in the league with 6'5" 300 LDE Ty Warren (45 T, 2 S), 6'2" 325 NT Vince Wilfork (44 T, 2 S), and 6'6" 310 RDE Richard Seymour (18 T) all homegrown talent and in their prime.
Behind this squad, New England's greatest vulnerability is to be found with aging players like11th-year LOLB Mike Vrabel (69 T, 10 S, 5 FR), 18th-year LILB Junior Seau (63 T, 3 S, 3 INT), 12th-year RILB Tedy Bruschi (80 T, 2 S), and 14th-year SS Rodney Harrison (56 T, 2 S, FR, INT) holding down starting roles while 12th-year ILB Larry Izzo (14 T) and 15th-year OLB Chad Brown (2 T) are front line backups.
Do these veterans have it left in them to play championship football for 19 games?
I have refused to lay the big numbers it has taken to play the Pats all year, preferring to find better value elsewhere but I'll take this opportunity to get in on the action. Much better weather (forecast of low 30s and minimal chance of precipitation), an urgency from Coach Belichick for an explosive offensive performance before the postseason, and an opponent coming off their greatest emotional high of the season finally give us the green light.
SYNOPSIS = Take New England - 22
GL to all----Lock and Load....
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