In this segment I break down the Miami Dolphins offense VS the New England Patriots defense. I will examine the key players on the Dolphins offense and who New England should use to counter that offense.
Miami Dolphins quarterback Chad Henne will struggle at making the proper reads unless the rest of Miami’s offense steps up creating chances for success for Henne. He will need time from his offensive line and big plays from his primary receiving target Brandon Marshall if he succeeds. Another factor that Henne will need to win against New England is the balance of the running game.
Miami’s offensive line is led by left tackle Jake Long. Long struggling in pass blocking from double teams last season in 2010 after 2 career seasons in pass blocking Long proved himself as an amazing run blocker and utilized the footwork that was necessary for a zone blocker in Miami.
Right Tackle Marc Colombo also struggled in pass blocking for the Dallas Cowboys in 2010. Now Colombo will play right tackle for the Dolphins in 2011.
Vernon Carey started at right tackle for the Miami Dolphins in 2010. Carey was an effective right tackle for Miami, but durability issues and a decline in footwork will cause Carey to make the transition to the interior of the offensive line playing the right guard spot.
Richie Incognito will play left guard. Incognito was the most consistent pass blocker for the Miami Dolphins last season. Rookie 2011 first round pick Mike Pouncey brother of Maurkice Pouncey makes his debut at center for the Dolphins.
Most NFL offensive lines have more success pass blocking. Miami’s offense will have more success run blocking opening up the running lanes for Miami’s running game.
New England can counter Chad Henne and Miami’s offensive line by getting pressure on Henne and using the defensive line to stuff the run.
Reggie Bush and Daniel Thomas will rotate carries in Miami’s backfield. The Dolphins signed Larry Johnson today so he may get some carries in Monday Night’s contest as well.
Miami has a few passing targets at wide receiver. Miami’s primary flanker target is wide receiver Brandon Marshall who enters his second year with the Miami Dolphins after the Denver Broncos traded Marshall to Miami. Marshall will be Chad Henne’s first progression that he reads.
Brian Hartline is the secondary receiver for the Miami Dolphins. Davone Bess is Miami’s slot receiver who plays the outside. Bess is usually Henne’s second receiving progression despite the fact that Bess is a slot receiver.
Devin McCourty will have to contain Brandon Marshall at wide receiver because New England has a glaring hole at free safety. Miami may expose this flaw if their offensive line can buy enough time for Henne to chuck a vertical deep pass to Bess.
Plugging in strong safety Patrick Chung into a free safety role to contain Bess may be New England’s best option in this contest. Chung was a free safety in college, but Chung moved to strong safety in the pros.
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Wow seriously? This article people dont put work into their writing. Long has been stellar in run and block situations, constantly taking thier DL out of the game on the left side. “deep pattern to Bess”??? Seriously man? Our deep threats are gates, marshall, and hartline…bess is an exceptional slot reciever that professes more in prestine route running rather than welker type speed. He wont be a downfield threat…do the research, marshall has gone back to his work out routines that made him the beast. Hes clearly come into this season faster and stronger then last season via 60 yard td against tampa. Marshall will beat double teams ( will run possession routes along with deep outs and posts), gates is the down field slasher (along with hartline), bess will be underneath reciever. And the x factor is bush…whose left to defend on a four/five wideout set? Answer: Linebacker. This is where chunk plays happen…on mismatches. Thats what this offense is designed to do. Henne audibles to create/exploit the mismatch…very simple do your research. Dont spread things like this, shows you clearly haven’t researched or put a fair effort for your opinion to hold any water.