Dolphins Gameplan: Control the clock and get off the field!

Dec. 28 Dolphins Gameplan 3 comments ---Bill

The Miami Dolphins wrap up their 2012 season against an opponent they saw earlier this month.  The Dolphins will head to Foxboro to take on the AFC East Champion New England Patriots for the second time in 4 weeks.  A tough task, right?  The task for the Dolphins is made more difficult by the fact that the Patriots have a lot to play for on Sunday.  While the Dolphins will immediately turn their attention towards the 2013 season on Monday, the Patriots will be doing work for their upcoming playoff matchup.  The Patriots have already secured a home game, but they are looking for more.  If the Patriots win and either the Texans or Broncos lose, the Patriots would have a bye next week.  If both of those teams lose and the Patriots win, the Patriots would have home field advantage throughout the playoffs.  So yeah, this game means something to them.

Photo Courtesy of Dolphins.com

Photo Courtesy of Dolphins.com

For the Dolphins, this game is about ending the season with momentum.  I know, I know, momentum doesn’t necessarily carry over to the following season in the NFL.  But wouldn’t 8-8 feel better than 7-9?  Wouldn’t a win in Foxboro give Joe Philbin and Ryan Tannehill something to build on for next year?  Both are rookies at their positions and it would be encouraging to see them finish the season, winners of 3 straight games.

The Dolphins lost the earlier matchup between these two teams, 23-16 in a game that they played pretty well.  The Dolphins limited the high powered Patriots offense to just 23 points, when they’ve averaged over 35 per game this season.  They’ll need to do that and then some, this time around.  More importantly, the Dolphins offense needs to score more points.  The Dolphins settled for 3 Dan Carpenter field goals in the first matchup and will need to turn those into touchdowns, if they want to win this game.  Here’s a look at the rest of the Dolphins gameplan for this week’s season finale against the Patriots:

Control the clock

In the last game, the Patriots controlled the clock for 7 more minutes than the Dolphins.  For the Dolphins to control the clock, they need to get Reggie Bush and Lamar Miller going.  The Dolphins offensive line needs to replicate what they did last week against the Bills and win the line of scrimmage.  Bush and Miller, for their part, need to hit the holes hard and not dance around in the backfield.  Creating favorable 3rd down opportunities will be key.  The Dolphins offense isn’t one that is going to convert a lot of 3rd and 12′s.  3rd and 4 or less would be ideal for their young quarterback.  If the Dolphins can win their individual battles in the trenches, they will allow Tannehill to move the chains with his arm or with his legs.  (cont’d on page 2, click below)

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  • Miami Jules

    Dolphins have to start, first aond foremost, protecting against the screen, which will be what Brady is going to be thinking as he gets rushed,and we WILL rush Tommy boy or else! WHICH, if we have any football brains left, is what we should be doing. I just mean if we don’t, I’ll be a real peed off fan and write a lot of crap …. that’s on defence.

    Now, you all want to hear my suggestions for offence strategy? Doesn’t matter, you know I’m going to tell you anyway. We MUST start using thigpen, both as a runner and as a pass receiver, Why wait until pre-season next year? Let’s see what he can do during a meaningfull game to the other team while we have nothing to lose, it’s the ideal situation to test him. USE HIM!!!!! Use Bush for the screen (can we PLEASE?) as well as Miller… gee I know all about Miller’s blocking woes, so get Lane in ther as a lead blocker or something. Run Bush in the delay (to the A-gap only please, that’s how that play goes. Only hessitate as he waits for the blocks), None of this… “Oh let me run between the guard and tackle… Hmm, maybe not, let me try turning the outside corner instead…” Last but not least Binns and Hartline deep, the former had success catching in the flats for quick 1st downs… unstoppable (based on last week’s game), so let’s see if Binns is the best move Ireland ever made or if last week was that just a case of beginners luck. I’m going to enjoy this game if I have my say and I look forward to the draft.

  • Miami Jules

    My sister, niece and nephews are in New England for New Year’s… they went by car (Dumb). After a 3 days-two blizzards road trip, they are in Concord NH, fixing to go to Boston tomorrow. I told them, I expect to see them at the game cheering our Dolphins on. The point is, the weather tomorrow is going to be snowy and low 20′s cold, along with wind…. Run Reggie Run!!!! Miller Time!!!!!

  • Miami Jules

    It wouldn’t be up to my standards to say “I told you so” … but, if anyone has read my comment below (from yesterday) they will know what I mean, so I wont say it (I sort of just did, oh well).

    I like Philbin, Sherman and Coyle… I want to like them more than I already do, but the voice of reason (and this can be quite matter of fact and unappathetic one) keeps telling me, that while Shula might’ve lost the game, there wouldn’t have been as many mental errors and undiscipline play from the Dolphins as we witnessed today, under a Shula coached team. Why so many penalties on offence ?

    I don’t know if Philbin was trying to get Bush his 1000 yards but, where was Miller in the 2nd half? Why, with two of the best TE’s in the NFL, didn’t we do a better job protecting against the screens, slot receivers and tight ends catching in the flats and turning those into huge gainers if not touch downs? Had we already acknowledge defeat even before kick off? Can any of the readers and blogers here answer this question? Is there something in the air here in South Florida that prevents different administrations and coaching staffs to protect against the screen, from Jimmy Johnson to Joe Philbin and all in between? We only play New England twice a year and either we don’t learn or there’s some kind of voodoo in the air in town…I’m at a loss.