A simple question: which Dolphins unit needs to further exceed expectations for us to beat the Ravens? Does our offense need to shine particularly brightly against a stifling Ravens D? Or does our defense need to "outstifle" the aforementioned Ravens world-beaters? Discuss.
It's close but I would have to say offense. We need to have an amazing run game to win this one. I would argue that ST is just as important.
I too say Offense. The defense needs to provide a rush and crowd the line of scrimmage for their run to be stuffed. But I think our Offense needs to come up big. If we put up points fast and early, then that alone will ruin their run game and we can force their rookie QB to try to beat us. I think our D can handle their passing game. I think we need the Offense to step up everytime we have the ball. We do a good job of scoring AFTER the other team gets a lead. We need that same fortitude on every possession.
I'd go deeper as far as units. I'd say the OL has to perform extremely well. Account for the blitzes and get some push in the run game.
If we are going to be successful on Sunday we must eat up the clock with sustained drives, tire the Ravens defense, and put points on the board. We must play mistake free football as well. We must keep there defense guessing and out of sink all day.
I voted defense, because I have had the misfortune of seeing all the Ravens' games this year (I live here). Flacco needs to be pressured by our D, and we have been generating little to no pressure for a few weeks now. Also, Clayton and Figurs are tall and fast receivers, and Mason will eat you alive underneath. McClain and Rice, and to some extent McGahee, can all beat you given a small oportunity. Their offensive line is banged up, but still a VERY good unit. So to me, the defense needs to play lights out, mistake free ball. The offense just needs to be patient-find something to exploit, and the Ravens will implode.
Im going to say offense because of what has already been mentioned. If we can build a lead (2 scores 10 - 14 points) it will, at some time, force them to put the ball in the hands of the Rookie. Yes he has played above all expectations, however, the playoffs are a different lady to dance with. I have heard it said many times there are 3 speeds in the NFL. Preseason, Regular Season, and Playoffs speed. So if we can get a lead with our playoff experienced QB perhaps thier rookie will make the mistakes.
The Ravens defense is a strong solid group so I think your offense, particularly the running game needs to overachieve and keep their defensive unit on the field for as long as possible. ST's always plays an important role in any game. You both should be pretty much evenly matched in that regard.
Mark Clayton is 5'10 and Yamon Figurs is 5'11 they aren't big wideouts but like you said are fast. I agree with you the defense needs to step up for this game.
The physical nature will be an important aspect as well. PUNCH THOSE RAVENS IN THE NOSE! Ed Reed can't get an interception whilst eating dirt out of Ronnie's cleats now can he?
I think our offense is good and I also think we are good enought to win agianst the Ravens but I think our offense needs to play great. But it is not about one unit. It is about 53 men they all need to come play great agianst the Ravens. Just like any other team in the playoffs.
I would have to say D. Chad is a smart player, im sure he wont make the same mistake. On the opening drive, him and Fasano dont have the communication break down (he was open) and he dosent throw the pick 6, its a whole different game. I thought Thomas Jones would run all over us, he didint do that. Now, i am not sure how good this run D really is. I thought it was great, then i figured it was okay, now im thinking they are pretty beastly after all. Jets have a solid Oline, and our D played the run pretty well. We didin't have Ferg that game either, he left early, and Soliai was suspended, so i believe Starks player NT (or one of the rookies?). I think if D will shut down the run, it will be easier to put pressure on Flacco (who will be trouble with that arm of his, who can laser passes across) But if D steps up, I see us winning the way we have all year. 14-10. 17-14. Something like that.
I had to say ST. Our offense is going to need to be working with a short field against their stout defense. Also, the reverse. We need to keep their offense pinned deep in their own territory. I think this game more than any other this year, we need to win the field position battle in a big way. EDIT: And seeing how most of the year the ST's have been our biggest weakness... I think that makes them the ones that need to "over achieve" the most.
I would say all 76,000 fans, to lock in that home field advantage. If all of us show up it will be very hard on the rookie QB to perform in that hostile environment.
This is an easy question. Lets go beyond offense or defense. To me it will come down to the OL unit and whether they can control that Baltimore front 7 just enough for us to move the football. That's clearly where were seriously outmatched. If the OL can figure a way to hold their own, we'll have a shot to win. Tall order though.
I'd go with Chad Pennington...again....he must overachieve, our "D" is playing with Wa or harmony at the moment, Penny is going to be the focus of the Defense, he plays well, we win. There, I said it, we can win this game, make no mistake about that, we are a good team, we are playing at home, and we are healthy.
Against the a Top Defensive unit, we in the Offensensive unit cannot allow for mistakes like we had the other day. Dropped passes (RW) and bad throws (RB) that left points off the scoreboard... We need to take every opportunity we get on them, that is when we have the chance, for their Defense will also have their share of opportunities to either score on our TOs or place their Offense in "short field" for an easier score... The Ravens have scored 101 points via "short field" for the Offense and TD returned off INTs...
i think this is a pretty obvious answer, IMHO of course. our defense held opponents to minimal points whilest we could never quite get a running game going. not to say our offense is terrible, but in reference to said question, it is most obviously our offense.
has anyone made the "my unit needs to be the biggest overachiever" joke, yet? If not that's my answer. If so we have to keep their defense off the field with our offense. TOP is huge.
Miami's Big O needs to kick it into high gear. They need to blow the DLINE off the ball. I think we could win a shoot out with the Ravens more times than not. The problem is scoring more than 20 pts. vs. the Ravens. Their Defense is just plain and simple...one of the best in the NFL right now. They are playing lights out on multiple levels within the defense. That is why the OFFENSE needs to hit them in the mouth with some big runs from Ricky, Ronnie & Patrick. If they can run the ball, we have a real shot at winning. The passing game would be able to help pick up the short 3rd downs well enough to get some scoring drives. This will be a great game to watch...the hits will be vicious!!! Miami 20 vs. Ravens 16
For me it's special teams. Our coverage units in particular have been bad all year, but have improved in the last 3 or 4 weeks. We can't afford to have the Raven's offense playing on a 90 yard field whilst our's plays on a 110 yard field.
Defense wins championships! But it takes 52 men lead by a great leader to win the game! This is your time to shine Chad!
Let me put it this way. If our defense holds them to 14-17 points it will not surprise me at all. The defense just needs to play their game and they will be fine. The special teams is always important, but again as long as they play a solid game fundamental wise they will be fine. The offense needs to play above and beyond what they have shown so far this season. Limit mistakes and make a few big plays. Should be a fun game.
We need to put up minimum of 24 points...I think we can hold them to roughly 20-23...so however we get those points, even a combo of all 3 units is fine, but I think its going to take at least 24 from us to pull out the W. I picked offense, because of ToP. We need to control the clock, and I think the way we use the short to medium passing attack, is often just another RUN-Like option. Penny's accuracy makes those bubble and slip screens like a toss or sweep to get to the perimeter of the D. Controlling ToP, will be the key to W!
IMHO, I'd say the coaching staff. I don't think we match up well from a talent level. I think we need the right schemes to win this one. Our OL is overmatched man to man by their Front 7. Even if they play out of their minds, there will still be a couple of plays where the Ravens get the better of them. That could drive a stake in the heart of the this team.
Dolphins need their special teams to play huge IMO. Keep the Ravens pinned back and make them go 90 yards, while giving themselves a short field for Pennington to carve up.
I don't think either team is going to be able to overcome bad field position. You're right about that. I was very impressed with Flacco the first time we played, but our defense has really gotten a lot better since then. Especially the secondary. I'm sure your entire team has gotten a lot better too, I just make that point because I dont think it is going to be as easy for your offense this week. If either team finds themselves with bad field position all day they will lose.
I don't think it will be easy for Flacco and co. either. That is why you all need to pin the Ravens back. There will be plenty of three and outs for both sides. How do you think the Dolphins match up as far as physicallity? Can they match the physical nature of the Ravens? I am asking because I have not been able to see the Dolphins much at all this season.
It's been on and off at times this season. For example against the Chiefs it looked like no-one wanted to hit at all. Maybe it was the cold, maybe it was missing our best inside linebacker, who knows, but it was really pathetic (especially in the first half). Other times though (like against the Jets for example) they have played physical and shown up in a big way. At the very least I can tell you that they won't be intimidated or afraid, and will play to the very end. I'd definitely say your style of football is more physical though.
I would be shocked if they (Dolphins) played afraid or timid. At home, coming off a great win on the road, division champs, and huge turn around from last season. On the other side......I am hoping Baltimore can come out early and run the ball, impose their will on the opponent from both sides of the ball, and force the game to be played their way. Easier said than done. Should be a great game.
Definitely the defense in my opinion. If we don't take away their running game, this game wont be close for very long. If you ask specifically WHO needs to overachieve, Id say our interior defensive front seven. Heres why: This isnt your grandmothers Raven offense. While Baltimore's offense doesnt have a lot of big names, they are very difficult to defend. They'll wear you down with a brutal power running game - led by LeRon McClain - and just when they've lulled you to sleep they will beat you over the top. McClain is one of the true unsung heroes of the entire 2008 season. At 260 pounds, he is tougher to bring down than any other big back in the league - including Brandon Jacobs. He is almost impossible to tackle one-on-one, which usually forces opposing DB's and safeties to become more involved in run defense. If were going to win this game, however, were going to have to win in the trenches and take away the run - without an eighth man in the box. Thats because if we over-commit to the run, Flacco can - and will - beat us. Its not just that Flacco's playing well down the stretch; he has several interesting targets that are difficult to defend. Derrick Mason runs great short-to-intermediate routes and Mark Clayton is a legitimate deep ball threat and averages 17 yards per catch. To put that into perspective, of all receivers with 40+ receptions, only Calvin Johnson, Steve Smith, Bernard Berrian and Vincent Jackson average more each time they touch the ball. Even one big play from Clayton could blow this game wide open. For the Dolphins to be successful, were going to have to get tremendous run support from our front seven. Ferguson and Vonnie are going to have to control the line. Likewise, the LB's will have to sell out against the run more times than not. Of course this will leave the team vulnerable to play actions and screens, which Baltimore uses frequently with Rice, McGahee and McClain, but its a risk worth taking. The thing we CANNOT do is make Flacco's life easy by having their ground game eat up chunks of yards and then watch as their play-action long ball beats us downfield. If we can stop the run with our front seven and keep everything in front of us in the passing game, I could live with Derrick Mason grabbing 8 or 10 balls - as long as they are not game changers. Given that Flacco is so young, Id much prefer to have him beat us as Im not sure he has that kind of game yet. Its our best bet to win the game. So in short, our front seven needs to control the LOS and force Flacco to try to beat us with long, sustainable pass-oriented drives. If McClain and company start running down hill in the first half, it will wear down the defense and almost definitely lead to a long passing TD in the second half to put the game away. If we win, be prepared for the interior defense - Ferguson, Crowder and Ayodele - to have big games.