Excellent Analysis of Miami/NE Game by Bruschi

That's good to hear. I want to see Miami put a whuppin on them Patriots!!

Not to quote myself....but I will quote myself from another thread.

Mari0k wrote:

I found this on nfl.com and it is a very encouraging stat

nfl.com wrote:

The Patriots have dominated their division since Bill Belichick became the coach in 2000, but they have struggled some against the Dolphins. Belichick has won at a 71 percent clip in his Patriots career and boasts a 30-9 record against the Bills and Jets. His mark vs. the Dolphins, however, is a much less impressive 10-8. New England does not possess the aura of invincibility over Miami that it has against most other foes.

You take away 2007, where we lost to everybody, and it's a pretty much an even keeled ball game. History tells us that we will split.

I wonder what Brady thinks about getting to play the dolphins?

Hope hes running backwards alot this weekend.

Agreed, very good analysis by Bruschi. I think you can see why he lasted so long in the league with limited athletic ability. Interesting stat he has on toughness. I haven't heard that anywhere else.

i hope girbil wilson can get a hit on him early like he did to sanchez. shake him up and keep that in his head the rest of the game.

expecting alot more of the safety blitzes, maybe even some vontae blitzing from the corner spot....but we MUST get to brady......if you blitz.....and they pick it up.....then its goodnight sally

I agree with needing to get to Brady. But I also believe you need to eliminate the big play against these guys, moreso than other teams (like the Jets). You need to make them earn points with 8, 9 and 10-play drives. We can't have the lapses that result in huge chunks of yardage, which have been a common theme throughout the first half of the year.

If the Dolphins can reasonably accomplish those two objectives, then they'll have a shot to win the game in the 4th quarter. And when you're on the road against a divisional rival, that's about all you can ask for.. a chance to win the game late.

i dig bruschi's arbitrary toughness ranking system

"GARDENHEAD wrote:

I don't like Bruschi, but he makes for a really good analyst.

http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/nfl/news/story?page=bruschibreakdown/1105

Some interesting points: "Since Belichick came to New England, he is 40-12 against the AFC East, and eight of those losses have come against Miami. That's why I always view the game against the Dolphins as one of the toughest of the year. They play smashmouth football offensively. They're looking to run the ball. Defensively, they always give the Patriots problems, and they do it by getting pressure on Tom Brady."

-and-

"The Dolphins are one of the toughest teams in the NFL, and I say that in terms of being physically tough. Based on what coaches often look for, I keep a toughness meter, and it combines a team's ability to run the ball, stop the run, and cover kicks. So you take four categories -- most rushing yards, fewest rushing yards allowed, fewest kickoff return yards allowed and fewest punt return yards -- and that gives you a feel for how tough a team is. The Dolphins are currently third in the NFL."

While thats a great read it doesn't put points on the board.. Toughness is something people want to hear it makes them feel more manly. I want to know if they can stop the pass, if they can score some points on offense.

Im not bashing them I think were a decent team. Were not a juggernaut on either side of the ball and we have some real weakness's that Brady can pick apart. I still think were a year or two away from that Superbowl appearance knowing our luck it wil be the 2012 season and since the Game is in Feburary and the world is supposed to end in Decemeber we will never get that superbowl win!

Hope im wrong on alot of that... Thats all for my negative thoughts today..