Wide receiver Calvin Johnson and running back Reggie Bush,
who both have missed significant action, should provide an instant impact offensively,
and Miami will face a defense that ranks first in the NFL in points allowed per game (15.8)
and second in total defense (290.4) yards per game. The Dolphins counter with an offense
that's averaging 26 points per game and 30.3 in their last five games.
Miami's defense has been dominating as well by forcing seven turnovers in the
last two games and 10 over the last three outings.
Keys to the game
1-Dont give up the big play
The ability of quarterback Matthew Stafford to pass the football down the field
to his big receiver presents one problem the Dolphins need to have an answer for
on Sunday afternoon. The other potential big play athlete that's coming back from injury
is running back Reggie Bush. Stafford loves to get the ball out on screen and check downs to Bush
quickly so he can have room to make the first defender miss and get run after catch yardage.
We were able to control Brandon Marshall and the other tall WRs with our smallish DBs but Calvin
Johnson and Stafford are a notch above in talent over Marshall and Cutler paticularly in the long game.
2-Pick up the blitz
Detroit is likely to bring a lot of pressure on Tanny.
This type of scheme will challenge Miami's offensive line, especially early in the game,
to find out if the Dolphins line and backs can handle the pressure and
identify personnel correctly. If Miami can handle the heat and make Detroit
pay by picking up the blitz and finding the match ups they like, it should lead to
chunk yardage plays thus changing their game plan.
3-Protect the QB
The improvement of our OL play has been a big factor in the improvement of Tannys play.He has had enough time to go through his progressions.
This task gets extremely more difficult against Detroit with players like defensive tackle
Ndamukong Suh and an edge rusher like Ziggy Ansah.
Balance will be a key for the Dolphins offense and staying out
of third and long will be key against a defense that ranks in the top five
in both rushing and passing defense. It might also be a week where the Miami offense
uses more tempo in the first half to try and slow down this defense as the game moves along.
4-Win the turnover battle
Injury report
Tight end Dion Sims (toe) was the only player listed as out when the Dolphins released their final injury of the week Friday, but guard Daryn Colledge could miss a second consecutive game.
Colledge, whose streak of 135 consecutive games ended last Sunday, was listed as doubtful after sitting out practice Friday. Colledge (back) did progressively less work throughout the week, going from full participation Wednesday to limited participation Thursday.
Along with Sims and Colledge, the only Dolphins player who didn’t practice Friday was linebacker Kelvin Sheppard (hip/groin), who is one of five players listed as questionable.
Also questionable are RB Lamar Miller (shoulder), LB Koa Misi (ankle), DT Earl Mitchell (abdomen) and S Jimmy Wilson (hamstring). All four had limited participation in practice Friday.
Five Dolphins players are listed as probable: TE Charles Clay (knee), DT Anthony Johnson (back), LB Chris McCain (foot), G Mike Pouncey (hip) and LB Jordan Tripp (ankle).
McCain and Tripp were full participants in practice Friday, while the other three were limited.
The only player listed as out for Detroit was DT Nick Fairley, who is expected to miss a significant amount of time because of a knee injury.
Detroit’s top three tight ends all were listed as doubtful or questionable after being inactive for the Lions’ last game, two Sundays ago against the Atlanta Falcons in London.
Rookie first-round pick Eric Ebron (knee) is doubtful, while TE Joseph Fauria (ankle) and TE Brandon Pettigrew (foot) are questionable.
The other five players on the Detroit injury report, including WR Calvin Johnson (ankle) and former Dolphins RB Reggie Bush (ankle), are listed as probable.
Also listed as probable are DE Ezekiel Ansah (toe), DE George Johnson (hamstring) and T LaAdrian Waddle (concussion).
I am preoccupied with the Misi lingering injury and Millers situation but hopefully the next man up will be able to do the job.
We will need to play a complete game on offense-defense-STs to win this game.Go Dolphins :dolphin:
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Its kinda scary all the pregame hype this game is getting. Of course most are covering Megatrons return but Tanny and our Defense/Corners are getting some love. Relevant football in November. Kinda nice.
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Lets WIN!
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PhinFan1968 To 2020, and BEYOND! Club Member
Nice one CT. Thanks.
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I've got 2 hours and 44 mins until i have to cut off all communications so i can watch the Dolphins win on my dvr.
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Let's keep this victory train rolling to 4 in a row!
Let's go Dolphins!!! -
This is probably why most Lions fans (who aren't of the fair weather variety) don't trash talk or get too optimistic. Quite the cynical bunch we are.Larry Little, adamprez2003, Aqua4Ever04 and 2 others like this. -
vt_dolfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member
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read option will be big today. Ryan gonna have a big day today. I just feel it. I think he is playing with a swagger and confidence that allows him to play/think faster and it will be a big game for him today.
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Just arrived in Detroit. At the Hockeytown Cafe with a view of Ford Field. Big Fins turnout. Woot!
Piston Honda, Killer Bees, cuchulainn and 1 other person like this. -
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I'm just psyched to see the Phins play. Don't care about W/Ls. This team is so much fun to watch, a week between games is too long.
OkiePhin, Larry Little and Piston Honda like this. -
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i actually saw plenty of Dolphins this weekend while deep sea fishing this weekend. it was hard not to get mad at them for being smart and hanging around our boat for easy meals. they played good defence. they were responsible for a bunch of turnovers, i know they took 2 fish off my hook while i was reeling them in. lol.
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Annnd its raining and the satellite is out :lol: This better stop before 1 PM.
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Definitely looking forward to this one, tough matchup for sure but I think we`re finally ready to handle a game like this. It will be a game that defines who we are and just how far we`ve come to being a top team in this league. The Dolphins are gaining respect week by week, lets keep it going.
mullingan likes this. -
Morning from Detroit all. Hope to have a review up tonight when I am back in Cincinnati.
evz, Rocky Raccoon and CrunchTime like this. -
This place is dead today
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see, i can't even spell out laughter.
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I hear you. Woke up at something so excited. Leaving the bar now to walk over.
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I can't wait for this game. I am going to try my hardest and not overreact to what happens in the beginning of the game.
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A play that can work against this item is the read-option play action with Landry running behind the LBs
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Theo Riddick I believe his name is.....Yeah watch out for that dude.
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Just read that Pettigrew is playing, Fauria and Ebron are both inactive. 1 out of 3 isn't bad I guess. At least it's the one that blocks the best, maybe help out the o-line some today.
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Game cant come fast enough. Time to kick ***.
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Lets kill these ****ers today. I hate these Lions. I dislike most of their fans, even though most of them are my friends. It's funny to watch how much they hated this team a few years ago, now they think theyre super bowl champions the last 3 years. I live in their back yard, but across the border. Lets get em phins!!!!!!
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27 minutes till kickoff, lets ****ing do this
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Entering the rough part of the schedule, this is our biggest challenge yet.
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