The 49ers perfectly fit the bill for a ‘Trap Game’.
Previous Dolphins teams would right into the 49ers trap.
The Miami Dolphins are hosting the San Francisco 49ers, and even though the 49ers are 1-9 this season, Miami cannot afford to look past this opponent. In the past, Miami has a tendency to play up or down to their opponent, and this is the kind of game that they would lose.
The 49ers have no intentions of rolling out the red carpet for a Dolphins win, so Miami must be dialed in on the task at hand and execute their game plan as if they are playing a top team.
This will be a huge test for Adam Gase not because of what the 49ers are, but because of what they re not.
The best pay per head sportsbook websites in the world opened this game with the Dolphins as the -7.5 point favorite. On Tuesday the line moved up a touch to -8 in favor of the Dolphins, but it quickly moved back to 7.5, and as of Saturday afternoon, it has stayed there since.The action is definitely coming in more on the Dolphins, at a 4 to 1 ratio. We have mentioned many times before that when the action is coming in lopsided, this generally means the other side ends up covering. As long as the Dolphins win this game, I don’t care whether or not they cover, but all signs point to a closer game then most of us want to see.
Odds are stacked against the 49ers, and that’s exactly why they are dangerous.
The 49ers are ranked dead last in defending against the run by allowing a whopping 179.5 yards per game, and a 5.2 yards per attempt average. I know that Mike Pouncey has already been ruled out, and Branden Albert has been listed as doubtful, and Laremy Tunsil as questionable. Even though Miami is going to be working with a makeshift Offensive line that doesn’t mean that Miami should not focus on running the ball. Considering that the 49ers are terrible against the run, there’s no reason why Miami can’t successfully run the ball against them, even without their main starters blocking.
It would seem Miami needs to give the 49ers a heavy dose of Jay Ajayi with at least 25 times.
The 49ers offense sports a decent running back in Carlos Hyde who has racked up 529 yards 6 touchdowns, and a 3.8 yards per rush average. But, the biggest problem for the Miami defense is the legs of QB Colin Kaepernick who can reel off chunks of yard on the ground if allowed. Miami has had their fair share of problems with running QB’s, so this will certainly be a major key to the game.
Bottom line is, if Miami’s in the right frame of mind, this should be a blow-out. But, that’s the crux of a Trap Game, you don’t show up or play 100% because you expect the game to be a cake walk. So, Gase has a chance to put the past to bed this Sunday. Gase can prove he’s the real deal by getting the team tuned up to play at the level he dictates and not to the level of his opponent. Miami wins big. Go Fins!!!