Keys to beating the Packers
This upcoming weekend the Dolphins will be taking on Philbin’s former team the Green Bay Packers. The Packers are a good team with an excellent QB in Aaron Rodgers, however they are 3-2 and are a beat-able team with flaws that Miami can take advantage of.
The biggest knock on Green Bay this season so far is their run defense, which ranks dead last in the league yielding a whopping 163 yards per game. This bodes very well for a Miami team that is ranked fifth in the league in rushing, averaging 142.3 yards per game. If Knowshon Moreno is healthy enough to play then this will even add more fire power to our run game. However, even if Moreno is side-lined for a 3rd game in a row, Lamar Miller has proved more then capable to fill the void at running back. Bill Lazor must not be afraid to give the Packers defense a heavy dose of running plays. If the Dolphins can have a successful game running the football against the Packers, then it will create a two-fold benefit for them. It will mean that Tannehill will not have to carry the offense on his arm, and can concentrate on managing the game. Secondly if the Dolphins run game can chew up yards and clock this will keep Rodgers on the side-line, a position where he can not hurt the Phins.
The other flaw in the Packers game is that Rodgers and the offense have not been supported with a running game this season. Currently the Packers are near the bottom of the league in running at 25th, averaging 89.6 yards per game. The Dolphins need to help the Packers continue this trend and make sure they keep the Packers’ offense one-dimensional and stop the run. The Dolphins’ defense must not be complacent about these running stats for the Packers, because if hot, Eddie Lacy can be a battering ram that can punish opposing defenses. Coyle and the defense must stop Lacy early and often to disrupt the Packers from having any chance to develop a running game.
Obviously the secondary and linebackers need to be at the top of their game because they are facing an elite QB in Aaron Rodgers, but the key to beating the Packers will be in the running aspect of the game. In addition the defense needs to have a steady pass rush on Rodgers, and consistently get in his face and make him uncomfortable in the pocket.
Most football gambling fans are obviously betting on the Packers and Rodgers to have a field day on the Dolphins, however if the Dolphins can play good old-fashioned smash mouth football then there is a strong chance they can neutralize the “Rodger’s Effect” in the game.
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Green Bay wants to run the ball too. They only have two really productive receivers, so they want Lacy to carry them; especially in the fourth quarter. The idea of playing keep-away is a good strategy. Run the ball, pass for chunk yardage, get ahead and make them pass! Ooops, Isn’t Arron Rodgers a guy that can do that exact same thing?
Let’s change the game plan to putting a butt-kicking on their offense. Let’s get the D-line up for trashing Rodgers. Let’s sack him a whole bunch of times so that he has no time to wait on open receivers down field. Once we are ahead, Lacey can run all damned day and eat up the clock. We have to restrict him to 3 yards per carry and stop him in the red zone. The Linebackers and safeties need to whip his butt. Let’s not forget special teams. With starting players returning to the roster, the talent on special teams should have gotten better. Let’s keep the Packers deep and score every field goal we can, if we stall on a drive.
One last note – we need to score 28 points to win. We can do this! Final score Dolphins 31 – Packers 24! Go Dolphins.
Ball control Ball control Ball control!!
The Dolphins need to control the ball and the clock and minimize big chunk plays by the Packers offense. Controlling the ball doesn’t necessarily mean 40 carries (however; that would be great), even the passing game: screens, quick passes, short routes, just a extended hand off, whatever it takes to chew up the game clock and keep the Packer offense off the field, as well as keep our defense fresh throughout the game. Sounds like a simple task, right? I believe if Miami goes with a 11 personnel (1-RB, 1-TE) or even a 10 personnel (1-RB, 0 TE), their WR’s should have success against the Packer defense. The Packer defense is capable of shutting down 1 WR, I can not see them shutting down all of the Dolphin WRs, especially the quality of 1-5 WRs Miami has at its disposal.