shelby
10-26-2008, 08:01 AM
1. Taming the Wildcat. The Wildcat formation (RB Ronnie Brown, right, takes a direct snap and either hands off or keeps the ball) was all the rage early, but teams have found ways to stop it in recent weeks. With or without the Wildcat, Miami must establish a running game with Brown and Ricky Williams. Brown is the barometer of the offense, averaging 119 yards (5.8 per carry) in two wins and only 31 yards (2.9) in four losses. He does his best work between the tackles, while Miami tries to get Williams on the perimeter. Look for the Bills to use run blitzes and eight-man fronts to thwart the strength of Miami’s offense.
2. Going deep. QB Trent Edwards should look to air it out today against a Dolphins pass defense that allows the sixth-most yards and the second-highest total of 20-(23) and 40-yard completions (six). Their secondary has trouble against speed receivers. That could mean big numbers for WR Lee Evans, who has a 30-yard catch in all but one game and owns a 21.4-yard career average against the Dolphins. If Evans is double covered, WR Josh Reed and TE Robert Royal could loom large on intermediate routes. Also keep an eye on RBs Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson as downfield targets. The deep ball can only work if Edwards gets the kind of protection he received last week. The key to that is blocking OLB Joey Porter, who has 8.5 (tied for second in the NFL) of Miami’s 15 sacks.
3. Unleashing Lynch. Lynch is still looking for his first 100-yard game of 2008, but it hasn’t been from a lack of trying. The Bills have stayed with the run, averaging 27.5 attempts per game. The Dolphins allow just 97.5 yards per game, but yielded 139 in a loss to Baltimore last week. Miami NT Jason Ferguson, its best run-stuffer, missed practice time because of a rib injury but is expected to play. ILB Channing Crowder and the other Dolphins defenders must pick up the slack or the Bills’ ground attack could wear them down in the Miami heat.
more.... (http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/billsnfl/story/474420.html)
2. Going deep. QB Trent Edwards should look to air it out today against a Dolphins pass defense that allows the sixth-most yards and the second-highest total of 20-(23) and 40-yard completions (six). Their secondary has trouble against speed receivers. That could mean big numbers for WR Lee Evans, who has a 30-yard catch in all but one game and owns a 21.4-yard career average against the Dolphins. If Evans is double covered, WR Josh Reed and TE Robert Royal could loom large on intermediate routes. Also keep an eye on RBs Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson as downfield targets. The deep ball can only work if Edwards gets the kind of protection he received last week. The key to that is blocking OLB Joey Porter, who has 8.5 (tied for second in the NFL) of Miami’s 15 sacks.
3. Unleashing Lynch. Lynch is still looking for his first 100-yard game of 2008, but it hasn’t been from a lack of trying. The Bills have stayed with the run, averaging 27.5 attempts per game. The Dolphins allow just 97.5 yards per game, but yielded 139 in a loss to Baltimore last week. Miami NT Jason Ferguson, its best run-stuffer, missed practice time because of a rib injury but is expected to play. ILB Channing Crowder and the other Dolphins defenders must pick up the slack or the Bills’ ground attack could wear them down in the Miami heat.
more.... (http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/billsnfl/story/474420.html)