Dolphins vs. Falcons Preview

Week 1 – Dolphins vs. Falcons

This will mark the 11th meeting between these two franchises with Miami holding a decisive 7-3 advantage. That said, the Falcons currently have bragging rights by defeating the Dolphins 17-10 the last time these two faced one another way back in 2005. That was a long time ago and very few players remain for either side so you can pretty much throw that out the window.

WHEN ATLANTA HAS THE BALL:
Stop Michael Turner. Is that all? No, but if you can’t do that then the rest isn’t really going to matter is it? It’s no secret Atlanta will try to open up the passing game by pounding the run. If Turner runs downhill it’s going to be a very long day because, frankly, we’re just not explosive enough offensively to compete in a shootout, or are we? I’ll get to that in the “When Miami has the Ball” section. Miami will look to attack defensively with a stop-the-run first mentality that will require the front seven to keep Turner at bay, meaning averaging less than 4 yards per carry. If he exceeds that number early and forces FS Gibril Wilson and SS Yeremiah Bell to cheat up compiled with even a hesitation by the secondary on a play action and WR Roddy White or TE Tony Gonzales, yes that Tony Gonzales will be showing us their version of the “Dirty Bird”. God, I hope NT Jason Ferguson and DE’s Kendall Langford and Phillip Merling get a huge push upfront both in stuffing the run and collapsing the pocket putting added pressure on Atlanta’s young and talented QB, Matt Ryan. If they don’t the amount of stress put on our Corners will be immense, Will Allen is one thing but putting that kind of pressure on rookie Sean Smith in his first career game is begging for trouble regardless of how talented he is. Although, we may not have to worry about that kind of time if Jason Taylor and Joey Porter play even remotely close to the level Dolfans have grown accustomed to then they should be able to tell you what Ryan’s breath smells like.

WHEN MIAMI HAS THE BALL:
Here’s the good new: Atlanta cannot stop the run allowing 4.9 yards per carry last year. Matchup wise, Miami handedly has the advantage. The Dolphins offensive line is much larger and really should control the line of scrimmage. If they don’t, Miami gets blown out. Considering the line is finally healthy and with a 100% healthy Ronnie Brown and a fresh Ricky Williams, who looked great in the preseason, pounding that undersized Falcon front 7 Miami should move the chains all day with long time consuming drives. Obviously the ground attack should free the WR’s and TE Anthony Fasano downfield allowing for the ever efficient field general Chad Pennington to pick apart the Falcons secondary. This game will actually be a very good indicator as to how much better we have gotten offensively because there’s really no reason to believe that Atlanta can stop them. It wall also be essential to the rest of the season to get Teddy Ginn Jr. off early and often. It is of uberimportance that Ginn gains the confidence as soon as possible to firmly establish himself as the primary big play receiver Miami not only expects him to be but needs him to be. I think Ginn has a huge game because I’m quite certain Tony Sparano realizes how valuable it is, to not only GInn but the entire Dolphin offense, that he be successful. I expect Ginn to catch 7 balls for 100+ yards and a touchdown.

KEY MATCHUP:
Tony Gonzales vs. Miami’s secondary
The one x-factor that scares the bejesus out of me is future Hall of Famer Tony Gonzales. He’s so big and athletic that on 3rd and anything and in the red zone he will be a massive target that we must figure out how to stop. Stopping Turner is priority #1 but what good will that do if Gonzales shreds us?

HOW MUCH DO THE DOLPHINS WIN BY?:
I may as well call this section “Da Bears” because I don’t care if we’re playing the All-Madden team I still think we’re going to dominate! The worst thing I can do is predicting a Dolphins loss and they win. I couldn’t live myself in that scenario and I sort of have to live with myself so I will always be picking the Fins.

Dolphins 27
Falcons 20