MIAMI DOLPHINS V.S CINCINNATI BENGALS

Now that I have finally put the past in the past, regarding last weeks debacle we can finally focus on this weeks matchup between the Miami Dolphins & the Cincinnati Bengals.

Key Matchups

Miami Secondary V.S. Batman & Robin


At 2-4 there hasn't been much the Bengals have done well this year.  One thing they have done well is throw the ball.  The Bengals possess 2 elite wide receivers in Terrel Owens and Chad Ochocinco.  This may turn into a problem for Miami considering their pass defense and secondary continue to be an issue for them.  They are doing things to fix this.  Sean Smith will most likely start his first game of this season.  Smith was the starter opposite Vontae Davis last year, but lost his starting job to Jason Allen in training camp.  This isn't to say that Allen won't play.  The Bengals run a 3 wide receiver set often so he will also get his chances.  The move to put Smith has a lot to do with Terrel Owens being on the Bengals.  Smith at 6 ft 4 215 has the height and size to play the physical style of football that Owens likes to play.  To be successful against this duo the Dolphins secondary will have to come to play and play for 4 quarters.

Dolphins Running Game V.S. Bengals Defence

For the last 2 years the Dolphins have been a running team and a very good running team.  This year they have not been.  They are averaging only 3.8 yards per carry(in case your wondering the league AVG is 4.2 YPC).  They have to get Ricky and Ronnie running early and often.  The Bengals have not been great at stopping the run this year so this becomes a big advantage for the Dolphins if they can get it together.  Having the running game working will in turn set up some big passing plays down the field, which is something we have yet to see much of from this Dolphins Offense.

Dolphins Play Calling V.S. Themselves

The Dolphins play calling has been very conservative all season and depending on who you are talking to could be one of the reasons the Dolphins are sitting at 3-3 so far.  The Dolphins offensive coordinator Dan Henning has made very "interesting" calls at important times this season.  If the Dolphins are to take the next step I think they have to stop playing so conservatively and let loose.  This past off season the Dolphins got Brandon Marshall to be that deep threat they were lacking.  Marshall has not been used as a deep threat at all so far this season.  Instead they are using him as a possession receiver not unlike how they used Greg Camarillo last year.  I think this is the game the Dolphins must start using Marshall how he was meant to be used, as a touchdown threat whenever he is on the field.

I think that if the Dolphins are successful in these three areas they will come out of this game 4-3!

Let me know what you think!

GO PHINS

Phinatic