Dolphins prove their “Wildcat” ways are no fluke

By Hugo Guzman  |   Monday, October 06, 2008  |  Comments( 3 )

Miami Dolphins
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If someone told you prior to the NFL season that the Miami Dolphins would lose to the Jets and Cardinals, then come back to more or less dominate both the Patriots and Chargers, you’d have wanted that person committed.

However, that’s the fantastical reality that the South Florida faithful are now facing. In Sunday's 17-10 win over the Chargers, the Dolphins took another step toward legitimizing their “Wildcat” offensive formation that worked so well in Week 3. Miami ran out of the "Wildcat" 10 times versus San Diego, amassing 49 yards and a touchdown. The Dolphins also kept employing the no-huddle and shotgun looks that succeeded against the Patriots. Quarterback Chad Pennington, who continues to quell any doubts about his status as a legitimate NFL starter, did his part by completing 22 of 29 pass attempts for 228 yards and a touchdown.

Still, the heart and soul of Miami’s newfangled offense is most definitely Ronnie Brown -- who once again proved that he is virtually uncontainable when he approaches the 20-carry plateau, rushing for 125 yards and a score on 24 attempts. If he can stay healthy and put together a full season, Brown will likely become one of the league's marquee backs.

Wide receivers Ted Ginn Jr. and Greg Camarillo continue to progress and are beginning to justify their starting roles. Camarillo was stellar, snagging six receptions for 68 yards and an impressive red-zone touchdown. Ginn, though tentative and lacking awareness at times (he needs to stay inbounds and fight for extra yardage), led the team in receptions and had a key third-down grab on Miami’s game-clinching drive late in the fourth quarter.

The tight ends were once again solid, though Anthony Fasano did have a key drop in the late going and David Martin was injured after making a first-down catch.

And let’s not forget about the Miami offensive line, which provided running lanes for both Brown and Ricky Williams while doing an excellent job of protecting Pennington; in all, the unit surrendered just one sack and gave Pennington plenty of time to throw. Don’t be surprised if this young group becomes one of the league's best within a couple of years.

Defensively, the Dolphins were brilliant. Though they did break down in coverage at times, the group put forth a solid effort in all phases. They pressured Rivers all day long, broke up their fair share of passes and were quite solid in terms of tackling and preventing extra yardage. The 'D' also avoided costly penalties that have hindered it for years (zero defensive flags).

Miami’s defense had so many important contributors that it’s hard to key in one particular guy; that said, converted linebacker Matt Roth regularly pressured Philip Rivers and stopped the run throughout the game. Fellow linebacker Channing Crowder was also formidable, as was strong safety Yeremiah Bell.

As a unit, the defense held one of the league’s most explosive offenses to just 202 total yards, with running back LaDainian Tomlinson gaining only 35 on 12 carries and tight end Antonio Gates to a mere 12 yards.

The Dolphins' crown jewel came on a key fourth-and-goal from their 1-yard line, when Crowder and company stuffed Tomlinson to preserve a tenuous 17-10 lead after punt returner Davone Bess fumbled the ball to give the Chargers excellent field position in the fourth quarter.

Though the score doesn’t reflect it, the Dolphins dominated the Chargers on Sunday, easily winning the time-of-possession battle and outgaining San Diego by nearly 200 yards. As amazing as it seems, 2-2 Miami appears to be a legitimate contender in the AFC East and might even be a part of the postseason conversation in the weeks to come.

And perhaps most importantly, front-office head Bill Parcells has already left what appears to be an indelible stamp on the franchise.
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About Hugo Guzman

Trying to bring an objective approach to NFL analysis.
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