Miami Dolphins Vs Chicago Bears: 6 Pack Of Key Match Ups
The Miami Dolphins visit the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field today. The Fins enter this game a game under .500 and are looking at a possible must win game. With head coach Joe Philbin under fire for some questionable calls at the end of the Green Bay Packers game last week, he will need to coach a clean game on the road to help his team out on the field. Regardless of the coaching though, the game is won on the field and for the Dolphins to return to Miami victorious a few things will have to take place, leading me to this weeks 6 pack of key match-ups.
Match up 1: Brent Grimes vs. Brandon Marshall
Former Miami Dolphins wide receiver Brandon Marshall is hosting his former team today, you know there will be some extra motivation on his behalf to have a dominant game. He’s likely to draw the ire of Dolphins top corner Brent Grimes, while Marshall made it clear this match-up is not a mismatch due to Grimes’ status in the league as one of the top corners. But after watching Grimes get schooled by Jordy Nelson of the Packers last week, there is serious concern about Marshall’s physicality and superior measurable’s posing a challenge for Grimes in coverage. As Jay Cutler’s favorite target, keeping Marshall, the Beast, contained is a huge key to the Dolphins defensive success in this game.
Match up 2: Cortland Finnegan vs. Alshon Jeffrey
Jeffrey is a budding superstar who burst onto the scene last year, developing into one of the league’s elite wide receivers and making the Pro Bowl. Finnegan has been on the decline for the last few years but has seen a bit of a resurgence with the Miami Dolphins, but last week was probably his worst week as a Fin. The Bears rely heavily on their vertical passing game to move the football and use their imposing wide receivers in jump ball scenarios, with Finnegan also measuring way shorter than Jeffrey, look for this match up to play a big key in the Dolphins success on defense.
Match up 3: Dolphins Pass Rush vs. Bears Pass Protection
The Bears offensive line received major upgrades last season as they developed into one of the better lines in the league especially on the left side. This year they have dealt with injuries and have been moving former Dolphins cast off Michael Ola as their replacement filling in, this week it’ll probably be at right tackle. This week he will be matched up against Cameron Wake who is one of the elite pass rushers in the league. For the Dolphins to win this game, their defense will have to step up. Pressuring Cutler will be major in this game because the Dolphins will want to keep the ball from getting to the Bears playmakers which pose mismatches against the Dolphins coverage specialists. Olivier Vernon, Jared Odrick, and Randy Starks will have to continue their hot seasons and ramp up the pressure in today’s game.
Match up 4: Dolphins Running Game vs. Bears Front Seven
The Dolphins have been pretty efficient running the football, their entire offensive of philosophy depends on their success running the football. The Dolphins live off of a short passing game and play action, so an ineffective running game would do to their offense of consistency. With the loss of Moreno for the season, Lamar Miller will have to carry the load. He has been phenomenal this year but will need to step it up another notch in today’s game. The Dolphins struggled to run the ball last week in the first half and it killed almost all of their possessions, but in the second half they were able to open it up and get some movement, also look for Tannehill to play a factor in the run game this week as well.
Match up 5: Ryan Tannehill vs. Ryan Tannehill
Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill has so much potential he doesn’t know what to do with himself sometimes, for such a poised quarterback he needs to settle down in the first half of games more effectively. He’s been erratic with his accuracy all season long but once he settles down, he’s usually on point. With the offensive line coming together as a unit in front of him, he’s had time to throw the ball. The coaching staff could do him a favor and let him use his legs early in the game, as that is something that usually gets him into his comfort zone. Tannehill will also be responsible for getting Brian Hartline and Charles Clay more involved in the passing game, spreading the ball out to their playmakers. The Dolphins on offense are only as good as Tannehill is.
Match up 6: Dolphins Coaching vs. Bears Coaching
It seems like every week Joe Philbin, coach of the Miami Dolphins, makes a boneheaded decision that ultimately costs the Dolphins the football game. Sometimes they get lucky and are able to overcome this bad judgment by the coaching staff, but more often than not, it costs them the game. That is why they have been an average team with superior talent. Coach Trestman of the Bears seems to get the most out of his crew, while the Bears struggle with inconsistencies, they play well in crunch time. Hence the reason why they win games when the going gets tough. This week the Dolphins coaching staff needs to put together a better game plan to get their players more involved early in the game, they also need to bring the pressure on defense and not wait around in zone coverage, coaching will play a huge factor in the outcome of this game.