Miami Dolphins Vs. Minnesota Vikings: Key Match Ups 6 Pack
The Miami Dolphins play host to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 16 with their season pretty much about pride at this point. At 7-7 the Dolphins are at risk of finishing without a winning record for the 3rd consecutive season under head coach Joe Philbin. While technically still alive in the playoff run, they need a miracle and win today to even dare to dream.
Joe Philbin is coaching for his job and if he values it, he better coach the Miami Dolphins out of their funk an ready to bounce back. If they don’t pick up wins in the next two home games, Philbin will be looking for a new job in the new year.
Match Up 1: Ja’Wuan James vs. Everson Griffen
Thus far, James has had a solid rookie season but the last few weeks out of position have shown some inexperience. The good thing though is while inexperienced, he has fought hard and shown that it’s apparent he will be a good player for many years to come.
This week though, he matches up with one of the best pass rushers in the league, with 12 sacks on the year, James should consider it a good day of pass blocking if he can keep Griffen from adding to his total.
Match Up 2: Charles Clay vs. Harrison Smith
Charles Clay has had a bit of a rough year battling injuries but last week came on a bit. It would be great for the Dolphins to have his presence regularly coming across the middle.
Harrison Smith has proved to be a fine young safety and the Miami Dolphins have to account for him in the passing game. Smith is a ball hawk and has great awareness when laying center field. With that said, while he is a good player, they can’t be scared of him and with a healthy Clay.
Match Up 3: Lamar Miller vs. Chad Greenway
Lamar Miller is approaching his first thousand yard season and has the opportunity to do at home where it all started for him. Miller has been a much better runner of the football this year, the issue is the coaching staff is still not confident enough to give him the football 20 times. At home the Dolphins need to feed him the football and get their offense in a rhythm, something they haven’t had the past 2 weeks.
Greenway is Minnesota’s best linebacker and usually acts as the clean up man in the scheme. He will be tasked to shut down Miller’s cutback lanes and picking him up in coverage. This match up is going to pivotal.
Match Up 4: Cameron Wake vs. Mike Harris
Cam Wake needs to abuse this inexperienced player in Mike Harris only in his 3rd year and making only his 4th start of the season tasked to block him. Wake is close to completing another double digit sack season and this match up sets up very well for him. At home with the crowd behind him, with a rookie quarterback on the road, and playing for their coach’s job, Wake should have a pretty good game.
Match Up 5: Brent Grimes vs. Cordarrelle Patterson
Grimes has done nothing this season but continue his strong play. He had held his own all year taking with some of the biggest responsibilities this year due to all the injuries to the secondary.
Patterson hasn’t made the leap this year the Vikings were hoping for but he is still their most dangerous threat. His ability to run with the football is a thing of beauty, so the Dolphins would be wise to put Grimes on him to ensure he doesn’t get too many chances to run with the ball on his hands.
Match Up 6: Ryan Tannehill vs. Ryan Tannehill
Tannehill has been much better this year, and last week he began to open it up down the field. These next two games are very critical to his career. He needs to win games at home, he needs to guide this team to an above .500 record, he needs to finish the season strong. These next two games are an audition for the next potential head coach. Tannehill needs to display that he is the future of this franchise and that it is in good hands with his development. Punctuate the fact that he has gotten better every year in a Dolphins uniform. He’s got to do it, or be in danger of having to compete for his job under the next regime.