Miami Dolphins at Atlanta Falcons Preview
After both teams pleasantly surprised the National Football League by winning their respective divisions in 2008, the question is: can they repeat their success in 2009?
Neither team has made a sigificant amount of movements. The Dolphins drafted former West Virginia Mountaneers wide receiver Pat White, one more threat to their successful Wildcat formation. The Falcons added a great target for Matt Ryan to throw at. With years of experience and a very good pair of hands, Tony Gonzalez gives the Falcons a weapon down the middle they did not have last season. As a accurate a passer as Ryan is, he should not have trouble exploiting his tight end’s strengths.
Miami’s wildcat offense will face a rush defense that ranked 25th in yards allowed, and 23rd in touchdowns allowed on the ground last season. A defense that lost some of its best pieces in linebacker Keith Brooking and defensive tackle Grady Jackson.
Atlanta doesn’t present an overwhelming threat to Miami’s offensive line. Other than John Abraham, the Falcons don’t have reliable pass rushers to bring pressure against quarterback Chad Pennington. Pennington, who finished last season with a 67.4% completion, will probably have time to execute his offense.
With Matt Ryan entering his sophomore year, the Falcons should balance their offense a little bit more, releasing some responsibility from Michael Turner’s shoulders, which will spread the defense some. The other running back in the game, Ronnie Brown, should get most of the running load, but Miami’s wildcat spitted out nine different ball carriers last season.
DYK’s (“Did You Know’s”) to consider:
- The Miami Dolphins won only two games on the road last season against teams with winning records: a “Bradyless” New England on week 3, and the collapsing New York Jets on week 17.
- The Atlanta Falcons were held to under 100 rushing yards at home only once (vs. Chicago Bears on week 6. It was Matt Ryan’s first game with over 200 and 300 yards.
- Dolphins never eclipsed 300 aerial yards on the road, they were held to under 100 rushing yards three times, none in their last 4 games.
- When the Falcons turned the ball over 2 or more times last season, they won 3 games and lost 2. Miami gave the ball away twice or more in only one game last season.
- No Miami wide receiver scored more than 2 touchdowns. Moreover, Roddy White alone caught more passes in the end zone tahn all Miami’s receivers combined.
- Michael Turner was one rushing touchdown away from tying the amount of rushes to the endzone by the entire Miami Dolphins squad.
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