Welcome to week eight in the NFL, as the Dolphins and Jaguars are just under three hours away from kickoff from Everbank Stadium.
This is a huge game today for the Dolphins. As I wrote earlier this week, this is NOT a trap game, but a STATEMENT game for them.
A statement game for Ryan Tannehill. A statement game for Joe Philbin. A statement game for this defense. This team, as I wrote, should destroy the Jaguars today.
How do they do it?
1. Hey Rookie: Blake Bortles leads the NFL with 10 INT's this season. That's a huge number, folks. Time to get after the rookie quarterback all day long. Between Cam Wake, Olivier Vernon, and the Miami secondary, Bortles should be in for a long, long day. Take advantage of him, take advantage of the league's worst offensive line, and make nightmare day for the third overall pick.
2. Keep it comin', Bill: I was very, very critical of OC Bill Lazor earlier this season. I didn't like the game he was calling. I didn't like how he was using Ryan Tannehill. To me, he was a huge disappointment. Until the Oakland game. Since then, it appears Bill has finally figured this team, and this quarterback out. Today, I need to see consistency from him in the play calling department. Keep running Tannehill, keep throwing from the play action, and keep mixing it up.
3. Good Ryan: Each week, by halftime, I can usually tell you which Ryan Tannehill showed up for the day. For the past 10 quarters, it's been the good Ryan Tannehill. In fact, last week, it was probably the best Ryan Tannehill I've ever seen. Today I need to see CONSISTENCY. Today is not the time for regression. Today is not the day to take a step back. Stay accurate, stay smart, stay quick, and stay hot. It's a huge day for Ryan Tannehill.
4. Keep the blankies involved: As I've said before, there are three players on this team who Ryan Tannehill relies on when in doubt: Brian Hartline, Charles Clay, and Jarvis Landry. I don't include Mike Wallace here because he's on a different level than these three. He's the big play guy. These guys are the grinders, the heavy lifters, the guys who, I believe, make Tannehill a better player. Last week Tannehill and Clay finally got it going. This needs to continue today.
5. Be Specialer on Special Teams: Caleb Sturgis had a rough day last week. The kick coverage, punt coverage, and punt return units have had dreadful outings all year long. This needs to improve today, because special teams may very well be the only way Miami loses this football game. The offense is lightyears better. The defense is lightyears better. If special teams doesn't get it together, it could be a long day for the Dolphins.
PREDICTION
Say it with me... This is not a trap! Again... This is not a trap! One more time... This. is. not. a. trap.
This is a STATEMENT game today for the Miami Dolphins. A win simply doesn't suffice. This team needs to dominate all day long, in every aspect, in every quarter of this game. Anything less, as Brandon Marshall would say, is unacceptable.
I know I'm a jinx this season, but I think they do it today. Gulp.
Final: Dolphins 34 Jaguars 20
Alright, pre game news and notes, including the inactives, coming up next.
Then kickoff at 1:05.
THEN the live blog after the first quarter.
See you then.
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