Miami Dolphins @ Tennessee Titans : 5 Keys to Victory

by Aditya T (smashville) on Dec 19, 2009 11:19 AM CST in Tennessee Titans Previews

Run the ball. I think this key has been on here all year, but it still gives us the best chance to win. The Dolphins allow just 106 yards per game on the ground, but they have allowed the 7th most rushing touchdowns in the league. The team seems determined to get Chris Johnson his 2000 yards, and if he stays on pace we have a greater chance of winning.
Stop Ricky Williams. We need to make Chad Henne beat us. Williams needs to be stopped by the front seven, the same way we managed to hold Steven Jackson to just 39 yards rushing. With Ronnie Brown out, Ricky is the best offensive threat they have, so if he is limited or even taken away, they Dolphins will be forced to expand their playbook to the pass game, which is nowhere near as potent as their run game.
Don't be afraid to air it out either. Vince Young will probably be starting on Sunday, which automatically makes our offense better. The Dolphins allow a fourth worst in the league 7.54 yards per pass attempt, so obviously Miami's defense is much more vulnerable in the air than the ground. Kenny Britt has developed a great connection with VY, and he has scored a touchdown in each of the last three complete games by Vince. Passing the ball against this less than mediocre pass defense may be very crucial for the Titans if the Dolphins manage to take away CJ.
Get picks and fumbles. The Dolphins are the third worst in the AFC with a -3 turnover differential. The Titans need to disrupt Chad Henne and force mistakes out of him. The Titans got five picks last week against the Rams, and that trend of interceptions needs to continue against the Dolphins. The one flaw Ricky Williams had last week against the Jaguars was his three fumbles. The Titans need to be physical and get some turnovers.
Win the fourth quarter. Chad Henne has the second most interceptions in the fourth quarter of all NFL quarterbacks with 7, and ranks 39th out of 43 starting quarterbacks with a 49.3 passer rating. Through the past seven games, the Dolphins have lost the fourth quarter by a combined 61 points, allowing 134 points in the fourth quarter through the season, worst in the NFL. In every game after the season opener, the Dolphins have either led or been within a touchdown going into the fourth quarter, but they have only managed to win half of those games. This Dolphins team is not a good fourth quarter team, and that needs to be taken advantage of by the Titans to give them a good shot of winning.

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Comments

Mort and Mel Kiper Jr on a morning talk show

Just mentioned Fisher as a darkhorse candidate for the Cowboys job. (Assuming Wade gets canned). Hmmm…

This one's for you, #9.

by Drubaru on Dec 19, 2009 11:32 AM CST via mobile reply actions

meh. I dont see it happening.

T-Rac's Posse - T-Rac is one boss raccoon.
My personal Tribute to Air McNair

by T--Rac's Posse on Dec 19, 2009 11:35 AM CST up reply actions

ESPN'S CHRIS MORTENSEN IS REPORTING THAT ESPN'S CHRIS MORTENSEN IS JUST FU**ING GUESSING

ahh… it never gets old.

Music City Miracles blogger and official Jon Bovi tour manager.

by August West on Dec 19, 2009 12:10 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

Thanks. That was my first time.

Now I see.

This one's for you, #9.

by Drubaru on Dec 19, 2009 3:56 PM CST up reply actions

fisher

wouldnt tolerate jerry jones

by zero defects on Dec 19, 2009 12:37 PM CST reply actions

satan can't even tolerate Jerry Jones.

by titansfan4ever on Dec 19, 2009 1:57 PM CST up reply actions

Wouldn't you just love to be described as a "darkhorse"?

Hey smash…as usual, you hit all the nails on the head. If I may add one thing to the list….HAVE FUN!!!!! Gee whiz man…that’s why it’s called a “game”!! Relax and do what you do, guys. Sometimes I think the pressure to win out takes a toll on these guys. Just go out there and enjoy a beautiful Sunday afternoon knocking the Dolphin’s dicks in the dirt!!!!

by titansfan4ever on Dec 19, 2009 1:52 PM CST reply actions

Hahaha

Continue underrating our passing offense.

We’ve had two 4th quarter shutouts in the past two weeks.

Henne beat the Patriots because they forced him to.

If anybody is putting anybody’s dicks in the dirt this Sunday.. well I’m going to assume them to be homosexuals. So are you sure you want to do that?

David A. Fuller, CPA, MST

2009 Unofficial "The Phinsider" (Phinaddict's League) Fantasy Baseball League Champion

by Dave.Phuller on Dec 19, 2009 1:58 PM CST up reply actions

Dude, it's just an expression!

Don’t go getting gay on me now. BTW…I’m the one who said earlier this week that your team was going to be alot harder to beat than most Titan fans thought it was. No way we can take the phins for granted…so don’t get all pissy about it.

by titansfan4ever on Dec 19, 2009 2:03 PM CST up reply actions

Not pissy at all haha

And I know neither side will take anyone for granted. Just feel as though the general feeling is that our passing game is nothing special.

I’m sure if Miami fans talked about Vince Young being no better through the air than KC, you’d probably laugh too :)

David A. Fuller, CPA, MST

2009 Unofficial "The Phinsider" (Phinaddict's League) Fantasy Baseball League Champion

by Dave.Phuller on Dec 19, 2009 2:31 PM CST up reply actions

Hey, we've got Titan fans ( I think they're Titan fans anyway)....

that say that VY is no better through the air than KC…and yes, I laugh my a$$ off. Listen, your team wouldn’t be fighting for a playoff spot if your passing game was suspect. I think what smash was saying was just that with RW and your ground game, that maybe your passing attack might be an area where our secondary could possibly create a turnover or two.

by titansfan4ever on Dec 19, 2009 2:42 PM CST up reply actions

Quite possibly

The way Ricky’s been goin’ though you may be better off trying to force turnovers in that aspect of our offense, ha

VY’s numbers show that, at the very least, his deep ball is superior. I just hope Washington loses some speed (not that I hope he’s injured, mind you) or we might have to have Chad win it without you guys trying to force us into it.

David A. Fuller, CPA, MST

2009 Unofficial "The Phinsider" (Phinaddict's League) Fantasy Baseball League Champion

by Dave.Phuller on Dec 19, 2009 4:23 PM CST up reply actions

Miami folks have a problem with the gays now?

Music City Miracles blogger and official Jon Bovi tour manager.

by August West on Dec 19, 2009 2:58 PM CST up reply actions

Nah

I try to keep the mood light with fans I respect. Guess that’s a touchy subject?

I have no problem with any race, gender, nationality, orientation, etc. etc.

David A. Fuller, CPA, MST

2009 Unofficial "The Phinsider" (Phinaddict's League) Fantasy Baseball League Champion

by Dave.Phuller on Dec 19, 2009 4:20 PM CST up reply actions

I was just kiddin' ya

because Miami is the San Francisco of the east coast!

Music City Miracles blogger and official Jon Bovi tour manager.

by August West on Dec 19, 2009 4:23 PM CST up reply actions

Hahaha

Provincetown, Mass.. Now that’s a San Francisco mini-town

David A. Fuller, CPA, MST

2009 Unofficial "The Phinsider" (Phinaddict's League) Fantasy Baseball League Champion

by Dave.Phuller on Dec 19, 2009 4:24 PM CST up reply actions

Honestly i don't know why Miami thinks their passing attack is amazing.

I’m not saying its turrible or anything, but its pretty mediocre. As is ours. But some of them seem to think Henne is freaking Peyton Manning all of the sudden. Lets all take an unbiased look at our passing attacks and realize that they are both mediocre and that our teams live on running.

Ain't no time for hesitatin'
All you got to do is groove

by BonzosMontreaux on Dec 19, 2009 3:48 PM CST reply actions

I wish he was Manning

Nah, I don’t.. he’s developing in his own way at his own pace. Our receivers leave something to be desired, though they do catch a lot of the balls thrown their way (except for receivers named Ginn).

That being said, the only reason we sound like we think he’s the second coming is because a lot of people like to make our aerial attack out to be below average. Not saying you are, but we have to defend those comments a lot which leads to overly confident views of our QB.

David A. Fuller, CPA, MST

2009 Unofficial "The Phinsider" (Phinaddict's League) Fantasy Baseball League Champion

by Dave.Phuller on Dec 19, 2009 4:27 PM CST up reply actions

your second paragraph

describes our entire attitude over the 2007 season.

Music City Miracles blogger and official Jon Bovi tour manager.

by August West on Dec 19, 2009 4:30 PM CST up reply actions

I just still don't understand

how KC leads the 2008 version to 13-3 and an Albert Haynesworth loss, injury to Cortland Finnegan later and he can only do 0-6 with what appears to be a far better receiving corps.

Pre-2008.. understandable on your part.

David A. Fuller, CPA, MST

2009 Unofficial "The Phinsider" (Phinaddict's League) Fantasy Baseball League Champion

by Dave.Phuller on Dec 19, 2009 4:37 PM CST up reply actions

there is no explanation for what happened in weeks 1-6

lots of excuses, but no good reason.

Music City Miracles blogger and official Jon Bovi tour manager.

by August West on Dec 19, 2009 4:41 PM CST up reply actions

Lets's face it Chad Henne has much more potential than Vince Young.

And he will prove it this Sunday. Go ahead shut Ricky down. We are more than capable of throwing the ball.

- Anyhow good post I especially like the 4th quarter stats. Closing out our games is one thing this young dolphins team really needs to work on.

Mee it suck'd first, and now it sucks thee,
and in this flee, our two bloods mingled bee.

by Coolerking on Dec 19, 2009 4:13 PM CST reply actions

Face what?

What the hell has Henne ever done? In his entire football life?

VY > Henne. Everyday, of every year, forever.

by Titan9 on Dec 19, 2009 4:15 PM CST up reply actions

"Lets's face it Chad Henne has much more potential than Vince Young."

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA… man that was goHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHA.

I’m not even a hardcore VY honk, but you really may want to revise that statement, because potential is the one thing no one has ever accused VY of lacking. Whether he fulfills all of it is another debate.

One thing we do know is that VY can finish a season with a passer rating over 75. Lets see Henne do at least that before we crown him Dan Marino Jr.

I’ll chalk it up to poor choice of words. Another word you should investigate: sample size.

Music City Miracles blogger and official Jon Bovi tour manager.

by August West on Dec 19, 2009 4:22 PM CST up reply actions