| | | | | | | | Thursday, December 5, 2002
Williams the key to Miami avoiding another slump
By Mike Diegnan
ABC Sports Online
It's December again, and for Dolphins fans, that means one thing: head for cover. It's not that those down on South Beach are enjoying days in the upper 70s, while their divisional rivals in New York, Buffalo and Foxboro are dumped under snow; more like that come this time of year, the Dolphins seem to collapse under the pressure of late-season football.
|
|
Miami in the post-Shula era
|
| Season |
Pre-Dec. |
Dec.-Jan.* |
| 2002 |
7-4 |
0-1 |
| 2001 |
7-2 |
4-3 |
| 2000 |
9-3 |
3-3 |
| 1999 |
8-3 |
2-5 |
| 1998 |
8-4 |
3-3 |
| 1997 |
8-5 |
1-3 |
| 1996 |
6-6 |
2-6 |
| Totals |
53-27 |
15-18 |
| *Including playoffs |
After last week's whiteout in Buffalo, the Dolphins are just 15-18 in games after Dec. 1 since the Jimmy Johnson era began in 1996. Compare that to the 53-27 mark that Miami has posted in the first three months of each season, and it shows the problems facing the Dolphins once the calendar changes.
Miami still controls its own destiny in the AFC East, and has a pair of games against the hapless NFC North to help the cause. The Dolphins' stretch run begins on Monday night with a visit from the 3-9 Bears (ABC, 9 p.m. ET). They'll play two more games over the next 12 days, their home finale against Oakland followed by a trip to 3-9 Minnesota. The season closes in New England on Dec. 29, which could put Miami in for another harsh weather day (the franchise is 3-7 all-time when the temperature is below 27 degrees).
But a 2-2 record during this stretch not only would add to Miami's late-season woes of recent years, but more importantly, hinder their chances for a postseason berth.
"We are still in the hunt," said defensive end Jason Taylor. "It's disappointing because there are a few ball games in there that I thought we should have won and for whatever reason we didn't. We're in a good position. We still have to accomplish everything that we want to accomplish.
"With that being said we can't afford to lose any more ballgames either and we realize that. When the pressure gets a little tougher, the games become a lot more important and each and every play is that much more important. That makes it fun. You go out there realizing that you have no room for error. Everybody should be on their toes now."
|  | | Ricky Williams gives Miami a running game it hasn't had in a long time. |
Especially in Miami.
Yet even with a rusty Jay Fiedler at quarterback, there should be reason for optimism this time around. Outside of Sam Madison's recent troubles, the defense is as stingy as ever, ranking fifth against the run and total defense. Jason Taylor has been playing invigorated ball from his defensive end position.
But the defense hasn't been the main reason behind the poor closings. That's where the dreadlocked one will make his biggest impression.
Ricky Williams should be the team's first Pro Bowl running back in 20 years when Andra Franklin went during the strike year. Not since Larry Csonka in the early '70s have the Dolphins truly possessed such a talent in the backfield. And as long as his body withstands the pressure, he should be fine. He has already set career highs with his 1,284 rushing yards and 12 TDs, but he is also on pace to carry the ball 372 times. His bruised thigh obviously didn't slow him down against the Bills, but the oft-injured star has played all 16 games just once in his previous three years.
If Ricky does go down, that would be a killer to Miami's season, but no team in the league could endure such a loss this late in the year. What Williams does bring to the picture is a back who can control the clock (thus, keeping the defense fresher) and give Miami a balanced offense. That's the ultimate weapon in bad weather and when teams are getting worn down at the end of the season. It also should limit the pounding on Fiedler in his attempt to recover from his thumb injury.
The schedule is favorable to Miami in the final weeks, and the Dolphins are still in first in the AFC East, but now is when Williams will determine for Dolphins fans if he was worth a first-round pick.
MNF record
Chicago: 16-30-0 (0-2 in 2002)
Miami: 36-30-0 (0-1 in 2002)
Season record
Chicago: 3-9 (Tied 2nd, NFC North)
Miami: 7-5 (Tied 1st, AFC East)
Head-to-head
Miami leads the all-time series 5-3.
The Bears have won the last two meetings, including a 36-33 overtime contest in Miami in 1997.
The Dolphins have won two of the three previous MNF meetings, including the 1985 matchup between the 12-0 Bears and 8-4 Dolphins.
Notes
Bears QB Jim Miller needs 1 TD pass for a career-high 13.
Marty Booker leads the NFL with 19 catches of 20 yards or more.
Chicago is tied with Philadelphia for second in the NFL with 15 fumble takeaways (Green Bay has 18) and has at least one takeaway in 30 consecutive games.
Since 1970, Miami owns the NFL's best interconference record (79-36, .687).
Miami CB Patrick Surtain is tied for second in the NFL with 5 INTs.
DE Jason Taylor leads the AFC in sacks (13.0) and is second in the NFL. He has recorded four multi-sack games this season.
| Chicago vs. Miami |
| |
 |
 |
| OFFENSE |
| Points/G (rank) |
19.8 (22) |
23.9 (11) |
| Rushing/G (rank) |
82.7 (32) |
150.7 (4) |
| Passing/G (rank) |
211.5 (20) |
184.7 (26) |
| Total Offense/G (rank) |
294.2 (27) |
335.3 (16) |
| 1st downs/G (rank) |
17.2 (25) |
20.2 (13) |
| 3rd down eff. (rank) |
55-161, 34.2% (28) |
59-151, 39.1% (19) |
| 4th down eff. (rank) |
9-17, 52.9% (16) |
3-9, 33.3% (29) |
| DEFENSE |
| Points/G (rank) |
25.0 (25) |
19.0 (8) |
| Rushing/G (rank) |
120.4 (19) |
95.5 (5) |
| Passing/G (rank) |
238.8 (27) |
199.8 (12) |
| Total Defense/G (rank) |
359.2 (26) |
295.2 (5) |
| Sacks (rank) |
25 (19) |
35 (5) |
| MISC. |
| Takeaways (rank) |
23 (9) |
19 (23) |
| Giveaways (rank) |
24 (21) |
24 (21) |
| Turnover ratio (rank) |
-1 (16) |
-5 (24) |
| Penalties (rank) |
74 (11) |
77 (15) |
| Penalty yards (rank) |
658 (15) |
623 (12) |
Passing
|
BEARS |
CMP |
ATT |
YDS |
CMP% |
LNG |
TD |
INT |
SACK |
RAT |
|
Jim Miller
|
177 |
302 |
1935 |
58.6 |
54 |
13 |
8 |
15 |
80.9 |
|
DOLPHINS |
CMP |
ATT |
YDS |
CMP% |
LNG |
TD |
INT |
SACK |
RAT |
|
Jay Fiedler
|
117 |
185 |
1304 |
63.2 |
52 |
9 |
7 |
6 |
84.6 |
|
Ray Lucas
|
92 |
160 |
1045 |
57.5 |
77 |
4 |
6 |
12 |
69.9 |
Rushing
Receiving
Returns
| Kickoffs | |
Punts |
| BEARS |
ATT |
YDS |
FC |
AVG |
LNG |
TD |
|
ATT |
YDS |
FC |
AVG |
LNG |
TD |
|
Ahmad Merritt |
29 |
671 |
0 |
23.1 |
63 |
0 |
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.0 |
0 |
0
|
|
Leon Johnson |
21 |
418 |
0 |
19.9 |
35 |
0 |
|
24 |
243 |
10 |
10.1 |
30 |
0
|
| DOLPHINS |
ATT |
YDS |
FC |
AVG |
LNG |
TD |
|
ATT |
YDS |
FC |
AVG |
LNG |
TD |
|
Travis Minor |
30 |
722 |
0 |
24.1 |
66 |
0 |
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.0 |
0 |
0
|
|
Dedric Ward |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
|
14 |
160 |
10 |
11.4 |
34 |
0
|
Kicking
| BEARS |
1-20 |
20-29 |
30-39 |
40-49 |
50+ |
TOT |
PCT |
AVG |
LNG |
XPM/A |
PTS |
|
Paul Edinger |
0/0 |
4/4 |
5/6 |
7/8 |
3/6 |
19/24 |
79.2 |
38.0 |
53 |
25/25 |
82 |
| DOLPHINS |
1-20 |
20-29 |
30-39 |
40-49 |
50+ |
TOT |
PCT |
AVG |
LNG |
XPM/A |
PTS |
|
Olindo Mare |
0/0 |
7/8 |
2/3 |
6/8 |
2/3 |
17/22 |
77.3 |
36.0 |
53 |
32/33 |
83 |
Punting
| BEARS |
PUNTS |
YDS |
AVG |
LNG |
TB |
IN20 |
NET |
|
Brad Maynard |
61 |
2511 |
41.2 |
55 |
1 |
17 |
36.5 |
| DOLPHINS |
PUNTS |
YDS |
AVG |
LNG |
TB |
IN20 |
NET |
|
Mark Royals |
51 |
2071 |
40.6 |
56 |
5 |
13 |
36.8 |
Mike Diegnan is the Editor of ABC Sports Online and can be reached at michael.diegnan@abc.com.
| | |
| | | | |
ESPN.com:
HELP |
ADVERTISER INFO |
CONTACT US |
TOOLS |
SITE MAP
Copyright ©2002 ESPN Internet Group. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Safety Information are applicable to this site. Employment opportunities at ESPN.com.
| |
| 
|
