By Merril Hoge
Special to ESPN.com
The Patriots' offense is predicated on Tom Brady throwing the football. And if they are throwing the football all the time against Miami on Sunday, it will be hard for the Patriots to win against the Dolphins' pass defense.
While offensive coordinator Charlie Weis does a good job of calling the type of routes that can help them win, the Patriots have no running game to go with Brady. That prevents the Patriots from getting good mismatches against a quality Dolphins' secondary.
The Dolphins have solid cornerbacks. In three-receiver sets, they can match their third corner against the other team's third receiver and win the battle. And Zach Thomas is as good in coverage as any linebacker in football. The Patriots will be unable to beat him consistently as well.
Up front, Jason Taylor is playing well enough to be the NFL Defensive Player of the Year. In at least two games, the Dolphins won the game with the down four, getting pressure all day. If they can continue to pressure Brady with their front four, as they did in the first matchup, the Dolphins won't have to give up defenders in pass coverage. The Dolphins will then win the majority of the matchups in the passing game and make Brady's life miserable all game.
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By Mark Malone
Special to ESPN.com
If Miami is going to play man-to-man, the Patriots need to start off by running the ball and with crossing routes -- which could be a problem, because the Pats' tackles have not done a very good job with pass protection (particularly last week against the Jets). Against Jason Taylor and Co., it's will be difficult for Brady to find time to throw the ball down field.
New England needs to come out running crossing routes and quick plays to get the ball out of Brady's hands, and let Troy Brown and their other receivers make plays against the man-to-man coverage.
The Dolphins have two Pro Bowl corners in Brock Marion and Patrick Surtain, but those corners, at times this season, have been had. Making big plays against those corners will be Brady's biggest task. So first, the Pats need to be in a situation where they can run the ball, which will put those guys out on an island and give Brady a little more time to throw the ball.
Whenever you give a quarterback more time to throw the ball down field, without much help in the middle, your receivers have a better chance of beating people -- especially if they're aggressive. Brady is capable, and the Pats certainly have the outside weapons to do that. The keys will be, if the Patriots' offensive tackles hold up and if the Pats can run the ball to effect the safeties and linebackers.
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