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Dolphins mirror Parcells' approach
by Elliot Harrison, FOX Sports Net
That date didn't go so well, nor did the Red Lobster entrée, but I was always told the best way to start an article is with humor. And, unfortunately, there is nothing funny about the Miami Dolphins this year. They are too ... workmanlike?
They definitely aren't sexy. That's because the 2008 Dolphins are made in the image of Bill Parcells, their VP of football operations.
Bill Parcells doesn't do sexy.
NFL Week 17
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Week 17 action
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Vikings 20, Giants 19 -- Recap | Box
Panthers 33, Saints 31 -- Recap | Box
Packers 31, Lions 21 -- Recap | Box
Falcons 31, Rams 27 -- Recap | Box
Texans 31, Bears 24 -- Recap | Box
Patriots 13, Bills 0 -- Recap | Box
Colts 23, Titans 0 -- Recap | Box
Steelers 31, Browns 0 -- Recap | Box
Raiders 31, Bucs 24 -- Recap | Box
Bengals 16, Chiefs 6 -- Recap | Box
Eagles 44, Cowboys 6 -- Recap | Box
Dolphins 24, Jets 17 -- Recap | Box
49ers 27, Redskins 24 -- Recap | Box
Ravens 27, Jaguars 7 -- Recap | Box
Cardinals 34, 'Hawks 24 -- Recap | Box
Chargers 52, Broncos 21 -- Recap | Box
Analysis
Video
Photos
Parcells' teams are tough, efficient and most of all, resilient. "His guys," as members of the media call his preferred players, don't make dumb mistakes. Keeping themselves in games by not making critical errors at critical times, his past teams won the turnover battle, outslugged you and dominated time of possession. And won.
If his '98 Jets were struggling, one of his guys — Bryan Cox, Vinny Testaverde or Curtis Martin — would make a big play to compensate. It was, to be not too eloquent, uncanny.
His '90 Giants weren't moving the ball in the NFC championship game, losing 13-12 with a couple of minutes to go. So Lawrence Taylor, the ultimate "Parcells guy," took the ball from the 49ers' Roger Craig and gave the offense a short field. The Giants won that game, as well as Super Bowl XXV, starting a backup at quarterback.
Resilience.
Even though Big Bill is not the head coach, Miami fits the same blueprint. Last week vs. Oakland, the special teams gave up a go-ahead kickoff return touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Chad Pennington, drafted by the Parcells' regime in Jets-land, calmly led the 'Fins down the field for the game-winning field goal.
It was a much-needed win, to say the least. The AFC East is a dogfight, and Miami has the fourth most talented roster in the division. Not bad, except there are only four teams in the division. The Dolphins are trying to keep pace with the Jets, Patriots and the still-lingering Bills, so every win is at a premium.
This Sunday is especially huge, as Miami hosts New England in a key division game. In this week's Film Study, we'll look at what to expect from Pennington and the offense versus the Pats.
Film study
When discussing Miami's offense, the first thing anyone mentions is the "Wildcat," the not-so-new formation that has made a bigger return to popularity than Whitesnake. Just as I appreciate a good Whitesnake tune ("Still of the Night"), I also respect the way the 'Fins utilize this 1940s-esque formation.
The Wildcat offense involves directly snapping the ball into the hands of the most talented player, Ronnie Brown. Brown, a tailback, becomes the quarterback for all intents and purposes. Lining up in the shotgun, Brown is a threat to run right, left or up the gut. He gets the ball quicker with no middleman involved, and there are few giveaways for which direction he'll go.
Miami offensive coordinator Dan Henning similarly masked play direction when he ran the one-back, two-tight end offense with Atlanta in the 1980s. With tight ends on both sides — thus no "strong side" — the defense couldn't always decipher where the play was headed, much like the Wildcat. The result: Falcons running backs William Andrews and Gerald Riggs put up Tecmo Bowl-like numbers.
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| The Dolphins have gone retro to get the ball into Ronnie Brown's hands more frequently. (Hans Deryk / Associated Press) |
If the defense keys on Brown in the Wildcat, Henning calls different plays within the formation. Brown can hand the ball off to Ricky Williams, or lateral wide to Pennington for a "flea-flicker." He can throw it himself. The whole point of the Wildcat is to make defenders guess, cutting down reaction time and gang tackling.
But watching last week's game, what impressed me was how effective Miami was on its first drive — without using the Wildcat.
The Dolphins began the drive running Williams. While Brown is the featured back, starting Williams gets him involved immediately.
The one-time holistic healer has no problem incurring contact, so when the more elusive Brown enters the game, the defense has to adjust to his cutback ability. It's much like the 1986 MLB All-Star Game: "Rocket" Roger Clemens started for the AL with his devastating fastball, only to have 55 mph knuckleballer Charlie Hough come in two innings later. Power followed by finesse.
The drive also featured high football IQ. Facing third-and-7, Pennington caught the Raiders defense offside with a hard count. Make that third-and-manageable. On the next play, he calmly scrambled for 7 yards after progressing through his three reads. First down.
The next several snaps were all smart, but safe, play calls out of different formations: misdirection counter to North Texas alum Patrick Cobbs for 12 yards; Williams run right for 3; followed by a 5-yard pass to tight end David Martin. Short passes to backs Cobbs and Brown on successive plays picked up 17 more.
The payoff in the conservative play-calling came on a reverse to Ted Ginn. With the Raiders expecting a strong-side run, the 'Fins ran a reverse with Ginn taking the handoff from Williams. Raiders defensive end Kalimba Edwards didn't stay home, and Ginn did the rest.
Team Parcells 7, Team Turmoil 0.
No Wildcat, just efficient offense.
Pennington personified efficiency completing 16 of 22 passes for 174 yards and no picks. He was similarly effective versus the Patriots in Week 3.
Yet what made the headlines that day was Miami Wildcatting the Patriots to death with five touchdowns. Pats linebackers Tedy Bruschi, Mike Vrabel, Adalius Thomas and Jerod Mayo had no clue where Brown was going. They made up for it by not tackling.
Bill Belichick must address having three starting linebackers over 30 in the offseason. If the unit is slow in play recognition, they're probably too slow to make up for it.
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Will they have a repeat performance against Miami this week?
What I learned
No. Belichick's defense, despite its injuries, will be better prepared for the Wildcat this time around. That means diagnosing some plays pre-snap, overcoming the speed deficiency.
On "normal" plays, don't expect Pennington to do New England any favors by throwing lots of interceptions.
Defensively, Miami may struggle against quarterback Matt Cassel, even with linebacker Joey Porter playing (and talking) out of his mind. Cassel is a better player than he was in Week 3, and is on point with receivers Wes Welker and Randy Moss.
I expect these two teams to play a close game — a microcosm of their division. Last week, the Pats were sunk by some big-time throws from Brett Favre. As much as I like Pennington's game, I don't know that he can replicate those late-game heroics.
Pick: Patriots ... surprised?
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