Keys To Victory - Phins

Each week there is a new gameplan, a new formula for victory. Each week certain aspects of the game just loom larger than the rest. The idea is not to divine the course of the contest, but to highlight the match-ups and intangibles that I'll have my eye on during the broadcast.

1. Blocking & Tackling - This is an away game after a long layoff, and let's remember that the NFL rules make full contact practices into a rarity. In fact, the NFL allots a limited amount of padded practices to be used sparingly throughout the season. The Patriots only have two such practices left. Without Chandler Jones and Jermaine Cunningham, the chance of "coming out flat" on defense is a possibility. Hopefully the players can transition from that long holiday layoff and back to full speed without too much trouble. Tackling was an issue in The Bills game, but over the past two games it has improved. This 2012 Defense is a good unit when they make tackles without YAC and they make turnovers. Turnovers may be hard to come by some games, but good tackling is something you can control. Execution decides football games, and that is especially true in a divisional game on the road. Offensively, the blocking just needs to be as good as it has been; this is no time for a regression.

Its time for the "other" 1st round pick (Hightower)
 to be the center of attention

2. Dont'a Hightower in 3-4 Concepts - Without the top two 4-3 DEs on the depth chart (Jones/Cunningham), Belichick and Patricia might opt for more odd fronts with 3 down linemen. Currently the depth at LB is much better than the depth along the D Line, so it would make sense to work with 4 LBs. I look to Dont'a Hightower as the key because he will be the benefactor of increased playing time if even a slight schematic shift is imminent. Likewise, it will slot him at the weak side OLB with Rob Ninkovich doing the heavy thumping on the strong side. Hightower will be able to diagnose plays from the back side, giving him freedom to read and react as a playmaker. Its time to turn on the engines and see what this 1st round draft pick can really do. He seems soft spoken, but I know he can lay a guy out if he gets a chance. I am looking for a sack, a big hit, and a good play in coverage to round out a breakout performance from Dont'a.

Tannehill has already improved on The Dolphins
2011 W-L record

3. Turn It Over Tannehill - I actually like what Tannehill has done this year, but he's on the cusp of getting this dubious nickname. When Tannehill plays clean, The Dolphins have 5 wins. When he turns it over a couple times, they have 6 losses. Rookie QBs tend to get the benefit of the doubt, and I want everyone to know that I am giving him a pass here as well. Tannehill needs to be viewed as a good QB because when he is on his game, his team wins the game. He doesn't have the consistency or experience yet, but he can hurt you if you let him. We've got to attack Tannehill like we did Luck, with pressure. In some ways the defense needs to take what they get, but when the time is right they need to pounce on Tannehill like a pack of hyenas. It will be interesting to see who gets the extra snaps along the defensive front without Cunningham. My money is on Justin Francis and Brandon Deaderick, but you never can tell with Bill Belchick at the helm.

3,299 yards, 24 TDs, and 3 INTs - 105.2 Rating

4. Brady For MVP - Tom Brady is obviously the MVP of this team, and that's the same every week. However, I am looking out for Brady on the straight and narrow. He has been so locked in since the imfamous Richard Sherman chest thumping in Seattle that I keep waiting for him to have another tough game. I mean I don't expect him to get traded to the NFC South and throw 5 picks in a game, but I just keep looking out for a misstep by Brady. He only has 3 INTs on the year, and that never ceases to amaze me. Still, I almost get scared by statistical karma and the law of averages, but then I remember that stats don't apply to guys like Brady. Records were meant to be broken, and streaks were made to be snapped. Tom Brady doesn't care about any of that because he's so focused on making the right decisions for his team. After a long layoff, Brady needs to come out and remind everyone why he's the GOAT.

Reggie Bush is not bad...

5. Bottle Up Bush / Rangle Reggie - Can't decide which I like better, but the point is that Reggie Bush needs to stay in the middle of the field. Reggie should be constantly surrounded by Patriots because he is The Dolphins most consistent and reliable weapon. He's a versatile athlete that gets moved all around the formation to create opportunities for him to get the ball in space. The Patriots will be prepared for where he will be and what he can do, but they need to execute on the field with spacing and tackling. Rob Ninkovich needs to set a hard edge to force Bush back inside to Spikes and Mayo. Most importantly with Reggie Bush is that we'll need to eliminate the 20 yard plays by giving safety help. Reggie is a dangerous enough weapon (and Tannehill a meek enough QB) to justify bringing a Safety into the mix. We just have to do whatever it takes to keep a lid on his explosiveness on runs, screens, and WR patterns. He's a special player, and deserves special treatment.