The Dolphins have released running back Lee Suggs as Sammy Morris has returned from his NFL suspension.  Morris will serve as Ronnie Brown’s #1 back-up against the Jets on Sunday.

The Miami Dolphins are not very good at kicking the ball or covering kicks.  Opposing teams are averaging 8.9 yards per punt return and 24.9 yards per kick-off return.  Those numbers need to improve for the team’s overall performance to get better.

Olindo Mare is 7 for 11 on FGs, and has made all 4 XPTs this season.  Donnie Jones is averaging 44.6 yards per punt for a net average of 34.8 yards.  Jones has pinned the opposition inside the 20 yard line on 30.8% of his punts.

Wes Welker is a fantastic kick returner!  Welker is averaging 13.0 yards per punt return and 24.9 yards per kick-off return.  With Welker’s contributions on offense, an arguement could be made that he’s the team MVP so far this season.

The Dolphins played tough against the Patriots, but it wasn’t enough.  Joey Harrington started the game and looked pretty decent completing 26 of 41 passes for 232 yards with 2 INT.  Ronnie Brown got stuffed again carrying the ball 17 times for 39 yards (2.3 ypc) and a TD.  TE Randy McMichael caught 6 passes for 84 yards.  WR Wes Welker is really a tough guy and had another good football game catching 9 passes for 77 yards.  Chris Chambers caught 5 passes for 29 yards and ran the ball once for 18 yards.

LB Zach Thomas led a supreme defensive effort by the Dolphins with 12 tackles.  LB Donnie Spragan (8 tackles) and S Tavares Tillman (9 tackles) also came to play.  The Dolphins shut down the Patriots power running game, holding them to 79 yards on 34 carries (2.3 ypc).  The Dolphins only allowed the Patriots to complete 16 of 29 passes for 134 net yards passing.

 

Sammy Morris has been practicing with the team this week after serving his suspension for substance abuse.  Guessing he’ll start out behind Ronnie Brown and Lee Suggs.

The Dolphins have wasted great defensive efforts this season because their offense can’t score (12.8 points per game).  The Patriots have reinvented themselves into a power running team (154.0 yards rushing per game) and are off to a good start to the season.

The Dolphins offense has the talent to challenge the Patriots, but they will have to protect the football.  Daunte Culpepper looks like he’s still hurting a bit, but that is no excuse for not getting rid of the ball sooner (21 sacks) or fumbling the football.  Teams have been effective throwing the ball against the Patriots (222.8 yards passing) and the Dolphins have been quick to abandon their running game this season.  The Dolphins would be smart to throw short passes to Wes Welker, Randy McMichael and Ronnie Brown to move the Patriots defense closer to the line, and then go over the top to Chris Chambers and Marty Booker.

The Patriots will not change their offense, even thought the Dolphins have been stingy vs. the run only allowing 3.0 yards per carry.  The Pats will pound the Dolphins with rookie running back Laurence Maroney (294 yards rushing) and Corey Dillon (236 yards rushing).  After the run is established, Tom Brady (891 yards passing) will spread the ball around as he really doesn’t have a favorite receiver.  This is really a testament to Tom Brady’s greatness. 

The Patriots never lose games against inferior teams at home, and they won’t start today.  The Pats will win by at least 10 points.