Post by Danchat on Dec 14, 2018 19:33:17 GMT -6
Two teams desperate for a playoff push face off in different places - the Dolphins overcame the Patriots thanks to a miracle final play and the Vikings offense played like garbage again, getting the OC fired. But with the Dolphins a poor road team (1-5 record), could the Vikings pull off a win here?
Injury Report
* My thoughts *
Ryan Tannehill has never impressed me as a QB, and PFF really doesn't like him, rating him 34th of 36 QBs. He's passed for just 1578 yards in 8 starts this season, alongside 6 interceptions and 4 fumbles. He prefers short passes. Tannehill simply doesn't have many options to pass to at this point - his top WRs are Kenny Stills, Danny Amendola, and DeVante Parker with rookie TE Mike Gesicki being a massive disappointment. Amendola is a fine chains-mover and Stills will catch a deep pass every once in a while, and Parker will sometimes drop everything and have a good game once every 5 weeks. HB Kenyan Drake will catch plenty of dump-off passes, and he's one of their best athletes. He's lost a lot of snaps to surprising starter Frank Gore, who's still trucking along at age 35. He wasn't very good in Indy last year, so it's shocking to see how well he's played.
The Dolphins O-line looks just like the Vikings', and that's not a compliment. The interior is a wreck thanks to injuries (Josh Sitton and Daniel Kilgore are on the IR). Travis Swanson is a backup-caliber center at this point, Ted Larsen should also be a backup center but is the starting LG, and Jesse Davis was a UDFA last season and has done nothing to prove he's NFL-caliber. Meanwhile, at tackle, things are better. Laremy Tunsil has had a rough couple years in the NFL even as the best OL prospect of his class, but in Year 3 he's finally putting things together as the blind-side man. Ja'Wuan James is a quality RT. The Fins will use TE Nick O'Leary as a blocker frequently; he's comparable to David Morgan.
The Fins are a mixed bag on defense. I'm not impressed with the LBs and DBs minus Howard. CB Xavien Howard has been a legitimate #1 NFL CB, but he's not going to play. That's huge news for the Vikings, as Bobby McCain will be placed on Diggs and hybrid S/nickel CB Minkah Fitzpatrick will probably be on Thielen. Reshad Jones used to be a great safety, but PFF has him pegged as an average one the past couple seasons. McDonald is more of a LB and he's a good run stuffer, but not great in coverage. Looking at the LBs, Kiko Alonso has been slammed for years by PFF. He's a terrible cover LB who should be exploited. McMillan is also a full time starter and in his first season starting after missing his rookie year; he's been graded as a great run stopper. Rookie Jerome Baker has received a Good grade from PFF thanks to his good covering skills.
Like many teams do nowadays, the Dolphins use a heavy rotation on their D-line. Davon Godchaux is the only one on the interior who has played well, crushing the run game. Akeem Spence hasn't been good for a long time. Looking at the pass rushers, Cameron Wake is still going strong and is probably the best player to ever come out of the CFL. Robert Quinn has had a rebound year, but both he and Wake only have 4.5 sacks a piece. The Dolphins are not good at getting sacks, but decent at applying pressure. Charles Harris is trending towards being a 1st round bust. Andre Branch is being massively overpaid as a bad rotational pass rusher.
Predicted Score: Vikings 24, Dolphins 16
The Dolphins' 7-6 record overrates them - their roster isn't very good, several of their wins have come against bad teams, and their two big wins (Patriots/Bears) have come thanks to flukey circumstances. They've relied on their home games in the hot Miami sun to win games, and they travel poorly. I expect the Fins to come out flat, riding on the emotions of winning their "Super Bowl" last week... meanwhile, the Vikings fired their incompetent OC and should receive a offensive boost from that.
Any thoughts?
Injury Report
Dolphins
CB Xavien Howard - Doubtful
SS T. J. McDonald - Questionable
Vikings
WR Chad Beebe - Out
DT Sheldon Richardson - Questionable
TE David Morgan - Questionable
RG Mike Remmers - Questionable
CB Xavien Howard - Doubtful
SS T. J. McDonald - Questionable
Vikings
WR Chad Beebe - Out
DT Sheldon Richardson - Questionable
TE David Morgan - Questionable
RG Mike Remmers - Questionable
* My thoughts *
Ryan Tannehill has never impressed me as a QB, and PFF really doesn't like him, rating him 34th of 36 QBs. He's passed for just 1578 yards in 8 starts this season, alongside 6 interceptions and 4 fumbles. He prefers short passes. Tannehill simply doesn't have many options to pass to at this point - his top WRs are Kenny Stills, Danny Amendola, and DeVante Parker with rookie TE Mike Gesicki being a massive disappointment. Amendola is a fine chains-mover and Stills will catch a deep pass every once in a while, and Parker will sometimes drop everything and have a good game once every 5 weeks. HB Kenyan Drake will catch plenty of dump-off passes, and he's one of their best athletes. He's lost a lot of snaps to surprising starter Frank Gore, who's still trucking along at age 35. He wasn't very good in Indy last year, so it's shocking to see how well he's played.
The Dolphins O-line looks just like the Vikings', and that's not a compliment. The interior is a wreck thanks to injuries (Josh Sitton and Daniel Kilgore are on the IR). Travis Swanson is a backup-caliber center at this point, Ted Larsen should also be a backup center but is the starting LG, and Jesse Davis was a UDFA last season and has done nothing to prove he's NFL-caliber. Meanwhile, at tackle, things are better. Laremy Tunsil has had a rough couple years in the NFL even as the best OL prospect of his class, but in Year 3 he's finally putting things together as the blind-side man. Ja'Wuan James is a quality RT. The Fins will use TE Nick O'Leary as a blocker frequently; he's comparable to David Morgan.
The Fins are a mixed bag on defense. I'm not impressed with the LBs and DBs minus Howard. CB Xavien Howard has been a legitimate #1 NFL CB, but he's not going to play. That's huge news for the Vikings, as Bobby McCain will be placed on Diggs and hybrid S/nickel CB Minkah Fitzpatrick will probably be on Thielen. Reshad Jones used to be a great safety, but PFF has him pegged as an average one the past couple seasons. McDonald is more of a LB and he's a good run stuffer, but not great in coverage. Looking at the LBs, Kiko Alonso has been slammed for years by PFF. He's a terrible cover LB who should be exploited. McMillan is also a full time starter and in his first season starting after missing his rookie year; he's been graded as a great run stopper. Rookie Jerome Baker has received a Good grade from PFF thanks to his good covering skills.
Like many teams do nowadays, the Dolphins use a heavy rotation on their D-line. Davon Godchaux is the only one on the interior who has played well, crushing the run game. Akeem Spence hasn't been good for a long time. Looking at the pass rushers, Cameron Wake is still going strong and is probably the best player to ever come out of the CFL. Robert Quinn has had a rebound year, but both he and Wake only have 4.5 sacks a piece. The Dolphins are not good at getting sacks, but decent at applying pressure. Charles Harris is trending towards being a 1st round bust. Andre Branch is being massively overpaid as a bad rotational pass rusher.
Predicted Score: Vikings 24, Dolphins 16
The Dolphins' 7-6 record overrates them - their roster isn't very good, several of their wins have come against bad teams, and their two big wins (Patriots/Bears) have come thanks to flukey circumstances. They've relied on their home games in the hot Miami sun to win games, and they travel poorly. I expect the Fins to come out flat, riding on the emotions of winning their "Super Bowl" last week... meanwhile, the Vikings fired their incompetent OC and should receive a offensive boost from that.
Any thoughts?
... and neither is this Chris guy.