Miami Dolphins: Fins Need Not Worry About Green Bay Packers Injuries

Miami Dolphins fans got a sense of hope earlier this week. 

After their bye week, the Dolphins will travel to legendary Lambeau Field to face a Green Bay team that will be at anything but full strength.

In the Packers' 16-13 overtime loss to the Washington Redskins, the team that many predicted to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, suffered several key injuries.

Star tightend Jermichael Finley is out for several weeks with a serious knee injury. Linebacker Nick Barnett won't play against Miami and likely anytime soon after having surgery on his wrist.

The Packers' two best players, Pro Bowl quarterback Aaron Rodgers (concussion), and the NFL's sack leader linebacker,Clay Matthews (hamstring) are iffy to play. Neither practiced on Wednesday.

Back-up tightend and former Dolphin Donald Lee (chest), defensive end Ryan Pickett (ankle) and tackle Mark Tauscher (shoulder) also did not practice. Several other players including safety Nick Collins (knee) were limited in drills.

Finally, Green Bay has lost a lesser known name, but arguably its best special teams player for the season in safety Derrick Martin (knee)

Guess what? None of the Pack's "walking wounded" matters.

Because if Miami plays like it has in the team's last two games, the Dolphins could line up against virtually any NFL opponent and lose.

Consider the following tangible examples:

Miami failed to cover New York Jets tightend Dustin Keller in Week 3. As talented as Keller might be, two of his biggest catches on the night were the result of busted coverage assignments or, simply put, no one covered Keller.

Packers' third string tightend Andrew Quarless is a player that I am familiar with from his Penn State career. Trust me, he will catch the ball, especially if Miami gives him open space on the field.   

There is no doubt that Green Bay would suffer a drop off if backup Matt Flynn would take over at the helm for Rodgers.

How much would it matter though if Miami gave Flynn as much time to throw as they allowed Tom Brady and Mark Sanchez?

Matthews is a pass rushing force for Green Bay but Dolphins' quarterback Chad Henne wasn't about to be sacked when he threw his three interceptions against the Patriots.

See, Miami doesn't need the opponent to force the team into making mistakes, at least if its last two games are any indication.

Finally, will it matter who the Packers trot out on special teams? After all, Miami gave up 21 points and essentially gave away the New England game on silly special teams gaffes, linebacker Tim Dobbins remarked that the effort was more like "Special Ed".

Whether it has been kicking the ball out of bounds, or getting the punter mauled or not even touching the opponents returner before he crosses the 30-yard line, or not being able to get their own returner out past the 20-yard line, the Dolphins have been putrid in this one phase of the game.

I can't remember the last time an organization fired an assistant coach a few hours after a game, but that's exactly what Miami did with the much maligned John Bonamego. Replacement Darren Rizzi has to figure out how to get more out of a unit without much consistency or arguably talent.

The bottom line is that the Miami Dolphins "need to get their own house in order" before they start wondering about who plays for an opponent.