Bears Vs. Dolphins: 10 Things Dolfans Should Watch For
The Miami Dolphins and Chicago Bears will kickoff Week 11 of the 2010 NFL season with a Thursday night showdown in Sun Life Stadium.
The Dolphins have captured the attention of the nation with their unprecedented quarterback shuffling, attrition and search for backups.
The Bears, meanwhile, continue to fly under the radar as one of the worst 6-3 teams in recent history. They have one of the league's most inefficient offenses, and boast only an elite rushing defense.
Tyler Thigpen will reportedly get the nod for the Dolphins on Thursday, leaving him in a duel with gunslinger Jay Cutler.
Both teams are right in the thick off their respective playoff races, making Thursday night's game one with plenty of implications and plenty of things to watch for.
So, Um, Who's Playing Quarterback?
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Well, it looks as though Tyler Thigpen is playing quarterback this week. But that doesn't solve the conundrum that has suddenly smacked the Dolphins square in the face.
The team brought in everybody from JaMarcus Russell to J.T. O'Sullivan to Rodney Peete in a scavenge for backups after Chad Henne and Pennington fell to the attrition of Dolphins on Sunday.
If Thigpen is injured or lays a goose egg on Thursday night, Miami will be forced to turn to Patrick Ramsey. Stay tuned.
Will Tyler Thigpen's Mobility Force Dan Henning To Change His Ways?
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One thing that clearly hindered the Dolphins offense through their first eight games of the season was Chad Henne's lack of mobility. Not only does it place added pressure on the offensive line, but it leaves a smaller window for receivers to get separation from their coverage.
With Thigpen at the helm, however, defenses must now plan around a shifty quarterback. Thigpen, unlike Henne, is also comfortable out of the shotgun.
Might these factors persuade offensive coordinator Dan Henning to open up the Dolphins playbook and let Tyler Thigpen take some chances and throw the deep ball? Let's hope so.
The Bears Will Force Thigpen To Win This Game? Is He Capable?
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Sorry for all of the quarterback talk. This is the last quarterback-related slide, I promise.
The Bears have the league's second-ranked run defense, and the Dolphins' comatose run game will not give them any problems. Instead, Chicago will likely center most of their defensive game plan around Tyler Thigpen.
Chicago will make him throw as much as possible. Essentially, they'll make him win the game.
Is Tyler Thigpen good enough to carry a team to win?
His 1-10 career record as a starting quarterback might not persuade many that he can, but do no doubt this scrappy former seventh-round pick. With Brandon Marshall, Davone Bess and a porous Bears secondary, Thigpen should be able to get the job done.
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Al Harris' Integration into the Game Plan
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Looking to add a distinguished veteran presence to their secondary, the Dolphins dumped first-round bust Jason Allen in favor of former Packer Al Harris.
Green Bay dumped Harris two weeks ago, believing that the cornerback has not yet recovered from a severe knee injury he suffered last season.
In limited action against the Titans on Sunday, Harris racked up one tackle. But with an extra week to gel with the defense and grow accustomed to Mike Nolan's scheme, what kind of role will Harris play? The team seems content starting Sean Smith again, which would relegate Harris to a nickelback role.
Still, if will be interesting to see if Harris has anything left in the tank because if he does, Miami has one of the league's best secondaries.
The Dolphins Forcing Jay Cutler To Throw the Ball
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The Chicago Bears might be the worst 6-3 team in history.
Matt Forte and Chester Taylor have failed to revive Chicago's run game, and Jay Cutler continues to complete passes to opposing defensive backs rather than his own receivers. The only real bright spot in Chicago is the team's second-ranked rush defense.
Although the Bears have struggled to run the ball, they still have a decent matchup against the Dolphins 16th-ranked run defense. So in order to beat the Bears, the Dolphins must force Jay Cutler to throw the ball.
So long as they can contain Forte and Taylor, Cutler should start winging the ball around. And when he does that, interceptions almost always follow.
Ronnie Brown...Brown...Brown...Anybody?
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Ronnie Brown is in a contract year. Everything he does this season will go under an intense microscope, as the Dolphins decide whether or not they want to re-invest in the 28-year-old running back.
Last week, Brown's chances of signing a big paycheck and maybe his chances of returning to Miami took a big hit. Ronnie rushed for 11 yards on 12 carries, an astoundingly poor performance.
You have to wonder how much blame should go on Brown and how much should go on the offensive line, considering how well he and Ricky Williams ran last season. Still, bad offensive line or not, averaging less than one yard per carry is inexcusable.
Jake Long's Status for Thursday Night
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It is difficult to gauge the impact of Jake Long missing this Thursday's game. He has not been ruled out yet, and is expected to play, but there is a chance the Dolphins' cornerstone left tackle will have to sit this week with an injured shoulder.
Needless to say, that would not be good. At all.
The Bears have only 12 sacks this season, third fewest in the league. Still, with Julius Peppers lurking in the shadows, they can bring a potent pass rush.
Without Jake Long, Peppers could feast off of Lyndon Murtha, or whoever would fill in. On top of that, the Dolphins run game would suffer even further.
Devin Hester Versus the Dolphins Punt Coverage
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Just when you thought Devin Hester had slipped into oblivion, he has resurrected his career with a stellar 2010 season.
Hester has returned to 2006/07 form, ripping off two punt return touchdowns, averaging a ludicrous 16.7 yards per return in the process. The former Miami Hurricane should be licking his lips with a chance to take some reps against one of the league's worst punt-coverage units.
Advice to the Dolphins: Don't kick the ball to Devin Hester.
Nolan Carroll Is Getting Warmer...
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In the midst of a season marred by special teams struggles, it is refreshing to see rookie Nolan Carroll slowly evolve into a deadly return man.
Carroll has come "oh so close" to returning kicks back to the house on a few occasions, taking one return 38 yards before a nifty Titan tripped him up, preventing a touchdown.
Great special teams only adds another element opponents must prepare for, and if Carroll keeps up this pace, he will start to absorb some attention.
Can the Dolphins' Already Struggling Run Game Be Effective Against the Bears?
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Everybody's focus has centered around the Dolphins' quarterback shuffle, but the real story might be the epic collapse of Miami's rushing attack.
Ronnie Brown's aforementioned struggles, combined with Ricky Williams' sub-par season, have left the Dolphins far too reliant on their mediocre passing game.
This week, Ronnie and Ricky face off against the league's second best rushing defense. The Dolphins will let Tyler Thigpen throw plenty, but he needs his running game to help alleviate some of the pressure the Bears will put on him.
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