Orange You Glad You're Not A Jet Fan? - or - "When Channy Met Rexy" - UPDATED 10/9/09

Well here we are.  Season 2009 is in full swing as 'rivalry week' is upon us.  Every time an AFC East opponent plays the Patriots, the media pundits describe it as "[insert team name here'] is playing their biggest rivals this week".  But we all know who the Dolphins' biggest rival is.  The good old New York Titans!  Huh?

On the football side of things, our biggest rival is whomever is winning the division, so it could be either the Pats or the Jets at any given time.  And no, I did not forget the Bills.  I said whomever is winning the division.

So for the last season and now, the Jets are the ones with the targets on their backs.  But as far as the fans are concerned, the Jets are always our most hated rival, regardless of record.  And it really has little to do with the football.  It really has more to do with the personalities of the fans.  Miami is a leisurely place by nature and the fans tend to like doing things like go fishing, salsa dancing, or just lie out in the sun.  The Jets fans prefer pastimes like murder, mayhem, and the occasional incest.

Now, don't get me wrong, there are plenty of fans who don't fit into the stereotype.  I, for one, prefer belly-dancing.  And not all Jets fans are murderers, obviously.  They would all end up killing each other, and forcing their kind to go extinct.  But the incestuous impregnations help with keeping the numbers up.   All in jest, folks, all in jest.

Anyway, let's get down to the serious business of football.  I want to get into a gameplan, and the paragraphs above were just filler to make sure Jets fans aren't reading this far into the post.  Again, I'm kidding.  But seriously, they have all run off to vandalize something by now.

Nothing would make me happier than to continue doing what we have been doing on Offense.  The last 3 weeks have shown that while we're not setting records, we can compete at a high level with any team.  Well, actually, I'd say we need to do the same against the Jets defense to prove it.  There's something I want to point out about the Jets defense and Rex Ryan.  It's very similar to the Baltimore defense.  I know that sounds blatantly obvious, but I don't mean schematically, though it is similar.  What I mean is that it's fast, reckless and without fear.  The Ravens D is the most penalized in the league, and I think Pittsburgh is in the top 3 as well.  That's because they play without fear, and fly around the field.  The Jets have adopted this policy, and while it hasn't resulted in sacks (yet), it has been disruptive.  A couple of readers have pointed out that the Saints were able to run the ball against the Jets last week.  Well, as someone who has Drew Brees on their FFL can tell you, the Saints HAD to run because the Jets completely shut down New Orleans' high-octane passing attack.  The good news is that we don't have a high-octane passing attack to start with.  The bad news is that without that passing attack, the run defense should be a lot easier for the Jets this week than it was last week.

GAMEPLAN

Offense - The Jets will come in thinking, no, believing they will stop our running game.  They respect our ability to run the ball, and will no doubt be focusing 90% of their practice time on stopping the Wildcat and putting bodies on the field to disrupt Ronnie Brown.  The Dolphins, in typical Dolphin fashion, will try to counter the extra run-defenders, by throwing the ball a lot.  I know it's going to happen.  I got that feeling like when a cat starts acting up before a thunderstorm hits.  

But what should happen is that Miami should not play in fear, or do a gross overhaul of the play-calling that's been working the last 3 weeks.  They should continue to press the run-first agenda.  In too many games, the Dolphins have shown that anytime they are down by 3 or more points they abandon the run altogether.  This would be the wrong thing to do because firstly, the play-action passing attack that is the most effective way to move the ball in the NFL...it don't work if you can't run the ball, or at least show that you are going to continue running the ball.  Secondly, while there is a long-shot that we could still turn this season around, we really won't get there unless we show that we can produce come-from-behind wins.  We shouldn't fear being down at half-time or in the 3rd quarter.  We should embrace the challenge.  Chad Henne needs that challenge.  

Two things I would change about last week's play-calling.  First, take more shots downfield.  I don't mean a lot, but we didn't do it at all last week, and we need to keep the Jets D on their toes.  There's no reason now why we can't run a few deep posts per game. Second, there's no reason why Ronnie Brown can't get more touches per game than he is now.  Sure, we're doing much better in that regard, but they are not throwing the ball to him and this is driving me crazy.  It's like having a wasted position at times.   Anytime he stays in for a block, and no one gets through the line, he should immediately turn around and open himself up to the check-down.  Use every receiver on the field.

Defense - As improved as the Jets are, I think our Defense should have a chance at a season defining performance here.  We had more sacks vs Buffalo than the Jets have had all year.  If we can replicate that, it probably means the downfield receivers will be taken out of the game.  Thomas Jones was a bad-ass last year but has been slow out the gate this year.  Ultimately the two biggest challenges here will be Dolphin-killer Leon Washington, and Rex Ryan.  We know what Washington can do, and our special teams play could be a huge factor in this game.  It will be hard to win field position against the Jets.  I suggest the Dolphins get the returner wrapped up, and THEN go for the ball.  No more solo swatting.  

And I choose Ryan as the other challenge because we know this guy and we know he will have something up his sleeve.  I suggest to you here, that his public assertion yesterday that Braylon Edwards will start the game on Monday, is part of his trickery.  Maybe he's serious about it and Sanchez will wear his arm out this week throwing extra reps to Edwards in an attempt to get some sort of bond going there.  But ultimately, I don't believe they will be ready, timing-wise, to kick-off their career connection this week.  I expect Edwards will be used primarily as a scare-tactic.  So I would cover him one-on-one.  And I wouldn't put Sean Smith on him all game.  I would put Vontae Davis in there at least half the time to jam him at the line.  He'll have enough on his plate trying to get adjusted without having the tough rookie trying to knock him out of his cleats.


FINALLY - This game will be played on the big National stage of Monday Night Football, and both teams will be dressed in their pea-cockiest of uniforms.  Serena Williams just became the #1 tennis player in the world.  J-Lo wore a fancy dress to the previous home-game.  Stephen Ross just won some award for something.  Emilio Estefan was appointed by President Obama to create a National Hispanic Museum.  Gloria Estefan is doing the national talk-show circuit.  Jimmy Buffet is a talent-less hack who makes sub-par beer but everyone still loves him.  And last week's coming out party vs Buffalo was barely televised.  

What does this all lead up to?  Well it's leads up to our biggest game of the season because it's Dolphins/Jets, it's Monday Night, and it's about time we start getting noticed for our ability to play football, rather than our B-list celebrity ownership.  We have this one opportunity to make a statement - that we are not dead and won't roll over.  We are the showcase game of the week, flying solo on Monday, and followed by the Bye week, a big win here could garner us two weeks of good press.  A loss could push us right off the NFL Network's pre-show meeting agenda for two weeks.  Not that we need any motivation to beat the Jets.  

10/9/09 Update

INJURY REPORT:

Dolphins

Probable: Akin Ayodele (back).

Questionable: Joey Porter (hamstring); Philip Merling (ankle).

NY Jets  

Probable:  Larry Izzo; Jim Leonhard; Bryan Thomas.

Questionable: Jerricho Cotchery; Kerry Rhodes; Lito Sheppard.

Doubtful: Donald Strickland; Damien Woody.