Nice to see things return to almost normal, eh? The Pats played a game on American soil for the first time in three weeks. The game was competitive and interesting, as opposed to the team’s two previous,pre-bye week matchups . The stakes were high given the time of year and the opponent, division rival Miami. And the Pats did what they always do following a week off which is win, this time getting it done to the tune of 27-17. It wasn’t the prettiest game they will play – there were a number of plays left out on the field on offense and defensively, the secondary will need to get better in all facets with explosive passing attacks like the Colts and Saints on the upcoming docket. But there were plenty of top shelf performances all around, starting with the incomparable Randy Moss and his one-handed catching powers and coursing throughout the active roster as evidenced by the play of everyone from SebastianVollmer to Tully Banta-Cain, to Stephen Gostkowski to (yep!!) Adalius Thomas. About the only thing unusual about Sunday’s win was the weather, again completely unseasonable (a snowstorm in mid-October is strange enough, but 70 and sunny in November?) But who cares – it was gorgeous, and so was the final outcome. So with that in mind, let’s open up the classroom windows here at Patriots Daily University and get on with this week’s report card.

OFFENSE: Overall Grade: B

So many things worked for Pats offensively that it’s hard to figure why things got so bogged down when they got in the red zone. To be sure, the biggest problem the offense had was finding a way to score touchdowns from in close as opposed to settling for field goals. Three first half drives that lasted seven or more plays ended in three points, including the two-minute march at the end of the second quarter that traveled 70 yards in 10 plays. These sort of problems creep up on teams from time to time, especially against a tough defense like Miami’s (the Colts, for example, were held to four field goals in the first three quarters at home last week against the 49ers). But while its nice to say that it will be up to the defense to make plays in upcoming games at Indy and New Orleans, the truth of the matter is that both teams are so explosive offensively that it’s very likely the Pats will have to match them point for point. And that means punching the ball into the end zone with a little more frequency. Still, we can’t go any further without recognizing that the Pats rolled up 432 total yards, averaged 4.5 YPA on the ground and got two more big pass plays than the Dolphins did, both to Moss.

Quarterbacks: B+

Tom Brady’s second throw, a bomb to Moss, was about a yard underthrown and resulted in a fantastic interception by Miami’s rookie corner Vontae Davis. After that, he led scoring drives on five of the next six possessions. He finished up with a tidy 25-of-37 for 332 yards with one TD pass along with the INT, a sterling 9.0YPA and a passer rating of 93.5 Best of all, he looked as smooth and comfortable in the pocket as he has at any point this season. He took a couple of sacks but both were of the coverage variety and for the most part, whenever there was any pressure even on the fringes of his comfort zone, he felt it, slid away from it with ease and still had himself in perfect position to make pretty much every throw. His sideline strike to Moss that resulted in the terrific, one-handed catch was an absolutely perfect pass and he routinely put just the proper amount of zing on every one of his nine completions to Wes Welker . Brady said after the game that he still doesn’t feel as though he’s at 100 percent in his comeback from the knee injury and maybe he won’t get there until next year. But his play Sunday was a fine tuneup for this week’s showdown with the Colts. Oh and by the way, Brady is now 20-0 in his last 20 starts at home. Not bad.

Running Backs: B

While watching the game, more than one of my viewing associates and I reacted with shock upon seeing Laurence Maroney continuously put his head down and barrel into the line of scrimmage or blast through open creases like an actual, NFL running back.Maroney ran hard all day, probably with the most frequency that he has yet this year and the result was a nifty 82-yard game with a TD on 20 carries. He wasn’t flashy, his longest run of the day going for just 10 yards. And there seemed to be a few plays where the Dolphins knew he was coming and collapsed any and all running lanes before he even had a chance to get going/dancing. But all day long, when he had the ball and there was room to run, he found it. It was an encouraging, important performance by Maroney, who will likely get one more week as the featured guy before Sammy Morris returns and gets hurt again. BenJarvus Green-Ellis saw his most playing time as a lead fullback and responded with some solid blocking and one seven-yard carry. And Kevin Faulk had yet another typical Kevin Faulk game, blocking well out of shotgun formations, carrying twice on draw plays for 15 yards and catching four passes, mostly screens or checkdowns, for 35 yards, one of which was an 11-yarder to convert a third and long that was an ankle breaker. There was less balance between run and pass than in the past couple of games, but when the backs, particularly Maroney, got the call, they mostly delivered.

Wide Receivers: A

Moss continues to be a sight to behold. Forget about the one-hander for a moment, as utterly amazing a play it was. On his touchdown, which started out as just a little crossing pattern underneath, he got a couple of steps on Davis and when the young corner seemed to be closing in, Moss unleashed a furious stiff arm right into the middle of Davis’s mug, neutralizing him and clearing the way for a leisurely, 71-yard Sunday afternoon stroll into the end zone. When he wasn’t busy putting up highlights, he was drawing double coverage routinely and still Brady almost connected with him on another go for broke throw or two. Never mind Boston Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy’s trademarked, mail-it-in column from Monday in which he rips a player to shreds for having the temerity to not want to say much to him or the rest of the media regardless of how great said player is. Moss is awesome, and invaluable to the Pats. He could not say another word for the rest of his career and it wouldn’t matter. What matters is that he a great player and does nothing but make the Pats a better team. Who gives a shit that he doesn’t say much in press conferences? My guess is no one but Shaughnessy. Anyway, in other receiver related matters, Welker had another fabulous day, catching nine of the 10 passes thrown his way for 84 yards. He continues to be as slippery and hard to cover as ever and on top of that he is remarkably consistent. One of my notes from watching the game says simply, “Welker, of course.” He now has three straight 50+ catch seasons with the Pats, still leads the NFL in receptions and is en route to yet another 100+ catch final result. Sam Aiken had another nice game with two important grabs and drew a big pass interference flag in the third quarter. And while Brandon Tate didn’t have any effect on the passing game before leaving with a leg injury, he did do some damage on a couple kick returns. The Pats were down to three healthy, active receivers by midway through the second quarter but still didn’t miss a beat.

Tight Ends: A-

Ben Watson just keeps on proving his doubters (hello, me!) wrong. Watson, playing through back pain, had another plus performance with four catches for 49 yards. Brady looked for him five times and made the four stick, the best being a second quarter seam route on which Watson went up and over his man to snare the ball. It was another athletic play by one of the more athletic guys on the team and I’m here to report that there will be no more wondering where this solid play was over the past four years but just reveling in and appreciating it. Chris Baker played the fourth most snaps of anyone on offense according to Mike Reiss of ESPN Boston and even though he made no catches, he was a big part of the running game and the blocking schemes that allowed the Pats to post 4.5YPA as a group. And Mark Levoir saw some time at the spot as well, particularly in three tight end sets. Watson and Baker provide a superior combination of size, speed, athleticism and football smarts at the tight end position. The Pats are lucky to have them.

Offensive Line: A-

This week marked the most compelling evidence yet that Vollmer is ready for the big time. Facing off with the insufferable Joey Porter, Vollmer smothered him, not allowing the Dolphins biggest fraud anywhere near Brady, or pretty much anyone else for that matter. Porter didn’t register a single stat and Vollmer played as big a role in that factor as anyone. Matt Light may well be back in the next couple of weeks but Vollmer has performed so well in his absence, it may be Light’s last hurrah in Foxboro, given his impending free agent status. Dan Koppen went down with a knee injury in the second quarter and if he’s out long-term it could be a big deal. But not only did his departure preclude him from scoring his weekly false start penalty, it allowed rookie Dan Connolly to get some reps in the middle of the line. Connolly performed admirably, keeping his spot solidified and drawing high praise from Brady and Bill Belichick after the game. Logan Mankins bounced back from his tough game in London with a tough, solid performance and Stephen Neal and Nick Kaczur didn’t seem to have any issues on the right side. Given Brady’s being kept relatively clean, the run game’s strong showing and the ability to diversify when needed, it’s safe to say these guys had themselves a very nice day in the sun.

DEFENSE: Overall Grade: B

A bit of a role reversal took place with the defense on Sunday. The linebackers, clearly the red-headed stepchild of the unit prior to the bye, had a big game while the secondary,which has been a huge strength all year seemed on its heels for some stretches. One game after breaking out in a big way against Tampa, Brandon Meriweather was clearly off his game while Thomas, easily the most disappointing player on the entire team over the first half, provided his best performance of the season. The D allowed three long scoring drives and didn’t force any turnovers but made adjustments to all of the Miami offensive gimmicks and held firm when it mattered most in the fourth quarter and the later stages of the third. It wasn’t the defense’s best game of the year but the group managed to bend without breaking and managed to hold yet another opponent to less than 20 points.

Defensive Line: A-

Of course, the highlight of this unit has to be the shifting of mammoth nose man Vince Wilfork to right end. Facing Miami’s mountainous left tackle Jake Long and playing without Jarvis Green, the Pats had Wilfork and Mike Wright swap spots multiple times as a counter measure and Wilfork, as usual, delivered. Displaying the athleticism that makes him so much different and more versatile than most traditional interior linemen,Wilfork stayed in the game on most third downs/passing situations and with a couple of exceptions, rewarded the coaching staff for making the move. As good as Ty Warren is, as much attention as he draws from the opponent week in and week out,Wilfork proved Sunday that he is the best defensive lineman on the team. It’s a real shame that he probably won’t be back next year thanks to his free agent status and the fact that unless he takes what the team offers, he won’t get nothing. But we’ll worry about that later. For now, let’s give more props to Warren, who played despite suffering an ankle injury in London and had four tackles while providing a bit of pressure on Miami quarterback Chad Henne . And rookie Myron Pryor, a sixth-round pick, did more to help his raise his stock, pitching in three tackles and looking solid against the Wildcat or Pistol or whatever trick plays the Dolphins ran from time to time. There were a couple of plays when backup quarterback Pat White was in the game on which the Dolphins line managed to get the Pats D-line backpedaling. But not enough for them to win.

Linebackers: B+

Finally, Adalius! After he picked up a loose ball and ran it in from 59 yards out (even though it wound up being ruled an incomplete pass), Thomas showed some of the speed and shiftiness that, when combined with his strength, made him look like the prototypical backer back in his early Pats days. After that play, all he did was fill up the stat sheet, with four tackles, two for a loss, with a pass blocked, a sack on that dreadful attempted double reverse pass out of the Wildcat and another hit on Henne . Whether Thomas can sustain the pace he set Sunday remains to be seen but it sure was nice to see him not only do something but do a lot of things. Then, there was Banta -Cain, who is playing brilliantly these days and has seen his role increase from pass rushing specialist to all-around player. He had nine tackles including one screamer in the third quarter in which he buried Ricky Williams in the backfield and also managed to knock around Henne a few times for good measure. These two performances made up for less than stellar days for both Jerod Mayo, who had 12 tackles but only made a couple plays of consequence (one of which was a stuffing of Ronnie Brown at the goal line on Miami’s second half opening drive) and Gary Guyton . And of course, we couldn’t go any further without mentioning yet another complete no-show by our man Derrick Burgess, who once again did diddely poo. It’s quite hard to imagine what Belichick saw/sees in this guy, but he is completely, utterly and totally useless and the next big play he makes will be his first as a Patriot.

Secondary: C+

Bless you, Brandon McGowan. Without you, our professors here at PDU would have had to hand out a really lousy grade which is never fun, especially following a win. McGowan continues to be one of this season’s most impressive players. He provided his customary high tackle total while dishing out a couple of punishing hits, making a textbook, cut down tackle of Brown on a sweep attempt from the two-yard line in the third quarter, forcing another fumble (it went out of bounds) and mostly taking Miami’s tight ends out of the passing game. Can’t wait to see if he can stay with the amazing Dallas Clark this week – if he plays the way he’s played all year against the Colts, he’ll definitely make Clark, only the best tight end in the game, earn his money. After that, though, the pickings get slim.Meriweather whiffed on a couple of tackles and was completely steamrolled on Williams’ second quarter TD run. Hopefully, he bounces back quick and plays more like the guy who did so much damage against Tampa and Tennessee because an effort like Sunday’s will get him torched against Peyton Manning and the Colts. Leigh Bodden and Darius Butler weren’t that great either, each getting burned by that all-world Miami receiving combo of Davone Bess and Greg Camarillo. Butler is just a rookie and will have growing pains like this from time to time. But Bodden absolutely must be better, both in coverage and with his tackling, especially if he’s covering Reggie Wayne this week. There were just too many missed tackles and a couple penalties too many as well. Finally, Patrick Chung continued to see his time increase and played most of the game like he’d been shot out of a cannon. His first quarter sack from right up the middle on an all-out blitz that was timed perfectly was a thing of beauty. He did pick up a roughing the passer penalty on a similar play on which he arrived a bit too late, but all in all, he played another solid , improved game and clearly has more of the coaches confidence than the missing in action James Sanders, who started the year as the starting strong safety but has been relegated to special teams duty thanks to the emergence of McGowan and Chung.

Special Teams: A

Gostkowski did it all on Sunday. He made four of four field goal attempts, booted a couple kickoffs out of the end zone, keeping them away from Miami return master Ted Ginn, Jr. and even made a big tackle of Ginn on the one return he looked like he might break. Chris Hanson’s 34.7 average on three punts was typically lousy, but it does include a 31-yarder from the Miami 42 in the first quarter that pinned the Dolphins deep and when was the last time you saw him do that and not boot the ball into the end zone? Tate looked good on his two returns, averaging over 30 yards per run back and will likely continue to hold down the role if his leg injury isn’t too serious. And practice squader Kyle Arrington acquitted himself nicely in his first game of the year, making two tackles and drawing praise from special teams captain Aiken. This unit did about as well as one could hope for.

Coaching: A-

Let’s see… Moving Wilfork to defensive end for multiple snaps? Check. Scheming the Wildcat to the tune of 10 plays for seven yards? Check. Attacking the Dolphins young secondary? Check. Adjusting to the Pistol look after White led the Dolphins second quarter scoring drive. Check – maybe even in all caps if you saw the way Belichick was lambasting his linebackers on the sideline afterward. About the only miscalculation was leaving the DBs on an island more than a few times in obvious passing situations, but again, that’s a non-issue if Bodden, Meriweather and Butler all play better. Having had two weeks to prepare, Belichick and his coaches put the team in position to be successful all day, which they do more often than not. I wonder what sort of stuff they’ll be cooking up for the Colts? Can’t wait to find out.

Post from: Patriots Daily

Making the Grades – Week 8 vs. Miami
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As the Patriots have only one backup QB on the roster (Brian Hoyer) Garcia would provide a veteran presence on the practice field and could fill in should the unmentionable occur.

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Flash: Garcia Flies to Boston
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A win after a bye is nice. A win against a division opponent? Even better.

As the euphoria of victory wears off, attention must be paid to the literal last line of defense. While Miami QB Chad Henne’s numbers from Sunday were only okay, the infamous Patriots Daily lap must go to the New England secondary.

This group had a few nice plays, including Patrick Chung’s sack in the first quarter. Viewed as a whole, though, the work of DBs Leigh Bodden, Darius Butler, Shawn Springs and the Brandons Meriweather and McGowan left much to be desired – and much to be needed going into next week’s contest at Indianapolis.

After all, if Greg Camarillo can get five catches for 71 yards, what can the Colts top-flight receivers do? Bodden and Butler gave a little too much cushion in their coverage (when not getting called for pass interference), allowing the Dolphins to convert nine of 16 third down attempts (52 percent).

There’s also something that the defense gets asked to do all the time, which I believe is called “tackling.” The defensive backs could use some work on this aspect. Meriweather somehow missed 6-foot-8, 270-pound tight end Joey Haynos on a short pass, allowing 15 extra yards. Springs and Bodden failed to get off blocks to stop the Dolphin rushing attack in the second quarter.

McGowan led the team in tackles with 11, but also committed what looked like the biggest mental error of the day. On third and goal from the one, Miami’s Ronnie Brown swept to his left. The Dolphins had gained one yard rushing the previous two plays and now looked to pass. With Tully Banta-Cain in his face, Brown shotputted the ball to Haynos, who was so wide open he may or may not have been rehearsing a one-man show at Foxwoods. Had McGowan even feinted coverage, Banta-Cain would have sacked Brown, forcing Miami to take the field goal.

Safety James Sanders deserves mention only for going offsides on a kickoff, adding to the already sizable danger of returner Ted Ginn. Kicker Stephen Gostkowski quelled the threat by booting the ball out of the end zone.

In all, a lackluster day for the defensive backs. Patriots secondary, PD asks – nay, demands – that you take a lap.

Email Chris Warner at chris.warner@patriotsdaily.com

Post from: Patriots Daily

Take A Lap – The Secondary
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Sure, Tom Brady passed for 332 yards while finding five different receivers. One receiver, Randy Moss, had 147 yards on six catches. But this week’s exclusive PD Game Ball goes to a defender who made the biggest impact in every way.

A quick look at the stat line shows Vince Wilfork getting three tackles vs. the Dolphins. A quick look at Sunday’s game shows him doing so much more.

Wilfork, listed at 6-foot-2, 325 pounds (and several picnics heavier than that), shifted from defensive tackle to end and back throughout the day, shutting down the middle or the edge in a Herculean effort that no statistic could justify. The only time Vince got pushed back was during a Dolphin triple-team, when the guard, center and behemoth tight end Joey Haynos collaborated to move him (hard to resist the bad pun of a Wil-forklift).

Had he manned the outside edge on QB Pat White’s 33-yard run in the second quarter, we have no doubt that Wilfork would have put an end (so to speak) to the Wildcat foolishness. Instead, Tully Banta-Cain burst upfield to take pitch responsibility, allowing White to run off-tackle and into the free range of Patriot territory.

With a few adjustments, New England answered the Wildcat call. No one had more to do with their success than Wilfork, recipient of this week’s PD Game Ball.

Email Chris Warner at chris.warner@patriotsdaily.com

Post from: Patriots Daily

PD Game Ball – DL Vince Wilfork
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Miami makes New Englanders nervous. Maybe it’s the sunshine or the bright buildings. Maybe it’s the topless sunbathing (sorry, no link). For Foxboro fans, it’s that the Dolphins always give the Patriots a tough time.

Such was the case Sunday, as New England held on for a 27-17 victory.

Several quick thoughts on the battle…

Taking The Physical: When describing the AFC East in his post-game press conference, Bill Belichick used the word “physical” roughly 400 times. Miami pounded out 133 yards rushing and 21 first downs.

Mucho Moss, Por Favor: With his one-handed grab and his 71-yard TD (complete with a straight arm that would make a traffic cop jealous), Randy Moss continued to make his case for the highlight reel. Tom Brady spread 25 completions among five different receivers and could have had a sixth if BenJarvus Green-Ellis had held onto one in the end zone.

Neal On Fourth Down: Okay. It’s fourth and an inch with 1:14 left. A first down wins the game. You’re an offensive lineman. What do you do? Do you have a false start?

No. No, Stephen Neal, you do not. New England had five penalties for 49 yards Sunday, each one dumber than the next. (Also dopey: fouls by Leigh Bodden and Derrick Burgess on the same play to negate Bodden’s third-quarter interception.)

Flipper, Indeed: Apparently, Dolphins receivers have them for hands. On their penultimate possession, Brian Hartline and Ted Ginn missed passes that would have kept Miami going.

On the final play of the game, though, Greg Camarillo’s one-handed snag looked positively Moss-like.

Where The Wild Thing Was: The Dolphins forewent (I know that sounds weird, but it’s a word) the Wildcat and began with a so-so passing offense. Then they forewent the foregoing (oh, God) and traveled 80 yards in five plays for a touchdown in the second quarter. Is Chad Henne’s helmet too tight, or is he wondering about his role?

Heinous Haynos: New England’s Brandon Meriweather whiffed on tight end Joey Haynos, allowing a short gain to become a 21-yard pickup. Not good, considering Haynos has the lateral quickness of a doorstop. Brandon McGowan had 11 total tackles. Cool. Letting Haynos get behind him for a TD? Uncool.

No, Not A Ginn: Miami kick returner Ted Ginn had only one run-back that made Patriots fans cringe (a 37-yarder in the first). Kicking the ball into the end zone for a touchback helped. Stephen Gostkowski did so twice, including once after an offsides penalty set him five yards back (stupid, stupid penalties!).

Thomas The Tank Engine: Linebacker Adalius Thomas carried the load with four total tackles and a “you-can’t-fool-me” sack on a reverse, putting in his best overall effort of the season.

Email Chris Warner at chris.warner@patriotsdaily.com

Post from: Patriots Daily

Gut Check – Game Eight vs. Dolphins
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1. The Wildcat vs. Patriots Defense

For Patriot fans the thought of the wildcat still lingers like a sip of skunk beer or bitter arugula (for the club seat fans). Last year, fans even had the audacity to boo Bruschi, Seymour, Vrabel and Belichick after the wildcat ran all over the Patriots D in week 3 of last season. Really Pats fans, really? The Patriots rebounded in their second meeting with the Dolphins and were largely able to contain the wildcat. However, the Dolphins have a lot more experience with the formation now as they have been running it all year and teams have not really figured out a way to stop it.

2. Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown vs. Patriots LBs

When the Dolphins are not running their wacky but effective formation, they have a very solid running game. Ricky Williams is having a great season considering his 2 year puff-break and is returning to his old dominant self. Look for Guyton and Mayo to plug the gaps and prevent any large runs.

3. Laurence Maroney and BenJarvus Green-Ellis vs. Miami LBs

The Patriots have their own dreaded running back tandem. Unfortunately it’s their hair that’s ‘dreaded’ and not how opponents feel about them. With Fred Taylor and Sammy Morris out it will be interesting to see how Maroney and the Law Firm will play against a team with an actual defense.

4. Ted Ginn Jr. vs. Pats Special Teams

Miami had no business winning last weeks’ game against the Jets. They scored only 9 of their 30 points on offense. Ted Ginn Jr. deserved all the credit for that win with his 2 100-yard kickoff returns. That should have gotten the Pats attention. Look for them Patriots to stop Ted Ginn Jr. in his tracks.

5. Brandon Tate and Sam Aiken vs. Miami Secondary

Sam Aiken had his best Pro day against the maligned Bucs, while Brandon Tate came off the PUP list just days before playing in London. With Edelman out with an arm injury, look for these two receivers to step up.

Post from: Patriots Daily

Matchups of the Week – Patriots vs. Dolphins
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CBS sent their top crew of Jim Nantz and Phil Simms down to Giants Stadium this week to call the Chargers/Giants game at 4:00pm. This means we get the number two squad of Greg Gumbel and Dan Dierdorf. OK, they’re not the worst combination out there…I actually really like Greg Gumbel, and though CBS had a stronger first team when he was on with Simms.

Dan Dierdorf

Here are some thoughts from Dan Dierdorf on tomorrow’s Patriots/Dolphins game:

(On Miami): After their 1-15 season, and the recovery last year, everyone in the AFC East takes the Dolphins a little bit more seriously than they used to, especially the Patriots who had problems with them last year.  We only know what the ‘wildcat’ is because of how it broke out of the gates.  And where did that happen – against New England last year.  That 38-13 loss at home where Ronnie Brown went crazy is still an irritant to New England.

(On Miami’s Wildcat Offense): It is part of who Miami is.  At times it has been a real asset.  But then you take last week and Miami was basically inept on offense, and yet somehow managed to win a football game.

(On New England): The bad news for Miami is every week that goes by we have seen a more comfortable and efficient Tom Brady in the pocket for New England. Even Brady’s biggest fans would have to admit he looked rusty at the beginning of the year.  Of course, what would you expect coming back from a total knee re-construction?  What you look for are signs of progress and improvement and he has shown those signs every single week.  This is also a Patriots team that has won its last two games by a combined score of 94-7.

(On match-ups where Miami may have three rookies in secondary): Miami won’t start three rookies back there because they’re trying to prove something.  They’re doing it out of necessity.  It’s their first, second and fifth round picks if Davis, Smith and Clemons all start.  I have a hard time imagining three rookies shutting down this New England passing attack.  It could be – not pretty.  Randy Moss can take a lot of coverage with him by going deep and that will leave the underneath for Watson and Welker.  And they also have been pleasantly surprised by Julian Edelman who has turned out to be a pretty solid receiver.

(On Miami-New England): This is a chance for New England to deal Miami a pretty good blow.  If Miami loses this game, it will really put them behind the eight ball in trying to catch up.  A young quarterback and a young secondary is not what you would call the ideal formula for success playing against a Bill Belichick football team.

ESPN

ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown Presented by IBM will preview the day’s matchups Sunday at 11 a.m. ET with Chris Berman and analysts Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson and Keyshawn Johnson. ESPN senior analyst Chris Mortensen and NFL insider Adam Schefter will provide headlines and league news.

The two-hour program will include reports from Rachel Nichols covering the Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals, Michael Smith at the Dolphins – Patriots game, and Bob Holtzman in Indianapolis for the Texans at Colts. Other highlights:

The Birth of the ‘Wildcat’: The last time the Miami Dolphins visited New England, they unveiled a new formation dubbed the “Wildcat” with great success – six plays, four touchdowns. Greg Garber looks back at the day the ‘Wildcat’ was born in the NFL.

NFL MATCHUP, Sunday 3 A.M. and 7:30 A.M. on ESPN

NFL Matchup with host Sal Paolantonio and analysts Merril Hoge and Ron Jaworski will preview the weekend’s games by bringing viewers inside the film room for the Xs and Os analysis of the matchups. The 30-minute program – taped each week at NFL Films in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey – highlights team strategy and game planning. This week’s features:

Dolphins @ Patriots – Jaworski breaks out his ‘Xs and Os Files’ and highlights how the Pats have been able to create favorable mismatches with player alignment and motion before the snap.

NFL Network

Sunday morning (9:00 – 1:00)  on NFL Gameday Morning, Kara Henderson reports from Dolphins-Patriots matchup.

Sunday 7:00 AM ET – AFC Playbook – Brian Baldinger, Sterling Sharpe and Joe Theismann discuss:

·         How the Patriots will keep the Dolphins’ wildcat offense in check

·         Why Patriots WR Wes Welker is QB Tom Brady’s new go-to guy

Post from: Patriots Daily

Media Notes – Not Dierdorf!
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Virginia at Miami

(9:00 AM EST Channel 38): Virginia can keep itself alive for Bowl consideration with a win here, though they’ll need at least 2 more in addition. A loss would pretty much kill any shot of going Bowling at all. Miami still has an outside shot at getting to the ACC Championship game as they hung Georgia Tech’s only loss on them. So the game is important to both teams, though somewhat of an elimination game for at least some of their remaining goals for the loser.

Virginia LB Aaron Clark

(#41): Clark is a big, middle linebacker who checks in at a tall 6′5″ 245 and is playing more this season but still a backup. Came into the season with 11 career solo tackles, but that really shouldn’t be held against him because he has played behind a lot of great talent at Virginia such as Clint Sintim and Antonio Appleby. Now, recovering from a major knee injury this year, its taken him some time to work his way back in but he is playing decently in spots. The fact is, Clark is a project because he got injured after winning the starting spot as a junior and has never played a full season as a full-time player. Now a senior, he probably is only going to be a role player as he comes off injury and Virginia looks to groom younger players. But Clark is a talented, big kid who has shown a lot in spurts and deserves a shot as a free agent in an NFL camp.

Virginia LB Denzell Burrell

(#45): Burrell is starting at outside linebacker for the Cavaliers and playing well. He shows NFL size at 6′4″ 245 lbs., has good speed, a lot of experience and already plays in Al Groh’s defense which is similar to the Patriots’ system. Good special teams player. This year Burrell has 32 stops thru 8 games, has held up well on the edge and is decent in coverage. He has good athletic ability. A late round choice, he’d appear to be a perfect candidate for the Patriots to take a look at as a role player who fits their system and also is good on special teams, as well as having some room to grow into a better player.

Virginia Athlete Vic Hall

(#4): Hall is a do-it-all player for Virginia and a tremendous athlete. He has started at quarterback, cornerback and wide receiver at various times for the Cavs. He doesn’t have much of a future as an NFL quarterback, but he has shown some ability as a slot receiver and was a very good corner prior to playing more offense this year. For the year Hall has 18 catches for 205 yards and a touchdown. He has played some corner too and done decently there. Last year he started 11 games at corner and had 59 tackles and two picks. Hall is a great athlete who could play corner, receiver, return kicks and cover kicks in the NFL. He makes a good project due to his natural athletic ability. If he can post some blazing times at the combine, he may justv shoot up the charts as a draftable player.

Miami RB Javarris James

(#5): James has had a solid, but not spectacular, career at Miami. The cousin of Edgerrin James, the former ‘Canes and NFL star, Javarris has not had the career Edge did at the U. But he has been solid, put up over 2,000 career yards rushing and shown decent receiving ability as well. This year he leads the ‘Canes in rushing with over 400 yards and a 5.2 per carry average. He’s been a bit banged up lately, but is probable to play this week. James is a fairly solid, shifty back with decent power but only average speed. Look for him to be about a mid to late round pick. He is versatile and solid in many aspects, but great at none. Perhaps if he bulked up or so from his 210 lb. frame he could be a fullback or more of a power back in the NFL.

Miami T Jason Fox

(#64): Fox is a team captain and underrated player. He plays left tackle for the Hurricanes and is tough, physical and rarely gets beat on a pass assignment. On run blocking he is strong and relentless. He is a bit slow footed physically, so may be better suited for the right side in the NFL, but can certainly play at that level. He strikes me as someone who may interest the Patriots, though he’d have to prove he has the athletic ability to block in space. Additionally, the Patriots have locked up a lot of tackles long-term so may not be looking to add another in the next draft. If they did, Fox would be a possible mid-round choice.

UConn at Cincinnati

(8:00 PM ABC): The Huskies head to Cincinnati who surprisingly find themselves at 8-0 and 4th in the Nation at the moment. Cincinnati was thought by some to take a step back this year as they only returned one starter on defense. But, instead they have only gotten better and tougher under fantastic head coach Brian Kelly. They still have dreams of National Championship games, so they’ll be focused in prime time at home here. UConn has suffered some very difficult losses two weeks in a row after the death of one of their team members. They’ll need an inspired performance to pull an upset here.

UConn LB Lindsey Witten

(#9): A pass rushing defensive end with the size for linebacker and possibly the athleticism as well. As a part-time player last year, Witten showed he could get to the quarterback with 5 sacks for the year. This year Witten is playing more and playing well. He is listed at 6′5″ 260 lbs. and he moves well for a man that size. Started only 8 games in 3 years entering this year but had 10.5 sacks. This year he has matched that in 8 games, which has sent his draft standing soaring up the charts. His best chance at the NFL may actually be as a linebacker as he may not be stout enough at the point of attack to play 4-3 end. He has a lot of ability and makes plays.

UConn S Robert Vaughn

(#33): A slightly undersized, but smart and solid player at safety, Vaughn is a local kid who hails from North Attleboro, Massachusetts. Had 27 starts entering this season. Was 2nd team All Big East last year. This year, Vaughn ranks third on the team in tackles and continues his playmaking ways with 4 interceptions, which gives him 13 for his career. Vaughn is a typical centerfielder type, smart, good instincts and ball skills, directs the plays and isn’t the most physical guy in the world. Good, but not great athletic ability, he is probably a late round choice. Has been a very good college player and can play special teams, so he’ll get a shot.

Cincinnati Quarterback Tony Pike

(#15): Pike is actually unlikely to play after breaking his non-throwing arm and dislocating his non-throwing wrist in a game October 15th. He has resumed practicing, but probably won’t get back in this week. He is a top NFL draft prospect however. He was displaying great decision-making, accuracy and leadership for the undefeated Bearcats while hurt. We’ll check back on him around Bowl time, but he has great size, an excellent arm and was moving up into first round discussions at the time he got injured.

Cincinnati S Aaron Webster

(#17): Webster was actually the only returning starter on the Bearcats defense this year, though many others had significant experience. A good cover safety and pretty effective run helper, Webster has solid 211 lb. size and the versatility to both cover and play in the box. A smart, leader who can play special teams, he may interest the Patriots as a sort of late round pick with lots of experience, decent ability and able to play special teams they seek.

Post from: Patriots Daily

College Scout – November 7, 2009
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Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports was willing to do this, and the result is a very insightful one-on-one interview with the Patriots head coach. Cole, a veteran NFL writer who had covered the Miami Dolphins for 15 years at The Miami Herald and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel asked the right questions of Belichick, and got some very interesting answers.

Those in the media who complain about Belichick “hating” the media (Yeah, you, Joe Pos – halfway down the page) and the outside world in general, apparently just aren’t coming at the right times, or asking the right questions.

A few examples:

Asked about the trade of Richard Seymour, and whether everyone on the Patriots roster is available for the right price -

Each guy’s price is different. If a team asks, you see what the price is. Now, is Jerod Mayo available? No, not really. But there are certain players who are young that have a certain number of years left on their contract that you want on your team, so you’re really not going to trade them. Those guys are realistically not available, no. But is everybody else available for a certain price on every team? I would say, for the most part, they probably are. Who’s willing to give that? What you want and what someone else is willing to give, that’s usually very different. In this case (the Seymour trade – in return, the Patriots get Oakland’s first-round pick in the 2011 draft), it worked.

Asked about when things started to turn around for Matt Cassel last season –

It changed when he took all the walkthroughs. He was the guy in the meetings, he took all the reps in practice, he was the guy with the game plan, he was the guy saying, “Hey, I don’t like this route, I like this.” He had the input and it was catered to him, just like how Brady says, “I don’t like that play.” OK, we’ve got plenty of other plays. But that might be a play that Cassel likes running, but he doesn’t say anything because he’s not the quarterback at the time. When he became the quarterback, he started talking about it and saying what he liked. I think all quarterbacks go through that. So where they are now and where they are going to be, as they grow into it and the coaches figure out who they are, sometimes the only way you find out is to actually let them do it.

Asked about winning in the NFL -

Jimmy probably said the same thing to you that he once said to me: “You’re really only competing with about 10 teams a year. If you just say out of the way, the other 20 teams will screw it up themselves. Whether it’s ownership or personnel or coaching or some combination of factors.” Ego, internal struggle, something will happen to two-thirds of the teams, that was Jimmy’s theory. That leaves you with about 10 teams that you’re going to have to really battle with. Those teams have it together. They’re going to make good decisions and if you play bad football, they’re going to take advantage of it. They’re going to find some undrafted guy or some middle-round pick or some veteran free agent who is going to spark their team. Pittsburgh is always going to be there. Indianapolis is always going to be there. They may not win it, but they’ll be there. You’re going to have to beat them. Philadelphia is going to be there. Yeah, [quarterback Donovan] McNabb might get hurt one year and they might go 7-9, but they’re going to be there. You’re still battling them on every front.

There’s quite a bit more in the article as well. It’s so rare to see columns like these, that I feel compelled to point them out, and keep them for posterity.

Post from: Patriots Daily

Jason Cole Scores Sitdown With Belichick
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2009 hasn’t been kind to the Dolphins, their record is a middle of the road 3-4 and the Wildcat is looking like a cougar after a long night hitting the bars.

It’s not all bad for the fish though, they have beaten the Jets twice. They can lose every game the rest of the season and it will still be a success. No matter how bad it gets in Miami at least they’re not the Jets.

What to eat?

This week we’re going with a Latin American marinade. Mojo criollo, or “Creole sauce”. It’s a citrus and garlic based sauce that goes well with pretty much any protein. It could go with any protein, but we’ll be using flank steak. Flank steak is most commonly used for fajitas. It’s a large, flat cut and has long muscle fibers that all run in the same direction. It is very low in fat and has a very meaty, beefy taste as is common with cuts from heavily used muscles.

It is easy to cook, and very tender and flavorful as long as marinaded, cooked, and cut correctly.

The cut is the most important part. Flank Steak has to be cut in small slices across the grain. For the best results it should be cut at about a 30 degree angle as well.

This cutting method turns what could be a tough stringy cut of beef into a tender almost falling apart meal. Cut it with the grain and you’ll be chewing all day long.

Mojo Criollo Flank Steak (serves 6)

• 8 ounces orange juice
• 2 ounces lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 garlic bulbs, smashed with flat of knife blade
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 3 teaspoons salt
• 1 tablespoon cilantro, chopped
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 2 pound flank steak

Prepare the marinade from all ingredients above.

Marinade the flank steak for about 2 hours. This isn’t a marinade that you should use overnight. The acid in the marinade will cook the meat if it is given enough time.

Grill over a medium heat, about 350 degrees. For medium rare cook for about 7 minutes on one side, flip and cook for another 5.

Allow the steak to rest, covered with foil for 5 minutes. Cut as directed above – turn the steak so that the grain is perpendicular to the knife, tilt the knife about 30 degrees and cut into 1/4″ strips.

Pile up onto a sandwich with optional roasted peppers and onions. Or use the cut steak to make fajitas.

What to drink?

This week we’re serving Stout on the buffet table. Stout is a style of beer that grew out of Porter. Originally named Stout Porter it was the strongest (stoutest) offering in the Porter brewers lineup.

Many of the stouts we have today are weaker than many porters. The shift in strength happened as the result of taxation issues. To help English brewers sell more beer inIreland, Parliament imposed taxes on Irish brewers based on how much malted barley they used in their beer.

One Arthur Guinness figured out that he could replace the dark malt in his stout porter with unmalted roasted barley. The color and taste would be similar, but as it was unmalted he wouldn’t be paying any taxes on that portion of his ingredients.

This new style of stout, Irish Dry Stout, became a best seller and was quickly driving older versions of stout such as English Sweet Stout and Milk Stout out of the market as demand for the new Dry Stout kept increasing. Not only in Ireland but in England as well. To this day the English consume the second highest percentage of their beer as stout. Three guesses as to who is first.

Irish Dry Stout will usually run from 4% to just over 5% ABV, although American versions may be stronger. Carbonation will be low. All will have a roasted character with some coffee or chocolate flavors and aromas. Bitterness is high for the alcohol level, because not only hops but the roasted grain contribute bitterness to this style. They are usually light in body, which can be hidden by the low carbonation, and finish dry.

Their roasted grain flavors match very well with grilled meat. The citrus in our marinade is also a somewhat surprising match, resulting in a chocolate covered orange type taste.

The most famous Irish Dry Stout is obviously Guinness. The typical Guinness is Guinness Draft (Draught), 4.2% ABV and available everywhere. Guinness also bottles Guinness Extra Stout, stronger at 6% and a very nice beer. Those who have traveled to Africa and the Caribbean may have been lucky enough to try Guinness Foreign Extra Stout. This beer is not in the Dry Irish Stout style, being far too strong at 7.5% but is worth the trouble trying to find on your next vacation.

The second of the big Irish Stouts is Murphy’s. Lower in alcohol from Guinness at 4%, sweeter and less bitter.

There used to be a third option, Beamish Irish Stout, that fit in between Guinness and Murphy’s. Heineken bought Murphy’s and Beamish, closing Beamish to concentrate on Murphy’s, so the Big 3 are now the Big 2.

A step above these mass produced stouts is O’Haras Celtic Stout from Carlow Brewing Company. This is my favorite Irish Stout from Ireland.

The Irish Dry Stout is popular with American craft brewers, with no shortage being available. However, these tend to be draft beers and not bottled. This allows them to be served on nitrogen mixed gas like
Guinness instead of being carbonated. You stand a very good chance of finding a Dry Irish Stout in any brewpub you visit.

Gritty McDuff’s from Portland, ME does put out their Black Fly Stout fits right in with the Irish originals, only being slightly stronger at 4.6% ABV.

Paper City from Holyoke, MA has Riley’s Stout. It is fairly similar to Gritty’s Black Fly Stout.

A pair from California are available in New England. North Coast Brewing has Old No. 38 Stout at 5.5% ABV and 53 IBUs it stretches the definition of the Irish Dry Stout style. Moylan’s Dragoons Irish Stout is more traditional at 5% ABV and 28 IBU.

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Patriots Buffet Table – Dolphins at Patriots
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