Miami Dolphins Defense Smacks Brett Favre Into Submission In Minnesota

    The Miami Dolphins are back after a narrow 14-10 victory in Minnesota. The defense put on a dominant performance highlighted by Jason Allen's two interceptions and Cameron Wake's game altering forced fumble leading to a touchdown.



Let's break down the game in its entirety as the Dolphins look to continue their success this season with the New York Jets at home next week.









ESPN

Individual Stats

Miami Passing



C. Henne – 9/15 114 YDS, TD (106.0 QB Rating)



Minnesota Passing



B. Favre – 22/36 225 YDS, 3 INT (44.3 QB Rating)




Miami Rushing



R. Brown – 13 RUSH, 80 YDS, FUM



R. Williams – 10 RUSH, 30 YDS, FUM



Minnesota Rushing



A. Peterson – 28 RUSH, 145 YDS, TD



T. Gerhart – 4 RUSH, 10 YDS



Miami Receiving



B. Marshall – 4 REC, 71 YDS



B. Hartline – 3 REC, 28 YDS, TD



Minnesota Receiving



V. Shiancoe – 6 REC, 86 YDS



A. Peterson – 5 REC, 41 YDS



Miami Defense



J.Allen – 2 INT, 11 TACK, 3 PD



V. Davis – INT, 6 TACK, 2 PD



C. Wake – FF, 1.5 SACK,



K. Langford – SACK



R. Starks – 0.5 SACK



K. Misi – TD





Minnesota Defense



J. Allen – SACK



K. Williams – SACK



C. Greenway – 8 TACK, 2 TFL





Grades

Quarterback – Although on paper Chad Henne played an efficient, mistake-free game, there is major room for improvement. He still locks onto receivers and the defensive line has learned to read his eyes, which resulted in a few balls batted down at the line yesterday.



Still, he faced a hostile road crowd and managed the game pretty well. He connected on his first throw, a 50 yard bomb to Brandon Marshall. I’d like to see him have more opportunities down the field because he throws a pretty good deep ball.



Grade: C+



Backs – Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown played well until two major mistakes. They both had costly fumbles, especially Ricky, who coughed up the ball on the Dolphins own one-yard line.



Grade: D



Receivers/Tight Ends – Brandon Marshall proved why he’s one of the game’s most dominant receivers on Sunday. He beat his man for a 50-yard strike on the Dolphins first offensive play. Brian Hartline ran a perfect route on his touchdown grab in the first quarter.



Grade: A-



Offensive Line – The line handled an excellent Vikings front with efficiency. Jake Long played superb against Jared Allen. The pass protection was solid, giving up two sacks, with both resulting from Henne holding the ball too long.



Run blocking was pretty good, but the Vikings stacked the line for most of the game so production was limited. They did an excellent job on Ronnie Brown’s 46-yard burst off the Dolphins own goal line.



Grade: B+



Defense Line - Brett Favre was beat up, harassed, and hit all day. They did an amazing job in the passing game, but struggled to contain Adrian Peterson in the running game. He racked up 145 yards on the day and often broke into the second level of the defense with ease.



Grade: C+



Linebackers – Cameron Wake is impressing more and more with every game. He forced a game-deciding fumble for a touchdown and also was in on another sack with Randy Starks. Karlos Dansby played solid as usual, providing the touchdown saving hit on the Dolphins goal-line stand in the second half.



The one negative was the missed tackles in the running game. I know Peterson is a load, but they have to work on tackling technique (Misi, Wake). Arm tackles are not going to bring down backs like AP.



Grade: A -



Secondary - To think that this unit was the biggest question mark heading into the season. Jason Allen (2 INT) looks like a shutdown corner in this man-heavy scheme. Wait, did I really just write that? He had the game of his career yesterday. Vontae Davis is looking like a Pro Bowl corner and didn’t give up anything to Favre. He’s aggressive, instinctive, and reminds me of a more physical Patrick Surtain.



Grade: A+



Special Teams - Dan Carpenter didn’t get much action Sunday. Brandon Fields was great as usual, pinning the Vikings back within their own 20 several times. The return game wasn’t much of a factor, and return coverage was excellent, forcing a fumble in the second half.



Grade: B



Coaching – Defensively, Mike Ryan and crew proved again to have a huge edge. Favre was never comfortable at any point yesterday and much of that goes to the various coverages thrown at him. Offensively, there are some issues. It still appears the coaches are lacking confidence in Henne. Outside of the bomb to Marshall, it was an extremely conservative game plan.



What frustrated me the most was the decision to not try to score with 3 timeouts and a minute remaining in the first half. Play to win the game!



Coaching B+



Overall – It was another gritty, ugly, win. But any win is a good win in this league and the fact that both wins came on the road is all the more impressive. We might not know how good this team is just yet, but we do know one thing. They are physical and mentally tough.



The defense looks absolutely dominant. Wake is going to get double teamed as the season progresses, so it will be important that other guys become factors in pass rushing situations. The secondary has been incredible thus far.



Offensively, I’m a little worried about Chad Henne. He doesn’t seem like he has all the confidence in the world. The fact that the coaches don’t let him play is disturbing. It’s time to let the kid give it all he has and if he screws up, so be it. At times he was a gun slinger last season and I haven’t seen any of that yet this year. They should open up the play-calling against a banged up Jets defense at home next week.



It was a great win.



Next Week: Sunday night against the Jets at Sun Life Stadium

Minnesota Vikings Roster Run Down

Offense Coordinator: Darrell Bevell

QB: Brett Favre

Coming off arguably his best season as a pro. And now he’s even a grandpa!

RB: Adrian Peterson

Could be angling for a new contract in 2010. Has led the league in rushing over the last three years.

RB: Toby Gerhart**

Bruising runner who must learn to find a rhythm without a high volume of carries. Better athlete than people realize.

WR: Sidney Rice

Not quick-twitch or explosive, but good long-striding vertical threat. Will he keep working?

WR: Bernard Berrian

Solid No. 2 receiver, especially when defenders don’t physically challenge his frail frame.

WR: Percy Harvin

Became more and more of a focal point as his rookie season wore on. Outstanding stop/start ability, shiftiness and burst.

TE: Visanthe Shiancoe

The exact type of tight end you want playing with Favre. Not a go-to guy, but versatile and very good at keeping plays alive.

H-Back: Jim Kleinsasser

Utility veteran who may lose playing time if coaches decide they want more power-blocking on the edges.

LT: Bryant McKinnie

Below average left tackle. Is never the aggressor in run blocking and struggles with mechanics in space.

LG: Chad Hutchinson

Has lost a bit of his power but still creates holes through angles and second-level mobility.

C: John Sullivan

Not strong enough to win in a phone booth, though shows bright signs for future as a technician and finesse-based blocker.

RG: Anthony Herrera

If he dips to anything below 100 percent, he becomes a liability, particularly as a run-blocker.

RT: Phil Loadholt

Someone needs to tell the second-year pro that he’s 6’8”, 343 and long-armed.

6 OL: Ryan Cook

Sloppy athlete but has starting experience and is capable of playing all five positions.

Defense

Coordinator: Leslie Frazier

LDE: Ray Edwards

Might not be underrated anymore after his 3-sack, 2-tackle for loss performance in the playoffs against Dallas.

UT: Kevin Williams

Down-to-down, the most disruptive defensive tackle in the NFL.

NT: Pat Williams

Turns 38 in October but is delaying retirement for one more year. Good – he’s still immovable against the run.

RDE: Jared Allen

High-octane superstar who commands double teams and makes plays no matter the situation.

5 DL: Brian Robison

Speed and space pass-rusher who can be an excellent fill-in guy off the bench.

SLB: Chad Greenway

Outstanding in coverage and quick wrap-up tackler. Should be getting more Pro Bowl consideration.

MLB: Jasper Brinkley

Was not completely terrible filling in for injured E.J. Henderson last season. Must fight the urge to play east and west rather than downhill.

WLB: Ben Leber

The definition of a solid role player.

4 LB: Heath Farwell

Primary value comes as a special teams standout.

CB: Antoine Winfield

Broken foot basically ruined his ’09 campaign. The best run-defending corner in the game, but at 33 he must prove he’s not running low on gas.

SS: Tyrell Johnson

Good straight-line speed, but coaches want to see the highly-touted ’08 second-round pick make more plays.

FS: Madieu Williams

High-character leader off the field. Lately, has been a tad too quiet on the field. Understands Leslie Frazier’s Tampa 2 scheme well.

CB: Cedric Griffin

Finally figured out how to be at least a borderline-elite cover corner last season. However, tore his ACL in Conference Title Game and may begin year on PUP.

NB: Lito Sheppard

Has become a maligned journeyman, but Vikings realize he was a two-time Pro Bowler when he played in an Eagles scheme that was somewhat similar to this one.

6 DB: Chris Cook**

Second-round rookie could see action right away in nickel. If he’s not ready, Benny Sapp and Asher Allen are decent options.

Special Teams

K: Ryan Longwell

Has unhappily ceded the kickoff duties to Rhys Lloyd, but won’t be giving up the field goal duties anytime soon. He made 92 percent of his attempts last season.

P: Chris Kluwe

One of the smartest people in the NFL. His punting is fine, too.

RS: Percy Harvin

Electrifying breakaway speed makes him a home run threat. 

Minnesota Vikings Schedule

9/09 Minnesota Vikings @ New Orleans Saints

9/19 Miami Dolphins @ Minnesota Vikings

9/26 Detroit Lions @ Minnesota Vikings

Vikings Bye Week

10/11 Minnesota Vikings @ New York Jets

10/17 Dallas Cowboys @ Minnesota Vikings

10/24 Minnesota Vikings @ Green Bay Packers

10/31 Minnesota Vikings @ New England Patriots

11/7 Arizona Cardinals @ Minnesota Vikings

11/14 Minnesota Vikings @ Chicago Bears

11/21 Green Bay Packers @ Minnesota Vikings

11/28 Minnesota Vikings@ Washington Redskins

12/05 Buffalo Bills @ Minnesota Vikings

12/12 New York Giants @ Minnesota Vikings

12/20 Chicago Bears @ Minnesota Vikings

12.26 Minnesota Vikings @ Philadelphia Eagles

1/2/2011 Minnesota Vikings @ Detroit Lions

Report From Vikings Training Camp

August 10, 2010

Where are all of the Vikings Skill Players? Harvin is in Eden Prairie, Favre is still in Hattiesburg living it up with the high school kids, AP is not at camp [Albert Young although is looking good] , and overall the Vikings team has not resembled fully.  This gives Vikings fans even more reason for anxiety and heart attacks because our best three players have started a trickle down effect of skipping out on camp, commencing with Favre at the top. I mean, seriously, The Vikings cannot be projected for the Superbowl if we can't even see their pre-season play. This is the time to get down the new plays, work out the kinks in your game [AP fumbling] , and prepare for the Saints come regular season. Where are these star-studded superstars? Have they lost focus on the big picture, winning the Superbowl in Dallas?  Speculation has to lead you to believe that the Vikings camp is not so tightly organized and that problems will start budding if we don't see the return of our full roster, Favre included. Realistically, with Favre we are a Superbowl favorite, without Favre; we are a wild card favorite, BIG difference. So when will Favre end this onslaught of indecisive waffling? Come, the end of training camp August 14 or perhaps on the 1st regular season game Vs The New Orleans Saints? Well, enough prediction, This is what we do know about the Vikings Training Camp progression:

The Good:

• Chris Cook.  Cook went into camp as a long-shot to win anything higher than a fifth cornerback spot, but now, after a few stellar days, he looks like a legitimate threat to claim at least the nickelback role.  Observers are in love with his size, athleticism and ability to go up and get the ball.  Judd Zulgad said he is the best-looking rookie in Vikings camp.  It would be fantastic to have a young, talented corner playing outside, allowing Antoine Winfield to move inside or, perhaps, to safety.

•   Percy Harvin got hurt over the weekend, and has now left the team because of a death in the family.  Sidney Rice is on the PUP list with a bad hip.  These unfortunate situations opened the door for other receivers to get reps, and former Gopher Logan Payne has been the one to take advantage of it.  Judd Zulgad tweeted that Payne is “catching everything.”  He’s still a very long-shot to win a spot on the roster, but stranger things have happened.

• Chris DeGeare.  Once again, injury has paved the way for a younger guy to get reps with the first team.  In this case, the younger guy is rookie Chris DeGeare, who stepped in at left guard after Steve Hutchinson hurt his shoulder.  DeGeare reportedly looked good in his time at Hutch’s position.  Considering Hutch’s age and the injuries he’s suffered the last couple years, it would be reassuring to have a capable guy to step in should something bad happen.  And just in general, with Artis Hicks now gone, the Vikes need all the offensive line depth they can get.  It may be too early to declare DeGeare a legit threat to Anthony Herrera at right guard, but Brad Childress did say that DeGeare will get snaps at that position.  Clearly, Chilly wants someone to push Herrera.

• Toby Gerhart.  Toby had an eventful first couple of days.  He signed late and showed up a day late to camp, which irritated the veterans and his coach.  Once he did get on the practice field, a couple people noted that he tends not to play through to the whistle.  Perhaps wanting to test Toby’s mettle, Pat Williams flattened him during a drill.  Toby took it like a man and moved on.  We’ll see.

The BAD:

• Everson Griffen.  A Twitter follower of Judd Zulgad’s asked him which version of Everson Griffen showed up at camp (Griffen being a guy who is sometimes known for a lack of motivation).  Zulgad’s reply, “The one playing third team right end.”  This doesn’t mean anything yet.  But, if Griffen is still playing third team right end by the end of camp…well, then we’ll know we don’t have a new starting defensive end on our hands.

• Joe Webb. Those wishing to anoint Joe Webb the future of the Vikings may have been at least somewhat alarmed by the 0-8 performance he put on during drills the other day.  Pretty much every assessment of Webb is the same:  he has a strong arm but his accuracy is brutal, and he is a long, long way from ever being an NFL quarterback.  The lesson?  OTAs and mini camp mean nothing.  Of course, camp doesn’t mean everything either.  Webb could still rebound.  But, for now, he looks like a wide receiver playing quarterback.