Peter King Previews Phins Pats

Article previews the Phins game, video is just a mailbag video.

"Miami interim coach Dan Campbell stood in front of his team three weeks ago, before his first significant team meeting as coach, and said, “Thirty-seven to three. Who knows what that is?” No one raised a hand. That, Campbell said, is the score of the Miami games in the first quarter this year—37-3 in favor of the opposition. A big reason, obviously, why the Dolphins were 1-3, and why Joe Philbin got fired and why the 39-year-old Campbell was now in charge.

This morning, if he so chose, Campbell could say to his men, “Thirty-one to three. Who knows what that is?” And he could tell them that’s the first-quarter score of the two games since he’s taken over—this time in Miami’s favor. I’ve watched a good deal of Miami’s decisive wins over Tennessee and Houston (Dolphins 82, Foes 36), and Miami has come out on fire for both games, playing smart and with intensity.


That’s going to be a vital part of what they do Thursday night in Foxboro, when the 3-3 Dolphins try to shock the 6-0 Patriots and the world. It’s almost unfair, trying to beat the best team in football with very little practice and very little of what has made Miami so good against two struggling opponents so far. New England might be tired, but the Patriots certainly won’t be struggling.

Preparing for the Patriots in a short week “is going to be a firestorm, to say the least,” quarterback Ryan Tannehill told me. “But we’ve got to find a way. It’s brutal getting ready to play them, physically and mentally. But at least we’ve done it, and we’re familiar with them.”


Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald wrote a smart story Tuesday. The physical practices run by Campbell in the past two weeks have been a big part of the Dolphins’ success, and as Salguero wrote: “The only problem with that is this week the Dolphins aren’t going to get very physical at all in practice … That’s bad for a team that has been building its foundation for success on tough, physical practice preparation.” As Campbell said: “We’re not going to do anything physical this week. When you’re on a short week like this it’s hard and what’s most important is rest, recovery and then the mental work. That to me is what it’s about and that’s where this team, talking about the New England Patriots … is so good. They try to find a weakness. They exploit it and then they will repeat it over and over and over.”

This is a rare week when a midweek preview of the Thursday night game seems appropriate—I think this is going to be very good theater. There aren’t many teams that can give New England problems defensively right now. But watching the Dolphins rush the passer in the past two weeks, and watching the interior line push the pile back into the quarterback, I sense what Miami is going to try to do is press the pocket early and get strong defensive tackles Ndamukong Suh and Earl Mitchell to work over the interior of the New England front. Of course, that’s what the Jets tried to do too … and Tom Brady just went away from the run, threw for 355 yards and put up 30 points. So there’s no guarantee that even the strength of Miami’s team, the defensive front (past two games: 10 sacks), is going to be enough to challenge New England.


What Campbell will have to rely on is what he’s preached to the team. It’s interesting how, in football, we rarely mention passion, or love of the game, or raw hustle. Campbell’s been talking about those things consistently—in front of the team and in front of the public—since he took the job. You see a different team now, watching Miami play. No telling if that different team can stay with the Patriots for four quarters, and I’m dubious it’ll be a game for 60 minutes. But at least it’ll be motivation to tune in.


I’m reminded of part of my conversation with Campbell when he took the job. At one point, he started talking to me like I was a player. “We gotta change the culture!” he said, voice rising. “We’re not just going through the motions anymore. We’re gonna be fast and we’re gonna be crisp. Hey, running the ball, running backs, you get a little crease and I want to see you put your head down and bull for two or three yards! The hole’s not always huge. No more getting stuffed at the line!”
I’m not a player, though. When he remembered that and lapsed back into person-to-person-speak, he said: “Sorry. Sorry. I’m just so into it.” Can that be a factor in trying to beat the best team in football, on a short week, on the road? We’ll see."


Also by King - "On Further Review" - a video on the Dolphins new attitude.