“We know it’s not going to be easy, and over-confident is the last thing we are going to be doing when we walk in Thursday”. When asked how the Dolphins will defend Gronk, Campbell joked that there is only one way to limit the big man. The Dolphins have beaten the Titans and Texans by an average score of 41-18, and the games were never that close.
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His late touchdown pass to Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski sealed the game for New England.
Along with the big plays Sunday, cornerback Brent Grimes, who was limited in Monday’s practice due to knee and rib issues, locked down Houston wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (six receptions, 50 yards) by shadowing him all over the field. After an extremely slow start to the season Miller has gotten off to extremely strong starts the past two outings. Miller didn’t see any touches in the second half because of the Dolphins significant lead. It takes significant pressure off the quarterback and gives him time to get through his progressions. For the first time this season, backup quarterback Matt Moore took snaps, playing the 11-percent of the game Tannehill sat out. Adrian Peterson rushed for 98 yards as the Vikings (4-2) won an NFC North game on the road for the first time in three years. We know how good they are. Yes, the Patriots went on to hold off the New York Jets 30-23, but they ran the ball a grand total of nine times for 16 yards. No one is playing better than Brady right now at any position. Cameron Wake has six sacks in two games. It’s the best season of his professional career and Matthews is doing it during a contract season. Unlike the glum and joyless Belichick, Campbell got to his sideline by being ferocious and intense – which is the reason Dolphins’ owner Stephen Ross made Campbell the interim head coach, instead of going the traditional route and promoting offensive coordinator Bill Lazor or defensive coordinator Bill Anarumo. The backfield star was producing solidly on the ground and in the passing game. “Knowing I have 10 other guys depending on me and knowing that they got my back, it helps me play even harder and even faster“. But he also likes the personality change Campbell has brought. To watch the transformation they’ve made to themselves …
With a game against the New England Patriots coming up Thursday night, players had to turn the page rather quickly – no matter how exhilarating the 44-26 victory at Sun Life Stadium was.
“I thought Marino walked out again”, quipped Campbell, referring to Dolphins great Dan Marino, the team’s starting quarterback for almost two decades.
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But that is not the way Dan Campbell works, anyway. While a few people are concerned about the difference in play between the two halve, it was not an execution or play calling issue, but more a player issue – as in the Dolphins began to substitute their second- and third-string players into the contest fairly early in the game. “They’re coached well, they execute, they play well and you have to be on the top of your game for the entire game”.
