WEBVTT - Drive Time: Breaking Down the 2023 Miami Dolphins Schedule 0:00:00.440 --> 0:00:05.080 Drive Time with Travis Wingfield begins. Now, let me check 0:00:05.080 --> 0:00:11.520 your pulse if you're not far though. What is up? Dolphins? 0:00:11.640 --> 0:00:14.800 And welcome to the Draft Time Podcast, part of the 0:00:14.800 --> 0:00:20.120 Miami Dolphins podcast network covering your team, your Miami Dolphins. 0:00:20.160 --> 0:00:23.320 How's it going, everybody? I am your host, Travis Winfield. 0:00:23.520 --> 0:00:27.760 And on today's show, Oh yeah, it is schedule release day. 0:00:28.120 --> 0:00:31.400 We're taking a look at the Dolphins twenty twenty three schedule. 0:00:31.440 --> 0:00:34.559 We've known who we play, now we know when we 0:00:34.600 --> 0:00:38.160 play them. We're gonna look at the matchups, the unique schedule, quirks, 0:00:38.200 --> 0:00:41.920 primetime games, rest time, all of that pertinent schedule information 0:00:42.280 --> 0:00:46.080 from the Baptist Health Studios inside the Baptist Health Training Complex. 0:00:46.159 --> 0:00:53.080 This is the Draft Time Podcast. Maggie Gaffs. Let's go 0:00:53.120 --> 0:00:55.640 ahead and first start as we do on this podcast. 0:00:55.720 --> 0:00:57.240 You probably heard it by now, but in case you're 0:00:57.240 --> 0:00:59.720 getting your news here on Drive Time, let's go ahead 0:00:59.720 --> 0:01:03.400 and rip off the Dolphins twenty twenty three schedule. It 0:01:03.480 --> 0:01:06.119 is out, It is glorious, and it begins here. Cue 0:01:06.120 --> 0:01:08.360 the music. On the road for the first couple of 0:01:08.400 --> 0:01:11.679 games September the tenth, week one at the La Chargers 0:01:11.720 --> 0:01:14.160 at four to twenty five Eastern Week two on the 0:01:14.240 --> 0:01:17.600 road in New England on September seventeenth for an eight 0:01:17.640 --> 0:01:22.080 to twenty kickoff. That's right, Primetime football, Sunday Night football. Alright, 0:01:22.240 --> 0:01:26.600 Sunday Night Dolphins and Pats Broncos. Week three, nine to 0:01:26.640 --> 0:01:29.679 twenty four, one o'clock for the Dolphins home opener against Denver. 0:01:29.920 --> 0:01:32.600 We go to Buffalo Week number four for October first 0:01:32.600 --> 0:01:35.120 at one o'clock to face the Buffalo Bills, and then 0:01:35.160 --> 0:01:37.280 a couple of home games. Week five on October the 0:01:37.319 --> 0:01:39.800 eighth against the New York Giants at one o'clock here 0:01:39.840 --> 0:01:43.959 at hard Rock Stadium. The following week, October fifteenth, Carolina 0:01:44.000 --> 0:01:46.840 Panthers cut the town for a one o'clock kickoff. Week seven, 0:01:46.920 --> 0:01:50.520 back on the road for some more alright Sunday ninth 0:01:50.960 --> 0:01:54.400 Eagles on the road eight twenty on October twenty second. 0:01:54.560 --> 0:01:57.760 October twenty ninth the Patriots at home one o'clock kickoff 0:01:57.880 --> 0:01:59.640 from the trip to Germany. Week number nine for the 0:01:59.720 --> 0:02:02.880 Kansas Chiefs, a nine to thirty am kickoff in the East, 0:02:03.120 --> 0:02:07.040 Week tens the bye week Week eleven, that's November the nineteenth, 0:02:07.240 --> 0:02:09.680 Las Vegas at one o'clock, a couple of road games, 0:02:09.680 --> 0:02:13.120 the Jets on Black Friday three o'clock kickoff, the Washington 0:02:13.200 --> 0:02:16.600 Commanders on December third at one o'clock in the East. 0:02:17.000 --> 0:02:19.800 Three home games, Titans at home for Monday Night Football 0:02:19.800 --> 0:02:22.160 on December the eleventh, the Jets at home for one 0:02:22.160 --> 0:02:25.280 o'clock on December the seventeenth. Week sixteen, the Cowboys on 0:02:25.360 --> 0:02:28.000 Christmas Eve at four to twenty five on the road 0:02:28.280 --> 0:02:31.280 in Week seventeen in Baltimore that's on New Year's Eve 0:02:31.320 --> 0:02:34.280 one o'clock kickoff, and Week eighteen against the Buffalo Bills 0:02:34.520 --> 0:02:37.679 that is TBD. So that is your schedule. If you 0:02:37.720 --> 0:02:39.800 want to see the entire thing in a written format, 0:02:39.880 --> 0:02:41.920 go to social, go to Miami Dolphins dot com, go 0:02:41.919 --> 0:02:43.520 wherever the hell you want. You can find it pretty 0:02:43.560 --> 0:02:46.400 much anywhere. Here's some quick thoughts before a breakdown each 0:02:46.440 --> 0:02:49.000 game for you all here, West Coast trip out of 0:02:49.000 --> 0:02:51.639 the way early. I love that you can acclimate better 0:02:51.680 --> 0:02:53.880 to a new time zone and a six hour flight 0:02:54.280 --> 0:02:56.200 in a week one game better than any time of 0:02:56.200 --> 0:02:58.360 the year unless you're coming off of bye. But that's 0:02:58.520 --> 0:03:03.040 essentially what this is. Also, one road game after December third, 0:03:03.120 --> 0:03:05.320 that sounds nice. Not a whole lot of cold football 0:03:05.320 --> 0:03:07.080 out there, and you want to be playing your best 0:03:07.120 --> 0:03:09.639 ball late, right. This team is tough to beat at home, 0:03:09.680 --> 0:03:12.080 and I know we always want the early season miserably 0:03:12.120 --> 0:03:14.919 hot games, but coming from the north down here, when 0:03:14.919 --> 0:03:18.480 you're in snowy twenty five degree weather, that eighty degrees 0:03:18.520 --> 0:03:21.280 can be just as tough as the September humidity. The 0:03:21.320 --> 0:03:24.040 only time we are home the same time as the 0:03:24.160 --> 0:03:28.080 Hurricanes University of Miami are weeks five, eight, and eleven. 0:03:28.240 --> 0:03:30.000 It feels like it's been five or six games per 0:03:30.040 --> 0:03:32.280 year the last couple of years, just three this year, 0:03:32.639 --> 0:03:34.720 and this is purely cosmetic, although I do think the 0:03:34.760 --> 0:03:36.320 quality of the field. It's always nice to have a 0:03:36.320 --> 0:03:38.680 good quality field, especially have a track team like we 0:03:38.800 --> 0:03:42.880 have here. But all those Dolphins home games with Hurricanes 0:03:42.920 --> 0:03:45.320 season over means we finally get to see a lot 0:03:45.360 --> 0:03:48.360 more painted field the aqua end zones, which as a 0:03:48.400 --> 0:03:51.720 former amateur grounds crew member in my backyard, I love 0:03:51.800 --> 0:03:54.280 seeing that. Three of the first four games on the 0:03:54.360 --> 0:03:56.920 road is difficult, although I would argue it's not the 0:03:57.000 --> 0:03:59.480 toughest part of the road schedule. We haven't had a 0:03:59.520 --> 0:04:02.040 lot of Sunday night games in the past either two 0:04:02.160 --> 0:04:05.320 of those. This year, we've also got five Island games, 0:04:05.360 --> 0:04:08.080 games where the only game on television at that time 0:04:08.400 --> 0:04:10.400 tells you how this team is viewed from my ratings 0:04:10.400 --> 0:04:13.520 and expectations perspective. Not to mention the four to twenty 0:04:13.600 --> 0:04:16.240 five kickoff versus Dallas on Christmas eth I'll probably go 0:04:16.279 --> 0:04:18.279 out to the entire country and a good chance for 0:04:18.320 --> 0:04:20.279 the Week one game with a late kickoff there as well. 0:04:20.600 --> 0:04:21.800 So why don't we go ahead and get into this 0:04:21.880 --> 0:04:25.120 and breakdown each game? Strap in gonna be a long podcast. 0:04:25.160 --> 0:04:28.000 I've got a lot to cover here. I'll reiterate this 0:04:28.080 --> 0:04:30.040 for Week one against the Chargers at four to twenty 0:04:30.080 --> 0:04:33.200 five Eastern time. First off, i hate not playing Sunday 0:04:33.240 --> 0:04:35.200 Opening Day at one o'clock, but it is what it is, 0:04:35.400 --> 0:04:38.400 and I'll reiterate this. It's best to get this trip 0:04:38.440 --> 0:04:41.400 out of the way from jump. I'll be curious see 0:04:41.440 --> 0:04:43.359 how McDaniel and his staff want to do this, But 0:04:43.400 --> 0:04:46.719 typically the longer trips they see the team travel on 0:04:46.839 --> 0:04:49.120 Friday compared to the usual Saturday. But coming off the 0:04:49.160 --> 0:04:52.359 long break between that final preseason game and the season opener, 0:04:52.720 --> 0:04:56.279 you've got options. I think the storyline here is pretty clear, right, 0:04:56.480 --> 0:04:58.279 fifth pick in the draft, sixth pick in the twenty 0:04:58.360 --> 0:05:01.080 twenty draft, to a tongue of ilew Justin Herbert. Both 0:05:01.080 --> 0:05:04.120 teams found their franchise quarterbacks in that draft on back 0:05:04.160 --> 0:05:06.240 to back picks. They're going to compete on the same 0:05:06.240 --> 0:05:08.720 field for years to come. The series right now tied 0:05:08.760 --> 0:05:11.200 at one apiece for those selections, So we get the 0:05:11.279 --> 0:05:13.719 rubber match here early on in the first game of 0:05:13.760 --> 0:05:16.159 the new season. They're working on a new offense with 0:05:16.279 --> 0:05:19.400 Kellen Moore. We're working on new defense here with Vic Fangio. 0:05:19.640 --> 0:05:22.040 So who can acclimate to their new scheme? Quicker is 0:05:22.080 --> 0:05:24.680 a good week one type of question. Typically we hear 0:05:24.720 --> 0:05:27.760 that defenses are ahead of offenses early on, right, So 0:05:27.839 --> 0:05:30.080 I like that we have the continuity on offense where 0:05:30.080 --> 0:05:32.560 they might be trying to figure it out still in 0:05:32.600 --> 0:05:35.479 their first game. As far as personnel, the Chargers did 0:05:35.560 --> 0:05:37.960 nothing or next to nothing, I should say on the 0:05:38.040 --> 0:05:40.560 veteran market, just Eric Kendricks, only big sign they had 0:05:40.600 --> 0:05:44.120 in free agency. Some fun potential matchups here. They are 0:05:44.160 --> 0:05:47.120 built differently than the Dolphins from a receiver perspective. We 0:05:47.160 --> 0:05:49.240 have the speedy, shifty guys. They have the trees that 0:05:49.320 --> 0:05:51.239 can go up and make the plays. They added Quinton 0:05:51.320 --> 0:05:54.080 Johnson in the first round, the massive wide receiver from TCU. 0:05:54.400 --> 0:05:56.600 So you look at the makeup of their skill players, 0:05:56.360 --> 0:05:59.320 it's rebounders and contesting catch guys. Man, we struggled with 0:05:59.320 --> 0:06:02.159 it last year. Williams came back from that game or 0:06:02.200 --> 0:06:04.200 for that game, I should say, and made a bunch 0:06:04.200 --> 0:06:07.440 of contested catches down the field. We also sacked Justin 0:06:07.480 --> 0:06:09.359 Herbert a handful of times. That's a key for me. 0:06:09.760 --> 0:06:12.560 Plaster to those big receivers who rely more on contested 0:06:12.600 --> 0:06:15.760 catches than separation and really get after the quarterback and 0:06:16.200 --> 0:06:19.240 if they're going to throw those contested balls this time around, 0:06:19.360 --> 0:06:21.640 with this defense that puts more eyes in the quarterback 0:06:21.680 --> 0:06:25.120 and has more playmakers like a Jalen Ramsey, you open 0:06:25.200 --> 0:06:28.200 up the opportunity for more interceptions, which that quarterback will 0:06:28.200 --> 0:06:31.000 give you opportunities for those here and there. They'll get 0:06:31.000 --> 0:06:33.120 a bunch of parts back on their offensive lines. That's 0:06:33.120 --> 0:06:36.520 a fun matchup. I think Rashaun Slater versus Bradley Chubb 0:06:36.560 --> 0:06:38.839 or Jalen Phillips off that left side of the offensive 0:06:38.880 --> 0:06:41.479 lines a great one. Corey Linsley is back in the 0:06:41.480 --> 0:06:44.480 middle and man him against Christian Wilkins and Zach Sieler. 0:06:44.560 --> 0:06:47.720 Sure is fun. They had Zion Johnson last year at 0:06:47.720 --> 0:06:49.960 a guard spot and that produced the best game of 0:06:50.000 --> 0:06:52.880 the year for Christian Wilkins. Man he whipped him in 0:06:52.920 --> 0:06:55.039 that one. I expect to make a year or two jump, 0:06:55.040 --> 0:06:58.440 But just think about Christian against young offensive lineups the interior. 0:06:58.480 --> 0:07:00.800 Besides Corey Lensley up in the air right now for 0:07:00.839 --> 0:07:03.440 the Chargers. They also add some speed at the second 0:07:03.560 --> 0:07:06.560 level with Kendricks and Henley Dyon Henley Go Koug's. They 0:07:06.560 --> 0:07:08.520 were one of the bottom run defenses in the NFL 0:07:08.560 --> 0:07:10.960 last year, but largely because of their injuries. So though 0:07:11.040 --> 0:07:14.520 they should have back you know Sebastian, Joseph Day, Morgan Fox, 0:07:14.560 --> 0:07:17.520 Austin Johnson, their d line was like our cornerback room 0:07:17.600 --> 0:07:19.960 last year, just too many injuries. The thing I'm most 0:07:19.960 --> 0:07:22.280 looking forward to, and this is where I really love 0:07:22.720 --> 0:07:25.920 the offensive staff that we have. This was the game 0:07:25.960 --> 0:07:27.600 plan that got the best of us right like. They 0:07:27.680 --> 0:07:31.120 played their press funnel, really clamped those intermediate routes with 0:07:31.200 --> 0:07:34.000 trail technique and forced us to throw too different spots 0:07:34.000 --> 0:07:35.880 in the field. We missed a couple of deep shots 0:07:35.880 --> 0:07:37.960 we had, like the one that Tyreek lost in the lights. 0:07:38.280 --> 0:07:40.680 That was a chance to really open up that defensive 0:07:40.720 --> 0:07:42.800 system and it didn't happen for us. But what I 0:07:42.800 --> 0:07:45.800 find really fascinating here is that we've got Vic Fangio 0:07:45.880 --> 0:07:49.080 on staff and Brandon Staley got his start under Vic Fangio. 0:07:49.480 --> 0:07:53.200 So now you have a defensive coordinator who created the 0:07:53.240 --> 0:07:55.880 defense that they're going to run against Tua and this offense. 0:07:56.240 --> 0:07:58.520 That sounds like a good chance and possibility to crack 0:07:58.600 --> 0:08:00.960 that puzzle. I did see and Vic having lunch that 0:08:01.080 --> 0:08:02.400 did in lunch, and that was kind of cool to see. 0:08:02.520 --> 0:08:04.520 But as far as the offensive staff goes working on 0:08:04.560 --> 0:08:07.280 that tape for multiple weeks of prep, I like the 0:08:07.320 --> 0:08:09.640 opportunity they have to really solve something that got the 0:08:09.640 --> 0:08:12.160 best of them last season. With our coaching staff having 0:08:12.200 --> 0:08:15.000 the entire summer to plan for that game, I just 0:08:15.040 --> 0:08:17.760 trust them over almost any other coaching staff to do that. 0:08:17.840 --> 0:08:20.360 So Week one fun matchup, and it gets more fun 0:08:20.400 --> 0:08:23.080 in week two because you get primetime football. Hey, al right, 0:08:23.200 --> 0:08:26.880 Sunday night, where are you? Week two at the Patriots 0:08:26.960 --> 0:08:29.560 Sunday Night eight to twenty kickoff. Second straight opponent that 0:08:29.600 --> 0:08:32.680 we'll see with a new offensive coordinator and system and 0:08:32.679 --> 0:08:35.080 play caller. I mean, it's gonna be better than it 0:08:35.120 --> 0:08:36.720 was last year. It can't be any worse, so the 0:08:36.720 --> 0:08:40.520 same idea of continuity on offense really carries over here. Traditionally, 0:08:40.720 --> 0:08:44.000 playing the Patriots earlier is I guess the preferred option. 0:08:44.360 --> 0:08:47.439 Their December record with Bill Belichick is unmatched, as they 0:08:47.440 --> 0:08:49.680 are a team who typically uses that early portion of 0:08:49.679 --> 0:08:52.800 the year to find their identity and then they become 0:08:52.880 --> 0:08:54.680 super tough to beat. And although that hasn't been the 0:08:54.679 --> 0:08:57.480 case in recent years, the idea of how they build 0:08:57.520 --> 0:08:59.320 their teams at the course of the year, you'd rather 0:08:59.440 --> 0:09:02.080 playing early than late, and both our Patriots games are 0:09:02.120 --> 0:09:05.240 before Halloween. I'm wondering if these games will finally follow 0:09:05.280 --> 0:09:08.680 a different script this time around, given the vast personnel 0:09:08.720 --> 0:09:10.960 chains we've had. But it didn't last year, so maybe 0:09:10.960 --> 0:09:13.080 it won't. But going back a few years now, every 0:09:13.080 --> 0:09:15.800 single matchup with these damn guys is one that features 0:09:15.840 --> 0:09:18.760 like three or four less possessions you typically get in 0:09:18.800 --> 0:09:21.839 an average game. They usually have relatively high third down 0:09:21.880 --> 0:09:24.280 conversion rates and low red zone rates as the two 0:09:24.280 --> 0:09:26.800 teams played that bend but don't break style, and then 0:09:26.800 --> 0:09:28.760 we find out who could pull away in the fourth quarter. 0:09:29.000 --> 0:09:31.800 The Dolphins typically get those ones, the early season ones especially, 0:09:32.000 --> 0:09:34.680 but I'm inclined to think that if we can change 0:09:34.679 --> 0:09:38.400 this time around, given the philosophical scheme shift on defense. 0:09:38.520 --> 0:09:41.720 Not to mention the firepower of this Dolphins offense, but 0:09:41.800 --> 0:09:44.280 I also tend to think that Bill Belichick's always gonna 0:09:44.280 --> 0:09:46.600 find a way to cook up something to limit high 0:09:46.600 --> 0:09:48.840 powered offenses and their chances. Like maybe they're gonna get 0:09:48.840 --> 0:09:50.480 their yards, but he finds a way to keep them 0:09:50.480 --> 0:09:53.800 off the scoreboard for you know, a big total because 0:09:53.840 --> 0:09:56.560 of limited possessions and good red zone defense, and they 0:09:56.600 --> 0:09:58.160 find a way to keep the game close then try 0:09:58.160 --> 0:10:00.600 to win in the margins. I thought the doll defense 0:10:00.679 --> 0:10:02.520 matched up well with the Patriots offense a year ago, 0:10:02.520 --> 0:10:04.120 and I think it could this year again. You know, 0:10:04.200 --> 0:10:05.920 Mac Jones wants to get the ball out fast, and 0:10:05.920 --> 0:10:07.840 they want to compliment that with a power running game 0:10:08.040 --> 0:10:09.839 that could control the clock and play with that style 0:10:09.880 --> 0:10:12.280 of defense they have. We did a good job getting 0:10:12.280 --> 0:10:14.800 pressure on him in both games, created some takeaways and 0:10:14.840 --> 0:10:17.880 limited point production. I remember seeing the deciding score in 0:10:17.920 --> 0:10:20.760 that loss was a touch defensive touchdown from Kyle Duggart, right, 0:10:20.800 --> 0:10:23.600 So can't have that happen again. I look at the 0:10:23.600 --> 0:10:25.719 way their roster is constructed, and I tend to think 0:10:25.760 --> 0:10:28.120 that the answer to that is no, the game script 0:10:28.120 --> 0:10:31.360 will not change that much. I mean, Ramandre Stevenson is 0:10:31.400 --> 0:10:33.560 their best skill player for my money, and behind an 0:10:33.559 --> 0:10:36.120 offensive line with massive bodies like Trent Brown and Michael 0:10:36.160 --> 0:10:38.920 and Wentu against a defensive system that has traditionally played 0:10:39.000 --> 0:10:41.720 lighter boxes. The obvious answer here for them is a run, 0:10:41.760 --> 0:10:44.440 heavy attack that shortens the game. And of course things 0:10:44.440 --> 0:10:46.120 tend to not play out how you expect them to, 0:10:46.440 --> 0:10:48.160 and that's why we'd love this league. But I tend 0:10:48.160 --> 0:10:49.560 to think that you'd be naive to look at this 0:10:49.640 --> 0:10:51.920 matchup and not have that jump off the screen. You 0:10:52.000 --> 0:10:54.520 how can you combat that? Some other fun potential matchups 0:10:54.559 --> 0:10:56.439 on the other side, again always critical get their edge 0:10:56.480 --> 0:10:59.440 weapons blocked. Matthew Judon and josh Uja provide a challenge 0:10:59.480 --> 0:11:02.840 that way, so for you know, Tron Armstead, potentially Austin 0:11:02.920 --> 0:11:05.560 Jackson getting those guys blocked up and then just locating 0:11:05.600 --> 0:11:08.319 Kyle Dugger on every single play fun chess match there 0:11:08.440 --> 0:11:11.120 between he and Tungo Bai looa their defensive line versus 0:11:11.120 --> 0:11:17.120 our offensive line. From a play style standpoint, between Gotchaw, Barmore, Dietrich, Wise, 0:11:17.200 --> 0:11:19.480 Lawrence guy against our guys in the interior like Connor 0:11:19.480 --> 0:11:21.720 and Rob and you know potentially Liam there. That's a 0:11:21.720 --> 0:11:24.080 fun matchup. And this is a game where you know 0:11:24.120 --> 0:11:26.959 Miami on paper has a better roster, but you never 0:11:27.000 --> 0:11:29.200 know in these division games on the road primetime going 0:11:29.240 --> 0:11:31.360 to be a fun one to watch. Week three, the 0:11:31.400 --> 0:11:34.439 home opener versus the Denver Broncos, the last time that 0:11:34.520 --> 0:11:36.960 Broncos came to Miami this early in the year is 0:11:37.040 --> 0:11:39.160 one of my all time favorite games and the first 0:11:39.160 --> 0:11:42.040 game in the career of Mike McDaniel multiple occasions. I've 0:11:42.040 --> 0:11:44.160 talked with him about that in the pod and the 0:11:44.200 --> 0:11:46.760 pressers we've had with Mike McDaniel here, and he remembers 0:11:46.800 --> 0:11:48.960 that game very well. And Denver's one of the more 0:11:49.440 --> 0:11:52.800 I guess tame climates in terms of the extreme temperatures 0:11:52.840 --> 0:11:54.920 in the country, So that's something they're going to have 0:11:54.960 --> 0:11:57.200 to be really cognizant of in terms of their hydration 0:11:57.320 --> 0:11:59.720 and prep going into the game. Plus, if the Finns 0:11:59.720 --> 0:12:01.880 start hot and get those first two wins and are 0:12:01.880 --> 0:12:04.040 two to zer, coming back to this game, hard Rock 0:12:04.040 --> 0:12:06.840 Stadium is going to be absolutely rocking. I love this 0:12:06.920 --> 0:12:09.400 game for the home opener. Sean Payton's gonna have two 0:12:09.480 --> 0:12:11.880 games under his belt as the headman there for Denver, 0:12:11.920 --> 0:12:14.520 and we should get an idea pretty early if last 0:12:14.559 --> 0:12:16.920 season was a blip on the radar for Russell Wilson 0:12:17.200 --> 0:12:18.800 or if it was more of the norm heading into 0:12:18.840 --> 0:12:21.679 the starting gate of the twenty twenty three season. I 0:12:21.720 --> 0:12:23.560 don't know. We'll see it. We'll see how he bounces 0:12:23.640 --> 0:12:25.840 back from that tough year with their staff is entirely new, 0:12:26.040 --> 0:12:28.120 so they'll have two games to get their feet wet 0:12:28.160 --> 0:12:31.160 before this one early window kickoff for a West Coast 0:12:31.200 --> 0:12:33.600 Mountains time zone team is always in favor of the 0:12:33.600 --> 0:12:36.240 home team as well. Eleven am body clock for those 0:12:36.240 --> 0:12:38.720 guys in this weather, in this temperature, it's a tall 0:12:38.880 --> 0:12:41.200 order and with a new staff that means new personnel. 0:12:41.200 --> 0:12:44.280 They signed thirteen free agents and you could probably project 0:12:44.280 --> 0:12:46.400 at least five of those guys as new starters between 0:12:46.520 --> 0:12:51.560 Zach Allen, Marquez, Callaway, Mike Mcglincheesch samajip Rihime and Ben Powers. 0:12:51.760 --> 0:12:53.880 We'll see about Javonte Williams he comes back. If it's 0:12:53.880 --> 0:12:57.320 not Williams, that running back room is, it's not a 0:12:57.360 --> 0:13:00.000 lot there. That's a rebuilt offensive line, So their community 0:13:00.240 --> 0:13:02.920 is gonna be key against our ferocious pass rush. They'll 0:13:02.920 --> 0:13:05.200 get Garrett Bowles back and have Mike mcglinche as the 0:13:05.200 --> 0:13:07.880 tackles for an offensive line that really struggled last year 0:13:08.000 --> 0:13:11.439 to keep Russell Wilson upright. Some fun matchups here, that's one. 0:13:11.600 --> 0:13:13.800 If that's not better, they won't be either. But I 0:13:13.840 --> 0:13:17.280 think this offense does have some potential. Our corners versus 0:13:17.320 --> 0:13:19.880 the receivers was fun. I love Jerry Judy's game. You know, 0:13:19.960 --> 0:13:22.880 Cortland Sutton's a good player, Tim Patrick's a fun player, 0:13:22.960 --> 0:13:26.320 kJ Hamler, Marquez Callaway, very underrated receiver corps there. They've 0:13:26.360 --> 0:13:28.920 been super solid on defense, really going back to the 0:13:28.960 --> 0:13:31.760 Fangio days of being there. Baron Browning is a guy 0:13:31.800 --> 0:13:33.640 to watch. You got to id that guy every single 0:13:33.720 --> 0:13:36.160 snap from the offensive line perspective. And then how about 0:13:36.160 --> 0:13:39.920 Patsartan versus Tyreek and Jalen that's as Marquee as it gets. 0:13:40.160 --> 0:13:43.000 Kawan Williams probably the other cornerback to start, but then 0:13:43.000 --> 0:13:45.200 they drafted Riley Moss and I can't really find a 0:13:45.200 --> 0:13:48.320 better nickel option than him. And like Channing Crowder once said, 0:13:48.360 --> 0:13:51.520 if you got Zach Sayau and Channing Crowder, you're gonna 0:13:51.520 --> 0:13:54.280 go after Channing Crowder. So maybe some slot matchups there 0:13:54.280 --> 0:13:57.080 for Jalen and for Tyreek and then finally Justin Simmons. 0:13:57.080 --> 0:13:58.400 You gotta have to mention Himhen we talk about the 0:13:58.400 --> 0:14:00.720 Denver Broncos. What a great matchup between he and two 0:14:00.720 --> 0:14:02.840 a tongue bai loa and trying to manipulate the middle 0:14:02.840 --> 0:14:04.840 of the football field. One more game here before our 0:14:04.880 --> 0:14:07.440 first break. Let's go week number four at the Buffalo 0:14:07.559 --> 0:14:10.760 Bills one o'clock kickoff up there in Orchard Park or 0:14:10.840 --> 0:14:13.120 Ralph Wilson or wherever the hell they play their games. 0:14:13.440 --> 0:14:16.200 Massive early season divisional showdown. Here. You still just won 0:14:16.240 --> 0:14:18.600 against Buffalo in Buffalo, and you have a chance to 0:14:18.640 --> 0:14:21.040 come back home in week eighteen and sweep those guys. 0:14:21.480 --> 0:14:24.320 Sign me up for that. Was there a better rivalry 0:14:24.320 --> 0:14:28.000 in the NFL last year than Buffalo Miami? Three games 0:14:28.000 --> 0:14:30.000 that came down to the wire either the team could 0:14:30.000 --> 0:14:32.680 have won either of those three games. The fan base 0:14:32.760 --> 0:14:36.040 dispute about playing conditions like I saw a beat guy saying, like, 0:14:36.400 --> 0:14:39.280 what a good resolution here? The Dolphins come here early, 0:14:39.320 --> 0:14:42.000 don't face the snow, and the Bills go there late, 0:14:42.040 --> 0:14:43.880 dont to face the sun? Like since when did we 0:14:43.880 --> 0:14:48.160 stop wanting elements in football games? That's so weird to me. Whatever, 0:14:48.800 --> 0:14:51.480 you know, whatever. I just think the season's more fun 0:14:51.440 --> 0:14:53.280 when the classic rivalries are back. I think we have 0:14:53.320 --> 0:14:55.600 both of them this year with Buffalo and the Jets. 0:14:55.760 --> 0:14:57.360 I like the way we match up from a stylist 0:14:57.360 --> 0:14:59.440 six standpoint, and you saw it in both the playoff 0:14:59.480 --> 0:15:02.120 game and Week fifteen. Now they made a change at DC, 0:15:02.280 --> 0:15:05.400 but Sean mcdermot's principles have always been the same, and 0:15:05.480 --> 0:15:07.960 we highlight the importance of Tarron Johnson and their defense. 0:15:08.280 --> 0:15:10.720 They stay almost exclusively in the nickel package and that 0:15:10.760 --> 0:15:12.640 forces him to come down and play the run, and 0:15:12.640 --> 0:15:14.360 he does it well, but it puts him at a 0:15:14.360 --> 0:15:16.760 disadvantage when we go with alec Ingold and just basically 0:15:16.760 --> 0:15:19.840 have a blocking specialist go wipe out a nickel cornerback. 0:15:20.000 --> 0:15:21.680 That's why Miami ran for so many yards in those 0:15:21.680 --> 0:15:24.480 games last year. I think both teams are talented, well coached, 0:15:24.480 --> 0:15:27.600 and excel in the areas that really decided football games. 0:15:27.800 --> 0:15:30.240 Buffalo did some work on their offensive line after Josh 0:15:30.320 --> 0:15:32.600 Allen got hit way too much last year. That guy's 0:15:32.600 --> 0:15:34.560 got to stop taking those hits. Man, he gets blasted 0:15:34.600 --> 0:15:37.280 almost weekly and he gets up, but like one day, 0:15:37.440 --> 0:15:39.480 you know, he probably won't. I think they'll probably try 0:15:39.480 --> 0:15:41.520 to find ways to make him less involved because of that. 0:15:41.560 --> 0:15:44.040 Because again, no player makes up more of a team's 0:15:44.080 --> 0:15:46.640 offense than Allen. He's a leading passer, the biggest rushing 0:15:46.720 --> 0:15:49.320 threat they have for them. It's going to be critical 0:15:49.320 --> 0:15:52.200 to identify who the next option is on offense. I'm 0:15:52.240 --> 0:15:55.680 talking beyond Stefan Diggs because also he's the NFL leader 0:15:55.680 --> 0:15:58.000 and target share since he was traded a Buffalo back 0:15:58.040 --> 0:16:00.680 in twenty twenty. Is that Gabe Davis, who looks more 0:16:00.680 --> 0:16:02.600 like a three or four right now, is at Dalton 0:16:02.680 --> 0:16:05.720 King Kid a rookie is at Dawson Knox. The fact 0:16:05.760 --> 0:16:08.000 that two of those guys are tight ends to me 0:16:08.200 --> 0:16:10.560 speaks to the importance for Miami to have such depth 0:16:10.600 --> 0:16:13.000 and flexibility. They need to be able to compete in 0:16:13.080 --> 0:16:15.800 three different ways to just win in their own division. 0:16:15.840 --> 0:16:19.240 Buffalo potentially a twelve personnel based team. New England a 0:16:19.320 --> 0:16:22.160 very run heavy operation. The Jets have a roster to 0:16:22.200 --> 0:16:24.560 really spread things out and go up tempo, high volume 0:16:24.560 --> 0:16:28.480 passing attack. That's three completely different offenses inside of our 0:16:28.480 --> 0:16:31.560 own division. Some fun potential matchups there mentioned Ingle versus 0:16:31.560 --> 0:16:35.080 Tarn Johnson, Connor Williams and Rob Hunt really got the 0:16:35.080 --> 0:16:37.760 best of at Oliver last year. To Ron Armstead versus 0:16:37.800 --> 0:16:41.560 Von Miller's awesome Jalen or X versus Stefon Diggs Hide 0:16:41.600 --> 0:16:43.920 Employer versus Tua. We could go on and on here 0:16:43.960 --> 0:16:45.760 for the entire thing. I think these are two of 0:16:45.800 --> 0:16:47.840 the best football teams in the NFL. Let's go ahead 0:16:47.840 --> 0:16:49.200 and take our first break rate there and come back 0:16:49.240 --> 0:16:51.560 on the other side and check in with Week number five. 0:16:51.800 --> 0:16:54.840 That's next Drave Time podcast, your host Travis Wingfield, brought 0:16:54.880 --> 0:17:01.560 to you by Auto Nation. It's schedule released day Week 0:17:01.680 --> 0:17:04.160 number five. The Dolphins will host the New York Giants 0:17:04.200 --> 0:17:06.399 at one o'clock Eastern. We didn't get a chance to 0:17:06.400 --> 0:17:08.920 see Daniel Jones back in twenty twenty one. He's now 0:17:08.960 --> 0:17:11.800 the man there with a big contract a year two 0:17:11.840 --> 0:17:14.520 with Brian day Ball, surprise playoff run and a huge 0:17:14.560 --> 0:17:17.160 upset in the wild card round. That's a well coached team. 0:17:17.200 --> 0:17:19.520 Man to me, the coaching staff there is really what 0:17:20.160 --> 0:17:23.000 drives that engine, and they turned it around after a rough, 0:17:23.080 --> 0:17:25.360 rough decade there. I go back to the staff though, 0:17:25.400 --> 0:17:28.119 because you know, day Ball took an offense that doesn't 0:17:28.160 --> 0:17:30.000 have a lot. Go look at the receiver corps, their 0:17:30.040 --> 0:17:32.600 running back room beyond Saquon Barker, it's just not a 0:17:32.640 --> 0:17:35.000 lot there. They did get Darren Waller, if he can 0:17:35.040 --> 0:17:36.679 stay healthy, it's a big get for them, but just 0:17:36.760 --> 0:17:39.960 not a lot of you know, big time playmakers on 0:17:40.000 --> 0:17:42.560 the offense. And really same story on the defense. For 0:17:42.600 --> 0:17:44.760 the most part. They have some stars like Dexter Lawrence, 0:17:44.800 --> 0:17:46.800 but I think wink Martin Dill was the one that 0:17:46.840 --> 0:17:49.520 got that defense really crankin last year. I just think 0:17:49.520 --> 0:17:52.040 they maximize their talent with the coaching staff and a 0:17:52.080 --> 0:17:54.520 week schedule, and their task is to repeat that, which 0:17:54.560 --> 0:17:56.359 can be tough. I mean, it's tough to follow up 0:17:56.400 --> 0:17:58.320 a great performance one year with another the next in 0:17:58.359 --> 0:18:00.680 the same category. But they are certainly in a much 0:18:00.720 --> 0:18:03.520 better spot than they were before. The arrival of day Ball, 0:18:03.600 --> 0:18:07.560 Martin Dale and Joe Shane, etc. Etc. Again, fun potential matchups. 0:18:07.560 --> 0:18:09.680 Dexter Lawrence. It begins with him. You have to get 0:18:09.720 --> 0:18:12.479 him blocked on the interior. That defensive line in general 0:18:12.560 --> 0:18:15.360 is the strength of the team between Leonard Williams, Ashawn Robinson, 0:18:15.560 --> 0:18:18.720 Vernon Butler. They added Bobby o'kariki, who I think is 0:18:18.760 --> 0:18:22.040