Donning the Hoodie: Patriots Defense vs. Dolphins Offense

This week we've got a new feature we're calling "Donning the Hoodie", where yours truly will step into the role of Bill Belichick and lay out a game plan of how the Patriots might game plan against their opponent.

The Patriots are a versatile team, capable of adapting each week to attack their opponents biggest weakness. This week's opponent, the Miami Dolphins, present a number of challenges, the most obvious of which is their Wildcat offense. Miami also bears the hallmark of any Bill Parcells team, they are big and physical. So how will the Patriots attack and defend the Dolphins, our thoughts, Hoodie style below.

DEFENSIVE GAMEPLAN

As always, it all starts with defense. Even without Jarvis Green the Patriots have a number of versatile defensive lineman. We all know the number one threat is the Dolphins running game, out of the Wildcat or a regular formation, so our number one goal is to shut down Ronnie Brown and Rickey Williams and make Chad Henne beat us through the air.

We will open in our 3-4 defense, with the 3 W's.... Warren, Wilfork, and Wright leading the charge up front. Rookie Ron Brace better be ready to go as well, he has a size advantage over Myron Pryor that we'll need. The 3-4 is our best run stopping defense. Will have had two weeks to prepare for the Wildcat, we should be ready to stop it.

Adalius Thomas and Pierre Woods will be our outside linebackers this week. We've had Derrick Burgess and Tully Banta-Cain playing some standup OLB that last couple games, but this week we need size and strength to deal with the run game. This should be a great chance for Adalius to show what kind of a player he can be. He will also draw some coverage responsibility against the Dolphin Tight Ends, some of Chad Henne's favorite targets in key situations. He must bring his A game.

Mayo and Guyton will man the middle of the 3-4, but Junior Seau will get a number of snaps as well. They must play disciplined. Guyton will be asked to cover the Tight Ends as well, with his speed and size he should have an advantage. They must read and react, and tackle well.

With Wilhite battling an illness all week we're going to have Bodden at one starting corner, and though Butler has performed pretty well the last couple weeks, Shawn Springs is going to start at the other corner. Miami is big on trickery and the heady veteran is less likely to fall for it. We will use the corner blitz at times to stop the Wildcat just as the Saints did so effectively.

We expect our cornerbacks to be able to shut down the Dolphin receiving corps without much help from our Double BM safeties.  Meriweather should be able to make some plays on the ball from centerfield. Henne can thread the needle (occasionally) so Brandon need to be on his game.

Brandon McGowan's physicality should be a valuable tool against the run. He cannot get over-aggressive though, over pursuit and losing gap discipline can get you killed against the Wildcat.

It really comes down to us being more physical than them. This will be a dogfight and whoever wants it more will win the game. If we can shut down the Wildcat early their offense will become even more one-dimensional. The Phins are all about ball control, every time they are forced to punt our chances for victory vastly improve.

Coming Friday: Donning the Hoodie: Patriots Offense vs. Miami Defense