Bragging rights on line for AFC's Florida teams
ALLTEL Stadium, Jacksonville, Fla.,
Monday, Oct. 12
AT A GLANCE: This is a showdown in the Sunshine State between a pair of
AFC title contenders. While it’s no longer a battle of unbeatens after Miami’s
Week Five loss, this is a marquee Monday-night matchup.
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All eyes will be focused on Florida this week, as the
inaugural battle of that state’s AFC teams takes place in the spotlight of prime
time’s "Monday Night Football."
In three-plus seasons, the Jaguars have become serious Super Bowl
contenders and enter this duel with the Dolphins unbeaten. In Year Three under Jimmy
Johnson, Miami (3-1), too, has as its goal a Super Bowl berth. For the Dolphins, a trip to
Super Bowl XXXIII would be a short one, as Miami will host this season’s championship
game.
The Jaguars and Dolphins, both known for the their prolific passing
games in seasons past, have shifted the focus of their offenses this season. Jacksonville
has been, at times, almost dominant on the ground this season. Miami, long used to relying
on the magic of Dan Marino’s arm, has become much more reliant on the ground game
this year, thanks largely to the offensive line, which has vastly improved in the
run-blocking department.
The Dolphins are 4-5 straight-up and vs. the spread in Jimmy
Johnson-coached games on Monday nights. The Jaguars have made only one previous
Monday-night appearance, beating the Steelers last season. They also covered the spread in
that contest.
WHEN THE DOLPHINS HAVE THE BALL:
No longer is Marino expected to win football games by himself. Johnson
and first-year offensive coordinator Kippy Brown have greatly simplified the offense and
are emphasizing the run like never before. That plan seemed to be working well in the
first three weeks, as the Dolphins went undefeated and topped 100 yards rushing in all
three games. However, the Jets figured Miami out last week and held the Dolphins to just
34 rushing yards in a 20-9 New York victory. |
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The matchups
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Miami Dolphins
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Jacksonville Jaguars
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QB's
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RB's
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REC
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OL
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DL
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LB's
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DB's
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ST
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Coaches
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Profile
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| ALLTEL Stadium |
| Jacksonville, Fla. |
| Date: Monday, October 12, 1998 |
| 8:20 PM Eastern Time |
| Type Of Turf: Natural |
| Meeting Of The Year: Only |
| Season Record: |
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Miami |
3-1-0 |
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Jacksonville |
4-0-0 |
| Season Record Vs. Spread: |
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Miami |
2-2-0 |
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Jacksonville |
3-1-0 |
| Home/Road Record: |
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Miami (R) |
1-1-0 |
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Jacksonville (H) |
2-0-0 |
| Home/Road Record Vs. Spread: |
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Miami (R) |
1-1-0 |
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Jacksonville (H) |
2-0-0 |
| Record On Natural Turf: |
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Miami |
2-0-0 |
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Jacksonville |
3-0-0 |
| Record On Natural Turf Vs. Spread: |
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Miami |
1-1-0 |
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Jacksonville |
2-1-0 |
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Karim Abdul-Jabbar gets the bulk of the carries and has been
relying heavily on his revamped line to create opportunities for him. The addition of
OG’s Kevin Donnalley and Mark Dixon, both road-grader run blockers, has been
instrumental in the success of Miami’s new-look offense. Rookie John Avery gets the
call every few series and provides a different style of running for Miami.
Jacksonville was susceptible vs. the run at times last season but has
done a better job so far this year. The Jaguars, despite being decimated by injuries on
the defensive line, have improved vs. the run every week, holding the Oilers, featuring
dangerous Eddie George, to just 40 rushing yards in their last game. The Jaguars had a bye
in Week Five and expect DRE Tony Brackens to see the field for the first time this season
vs. Miami. If so, it will be the first time Brackens and OLB Bryce Paup will be on the
field together, and that could seriously improve the Jaguars’ pass rush. A marquee
matchup in the trenches will pit Brackens vs. OLT Richmond Webb, an outstanding pass
blocker.
WHEN THE JAGUARS HAVE THE BALL:
The star in Jacksonville the past several seasons has been QB Mark
Brunell and his high-production passing. However, this season the goal of the Jaguars was
to improve the rushing game. And improved it is. They got off to a great start with James
Stewart before he was lost for the season in Week Three. It hasn’t been a major blow,
though, as first-round rookie Fred Taylor has more than picked up the slack. Taylor, in
the two games since Stewart was hurt, has rushed for 244 yards and two touchdowns and is
averaging 5.1 yards per carry.
However, Taylor will have to contend with a very speedy Miami defense.
MLB Zach Thomas is off to a great start this year, flying all over the field. Taylor may
want to avoid the left side of the Dolphin defensive line, which features key run
defenders Kenny Mixon and Tim Bowens. However, Leon Searcy, a run blocker extraordinaire
from his ORT spot, could have an edge on Mixon, a rookie. Another key matchup pits Pro
Bowl OLT Tony Boselli vs. tall and rangy DRE Jason Taylor, who had two sacks last week.
The Jaguars certainly have not ignored the passing game, which would be
a mistake considering the talent they have at wideout. Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell
may be the NFL’s best WR tandem. Both of them can outjump corners, which may give
them the advantage over undersized Miami CB’s Terrell Buckley and Sam Madison.
Buckley was beaten last week by Keyshawn Johnson for a TD.
Game preview and depth charts were compiled as of Oct. 4 |
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Dolphins Depth Chart
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| OFFENSE |
| WR |
86 GADSDEN, 88 Jordan, 80 Copeland |
| OLT |
78 WEBB, 77 Buckey |
| OLG |
63 DIXON, 74 Smith |
| C |
61 RUDDY, 60 Bock |
| ORG |
65 DONNALLEY, 74 Smith |
| ORT |
76 BROWN, 68 Sheldon |
| TE |
84 DRAYTON, 89 Perry, 83 Lusk |
| WR |
81 MCDUFFIE, 85 L. Thomas, 19 Jacquet |
| QB |
13 MARINO, 11 Huard, 7 Erickson |
| RB |
33 ABDUL-JABBAR, 20 Avery*, 30 Parmalee |
| FB |
36 PRITCHETT, 34 Moore |
DEFENSE |
| DLE |
79 MIXON*, 93 Armstrong |
| DLT |
95 BOWENS, 72 Tanner |
| DRT |
92 GARDENER, 75 Burton |
| DRE |
99 TAYLOR, 96 Stubbs, 91 Bromell* |
| WLB |
59 RODGERS, 53 Izzo |
| MLB |
54 Z. THOMAS, 50 Hollier |
| SLB |
52 JONES, 51 Harris, 57 Brigance |
| LCB |
27 BUCKLEY, 23 Surtain* |
| RCB |
29 MADISON, 24 Wilson |
| SS |
38 JACKSON, 21 Stewart |
| FS |
31 MARION, 45 Walker |
SPECIALISTS |
| P |
8 WILMSMEYER |
| K |
10 MARE |
| H |
8 WILMSMEYER |
| PR |
88 JORDAN, 27 Buckley, 81 McDuffie |
| KOR |
20 AVERY*, 31 Marion, 88 Jordan |
| KC |
82 WAINRIGHT, 89 Perry |
* Rookie |
Back to Handicapper's Corner |
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Jaguar Depth Chart
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OFFENSE |
| WR |
82 SMITH, 86 Whitted*, 81 Moore |
| OLT |
71 BOSELLI, 62 Coleman, 67 Novak |
| OLG |
62 COLEMAN, 67 Novak |
| C |
65 NEUJAHR, 66 Wade* |
| ORG |
73 DEMARCO, 78 Fordham, 76 Tylski |
| ORT |
72 SEARCY, 73 DeMarco |
| TE |
83 MITCHELL, 88 D. Jones, 85 Griffith |
| WR |
87 MCCARDELL, 84 Barlow, 81 Moore |
| QB |
8 BRUNELL, 10 Martin, 12 Quinn* |
| RB |
28 F. TAYLOR*, 22 Banks*, G. Jones |
| FB |
31 SHELTON |
DEFENSE |
| DLE |
99 SMEENGE, 74 Williams*, 75 Curry |
| DLT |
64 JURKOVIC, 97 Wynn, 95 White |
| DRT |
94 PRITCHETT, 91 Payne |
| DRE |
90 BRACKENS, 96 Smith |
| SLB |
95 PAUP, 57 Kopp, 54 Hamilton |
| MLB |
55 McMANUS, 58 Schwartz |
| WLB |
51 HARDY, 52 Boyer |
| LCB |
21 BEASLEY, 23 C. Taylor* |
| RCB |
41 D. THOMAS, 27 Figures, 26 Devine |
| LS |
20 DARIUS*, 45 Davis |
| RS |
32 LOGAN, 37 Hudson |
| SPECIALISTS |
| PK |
1 HOLLIS |
| P |
4 BARKER |
| H |
4 BARKER |
| KC |
65 NEUJAHR, 64 Jurkovic, 66 Wade* |
| KR |
84 BARLOW, 22 Banks*, 86 Whitted |
| PR |
84 BARLOW, 22 Banks*, 87 McCardell |
| * Rookie |
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