Dolphins at Redskins
FedEx Field, Raljon, Md.,
Sunday, Jan. 2
AT A GLANCE: Redskins head coach Norv Turner goes against his old
pals, Dolphins head coach Jimmy Johnson and assistant head coach Dave Wannstedt, in a game
that has serious playoff implications.
|
| OVERVIEW: They sure had a good thing going back in the
early 1990s, when they were all together, coaching the Cowboys to multiple playoff berths
and a Super Bowl title. "They," of course, refers to Jimmy Johnson, Dave
Wannstedt and Norv Turner. Today, Johnson and Wannstedt have been reunited in Miami,
while Turner is up the coast, running the Redskins.
When the Dolphins and Redskins square off in this regular-season finale, there will be
playoff ramifications — regardless of how Miami fared in its Week 16 Monday-night
game vs. the Jets. The Dolphins will be shooting for a wild-card berth with a win.
The Redskins wrapped up the NFC East title last week — their first since 1991
— with an overtime win in San Francisco. This is the first postseason trip for the
Redskins since Turner took over in 1994. Despite clinching the division, the Redskins
still have something to play for this week. If they beat the Dolphins, and a couple of
other games go their way, the Redskins can secure a first-round bye.
WHEN THE DOLPHINS HAVE THE BALL:
Johnson had pegged 1999 as the season he would establish the running game in Miami,
something he has wanted to do since arriving on the scene. However, that hasn’t
happened yet, as the Dolphins have struggled on the ground once again. In fact, the entire
offense has struggled.
The team expected to get a boost in its Monday-night game from the return of rookie RB
J.J. Johnson, who had missed time with a hamstring injury. While the Redskins’
defense has improved a bit after a horrendous start, it suffered a relapse last week vs.
the woeful 49ers, who racked up 250 rushing yards.
Without a proven rushing attack to worry about, expect to see the Redskins do some
blitzing, as other Dolphins’ opponents have done with some success this year.
QB Dan Marino has taken some heat this season for his often ineffective play. He hopes
to have a full arsenal of receivers vs. Washington, but two of his top three receivers
— Oronde Gadsden (ribs) and O.J. McDuffie (toe) — were questionable heading into
the Jets game. |
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|
Profile |
| FedEx Field |
| Raljon, Md. |
| Date: Sunday, January 2, 2000 |
| 4:15 p.m. Eastern Time |
| Type Of Turf: Natural |
| Meeting Of The Year: Only |
| Season Record: |
| |
Miami |
9-5-0 |
| |
Washington |
9-6-0 |
| Season Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
Miami |
6-8-0 |
| |
Washington |
7-8-0 |
| Home/Road Record: |
| |
Miami (R) |
4-3-0 |
| |
Washington (H) |
5-2-0 |
| Home/Road Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
Miami (R) |
4-3-0 |
| |
Washington (H) |
3-4-0 |
| Record On Natural Turf: |
| |
Miami |
8-2-0 |
| |
Washington |
7-2-0 |
| Record On Natural Turf Vs. Spread: |
| |
Miami |
5-5-0 |
| |
Washington |
4-5-0 |
|
|
| Redskins CBs Champ Bailey and Darrell Green have made some big plays this season but
also have been beaten. Washington’s LB corps is very young and has struggled this
season. The Dolphins will be without TE Troy Drayton, who is out for the rest of the
regular season after undergoing knee surgery.
WHEN THE REDSKINS HAVE THE BALL:
QB Brad Johnson hit FB Larry Centers early in overtime last week for the winning
touchdown. With Stephen Davis out with an ankle injury last week, Centers and Brian
Mitchell — both very good receivers out of the backfield — played larger roles
in the offense. If Davis isn’t able to go this week, expect to see that trend
continue. However, those two backs could have trouble eluding Dolphins MLB Zach Thomas,
who is capable of making plays from sideline to sideline.
Johnson, who threw for 471 yards in Week 16, has two big wide receivers in Michael
Westbrook and Albert Connell. They should expect a physical outing against big CBs Patrick
Surtain and Sam Madison, who play bump-and-run coverage.
Miami’s best defensive lineman this season, DLE Rich Owens, is a former Redskin.
He lines up against rookie ORT Jon Jansen, who has been very steady.
Game preview and depth charts were compiled as of Dec. 26, 1999 |
|
Dolphins depth
chart |
OFFENSE |
| WR |
80 MARTIN, 86 Gadsden |
| OLT |
78 WEBB, 74 Smith |
| OLG |
63 DIXON, 68 Sheldon |
| C |
61 RUDDY, 62 Ruegamer* |
| ORG |
65 DONNALLEY, 66 Gogan |
| ORT |
74 SMITH, 76 Brown |
| TE |
83 GOODWIN, 89 Perry |
| WR |
81 McDUFFIE, 86 Gadsden, 87 Green, 88 Jacquet |
| QB |
13 MARINO, 11 Huard, 14 Zolak, 16 Druckenmiller |
| HB |
32 JOHNSON*, 36 Pritchett, 21 Denson*, 37 Edwards* |
| FB |
36 PRITCHETT, 44 Konrad* |
DEFENSE |
| DLE |
96 OWENS, 93 Armstrong |
| DLT |
95 BOWENS, 91 Bromell |
| DRT |
92 GARDENER, 98 Simpson |
| DRE |
99 TAYLOR, 79 Mixon |
| WLB |
59 RODGERS, 57 Brigance |
| MLB |
54 THOMAS, 50 Hollier |
| SLB |
52 JONES, 53 Izzo, 51 Harris |
| LCB |
23 SURTAIN, 27 Buckley |
| RCB |
29 MADISON, 24 Wilson, 28 Hill |
| SS |
38 JACKSON, 22 Wooden |
| FS |
31 MARION, 25 Jeffries |
SPECIALISTS |
| P |
4 HUTTON |
| PK |
10 MARE |
| H |
11 HUARD, 4 Hutton |
| PR |
88 JACQUET, 27 Buckley, 81 McDuffie |
| KR |
31 MARION, 88 Jacquet, 32 Johnson* |
| KC |
89 PERRY, 83 Goodwin |
* Rookie |
|
|
Redskins depth
chart |
OFFENSE |
| WR |
82 WESTBROOK, 87 Thrash |
| OLT |
64 HECK, 79 Vickers |
| OLG |
63 SIMS, 74 Badger |
| C |
52 RAYMER, 60 Fischer, 66 Turk |
| ORG |
77 T. JOHNSON, 74 Badger, 69 Milstead |
| ORT |
76 JANSEN*, 73 J. Brown |
| TE |
80 ALEXANDER, 88 Jenkins |
| WR |
83 CONNELL, 86 Fryar, 84 Thompson |
| QB |
14 B. JOHNSON, 16 Peete, 11 Weldon |
| RB |
48 S. DAVIS, 20 Hicks, 30 B. Mitchell |
| FB |
37 CENTERS, 45 Sellers |
DEFENSE |
| DLE |
75 COOK, 90 Lang, 72 Kalu |
| DLT |
95 WILKINSON, 93 Boute |
| DRT |
94 STUBBLEFIELD, 78 Brown, 71 Tanner |
| DRE |
99 COLEMAN, 75 Cook |
| LLB |
54 JONES, 51 Francis |
| MLB |
50 D. SMITH, 56 Gouveia |
| RLB |
59 BARBER, 53 Mason |
| LCB |
24 BAILEY*, 21 McMillian, 31 Pounds |
| RCB |
28 GREEN, 25 Denton |
| SS |
29 SHADE, 23 Stevens, 26 Buckley |
| FS |
23 STEVENS, 35 Evans |
SPECIALISTS |
| P |
1 M. TURK |
| PK |
5 CONWAY |
| H |
1 M. TURK, 14 B. Johnson |
| PR |
30 MITCHELL, 87 Thrash |
| KR |
30 MITCHELL, 87 Thrash |
| KC |
66 D. TURK |
* Rookie |
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