AFC divisional
playoff game |
Dolphins at Raiders
Network Associates Coliseum
Oakland, Calif.
Saturday, Jan. 6, 2001
AT A GLANCE: The Dolphins rode the efforts of RB Lamar
Smith to a 23-17 overtime victory over Indianapolis but now must travel to Oakland, where
the Raiders have lost just once all season and will be coming off a much-needed bye.
|
| OVERVIEW: While both teams have underachieved to some
extent in recent years, the Dolphins and Raiders won their respective divisions and
finished a combined 23-9 during the regular season. Both head coaches, Dave Wannstedt in
Miami and Jon Gruden in Oakland, deserve serious consideration for Coach of the Year
honors for the jobs they’ve done this season. The Dolphins relied heavily on RB
Lamar Smith (40 carries for 209 yards) to get past the Colts 23-17 in the first round last
week. After dropping three of six games down the stretch, the Dolphins have rebounded to
win two tight games in successive weeks.
The Raiders put it all together in a 52-9 wipeout of Carolina in the season finale,
earning them an extra week of rest and preparation.
WHEN THE DOLPHINS HAVE THE BALL:
QB Jay Fiedler, who continues to play with a torn rotator cuff in his non-throwing
shoulder, needs to avoid forcing the issue and making costly mistakes and allow Smith, the
offensive line and the defense to control the game. His three first-half interceptions
against the Colts nearly cost the Dolphins dearly.
To say the Dolphins’ WR corps has suffered through an injury-plagued season is
like saying some Floridians had trouble with the voting process. O.J. McDuffie had some
big catches in Miami’s game-winning drive last Saturday, and it looks as though
he’s returned to the valuable possession-receiver role in which the Dolphins need him
to thrive. WRs Oronde Gadsden and Tony Martin are other top targets for Fiedler, but the
Dolphins lack a true No. 1 receiver.
One positive in the Dolphins’ passing game is the recent emergence of TEs Hunter
Goodwin and Jed Weaver. Both have caught critical TD passes in the last two games. |
|
|
| Network Associates Stadium |
| Oakland, Calif. |
| Date: Saturday, January 6, 2001 |
| 4:00 P.M. Eastern Standard Time |
| Type Of Turf: Natural |
| Meeting Of The Year: First |
| Season Record: |
| |
Miami |
12-5-0 |
| |
Oakland |
12-4-0 |
| Season Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
Miami |
11-5-1 |
| |
Oakland |
11-5-0 |
| Home/Road Record: |
| |
Miami (R) |
6-2-0 |
| |
Oakland (H) |
7-1-0 |
| Home/Road Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
Miami (R) |
5-2-1 |
| |
Oakland (H) |
6-2-0 |
| Record On Natural Turf: |
| |
Miami |
9-4-0 |
| |
Oakland |
10-2-0 |
| Record On Natural Turf Vs. Spread: |
| |
Miami |
8-4-1 |
| |
Oakland |
9-3-0 |
|
|
| Oftentimes, the Raiders’ success defensively
depends on how successfully their seven-man DL rotation wears down the opposing offensive
line. If it comes through, the secondary and linebackers are allowed some leeway in
coverage. Oakland’s starting safeties, Marquez Pope and Anthony Dorsett, have been
vulnerable at times this season in zone coverage. They have been late in getting over to
cover receivers when CBs Eric Allen and Charles Woodson give up their coverage and stay
home in the zone. Also, every member of the Oakland secondary has been guilty of trying to
strip the ball before making the sure tackle, leading to several big plays against the
Raiders’ defense this season.
WHEN THE RAIDERS HAVE THE BALL:
The Raiders are a run-first team, no questions asked. But hindering the league’s
top-ranked rushing attack could be lingering injuries to backup RB Napoleon Kaufman (knee)
and starting FB Jon Ritchie (ankle). Kaufman served as a valuable 1-2 punch with Tyrone
Wheatley, and Ritchie’s blocking and receiving skills will be sorely missed if
he’s unable to play. Expect veteran Terry Kirby, a late-season pickup, to contribute
along with FB Zack Crockett, who scored seven touchdowns in limited opportunities.
Oakland’s offensive line has played very well all season, mixing youthful talent
with valuable experience. The group helped the Raiders finish sixth in the NFL in total
yards and jelled as the season wore on.
QB Rich Gannon made a habit out of doing everything necessary to keep the Raiders in
position to win games this season. Time after time, Gannon delivered, completing 60
percent of his passes for a 28-11 TD-interception ratio during the regular season.
What may be the most frustrating aspect of Gannon’s game for the Dolphins’
aggressive defense is his maneuverability in the pocket and ability to take off for
positive yardage.
WR Tim Brown (1,128 yards, 11 TDs), the object of the majority of Gannon’s passing
affection, will draw plenty of attention from the Dolphins’ physical CB duo of Sam
Madison and Patrick Surtain. The four members of Miami’s starting secondary accounted
for 22 interceptions during the regular season.
Madison and Surtain thrive when Miami’s pass-rushing ends, Jason Taylor and Trace
Armstrong, generate consistent pressure. With MLB Zach Thomas and DT Daryl Gardener not
playing at 100 percent, the run defense has suffered some and will be put to the test by
the persistent Raiders.
All game previews and depth charts were compiled as of Jan. 1, 2001 |
OFFENSE |
| WR |
80 MARTIN, 81 McDuffie, 84 Shepherd |
| OLT |
78 WEBB, 74 B. Smith |
| OLG |
63 DIXON, 66 Irwin |
| C |
61 RUDDY, 62 Andersen |
| ORG |
65 DONNALLEY, 64 Cesario |
| ORT |
71 WADE*, 74 B. Smith |
| TE |
83 GOODWIN, 82 Weaver, 48 Heffner-Liddiard |
| WR |
86 GADSDEN, 88 Ogden, 15 Savage |
| QB |
9 FIEDLER, 11 Huard, 4 Quinn |
| RB |
26 L. SMITH, 32 J. Johnson, 21 Denson |
| FB |
44 KONRAD, 33 Dyer* |
DEFENSE |
| DLE |
79 MIXON, 96 Owens, 93 Armstrong |
| DLT |
95 BOWENS, 94 Haley |
| DRT |
92 GARDENER, 97 Grant* |
| DRE |
99 TAYLOR, 91 Bromell |
| WLB |
59 RODGERS, 51 Hendricks |
| MLB |
54 Z. THOMAS, 53 Izzo |
| SLB |
52 R. JONES, 56 Russell |
| LCB |
23 SURTAIN, 24 Wilson |
| RCB |
29 MADISON, 22 Shaw |
| SS |
45 WALKER, 27 Freeman*, 42 Gamble* |
| FS |
31 MARION, 38 Williams |
SPECIALIST |
| P |
1 TURK |
| PK |
10 MARE |
| H |
11 HUARD, 1 Turk |
|
| PR |
88 OGDEN, 84 Shepherd |
| KR |
21 DENSON, 32 J. Johnson, 88 Ogden |
| KC |
48 HEFFNER-LIDDIARD, 83 Goodwin |
* Rookie |
|
|
OFFENSE |
| WR |
81 BROWN, 88 Dunn |
| OLT |
65 SIMS, 74 Stinchcomb |
| OLG |
76 WISNIEWSKI, 65 Sims |
| C |
63 B. ROBBINS, 62 Treu |
| ORG |
79 COLLINS, 73 Ashmore |
| ORT |
72 KENNEDY, 73 Ashmore |
| TE |
83 DUDLEY, 87 Brigham |
| WR |
82 JETT, 80 Rison, 1 Porter* |
| QB |
12 GANNON, 14 Hoying, 16 Peete |
| RB |
47 WHEATLEY, 26 Kaufman, 28 Jordan, 42 Kirby |
| FB |
40 RITCHIE, 32 Crockett |
DEFENSE |
| DLE |
94 BRYANT, 91 Upshaw |
| DLT |
90 JACKSON, 92 Ioane* |
| DRT |
96 RUSSELL, 57 Coleman |
| DRE |
51 JOHNSTONE, 99 Taves |
| SLB |
59 THOMAS, 50 Barton |
| MLB |
54 BIEKERT, 55 Brooks |
| WLB |
58 ALEXANDER, 53 Smith |
| LCB |
24 WOODSON, 23 Gordon |
| RCB |
21 ALLEN, 20 James |
| SS |
49 POPE, 37 Harris |
| FS |
33 DORSETT, 27 Branch |
SPECIALIST |
| P |
9 LECHLER* |
| PK |
11 JANIKOWSKI* |
| H |
9 LECHLER* |
| PR |
23 GORDON |
| KR |
26 KAUFMAN, 27 Branch |
| KC |
62 TREU |
* Rookie |
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