Perspective From Buffalo, Assistant Coaches Media and Your Questions

with Travis Wingfield begins. Now let me check your pulse if what is up? Dol fans, and welcome to the Drive Time podcast, part of the Miami Dolphins podcast Network, covering your team, your Miami Dolphins. How's it going? Everybody? I am your host, Travis Wingfield and on today's show, potentially the last regular her Brother in season podcast. Here in three we'll go ahead and take a look at the perspective from Buffalo with Joe Marino of the Draft

Network and Locked on Bills. We'll go ahead and hear from the assistant coaching staff and their Thursday media availabilities, and we'll finish up with your mail bad questions via Twitter. All of that and a heck of a lot more from the Baptist Health Studios inside the Baptist Health Training Complex. This is go ahead and get to my guest today

for the last time this season. Number three on the year from Lockdown Bills, Joe Marino and joining me now is one of my favorite recurring guests we have on the Drift Time podcast. He covers the enemy for Locked On Bills on the Locked On Sports Network in addition to being one of the best draft scouts in the entire business, the co founder of the Draft Network, Joe Marino, Joe, welcome back in man. Hey, Travis, thanks for having me on. Hey.

I look, I maybe cover the enemy, but we're all friends, right. I got some great friends here, uh, in the world of Miami Dolphins. So it's gonna be on with you and talk about this football game. I saw somebody tweeted on Thursday morning before taping this podcast at Kyle and said, like, how do you even talk to Joe during this week? I have a Jets fan friend that I can't talk to you for a week before the game, And I'm like, Joe is good people, man. Plus he teaches us some

information on the opponents. So yeah, I'm in that same realm with you. Man, we're like uh Sunday. Maybe even not the most uh closest of friends, but I always enjoyed these podcasts. And this would have been your third appearance on the show this season. But the last time the Dolphins and Bills met, I was actually in the hospital for the birth of my son. So, um, you know I have to ask this every time we do a show together. What's the latest update on girl dad

life for you all up there? Oh? Man, it's phenomenal. She turns three next week, and man, she has so much personality and she's so energetic, and she's so smart. I mean, my favorite thing in the world is being heard Dad. So uh, dad life is great. She's great, and I hope the same is true for you. Coodn't have said it better myself. And the personality parts of the best Man like Christmas music. She was all about that. She sings jingle bells still every time we get in

the car, Daddy, I want jingle bills. Hey, Um, you get whatever you want when it comes to Daddy. So she knows she has me wrapped around her finger, and she takes advantage of it, but um, it's it's the best man. Glad to hear it. And uh, I always love tracking that because our daughter is so close in age. It's it's cool to reflect on that stuff with you. Um. But yeah, let's let's go ahead and start with this this crossover podcast here, and we always start these with

questions about the quarterback position. And you know, we're all well versed on Josh allen skills have We've seen him a million times and he's played very well pretty much all those times. But I continue to marvel at his splits this year against the Blitz and how it's completely flipped in terms of his success against the Blitz against the other fifteen teams and then against the Dolphins in

those two games. I'm just curious on the whole what have you noticed about Josh Allen when teams play coverage this year versus bringing extra rushers on the Blitz. You know what's interesting about Josh Allen is, for as good of a player as he is, I think that's an area of his game that has been an issue really

over the last two seasons. It's just a production against the Blitz, and obviously that's a dangerous world to live in at times for a defense knowing what Josh is capable of both as a runner and a thrower, and certainly going back to he was one of the best

in the league in terms of facing the blitz. But over the last two years, I feel like it's been more of an issue offensively where the Bills kind of get stuck on when to protect right, when to keep some extra bodies in to protect, and when to throw hot right and make those sight adjustments and really try to replace the the blitz with the ball and and make the defense pay for sending and committing some extra rushers.

And so I feel like over the last two years it's been a little bit unsettled for this Bill's offense, and Josh has gotten stuck at times because I'm not sure those answers have bene have been built in as

consistently as they need to. And the Dolphins certainly a team that number two blitz raid in the a f C. We we know that about Josh Boy's gonna send UH send pressure, and so I think that's gonna be a big challenge for the Bills this week, especially given the familiarity between the two teams and and that UH for as much as the Bills may be familiar with Josh Boyer and how he likes to blitz, you know, Josh Bowyer is well familiar with the protection schemes of the

Buffalo Bills, and so I think that's a really good um opening topic in something that um I'm curious about this week and seeing how those how that storyline plays out, especially when you're talking about a Dolphins front that features so many good pass rushers. Jalen Phillips obviously having a breakout season and he he uh gave Spencer Brown at right tackle all he can handle in that last match up.

And of course in the inside, Siler and Christian Wilkins are animals, and Melvin Ingram seems to play well every time the Bills play against him, whatever team he's playing for, of course Bradley Chub So there's a there's a lot that this front can give you both from a blitz perspective and then just those guys winning one on one, So obviously a big storyline entering this game. It felt like that last game was like watching you know, NBA players playing pickup ball in terms of like, oh man,

what a great move that was by Jalen Phillips. So there goes Josh Allen making an even better player than just back and forth all game long, so much fun to watch. And speaking of fun, you know, getting on social media can be fun or it can be the opposite of that. And I saw a debate the other day Joe on Bill's Twitter about the production of the number two receiver, which has been Gabe Davis right for

the Bills. It's right so, and there was some consternation about, you know, his value, and one of the common disagreements I saw was people saying, look at what Waddles doing in Miami, And I'm thinking, like, that's not really fair because both Tyreek and Jalen are you know, ones on like nine of the teams across the NFL. So my question is explained to our fan base the traits that makes this Bill's skill group so dangerous because it's more

than just Josh Allen Stefon Diggs. Yeah, I think the Bills obviously Josh Allen Stefon Diggs, that's your bread and butter. But it's about a whole lot more than just that. And you look at Davis is the number two receiver, maybe he have the production. Coming out of that Kansas City playoff game where he had two hundred yards and four touchdowns and everybody thought he was gonna have this monster season. He had an okay season. Eight hundred yards,

seven touchdowns. That's good wide receiver to production. But you know, maybe you wonder about his skill set and if it's a complete enough player to be a do everything guy opposite of Stefan days. He certainly provides value with his size and his ball skills down the field, but obviously not a guy that's gonna uncovered quickly or went after the catch, and there's been some inconsistency with his hands

this year. But you know, Dawson Knox is also lover the last two years at tight end really become uh an important part of this this offense and what he means for not only their ability to attack the middle of the field, but his yards after catch skills. That is something they like to tap into quite a bit, getting him, you know, into the flats and asking him to create his obviously big and athletic and then you know, you look at the rest of this receiver corps and

it's it's some old faces that are back. Cole Beasley John Brown, they're starting to get in the extended the equation to go with Isaia McKinsey, who may not be available this week with a hamstring injury, and so they'll rely on some of those old new faces, if you will, and rookie and Colose Secure that looks like he has a bright future as an up and coming inside outside player,

but the market share hasn't really been there. But also the Bills have gotten the running backs going a little bit in the passing game with James Cook and his emergence here later in the season certainly feels like the game slowing down for him a bit and he's becoming more comfortable in his role. And of course Stevan Singletary, who has been really consistent over the last four years in terms of his ability to catch football and run it.

So there's a lot of weapons that the Bills have, and uh, it's interesting on a weekly basis kind of who the priorities are for who they're gonna throw the football too, because they do have a lot of options.

And certainly when you look at this game against Miami, um I feel like the Bills are gonna want to make it a space game as much as possible offensively and really put you know, some empty packages on the field and space that Dolphins defense out and really kind of put them in some conflict with if they're gonna send pressure and kind of having to deal with the

space behind it. And we obviously know about the injuries in the back seven four Miami all season long, so that could be an interesting storyline here that the Bills could try to take advantage of this weekend. Yeah, it makes perfect sense. I mean that the depth of that position has been tested because of the injuries, and you can you know, certainly play into that by like you mentioned, going empty and spreading things out. So I'll be curious

see how that looks. And uh, you know, talk about pressure and blitzing and all that stuff that falls ultimately on the quarterback and offensive line. And I wanted to ask you about the Bills offensive line player this year because I mentioned on my preview podcast at Miami has to find a way to not just get pressure on Alan but hem him into the pocket because he makes so many dang plays when he escapes outside of the pocket. How do you think teams have accomplished that this year?

What have they done to keep him into the pocket

and and try to force him to win from that position. Well, I think it's been a struggle for a lot of teams to be honest with you, and Josh tends to even if you have your best intentions of kind of cage rushing and containing him, Josh makes that one guy miss and all of a sudden, your best intentions are all for not right, and Josh is rolling to his right and making plays with his legs in his arm, and so I think what you have to do is the front is you just have to be extremely disciplined,

not just with your rush and to be able to stay in your lane, but when you're in that position to tackle Josh Allen, you have to be under control and you have to be mindful of you know, he's a big dude with a stiff arm right and just

will really dare anybody to come after him. Right. I think we've all seen that over his career, and um, you know, I think it's just a lot of discipline that you're going to be required to play with, not just from a a stay in your lane which limits your creativity as a pass rusher, but hey, when you have that chance, you have to be balanced and under control to have an opportunity to get down a really

good quarterback. It's yeah, all remember the first year I covered a game here from the like from the press box, I asked Bobby McCain about a sack he had on Josh Allen about bringing him down. It's like, man our slot corner, Little Bobby McCain, a five ft ten bring him to the ground. That was one of the most amazing things I ever saw in a foot ball field. But he seems to shake off, you know, two and sixty pounds like it's no big deal. So definitely Alan

got him last week. That was a really good tackle and that I was like, wow, I can't believe you got him down. So there's it happens. But you better, you better have your angle, you better be balanced, you

better get him loon. That was a hell of a play from Javon kind of playing that like you know, he almost like buzzed the crosser then turn into a spy and closed down on him, And I thought there was I thought we had no chance once he broke the pocket there because we've seen him happened so many times. But you know, the snowman is probably the best bet to get him to the ground in space like that he did at that time. Now, speaking of defense on the other side of the ball for Buffalo, you know,

we saw them without von Miller. That first game was a bit of an anomaly from the Dolphin standpoint, from a volume standpoint, because it's hard to rack up numbers when you only run thirty seven plays in a game. But the December game was highly efficient, explosive plays, long

touchdown to Tyreek and waddle. What have the Bills done since that game, since Week fifteen to disrupt the timing of opposing offenses with their past rush, a blitzing playing, you know, four man rush, How have they done and

how effective hasn't been? Well? I think that's something that I have a question about with this Bill's team entering the postseason um where I think if you go back to the last two years where their season was ended by Kansas City, you remember not being good enough when it comes to rushing the passer and really getting the quarterback down. And you went out and you signed von Miller to be your closer, and for the time that he was healthy this year, that's exactly what he was.

Key clutch sacks when you had to have him well, and he's not available this for this Bill's team on you know, the rest of the season, and so they've had to kind of adapt to it and and really

just lean into the talent that they have. Right, they don't have von Miller, but they still have several first round picks on the edge, and Greg Rousseau and Shack Lawson and a couple of recent second round picks and uh A j f and S and Carlos Basham that you know all of the above, right, It's not just uh any one guy that can come in and replace what von Miller gave you. You hope it's an all of the above approach, especially with your interior guys as like in that Oliver and at de Ai Kwon Jones

and Jordan Phillips and a Tim Settle. So I think you you just try to find strengthen in being eight deep, that you feel like all these guys have a chance to rush the passer and um hopefully on any given play you have one or two guys that are able to deliver. And you know the Bills have been more willing.

I think to blitz Matt Mulano, I think we've seen that quite a bit here down the stretch, mug him, mug him up in the A gaps and send him at That's happened a little bit more uh recently than than I can remember, So I think that's kind of the plan here for Buffalo to get after the quarterback. And there's been times here late in the season where I felt like the pass rush didn't show up with consistency, especially against the uh, the Patriots in their most recent game.

And obviously the Patriots kind of tapped into some play action in ways that we hadn't seen them uh this season, and that got the Bills a few times. And you know, you know, the Dolphins are really good at kind of having that run action tag to their their passing play, so that will certainly be a benefit to them and kind of slowing up the the Bill's pass rush. But it's definitely in all of the above approach. Yeah, you mentioned the Patriots, a divisional opponent, you know, a team

you know so well. For the Patriots to kind of be able to adapt in a game like that speaks to their knowledge, I think of the Bills. And maybe

Miami has some of that as well. And you go back to you know, talking about the running game and eight yards in the ground from Miami last time around thirty two snaps with two bad personnel against that you know, permanent nickel package they run where it's like at the time, I'm just curious, what does allow Buffalo to remain in that nickel defense and yet still ranked fourth in the NFL against the rush this year. It's it's Tremaine Evans and Matt Mulano and and really Taran Johnson, Right, it's

those guys as a on a base nickel defense. I mean, they have so much responsibility not just for their run fits, but also with the real estate that they're responsible for, responsible for in pass coverage. Right, those guys are smart, instinctive players with range, and I think that allows the Bills to live in this world where they're pretty much always in nickel. They don't go three linebackers for any and um, that's just who they've been and it's been

really effective. And I think it really it's really those three guys and how they can fit the run and play in space and coverage. But you know a big task of them is in this style of defense that is a penetration style up the field, defense up front is they have to make those defensive linemen right right because they're attacking, they're playing downhill and it's just a lot of their plates and they continue to answer the call.

And um, you know, those are those are core players this defense, and I think that's the reason why they're able to live in that nickel defense. And sometimes you know, they there's a play here and there where they can give up a big run. You've seen that obviously the big what a Mostard had a sixty yard or something against the Bills. That's that's gonna happen from time to time when you live in that world. But you know, for the most part, they tighten the screws and and

really handle a lot on their plate. It's a fun matchup man. Rob Hunt had a big game last time. Connor Williams as well, creating some of those lanes inside. I'm curious see how it happens this time because I think the Dolphins to win the game will have to

run the ball successfully. But you know, as far as putting the ball up in the air on the back end, you know, I think going into this season, maybe you can agree or disagree that cornerback was probably the one area that Bills fans maybe had the most questions about in terms of who's getting the bulk of the snaps.

With the entire regular season now in the rear view mirror, how would you assess that position and their prospects in this game for slowing down Tyreek Jalen and the Dolphins receivers, Well, okay, those are two very different questions, Travis, because nobody's slowing down Wattle and Hill, right, So that's that's you know, I remember for years I get asked the question, I'm chiefs podcasters and stuff. It's like, how how are the Bills gonna stop Travis Kelsey. They're not going to write

it's it's not gonna happen. You try to, You try to limit and contain it as best she can. Right, But even even in that last game that Will Hill and Waddle they both made their big explosive touchdowns, and you know, I think you have to just live in a world where that's gonna happen, and so you just try to try to contain it as best she can.

But I think as far as the cornerback depth and and the Dolphins as an opponent, you're nervous about playing those receivers, but fortunately don't have to play them every single week. The Bill has got to deal with them twice a year. But um, I think for the most part, the Bill's corner position has really um come along in ways that we didn't expect. Obviously a concern entering the year with Levi Wallace departing and trade Avious White coming off of an a c L tear, but Tradevious White

is now healthy. He's been an every down player really since the game after Thanksgiving, so he stabilized and come in and bend the top corner. And then opposite of him, they've actually rotated Kyer Elam, the first round pick who's played well at times and you certainly had his rookie moments as well, but Dame Jackson who's been kind of the fill in player for trine Avious White, who's kind of stabilized and earned the opportunity to stay on the

field even with Trey White's return. Meanwhile, they also have Christian Benford, who's the sixth round rookie out of Villa Nova, who started the first few games of the season in a rotation with uh Kyrie Elm while Dane Jackson was a CB one waltradabus White was out, So through all these injuries, there's been a lot of experience gained and put the Bills in a situation where they feel like they have four guys that they're willing to play on the outside at corner and it's a really good position

to be. But at the end of the day, nobody's running stride for stride with waddling Hills. So you've got a lot to worry about with those two really dynamic players here. You talk about the playmakers. I mean, we feel the same way about Josh Allen, like you just have to accept that he's gonna make plays. And it makes me think about like the future of this rivalry and hopefully a lot more playoff games to come, kind of like the nineties, you know, I was, I was

going over the last podcast. Yeah, three and three and one for the butt for the Bills, and and two and in that building. Hopefully we can see, you know, another run like that. I think both fan bases would love to see that rival we kind of get back to where it was in the nineties. So Joey end this podcast each week with this question, the Bills will win the game if and then you go ahead and

fill in the blank. I think the Bills need to come out offensively and really set the pace and challenge Miami with out their starting quarterback, to go blow for blow with you, right, I mean the Bills are certainly capable of scoring in bunches. They've I think they've scored at least thirty points in their last three games, the number two scoring offense in the NFL. I think you have to go out and be aggressive and score points and really really dare uh this Dolphins team without their

starting quarterback to to stay with you. And on one hand, you you feel like from the Bill's perspective that that's a good recipe. But you know, one thing that we know about this uh Mike McDaniel Kyle Shanahan style of offense is that they've been able to get production out of quarterbacks. Right. I mean, look at look at McDaniel and Shanahan were there together and with San Francisco it

was whether Jim Jim Garoppolo was available or not. I mean, they were able to get production out of Nick Mullins and c J. Be Third And you've seen Shanahan continue that this year with Brock Purty, and you know, is Skyler Thompson just that next guy that can step in and really execute that offense and and overcome not having your starting quarterback. So I think that's your recipe for

the Bills. And obviously, you know, play sound, disciplined defense and and try to contain those receivers the best you can. But I think it's about being aggressive and trying to score and see if Miami can stay with you. Yeah, it's nice to see our quarterback that wasn't to uh start and finish the game for the first time in Week number eighteen. This year, hopefully the same thing happens again here and we can get some more growth from the from the rookie quarterback if he is in fact

the starter in the game on Sunday. He's the co founder of the Draft Network. You can find us Daily Bills podcast through the Lockdown Bills podcast at the Joe Marino on Twitter, Joe, I always appreciate my man. We'll see you in India again this year, right, Yes, Sarah, We'll see you then, no question about that. Have a go a man, and away he goes again. Joe Marino check out his work in the Draft Network. Locked on

Bills and at the Joe Marino on Twitter. Let's go ahead and take our first break and come back on the other side. And here from Dolphins assistant coaches. That's Next Draft Time podcast, your host Travis Wingfield, brought to you by Auto Nation. Let's go ahead and kick off assistant coaches media. They met with us on January twelve, Thursday morning. I asked Josh Boyer about the conflict of having so many games against this team. Do you find

yourself kind of second guessing your original point? Do you come down to multiple thoughts with regards to the game plan because of the familiarity. Here's coach Boyer, I'm preparing for a team you've seen already twice this year and two times every year. I think you look at a lot of things. You look at some of the things that you've done well, you look at personnel, like some

of that's changed over the years. Um. When when you go back and you look at all of them, um, and then ways that they've kind of combated some of the things that we've done, uh, and then you know, scheme that they've had that's hurt us to you know, make sure that we're prepared for that. Um yeah, I think it's a constant. And then you look at things that they've done to other teams as well that may be similar to some of the things that we do. Um.

So yeah, I think there's a lot uh familiarity. Um but uh, you know at the same time that there's you know, they they're very familiar with us too, So you kind of gotta come back, Okay, if we do this, they'll do that. If they do this, we'll do that. You know, So that there's a lot of back and forth when it comes to prepare for a team that you faced multiple times, and specifically speaking about Josh Allen, what has and has not been successful to you coach

with defending this all pro level talent quarterback. I think you gotta give them different looks. I think if you know, if you sit in the same thing, Um, you know, they do a very good job. I mean they got they got good offensive alignment, they got good skilled players that you know, they got good tight ends. Uh, they got good backs. Uh. In the quarterback, he's able to see things very well and run the offense very efficiently. So it would be a big challenge for us this

week that we're looking forward to. I asked this question to all the coaches we spoke to on Thursday about the atmosphere and a playoff game and that crazy building and those crazy fans, and coach I think it was coach Austin Clark talked about it being like a college atmosphere, or actually, you know what, I think it was coach Boyer. Let's go ahead and spend it forward here to Josh boy you're talking about the playoff atmosphere up in Buffalo.

You know when you play at Buffalo, it's always a great, great football environment. Um, you know, it's a I would say, you know, and again there's this is gonna be stereotypical, so I'm sure there's different, you know, but it's a very blue collar, hard working town. The fans are very passionate. Um, you know, Uh, you know, obviously I've spent my entire career in the a f C East and it didn't matter what. You know, if you're wearing a different colored jersey,

you're not welcome there. Um, but they but they love football. Uh, it will be a great environment. Um. You know, we'll probably have a little less snowballs thrown at us this this week if if it doesn't snow. Um, But I think it's awesome. I think it's a great football environment. I think it's a good football town. They got a great football team, their world coached, They play hard. Um. You know, I don't think you could ask for anything

more going up there and playing. You guys know that I tend to fix it on things that I find and trigguing about the game. And the thing that I keep going back to is, and I've talked about it, I feel like the last three or four matchups against this team is taking the ball away when you have the opportunity. Again, going back to the first game in three dropped interceptions in that game at a three point game, you just feel like if you can get one or two of those, you maybe swing that game back in

your favor. And you know, I mentioned the six from six total fumbles the Bills have had in the two games against Miami, and the Dolphins have recovered two of them. I wanted to ask Josh Boyer about that and the fact that Josh Allen's put the ball into our coverage's hands a few times and not secured the picks. How do you emphasize capitalizing on your takeaway opportunities. Here's the Dolphins defensive coordination. Yeah, I think I think you probably

hit it right there in your question. And like one, we have to attack the football and then when it's out, you know, the more people that we can get to the ball increase our odds greatly of of recovering the ball. So I think those are the things that uh, you know, and obviously, um, we put an emphasis on that every week, so um, you know, that won't really change. We will try to attack the ball as much as possible and then you know, try to get everybody to the ball.

Is the best we can to recover those always enlightening stuff there from defensive cording or Josh Boyer almost called him head coach. Let's go ahead and go to the offensive side of the ball. Here and Frank Smith who was asked about the approach of playing the game with Skyler Thompson compared to other quarterbacks and if you will play more of a you know, or I should say conservative approach with Skyler Thompson in the game. Here's coach talking about the goal of the offense score points. Man.

When you look at it from philosophically, for an offense, our job is to score points, and then however we score points is trying to obviously win the games. So uh, for us last week, we felt there was an opportunity with the Jets right attack him in a way that maybe we hadn't attacked certain opponents the same way. I think ultimately, like this week, UM, we have a plan that how we want to attack the Bills, and ultimately, regardless of how that plays out, that's the plan that

we communicate the guys understand it. I don't think necessarily that we're looking at some type of way to really do it. We're just looking at what's the best way for us to make sure we score points and win the game. And uh, you know, if we maximize those opportunities, we feel confident that we can accomplish that. Let's go next here to coach Frank Smith. I asked him about the Bills of the time running nickel defense, and you heard it from Joe Marino earlier, you heard it from

me on Thursday. And one of those things I've obsessed over this week is the Bills staying in that nickel package and running fullback at them time and time again. With alec Ingold wanted to get the Dolphins, you know, offensive mastermind. Here Frank Smith's opinion on how to attack a team that does that. Here's coach on the thing that you see a defense that because obviously, uh been together, they understand their philosophy, they understand what they're trying to do.

I mean, uh, you know, Sean Wesley done a fantastic job and then unfortunately for my experience, you know Mike going back all the way to Carolina with Sean when he was a coordinator. I mean, they run a very uh, very good scheme, aggressive, They know who they are, right, they have a very good understanding whether they're nickel or their base defense. I think that that all their players communicate well. I think they have a great understanding of

where they're trying to be inside of their defense. So I think that the flexibility that they do withinside of their defensive system is probably a strength of theirs. And that's through their players. And I think it's ultimately you can see it's a well coached team that plays hard and uh, you know, ultimately it's going to be We've got to make sure we're on our stuff to make sure we bring our best on Sunday. So there you go.

We also heard from Dolphins defensive line coach Austin Clark, Special team's corner or Danny Cross, but he was the one that compared the Buffalo atmosphere to a college atmos fear with a tailgating and obviously the slamming through tables and whatnot. They whatever they do up there, and you know, throwing snowballs at people on the sidelines regardless of if there just whatever, you know, That's what he was want

to talked about that. You want to find these entire press conferences, you can do that on the team YouTube Channel Time McKenzie and West Welker as well. Let's go ahead and take our last break, come back on the other side and answer your questions via the Twitter mailbag. That's next Draft Time podcast, your host Travis Wingfield, brought to you by Auto Nation. Might this be the last time we're talking about the football game until September? I

hope not. I really really hope not. I can't. I only I've allowed myself yet to get to that place where I'm like imagining what a wind looks like. I think earlier in the week I was allowing myself to think about that. Maybe not so much now, But as I talk it out on the podcast, here, can you imagine Can you guys imagine going into buff and winning that game? Oh, that would be fun. That would be a lot of fun. It would be a national story. Obviously,

playoffs tend to be that way. But upset and the team that's everyone thinks it is going to go to the super Bowl, big underdogs, third streing quarterback. It's storybook stuff. Um, it's it's what we're all hoping for and all wanting to happen. We'll see what happens on Sunday, But I guess allow yourself to imagine a dream for the next couple of days before we kick off, and we'll see what happens when they kick the ball off on Sunday.

Let's go ahead and get to your mail. Bad questions I put the call out on Twitter, you reply, I answer them here, pretty simple formula At Yanks Bandwagon wants to know what's the roadmap to win the game on Sunday? How do we pull off the upset? Yeah? I know sometimes and quarterback is maybe a little bit you know, impervious to this, but sometimes as fans we look at like, oh, they're down player one two, three, and four impossible to

win the game. Well, yeah, it does make it more challenging. Obviously, you want your best guys out there. But the challenge with next man up and having you know, key players missing from the lineup is just how you kind of scheme it and plan around that. And some teams you know, have had success with that, sometimes not. And obviously the injuries that take its toll at one position group like we've had at cornerback and on the offensive line this year,

is a little bit unique. And again the quarterback is also a little bit straight from that conversation. But you know, to steal a Seth Levitt ism here my co host on the postgame show and fellow podcast network brethren here at the Fish Tank with O. J. McDuffie. There are fifty three professional athletes on either side of the football, so it comes down to our fifty three making more plays than their fifty three. Like, look at Buffalo last week,

they got two special teams touchdowns. What if Miami did that. What if they ran back the opening kick and got a defensive score or something like. I know the odds are low, but that's possible that happens. Those I used to talk about. I used to be in this this thing with some friends and we pick game on Sundays and we're trying to, you know, get certain levels of points, and we would always talk about how when your team's ahead but not enough points in the final part of

the game, UM, like pick six, as they happen. They happen all the time. Like that stuff happens. It's not frequently, but it does happen. So he always have a punchers chance. And ultimately, I think the best path to victory is giving Alan the fits that we have given him at times, but avoiding the big quarter that he seems to be prone to at all times. In just about every game the last two years, Miami has held Josh Allen in check for a stretch of possessions like punt, punt, punt turnover.

Even the thirty five nothing game last year when we uh went three and out, three and out, three and out, I n T I n T I n T three and out, three and out, three and out. Um, it was just fourteen noth and a half time, despite the fact that they couldn't do anything offensively when two it went out in that game, the one time they avoided the big quarter was back in Week three and they

won that game. One nineteen, the December game, he had a big fourth quarter in one and Buffalo, remember that, like slog fest early on with the Dolphins lad that game, like six to three at halftime or something like that, had a chance to kick a field goal or score touchdown late with the snap hit, Mike get sicky in motion and we turn it over down there. But like Buffalo had like three points in the first half of that game, he has a big couple of drives in

the second half and ultimately put the game away. Kind Of a similar story back in twenty nineteen as well. So it's you get several stops in each of these games and then Josh Allen gets hot. You always need to be your best against this guy when you're potentially shorthanded a few spots on offense and even quarterback. That's obviously more true. So to me, a stingy defense, a couple of takeaways. Why, protecting the football on our own and winning on special teams. It's a lot to ask for.

That's why you're big dogs in this game. But that's the path to victory from at Dolphins fan five six one who is the key factor in this game from Miami.

My initial reaction to that is Jalen Phillips because going back and watching the tape from week fifteen, he really gave that Buffalo right tackle Spencer Brown all he could handle, and then he'd kick inside and rushed pretty effectively from that four eye possess and as well, so you know in his biggest pass rush in that game resulted in a takeaway, and then one possession later, he and Wilkins

teamed up for another force fumble. Like again, what happens if that happens again and we recover both of those balls, like two possessions you would steal, and you need to steal possessions in this game, and I think he could potentially be the quickest path towards that. I'll give you a player on offense as well. I'm taking alec Ingold. He was stellar in the last matchup, and I think offensively, the running game needs to get this one going big,

and he's a key cog in that department. His second highest snap total of the year was the Bills game. He had thirty two snaps and we ran for a buck eight eight against them, the only game over two hundred yards against Cleveland was his other game with more snaps, like forty snaps in that game. Our best rushing performance, so alec Ingoldjalen Phillips my shoe picks there at two a goat twenty three. What will the offensive line look like Sunday? Well, I wish I had Coach McDaniel's crystal

ball to give you that. We'll find out Sunday, won't We Ideally to Ron makes his way back and we got him out there because he's the best, you know, offensive linement on a team from my money, and I'd be pretty intrigued by the idea of maybe Rob Hunt at right tackle if we don't have Brandon Shell. That was the lineup when Shell got hurt on Sunday against the Jets, And I think big Rob's up to the

challenge for it if that's where he goes. I've made no secret about the fact that I think that he had a Pro Bowl year this year at right guard, and to Ron Armstead said as much and his Wednesday media availability, and I thought he was pretty dang good there as a rookie as well. So and you know they used Robert Jones at right guard when they kicked Hunt out and that might be the best two men run block combo that we have on this roster, just in the sense that they offer so much from a

size and strength and physicality standpoint. And Frank Smith talked about it a little bit on Thursday and how they have contingencies they develop all year long going back to training camp, so they'll have a plan. We just have to wait and see what it is. Um Ideally to Ron, I guess Liam Connor, Rob and Rob is what I would hope for, But we'll see what happens and terms of health and who they have available and what they

go with. All Right, there you go, another week in the can nineteen of them now, no, yeah, yeah, nineteen plus six weeks of training camp. It's been a long ride and here we are on the precipice of, you know, an elimination game. So enjoy it. The next time you hear from me, we'll be recapping this game and hopefully it's a fun, fun ass surprise win. If not, we'll also break that down as well and look forward to the offseason. Whatever happens, We're here for you on the

Draft Time Podcast. In the meantime, you all please be sure to subscribe to the podcast on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcast, and once you're there, leave us a rating, leave us a review. Helps the show out exponentially. I see some new reviews coming in here and I really appreciate them, so thank you guys so much. Give us five stars, give us one star. I don't care. Just do it, just just do it. Also, go ahead and follow me on Twitter at Winkle NFL. Follow the

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