Game Preview: Packers at Dolphins, Week 6

What to watch when the Green Bay Packers travel to Miami to take on the Dolphins on Sunday.

The Green Bay Packers (3-2) travel to Sun Life Stadium in Miami to take on the Dolphins (2-2) Sunday at 12:00 p.m. CT, televised on Fox.

 

The Big Picture: What's at Stake?

Joe Philbin spent nine years as an assistant in Green Bay, including the last five as offensive coordinator. He leveraged a Super Bowl vcitory in 2010 and a 15-1 record in 2011 into a head coaching gig with the Dolphins.

It'll be the first time the Packers face Philbin since he left, but there will be little time for reminiscing once the game kicks off as both teams position themselves for a playoff push. Only the winner leaves the staidum with a record above .500.

 

What to Watch When the Packers Have the Ball

A) Bryan Bulaga Blocking Cameron Wake: Wake is a fantastic success story, turning an effective stint in the Canadian Football League into a gig with the Dolphins. Since arriving in Miami, Wake has become a three-time Pro Bowler and one of the NFL's best pass rushers.

The Packers are less concerned about Wake's past than his future, however, particularly how he fares on Sunday. Wake is the ringleader of a Dolphins defense that does a good job putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

Lining up across from Wake will be Packers right tackle Bryan Bulaga. Considering the torn MCL Bulaga suffered earlier in the season, there's concern that he won't be able to handle Wake's speed off the edge. The Packers may have to give him help.

B) Getting Davante Adams More Involved: Now that Davante Adams has taken over the No. 3 job from Jarrett Boykin, at least temporarily, he's received nothing but high praise from quarterback Aaron Rodgers and head coach Mike McCarthy this week.

With Boykin ruled out of the Dolphins game, Adams looks to continue playing a big role in the Packers offense.

Despite the support of his coaches and teammates, Adams still has to become more consistent. With only 10 receptions for less than 100 yards and one score, the Packers need more production out of their third option through the air.

C) Aaron Rodgers Limiting Turnovers on the Road: Rodgers hits a milestone on Sunday when he plays in his 100th career regular season game.

Through his first 99, Rodgers has arguably been the NFL's best at limiting interceptions, not allowing opponents to get an extra possession that so frequently makes the difference in the outcome of a game as a result of getting a turnover.

As long as the Packers aren't giving the ball away, Rodgers should be able to be himself and not have to dig the Packers out of a big hole. Gaining more yards on first down, converting third downs and converting red-zone opportunities will all be that much easier.

 

What to Watch When the Dolpins Have the Ball

A) Defensive Line Depth Being Tested: After missing the Vikings game with a knee injury, it appears as if Josh Boyd will return in time for the match-up with the Dolphins, having been listed as "probable" on the team's injury report on Friday.

Getting back Boyd is only half the ideal scenario for the Packers, however. Listed as "questionable" is fellow defensive lineman Datone Jones, who sprained his right ankle during the Vikings game, the same ankle that nagged him for a majority of the 2013 season.

If the Packers don't have Jones, their depth will be pushed to the limits, and they'll likely be relying heavily on a pair of undrafted rookies: Mike Pennel and Luther Robinson. They'll be going up against a Dolphins offensive line that appears to be getting healthier with the potential return of Mike Pouncey and Shelley Smith from injury, not to mention former Packer Daryn Colledge.

B) Julius Peppers Staying the Course: Peppers has done a nice job for the Packers all season, but they really got a glimpse of his athleticism last week when he took an interception of Minnesota quarterback Christian Ponder to the house.

By dialing up the pressure in the pass rush and tacking on a half sack he shared with A.J. Hawk, Peppers was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Month for his efforts, only the second player in NFL history to earn such an honor with three different teams.

It will be much easier for the Packers defense to maintain that same high level of play against the Dolphins if Peppers is a factor and taking pressure off the other pass rushers like Clay Matthews and Mike Daniels.

C) Morgan Burnett Taking It Up a Notch: There's little doubt the Packers are getting better production out of the combination of Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Micah Hyde than they were last season from M.D. Jennings and Jerron McMillian.

But when Burnett takes his game up to another level in addition to what the other safeties are doing, it seems as if the entire Packers secondary improves. Last week against the Vikings, Burnett made a team-leading 12 tackles, but it was the forceful nature of his tackles, frequently short of the first-down marker, that really impressed.

Burnett will be also relied upon to prevent Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill from completing deep passes over the top of the secondary.

 

What to Watch on Special Teams

Punts Inside the 20: When Tim Masthay had five punts downed inside the 20-yard line in last week's game against the Vikings, McCarthy called the punter's day "one of his best performances in his time here."

Masthay is in the midst of having arguably having his best season as a professional, placing eight total punts inside the 20 and the victim of just one touchback. The Packers will benefit greatly if he can continue his success, pinning the Dolphins deep in their own territory.

Likewise, the Packers punt return squad can help out the Packers offense by providing them the football in good field position. The burden falls on not only the return specialists but also the guys blocking in front of them, perhaps even Kevin Dorsey, who would be making his NFL debut.

 

Brian Carriveau is the author of the book "It's Just a Game: Big League Drama in Small Town America," and editor at Cheesehead TV and its "Pro Football Draft Preview." To contact Brian, email [email protected].

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Comments (1)

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NickPerry's picture

October 11, 2014 at 09:51 am

Adams needs the ball to come his way a little more often to be more involved. I've watched numerous plays the last few weeks where Adams was open and AR threw to Nelson or Cobb. I'd also like to see the Packers try a slant or something underneath to Janis and see what he can do. TT is not going to bring in any veterans before the trade deadline, we can be reasonably sure of that. All the more reason to start getting Adams and Janis more involved.

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