Volin: "Wake, Vernon" Key to Attacking Brady and Patriots
By WQAM Staff
The New England Patriots are sizzling, winning eight of their last nine games as they continue to comfortably sit atop the AFC East's throne. What's it going to take for a Miami Dolphins victory on Sunday in Foxborough?
"It's got to be Cam Wake and Olivier Vernon and those guys up front," Ben Volin of the Boston Globe said on the Joe Rose Show on WQAM. "The Patriots offensive line is still kind of shaky.
"And when Brady's feeling the pressure, he starts to get those happy feet and he gets rid of the football a little bit earlier. Against San Diego, he looked a lot like he did in the first four weeks of the season."
When the Dolphins delivered a dominating 33-20 win against the Patriots in Week 1, they sacked Brady four times, including two sack-fumbles by Wake and seven quarterback hits, according to Pro Football Focus. It's why Volin expects the Patriots to get the ball out of Brady's hand this time around while emphasising the running game.
"I expect the Patriots to spread the Dolphins out," Volin said. "Do a lot of quick-passing offense and then pound the ball too. We all know that the Dolphins' run defense hasn't been so great the last few weeks."
Miami's defense has allowed 661 rushing yards over their last three games, two being losses. Tom Brady is one of the all-time great quarterbacks in this league, but at least slowing down the run has to be Miami's primary focus this week. If not, there will be no 3rd and longs and thus no pressure on Brady.
Can the Dolphins turn their season around in New England?
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