Miami Dolphins 2009

MIAMI (CBS4) ― During the last two games, the Miami Dolphins have looked like the team most fans expected to see this year. The offensive line has been dominating, the Wildcat has seen Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams run over teams, and the defense has held up despite youth in the secondary. Now comes a true test for the Fins as the undefeated New Orleans Saints come to Land Shark Stadium on Sunday.

The Saints are coming off a big victory over the New York Giants. The Saints held Giants quarterback Eli Manning in check and the Saints high-powered offense did whatever it wanted against the then number one rated defense in the NFL. Saints quarterback Drew Brees has been almost unstoppable during the 2009 campaign, but will also sacrifice big numbers if the running game is working for the team.

The fact the Saints held up so well against the Giants pass rush was a testament to the offensive line, which is missing its All-Pro, left tackle Jamaal Brown. The Saints offensive line has also allowed a running game full of castoffs and a draft bust to be one of the stronger running games in the league. They've also given Drew Brees time to find one of his receivers, typically Marques Colston, and the quarterback has simply picked defenses apart so far this season.

The Saints defense has seen a resurgence under defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. Led by defensive lineman Sedrick Ellis, linebacker and former UM player Jonathan Vilma, and veteran safety Darren Sharper, the Saints will give the Dolphins first-year starting quarterback Chad Henne as many looks as possible trying to confuse him. Henne will have to keep a keen eye on Sharper who has just feasted off of bad throws from most quarterbacks who have played the Saints.

But, most of the quarterbacks in the league don't have what Chad Henne has, the Wildcat. Some league commentators, like ESPN's Ron Jaworski, say the Wildcat shouldn't be such a large part of the Dolphins offense. "I still believe it's a gimmick and a gadget," Jaworski said on ESPN Radio. Apparently, Jaworski didn't watch the Wildcat against both the Colts and the Jets.

Jaworski's overall point was correct though, the Dolphins can't rely simply on the Wildcat. The Fins dominated time of possession against the Indianapolis Colts, but lost the game because the passing game had no downfield throws. That changed when Henne came into the starting lineup. Now, Henne may not be the second-coming of Dan Marino, but he still put a deep throw on the money that made Ted Ginn, Jr. look good, which is no easy task.

For Henne, the Wildcat offense provides him with another added bonus. ""You get a play off and get a [physical] picture, kind of like when we come to sidelines after a series, you get a picture of the defense and really understand what they are giving us in different formations and different plays. You get a chirp in the ear from the coach and then you go back out there and execute," Henne said.

In addition, Henne has an improving defense whose secondary will be put to the test by Brees. With a rookie on one corner, Brees will probably target that side of the field to test out Sean Smith. The key though will be how the Dolphins handle Jeremy Shockey. The Fins have been torched by the top tight ends in the NFL and with Shockey coming to town, the Fins safeties better get ready to tackle and cover, which has been shaky thus far.

Still, Saints quarterback Drew Brees has a healthy respect for the Dolphins defense. "It is probably the most complete defense we have played against. When I look at it from top to bottom, they really don't have any weaknesses. Everybody is a really solid player and… a great pass rush, they got two very good solid corners, two very aggressive safeties. The linebackers are extremely active; they make a lot of tackles. When you look all the way around, they do everything. It is not like you sit back saying we are going to attack this weakness or that weakness. They don't really have many. I think you just have to put the emphasis of 'hey we need to execute to perfection, take care of the football, take care of the little things," Brees said.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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