Local News

CHARLOTTE, NC (CBS4) ― The Miami Dolphins were hoping to use Thursday's game against the Carolina Panthers as a chance to showcase the Wildcat offense to the nation. Instead, the Dolphins come into Thursday's game without arguably the best player on the team, running back Ronnie Brown.

Brown was lost for the season after he injured his foot during the game versus the Buccaneers. It marks the second time in three seasons that Brown has been injured and missed most of the season. Without Brown, the question becomes how the Dolphins will matriculate the ball down the field.

The Wildcat has been the offensive weapon of choice for the Dolphins throughout the season. It's become invaluable because the passing game has been fairly anemic because outside of Davone Bess, no one can catch the football. Quarterback Chad Henne has the arm and the accuracy to get the ball to his receivers, but his primary receiver, Ted Ginn Jr., has had passes hit him in the hands all season and he's failed to grab the pigskin.

But, with the Wildcat, the Dolphins have confused defenses for the last two seasons. But, Brown has been the primary back in the Wildcat and now that he's out, the Dolphins have two choices. First, they can put Ricky Williams in the Wildcat and run him out of the formation.

Or the Dolphins could insert rookie quarterback Pat White into the primary position in the Wildcat and bring Ricky Williams across the formation in motion and have a playaction threat that will give Pat White the choice of running or throwing the football. White was a four-year starting quarterback at West Virginia. The team could also simply run sweeps when Williams comes across the formation.

Defensively, the Dolphins come into the game against the Panthers with the same glaring threat they've had all season…they can't stop the big plays in the passing game. The Dolphins secondary has been used and abused by multiple quarterbacks including Peyton Mannnig and Drew Brees. Tight ends have been especially tough on the Dolphins as Dallas Clark and other star tight ends have run free across the field for big gains.

The Panthers have one of the better deep threats in the NFL in Steve Smith. The diminutive receiver has the speed to burn down the sideline and has had his best games against some of the best corners in the NFL. For the season, Smith has 38 catches for 512 yards and 3 touchdowns. Covering Smith will be key to the Dolphins defense. The Fins are likely to deploy Vontae Davis or Sean Smith on Steve Smith and give the rookies safety help over the top.

The Panthers biggest threat though is the running game. The Panthers have a two-headed monster with DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart running the football. Both players abused defenses throughout the 2008 season, but have been banged up in 2009. DeAngelo didn't practice on Wednesday because of a knee injury and Stewart finally returned to full practice on Wednesday after being held out with an Achilles injury.

The Dolphins will have to rely on the three mammoth defensive linemen to clog up the running lanes and free up the linebackers to go after the backs in the backfield. The task may be easier after the Panthers lost All-Pro left tackle Jordan Gross. The loss forced the Panthers to shift their left guard, Travelle Wharton, out to tackle and put in a backup at guard. If Wharton can't get out of his stance quick enough, look for the Fins to send either Joey Porter or Jason Taylor after the quarterback throughout the game.

If either DeAngelo Williams or Jonathan Stewart can't go for the Panthers, rookie running back Mike Goodson will be brought in. Goodson was a fourth round selection by the Panthers. He played his college ball at Texas A&M and was a starter for the Aggies.

Thursday's game will define both teams season. The winner will even their record at .500 and still be alive in the playoff hunt. The loser will sink to 4-6 and will begin to look towards next season. The Fins could run off a couple of victories in a row if they pull out a win against the Panthers because the next Fins opponent, the Buffalo Bills, are a team in complete chaos.

And since it's never too early to look at the NFL Draft, here are a few players the Dolphins might focus on as the draft approaches in April of 2010: former Oklahoma State receiver Dez Bryant, Alabama defensive tackle Terrence Cody, Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain, Texas linebacker Sergio Kindle, or one of the countless running backs including Alabama's Mark Ingram and Georgia Tech's Jonathan Dwyer.

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

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