Dolphins Game Planning For Bucs
August 15th, 2014
Preseason is approached differently in Miami
Lovie Smith has spoken recently about how he doesn’t really bother with game planning and blitzing and strategy in his first two preseason games.
Game 3 of the preseason is the one Lovie treats as a dress rehearsal for the regular season. But that’s not necessarily the model across the NFL.
Joe’s watched quite a bit of preseason football this year, and vanilla isn’t always the flavor of the day. The Bucs play the Dolphins tomorrow night in Tampa, and Miami is coming to town with a distinct plan, so explained Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald.
Those days are gone.
Joe Philbin’s Dolphins prep for their opponents. They put in plays for the Atlanta Falcons last week. And today they were putting in plays on offense and running scout team plays for the defense in anticipation of playing Tampa Bay on Saturday evening.
“We devoted a lot of time in the practice today to Tampa Bay and our preparation for the game,” Philbin said. “The first three practices of the week were really focused on our own improvement, our own football team. But, we’ve got our game plan in and guys are excited about playing. They’re a good football team. They played well the other night. Their defense looked extremely good and we’re going to have to play well in Tampa.”
Whether it’s better to have a true gameplan for a preseason game is debatable. Joe’s just worried about what could happen if the Dolphins scouted the Bucs and decided to, say, attack them through the guard positions. Joe would really like to see Josh McCown make it to opening day.
August 15th, 2014 at 2:06 pm
Pretty sure Lovie Smith out coaches Joe Philflake in every way of the game. We’re doing it right.
August 15th, 2014 at 2:12 pm
It might be a dumb question, but will the game be televised live in this area?
August 15th, 2014 at 2:20 pm
I noticed in a lot of the preseason games and on hard knocks last week that most teams are not lining their O-line guys up one on one against the Def like the Bucs did against the Jags. They are chipping and doubling up on blitzers so maybe are O-line guys weren’t as bad as they appeared to be.
August 15th, 2014 at 2:21 pm
Where is “this area?” (Joe doesn’t know from where you type).
As always, Joe will have broadcast information in his “Gameday” post each and every Gameday.
Tomorrow is gameday.
August 15th, 2014 at 2:25 pm
I certainly hope the fins gameplan for attacking the guard position. That can only help the Bucs. Why would anyone want them to avoid a feared weak spot?
August 15th, 2014 at 2:28 pm
I’m with Lovie on this one. Play the first 2 preseason games vanilla and see where the weaknesses are, then try to correct said weaknesses for the dress rehearsal in week 3 of the preseason.
August 15th, 2014 at 2:31 pm
Nothing like when you have one dress rehearsal and you cannot find your pants!
August 15th, 2014 at 2:33 pm
That’s what it’s all about, playing to strengths and masking weaknesse.s hope we’re game planning because everyone one on the line will play better plus they’ll be less xanax distributed due to anxiety or panic attacks
August 15th, 2014 at 2:35 pm
@Buccfan37
All home Buc games will be televised this year including pre-season.. Plus the 95 replays always going on the NFL Network.
August 15th, 2014 at 2:36 pm
Oh and since Jax played last night (Bortles looked GOOD again ugh) and Miami is playing us… Should be televised everywhere in Florida as the main game
August 15th, 2014 at 2:39 pm
I is important to have the QB get into some rhythm with the wideouts in preseason. Especially with a new QB.
Which will require more than a millisecond of time to set up.
Sure hope we see some of that tomorrow night.
Id like to see Evans make some catches too, and muscle hamster get some holes to run.
August 15th, 2014 at 3:04 pm
Good, hopefully the Dolphins will test the Bucs O-Line early and often.
August 15th, 2014 at 4:48 pm
one word: preseason.
lets worry when its game 4 and we’re 0-3.
Bring on Practice Saturday night.
“tonight raymond james increases their prices for the Bucs Second Stadium PRACTICE, but you can come out and see them play against some one of different logos and colors…”
August 15th, 2014 at 5:46 pm
Bucs game plan – run it up the middle on first & second down and get sacked on third down.
August 15th, 2014 at 5:57 pm
@ Phillip… thanks for the info on the preseason game being televised.
August 15th, 2014 at 6:49 pm
Lovie may be able to ‘out coach’ Philbin, but neither Lovie nor Philbin are going to ‘play’ tomorrow night. Lovie has also taken the traditional approach of not ‘coaching to the opponent’ until the third preseason game.
This game will be no better or worse of a barometer than the first game. It will be against an entirely different opponent, and one that is going into the game as if it is a regular season match-up. IOW, don’t get too excited or disappointed. Watch the effort of each player.
August 15th, 2014 at 8:30 pm
Guards still need to block, along with everybody else. If guys do their job we shouldn’t have to worry about bringing out a stretch for the QB – I hope.
August 15th, 2014 at 9:17 pm
Philbin makes me sick