(The Miami Dolphins are 3-0 this season with on the road victories, so why are they loosing at home? Is Darren Rizzi making a difference)

The Miami Dolphins have many variables to take into consideration when predicting ahead to Sundays home game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. For starters, has Miami ‘s new special teams coach, Darren Rizzi had enough time to implement changes needed to make the special teams stronger? Personally, I think not.

If you look at film of the Dolphins win over the Packers it’s obvious the Dolphins still need patch work, preparation and adjustments made to special teams still. Yes, Miami did win on Sunday at Lambeau, but not because of any drastic changes it was just because they were half efficient and Green Bay had an injury report 16 players deep. Special teams still had holes and adjustments left uncorrected, however I do believe that after film is reviewed Dolphins fans will see more progress made this Sunday against the Steelers.

Let me sandwich my positives and negatives.

Positive! The Dolphins did step up their much needed running game, which totaled rushing for 150 yards. Ricky Willams saw much overdue numbers with 13 attempts for 64 yards and Ronnie Brown with 19 attempts for 73 yards. Also, I was impressed once again with our defense as they held the Packers to 3-13 on third down conversions; making me proud boys! Lastly, I cannot say how overwhelmingly smitten I have become for watching Cameron Wake!

Every time pushed by rookie Bryan Bulaga I left people around me plugging their ears. Wake had an impressive game with a total of 6 quarterback hits, 3 sacks, 3 tackles 1 holding call the set the Packers back 10 yards. It’s a wonder Green Bay waited until the 4th to double team him.

Negative.

Chad Henne who are you throwing to? In the first quarter, Henne had Marshall doing that infamous 3 and out route and Brandon Marshall slipped allowing the defender to have one step on him. When Henne released the ball it was thrown into the defenders side, where Henne should be throwing outside towards the line and away from the defender. Granted Marshall slipped, but after seeing Henne just make a similar adjustment to Brian Hartline when he lost his footing, I was disappointed.

Henne finished 23-39 with 239 yards. If the pressure is kept of the pocket we may see more numbers like this Sunday!

Was that considered a positive? If not oh well, because here is another negative.

Chris Clemons, please get it together! You need to hold post and not miss tackles that can allow for, i don’t know maybe an 86 yard touchdown!

Clemons needs to back up his corners which was his problem on Sunday, I just hope he learned his lesson.

Positive with a negative undertone.

As long as we have D.C. (designated Clutch) or Dan Carpenter we can always hit the field goal;  53 yarder, 41 yarder, and 41 yarder! But when we have poor Brandon Fields hanging on by a wing and a prayer to punt this season freaks me out!

Fields had another blocked punt because of Bobby Carpenter and Lydon Murtha’s ineffective special teams, but on a positive note now that Bobby is gone bye bye and waived hopefully Rizzi has more changes up his sleeve.

One last thing, Dolphins do not forget we have Anthony Fasano!

So all in all, BRING IT ON Pittsburgh! Whatchya got?

Lets take a look and compare some numbers and see where a statistical analysis brings us in predicting Miami’s week 7 match up against the Steelers.

Rushing Offense

Teams Rushes Yds Yds/Rush Yds/Game

Steelers 158 (12th) 655 (12th) 4.1 (15th) 131.0 (9th)

Dolphins 148 (17th) 578 (19th) 3.9 (22nd) 115.6 (14th)

NFL Average 150 624 4.2 112.1

Passing Offense

Teams Att Comp Pct Yds/Att Yds Yds/Game

Steelers 108 (32nd) 67 (32nd) 62.0 (14th) 7.4 (3rd) 801 (28th) 160.2 (28th)

Dolphins 177 (20th) 109 (19th) 61.6 (16th) 6.6 (13th) 1161 (18th) 232.2 (13th)

NFL Average 188 115 61.3 6.5 1231 221.3

Total Offense

Teams Rush Yds/Game Pass Yds/Game Total Yds/Game Pts/Game

Steelers 131.0 (9th) 160.2 (28th) 291.2 (28th) 22.8 (10th)

Dolphins 115.6 (14th) 232.2 (13th) 347.8 (12th) 17.8 (24th)

NFL Average 112.1 221.3 333.4 20.9

Special Teams

Teams Kickoff Ret Avg Punt Ret Avg Net Punt Avg FG Pct

Steelers 27.7 (6th) 5.2 (31st) 44.6 (1st) 66.7 (28th)

Dolphins 22.2 (19th) 10.4 (7th) 34.3 (30th) 80.0 (16th)

NFL Average 23.3 9.2 39.3 79.4

Rushing Defense

Teams Rushes Yds Yds/Rush Yds/Game

Steelers 117 (3rd) 319 (1st) 2.7 (1st) 63.8 (1st)

Dolphins 132 (9th) 547 (11th) 4.1 (15th) 109.4 (17th)

NFL Average 150 624 4.2 112.1

Passing Defense

Teams Att Comp Pct Yds/Att Yds Yds/Game

Steelers 186 (17th) 124 (25th) 66.7 (28th) 6.3 (11th) 1165 (12th) 233.0 (24th)

Dolphins 155 (6th) 92 (5th) 59.4 (14th) 6.5 (16th) 1009 (7th) 201.8 (11th)

NFL Average 188 115 61.3 6.5 1231 221.3

Total Defense

Teams Rush Yds/Game Pass Yds/Game Total Yds/Game Pts/Game

Steelers 63.8 (1st) 233.0 (24th) 296.8 (6th) 12.0 (1st)

Dolphins 109.4 (17th) 201.8 (11th) 311.2 (9th) 22.4 (23rd)

NFL Average 112.1 221.3 333.4 20.9

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/matchups/steelers-dolphins.html#ixzz12ksDLDmO