Miami
Game Plans

Indianapolis – Indy and Miami is a good match-up with the Colts having the edge. On offense you’ll have to mix it up a little bit to keep Indy’s defense off balance. Indy can take Miami’s running play out of the game, so really this will be an aerial attack from Marino. Basically it’s just a matter of avoiding playpicks, and hitting the open man on whatever play you call. Just try to avoid the patented Marino interception. . Defensively you’re in tough as Indy has a killer at running back in Dickerson. Calling Run 1 and being bottom middle linebacker John Offerdhal is the main play. That’ll keep Dickerson’s killing to minimum. You’ll need to gamble more then you normally would to try to get a playpick because Indy’s offense is just too powerful for Miami’s useless defense to hold off. This is an offensive battle, and you need to make sure you have plenty of long sustained drives ending in TDs otherwise Indy and Dickerson will just stomp all over your defense.

Cleveland – Miami runs the same brand of offense against most teams, including Cleveland. Basically you just want to mix in all three of your passes, hoping to avoid playpicks and hitting the easy passes for 10+ yard gains when you get both your top and bottom wide receiver open on Pass 1 and 2. You may want to throw in some Run 1 if your opponent isn’t going to the bottom outside linebacker Clay Matthews very often just to keep them honest. Miami is a very poor team defensively, but they match-up decently against Cleveland. Offerdhal and Run 1 will contain Mack and Cleveland’s running attack, as can Bosa and Run 2. Basically you’re looking to get Cleveland away from their running game, and then start gambling calling Pass 2 and being Bosa (the right end) or the left end to help contain the weak side run if the offense happens to go to it.

Denver – Denver matches up well with Miami on both sides of the ball. Denver’s defense can take away Run 1 with Mecklenburg and Pass 1 defense and Mecklenburg has good position at top middle linebacker and is fast enough to give Marino plenty of difficult throws. Offensively you’ll need to use the mix it up Miami style and play well with Marino to have a good chance to win. Defensively you’re in tough, but Offerdhal at bottom middle linebacker combined with Run 2 defense can take the running game away from Denver. Right end Bosa and Run 1 defense can do about the same thing. Unfortunately Denver’s passing offense is great and you’ll have to make some defensive pass calls to have a chance to stop them. Run 1 and Bosa is a decent pass defense as it limits pass 1 but Pass 2 (the shotgun play) can chew you up very quickly. Calling Pass 1 gives solid Pass 2 coverage and forces Elway to gamble with his throws but you’re in tough either way. Like a lot of Miami match-ups you need Marino to bring his A game.

Seattle – Offensively for Miami this is exactly like facing Denver, only Fredd Young makes things a little more difficult for Marino then Denver’s Mecklenburg does. Mix up your pass calls, make sure the defense is staying honest against Run 1 and be precise with Marino. And score touchdowns. Defensively playing Seattle is almost exactly like playing Denver as well, only their passing attack isn’t nearly as deadly. This means you can call a lot of run without having to worry about quick scores against you as long as you cover the top wide receiver Steve Largent on Pass 2. Calling Pass 1 and being Bosa is an excellent defense against the pass, as it covers Largent and the other receivers are too close together for Kreig to land a pass one you. So don’t be afraid to mix in quite a bit of Pass 1 defensive calls.

Los Angeles – Offensively it’s the same Miami plan of mixing in all three passes and landing the easy ones for quick 10-12 yard gains, and Marino makes most passes easy. Just don’t get greedy to trying to cram in a pass that’s no there. Defensively you need to go to the top outside linebacker and call Pass 1. This will leave you unblocked on both LA running plays and give you unbeatable pas coverage. The only problem you could have is that Bo Jackson is damn fast and could put some moves on your very slow top outside linebacker, but usually you can contain Bo to small or moderate gains. Once you have established you’re calling tons of Pass 1 and being the TOLB, feel free to call the occasional Run 1 (and use right end Bosa) to land a potentially drive killing playcall.

San Francisco – Basically you can’t win this game without a miracle. Michael Carter is fast enough from nose tackle for the 49ers to call Pass 3 (shotgun) without having to fear Miami’s Run 1 and the excellent coverage Pass 3 provides allows the very fast Carter to make things extremely difficult on our pal Dan. If Run 1 is picking up 3-4 yards for you, which it can, it will for San Fran to mix up their defense a bit and give you a much better chance but you’re hurting with this match-up. Defensively you’re only hope is the standard base San Fran defense (Pass 1 and the right end) and taking quite a few chances going for playcalls and interceptions to stop the high power 49ers. Everything has to go right for Miami to win this match-up.

Washington – Call Pass 2 and be the top outside linebacker on defense. Mix in all your passes and if Washington isn’t going to TOLB Marshal regularly bust out Run 1 on them. You might want to play this match-up a little more conservative then normal because the last thing you need is a Marino INT costing you a win over Washington. Just don’t force any passes, and stick to the defensive game plan and you’ll be fine.

Dallas – Now here’s a match-up. Basically if Dallas isn’t calling your play, your scoring points each time you get the ball. Just don’t force in difficult throws and make a mistake. Mix in all 4 of your plays and take the openings where you see them. Dallas just doesn’t have the personal to stop an attack like Miami’s, take advantage of that fact. Defensively keep your eye on Walker with a lot of Run 2 and Offerdhal or Run 1 and Bosa. Dallas’ shotgun play can be their bread and butter so you have to be ready to take a chance and call it even if it leaves you open against the run. The right or left end and Pass 2 (shotgun) gives you good pass protection and a 50/50 chance to avoid a big run by Walker.

Chicago – This is a terrible match-up for Miami. Mike Singletary just wreaks havoc on your passing attack and Chicago’s offense can just overpower the weak Miami defense. Offensively you’ll just have to hope Chicago’s defensive coordinator is out to lunch, because otherwise you’re facing nothing but very, very difficult passes and small gains on the ground. Marino has to be unbelievable for Miami here. Pass 1 and 2 are really your only plays with Chicago running the Pass 3 + Singletary defense, and Chicago will have either the top or bottom wide receiver covered on either play. Run 1 might gain you a few yards, if it does keep going to it, but don’t count on it. Defensively you need a lot of playcalls. Offerdhal and Run 2 or Run 1 and Bosa are both solid defenses against Chicago’s powerful as hell running game. You will need to land some big pass playcalls though, so be ready to mix it up. Pass 1 and either the left or right end is probably the best bet to limit the damage. No matter what you do you’re really in tough and will need to catch a break or two to pull it out.

New York – Uh oh. Much like against Chicago Marino needs to be near perfect for Miami to pull this one out. New York can call Pass 3 and be the top outside linebacker Banks all day and Miami is in a world of trouble. Banks renders run 1 totally useless, Pass 3 is called, Pass 1 has the bottom wide receiver covered and Pass 2 has the top wide receiver covered. Pass 1 and 2 is your only hope to gain yards, but every pass will be difficult against a defender as fast as Banks. You will need all your quarterbacking skills to make this work. Defensively you are looking to force Phil Simms into a mistake. Not easy, but it can be done. Run 1 and Bosa is good against the ground game and covers the top wide receiver on New York’s bread and butter Pass 2. You might force a mistake on Pass 2 with this plan. Offerdhal is blocked on both runs so you really can’t go to him unless you have something tricky in mind. Your best bet is probably to mix up your defensive playcalls, throw as many different looks at Simms as possible and hope he makes a mistake that you can capitalize on. This is an extremely difficult match-up for Miami, don’t expect to win often.

Minnesota – Minnesota has a respectable defense but it’s not that much of a problem for Miami. Like against most teams Miami just needs to mix up their play calls, avoid playpicks, and have Dan land those 10-yard passes to the open man. If Minnesota is relying a lot on right end Doleman you should go to Run 1 more. Doleman is blocked on the play and you should be able to gain respectable yardage. Basically you’re looking to play it safe on offense here, and not give anything away. On defense you might have a tougher time then most teams do against Minnesota because Miami’s bottom safety is so slow. But bottom safety and either pass play is a sound base defense. It will give you good pass coverage and leave you left unblocked on both runs. Watch out for the hidden blocker of doom near the topside of Minnesota’s line however. If Run 1 is slowly grinding away on you, feel free to throw in a Run 1 call and be right end Bosa. Don’t get to clever though, call Pass (either one, you can mix it up or go heavy on one of them. I like calling a lot of Pass 2 myself) and be the bottom safety the vast majority of the time, and force Kramer to make difficult throws.