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 Thursday, December 30
Redskins' pass rush vs. Marino
 
By Sean Salisbury
ESPN.com

 

<img src="hhttp://espn.go.com/i/nfl/playbook99/wk17_wasmia_1.jpg" width=400 height=480 border=0>

About this matchup: The key matchup in this game is the Redskins' interior defensive linemen, tackles Dana Stubblefield and Dan Wilkinson, against the center (Tim Ruddy) and two guards (Mark Dixon and Kevin Gogan) of the Dolphins. Marino hates having rushers at his legs, and the Redskins will try to blitz between the guard/center gap with middle linebacker Derek Smith and weak-side linebacker Shawn Barber. That will force Marino to step in the bucket when he throws the ball.

Three keys for the Dolphins:
1. Marino must protect the ball. No interceptions.

2. Miami throws too much. If the Dolphins throw 40 times, they will lose the game.

3. The Dolphins defense must tackle better. They need to revert to their form of the first eight games.

Three keys for the Redskins:
1. They must keep their defense off the field.

2. The defense must blitz Marino inside and get to his legs.

3. They must win a game with defense and not rely on their offense.

 


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