On The Beat: 5 questions with Miami writer Joe Schad

This week’s edition of “On The Beat” features Joe Schad, who covers the Dolphins and the NFL for the Palm Beach Post. Follow Joe on Twitter here.


1. How does the Miami offense differ when it comes to Matt Moore as opposed to Jay Cutler under center? 

Both players are perceived as gunslingers. Neither is particularly mobile. Neither is particularly accurate. Moore is less skittish under pressure. Cutler stays a bit more within the framework of Adam Gase’s calls. Neither is very good at this point. Cutler has a higher ceiling in that if he gets hot he had the natural ability to pull off an outstanding game. Moore can drive the ball down the field a bit more. Cutler is all about short passes and check downs. But he’ll make terrible decisions at the worst moments, too.

2. How will the Dolphins defensive approach differ when it comes to not having to worry about Rob Gronkowski? 

Miami is terrible against tight ends. All tight ends. Good tight ends. Bad tight ends. Tall tight ends. Small tight ends. They have nobody who can cover Gronk. But they probably don’t have anybody to cover Dwayne Allen, either. Miami tried using an extra defensive back in the last meeting. Doesn’t matter. They are very soft and vulnerable in the middle of the field.

3. Is there an under-the-radar guy on the Miami roster we’re not talking about now who could have a sizable impact on Monday night?

It’s hard to say Kenny Stills is under the radar after a big free agent pay day but he was wrongly in the shadow of underperforming DeVante Parker. And he’s always capable of a 60-plus yard touchdown. Defensive tackle Jordan Phillips has been coming on and can create issues up the middle. Safety T.J. McDonald is ramping up and can be a big play maker in the future.

4. Are the Dolphins multiple enough — on either side of the ball — to surprise the Patriots with something they didn’t see a couple of weeks ago?

The Dolphins have been trying to focus on doing what they’re supposed to do right. This makes trickeration problematic. They’re not a very smart football team. Get too cute and they’re liable to commit a penalty or a turnover.

5. Miami wins Monday if… 

...it can break one or two big special teams plays, like a Jakeem Grant return for a score. There's also a 100-plus total yard evening from running back Kenyan Drake, or somehow win the turnover battle, as in one or two strip sacks or punched-out footballs that force fumbles.

Joe’s Pick

Closer than the experts think. Fluky things can happen on an unseasonably cool Monday night in Miami. The Dolphins have not quit. At least not yet.

New England 24, Miami 21.