Dolphins vs. Giants

[KMAN]

GIANTS CONFIDENTIAL



Wednesday, October 01, 2003


BY KIMBERLY JONES
Star-Ledger Staff

The Dolphins have a pair of cornerbacks who have earned bids to the Pro Bowl, a fact that has not gone unnoticed this week by Giants wide receiver Amani Toomer. In his eighth season and among the NFL's best big-play receivers, Toomer lives for matchups like this.

"I feel like the only way to get a (reputation) is to beat those guys," Toomer said. "I got to build my rep."

Toomer's average of 23.5 yards per catch leads the NFL among players with at least eight receptions. He has 13 catches for 305 yards and two TDs.


Toomer expects the Dolphins, who visit the Meadowlands Sunday, to play straight up, with CB Patrick Surtain manning the left side and CB Sam Madison on the right. Toomer should see more of Madison, who made the Pro Bowl three straight times before playing as an alternate last season.

At times, Toomer will line up on the right side, where he will be opposite Surtain, named to his first Pro Bowl last year after making a team-high six interceptions.

"I've heard a lot of things about (Surtain)," Toomer said. "I just heard that he's a real physical corner."

Toomer has sought a scouting report this week from teammate Ray Green, a cornerback and former Miami Dolphin. At 6-3, Toomer will have a height advantage against either corner, both of whom are 5-11.

"As long as he gets off the press (at the line of scrimmage), he'll be fine," Green said. "Amani's a physical wide receiver, he's big. He just has to be able to get off the jam."

Toomer has had success against some of the league's best cornerbacks, including Washington's Champ Bailey.

"If someone wants to play physical with me, I can play physical. If someone wants to play finesse, I can play finesse," Toomer said. "But during the game you don't notice (your matchup), you don't really see who's out there. You just want to win."

NEXT OPPONENT

Like the Giants, the Dolphins are 2-1 and coming off their bye week. RB Ricky Williams (115.7 yards per game) makes the offense go. The defense is allowing 12.7 points per game to rank sixth in the league. In 44 starts with Miami, QB Jay Fiedler has passed for 300 yards only three times. He might be thinking Sunday is a good time for a fourth. "With the way (the Giants) cover, if they don't get to the quarterback or if they miss a tackle, you can certainly get a lot of (yards after the catch) on them," Fiedler told the Miami Herald.

GAME PLAN

The Giants have heard from some buddies on the Jets that Williams has small hands and could be prone to fumbling. "Go for the ball," was the advice from one Jet. Williams has fumbled twice this season -- but didn't against the Jets -- and the Giants will have plenty of cracks at him. The Dolphins' turnover margin of minus-three is tied for worst in the AFC. The Giants are even, with six takeaways and six giveaways.

ROSTER MOVE

RB Tiki Barber rested through most of the three practices since the Redskins game. He won't have that luxury the rest of the season. This might be the week to involve another running back in the offense. Coach Jim Fassel says Delvin Joyce is Barber's backup, and Brian Mitchell has contributed offensively. Ten-year veteran Dorsey Levens, inactive in two of the first three games, has played against the Dolphins twice in his career, with 29 rushes for 148 yards (5.1 average) and two TDs.

Key stat

When it comes to the red zone, the Dolphins are red hot. Miami ranks second in the NFL in red-zone offense and first in red-zone defense, having yet to allow a TD. A look at the league's red-zone rankings:

Offense inside the 20

Team - Possessions - Pts - TD - FG - TD%

1. Kansas City - 9 - 59 - 8 - 1 - 88.9

2. Miami - 7 - 45 - 6 - 1 - 85.7

3. Buffalo - 11 - 58 - 8 - 1 - 72.7

4. New Orleans - 7 - 42 - 5 - 2 - 71.4

11t. Giants - 9 - 44 - 5 - 3 - 55.6

Defense inside the 20

Team - Possessions - Pts - TD - FG - TD%

1. Miami - 8 - 15 - 0 - 5 - 0.0

2. Denver - 7 - 16 - 1 - 3 - 14.3

3. Tampa Bay - 6 - 19 - 1 - 4 - 16.7

4. Cleveland - 10 - 29 - 2 - 5 - 20.0

5. Giants - 12 - 46 - 3 - 8 - 25.0

UNDER THE MICROSCOPE

The Giants defense, particularly its pass defense, is feeling the heat. Fassel has emphasized cleaning up miscommunication and making assignments "crystal clear" to players. SS Shaun Williams, of whom much is expected this season, has taken the unit's struggles personally. "I think we have to help ourselves before we worry about who our opponent is or what our opponent is doing," Williams said. "We need to become more disciplined. When I say these things, I'm including myself. We need to play better football."

STORYLINES

The Giants try to reverse their post-bye trend under Fassel. They're 1-5 after byes since 1997. ... Does the run-dominated Miami offense play into the strength of the Giants, who rank 32nd in total and pass defense but are tied for ninth against the run? ... After the NFC East went 3-0 against the AFC East on Sunday, the Giants try to continue the trend.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IN MIAMI

"This is not the week we're going to let them find themselves. We'll let them get better next week if they want. But not against us." -- Dolphins WR Chris Chambers, on the Giants pass defense, to the Miami Herald

KEY MATCHUP

Giants LT Luke Petitgout vs. Dolphins DE Jason Taylor. Petitgout played well against Washington's Bruce Smith and hasn't had a setback since returning from a back injury. Taylor is one of the fastest, and best, ends he'll see all season.

DID YOU KNOW?

The Giants have not allowed a 100-yard rusher in 10 regular-season games, the NFL's third-longest streak behind Tennessee (24) and San Francisco (14).

INJURY REPORT

Giants -- DT Keith Hamilton (hamstring) is questionable. WR Ike Hilliard (heel) and RB Tiki Barber (soreness) didn't practice Monday. Dolphins -- C Tim Ruddy (knee) had surgery last week and is questionable.

 

[KMAN]

Seau, three other players are affected by staph infection
BY MICHELLE KAUFMAN
mkaufman@herald.com

The Miami Dolphins' hot tub, a possible culprit in a mini-breakout of staph infection among players, was drained, scrubbed and disinfected as a precautionary measure, team equipment manager Tony Egues said.

Linebacker Junior Seau was hospitalized for two days in San Diego last week and treated for a staph infection, a highly contagious bacterial infection that can cause boils and swelling.

Seau was infected near the right elbow and required intravenous medication. He is the fourth Dolphin to have suffered similar symptoms.

Charlie Rogers was hospitalized for three days before the Buffalo game with infection and swelling on his right arm.

Corey Jenkins developed boils on his left arm, and Travis Minor had a boil and swelling on the left knee.

''It is obviously a concern, and we don't want to dismiss it, but it's hard to pinpoint what is causing it,'' Egues said. ``It isn't being transmitted through laundry because we use very hot water and a special anti-bacterial detergent.

``It more likely is transmitted in the hot tub, or the shower area, so we are scrubbing down and using industrial-strength disinfectant and crossing our fingers.''

 

[KMAN]

A thing of the pass: Giants last in defense


By Jamey Eisenberg, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 1, 2003



DAVIE -- The statistics have to be wrong.

There is no way the New York Giants' defense, with players such as Michael Strahan, Mike Barrow and William Joseph, can be last in the NFL, could it?

"You'd think they'd be solid," Dolphins fullback Rob Konrad said. "I didn't realize they were last."

Konrad doesn't believe the numbers, although he is aware of them. He sees the Giants have allowed 404.7 total yards per game. That they are giving up 314.3 yards per game passing, also last in the league.

But Konrad said the Giants "are not a weak defense" because "they have good players." Still, the Giants have struggled.

While their run defense has been strong, allowing just 90.3 yards per game, which is tied for fourth best in the NFL, their secondary of Will Allen, William Peterson, Shaun Williams and Omar Stoutmire has been picked apart.

They have faced three quarterbacks this season -- St. Louis' Kurt Warner, Dallas' Quincy Carter and Washington's Patrick Ramsey -- and all have passed for more than 300 yards.

The Dolphins' plan is to give the ball to Ricky Williams on Sunday, but quarterback Jay Fiedler and receiver Chris Chambers also could have big days.

"We just hope we can do some of the same things against them other teams have been doing," Chambers said. "They've given up a little bit, and we're going to see if we can go out there and play well."

Make no mistake, the Dolphins are not disrespecting the Giants. Chambers, Konrad and coach Dave Wannstedt all pointed out that the Dolphins' secondary was ranked last against the pass after two games before shutting down Buffalo's passing game in a 17-7 victory.

The Dolphins just realize that their passing game, ranked 26th in the NFL at 183.7 yards per game, might be called upon.

"We're not trying to have a breakout game, but we might need to get something going," Chambers said. "We want to have a big day all the time."

The Giants certainly are aware of their defensive problems, especially Strahan, who might be the best example of what's wrong since the All-Pro is not performing up to his usual standards.

Against the Rams, Strahan had four tackles, a sack and a forced fumble. But in the past two games, Strahan has three tackles and no sacks.

"It seems people get wrapped up in the numbers and the rankings," Strahan said. "I always look at wins, and we're in first place."

Said defensive tackle Keith Hamilton: "Defensively, we are not playing anywhere near where we are capable of playing. There are a myriad of reasons, but I'm not into that. We can play better. We will play better."

The Dolphins just hope it's not this week.