After an 0-3 start, the Miami Dolphins improved their record to 4-5 by defeating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. The Dolphins didn’t have much time to celebrate their down-to-the-wire victory. It’s a short week as they travel to Charlotte to face the Carolina Panthers on Thursday. They have a lot of issues that need to be addressed; unfortunately, they don’t have a lot of time.

Can the Dolphins win?? I hope so. But I’m soooo not sure about it. Here’s what I’m thinking:

Offensively, Carolina is a team that looks a lot like us:

Total Offense: Miami 23rd, Carolina 21st
Running Game: Miami 4th, Carolina 3rd
Passing Game: Miami 30th, Carolina 25th

The Panthers struggle in the passing game (Delhomme), but dominate with a tandem backfield combination (DeAngelo Williams, Jonathan Stewart). Sound familiar? Yes, eerily familiar.

Run, Ricky, Run!
(David Drapkin/Getty Images)

Key to the game?

You guessed it–the running game! We need to establish the run early and keep it going to allow the passing game a chance to develop. We must sustain our drives and keep the ball out of DeAngelo Williams’ hands.

The snag?

Ronnie Brown, who did not return to the game after an ankle/foot injury in the 3rd quarter, will not play on Thursday. Ricky Williams will carry much more of the burden this week. Carolina’s defense is stout against the run. Is Ricky up to the challenge? You bet! Physically and mentally he’s in the best shape of his career. So far, Ricky is averaging a career high 5.3 yards per carry. My concerns? First, I think the quiet, unassuming RB is more comfortable letting Ronnie have the spotlight and the pressure that goes with it. I think maybe some of his success comes from playing a supporting role rather than having to face media scrutiny and fan pressure on his own. Second, I wonder how capable he is of leading the wildcat. Ronnie has been in such fine command of the formation. He’s confident and versatile, and decides quickly and most of the time, wisely, whether to keep the ball, hand it off, or pass. Can Ricky, whose small hands make him more prone to fumble the ball, do the same? The Dolphins may need to minimize the wildcat this week. If so, I hope this will be a blessing because sometimes they rely too heavily on it and forget fundamentals. On the other hand, in order to take some pressure off Ricky they may use backup QB Pat White to run the wildcat or the pistol. This possibility scares me more than anything as White has had nothing significant to offer so far this season.

The silver lining?

Carolina is also banged up. They lost left tackle Jordan Gross to an injury Sunday. How they compensate for his absence could be the difference in the game. Gross protects Delhomme’s blind-side and is a crucial blocker in the running game. In addition, both Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams are also ailing and are listed as questionable for Thursday night’s game. This could hamper the Carolina offense if either does not play or sees limited action.

The unknown: The passing games.

Miami:

Our passing unit has struggled to move the ball, to put it mildly. Chad Henne is maturing, though, as evidenced by his resilient recovery from his nearly game-ending interception on Sunday. My hope? That TE Kory Sperry is not a fluke. If this kid can stay cool and repeat his reliable, sure-handed performance, we may have a shot. If only Ted Ginn, Jr. could: a) catch the ball and b) keep both feet in bounds…oh, but wait! Wake me, ‘cause I must be dreaming!

Carolina:

Jake Delhomme really stunk up the joint early this season. In his first six games he threw a paltry 4 TDs and a whopping 13 INTs! Sounds like a walk in the park for our defense, right? Not so fast! In the last three weeks, Delhomme has thrown 3 TDs and no INTs. In Sunday’s win against Atlanta, the Panthers prowled downfield using a no-huddle offense to great effect. This could cause major problems for Miami’s already floundering pass defense.

It has been such an up and down season for the Dolphins. Is Miami a good team or a bad team? From week to week, I’m not sure. I’m not certain the players know the answer to this question, either. A win against Carolina is crucial for the boys in aqua, coral, and white. They need to establish their identity. They need to convince themselves that they are capable of winning any given match-up. Carolina is not the most difficult opponent for us this season, but given the circumstances of the short week, the travel, and the injury to Ronnie Brown, this may be our biggest challenge. A win on Thursday would bring the Dolphins record to .500 and could very well bolster their confidence enough to spark a late season surge to finish the year strong, as they did last season. Last year, no one imagined that the downtrodden Dolphins would make the play-offs. I hope this year brings a similar surprise! Let me say it again: Nothing could be finer than to beat Carolina!