It's that time of the week again. Time to hit the film room for a little study session before Sunday's game. Once again, all we have is highlights, so this lacks the depth of a realistic, NFL quality film study. Nevertheless, we can still pick up on some of the things the Dolphins and Vikings struggled with and had success with last week.

Week 1: Dolphins 15 Bills 10

Defensively, it's tough to re-watch that blown coverage, because the Dolphins played too well on defense to have given up a touchdown. They surrendered the fewest yardage in the entire league in Week 1, after all. The Dolphins need to play mistake free football against the Vikings to have a chance at pulling off the upset. A blown coverage like that, or any costly mistake for that matter, will make winning in the Metrodome a near impossible task.

Offensively, we saw just how conservative Dan Henning and Chad Henne were through the air. I mean, if you would have told me Brandon Marshall was going to catch eight passes, I would have probably guessed he would have had at least 100 yards. But 53? Come on, let the man get you some chunk yardage down the field. I know, if it wasn't for the Henne underthrow/Marshall drop on the one long ball, we wouldn't be having this discussion. But still, if the offensive line can protect for another split second, the Dolphins would be wise to develop Marshall's routes a good three to five more yards down field. That will do wonders for the running game, and eventually give the short receptions more yards after catch opportunities.

Week 1: Saints 14 Vikings 9

We saw the Saints test that questionable Vikings secondary early on. That led to a beautifully executed opening touchdown drive. But as that second half went on, it become clear how important it will be for the Dolphins to establish Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams. I don't care who you are, Drew Brees or Chad Henne, you can't just line up a throw the ball on every down against any NFL secondary. You've got to keep them off balance, and make them respect both the run and the pass. The second-half was a different story. The Saints were able to retain the lead with a heavy dose of Pierre Thomas with a little Reggie Bush sprinkled in. Yes, they only managed to score 14 points, but it would have been a respectable 20 if it wasn't for a couple missed Brantley field goals.

On the other side of the ball, Adrian Peterson got his numbers, but Favre and the passing game really didn't look like it was clicking. Some may point to Favre being a little rusty, and maybe he is, but it looked like the Saints were bringing the heat. If the Dolphins can do the same, we should see Favre make a few poor decisions. It's what makes him great, but it's also the reason why he's thrown more interceptions than any other quarterback in the history of the game. Visanthe Shincoe is going to be tough to handle, though. Karlos Dansby, Chris Clemons, and maybe Benny Sapp will have their hands full all game long.

Who would have thought, almost two years after beating Favre and the Jets in the Meadowlands to win the AFC East, the Dolphins would be gearing up to play ol' No.4 again. We talked about the running game on Tuesday, and we know how important it will be for the Dolphins to get something going on the ground against the very stout Viking front seven. We also know that the key to stopping the Vikings offense starts with shutting down Adrian Peterson. With both secondaries having their share of issues in the past, though, both Favre and Henne should get plenty of opportunities to make plays down the field.

Vikings passing attack vs. Dolphins secondary
Let me just start by saying the Dolphins secondary looked great last week. Even when the pressure wasn't getting there, it seemed as though Trent Edwards had nowhere to go with the ball down field. Of course, that deserves a big whippty do, you shut down arguably the worst passing offense in football. I can't even say totally shut down, because there was still the Tyrone Culver whiff in coverage that resulted in a Roscoe Parrish touchdown on 4th and 11. Rusty Brett Favre and no Sydney Rice or not, the Vikings will be this secondaries first true test. The Saints defense obviously handled them pretty well last week, and the Dolphins need to follow the same blueprint. Hit Favre early and often. We saw Mike Nolan unload some his new looks against the Bills last week, especially early on, and the result was non-stop pressure on Trent Edwards. If the Dolphins can have similar success against the Vikings, which is a huge IF considering that the Bills have one of the worst offensive lines in the league, we could see Brett Favre revert back to his old gunslinger self and try to force some throws.

Last week the Dolphins forced Edwards into two horrible decisions that should have resulted in Miami touchdowns. Benny Sapp dropped the first, then Jason Allen saw what would have been the game-clinching pick six go in and out of his hands. If those opportunities present themselves on Sunday, the Dolphins won't be able to get away with not capitalizing against a Super Bowl caliber team like the Vikings. Individually, Karlos Dansby should get plenty of opportunities matched up against Visanthe Shiancoe, who was Favre's go-to threat against the Saints with no Sydney Rice. As far as Percy Harvin goes, it will be interesting to see if the Dolphins cover him the same way they did Lee Evans a week ago. For much of the game, they put Jason Allen on Evans, with Chris Clemons providing help over the top. If they play Harvin the same way, expect Vontae Davis to be put on an island against Benard Berrian and Greg Camarillo.
Edge: Vikings

Dolphins passing attack vs. Vikings secondary
Dinking and dunking and isn't going to cut it against the Vikings. That's only going to make things harder on the running game, and give an unproven secondary a pass. For the Dolphins offense to click, both on the air and on the ground, Henne is going to have to air it out a bit, and connect on some shots down field. That should keep the extra defender out of the box, providing a little extra room for Ronnie and Ricky to get the running game going, and open things up for the short stuff later on. For that to happen, though, Henne is going to have to have some time back there. Personally, I didn't think the three sacks last week were the offensive line's fault. Henne had time, but, either nobody got open, or he was just being indecisive.

The match-up between Jake Long and Jared Allen is obviously going to be key in giving Henne the time he needs to go vertical on the Vikings' secondary. Assuming Henne gets quality protection, he still needs to go through his progressions. Last week, and at times last season, it was evident he was locking onto his targets. Physically, he has the arm to pick apart the Vikings' defense. He's just got to be mentally sound, take chances down field when the opportunity presents itself, and check-down when his primary options are well covered. Obviously, easier said then done, but we saw him do it at times last season. Considering, the secondary is really the Vikings only weakness, what better week to play like he did against the Jets on Monday Night Football and at home against the Patriots last year.
Edge: Dolphins

Last week we kicked off this new series by picking the brain of Joe Pinzone from Buffalo Wins. Joe gave us some insightful information, and it's always great to do a little back and forth with a division rival. But we were already kind of familiar with the Bills, their strengths, and their weaknesses. The Dolphins do play them twice a year, after all.

This week it's a different story. Yes, the Vikings get tons of national exposure and frequently play prime time games, but the Dolphins will be in unfamiliar territory on Sunday. They haven't played the Vikings since 2006. That's a year before Adrian Peterson exploded onto the scene. Jared Allen was still in Kansas City, and Brett Favre was still a Green Bay Packer.

The Vikings are now considered by many to be one of the top five teams in the league, and a win on Sunday would springboard the Dolphins some momentum heading into arguably the two biggest games of the season. So let's get this underway. Please welcome in Purple Jesus Diaries, your one stop for Vikings coverage here at the Bloguin network. As always, check PJD for the five questions I answered for them about the Dolphins.

 1) From an outsider's prospective, Brett Favre looked a little rusty against the Saints. Do you fear that he's finally about to fall off, or do you think his struggles had more to do with the Saints' blitz happy defense, or Sydney Rice being out of the lineup? Do you see Favre and company bouncing back in a big way against the Dolphins' secondary?

PJD: Do the Dolphins have a secondary? Didn't they draft Vontae Davis who may be eligible to receive Social Security Disability because of his IQ? Regardless, yes, Favre looked like garbage. I don't think it had anything to do with Sidney Rice, though. Favre apparently always starts off slow over the first two weeks then picks things up. That's not an excuse though. If he knew this, and knew the Vikings offense was in flux, he should have shown up earlier if he was SERIOUS about winning a Super Bowl this year. I think they'll try to get the passing offense rolling this week if the Dolphins pass D is weak, but I think with what we saw from Adrian Peterson that Childress would be smarter to run him all game long. Of course, Childress is an idiot too ...

2) This will be the Dolphins' first game against Adrian Peterson. They held Buffalo's trio of backs to a mere 50 yards last week, but AP is obviously a different animal. With the passing game struggling a little bit, do you expect the Vikings to try and get it going, or turn to increasing Peterson's workload? Do you believe his fumbling problems are a thing of the past, or something the Vikings will just have to deal with?

PJD: I don't put any stock into Peterson's fumbling. People make a big deal out of it, but it's something he'll correct. It's kind of like when you get with a hot chick for the first time and you're REAAALLLLY trying not to be premature ... the more you think about it, the more likely it'll happen, so I think Peterson is pretty nonchalant about it and doesn't worry about it. Nor will I. As said, the Vikes SHOULD run him more this week, but I bet they'll feel confident with Favre at home and be split pretty 50-50, which of course will make it a close game in the end.

3) Everybody knows that the Vikings have had one of the better run defenses in the league for years now. If you were the Dolphins, how exactly would you go about trying to get Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams going? We know the Williams brothers make up a brick wall in the middle. Do offenses ever have success testing the edge?

PJD:While the Vikes have been stout against the run in years past, I think they are starting to taper off. The Saints showed that with a hefty offensive line that you can run straight up the middle. A lot of this is Pat Williams getting older than Moses, and EJ Henderson still a bit timid at linebacker after his thigh got busted up last year. I think these are things the Vikings D coordinator, Leslie Frazier, will correct as time goes on, but defensive line is one of the Vikings deepest positions. If anything, they're more susceptible to counters, the WildCat and things like that, as the D ends like to rush the passer. Get them out of their assignments and the Dolphins could run effectively.

4) Many perceive that the only real weakness the Vikings have is their secondary. It's obviously hard to see much progress against an elite passing attack like the Saints, but do you think they will improve any this season? Would you abandon the run like the Saints did in the first-half Thursday night, if you were the Dolphins?

PJD:I wouldn't. I think things are starting to change a bit for the Vikings. The passing D is always so easy to piss on for the Vikings, but Winfield is healthy and a heavy hitter, Asher Allen is coming up, and they have a veteran in Lito Shepperd who isn't GREAT, but certainly serviceable. As the year goes on, they'll have 2010 2nd round pick Chris Cook come back (he was already practicing this week), who looks to be a tall, strong, stud ala Hugh Jackman (what?) as well as last year's starter Cedric Griffin. If people stay healthy, by year's end, the CBs may be the Vikings strength. The Safety position is another matter though, as all the team's safeties couldn't pass a standardized reading test. Strikes down the middle of the field could work.

5) Finally, who do you see winning this game and why?

PJD:I find it hard to imagine a Vikings team this talented, this ready for a Super Bowl, is going to lose back to back games, with one of them being a home opener. The Metrodome, aka, Zygi's Hood, is a tough place to play regardless (They didn't lose there last season), and I don't see them losing the opener. I predict a 27-17 win for the Vikings, largely because I don't know how great the Dolphins offense really can be against the Vikings, on the road, in the second week of the season. Maybe I just don't trust Henne that much. Of course, this all goes out the window if Childress starts calling plays like he was last week. It could end up being a nail biter real quick. Good luck!

We weren't quite sure who the Dolphins cut to make room for Erik Walden yesterday. After a phenomenal preseason, Micah Johnson was shown the door today, and is now being exposed to the waiver wire. Personally, I really hope he clears, because the Dolphins would be wise to store him on the practice squad, polish him up a little bit this season, then see if he's ready to contribute a year from now.

On another surprising note, the Dolphins reportedly worked out former Pro Bowl outside linebacker Adalius Thomas. Thomas is still available after a disappointing season with the Patriots last year, both on and off the field. After Cameron Wake and Koa Misi put in a solid performance against the Bills, in which both recorded their first sacks of the season, I'm a little puzzled as to why Ireland would chose to go after an outside linebacker. You would think a defensive end would make more sense with Odrick out a couple weeks.  

Omar Kelly is speculating that if Thomas signs with the Dolphins, Channing Crowder, who has missed a month with a groin injury, could go on the IR. Replacing Crowder with a veteran makes sense, but why would they replace a inside linebacker with an outside linebacker?

Quentin Moses, meanwhile, spent today's practice with the first-team at strong side outside linebacker. It appears the Dolphins were trying him out a bit with the starters, to see how much of an upgrade Thomas would be. That makes a little more sense considering Moses and Thomas play the same position.

Nonetheless, I guess we will just have to wait and see how this plays out, but another interesting day of acquisitions and speculation at Dolphins camp.

Contrary to what NFL.com reported a few hours ago, Jared Odrick has only a hairline fracture in his fibula, and will only be sidelined two weeks. This courtesy of the Miami Herald's Jeff Darlington, who, with all due respect to Jason La Confora, is as reliable as they come with everything Dolphins' news related.

Even though the Dolphins will still likely have to do without their first-round draft pick against the Vikings and Jets, two weeks is considerably better news than the six that was originally reported. And remember too, Darlington is reporting Odrick is out a maximum of two weeks, meaning he could be good to go in the home opener versus the Jets.