Dale and Holley Opening Segment

You know there.

They're actually comes a point when Europe either an athlete or professional sports franchise I I I think they're they're actually does become a point. Where you paths. In -- Anger stage. And you get to the feel sorry for stage. Did it for me today when I saw the back page headline of the Boston Herald today. -- big -- score and an exclamation point when you're at a point where the Boston Herald is is doing them the mock cheer thing. On the back page of The Herald. I'm I'm at the point where I now feel bad for. We -- when -- we haven't scored in two plus games. And finally score one and the replay correctly shows that they have to take the -- way. Tonight about acting as eleven scored and two plus games it finally pulled goaltender in score with 52 seconds left in The Herald starts right in on it.

I feel bad. And when they can't score. A sarcastic oh I know lightning -- know I think in -- not the reason you think. That the reason I'm not gonna go to PKK. Although. If your team. That as a guy -- scored 36 goals. And you trade him away for nothing. That's not gonna judge no you try to avoid that nothing right now right then you if you trade away your leading goal scorer. And you have nothing in return. In the current season. Then you're down if he'll thank you gonna struggle with -- they insert anything else for any other sport. Basketball trade away -- leading scorer. For future draft -- You probably have some trouble scoring. Football straightaway. You're you're leading -- Trade away your leading stop it does here you're leading rusher your leading receiver. Your best quarterback on and on. Why -- we -- would be any different.

Well if it if you ask the question how bad is it really it's this that they were 52 seconds away. From doing something that no Bruins team has done since 1938. Which is being shut out in three straight games I mean that that's how bad it's gotten. They did get the goal. They did get it to overtime technically they got the point then ended up losing that the game in the shoot out. It you look at them right now and they are just the team that's that's so desperate for something positive to happen. And it just isn't there. And I am I'm at the point our feel bad for them I'm past anger and alum I'm feeling bad for them.

I don't fill that form. Not not even a little bit because your heart was not not I'm not I'm not but I'm not angry with them I don't feel bad form because this was a this was a calculated decision on their part if there were some injuries involved. You know -- Savard Lucci took a can't do anything about that now. Crate -- and I he can't help that he got sick but some decisions that they made. That adversely affected their ability ability to school war. And they are paying for that part of that right now with Savard comes back is gonna give better. When -- sheets comes back is gonna get better but it's still going to be a problem yup. So out of about 4 I am well your heart that I am heartless that's the problem I am heartless.

Well we do I have football finally it'll look forward to again this weekend after a bye week which and which party you know kind of covered this I would just aren't fun. You know their their fun -- the other games and yet. And you'd feel like all like to watch this watch that but it just no fun when you know you don't have your team up their plane of finally we're back to it again this weekend. At and I think it's gonna a lot of fun. Breathing this Miami games going to be fun I think it's going to be you know what there's there's one thing about that the dolphins that this comes constraints that say they are fun team yeah. I mean I I like watching him play now I don't imagine a much fun to play against. I don't imagine -- much fun to prepare against its unity a lot of stuff you're worried about a lot of stuff PP got to get ready for. But I think they're fun to watch.

I think some people do the I have they'll have the spread offense also known as the wildcats some teams do that because. Well it's something and it's a little their friend. You don't know what the defense the defense is not looking forward they don't know what to expect having some teams to have for that reason. Miami did it for that reason against the patriots. Last year. But they do it now because. That's really who they are an end they're good -- what they do and they they are running kind of a a gimmicky. Finance. A -- concept of -- formation. But they do it with Powell. It's like these -- it up they're not a finance team by any stretch so what their run when they run the wildcat. Not necessarily trying to out -- trying to run you over they're coming right that -- and and it's going to be I mean it's going to be a hell of a challenge for the patriots. Stopping the running game whether that's the running game. Out of a wildcat formation or running game out of the I formation a conventional formation pro set whatever it is. Is going to be tough for them to stop -- for the patriots to stop because I remember the days -- a long way from here are but the days when Ricky Williams all by himself. Was a low. For the patriots to supplement they would put. They really would put eight in the box. And they would -- At that time Jay Fiedler to throw the ball and they felt like it was still a challenge even though they knew exactly what the dolphins were gonna do offensively and defensively was that would challenge. Trying to bring. Bring down a guy like Ricky. Now. Ricky is the number two guy in your number one guy is just incredible what a great athlete Ronnie Brown is. And an -- guy would just keeps pomp and keeps -- He can hurt you and he can run away from.

I actually and I think it was Ron Borges who wrote -- piece this week that I I can't get a kick out and it it was you know this is Vince Wilfork kinda game. Because what Ronnie Brown wants to do Vince Wilfork wants to stop. You know you wanna run power he wants to stop that with power he's the big load in the middle of the defensive line. I'll be interested to see how the patriot I actually think. That when they run as good as they are the patriots going to be okay. What worries me is when they throw a lot of the wildcat same problems they have when Denver throughout the wildcat same problems they had a year ago. When when they caught the patriots -- some throughout the wildcat Fasano at the catches are more worried about when they throw a lot of at them when they run out.

Well. I think the only time they really had been problems that the doesn't have any answers for. Where the first time. I often thought that I'm not sure I mean let you know it could Denver. The Denver game the patriots. Were still in position to win that game that was gonna put that loss on the defense. That'd that was the game they should one. The defense gave up to ninety plus yard drives that's on the defense -- and lost that game in overtime. The first game against the dolphins last year they had no chance and again it was a blow up we got crushed. They had major problems. With the wildcat offense woman without a Miami. Miami got some yards to the patriots got more yards and patriots got a ton of points so I think the only time they've really struggle with that. There's -- first time against Miami and then there's nothing Miami's gonna do now. That the patriots are gonna be ready for.

What about Europe that have come up with a wrinkle I mean smart. They don't just trot out what they've done in the past now regular I don't know what kind of Republican Brinkley now I'm not as creative as Dan -- itself. In naval Seymour Pat White back there they've they've kind of tweak BT's that a little bit they've used them. Drips and drabs maybe Pat White gets bigger run this weekend. And presumably controllable veteran of the wildcat and Ronnie Brown -- I don't know what it is I've got to assume if you're Dan Henning. You're sitting -- sandlot I know Belichick in his staffer gonna be ready for bat so I got it it's a different.

You know that the cliche in the NFL or or maybe if the cliche of people who write about and -- don't talk about -- and it felt cliche is. Go with the team go what the more desperate team if you are if you're stuck on who to pick. While I think I think both teams are desperate. When it comes to the AFC east on one hand the dolphins have control have a loss and AFC's game yet there's there's three and four. And they won't be in position to take advantage of their great divisional record if if they drop too far behind you dropped a three and five. And three and one in the AFC east yeah -- control Macy's which are still three of five has nothing great and the patriots. Okay they lose their their five into -- they got a -- desperation there. But you'll lose to the dolphins allow them to go 40 in the division is going to be very tough for you so I think both teams are equally desperate CI.

I actually agree with your premise. If the teams -- clubs. If if if the two teams are are pretty similar in terms of talent levels you know there's not this huge gap between them. Then I agree leave the team that more desperate generally wins I think the talent gap is still pretty significant between these two I don't I really deal. And I think. I think I think Brady's gonna have a field day. On Sunday not all. Miami's fault they got guys hurt their -- you know three of their -- defensive backs are our young guys were trying to make their way in the league. I read quotes from Wes Welker today and he's talking about how big they are and other progressing week to week I'm sure they are. But they're still young players going against day. An exceptionally -- quarterback. The key here is if he's got time to operate if they can hold Jason Taylor at bay if they can keep him out of the backfield. And give him half the chance I think he's gonna -- this team.

Where where's that where's the -- this huge gap in talent coming from I know the you know obviously the obvious answer is quarterback. Hutu and sure okay. Receivers not even close -- backs all I give it the edge to Miami absolutely. --

I'd give the edge to the patriots when their help the I I understand Matt -- not available this weekend. You've got Sebastian Vollmer at left tackle spot it changes its somewhat. If if you had everybody available to -- patriots about linebacker. I I really like. The patriots young linebackers and in -- loved male anyway. But I love the progress I've seen from -- I I I love what I'm seeing from him the athleticism speed. The development you know is he becomes more comfortable with -- itself. I probably would say paper.

But -- got you got Joey Porter. You've got. Got Jason Taylor who -- who it was a hybrid can be on the deal line and -- linebacker. Patriots -- Adams so obviously they body weight gain my weight I'm at eight you know what with all respect to Mayo he's the best. Jason Taylor is going to be the best defensive -- slash linebacker on the field on Sunday. Still yeah. So -- I don't know I've met this you're getting -- give the edge to the gulf getting the dolphins overall have more talent than the patriot known on dogs right up at a pentagon argues that he said the -- linebacker Doug. You said overall he's -- I think the talent gap a significant I don't think. That there might be I I don't think it's the patriots might be more talented but it's not by a lot.

While I I I I think there's still a pretty significant gap here I you know I think the dolphins have certainly since Parcells took over the football operation. They have certainly come a long ways and it and they'll continue to make great strides there's no doubt about that but I still think it's a pretty good GAAP and that the patriots are. Pretty clearly the more talented team from.

There they are they are more talented than the dolphins. Overall. Slightly. But. My have a lot of respect for the dolphins despite their record. Is the -- of watched a lot of the games this year and they've done some pretty they've they've they've done at all really they've done some pretty stupid things. To lose games. They've had some -- coaching errors to lose games and I think you know moment put the of the loss on the Indianapolis lost to them. The Indianapolis also put them on -- from. -- control of that game as we talked about before have all forty plus minutes they lose. And part of the reason is that on third and short third and 33 and five. This guy. Didn't they didn't occur to him didn't seem to occur occur to him. You got Peyton Manning on the other sideline. Patent. -- part of Burton for why are you playing for a field goal right now that's gonna get it done if you get the ball back the Peyton Manning. Without get a touchdown loses game that's exactly would -- go back that game. -- win when it was when it was in a position to be decided when the with the dolphins had to make a key first down. On their way to a touchdown but that they needed. Tony Sparano goes conservative -- that its third and fourth third and five calls -- run -- pick up two yards three yards. They get a field goal. And then Peyton Manning comes out the Pope of Pope Bjork arsenal game --

I -- I I agree is that Sparano was a big part of that so Esperanto there -- how about you know given up the 22 point fourth quarter. To the saints there was some mistakes made that game I. Who do you blame for a loss to Atlanta at the beginning of the season that's just an early season loss competitive game but I out of this thing to do some damage.

Well I am I go back to to of the points I was making now coming into this weekend the patriots have the third best offense in the league Miami has the 23 best. Patriots have the fourteenth best rushing dolphins have the fourth best patriots have the second best passing dolphins twenty ninth. Up defensively patriots come in ranked sixth the dolphins seventeenth. I I I think there's -- happier and I think not and numbers say that and I think attic to -- it does to. The one thing they do dramatically well as on the football. And and you know I have faith based on what I've seen in the past. That if you got something you really wanna do this defense generally speaking you'll find a way to make that hard for you deal. I think they'd be very content with ball in the hands of Chad -- to win the game. I think they when the game if they do that I think that's what they're on product to set this up today.

Well I think this game we've we've we've talked a lot about the wildcat. And they -- military five point two game Michael what kind of shore and what kind of wrinkles they have in the wildcat. But it's really gonna come down to. You know can they run the ball to the patriots stopped it won't be. A lot of scheme there can you stop. When you need to. Very simple. Yeah I think patriots can I don't think it's going to be. You know what what kind of kind of coverage is a kind of formations. Confirmations Bill Belichick gonna throw at this team says. Are they they're trying to run the ball we gotta stop him from running.

92 break we'll get back TA didn't set the rest of the agenda will open up aligned to bring you guys him. If the patriots Friday were at Gillette it's -- holly Sports Radio WEEI.