Vikings pose a stern test

SportsLine.com report
Sept. 6, 2000

The Dolphins are gearing for what may be their toughest defensive test of the season until they face Indianapolis in the second half of the year. Minnesota presents obvious problems, but the key to beat them will be how they deal with second-year QB Daunte Culpepper.

The Dolphins quick defenses have been very successful over the past two seasons in beating young quarterbacks.

The Dolphins are 3-1 against both Peyton Manning and Drew Bledsoe, have posted shutouts against Steve McNair, Tony Banks and Kordell Stewart and beat Jake Plummer, Rob Johnson and Brian Greise as well.

The key may be that the Dolphins speed and ability to blitz.

Look for the Dolphins to give up some rushing yards to Culpepper as long as they can keep him from buying time to pass with scrambles.

In other words, they want him to commit one way or the other right away.

NOTABLE: The game will be an intriguing matchup between CB Sam Madison and WR Randy Moss at times. Madison covered Moss during the Pro Bowl when Moss caught passes for more than 200 yards, but that was the Pro Bowl and Madison wasn't giving it his best effort.

It's a long season

Sept. 4, 2000

While RB Lamar Smith put up an excellent game against Seattle, setting up his blockers throughout the game, there is still plenty of concern about him being a long-term answer.

Smith has not rushed for more than 680 yards in any of his first six seasons and the scouting report on him is that he burns out quickly. Time will tell if that's true or whether it was a matter of the teams he played for in Seattle and New Orleans.

MISTAKE FREE: The Dolphins coaching staff was extremely happy that QB Jay Fiedler didn't throw an interception Sunday after throwing three in his lone exhibition appearance at New Orleans on Aug. 25. Fiedler was very sharp in that regard, never giving Seattle a shot at an interception with an errant throw.

He had one interception called back by a penalty, but that was basically on a free down where it was obvious Seattle had committed the penalty.